The Bishop of Asante Mampong, Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, will become the next Archbishop of the internal province of Ghana in the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA). Bishop Cyril will succeed Archbishop Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, who retires on 12 February. The CPWA has two internal provinces: Ghana and West Africa. The Primate alternates between the two.

The Archbishop-elect was elected at a special synod held at the Cathedral Church of Saint Cyprian in Kumasi, Ghana, on Saturday (15 January), with 18 votes. The Bishop of Accra, Dr Daniel Torto, received 15 votes.

The son of a priest – the Venerable Andrew Ben-Smith – Bishop Cyril was born on 21 February 1964. He was ordained into the diaconate at Saint Cyprian Cathedral Church in December 1988; and priested in August 1989 at Saint Justin’s Anglican Church in Nkawie, Ghana. He became Canon of the Cathedral Church of Saint Cyprian before being consecrated as suffragan Bishop of Kumasi in May 2011. A few years later, on 30 November 2014, he was enthroned as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Asante Mampong.

After graduating from Saint Nicholas Anglican Seminary in Cape Coast in 1988, he continued his studies overseas, earning an MA in Religion, majoring in philosophy of religion, apologetics and comparative religions at Asia United Theological College; and an MA in Philosophy Research, majoring in sociology of religion and new religious movements at the University of Wales in Cardiff, Wales. He was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy by Manchester University in England.

The Archbishop-elect had a lengthy academic career, serving at various times and roles at Christian Service University College in Kumasi, Saint Nicholas Anglican Seminary in Cape-Coast, the Centre for Theological Studies in Kumasi, and Selly Oak College in the University of Birmingham.

In addition to his ordained ministry in Ghana, Bishop Cyril has served parishes in Seoul, Cardiff and London.