Joseph Ganda
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Ganda was the Archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo
in Sierra Leone
.
Born in the village Serabu in the Bo
district, he was the first in the area to study for the priesthood.
He completed seminary training at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu
, Nigeria
in 1955 returning home a Deacon.
On 9 April 1961 he was ordained the first priest of Sierra Leone (just two weeks before its political independence). He was made the first Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Kenema in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone in 1971.
On 23 November 1980 he was installed as the first native-born archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freetown in Sierra Leone. While archbishop, Ganda oversaw the construction of the St. Paul Cathedral in Kenema
, the St. Paul's Seminary in Regent, Freetown, and he is credited with encouraging young people to join the service of the Church, either as priests or nuns.
He retired 2 March 2007, after almost thirty-six years of Catholic ministry. He was replaced as archbishop by Edward Tamba Charles.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo
Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese Freetown and Bo in Sierra Leone was elevated from a diocese on November 11, 1970. On 22 March 2007 Joseph Henry Ganda retired as archbishop of the Archdiocese after 26 years in the post...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Born in the village Serabu in the Bo
Bo, Sierra Leone
Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District...
district, he was the first in the area to study for the priesthood.
He completed seminary training at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu
Enugu State
Enugu State is a mainland state in southeastern Nigeria. Its capital is Enugu, from which the state - created in 1991 from the old Anambra State - derives its name. The principal cities in the state are Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Oji, and Nsukka....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 1955 returning home a Deacon.
On 9 April 1961 he was ordained the first priest of Sierra Leone (just two weeks before its political independence). He was made the first Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Kenema in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone in 1971.
On 23 November 1980 he was installed as the first native-born archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freetown in Sierra Leone. While archbishop, Ganda oversaw the construction of the St. Paul Cathedral in Kenema
Kenema
Kenema is the third largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Eastern Province with a population of 128,402 in the 2004 census and a more recent estimate of 169,937...
, the St. Paul's Seminary in Regent, Freetown, and he is credited with encouraging young people to join the service of the Church, either as priests or nuns.
He retired 2 March 2007, after almost thirty-six years of Catholic ministry. He was replaced as archbishop by Edward Tamba Charles.