The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has asked President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government to set a strong example in its call for burden-sharing.
The Conference, also wants more commitment in the fight against corruption, insisting that it is not only perceived, but very rife in the country. Ii is, therefore, calling on all and sundry to stand up and fight the canker of corruption.
But immediately, the Conference wants the government to cut down on economic costs by reducing leadership of state-owned enterprises, for instance.
“The size of government and leadership in State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) should be significantly reduced,” an official communique issued at the end of the Conference’s Annual Plenary Assembly on Friday, November 11 said.
“One strong signal that will indicate leadership is committed to burden-sharing is by reducing the size of presidential and ministerial convoys.”
The Conference also called for an “aggressive” approach to the recommendations of the Auditor-General as often captured in his report every year.
It observed how the report is replete with cases of misappropriation, mismanagement and “actual thievery”, yet little-to-no action is taken to retrieve monies.
The Conference asked the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to show real commitment in fighting this canker and ensure that all misappropriated monies are retrieved.
“We ask that our President should show real commitment in fighting corruption by making use of the security and intelligence community to investigate allegations of corruption, prosecute as well as recover stolen funds.”
The bishops called on Ghanaians to eschew all attitudes and behaviour that appear to support bribery and corruption.
“We call on all Catholics, especially those in politics and public service to lead this crusade against corruption.”
“We reiterate that corruption in every facet of Ghanaian life is not only perceived but very rife,” a communique issued at the end of the Annual Plenary Assembly of the Conference in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region observed.
“This is unacceptable and must be dealt with at all times and at all levels of human endeavour.
“Since corruption is cancerous to the life and vitality of our nation, we call on every Ghanaian – religious leaders, individuals, government agencies, service providers, public and civil servants – to stand up and to defend the cause of justice, probity and accountability.”
They asked him to make use of “the security and intelligence community to investigate allegations of corruption, prosecute as well as recover stolen funds”.
They made a clarion call for the country to “lead and live” the crusade against corruption.
“Let us eschew all attitudes, behaviours and actions that support, encourage and condone bribery and corruption,” they advised, particularly calling on Catholics who are politicians and in public service “to lead this crusade against corruption”.
The Annual Plenary Assembly was held at the Fr. Alfons Merten Centre in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region on the theme: ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission in the Light of the New Evangelisation in Ghana’.
It began on Friday, November 4 and ended on Saturday, November 12.
The Assembly witnessed the election of Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi as the new President of the Conference, taking over from Most Rev Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale.
