President Mahama hails first female Archbishop of Canterbury’s historic appointment
President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Church of England for making history with the appointment of the Most Reverend Sarah Mullally as its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, describing the development as an affirmation of women’s leadership.
Speaking when the Archbishop paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency in Accra on Monday, President Mahama congratulated her on her installation as head of the Church of England, noting that she was the first woman to occupy the office in its nearly 1,400-year history.
“Your appointment is historic as you are the first woman to occupy the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in its approximately 1,400 years,” the President said, describing the achievement as “a powerful affirmation of the contribution women continue to make to spiritual, professional and public leadership.”
President Mahama acknowledged the Anglican Church’s longstanding contribution to Ghana’s national development, tracing its historical presence to the early Anglican missionaries in Cape Coast and the role of Philip Quaque, who was sent to England in the mid-1700s to study and later helped establish schools in Ghana.
He said the government deeply valued the Church’s commitment to promoting peace, justice, compassion and human dignity, as well as its contribution to education, healthcare, social services and community development.
According to the President, the government and faith-based organisations share common values centred on service to humanity, protection of the vulnerable, peaceful coexistence, good governance, integrity and accountability.
He said the government remained committed to restoring economic stability while ensuring that the benefits of development reached every Ghanaian through investments in healthcare, education, youth employment and social protection.
President Mahama also noted that Archbishop Mullally’s visit would further strengthen Ghana’s longstanding relations with the United Kingdom, recalling his recent audience with King Charles III.
On her part, Archbishop Mullally said one of the major activities of her visit would be the ground-breaking ceremony for the Church of Ghana’s Heritage Anglican Culture Village and Resorts initiative, which will include the construction of a pilgrim hostel.
She said the project was intended to preserve the history of the transatlantic slave trade while promoting spiritual healing and cultural rediscovery for people of African descent in the diaspora.
The Archbishop also noted that the Anglican Communion is one of the world’s largest Christian communions, comprising 42 provinces in 164 countries.
The Archbishop, who is on her first visit to Africa, is in Ghana at the invitation of the Primate of West Africa, Archbishop Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, as part of a 10-day tour of the Church of the Province of West Africa.
She was accompanied by her husband, Mr Eamonn Mullally, a delegation of Anglican bishops in Ghana and the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Christian Rogg.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
