Wa (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francis Bomansaan, M. Afr., Bishop
Paul Bemile, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 3 November 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tamale
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ghana
Square Kilometers: 18,478 (7,137 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Diocesan Secretariat, P.O. Box 47, Maria Yiri, Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana
Telephone: (039)20.22.598; 20.22.597
Fax: 20.22.597

Past and Present Ordinaries

Peter Poreku Dery † (16 Mar 1960 Appointed - 18 Nov 1974 Appointed, Bishop of Tamale)
Gregory Eebolawola Kpiebaya † (18 Nov 1974 Appointed - 26 Mar 1994 Appointed, Archbishop of Tamale)
Paul Bemile (19 Dec 1994 Appointed - 17 Feb 2016 Retired)
Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M. Afr. † (17 Feb 2016 Appointed - 27 Nov 2022 Died)
Francis Bomansaan, M. Afr. (22 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
3 November 1959	Erected	Diocese of Tamale (Wa with Lawra and Tumu)	Diocese of Wa (erected)
30 May 1977	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Wa (from Cape Coast)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 64,871 365,200 17.8% 13 20 33 1,965 47 83 8 ap1971

1980 93,731 380,639 24.6% 30 14 44 2,130 52 117 12 ap1981

1990 134,730 505,000 26.7% 79 7 86 1,566 47 141 16 ap1991

1999 179,071 737,430 24.3% 109 2 111 1,613 40 136 21 ap2000

2000 186,996 738,280 25.3% 109 2 111 1,684 40 112 21 ap2001

2001 127,015 599,712 21.2% 112 2 114 1,114 40 117 21 ap2002

2002 157,519 650,000 24.2% 115 2 117 1,346 38 142 21 ap2003

2003 166,049 650,000 25.5% 118 118 1,407 36 142 21 ap2004

2004 170,413 660,000 25.8% 125 1 126 1,352 37 120 21 ap2005

2010 259,804 761,000 34.1% 158 3 161 1,613 37 138 23 ap2011

2014 343,240 829,000 41.4% 83 4 87 3,945 38 147 25 ap2015

2017 385,740 880,960 43.8% 85 4 89 4,334 38 152 25 ap2018

2020 413,000 943,800 43.8% 88 4 92 4,489 38 152 25 ap2021

2022 422,000 964,800 43.7% 90 4 94 4,489 38 152 25 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	64,871	365,200	17.8%	13	20	33	1,965	47	83	8	ap1971
1980	93,731	380,639	24.6%	30	14	44	2,130	52	117	12	ap1981
1990	134,730	505,000	26.7%	79	7	86	1,566	47	141	16	ap1991
1999	179,071	737,430	24.3%	109	2	111	1,613	40	136	21	ap2000
2000	186,996	738,280	25.3%	109	2	111	1,684	40	112	21	ap2001
2001	127,015	599,712	21.2%	112	2	114	1,114	40	117	21	ap2002
2002	157,519	650,000	24.2%	115	2	117	1,346	38	142	21	ap2003
2003	166,049	650,000	25.5%	118		118	1,407	36	142	21	ap2004
2004	170,413	660,000	25.8%	125	1	126	1,352	37	120	21	ap2005
2010	259,804	761,000	34.1%	158	3	161	1,613	37	138	23	ap2011
2014	343,240	829,000	41.4%	83	4	87	3,945	38	147	25	ap2015
2017	385,740	880,960	43.8%	85	4	89	4,334	38	152	25	ap2018
2020	413,000	943,800	43.8%	88	4	92	4,489	38	152	25	ap2021
2022	422,000	964,800	43.7%	90	4	94	4,489	38	152	25	ap2023