Member of Council of State elected Anglican Bishop

Tamale, June 21, GNA - A Member of the Council of State, Reverend Dr Jacob Kofi Ayeebo, has been elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Tamale Diocese of the Anglican Church. The election, which was conducted in April this year per the Anglican tradition, was confirmed by the Archbishop of the Province of West Africa on June 17, 2010, in consultation with the House of Bishops from all the dioceses in the province.

Reverend Dr Ayeebo's election is to prepare him to succeed the Dioce san Bishop, Right Reverend Emmanuel Anyidana Arongo as he prepares to retire as full time Bishop of the Diocese of Tamale next year.

The Tamale Diocese extends to the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Rt. Rev. Arongo made this known at the Saint Anglionby Cathedral Chu rch in Tamale on Sunday. He said the Diocese received a letter from the Anglican Archbishop o f the Province of West Africa confirming Dr Ayeebo as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese and that arrangements were being made to consecrate and ordain him before the end of the year. Rt. Rev. Arongo directed Dr. Ayeebo, who is also the Dean of the Cathedral, to make the necessary arrangements for consecration and ordination for him to become the substantial Bishop of the Diocese.

He said Rev. Dr. Ayeebo was elected based on his faith, dedication, hard work and moral

worthiness to his sacramental duties.

Rev. Dr. Ayeebo thanked members of the Church for their support and expressed the hope that with

guidance from God he would continue with the good works of his successor when he finally takes over

as the substantive Bishop. He said his vision was to expand the mission of Christ in a holistic

manner to ensure that the

gospel reached where it had not been preached. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo said apart from the spiritual well being of the peop le, the Church would broaden

its social work through the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organization (ADDRO) by

expanding its food Security component. He said the church would consider training farmers on improved farmi ng practices to increase

agriculture production in both crop and livestock. It would also broaden its support to improve on income generating activities and expand the

training of young girls on batik, tie and dye as well as continue to redu ce gender discrimination in the

three northern regions. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo was ordained into the Priesthood in 1989 and was fir st posted to Bawku West

where he started more than six churches and established a number of schoo ls. He has baptised about 1,000 members of the congregation most of whom

were worshipping and

serving in the Church. He said he had funded and supported the education of about 300 needy

students most of whom

had been gainfully employed. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo holds a PhD in Mission Studies, Masters in Theology and Ministry, Degree in

Theology and Ministry, Diploma in Theology and Diploma in Counselling fro m both local and

international universities. He has served in various capacities including presiding as the Natio nal President of the Ghana

Anglican Clergy.