Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante (born 27 July 1947) is a Ghanaian Catholic prelate who was the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jasikan in Ghana, from 19 December 1994 until his retirement on 23 December 2025. Before that, from 2 July 1977 until he was appointed bishop, he was a Catholic priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Keta-Ho, in Ghana. He was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated and installed at Jasikan, on 28 May 1995. Pope Leo XIV accepted his retirement request on 23 December 2025.
Background and priesthood
Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante was born on 25 July 1947 in Nkonya Ahenkro, Diocese of Keta-Ho, Oti Region in Ghana. He studied Philosophy and theology at seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Keta-Ho on 2 July 1977. He served as priest until 19 December 1994.[1][2]
Bishop
On 19 December 1994, Pope John Paul II created the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jasikan by splitting the erstwhile Diocese of Keta-Ho. The Holy Father appointed Reverend Father Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante as the pioneer bishop of the new diocese, a suffragan of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Accra.[1][2]
He was consecrated bishop and installed at Jasikan on 28 May 1995 by Jozef Cardinal Tomko, Cardinal-Deacon of Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola assisted by Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, Bishop of Ho and Gregory Eebolawola Kpiebaya, Archbishop of Tamale.[1] He was still the local ordinary as of December 2024.[3]
On 23 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV accepted the retirement request submitted by Bishop Gabriel Akwasi Abiabo Mante from the pastral care of the Diocese of Jasikan, Ghana. The same day, The Holy Father appointed Simon Kofi Appiah to succeed as the new local ordinary at Jasikan.[4]
Succession table
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by(Diocese created) | Bishop of Jasikan (19 December 1994 - 23 December 2025) | Succeeded bySimon Kofi Appiah (since 23 December 2025) |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3]David M. Cheney (8 June 2025). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante (born 27 July 1947) Bishop of Jasikan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- 2.[2.2]Catholic Diocese of Jasikan (2025). "About The Most Reverend Gabriel Akwasi Ababio Mante, the Catholic Bishop of Jasikan". Roman Catholic Diocese of Jasikan. Jasikan, Ghana. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- 3.Daniel Orlando (31 December 2024). "Ghanaian Bishop writes to Police boss over delay in justice for Indian Priests brutally assaulted in Jasikan Diocese". CatholicTrends.com. Accra, Ghana. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- 4.Divine Chidubem (23 December 2025). "Bishop Gabriel Ababio Mante bows out as Chief Shepherd of Jasikan Diocese". Catholic Trends. Accra, Ghana. Retrieved 25 June 2026.