Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) - Pope John Paul 11 on Monday appointed the Very Reverend Father Dr Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Rector of St James Seminary and Secondary School, as the new Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese of the Catholic Church.

Rev Fr. Dr Gyamfi succeeds Bishop James Kwadwo Owusu, who died in a motor accident in December 2001. The late Bishop was the second of the Diocese, which was carved out of the then Kumasi Diocese in 1973.

The congregation at the Sunyani 'Christ the King' Catholic Cathedral received with joy the announcement by the Most Reverend George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana. Assisted by the Very Reverend Father Dr Seth Osei Agyemang, Diocesan Administrator, the Apostolic Nuncio vested the new Bishop with a sash, a gold ring and a cross on a chain from the Pope, the symbolic regalia of his authority as a Bishop.

Dr Gyamfi expressed appreciation to the Pope and said: "I accept the office of Bishop of Sunyani wholeheartedly and also I do so very aware of my unworthiness to occupy that office". He called for the prayers by the clergy and the congregation to enable him to offer a dedicated and selfless service. They should also unite for God to lead the Diocese to win more souls and for development of the Church.

Dr Gyamfi was born on 11 August 1957 at Wamanafo in the Dormaa District where he received his basic education. He later studied at St Hubert Seminary in Kumasi and subsequently St. Peter's Regional Major Seminary at Cape Coast where he successfully completed courses in Philosophy and Theology.

On 27 July 1985 he was ordained as a priest by the late Bishop Owusu and served as Assistant Administrator of the Christ The King Cathedral in Sunyani for two years. From January to September 1987, he served as chaplain of the St Joseph's Training College at Bechem and at the same time taught religious studies at the school. Dr Gyamfi later pursued a degree course in social sciences at the University of Ghana.

Between 1990 and 1991, he worked as acting Parish Priest of St Peter's Parish at Kenyasi in the Asutifi District and also served as the Vice-Rector and full time tutor at St James Minor Seminary at Abesim, near Sunyani from 1991 to 1993.

Most Reverend Gyamfi from 1994 1998 studied at the University of Toronto in Canada and had a doctorate degree in Geography and Ontario Institute and obtained a Master's degree in Education.