Member of Council of State ordained Anglican Bishop of Tamale

Tamale, Nov. 9, GNA - The Reverend Dr Jacob Kofi Ayeebo has been ordained and consecrated as Bishop-Coadjutor of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale at a ceremony at the Tamale Jubilee Park . He was consecrated into Office by the Most Rev Justice Akrofi, Archbishop/ Primate of Accra. Rev Ayeebo who was born in July 1 1960 was ordained into the priesthood in 1989 holds a masters of Arts in Mission studies and a PhD in Missiology which was conferred on him by the North-west University of South Africa.

He has also held a number of high public offices which include: Executive Director, Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation, Presiding Member of Bawku West Assembly and currently a member of the Council of State. Rev Ayeebo, who is replacing the Right Rev Emmanuel Arongo is married to Rita, a social worker and they have four children. The Right Rev ( Col ) John K. Otoo, Bishop of Sekondi/Takoradi in a sermon asked the new Bishop to identify himself with the aspirations of the people and humble himself.

He advised him to tackle the challenges he would meet in the discharge of his duties one at a time and with circumspection. He told the new Bishop that although he should love and care for the flock under his stewardship he should also not hesitate to discipline them when they go wrong.

Mr Moses Bukari Magbengba, Northern Regional Minister, who represented President John Evans Atta Mills at the ceremony re-affirmed the government's respect for religious freedom and its leaders, saying: "The chosen people of God are seen as the change elements and the source of spiritual nourishment by their congregation and the entire society." He however expressed regret that of late the utterances and activities of some self-styled men of God left much to be desired and appealed to the religious leaders to rise up to the challenge and ride the noble vacation of such charlatans in order to maintain the sanctity of the pulpit. Mr Magbengba paid glowing tribute to the Anglican Church of Ghana for its role in the socio-economic development of the country, noting that the mission was very visible in the areas of education, agriculture and rural development. 9 Nov. 10