In a colorful and joyful atmosphere, hundreds of people including a large number of Sisters from various Religious Congregations gathered together in Jasikan to witness the solemn mass of the Ordination and Installation ceremony of Bishop Simon Kofi Appiah.
The new Bishop was ordained by His Excellency Most Rev. Julien Kabore, as the second bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan in the Buem constituency of the Oti region of Ghana, West Africa. 
The April 11, 2026 ordination and installation of Bishop Appiah, brought together members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Emeritus Bishops, Clergy and Religious, political and traditional leaders, and Catholic faithful and non-Catholics from all walks of life.
The joy of the celebration was evident in the solemn yet dancing and singing atmosphere that was present at the ceremony from beginning to the end.
Using the new Bishops motto, “Deus Caritas Est” and the day’s readings as his reference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and the president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in a homily, encouraged the new bishop to love all men equally.
He said “A Bishop’s primary responsibility is to love equally, all manner of people whom God places in his care. This appears to be an impossible task. Fortunately, your chosen episcopal motto already entreats you and your flock to love all–God is love…whoever does not love does not know God (Deus Caritas Est; 1 Jn. 4:7-12)”.
He added that “Let this love touch the broken heart of Isaiah (61:1) the prostitutes and LGBTQ++. Yes, show same love to the corrupt politicians and corrupt public officials, the refugees, the drug addicts, the mentally deranged, non-communicants, love the doctors and midwives who kill unborn innocent babies, the old and the young and all who are easily forgotten and left behind because nobody hears their cry.”
He also admonished the Clergy, Religious, and the lay faithful to love and respect their Bishop because he also loves them.
Bishop Simon Kofi Appiah was born on April 24, 1964 in Teteman in the Oti Region of Ghana. His basic education was at the Teteman Roman Catholic Primary School and several other towns in the then Jasikan District.
He had his secondary education at St. Mary’s Seminary/Secondary School in Lolobi and St. Paul’s Secondary School, Denu.
He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1990 for the Diocese of Keta-Ho, after successfully completing his formation at the St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast, from 1984 to 1990. He served faithfully in the diocese pastorally.
He incardinated into the Diocese of Jasikan in 1995, when it was carved out of the Diocese of Keta-Ho. Germany became his home for the next six years, during which he undertook graduate studies.
A remarkable experience during these years was the brotherly affection with which Bruder Peter Arnold, the pastor of St. Maria Parish in Stuttgart, supported him and the Diocese of Jasikan.
He returned to the Diocese of Jasikan after graduate studies and served as Acting Parish Priest of the Blessed Heart of Mary Parish, Kadjebi, from November 2003 to September 2005, and Director of the Diocesan Formation and Counselling Centre, from October 2002 to April 2011, before taking up a teaching appointment at the University of Cape Coast.
He achieved higher education at various levels which enhance his service to the people of God in various offices and roles.
Bishop Appiah was appointed the second bishop of the Diocese of Jasikan on December 23, 2025 by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, marking a new chapter in a vocation long characterised by faithful service, intellectual leadership and pastoral wisdom.
By: Sr Bridget Kator, SMMC (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana- CASCON-GH)
