Province of West Africa: New Bishop of Accra ordained, but election of Primate still to come

The Venerable Dr Daniel Silvanus Mensah Torto was ordained the ninth Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Accra this weekend, but the Church of the Province of West Africa is yet to elect a new Primate.

Commenting on erroneous media reports that Bishop Torto would automatically become Primate on the current Archbishop's retirement, the Provincial Secretary the Revd Canon Fr Anthony Eiwuley told ACNS that the election of a new Archbishop would take place in September.

"The reports were incorrect. The journalists just assumed that whoever is Bishop of Accra also becomes the new Primate. We are yet to elect an Archbishop," he said. "We will meet in September to do this and the Primate steps down in October."

Canon Eiwuley explained that the Province has an electoral college comprising all active bishops, and one clergy and one lay representative from each diocese. These vote for which bishop they would like to see become Archbishop and then the group votes on the two people with the most nominations.  Read more