The Most Reverend Gabriel Edoe Kumordgi has been consecrated as the first Apostolic Vicar of the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate of the Catholic Church.
The consecration followed the elevation of the Donkorkrom Prefecture to an Apostolic Vicariate which is the last stage before a Missionary Territory becomes a Diocese.
The Consecration was performed by the Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana, Most Rev. Leon B. Kalenga at Donkorkrom, at the weekend, and was attended by a large number of clergies and Catholic faithful across the country, including the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Charles Palmer Buckle.
Addressing the Congregation, the Apostolic Nuncio said the appointment of the Apostolic Vicar and the elevation of the church to an Apostolic Vicariate was due to the increase in the number of Catholics in the area.
He said the congregation increased from 12,000 members three years ago to 17,212 in 2009 with seven Priests, one Holy Ghost Father and five Diocesan Priests.
Most Rev. Kalenga said the church had also established over 30 schools, including 13 Kindergartens, 17 primary and Six Junior High Schools with one Vocational Training Institute and one Senior High School with an enrolment of 5,810 pupils and students.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said it was, however, ironical that a district that produced a substantial chunk of the food and other agricultural produce of the country should experience such deprivation ranging from poor infrastructure to lack of basic social amenities and excruciating poverty.
He said after the creation of the district in 1988, a number of social infrastructures such as roads, electricity, potable water, telecommunication and other facilities had been extended to the district and currently all the communication giants in the country were operating in the area.
Mr Ampofo said the Consecration of Bishop Kumordgi as the Apostolic Vicar and the creation of a vicariate for the Catholic Church were part of the spiritual process to enhance the spiritual development of the people in the area.
He said the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA) and the Afram Plains District Agriculture Development Project (APDADP) had plans to provide two additional pontoons and improve feeder and urban roads to facilitate the movement of goods and services on the lake and transportation to other parts of the country.
Bishop Kumordgi commended the Church for his elevation and gave the assurance to cooperate with the priests and other members of the church to further increase the congregation.