“Be Like the Ivorian Elephant” – Archbishop Anokye Advises New Priests at Nwamase Ordination.

Nwamase – Kumasi , July 11, 2026.The Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi has ordained eight new priests and three deacons in a solemn and colourful ceremony held at Nwamase on Saturday, 11th July, 2026.

The Eucharistic celebration, which drew hundreds of the lay faithful, religious, family members and friends from across the Archdiocese and beyond, was presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, assisted by the Archbishop Emeritus, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong.

In his welcome address, Archbishop Anokye expressed his warmest gratitude to Nana Pokuaa, the Queen Mother of Nwamase, for graciously offering her premises to host this year’s ordination.

He described the gesture as a sign of unity and collaboration between the Church and traditional authority.

The ceremony was graced by the Provincial Superior, Rev. Fr. Dominic Oliver Twist from Nigeria, together with a large number of priests and religious serving in the Archdiocese.

Delivering his homily and pastoral advice to the ordinands, the Archbishop charged the newly ordained to live exemplary lives worthy of their calling.

He urged them to be like the Ivorian elephant, noting that they will hear a lot from people but must never talk back, because silence is golden.

He cautioned them not to imitate other pastors or become false prophets in search of popularity, but to remain faithful, genuine and sincere throughout their service to God and humanity.

He further advised them never to seek to add any other power to what God has already given them, but to be truthful at all times and to defend the truth boldly.

He reminded them of their core mandate to feed the lambs of God, to heal them and to protect them from enemies.

The Archbishop also issued a strong warning that it should never happen that a minister exploits people when they come for counselling, confessions and other pastoral encounters, stressing that any such misconduct would attract immediate punishment.

Concluding his advice, he encouraged them never to be afraid because God Himself has called them and they must therefore rely only on Him.

He added that priesthood is not an easy vocation, echoing the words of Sheikh Rasheed, and requires total dependence on God.

As part of the sacred rite, the ordinands were called upon to make a solemn promise to remain celibate and to be faithful in serving God and mankind.

Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye and Emeritus Peter Sarpong laid their hands on the three candidates for the diaconate, prayed over them and presented them with the Book of the Gospel of Christ.

In the rite of priestly ordination, both the Archbishop and the Emeritus, together with all priests present, stretched their hands over the eight candidates and prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them.

After being vested in the stole and chasuble, the Archbishop anointed the palms of the new priests with the Sacred Chrism and pronounced the Prayer of Ordination, formally admitting them into the ministerial priesthood.

The newly ordained priests were then congratulated amidst joyful singing and drumming, marking the beginning of their lifelong mission to serve the Church.

The Archdiocese congratulates the new deacons and priests and asks the faithful to continue to pray for them as they begin their ministry.