Accra (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp., Archbishop
Anthony Narh Asare, Auxiliary Bishop
John Kobina Louis, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 6 July 1992
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ghana
Square Kilometers: 3,255 (1,257 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://accracatholic.org
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box GP 247, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: (030)22.22.728
Fax: 22.31.619

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Accra
- Latin Name: Accraënsis
- Erected: 2 December 1943
- Country: Ghana
Vicariate Apostolic of Accra
- Latin Name: Accraënsis
- Elevated: 12 June 1947
- Vicariate
- Country: Ghana
Diocese of Accra
- Latin Name: Accraënsis
- Elevated: 18 April 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cape Coast
- Country: Ghana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (27 Oct 1944 Appointed - 8 Jan 1953 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Alexishafen)
Joseph Oliver Bowers, S.V.D. † (8 Jan 1953 Appointed - 16 Jan 1971 Appointed, Bishop of Saint John’s, Virgin Islands (British))
Dominic Kodwo Andoh † (3 Jul 1971 Appointed - 30 Mar 2005 Retired)
Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle (30 Mar 2005 Appointed - 11 May 2018 Appointed, Archbishop of Cape Coast)
John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp. (2 Jan 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Accra
2 December 1943	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Accra (erected)
12 June 1947	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Occidental Akim)	Prefecture Apostolic of Accra
Vicariate Apostolic of Accra
12 June 1947	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Accra	Vicariate Apostolic of Accra
Diocese of Accra
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Accra	Diocese of Accra
Archdiocese of Accra
6 July 1992	Elevated	Diocese of Accra	Archdiocese of Accra

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Accra

1950 31,445 1,311,464 2.4% 3 36 39 806 8 23 ap1951

1957 55,531 4 49 53 1,047 8 43 5 ap1960

1970 125,100 1,347,764 9.3% 1 81 82 1,525 115 87 22 ap1971

1980 180,000 2,240,000 8.0% 14 65 79 2,278 110 109 24 ap1981

1990 334,833 3,261,000 10.3% 51 70 121 2,767 95 136 41 ap1991

Archdiocese of Accra

1999 129,826 3,870,000 3.4% 50 33 83 1,564 53 62 27 ap2000

2000 130,000 3,100,000 4.2% 59 29 88 1,477 49 52 25 ap2001

2001 131,500 3,906,500 3.4% 47 31 78 1,685 49 66 28 ap2002

2002 132,035 2,909,643 4.5% 60 38 98 1,347 59 68 30 ap2003

2003 139,000 3,112,500 4.5% 62 43 105 1,323 67 80 32 ap2004

2004 142,543 3,527,427 4.0% 65 42 107 1,332 69 73 35 ap2005

2005 151,728 3,604,000 4.2% 67 44 111 1,366 74 78 42 ap2006

2006 180,432 3,683,000 4.9% 74 42 116 1,555 75 88 51 ap2007

2011 197,054 4,164,000 4.7% 88 65 153 1,287 104 88 23 ap2012

2012 201,000 4,258,000 4.7% 82 66 148 1,358 137 36 24 ap2013

2015 357,000 4,544,000 7.9% 115 74 189 1,888 127 81 32 ap2016

2018 382,370 4,865,460 7.9% 133 66 199 1,921 128 89 36 ap2019

2020 399,900 5,093,000 7.9% 139 65 204 1,960 104 104 44 ap2021

2022 405,730 5,167,110 7.9% 143 72 215 1,887 120 115 93 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Accra
1950	31,445	1,311,464	2.4%	3	36	39	806	8	23		ap1951
1957	55,531			4	49	53	1,047	8	43	5	ap1960
1970	125,100	1,347,764	9.3%	1	81	82	1,525	115	87	22	ap1971
1980	180,000	2,240,000	8.0%	14	65	79	2,278	110	109	24	ap1981
1990	334,833	3,261,000	10.3%	51	70	121	2,767	95	136	41	ap1991
Archdiocese of Accra
1999	129,826	3,870,000	3.4%	50	33	83	1,564	53	62	27	ap2000
2000	130,000	3,100,000	4.2%	59	29	88	1,477	49	52	25	ap2001
2001	131,500	3,906,500	3.4%	47	31	78	1,685	49	66	28	ap2002
2002	132,035	2,909,643	4.5%	60	38	98	1,347	59	68	30	ap2003
2003	139,000	3,112,500	4.5%	62	43	105	1,323	67	80	32	ap2004
2004	142,543	3,527,427	4.0%	65	42	107	1,332	69	73	35	ap2005
2005	151,728	3,604,000	4.2%	67	44	111	1,366	74	78	42	ap2006
2006	180,432	3,683,000	4.9%	74	42	116	1,555	75	88	51	ap2007
2011	197,054	4,164,000	4.7%	88	65	153	1,287	104	88	23	ap2012
2012	201,000	4,258,000	4.7%	82	66	148	1,358	137	36	24	ap2013
2015	357,000	4,544,000	7.9%	115	74	189	1,888	127	81	32	ap2016
2018	382,370	4,865,460	7.9%	133	66	199	1,921	128	89	36	ap2019
2020	399,900	5,093,000	7.9%	139	65	204	1,960	104	104	44	ap2021
2022	405,730	5,167,110	7.9%	143	72	215	1,887	120	115	93	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Dominic Kodwo Andoh † (Bishop: 3 Jul 1971; Archbishop: 6 Jul 1992 to 30 Mar 2005)
Joseph Oliver Bowers, S.V.D. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Nov 1952; Bishop: 8 Jan 1953 to 16 Jan 1971)
Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 27 Oct 1944; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jun 1947; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 8 Jan 1953)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Accra
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 36, Page 65, and Page 66
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 461
Vicariate Apostolic of Accra
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 436, and Page 437
Diocese of Accra
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619
Archdiocese of Accra
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 85, Page 119, and Page 120

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Archdiocese of Accra

Archidioecesis Accraënsis