Takoradi, May 8, GNA - The Very Rev. John Harvey-Ewusi, 64, Superintendent Minister of the Takoradi circuit of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church was on Saturday elected Bishop of the Diocese with 87 out of 100 votes cast at the on-going synod.

He defeated Rt. Rev. Titus Awotwi-Pratt currently at the Methodist headquarters who polled 10 votes with the remaining three, going to Rt. Rev. Albert Ofoe Wright the out-going administrative Bishop of the Church

The election was conducted and supervised by Rt. Rev. Joseph P. Impraim, Bishop of the Oda Ddiocese, who is also the electoral commissioner of the church.

Mr. Thomas K. Mensah, headmaster of the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) was also elected as the diocesan lay chairman. He polled 86 votes, while Mrs. Esther Lily Nkansah, former Western Regional Minister had 14 of the total votes cast.

The Bishop and Lay Chairman elect will serve six and three years in office respectively.

Mrs. Christina Blankson, a Director of Church and Society Division of the church who was contesting for the lay chairman position stepped-down at the last minute.

Rt. Rev. Kow B. Egyir, Bishop of the diocese expressed his appreciation to members of the synod for the peaceful manner in which the elections were held.

He appealed to members of the Church to support the new leadership of the Church in the Diocese, adding, "God raises people according his will."

Very Rev. Harvey-Ewusi, Bishop-elect, thanked Synod for choosing him and pledged to work hard for the spiritual, physical and other needs of the Diocese.

The five day synod was on the theme empowering the ;physically challenged.