Accra, March 1, GNA - The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has appointed Rev. Fr. Nicholas Afriyie as Assistant Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) with immediate effect. A statement issued by the Department of Social Communications of the Secretariat on Friday said the letter of appointment was signed by Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora, President of GCBC and Bishop of Navrongo-Bologanta Diocese.

Until his appointment, Rev. Fr. Afriyie was the parish Priest of St. Joseph's Parish at Bechem.

Apart from assisting the Secretary-General of NCS in ensuring that the decisions and policies of the GCBC are effectively and efficiently carried out the duties of Fr. Afriyie will include the facilitation of contact between the NCS and government officials and parliamentarians as well as oversight responsibility of the Finance Unit and Archives and Documentation section of the NCS.

Fr Afriyie had his major seminary formation at St Paul's Major Seminary in Accra from 1989-1992 after which he went to St. Peter's Major Seminary in Cape Coast.

He was ordained as a priest on July 20, 1996 at Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Fr Afriyie entered the Pontifica Universita Urbaniana in Rome in 2001 and graduated with a Licentiate in Canon Law and Diploma in Ecclesistical Jurisprudence.