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Let’s Foster “direct involvement in eco-friendly projects”: Catholic Official to Ghana’s Bishops, Religious Superiors

By Jude Atemanke

Accra, 10 October, 2024 / 8:59 pm (ACI Africa).

Much more can be achieved in addressing the challenges Ghana is grappling with, including environmental problems and gaps in governance, when synergy between members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) and their counterparts in the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious - Ghana (CMSR-GH) is fostered, a Catholic Priest in the country has said.

In his address during the Second Biannual Meeting of CMSR-GH on Wednesday, October 9 at Brofoyaw in the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Fr. Micheal Kobina Ackon Quaicoe, underscored the important role of the Church in promoting sustainability, peace, and integrity in the West African nation. 

“Ghana, our beloved nation, is blessed with abundant resources, cultural diversity, and a heritage of faith. Yet, we face significant challenges that hinder our path to a sustainable, peaceful, and corruption-free society,” Fr. Quaicoe said.

The Director of GCBC’s Governance, Justice, and Peace Commission (GJPC) added, “Today, we are called upon as Church leaders to reflect on how, as the Conference of Major Superiors of Ghana and Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, we can strengthen our collaboration to address these pressing challenges, in line with our Catholic faith and social responsibility.”

“Our combined efforts in promoting sustainable development must include education, advocacy, and direct involvement in eco-friendly projects,” he said during the conference realized under the theme, “Working Together for a Sustainable, Peaceful, and Corruption-Free Ghana.”

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He added, “The CMSG, through its religious communities, can partner the GCBC to promote sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and environmental stewardship programs in local communities.”

Ghana’s Catholic Bishops, with their broad national influence, Fr. Quaicoe said, “should consider CMSG in its advocacy strategies and efforts for policies that ensure environmental protection at the governmental level – local and national.”

“This partnership allows us to utilize our diverse strengths to influence both grassroots action and national policy, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability,” he further said, adding, “The CMSR-GH and GCBC can work hand in hand to promote peace by strengthening conflict resolution and peace-building initiatives across the country.”

“CMSR-GH, with its diverse religious orders, can foster peace through community-level projects and spiritual direction, while the GCBC can use its platform to encourage dialogue among political leaders, civil society, and traditional authorities,” he said. 

The Director of GCBC’s GJPC said that “the Church’s moral authority places us in a unique position to mediate conflicts and promote peace in our communities and nation. Together, we can lead peace campaigns, workshops, and outreach programs that reinforce the importance of unity in diversity.”

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He went to underscore the importance of peace, saying, “Peace is the bedrock of any thriving society. As a Church, we are called to be peacemakers.”

The Ghanaian Catholic Priest called for vigilance in safeguarding Ghana's peace, especially in the face of potential political tensions between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the general elections slated for December 7.

He described corruption as a “major obstacle to Ghana's development” and called on members of the CMSR-GH and GCBC to be moral beacons in the fight against the vice, advocating for transparency and ethical leadership.

“The absence of the necessary levels of moral integrity in our social fabric is a debilitating deficit,” Fr. Quaicoe said, and called upon the Church leadership to lead by example in fostering a corruption-free society. 

He encouraged joint anti-corruption initiatives in schools, parishes, and local communities to raise awareness about the dangers of the vice, promoting accountability at all levels of governance.

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Fr. Quaicoe emphasized the Church’s role in shaping Ghana’s social, economic, and political landscape, saying that through collaboration, CMSR-GH and GCBC members can engage in large-scale development projects focused on poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and healthcare.

“Our strength lies in unity,” he said, and called upon Church leaders to commit to the shared mission of building a sustainable, peaceful, and corruption-free Ghana. 

"Together, we are uniquely placed to build a nation where peace reigns, resources are cherished, and corruption is eradicated," Fr. Quaicoe declared.

He implored, "May God bless our efforts, and make our nation, Ghana, peaceful, sustainable, corruption-free, great and strong."

Jude Atemanke

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.