RT REV BORLABI BORTEY INDUCTED INTO OFFICE AS 5TH METHODIST BISHOP OF ACCRA

Story: Emmanuel Ashong, Accra

The Rt Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey has been inducted into office as the 5th Methodist Bishop of the Accra Diocese at a Service held at the Wesley Cathedral, Accra on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

The Service which was officiated by the Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, the Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, was witnessed by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

Rt Rev Borlabi Bortey was until his election as Bishop, the Superintendent Minister of the Gbawe McCarthy Hill Circuit in the Northern Accra Diocese.

The new Bishop was presented with the Holy Bible, the Methodist Constitution and other insignia of episcopal office and robed with Bishopric vestment and stole of office by the Immediate Past Bishop of the Accra Diocese, the Rt Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey.   

In a sermon delivered by the Immediate Past Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, The Most Rev Titus Awotwi Pratt, he charged the new Bishop to “Remain obedient to the master who called you into his ministry”, adding “Remember you are called to serve as a servant leader”. Most Rev Awotwi Pratt noted that the Bishop’s core duties were to shepherd God’s flock, be their teacher and mentor them towards sustaining the growth of the Church. 

In a brief remark, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency, Hon Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye pledged his support for the Bishop and wished him well during his tenure of office.

For his part, Bishop Borlabi Bortey thanked the Church for the honour done him and expressed his readiness to serve.

The Rt Rev Borlabi Bortey began his primary education at the then Nima Methodist Primary School from 1959 to 1962, and continued at Mrs Edu Sam's New Nation Preparatory School, Nima, where he passed the Common Entrance Examination and was enrolled at Accra High School in 1966. He proceeded to sixth Form at Mfantsipim School in 1971 and, upon successful completion, was admitted to the University of Ghana in 1973. He passed out with a B.A. (Hons) in the Study of Religions with Philosophy in 1976.

On completion of National Service, he was received to do a year's ministerial training in 1977 for commissioning into the Ordained Ministry of The Methodist Church Ghana in 1978.

Bishop Borlabi Bortey was commissioned as a Methodist Minister in January 1979 at the Wesley Chapel (now Cathedral) in Accra and ordained in 1980 at the August Conference of the Church held at the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel (now Cathedral) in Winneba.

He holds an M.A. (Research Degree) in the Study of Religions and for several years, worked with Asempa Publishers of the Christian Council of Ghana as General Manager.