The Church of the Province of West Africa will on Saturday May 7, invest the Order of Knighthood on 11 eminent personalities at the Anglican Diocese of Wiawso, in the Western Region. The Knights-elect have distinguished themselves in the service of God and Society. The Most Reverend Ignatius C.O. Kattey, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Niger Delta and a contingent of Knights and Dammes will be at Wiawso for the investiture of Knighthood for seven Knights (Men) and four Dammes (Women). A statement issued by the church in Accra said the Order of Knighthood of Saints Christopher and Mary will go to the 11 deserving men and women as a unique honour bestowed on a person who has distinguished his or herself in service to the Church and Society. The ceremony, the first of its kind in the Church Province of West Africa, at the Church of Ascension will be supervised by the Most Rev Kattey assisted by Rt. Rev. Abraham Ackah, Bishop of Wiawso. Rt. Rev Ackah said: “Knighthood is a mission of sacrifice and should not simply be regarded as a reward for a job well done, but rather as a new call for greater responsibility in the Church. “A Knight has to pursue good in various ways, through personal sacrifice, sincerity and excellence displayed in profession in the service of the nation, church and God.” Rt. Rev Ackah said: “Each of the Knights-elect should remember that the best thing to think of whenever you remember yourself as a Knight is what is my work or duty as a lay member of the Church of God especially to the Anglican Church?” He congratulated the Knights-elect and wished them many more years of meritorious service to God and humanity. “All and sundry are invited to attend this unique function to make it a great success. It is our hope and prayer that the inauguration/establishment of the Knighthood in our Diocese will open new vistas that will give an impetus to the growth and development of our young but vibrant Diocese,” he stated. The Knights-elect are: Knight of Saint Christopher: Emmanuel Yaw Asante; William Benjamin Assuah; Kwesi Mintah-Benyin; Ngechu Obele; Thomas Bob Kingsley Osei; John Evans Quarshie and Yaw Eddie Gyapong. The Knights of Saint Mary are: Margaret Ackah; Agatha Arthur; Elizabeth Asante and Georgina Lartey. The Church of the Province of West Africa is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering 15 sees in West Africa, specifically Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Diocese are Accra, Cape-Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sekondi, Sunyani, Tamale, Wiawso and Dunkwa (Ghana), Bo (Sierra Leone), Cameroon (Region Missionaire), Freetown (Sierra Leone), The Gambia , Guinea , Liberia . The primate of the province is Archbishop Justice Akrofi. The Wiawso Diocese has links with the Diocese of Toronto, Canada, the Diocese of New York, and the Diocese of Los Angeles in the USA as well as the Diocese of Portsmouth in the UK. Five Parishes in the Diocese of Wiawso, through the Bishop Waltham Deanery are also linked with some Diocese abroad. It is the 9th Diocese in Ghana and was carved out from the Diocese of Sekondi in the Western Region. It was inaugurated in February 2006, with the Consecration and Enthronement of it first Bishop, Rt. Rev Abraham K Ackah in June 2006. The Diocese is co-terminus with the five political districts of: Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai; Sefwi Wiawso; Juaboso; Bia and Akontombra. Source: GNA