By Patrick Biddah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is expected to open the Symposium Of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) on July 26, this year.
The conference which opens on July 26 at the Christ The King Parish, will end July on 31, 2022 at Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka.
About 130 participants which, includes Cardinals, Bishops and representatives of church institutions from Africa will attend the conference which will be the 19th edition of the plenary assembly.
A representative of the Vatican, who will be representing Pope Francis, will be in attendance together with other Bishops from Europe and America.
Addressing a press conference in Accra to give highlight of this impending event, the acting treasurer of SECAM and Bishop of Keta, Most Rev Gabriel Kumordzi, indicated that Ghana also hosted the 15th plenary assembly in 2010, which marked the 40th anniversary of SECAM after it was founded in July 1969 in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.
This year’s conference which was to have been held in Burkina Faso, but for the political instability will among others help to foster, promote and preserve solidarity , communion and collaboration of the Bishops of the continent.
According to Most Rev. Kumordzi, the conference helps to uphold the church’s role as a sign and instrument of salvation and sanctification.
SECAM, he further added has been vocal in speaking out against growing imbalances between the North and the South of the world, as far as the distribution of resources is concerned.
In a recent document which was entitled the “ KAMPALA DOCUMENT “ SECAM according to Most Rev Gabriel Kumordzi, pointed out the damage being done to the environment and the political and economic crises in which millions of Africa find themselves.
“ It is because of these and other issues militating against the development of Africa that the plenary assembly will to be held at the end of the month of July in Ghana which will be focusing more on security and migration in its deliberations”, he stressed.
The closing ceremony, he noted will be preceded by a Holy Mass after which a communique will be presented by the new President who would have been elected.
