Tamale (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Philip Naameh, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 30 May 1977
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ghana
Square Kilometers: 7,383 (2,851 Square Miles)
Description: Tamale Metropolitan, Tolon, Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, East Gonja, and Kpandai Districts
Official Web Site: https://archtamale.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box TL 42, Gumbehini Rd., Tamale, N.R., Ghana
Telephone: (037)20.22.732

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo
- Latin Name: de Navrongo
- Erected: 11 January 1926
- Country: Ghana
Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo
- Latin Name: de Navrongo
- Elevated: 26 February 1934
- Vicariate
- Country: Ghana
Diocese of Tamale
- Latin Name: Tamalensis
- Elevated: 18 April 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cape Coast
- Country: Ghana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Oscar Morin, M. Afr. † (14 Apr 1926 Appointed - 15 Apr 1947 Resigned)
Gérard Bertrand, M. Afr. † (10 Jun 1948 Appointed - 12 Apr 1957 Appointed, Bishop of Navrongo)
Gabriel Champagne, M. Afr. † (12 Apr 1957 Appointed - 23 Jun 1972 Resigned)
Peter Poreku Dery † (18 Nov 1974 Appointed - 26 Mar 1994 Retired)
Gregory Eebolawola Kpiebaya † (26 Mar 1994 Appointed - 12 Feb 2009 Retired)
Philip Naameh (12 Feb 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo
11 January 1926	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Ouagadougou (Media Valley)	Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo (erected)
28 May 1932	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Territory between Kumasi and Navrongo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo
Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo
26 February 1934	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo	Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo
Diocese of Tamale
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo	Diocese of Tamale
23 April 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Keta Diocese of Tamale	Diocese of Navrongo (erected) (Kassena Builsa and Mamprussi)
3 November 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Tamale (Wa with Lawra and Tumu)	Diocese of Wa (erected)
Archdiocese of Tamale
30 May 1977	Elevated	Diocese of Tamale	Archdiocese of Tamale
3 February 1995	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Tamale (Western Gonja and Bole)	Diocese of Damongo (erected)
16 March 1999	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Tamale (Yendi, Oushiegu-Karaga, Bimbilla, Saboba-Chereponi, and Zabzugu-Tatale)	Diocese of Yendi (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Tamale

1950 33,080 3 3 11,026 31 8 ap1951

1970 8,093 470,000 1.7% 33 33 245 38 16 10 ap1971

Archdiocese of Tamale

1980 15,020 780,000 1.9% 2 41 43 349 60 43 15 ap1981

1990 23,371 862,000 2.7% 24 32 56 417 69 49 16 ap1991

1999 11,407 605,000 1.9% 26 18 44 259 83 41 12 ap2000

2000 19,134 1,171,000 1.6% 25 18 43 444 87 38 9 ap2001

2001 14,718 703,488 2.1% 28 15 43 342 29 35 8 ap2002

2002 15,168 703,488 2.2% 32 14 46 329 76 39 8 ap2003

2003 15,912 703,488 2.3% 30 14 44 361 82 39 8 ap2004

2004 16,506 703,488 2.3% 32 14 46 358 82 39 9 ap2005

2010 20,567 816,000 2.5% 35 18 53 388 82 39 11 ap2011

2014 17,157 889,000 1.9% 34 15 49 350 49 40 13 ap2015

2017 19,820 948,500 2.1% 34 22 56 353 51 41 16 ap2018

2020 20,820 996,870 2.1% 41 21 62 335 60 38 16 ap2021

2022 23,330 1,116,909 2.1% 52 22 74 315 64 46 18 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Tamale
1950	33,080			3		3	11,026		31	8	ap1951
1970	8,093	470,000	1.7%		33	33	245	38	16	10	ap1971
Archdiocese of Tamale
1980	15,020	780,000	1.9%	2	41	43	349	60	43	15	ap1981
1990	23,371	862,000	2.7%	24	32	56	417	69	49	16	ap1991
1999	11,407	605,000	1.9%	26	18	44	259	83	41	12	ap2000
2000	19,134	1,171,000	1.6%	25	18	43	444	87	38	9	ap2001
2001	14,718	703,488	2.1%	28	15	43	342	29	35	8	ap2002
2002	15,168	703,488	2.2%	32	14	46	329	76	39	8	ap2003
2003	15,912	703,488	2.3%	30	14	44	361	82	39	8	ap2004
2004	16,506	703,488	2.3%	32	14	46	358	82	39	9	ap2005
2010	20,567	816,000	2.5%	35	18	53	388	82	39	11	ap2011
2014	17,157	889,000	1.9%	34	15	49	350	49	40	13	ap2015
2017	19,820	948,500	2.1%	34	22	56	353	51	41	16	ap2018
2020	20,820	996,870	2.1%	41	21	62	335	60	38	16	ap2021
2022	23,330	1,116,909	2.1%	52	22	74	315	64	46	18	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M. Afr. †
Gérard Bertrand, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jun 1948; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 12 Apr 1957)
Gabriel Champagne, M. Afr. † (Bishop: 12 Apr 1957 to 23 Jun 1972)
Peter Poreku Dery † (Priest: 11 Feb 1951 to 3 Nov 1959; Bishop: 18 Nov 1974; Archbishop: 30 May 1977 to 26 Mar 1994)
Gregory Eebolawola Kpiebaya † (Archbishop: 26 Mar 1994 to 12 Feb 2009)
Oscar Morin, M. Afr. † (Prefect: 14 Apr 1926; Vicar Apostolic: 26 Feb 1934 to 15 Apr 1947)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Navrongo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 299, and Page 300
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 367, and Page 368
Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 27, Page 70, and Page 71
Diocese of Tamale
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619
Archdiocese of Tamale
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 498, and Page 499

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Archdiocese of Tamale

Archidioecesis Tamalensis