Catholic Bishops in Ghana have officially opened their 2025 Annual Plenary Assembly in Damongo, with a renewed call to deepen the spirit of synodality, journeying together as one Church in the service of justice and peace.
In his keynote address to open the Assembly, the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, reminded the gathering that synodality “is not a bureaucratic process but a spiritual attitude.”
He said it invites the Church to “listen before it speaks” and to “act in the service of justice before it judges the world.”
Bishop Gyamfi described the synodal path as a call to shared responsibility in the Church’s mission and an antidote to division in society.
“The Church is not an institution that commands from above,” he said, “but a pilgrim people who walk together, translating faith into works of justice and peace.”
He outlined the Church’s efforts in recent years to embody this mission through peacebuilding initiatives, environmental advocacy, and social outreach, such as the Sahel Peace Initiative, which supports refugees and promotes community resilience in northern Ghana.
Bishop Gyamfi emphasized that this year’s deliberations would focus on strengthening Catholic education, promoting interfaith harmony, and ensuring the Church remains a moral voice on national issues such as the Hate Speech Bill, environmental protection, and governance integrity.
The President of the GCBC encouraged all Catholics and people of goodwill to support the Bishops with prayers as they seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their discussions.
“Synodality transforms hearts before it reforms systems,” he noted. “May our journey together as Church and nation bring justice that rolls down like waters, and peace that flows like a mighty stream.”
The opening ceremony, held at the Conference Hall, Unity Centre, marks the beginning of a week of reflection, prayer, and deliberation.
The event themed “A Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace in Ghana,” brought together His Excellency Most Rev. Julien Kaboré, Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Ghana, Archbishops and Bishops of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’, priests, religious, and lay faithful alongside Hon. Isifu Salisu Bi-Awurobe, Savannah Regional Minister, representatives of traditional leaders and various Catholic fraternities and associations.
The Assembly is hosted by Most Rev. Peter Paul Y. Angkyier, Bishop of Damongo.
By Celestine Edem Gbologah//Newswatchgh.com
