KUMASI, DIOCESE of. - It is a relatively recent mission (11 Feb. 1932), erected as an apostolic vicariate with territory detached from that of the Gold Coast (v.). On 18 Apr. 1950 it was raised to the status of a diocese; it has an area of 62,873 sq. km. and a population of 823,672 inhabitants, the majority pagans. There are 65,000 Protestants and 70,000 Muslims; native Catholics number 40,768 and catechumens 21,103.
The apostolate is carried out in 8 quasi-parishes with 4 principal stations and 462 secondary stations, and is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of African Missions, 27 in all; they are assisted by 9 European nuns and 120 native catechists. There are 253 elementary schools with 19,660 pupils, 25 secondary schools with 2,871, and several other young people study outside the vicariate: the mission has a minor seminary with 12 students. The baptisms of adult converts during the last fiscal year (1948–49) numbered 2,066, and those of children 1,581. Two periodicals with fairly substantial circulations are published there.