The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has begun her first official visit to Ghana with a call on Christians to remain hopeful and steadfast in their faith despite the challenges of life.
Archbishop Mullally arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday, July 25, for a 10-day pastoral visit to Ghana and Cameroon.
The visit is her first pastoral engagement in Africa since she became the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in March this year.
Speaking to journalists on arrival, she said her visit was intended to encourage Christians in their discipleship and remind them of God’s presence in both difficult and joyful moments.
She said Christians should remain confident in the message of the Gospel and draw strength from the assurance that God remains with them through every circumstance.
“God is with us, and we come to share together in that joy of the gospel,” she said.
Archbishop Mullally also urged Christians to draw inspiration from Isaiah 43, saying believers should recognise that God has called them by name and given them an identity in Christ.
The 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 her stay, Archbishop Mullally is expected to worship with Anglican congregations, engage church leaders and members, and learn about the achievements and challenges facing Anglican communities in the region.
Her Ghana itinerary begins on Sunday, July 26, with visits to four Anglican parishes in Accra.
She is also scheduled to preach at St. Joseph the Worker Anglican Church in Kaneshie during a Eucharistic service to be led entirely by female clergy of the Anglican Church of Ghana.
Later, she will join Archbishop Ben-Smith to lay the foundation stone for a pilgrimage hostel at the Heritage Anglican Culture Village and Resorts initiative.
The facility, supported by the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG), is expected to host 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.
She will subsequently travel to Cameroon as part of the wider pastoral visit to the Church of the Province of West Africa.
