Joseph Kweku Essien

Joseph Francis Kweku Essien (born 25 November 1945) is a Ghanaian Catholic prelate who was the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wiawso in Ghana from 22 December 1999 until his age-related retirement on 26 January 2023. Before that, from 10 July 1977 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi. He was appointed bishop on 22 December 1999 by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated and installed at Wiawso, Ghana on 25 March 2000. While in retirement, he served as apostolic administrator of Wiawso Diocese from 26 January until 21 April 2023.

Background and education He was born on 25 November 1945 in Apowa, Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana. Other reliable sources give his birthplace as "Nkroful, near Sekondi". He studied at Fijai Secondary School from 1961 until 1966. He then transferred to Saint Teresa's Minor Seminary, Amisano in Elmina, where he studied from 1969 until 1971. He then entered Saint Peter's Regional Seminary, Pedu in Cape Coast, where he studied Philosophy and Theology from 1971 until 1977. In 1991, he studied at the Ghana Military Academy, graduating, later that year as a Lieutenant.

Priest On 10 July 1977, he was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi. He served as a priest until 22 Dec 1999. While in retirement, Bishop Joseph Francis Kweku Essien served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Wiawso from the date he retired until 25 April 2023, the date his successor was consecrated and installed.