The Most Rev. Thomas Kwaku Mensah was on Saturday installed Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi at the Saint Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in Kumasi. The former Catholic Bishop of Obuasi succeeds Archbishop Emeritus Peter Akwasi Sarpong who retired on March 26 after 38 years of Episcopal service to the Catholic Church. President John Agyekum Kufuor and his wife Theresa, ministers of state, heads of some Christian denominations and the Islamic community attended the ceremony. Addressing the congregation Most Rev. Sarpong appealed to church leaders to vigorously proclaim the gospel to help minimize the high incidence of crimes and other social vices in the society. He decried the spate of armed robbery, lesbianism and homosexuality, indiscipline among the youth as well as bribery and corruption that had dominated the Ghanaian society in recent times. Most Rev. Sarpong exhorted church leaders to uphold the virtues and values of Christianity to help enhance the image of Christendom. “We should not turn the Gospel into an economic commodity or engage in practices that serve as disincentive to the growth of Christianity.” He said the central manifesto of Christianity was unity and peace and as such Christians should work hard to be at peace with other religious leaders to consolidate the peace the nation is enjoying. The former Kumasi Archbishop commended the Catholic Church for the support for him during his tenure and expressed the hope that the church would extend that support to the new Archbishop to enable him succeed in his work. The new Archbishop promised to collaborate with his predecessor in the performance of his duties for the growth of Catholicism in the metropolis and the country in general. He praised the Most Rev. Sarpong for his ability to improve upon the internal structures of the Catholic Church. That he said he will build on to foster unity among members and those in other denominations. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, appealed to the new Archbishop in a message delivered on his behalf to be committed to duty just as his predecessor to ensure the total development of the Church. Source: GNA