Cape Coast (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop
Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 April 1950
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ghana
Square Kilometers: 9,788 (3,780 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.archcapegh.org/
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Secretariat, P.O. Box 112, Cape Coast, Ghana
Telephone: (033)21.33.471/2
Fax: 21.33.473

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}
- Erected: 27 September 1879
- Country: Ghana
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}
- Latin Name: A Litore Aureo
- Elevated: 25 May 1901
- Vicariate
- Country: Ghana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Maria Michon, S.M.A. † (Mar 1894 Appointed - 24 Apr 1895 Died)
Maximilian Albert, S.M.A. † (16 Sep 1895 Appointed - 15 Dec 1903 Died)
Isidore Klauss, S.M.A. † (4 Mar 1904 Appointed - 20 Nov 1905 Died)
Ignace Hummel, S.M.A. † (20 Mar 1906 Appointed - 13 Mar 1924 Died)
Ernest Hauger, S.M.A. † ( 1911 Appointed - 1921 Resigned)
Ernest Hauger, S.M.A. † (13 Feb 1925 Appointed - 14 Nov 1932 Resigned)
William Thomas Porter, S.M.A. † (25 Apr 1933 Appointed - 15 May 1959 Resigned)
John Kodwo Amissah † (19 Dec 1959 Appointed - 22 Sep 1991 Died)
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (6 Oct 1992 Appointed - 24 Oct 2009 Appointed, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace)
Matthias Kobena Nketsiah (31 May 2010 Appointed - 11 May 2018 Retired)
Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle (11 May 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}
27 September 1879	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas {Des Deux Guinées}	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (erected)
28 June 1895	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}
25 May 1901	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}
15 March 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Quittait and Tripoli (Denu)) Vicariate Apostolic of Togo (Area subject to English rule)	Vicariate Apostolic of Volta Inferiore (erected)
2 February 1932	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Kingdom of Ashanti)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kumasi (erected)
28 May 1932	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Territory between Kumasi and Navrongo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo
2 December 1943	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Accra (erected)
12 June 1947	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Occidental Akim)	Prefecture Apostolic of Accra
Archdiocese of Cape Coast
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}	Archdiocese of Cape Coast
12 June 1958	Territory Added	Diocese of Ciudad Rodrigo (Cáceres)	Archdiocese of Cape Coast
20 November 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cape Coast (Western Region)	Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Cape Coast

1950 120,494 716,286 16.8% 10 45 55 2,190 2 26 18 ap1951

1959 195,505 910,000 21.5% 20 64 84 2,327 13 38 26 ap1960

1969 285,079 1,675,000 17.0% 29 47 76 3,751 63 67 24 ap1971

1980 175,947 1,028,000 17.1% 17 27 44 3,998 39 48 13 ap1981

1990 215,422 1,252,396 17.2% 56 14 70 3,077 35 66 13 ap1991

1998 259,198 1,934,120 13.4% 77 8 85 3,049 1 17 101 20 ap2001

2001 269,029 1,587,940 16.9% 91 10 101 2,663 21 104 21 ap2002

2002 275,391 1,603,819 17.2% 93 11 104 2,647 22 96 21 ap2003

2003 282,774 1,595,879 17.7% 79 11 90 3,141 1 27 104 23 ap2004

2004 287,598 1,603,858 17.9% 85 12 97 2,964 24 108 25 ap2005

2006 293,131 1,699,105 17.3% 99 10 109 2,689 31 112 41 ap2007

2013 377,398 1,875,000 20.1% 113 11 124 3,043 1 31 108 52 ap2014

2016 364,867 2,003,000 18.2% 128 14 142 2,569 1 36 109 55 ap2017

2019 380,029 2,118,875 17.9% 117 13 130 2,923 47 116 55 ap2020

2021 386,588 3,305,608 11.7% 133 15 148 2,612 58 129 56 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Cape Coast
1950	120,494	716,286	16.8%	10	45	55	2,190		2	26	18	ap1951
1959	195,505	910,000	21.5%	20	64	84	2,327		13	38	26	ap1960
1969	285,079	1,675,000	17.0%	29	47	76	3,751		63	67	24	ap1971
1980	175,947	1,028,000	17.1%	17	27	44	3,998		39	48	13	ap1981
1990	215,422	1,252,396	17.2%	56	14	70	3,077		35	66	13	ap1991
1998	259,198	1,934,120	13.4%	77	8	85	3,049	1	17	101	20	ap2001
2001	269,029	1,587,940	16.9%	91	10	101	2,663		21	104	21	ap2002
2002	275,391	1,603,819	17.2%	93	11	104	2,647		22	96	21	ap2003
2003	282,774	1,595,879	17.7%	79	11	90	3,141	1	27	104	23	ap2004
2004	287,598	1,603,858	17.9%	85	12	97	2,964		24	108	25	ap2005
2006	293,131	1,699,105	17.3%	99	10	109	2,689		31	112	41	ap2007
2013	377,398	1,875,000	20.1%	113	11	124	3,043	1	31	108	52	ap2014
2016	364,867	2,003,000	18.2%	128	14	142	2,569	1	36	109	55	ap2017
2019	380,029	2,118,875	17.9%	117	13	130	2,923		47	116	55	ap2020
2021	386,588	3,305,608	11.7%	133	15	148	2,612		58	129	56	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

John Baptist Attakruh
Matthias Kobena Nketsiah (Priest: 19 Jul 1970; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Nov 2006; Archbishop: 31 May 2010 to 11 May 2018)
Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle (Archbishop: 11 May 2018 - )
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (Priest: 20 Jul 1975; Archbishop: 6 Oct 1992 to 24 Oct 2009)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Maximilian Albert, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 16 Sep 1895; Vicar Apostolic: 27 May 1901 to 15 Dec 1903)
Joseph Amihere Essuah † (Priest: 13 Dec 1942 to 24 Feb 1962)
John Kodwo Amissah † (Priest: 11 Dec 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Mar 1957; Archbishop: 19 Dec 1959 to 22 Sep 1991)
Ernest Hauger, S.M.A. † (Pro-Vicar Apostolic: 1911 to 1921; Vicar Apostolic: 13 Feb 1925 to 14 Nov 1932)
Ignace Hummel, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 20 Mar 1906 to 13 Mar 1924)
Isidore Klauss, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Mar 1904 to 20 Nov 1905)
Jean-Maria Michon, S.M.A. † (Prefect: Mar 1894 to 24 Apr 1895)
William Thomas Porter, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Apr 1933; Archbishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 15 May 1959)