Accra, Aug. 23, GNA - A Ghanaian, Pastor Matthew Ango Bediako has been elected as the number two officer of the World Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. The election of, pastor Bediako, 58, as the Executive Secretary took place during the 57th General Session of the church held in Toronto, Canada. He replaces a Caribbean Pastor Ralph Thompson who served for 20 years as Executive Secretary.

A statement in Accra on Wednesday said Pastor Bediako, a native of Kortwea in the Amansie District in the Ashanti Region has effectively served the church as a bible teacher/chaplain, departmental director and a field president. "Ten years before his elevation into the position of Executive Secretary, he served a five-year term each as a Field Secretary and General vice-president respectively at the World Headquarters." In a related development, Pastor Jan Paulsen, 65, from Norway was re-elected to the top post, which is, the President of the World SDA Church. About 65,000 representatives from all over the world over attended the conference, which is organised every five years.