The Right Reverend Dr Solomon Tilewa Ethelbert Willie Johnson, Lord Bishop of The Gambia, has been installed and enthroned as the 1st Archbishop of the Internal Province of West Africa in the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA).
Dr Tilewa Johnson was at the same occasion enthroned as the Ninth Primate and Metropolitan of the CPWA, on Sunday 18 November 2012 at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary in Banjul, The Gambia.
The enthronement of the Most Revd Tilewa Johnson to the two offices was officially mandated by the Most Revd Dr Justice O. Akrofi, Archbishop and Primate of the CPWA.
The mandate was issued on 22 October 2012 after an Electoral College of the CPWA held on 28 September this year at Cuttington University in Liberia duly elected Dr Tilewa Johnson to the two offices.
The enthronement of the Lord Bishop of The Gambia was attended by Archbishops and Reverends from other parts of the world including Cameroun, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal.
It was also graced by the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, senior government officials, Christian and Muslim religious leaders and leaders of opposition parties in The Gambia such as UDP’s Ousainou Darboe and NRP’s Hamat Bah.
The Word of God on the occasion was ministered by Revd Dr Herman Beseah Browne, Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Monrovia, Liberia, who calls on all and sundry to work genuinely in their various walks of life as Haggai, the Lord’s messenger in the Holy Bible, delivered such a message of the Lord to the people.
In his oath after his enthronement, the Most Revd Dr Tilewa Johnson said: “I Solomon Tilewa Ethelbert Willie Johnson by Divine permission Archbishop and Primate in the Church of the Province of West Africa, do hereby promise to respect, maintain and defend the rights, privileges and liberties of the Province, and the rule therein with truth, justice and charity, not lording it over God’s heritage, but showing myself in all things an example to the flock. So Help Me God and These Holy Scriptures. Amen.”
Born Solomon Tilewa Ethelbert Willie Johnson to Samuel and Eliza Johnson on 27 February 1954, the Most Revd Dr Tilewa Johnson is husband to the Revd Mrs Priscilla M.G. Johnson with three children (two girls, one boy).
Brief Biography
The Most Revd Dr Tilewa Johnson attended the Wesley Primary School from 1962 to 1966. From 1966 to 1972, he attended Gambia High School. From 1977 to 1980 he obtained a diploma in Theology at the Trinity Union Theological College, Umuahia, Imo State, Nigeria. From 1982 to 1985, he obtained a BA (Hons) in Theology at the University of Durham, Durham, the UK, and from 1997 to 2000 he became a graduate of the Theological Foundation of Indiana in USA with a Doctorate degree in Applied Ministries.
The Most Revd Dr Tilewa Johnson was a Deacon from 1979 to 1980, a Priest from 1980 to 1990, and has been a Diocesan Bishop from 1990 to date.
He also has wide Ecumenical experience working and serving for many institutions and national committees, in addition to key positions held in the Anglican Communion.
