Cardinal Baawobr is now the highest-ranking member of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, succeeding His Eminence Philippe Cardinal Ouédraogo from Burkina Faso.

The cleric was elected in Accra, Ghana, through the nineteenth Plenary Meeting of SECAM, the affiliation of Catholic Bishops of Africa, Madagascar, and the Islands.

In attendance had been 130 members, together with cardinals and bishops representing over 600 catholic bishops of Africa.

Cardinal Fridolin Besungu Ambongo of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, within the Democratic Republic of Congo, was elected First Vice-President.

Most Rev. Lucio Andrice Muandula of the Diocese of Xai Xai, in Mozambique, was elected Second Vice President.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, President, Pan-African Episcopal Committee for Communications, stated it’s the first {that a} Ghanaian has been elected SECAM President.

Established in 1969 in Kampala, Uganda, through the go to of St. Pope Paul VI, the physique was shaped to current African Catholic Bishops’ positions on issues pertaining to the Church in Africa.

It’s headquartered in Accra and consists of eight regional associations together with Central Africa (ACEAC), Central African Area (ACERAC), and Egypt (AHCE).

Others are Japanese Africa (AMECEA), the Indian Ocean (CEDOI), North Africa (CERNA), Southern Africa (IMBISA), and West Africa (RECOWA/CERAO).

Baawobr and 20 different clergymen had been nominated as Cardinal by Pope Francis on Might 28, 2022. They might be inducted at a consistory on August 27.

The brand new SECAM chief will turn out to be the third Ghanaian Cardinal after the late Cardinal Peter Dery and His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson.