Most Rev. Matthias Kobina Nketsiah was born on April 14, 1942, at Kakumdo, about four (4) miles North of Cape Coast, on the Cape Coast-Jukwa Road to Opanyin Mark Kwame Kotoaba, a farmer, mason and a prayer-leader who also happened to be the Catechist of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Kakumdo and Elizabeth Nana Mansah, a farmer.
He was baptized at St. Lawrence Catholic church at Abura, by Rev. Fr. Peter Meewunord SMA, when he was two (2) weeks old and received his first Holy communion at the age of Seven; confirmed in the same year at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast by Archbishop William Thomas Porter.
His formal education began in 1948 at St. Lawrence Primary School, Abura, and continued at St. Francis de Sales Primary School in Cape Coast from 1955 – 1956. St. Augustine’s Practice School was the venue for his middle school education from 1956 – 1958. In 1958, his desire to become a catholic priest was given a brighter light when he was admitted to St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary, Amisano to start his priestly studies and formation, which he completed in 1964 with GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels. In the year 1964 he gained admission to St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, and was ordained to the Priesthood in July 19, 1970.
His first appointment was to St. Anthony’s Parish Agona Swedru in 1970, where he worked with the Late Msgr. John Victor Mensah as the Parish Priest. Rev. Fr. Matthias Kobina Nketsiah with his pastoral zeal took care of 33 stations under Agona Swedru parish and later has to take care of another 33 stations under Apam parish making 66 stations in all.
In 1973 he was transferred to St. Teresa’s Seminary Amisano as a Lecturer and formator. There he thought Geography and Bible Study (Form 1 – 3) and Religious Studies (Lower and Upper 6th Forms). After two years on the staff, he was sent to Rome for further Studies in Canon Law at the Universita Urbaniana
After four years in Rome, he returned home in 1979 haven obtained Doctorate degree in Canon Law (DCL). On his return, he was appointed to the staff of St. Peter’s Regional Seminary as a Lecturer in Canon Law and a formator. After two years at Pedu Seminary, he was then appointed to help out at the Archdiocesan Secretariat as Assistant Secretary to Rev. Bro. Rex, the then Secretary and later appointed to St. Michael’s Parish at Ajumako-Bisease as Parish Priests, the position he held for six years. He was also a member of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of the Cape Coast Ecclesiastical Province in 1990 and was also appointed the Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast.
He was appointed the Vicar General by His Grace Most Rev. Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson a position he held till he was consecrated the Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast in the year 2007.
In 2010, he was installed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast at the time His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson was made the Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
On August 12, 2012, Most Rev. Matthias Kobina Nketsiah was appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, when that Diocese became vacant because of the resignation of the Ordinary Most Rev. Bishop John Martin Darko, by reason of ill-health, in accordance with Can. 401 par 2.
In September 2017, he tendered in his resignation from office to the Holy Father, Pope Frances in accordance with Can. 401 par 1.
Since then he has been living in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast as Emeritus Archbishop of Cape Coast.