Catholic Diocese finds suspended priest at Koforidua Police Training Centre

The Catholic Diocese of Konongo-Mampong has confirmed that Reverend Father Samuel Adapore, who was suspended, has been discovered at the Police Training Centre in Koforidua, Ghana's Eastern Region. This revelation came in a statement issued by the Diocese on August 27, 2026, in response to criticisms regarding the priest's indefinite suspension.

According to the Diocese, Father Adapore chose voluntarily to participate in the training program at the Training Centre and to undergo training to join the Ghana Police Service. The Diocese did not specify when Father Adapore arrived at the Training Centre or provide more details about his decision. The clarification followed social media criticism about the suspension, with questions raised about whether efforts were made to locate and ensure the priest's welfare before disciplinary action was taken.

The Diocese noted that while the suspension raises valid concerns about welfare and safety, it is not mutually exclusive with maintaining ecclesiastical discipline. The Diocese emphasized that a public announcement of a disciplinary decision does not encompass all pastoral, administrative, and personal steps taken in the case. The Diocese defended its decision, stating that a bishop has responsibilities both to the priest and the parish and the wider Catholic community.

It argued that even if a priest leaves his assignment without authorization, the Bishop still has a responsibility to ensure pastoral ministry continues. The Diocese clarified that the suspension does not mean Father Adapore has ceased to be a priest or that the Church has abandoned him. Instead, it restricts the exercise of certain priestly functions.

The Diocese also addressed concerns about the canonical basis for the suspension, stating that while Canon 533 requires a pastor to reside in his parish, the provision must be viewed in the context of the full canonical framework. The Diocese noted that a priest's absence does not prevent church authorities from taking measures to ensure the Church's continued functioning.

It reiterated that an accused priest must be afforded his rights under Canon Law, but also noted that an inability to contact a person does not prevent ecclesiastical governance from taking place indefinitely. Lastly, the Diocese clarified the meaning of suspension a divinis, stating that it restricts the exercise of certain priestly functions without indicating that the priest has ceased to be a priest or that the Church has abandoned him.