The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has opened is plenary session in Wa, Upper West Regional capital to deliberate issues related to the impact of the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic on pastoral work in the country.
The conference, on the theme: “Fratelli Tutti and Covid-19: Pastoral Opportunities and Challenges in Ghana”, would also discuss the development challenges the COVID-19 has posed to the country and the potentials there of.
Speaking at the opening of the conference in Wa on Monday, the Bishop of Wa, Most Reverend Richard Kuuia Baawobr, recounted the achievement of the catholic church in improving the livelihood of the people in the region.
He cited the development of social communities, establishment of a printing press and a radio station (Radio Progress) and basic, secondary and tertiary institutions among others in the region.
“In terms of pioneering efforts the church often took the lead in the region in the provision of social amenities and infrastructure couple with gender and development, natural family planning, disaster management food security, agriculture and environmental protection and management”, Most Rev. Bishop Baawobr explained.
The Bishop said a major challenge in the region is environmental degradation and desertification “contrary to the exhortation of Pope Francis in Laudato si”.
“We will never relent on our efforts at conscientizing the people on the need to change their mentality or attitude towards this menace”, he added.
According to him, the Upper West Region has a great potential for international and inter-regional trade and bi-lateral relations by virtue of its geographical positioning.
In a message on his behalf, the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, noted that religious tolerance is a core value of the people in the traditional area.
According to him the Catholic Church has positively impacted the lives of the people in the traditional area and the region at large.
Naa Pelpuo also urged the catholic Bishops’ Conference to consider advocacy against the destruction of the environment through illicit activities.
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