Pope Francis on February 11, 2019, named new leaders in three African dioceses in Angola, Tanzania, and Ghana.
Resignation of the bishop of Viana, Angola, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Viana, Angola, presented by H.E. Msgr. Joaquim Ferreira Lopes, O.F.M. Cap.
The Pope has appointed H.E. Msgr. Emílio Sumbelelo, currently bishop of Uíje, as bishop of Viana, Angola.
Appointment of archbishop of Mwanza, Tanzania
The Holy Father has appointed as archbishop of Mwanza, Tanzania, H.E. Msgr. Renatus Leonard Nkwande, currently bishop of Bunda.
Appointment of vicar apostolic of Donkorkrom, Ghana
The Pope has appointed as vicar apostolic of Donkorkrom, Ghana, the Rev. Fr. John Alphonse Asiedu, S.V.D., currently master of novices at Nkwatia Kwahu, Koforidua.
Rev. Fr. John Alphonse Asiedu, S.V.D.
The Rev. Fr. John Alphonse Asiedu, S.V.D. was born on 12 May 1962 in Adeemmra, Afram Plains, in the vicariate of Donkorkrom. In 1988 he joined the Society of Missionaries of the Divine Word and studied at Saint Victor’s Major Seminary in Tamale. He gave his religious profession on 8 September 1996, after a two-year experience in Mexico in the Overseas Training Program of the Verbite Fathers. He then returned to Saint Victor’s to conclude his theological studies. He was ordained a priest on 19 July 1997.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: 1997-1999: parish vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Kwahu Tafo, in the diocese of Koforidua, Ghana; 1999-2005: assistant to the master of novices in Nkwatia-Kwahu; 2006-2008: provincial bursar in Accra; 2008-2017. prefect of Scholastics at the S.V:D. Common Formation Centre of Tamale; and since 2017, master of novices in Nkwatia-Kwahu, in the diocese of Koforidua.
