Archbishop of Canterbury arrives in Ghana; urges Christians to remain hopeful

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has urged Christians not to lose hope in the face of life’s challenges, assuring them that God remains with them through every circumstance.

She made the remarks upon her arrival at the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday, July 25, for her first official visit to Ghana.

The visit marks Archbishop Mullally’s first pastoral visit to Africa since she was installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in March this year.

Speaking to journalists on arrival, Archbishop Mullally said her visit was intended to encourage Christians in their faith and reassure them of God’s constant presence.

She encouraged Christians to remain steadfast in their discipleship despite the challenges they may face.

“I’m coming home, so we just need people to know that God is with us, and we come to share together in that joy of the gospel. I’m so looking forward to meeting people over the next few days,” she said.

“It’s about encouraging people in their Christian discipleship, reassuring them of God’s presence with them, that we have good news and a gospel to share. Christ is with us, alongside us. And in the ups and downs, the joys and the difficult moments of our lives, God walks with us. That’s such good news to share with everybody,” she added.

Archbishop Mullally also expressed the hope that Christians would draw inspiration from the words of the Prophet Isaiah.

“I hope they know the words of the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43, that God has called you by name and has made you His own, that each one of them may know that God has called them for who they are, find their identity in Christ and have a boldness for the gospel,” she said.

The 10-day visit is being undertaken at the invitation of the Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa and Bishop of Asante-Mampong, the Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith.

During the visit, Archbishop Mullally will also travel to the Diocese of Cameroon, which forms part of the Church of the Province of West Africa.

She is expected to pray and worship with Anglican congregations, engage with church leaders and members, and learn about the challenges and achievements of Anglican communities in the region.

The Archbishop’s itinerary begins in Accra on Sunday, July 26, where she will visit four Anglican parishes before preaching at St. Joseph the Worker Anglican Church in Kaneshie during a Eucharistic service led entirely by female clergy of the Anglican Church of Ghana.

She will later join Archbishop Ben-Smith to lay the foundation stone for a pilgrimage hostel under the Anglican Church in Ghana’s Heritage Anglican Culture Village and Resorts initiative. Supported by the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG), the facility is expected to accommodate pilgrims from the African diaspora visiting Ghana for cultural rediscovery and healing.

On Monday, July 27, Archbishop Mullally is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House before meeting and praying with the Bishops of the Internal Province of Ghana.