Archbishop of Canterbury pays courtesy call on President Mahama during first visit to Africa
Edited storyThe Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most ReverendSarah Mullally, on Monday, July 27, 2026, paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Presidency in Accra as part of her historic. . .
Edited storyThe Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most ReverendSarah Mullally, on Monday, July 27, 2026, paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Presidency in Accra as part of her historic first visit to Africa. Archbishop Mullally, the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, is in Ghana with her husband, Mr Eamonn Mullally, at the invitation of the Primate of West Africa, Archbishop Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith. The visit marks the beginning of her 10-day tour of the Church of the Province of West Africa. She was accompanied to the Presidency by a high-level delegation of Anglican bishops in Ghana, as well as the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Christian Rogg. Welcoming the Archbishop, President Mahama congratulated her on her historic appointment, describing it as a significant milestone in the Church’s nearly 1,400-year history. “Your appointment is historic, as you are the first woman to occupy the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in its approximately 1,400-year history,” the President said, adding that the achievement is a powerful affirmation of the growing contribution of women to spiritual, professional and public leadership. President Mahama highlighted the Anglican Church’s longstanding contribution to Ghana’s development, tracing its roots to the early Anglican missionaries in Cape Coast and the pioneering role of Philip Quaque, who was sent to England in the 18th century to study and help establish schools in Ghana. He commended the Church for its enduring commitment to promoting peace, justice, compassion and human dignity, as well as its contributions to education, healthcare, social services and community development. The President noted that the Government of Ghana and the Anglican Church share common values, including service to humanity, the protection of vulnerable people, peaceful coexistence, good governance, integrity and accountability. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring economic stability while ensuring that the benefits of development reach every Ghanaian through sustained investments in healthcare, education, youth employment and social protection. President Mahama also said Archbishop Mullally’s visit would further strengthen Ghana’s longstanding relations with the United Kingdom, recalling his recent audience with King Charles III. Speaking during the meeting, Archbishop Mullally said one of the key highlights of her visit would be the groundbreaking ceremony for the Church of Ghana’s Heritage Anglican Cultural Village and Resorts project, which will include a new pilgrim hostel. She explained that the project is intended to preserve the history of the transatlantic slave trade while promoting spiritual healing, reconciliation and cultural rediscovery for people of African descent in the diaspora. Archbishop Mullally also noted that the Anglican Communion is one of the world’s largest Christian communions, comprising 42 provinces across 164 countries. More Stories HereRelated