Catholic Bishops in Ghana “sympathize with all” Affected by Tidal Waves

The Catholic Church leaders also urge the country’s leadership to look for the necessary resources to construct the second phase of the Keta Sea Defense Wall, which is aimed at protecting the Ghanaian shoreline from existing and future erosion. 

Towns located along Ghana’s coastline have fallen victim to tidal waves over the years. 

In April this year, at least 50 people were displaced by tidal waves affecting their communities in the Ketu South Municipality.

The Bishops released the November 12 statement at the end of their plenary assembly that was held under the theme ‘Fratelli Tutti and Covid-19: Pastoral Opportunities and Challenges in Ghana.’

Reflecting on the 2020 Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, GCBC members say that the Holy Father’s message on fraternity has become more pertinent in the wake of the COVID-19.

“The Church in Ghana is herald of this message to our nation and among our people,” they say, and add that the pandemic has brought both challenges and opportunities for the people of God. 

The Catholic Bishops note that in efforts to curb the spread of the disease which was first recorded in Ghana in March 2020, public celebrations of Holy Mass in the country were suspended for several months. 

They call on the faithful to resume their religious activities despite the COVID-19 challenges.

They also urge Ghanaians to receive the COVID-19 vaccine “so to protect their lives and those of others.”

The Catholic Church leaders also note that the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced new prospects for the Church's mission in the West African nation and outline the use of technology as a pastoral tool and the revisiting of the domestic church as some of the opportunities brought by COVID-19. 

In their communiqué issued in St. Andrew's Cathedral of Wa Diocese on November 12, the Catholic Bishops also reaffirm their "unflinching support" for the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill of 2021, which they said seeks to “nip in the bud” the socio-moral canker of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Plus (LGBTQIA+). 

"The position of the Catholic Church on LGBTQIA+ has remained the same; that, such practices are against not only Christian values, but Muslim and Ghanaian traditional values as well," GCBC members say. 

They also laud President Nana Akufo-Addo for his vision and commitment to build a National Cathedral. 

President Akufo-Addo government is spearheading the construction of the national interdenominational cathedral of Ghana with a seating capacity of 5,000 people, expected to be unveiled in 2023.

In their November 12 communiqué, Catholic Bishops in Ghana say the interdenominational Cathedral will be a place of prayer and serve as a symbol of unity for all Christians in the West African nation.  

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They call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to "contribute generously towards the building of the National Cathedral to the glory of God."

In August, Catholic Bishops in Ghana reportedly faulted the government for not consulting with Christian leaders in the country in calling on citizens to donate at least 100GHC (US$6.00) monthly for the construction of a national interdenominational cathedral.

“I think the modality for funding the project should've been different,” GCBC members said in the August 4 report, and underscored the need for the government to consult with Christian leaders in the country, even if it is a “minimum level of consultation.”

Launched by Ghana’s government in March 2017 as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence, the cathedral is to be built next to the parliament building in the center of the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

When complete, the structure is to have space for official state and religious activities and would symbolize the enormous contribution of faith to the building of the nation.