The Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Presidency in Accra.
A statement issued by the Presidency said Reverend Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, and her husband Mr Eamonn Mullally, were in Ghana at the invitation of the Primate of West Africa, Archbishop Dr Cyril Kobina Ben Smith.
The statement said it was her first visit to Africa, as she begins a 10-day tour of the Church of the Province of West Africa.
She was accompanied to the Presidency by a high-profile delegation of Anglican Bishops in Ghana and the British High Commissioner to Ghana Dr Christian Rogg.
In a brief meeting, President Mahama congratulated Archbishop Mullaly on her installation as the female Archbishop of Canterbury.
“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 observed, describing this important milestone in the Church’s history as a powerful affirmation of the contribution women continue to make to spiritual, professional and public leadership.”
President Mahama traced the impact of the Church especially through the early Anglican missionaries in Cape Coast and the selection of Philip Quaque to be sent to England in the mid-1700s to study and help establish schools in Ghana.
“We deeply value the Church’s enduring commitment to promoting peace, justice, compassion and human dignity. We also recognise and commend the contributions of the Church in education, healthcare, social services, and community development.”
President Mahama noted that Ghana and the Anglican Church, like other faith-based organisations shared values in advancing these national priorities.
These, he said, included service to humanity, protection of the vulnerable, peaceful coexistence, good governance, integrity, and accountability.
“Our government remains committed to restoring economic stability while ensuring that development and prosperity reach every single Ghanaian. We are investing in healthcare, education, youth employment, and social protection,” he stated adding that Archbishop Mullaly’s visit, further deepened Ghana’s long-standing relations with the United Kingdom.
“And I had the honor only recently to be received by King Charles, and it was an honor to meet with him,” he emphasised.
On her part, Archbishop Mullaly said one of the key highlights of her visit to Ghana is the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new pilgrim hostel.
The project, to be known as the Church of Ghana’s Heritage Anglican Culture Village and Resorts initiative, is designed tell the story of the transatlantic slave trade, support spiritual healing and cultural rediscovery for the diaspora.
She also disclosed that the Anglican Church, one of the largest church communions in the world, has 42 provinces in 164 countries across the world.
