At the end of its nine-day Plenary Assembly, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference lamented that the desire for money, which has taken the centre stage in all aspects of life, is having a telling effect on society. This has therefore become a big challenge to the new evangelisation.
“The desire to make quick money and by whatever means possible is bringing a huge social cost and untold suffering to the poor and vulnerable in our midst.”
These were contained in a Communiqué read by Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of the Bishops’ Conference at the closing Mass of the Plenary Assembly at the Sunyani Christ the King Cathedral on the theme: The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith in Ghana. The Assembly was attended by all the Bishops of Ghana.
The Bishops were sad that there were growing inequalities in our society fueled by corruption and other forms of malfeasance in recent times.
“Corruption comes in all forms and occurs in all places of our public and social life; it occurs in our Churches, in our educational institutions, and in our health facilities”.
We are all culpable of what is happening in this country since advertently or inadvertently, we stoke the fires of greed and materialism anytime we give or receive bribes, when we steal Church, public and private funds or misuse public property for personal gain,” they added.
The Communiqué said “It is with great concern that we view the reports in the media about malfeasance in some of our public institutions.”
It called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), and all other anti-corruption bodies mandated to protect the common good to purse, to fight graft in our public sector, and ensure that public office-holders are held accountable for their actions.
The current situation whereby investigations and prosecution of corrupt public officers-holders yield no concrete results, “is highly regrettable and seems to encourage further mal-practices”, the Communiqué pointed out.
It also appealed to the Government to ensure that all the law enforcement agencies were properly resourced and given the free hand to carry out their statutory tasks and to avoid creating any impression in the minds of Ghanaians that Government condone and encourage a culture of impunity.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu retained his position as the President of the Conference for another three years. Bishop Adanuty was also re-elected as the Vice President of the Conference; while Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra is in-charge of Laity and Youth;
Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale, Social Communications; Most Rev. Matthias Nketsiah, Archbishop of Cape Coast, Juridical Matters; and Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye, Archbishop of Kumasi, Biblical Apostolate.
Most Rev. Paul Bemile, Bishop of Wa is responsible for Governance, Justice and Peace; Most Rev. Gabriel A.A. Mante, Bishop of Jasikan, Social Development; Most Rev. Peter Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso, Vocations, Seminaries and Chaplaincies; Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, SVD, Bishop of Yendi, Raptim, Travel and Tours; and Most Rev. Joseph Francis Essien, Bishop of Wiawso, Liturgy and Sacred Music.
The Bishop responsible for Education and Religious Education is Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani; Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, Health; Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Apostolic Vicar of Donkorkrom is in-charge of Clergy and Religious; Most Rev. Dominic Yeboah-Nyarko , Bishop of Techiman, Pontifical Mission Societies; Most Rev. Peter Paul Ankgyier, Bishop of Damongo, Inter-Religious Dialogue; Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgantanga, National Catholic Service Centre and Most Rev. Thomas Mensah, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi is in charge of GCBC finances.
By Damian Avevor