Right Reverend Alexander Kobina Asmah, the Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Anglican Church, has said the church is committed to its core mandate in the areas of evangelism, health, education, agriculture and the provision of social amenities.

He said this is part of the great commission initiated by our Lord and Master Jesus Christ who went about healing, feeding and ensuring the general well-being of members in the society.
The Rt. Rev. Asmah said this in a sermon at a special thanksgiving service to commemorate the 36th anniversary celebration of the Sekondi Diocese.

The occasion also marked the climax of the first episcopacy of the Bishop since he assumed office at the St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral at Sekondi and coincided with the 21st Sunday of the Church after Trinity.

Preaching on the theme: "What I shall render to the Lord for all His benefits to us", the Bishop urged the congregation to acknowledge the mercies and blessings of God in our lives.

Bishop Asmah reminded the church that in the midst of turbulent periods, internal wranglings, conflicts and financial constraints, and the Diocese continues to triumph with marked improvement.

He used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to members who stood through thick and thin to restore the Church to its former glory and urged them to forge ahead in unity.

He also paid tribute to the first Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. T. S. A. Annobil, his successor, the Rt. Rev. Kweku Faakye Okoh and the Rt. Rev. Col. (Rtd.) J. K. Otoo for their selfless dedication to the work of God.

Rt. Rev. Asmah said the instability which rocked the Church in the past has stifled various initiatives and has stagnated development of the Diocese.

Rt. Rev. Asmah outlined his achievement in the past one year to include the elevation of the Enchi branch to an Archdeaconry status with a shuttle vehicle, the Commissioning of an Episcopal Clinic at Nyankamam, a cocoa farming community near Enchi, as well as a vehicle donation to the St. Andrews Anglican Church at Sekondi.

Others are the elevation of the Kansaworado and Komfeiku local branches of the church to full parish status as well as the commissioning of a branch of the Church in La Cote d' Ivoire.

He said the Diocese has instituted a Youth Bible Quiz competition to help the youth engender the spirit and skills to learn the Bible as part of revitalizing the core values of Christianity through scriptures.

Messrs Festus Entsua Mensah and Kelvin Damtse of the Takoradi Archdeaconry branch, who emerged first in the quiz competition, took home GHC 500, a bible, a certificate and a shield.

The second competitor from the Essikado Arcdeaconry, took home, GHC 300, bible and a certificate and the third competitor from the Tarkwa Arcdeaconry, received GHC200, bible and a certificate.