Most
Rev. Philip Naameh, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC),
has strongly cautioned individuals, groups and organisations involved in open
recruitment, orientation and facilitation of the youth for irregular migration
to stop this crime against humanity
He
lamented that the Brong-Ahafo Region has become a known area for unpleasant
record for irregular migration among the youth, stating that records from the
Ghana Immigration Service indicate that 4,092 have been repatriated from Libya
in 2017. Out of this number, 1,562 were from the Brong Ahafo Region.
 |
| Most Rev. Philip Naameh |
Speaking
at the opening of the 2018 Plenary Assembly of the GCBC at Techiman on Monday
November 12, the Archbishop said “Techiman and Nkoranza in particular in the Diocese
of Techiman, where we are meeting, have become notorious for open recruitment,
orientation and facilitation of many youths for irregular migration.”
Archbishop
Naameh stated that the Holy Father, Pope Francis considered the work on
migration as a priority that he has taken a direct and personal responsibility
for this ‘UNIT’ under the Dicastery for Promoting Human Development.
He
stressed on the Pope’s call on Governments, Intergovernmental Bodies, and
indeed the Church to work towards “Welcoming, Protecting, Promoting and
Integrating” migrants and Refugees.
The
GCBC President commended Government for coming out with a clear policy on migration
and Human Trafficking but encouraged it to focus on its implementation. “We
further encourage our Government to share this good initiative with other
countries in Africa, so that the continent can collectively address the menace
of irregular migration which is decimating the lives of many young people in
Africa, he averred.
Specifically
on the Techiman and Nkoranza situation, Archbishop Naameh commended Caritas
Ghana in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services, for embarking on public
sensitisation and awareness creation about this menace in the Brong Ahafo
Region.
He
pointed out that this would be complemented with psychosocial, resettlement,
skills training and livelihood services for both potential and returned
migrants.
He
stated that the Bishops’ Conference, through the National Catholic Secretariat,
would support Caritas Ghana, to expand this work at the level of advocacy, the
provision of temporary shelter as well as an information centre in Accra for
returned migrants.
The Archbishop also commended
The Catholic Standard, the national
Catholic Weekly for devoting its editorial last two weeks to highlighting the
issue of migration.
Mr.
Peter Mensah, the Techiman North District Chief Executive,
intimated that while the State focused on the physical, the Church worked on
the spiritual aspect of people and the two complimented the efforts of the
other to produce a complete and sound society.
He lauded the Church for
championing high moral standards in its educational institutions and appealed
to the Church to continue to produce students from its Schools who possess both
competencies and moral uprightness.
In
his welcome, Most Rev. Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, Bishop of Techiman
highlighted some achievements of the Diocese as it marked its 10th
Anniversary which coincides with the Plenary Assembly. He said the Diocese
shares borders in the North and West with Damongo Diocese, South with Sunyani
Diocese and East with the Konongo-Mampong Dioceseand Kumasi Archdiocese. The
Volta Lake in Yeji and Kajaji separates the Diocese from Ho and Keta-Akatsi
Dioceses.
He said the Diocese
currently has 78,330 Catholics; 383 catechists and Local Prayer Leaders, 44
Diocesan Priests, Six Divine Word Missionary Priests and a Brother; and three
Women Religious Congregations.
Bishop Yeboah Nyarko
however lamented the myriads of social, cultural, religious and economic
challenges of the Diocese including high levels of poverty, illiteracy and
unemployment.
“As you already aware
known from available data, the catchment area of Techiman Diocese especially
Techiman, Nkoranza, Kintampo and Atebubu, is home to the third largest rate in
the world of irregular migration.”
The Plenary Assembly from
November 9 to 19 is on the theme: Our
Call to Holiness in the Light of Gaudete et Exsulate. It was attended by
all the Bishops of the Conference as well as Msgr. Pavol Talapka, Secretary to
the Apostolic Nunciature who represented Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich. Also
present was Most Rev. Peter K. Sarpong, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi.
The opening was chaired
by Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area. Present
was Mr. John Kofi Donyina, the Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, Queen
Mothers, Priests, Religious and scores of lay faithful including the Students
of the Holy Family Nurses and Midwifery Training School.
By: Damian Avevor - The Catholic Standard
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