The Catholic Bishops Conference, currently holding its 2025 plenary assembly in Damongo, has paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, to express gratitude for the warm reception and support accorded them during their stay in Gonjaland.
Led by the Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and Bishop of Ho, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, the high-powered delegation included Archbishop Philip Naameh, Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Bishop John Alphonse Asiedu, and other members of the Conference’s Steering Committee.
Speaking during the visit, Bishop Fianu noted that although the Bishops had planned to call on the King before the conference began, it was not possible due to scheduling constraints. He emphasized that it was important for the leadership of the Church to meet the King before their departure to thank him and the people of Gonjaland for hosting the plenary assembly.
“We have been well taken care of, and we express our gratitude for the hospitality received. This evening, we shall hold our closing ceremony and issue our communiqué. Tomorrow, the Diocese of Damongo will also celebrate its 30th anniversary with a thanksgiving Mass, and we look forward to welcoming you all,” he said.
Bishop Fianu added that throughout their deliberations, the bishops prayed for the King and the people of the Gonja Kingdom, asking God to grant them good health, peace, and progress.
He also conveyed the bishops’ appreciation for the generous support extended to them, humorously highlighting their enjoyment of a ceremonial bull provided from the palace, saying: “We enjoyed it very much, and we are grateful.”
The Yagbonwura, through his spokesperson, expressed immense joy at the visit and appreciation for the Catholic Church’s longstanding contributions to the development of the Gonja Kingdom. He, however, raised a pressing concern over the proliferation of unidentified structures across various communities, purported to be churches but often abandoned without any visible worship activities.
According to the King, many of these buildings appear isolated, unoccupied, and unused, despite being labelled as churches. He appealed to the Catholic Bishops Conference to investigate and provide clarity, as such developments may pose future risks if not properly understood.
“When you travel across our lands, you see many structures with signs claiming they are churches, yet no one worships in them and no one resides there. We do not understand what these buildings are for. We ask that you investigate this problem and help us know their true purpose,” the King stated.
Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and Bishop of Ho, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, acknowledged that the Church has also observed the rise of such unidentifiable churches across rural Ghana.
“We have seen some of these structures ourselves, very far from villages, with no signs of worship. Now that His Majesty has drawn our attention to it formally, we shall investigate and share what we find,”
Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, the most senior bishop in the Conference, emphasized that the quality of a church should be judged by its impact on society. Quoting Scripture, he said: “According to Jesus Christ, by their fruits shall you know the tree.”
He referenced the long history of the Catholic Church in Gonjaland, beginning with Archbishop Naameh’s work in 1995, which led to the establishment of major institutions such as hospitals, schools, and numerous social development projects.
“These are the fruits that show what kind of tree we are. We urge His Majesty and his people to look carefully at the fruits of these new so-called churches, whether they bring development, whether they contribute to the welfare of the people, or whether they exist only in name,” he said.
Using the biblical parable of the wheat and the weeds, the Archbishop advised caution: “The farmer says let the weeds and the wheat grow together until you can tell the difference. We pray you will keep your eyes open so that the good ones are not uprooted together with the bad.”
The visit concluded with prayers led by Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, invoking God’s blessings upon the Yagbonwura, the Chiefs, and the entire Gonja Kingdom. The bishops assured the King of their continued collaboration in promoting peace, development, and spiritual growth across the region.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Gogu Edwin
