Pope Accepts Bishop Mante’s Resignation, Appoints UCC Lecturer as New Bishop of Jasikan
The Vatican has officially accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Jasikan, Most Reverend Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante, and appointed Reverend Simon Kofi Appiah, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), as his successor.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in a statement issued by the Holy See through Agenzia Fides. According to the statement, Pope Leo XIV accepted Bishop Mante’s resignation from the pastoral governance of the Jasikan Diocese and simultaneously named Rev. Appiah as the new bishop.
Profile of the New Bishop
Reverend Simon Kofi Appiah is a priest of the Jasikan Diocese with a strong blend of academic excellence and pastoral experience.
Born: July 1, 1964, in Teteman
Ordained priest: July 21, 1990
Seminary training: St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu (Cape Coast)
He began his ministry as a parish vicar in Kpedze, Vakpo, and Kadjebi between 1990 and 1995. He later pursued advanced studies in Europe, earning:
A Doctorate in Theological Ethics from the University of Tübingen, Germany
A Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of London
A Diploma in Teaching Higher Education from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi
Service to the Church and Academia
Upon returning to Ghana, Rev. Appiah served in several important diocesan roles, including:
Formator at St. Patrick Formation House
Diocesan Chancellor
Director of the Office for the Pastoral Care of Vocations
Since 2011, he has lectured at the University of Cape Coast and St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Pedu, contributing significantly to priestly formation and religious scholarship.
New Chapter for Jasikan Diocese
Rev. Appiah now assumes leadership of the Diocese of Jasikan in the Oti Region, where he is expected to draw on his rich pastoral background and academic expertise to guide the Catholic faithful.
His appointment marks a new chapter for the diocese as it continues its mission of spiritual growth and service to the people of the region.
