The Anglican Diocese of Kumasi has ordained four reverend fathers and three deacons with a call on them to serve God and their congregation to the best of their abilities towards the growth of God’s work.
The four were Reverend Henry Panford, Reverend Emmanuel Owusu, Reverend Lord Kwame Asamoah and Reverend Nana Yaw Echie Amankwah. The deacons were Brothers Christian Percy Brown, Emmanuel Amoako Ntih and Abraham Nkrumah Danso.
The well-attended ceremony, held at the St Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral at Fante New Town in Kumasi last Sunday, July 12, 2026, was graced by family members, friends and well-wishers, as well as priests, catechists and members of the church within the diocese.
The ordination rites were led by the Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese, the Rt Rev. Oscar Christian Amoah, who was ably supported by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA) of the Anglican Church and former Bishop of Kumasi, the Most Rev. Professor Daniel Yinkah Sarfo.
In a remark, Rt Rev. Amoah prayed that the Almighty God would anoint them for effective ministry for the benefit of the church, nation and the world.
Already serving
Delivering the sermon on the theme: “Your time has come to serve”, the Director, Evangelism Committee of the Kumasi Diocese, Rev. Fr Richard Boateng, told the new priests that although they were already serving God, through their ordination, they had received a higher calling to serve in the ministry.
Quoting from Joshua 1:1-9, he indicated that in today’s world, it was very difficult to get people to volunteer to do God’s work, saying “some run away from becoming priests, church wardens and even leaders of various societies within the church”.
“So, if we have been able to get seven people to offer themselves for God’s work, it is important to thank God for their decision.
In fact, many people are not ready to serve God,” he pointed out.
He admonished them that they cannot act like their senior colleagues already in the ministry; rather, they should work diligently and efficiently to fulfil the purpose of their calling into God’s ministry.
Exhibit gifts
Rev. Fr Boateng, who is also the Bishop’s Chaplain and the Parish Priest of the St Peter's Anglican Church, Asawase, charged them to bring to bear the various gifts given to them by God and further advised them against allowing anyone to suppress their God-given gifts.
He said, “Priesthood is service and you should act as such. You have not been called into the ministry to please anyone but to please God,” and further entreated them to always listen to the voice of God to be able to excel in the ministry.
Looking for fame
Citing recent prophecies by some men of God about the chances of the Black Stars in the ongoing World Cup to buttress his point he said the different prophecies showed that the men of God were not speaking the mind of God, but rather they were looking for fame.
“Many men of God are deceiving themselves due to the fake presence of God in their lives.
If you are going to serve God, then you must learn how to listen to His voice at all times,” he stated.
Owing to the demanding nature of God’s work, he charged them to build themselves up both physically and spiritually and also learn what is necessary for their survival, saying, “As Priests, you must continue to learn to be worthy before your congregation”
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