The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, until then Apostolic Vicar (with the status of a Bishop) of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate will be installed as the First Bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Donkorkrom.
The Installation is due to take place on August 8, 2026 at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, and will have as its Special Guest of honour, His Excellency Julien Kabore, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.
Other Catholic Bishops of Ghana will be present for this historic event, among other dignitaries.
The programme will commence with a pre-installation ceremony at 8:30 am and Holy Mass will begin at 9:30 am prompt.
Profile of Bishop John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD
The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD was born on May 12, 1962 at Adeemmra-Kwahu in the Afram Plains, to the late Opanin Daniel K. Boadu from Adjena in the Akwamu Traditional area and to Madam Rebecca Akua Boadu from Nkonya Ntumda. He is the last born of 12 children.
He had his elementary education in Adeemmra-Kwahu and Amankwakrom and completed Middle school at Adeemmra-Kwahu in 1978. He had his Secondary School education at Donkorkrom Agric Senior High School from 1978-1981 and Nkonya Secondary School from 1981-1984, obtaining GCE Ordinary Level and at Kadjebi-Asato Secondary School with GCE Advance Level.
In 1987, he got admission into SVD formation programme to begin his priestly formation. He did three years philosophical studies at the St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale from 1987-1990 and then went to Nkwatia-Kwahu for his SVD Novitiate Formation and had his First Religious Profession on September 21, 1991 at Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
He had his four-year theological studies at St. Victor’s Major Seminary (1991-1994,1996-1997). He went to Mexico for his Oversee Training Programme from 1994-1996. On September 8, 1996 he had his perpetual Religious Profession at Holy Family Parish, Mataheko, Accra.
The SVD Seminarian had his Diaconate Ordination at the St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale and was ordained by the late Most Rev. Gregory E. Kpiebaya, the then Archbishop of Tamale.
On July 19, 1997, he was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, by the late Archbishop Dominic Andoh in the Archdiocese of Accra.
In 2001, Fr. Asiedu took a course in Religious Formation at the Institute of St. Anselm, Cliftonville, Kent, England taking up the following Diploma and Certificates: Diploma in Human Growth and Development; Postgraduate Certificate in Individual and Group Psycho-Spiritual Counselling Skills and Human Development; and certificate in Integrative Group Facilitation.
Since his Priestly Ordination, he has held the following offices: 1997-1999: Parish Vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Kwahu Tafo, in the Diocese of Koforidua; 1999-2005: Assistant Novice Master at Nkwatia-Kwahu; 2006-2008: Provincial Bursar in Treasurer; 2008-2017 Prefect of Scholastics at the S.V.D. Common Formation Centre in Tamale.
He taught Spiritual Theology and Biblical Apostolate at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, and served as the Chaplain for the Discalced Carmelite Sisters in Tamale. He also assisted in pastoral at St. Arnold Janssen Parish, Kubungu, in the Archdiocese of Tamale.
He became the Novice Director of the Divine Word Novitiate at Nkwatia-Kwahu from 2017-2019.
On February 11, 2019, the SVD Priest was elected Apostolic Vicar (with the status of a Bishop) of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate by Pope Francis, and on May 4, 2019, he was consecrated Bishop and installed as the second Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.
On May 12, 2026, Pope Leo XIV elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom to the status of a Diocese, and appointed Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, as the First Bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Donkorkrom.
He was the immediate past Episcopal Chairman for the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, and currently the Episcopal Co-Chairman responsible for the Laity, Women, Youth and Family Life at the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC).
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Diocese)
