Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - The African Methodist Episcopal, A.M.E Zion Church has appointed for the first time, a female presiding prelate (Bishop) in charge of the Western West-Africa District.

The new Bishop, Right Reverend Dr Mildred Bonnie Aku Hines, 53, during her four year tenure, would oversee the AME Zion Churches in Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia.

Bishop Bonnie Hines, who is currently on a familiarization tour of West Africa region, was elected at the 48TH Quadrennial General Conference of the church in June this year in Atlanta U.S.A to succeed Rt. Rev. Dr Kenneth Monroe.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie-Hines during an interaction with executives of the Church in Ghana stressed on the importance of unity and love which she said must move the Church and nation forward. She said as a female Bishop, she was not going to concentrate only on women but would work with the men as well in order to achieve the purpose of Christ.

According to her, members must rise up and gird up their loins with what God had given them and redeem the world for Christ. She promised to work in the area of education and leadership.

Rt Rev Dr. Bishop Hines, was accompanied by the Missionary Supervisor, Mrs Gwendolyn Brumfield, Rev. Dr. Kermit Kwesi DeGraffenreidt after visiting places such as the church's vocational and Girls Senior High School at Klikor in the Volta Region and Winneba in the Central Region to acquaint herself with their problems. Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie Hines holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Mars Hill College, Masters in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Master of Divinity, Interdenominational Theological Centre, Clinical Pastoral Counseling, Colgate Rochester School of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry, Interdenominational Theological Center.