“Let us carry Ghana like a sick man to Jesus”: Catholic Bishops’ President at Sacred Heart of Jesus Congress Conclusion

He went on to highlight “distorted values, terrorism, negligence of the poor, the destruction of water bodies and farmlands, bribery and corruption, threats of election violence, the promotion of LGBTQ identities to harm, hurt, and destroy the families” as some of the challenges that must be addressed.

The Ghanaian Catholic Church leader expressed concern over the diminishing authority of public officials and traditional leaders, particularly in addressing the highlighted challenges.

He said, “Most of our politicians and traditional leaders are not protecting us because they are selfishly involved in the monstrous rape of our economy and environment.”

“We know that the authority of public officials and our traditional leaders is diminishing, and this is evidence in their inability to cure the nation, to bring healing, as it is evidence in their inability to stop illegal gold mining (galamsey) and bribery and corruption,” the GCBC President lamented.

He continued, “It is common knowledge among the greater majority of the Ghanaian public that our political and traditional leaders have failed and continue to fail to protect our farmland and have looked on as the rivers we drink from are poisoned.”

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“Many are themselves profiting from the galamsey activities at the expense of we the weak, the poor. We know there are heavy taxes imposed on many of us when the very many rich escape payment of the required taxes,” Bishop Kwasi said.

He further said, “We know there is something wrong with our country. And we know there has always been something wrong with our successive governments and leaders. It is not very difficult to conclude that our country has faced and is facing challenging times.”

Despite these challenges, Bishop Kwasi called for hope, grounded in faith and action. 

“We should fight and act spiritually and do all we can. We, as Christians, as Catholics, should do something,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader added, “With Jesus, and through the intercession of his mother Mary, we as a church, a nation, will overcome all the sustained attacks on our country, all the sustained attacks on our traditional and Christian values, which are the very fabric and foundation of our communities and country.”

Bishop Kwasi looked to Ghana’s polls planned for December 7 with optimism, saying, “Under the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we will, we shall peacefully sail through the upcoming elections and any other socioeconomic challenges that there may be. And we will come out of all these challenges as a stronger and a more united country.”

He cautioned against despair and emphasized the need to foster hope amid challenges.

“Don’t give up hope. Pray for those who are frightened. Be strong. Fear not. Here is your God. He comes with vindication, with divine deliverance,” the Ghanaian Catholic Bishop said.

He called on politicians, traditional leaders, and other opinion leaders to “stand up as a matter of urgency and take up their responsibility of protecting the water we drink and the farmlands that place food on the table of families.”

“If they are unable to take action to protect these basic needs of the poor, then they are false leaders who do not deserve their names and positions,” Bishop Kwasi said at the conclusion of the September 5-8 Congress that was realized under the theme, “National Sacred Heart of Jesus Enthronement Centre, Ghana @ 50: Building a Synodal Church, the Role of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotional Practices by the Catholic Family.”

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Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.