Apostolic Nuncio visits Brong-Ahafo Region

Sunyani, May 22, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to the clergy not to hesitate in pointing out the shortfalls of politicians. He said the indispensable role of the church in nation building made the state and the church so inseparable from each other that "the leadership of the church needs to correct us whenever we are going astray".

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo was speaking during a courtesy call on him by Most Reverend Leon Kelenga, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana who is on a five-day pastoral visit to the Sunyani Diocese of the Catholic Church. Accompanied the Nuncio were Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Monsignors Richard Kyeremeh and Andrew Amankwaah, the Administrator of the Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani and the Chancellor of the diocese respectively.

The Regional Minister recounted the social and economic development projects in the areas of education, health and job-creation that the Catholic Church had been undertaking over the years. "That has actually helped tremendously in changing the lives of many for the better and generally the socio-economic transformation of the country", he said.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the goal of the government was to build and promote institutional democracy that is human-centered and not different from what the church is also doing to improve the lives of the people. He said the church could not be separated from politics and therefore called on the church to intervene when socially and economically things were not going right in the society. Most Reverend Kelenga said "the world today is suffering a lot as where there is no war and turmoil, there will be disease and consequently hunger and misery", adding the situation therefore needed inspirational and dynamic leaders to lead the people. He said his aim in the country was, beside all other functions, to assist in promoting education.

Most Reverend Kelenga appealed to the Regional Minister to help in reshaping, widening and tarring the 4.5 kilometres stretch of narrow and dusty road from Fiapre town to the Catholic University College campus. He lauded the cordial and harmonious relationship between the church and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) as well as the traditional authorities in the region. This, the Nuncio added, was necessary and encouraging since the church existed not in a vacuum but to partner the government in promoting the well-being of the people.

Most Rev Gyamfi congratulated the Regional Minister on his appointment and added that the Nuncio's visit was historic because that was the first time in the 130 years history of the Catholic Church in Ghana that an African had been appointed to represent the Pope in the country.

He said the bond of friendship between the church and the RCC in the region was "almost perfect". The Bishop informed the Minister that as part of his visit to the diocese the Nuncio would lead an investiture ceremony of five senior priests of the church who had been elevated monsignors by Pope Benedict XVI.