In relation to its appeal for burden-sharing, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has made a strong demand of the government to set an example.
The Conference wants the government to reduce the costs associated with running state-owned businesses, for example.
An official statement released at the conclusion of the Conference’s Annual Plenary Assembly on Friday, November 11 stated that “the scale of government and leadership in State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) should be drastically decreased.”
“Reducing the size of presidential and ministerial convoys will be one powerful signal that will indicate leadership is committed to burden-sharing.”
The Conference also demanded that the recommendations made by the Auditor-General, which are frequently included in his report each year, be taken “aggressively.”
It noted that despite several instances of misappropriation, poor management, and “real robbery” in the report, little to no action is done to recover funds.
The Conference urged the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to combat this disease with genuine vigor and see to it that the missing funds are found.
“We demand that our President demonstrate genuine commitment to the battle against corruption by utilizing the security and intelligence community to look into claims of corruption, bring charges, and retrieve stolen cash.”
The bishops urged Ghanaians to abstain from any attitudes and actions that can be seen as encouraging bribery and corruption.
“We urge all Catholics to spearhead this struggle against corruption, especially those in public service and politics.”
The Fr. Alfons Merten Centre in Donkorkrom, in the Eastern Region, hosted the Annual Plenary Assembly, which had as its topic “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission in the Light of the New Evangelization in Ghana.”
It started on November 4 on a Friday and ended on November 12 on a Saturday.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Reverend Philip Naameh, was succeeded as President of the Conference by Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, who was elected by the Assembly.