CYO faces logistics, financial challenges - Bishop Anokye

Wa, Aug. 28, GNA - The Most Reverend Gabriel Justice Anokye, Catholic Bishop of Obuasi and Episcopal Chairman of Catholic Youth Organisation, (CYO) has observed that the organisation was facing structural, infrastructural, logistical and financial challenges. He said the national, provincial, diocesan and parochial levels of the CYO needed offices, equipment, materials, vehicles, active personnel and financial support to operate effectively and efficiently to achieve their objectives, vision and mission. Most Rev. Anokye was addressing the opening session of the 60th anniversary celebration of the Organisation under the theme: "Ghana CYO at 60: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward" at Wa.

He said "When dues are not paid promptly and fully, the implementation of planned programmes becomes difficult. These financial constraints are not peculiar to the CYO; other groups in the church are seriously and financially challenged." Most Rev. Anokye noted that membership drive and enrolment had been a major challenge in some dioceses under the notion that the CYO was solely for a certain category of the youth. He said the CYO was the largest youth group in the Catholic Church that had produced many well-trained, committed and generous Catholics since its inception.

Most Rev. Anokye said CYO had contributed immensely in building the capacity, expertise and entrepreneurial skills of many Catholics over the years to promote evangelism in Ghana. He called for periodic seminars to study Government's Youth Policy and the Youth Policy of the Church for implementation. Most Rev. Anokye suggested the establishment of small and medium scale enterprises to help engage the youth to collaborate with and learn from other youth groups to enhance their potentials, talents and generate income for CYO activities.