Theology Professor, Spiritan Named Bishop in Ghana

The Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp., assistant professor of theology has been named by Pope Francis as the bishop of nearly 410,000 Catholics in Ghana’s Sekondi-Takoradi area. Kwofie, a native of Ghana, arrived at Duquesne in 2013 to teach an undergraduate course in critical examination of biblical and historical perspectives.

Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp.

Born in Powa, Ghana, Kwofie was ordained as a member of the Spiritan Congregation in 1988. He holds a licentiate in sacred scripture in biblical exegesis (the interpretation of the Bible) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. At Duquesne, his class related interpretation of the Bible to contemporary issues.

Kwofie’s experience is rooted in his roles as an academic, a pastor and a leader in his congregation. Besides teaching at Duquesne, Kwofie has been involved with the Spiritan International School of Theology in Nigeria. He has presented on topics including culture and formation, and the consecrated life in Africa to special assemblies in Africa and Rome.

His pastoral work has touched parishes in Bohyen Bamtama, the archdiocese of Kumasi and the archdiocese of Accra, Ghana’s capital city. He also has done pastoral and missionary work in Gambia.

Kwofie has served in a variety of leadership roles with the Spiritan Congregation, including vice president of the Conference of Major Superiors for Africa, provincial superior of the Congregation of West Africa, coordinator of the Continental Conference of Major Superiors for Africa and first assistant of the Superior General of the Congregation.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree in theology from Paul’s College-Seminary in Liberia/ Urbaniana University in Rome, Kwofie continued his studies in pastoral leadership formation at Lumko Institute, South Africa. He also earned a certificate from the Ghana Institute of Management and Professional Studies in Accra.