The first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Sarah Mullally, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Presidency in Accra on Monday.
Archbishop Mullally, the first female to hold the office in the Anglican Communion’s approximately 1,400-year history, is in Ghana on a 10-day visit to the Church of the Province of West Africa at the invitation of the Primate of West Africa, Archbishop Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith.
She was accompanied by her husband, Mr Eamonn Mullally, a delegation of Anglican Bishops in Ghana, and the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Christian Rogg.
President Mahama congratulated the Archbishop on her historic appointment, describing it as “a powerful affirmation of the contribution women continue to make to spiritual, professional and public leadership.”
He traced the Church’s historical ties to Ghana, citing the work of early Anglican missionaries in Cape Coast and the education legacy of Philip Quaque in the 18th century.
The President further commended the Anglican Church’s contributions to education, healthcare, social services, and community development, and noted shared values in advancing national priorities such as service to humanity, peaceful coexistence, good governance, and accountability.
He affirmed the Government’s commitment to economic stability, healthcare, education, youth employment, and social protection, while underscoring that the Archbishop’s visit deepens Ghana-United Kingdom relations.
In response, Archbishop Mullally highlighted the ground-breaking ceremony for a new pilgrim hostel project, the Church of Ghana’s Heritage Anglican Culture Village and Resorts initiative, which aims to narrate the story of the transatlantic slave trade and support spiritual healing and cultural rediscovery for the diaspora.
She also noted that the Anglican Church comprises 42 provinces across 164 countries worldwide.
