Catholic Bishops in Ghana Call on Christians to “never get tired of praying for peace”

Accra, 14 April, 2022 / 11:30 PM

Catholic Bishops in Ghana have, in their Easter 2022 message, called on followers of Christ in the West African nation to persistently pray for peace amid violent conflict in the country and elsewhere.

In their Easter message circulated under theme, “Returning to Galilee, Finding the Path to Peace and Hope in a Time of Crisis”, members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) appeal for prayers for peace in Ghana’s Bawku region, and for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Let us never get tired of praying for peace, because a Church on its knees is stronger than an army on its feet,” the Catholic Bishops in Ghana say in their message dated Monday, April 11.

They add, “As Christians, our faith tells us that prayer can help bring about peace in times and places of war.”

In the statement signed by GCBC President, Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale Archdiocese, the Catholic Church leaders say the resurrection of Christ is a call to all humanity, especially Christians, to “break the barriers that keep us separated or divided.”

They explain, “This is because through the cross and the resurrection, God has created from all the races of this world, one common race and one family for Himself.”  

GCBC members add that on the evening of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and greeted them, “Peace be with you.”

“The risen Lord's gift of peace was meant not only for His disciples, but for the whole world,” they say, and regret the fact that “this gift of the Prince of Peace is often rejected by acts of conflicts, wars and division.”

“Thus, when we look all around us, we see conflicts, wars, and the horrors associated with these acts of evil,” they say and highlight the protracted violence among the Kusasi and Mamprusi people of Bawku region in the Northeastern part of Ghana and the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as some of the crises, and reiterate, “Let us never get tired of praying for peace.”

GCBC members say they are praying for the success of Pope Francis’ two-African-nation pastoral trip that is to begin in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and conclude in South Sudan.

When realized, the July 2-7 pastoral trip to the two African countries will mark the Pope’s third visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

The journey will be the first-ever Papal visit to South Sudan and the third Papal trip to DRC, which is home to Africa's largest Catholic population.

In their Easter 2022 message, Catholic Bishops in Ghana say they hope the Papal visit will help the whole of the African continent to experience the gift of God's peace, hope and blessing.

In their three-page message, GCBC members who describe Easter as a time of hope and new life for Christians urge the people of God in the West African nation to remain optimistic amid life’s challenges. 

“In the light of this hope, we are called to deal with the continuous difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and all other crises that the world and our nation in particular, may be experiencing now,” they say. 

“Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Easter is a privileged time to encounter the risen Jesus and to listen to His instructions concerning the Kingdom of God. Jesus assures us of His abiding presence among us," Catholic Bishops in Ghana say in their April 11 Easter message. 

They add in reference to Jesus, "He is never far from us but always near. Therefore, like the two disciples who encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus, let us constantly pray to Him, saying: 'Stay with us, [Lord].'"