Prof. Kantanka elected new Bishop of Kumasi Methodist

The Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana has elected Very Rev Professor Osei Sarfo Kantanka, Director of the Lay Ministries at the Freeman Centre as the new Diocesan Bishop.
He polled 147 votes in an election which was conducted at the weekend at the 48th Synod of the Diocese in Kumasi as against 48 and 34 votes polled by his other contestants, Very Rev Dr Paul Boafo and Very Rev O. Samuel Kwaku Boakye respectively.
Professor Kantanka who is also a lecturer at the College of Agriculture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) takes over from Right Rev Professor Emmanuel K. Asante in October 2009 as Diocesan Bishop.
Professor Asante on his part has been elevated to the high office of Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, and he would be taking over in October 2009 from Most Rev Dr Robert Aboagye Mensah, the current Presiding Bishop.
Very Rev Prof Osei Sarfo Kantanka said his election was a call to duty as a chief servant of the Methodist Church in Kumasi and its surrounding areas.
He said the position of a Bishop was an office which required dedication and hard work and that he would need the support of the entire membership of the church to be able to deliver.
He mentioned that his vision was to ensure that the church embarked on agricultural projects so as to ensure that there was food to feed people in the country.
Rt Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante on his part said Prof Kantanka’s elevation was not a victory for an individual but a victory for the Lord who chooses whom he wants to lead his church.
He prayed that God would grant him grace to be his chief servant and leader adding that there was no way he could do the work alone without support from the entire membership of the church.
He asked the Bishop elected to be humble and not be a dictator in his dealings, rather work in consonance with the vision of the synod to be each others keeper.
Meanwhile in another development The Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church has congratulated the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for a successful 10-year reign which has brought about peace, development and unity among Ghanaians.
“We take advantage of your reign to extend to you the heartfelt congratulations of all the people called Methodists”.
This was contained in a citation presented to the Asantehene at the 48th annual synod of the Kumasi Diocese of the church held at the Wesley Cathedral in Kumasi at the weekend.
The citation read by Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese, was presented by the Most reverend Robert Aboagye Mensah, outgoing Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, to mark the 10th anniversary celebration of Otumfuo.
It said the Methodist church Ghana is grateful to all Kings of Asanteman who displayed hospitality to emissaries of “our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Wesleyans and Methodist”.
“This spirit of hospitality was outstandingly demonstrated in the reign of nana Kwaku Dua I in the granting of lands on which the Kumasi Methodist circuit offices and the diocesan offices are now sited.”
The citation said “as shown by the promotion of Wesley College and Mmofraturo School, education has been the hallmark of Asante kings, but you have excelled in your concern for education, by the creation of the Otumfuo Education Fund that extends its facilities beyond Asante to other parts of Ghana.”
“Again your counselling and leadership have led to the reconciliation, peace, unity primarily among Asante chiefs, such leadership that has also been utilised to affect other needy areas of Ghana.”
“Your vision has extended to health-care especially HIV/AIDS and sponsored development projects that responded to the needs of ordinary people at the community level”
It said “we are thrilled to remark that divine guidance marked your ancestral line back to Nana Osei Tutu I, when he was coupled by the outstanding priest Okomfo Anokye to initiate unity”.
“This time round, by your faith, your highness Otumfuo Osei tutu II, should surely be coupled by the eternal high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ whose present representatives, the Bishops are always near you.”
The citation together with a Bible, Methodist hymn book, weekly Bible lesson and a sheep were received by Nana professor Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi, Acheraensua Omanhene, on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
He thanked the Methodist church for its contribution to education, health and social services in Ghana.