A Catholic Priest working in Ghana’s Archdiocese of Tamale has been commended for his role in the resolution of chieftaincy conflicts in the Dagbon Traditional Area.
The King (Overload) of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama II lauded Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Kuusah, the Executive Secretary of the Northern Regional Council (NRPC), for his active participation in the processes in carving out the road map for the performance of the funerals of his two immediate predecessors which paved the way for his enskinment as the 42nd Yaa Naa.
The Yaa Naa gave the commendation in a message which was read on his behalf by Naa Dr. Mahama Yakubu II, Paramount Chief of Zangbalun Traditional Area during a Thanksgiving Maas at St. Theresa Parish at Lamashegu, Tamale, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Priestly ordination of Very Rev. Fr. Kuusah.
“We the people of Dagbon, will never forget the role Rev. Rev. Fr. Kuusah played and we are very grateful for his continued sacrifices for the maintenance of peace in Dagbon”, the Yaa Naa stated.
It would be recalled that Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II, then the Overload, was killed in a feud between the two royal families (gates) of Dagbon- the Abudu and Andani gates, on March 27, 2002, which sparked a protracted chieftaincy conflict that lasted 17-years.
Peace was finally restored in the kingdom after his funeral and that of Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV, who died earlier on October 15, 1988, were separately performed at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi which paved the way for the enskinment of Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama II on January 25, 2019.
The Yaa Naa praised the Catholic Priest for his instrumental role as Technical Advisor of the Dagbon Constitutional Review Committee and for the significant progress made which is currently is in the last stage of the Review exercise.
He added that Fr. Kuusah, who is also the President of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUGDPA), is not only valuable to Dagbon, but to the rest of the Norther Ghana and country as a whole as evident in his active role in the activities of the National Peace Council.
The Yaa Naa further applauded Fr. Kuusah who was a former Board Chairman of the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP-Ghana) and also currently the Director, Governance, Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Tamale, for the role he played and continues to play in the mediation of the chieftaincy conflicts in Bimbilla and Bunkpurugu, and his active participation in the Committee work to resolve the impasse between the Anufors and Konkombas in the Chereponi and Saboba Districts in the North East and Northern Regions.
“I even wonder how he manages his time when you read his CV and see the number of committees he actively participates in as a member or chairman. All these in the efforts to impart the knowledge and skills of mediation and conflict resolution and also resolve the conflicts in varying degrees of complexity”, the Yaa Naa observed.
Turning to the Silver Jubilee celebration of Priesthood of Fr. Kuusah, the Dagbon Overload said 25-years of service to mankind in the enviable but sacrificial position of priesthood is a huge achievement worth celebrating but also an opportune time to pause and to reflect on all the good work done.
He commended him for ably performing his priestly duties of preaching the gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, to leading the Christian community through continuous service to the people of the Northern Regions and Ghana as a whole.
“Suffice it to say that I, in my own capacity as the King of Dagbon, and on behalf of the people of Dagbon, are grateful to you and pray for an abundance of grace, in order that you will successfully continue your mission. A mission rightfully and enviably ordained by the good Lord”, the Yaa Naa concluded.
Rev. Msgr. Christopher Bazaanah, a former Vicar General of the Archdiocese who was the homilist, bemoaned the get-rich attitudes that has gained roots especially among the youth today, the menace of illegal mining (galamsey), indiscriminate felling of trees particularly rose wood, cyber fraud (sakawa), pervasive stealing and corruption to the extent that material things has become a substitute for God.
He said there was the need to hear the message of Qoheleth, a wise man who lived 220 years before the birth of Christ, over and over again and to reflect on his observation that life and material riches are all vanity (Eccl. 1:2;2:21-23).
He urged the faithful to eschew greed and avarice, explaining that material things should rather take us to God, not away from Him.
Touching on the personality of Fr. Kuusah, he described him as “A man of substance” who is very marketable and could have earned a lot of money for himself and his family but decided to give himself to Christ and His people, praising him for doing his very best in his 25-years of ministry as a Priest.
“Through your preaching, teaching, collaboration, celebration of the Sacraments, counselling, peace initiatives, leadership and works of charity, you have touched the hearts of many people,” he said.
He added: “You don’t know the difference between a Greek, a Dagomba, a Dagao, a Frafra, a Wangara, you name it, you were a man for all” he noted, urging him to continue his ministry by emulating Jesus Christ who gave Himself as a ransom for all.
Msgr. Bazaanah said a jubilee was not only an occasion to thank God but also to acknowledge all who have supported, hence, on behalf of Silver Jubilee celebrant, he thanked his family, friends, teachers, benefactors, and all who had supported him in diverse ways.
After his formation at St. Victor’s Major seminary, Fr. Kuusah was ordained to the Priesthood on July 19, 1997, by the Most Rev. Gregory Ebo Kpiebaya, then the Archbishop of Tamale and appointed to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Salaga to begin his ministry.
He was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the NRPC in 2003 and he has been in that office since. In January, 2019, he was elected President of NUGDPA, having served as Vice President from 2015-2018.
He has also held several positions in the Archdiocese. They include President of the Tamale Archdiocesan Priests’ Association, Chairman of the Tamale Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Member of the College of Consultors and Priests Senate, Director of Department of Pastoral and Social Communications, among others.
The Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Sebastian Yiah, on behalf of the Parish, presented Very Rev. Fr. Kuusah with a citation for his commitment to his priestly duties and for inculcating in parishioners time consciousness, among others attributes.
Parishioners born on Monday of which he is a member, also gave him a citation. Several individuals, groups and his family, also gave him gifts to appreciate him for his 25-years of service in the Lord’s vineyard.
The Mass was presided over by Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus and concelebrated by seven other Priests who included Very Rev. Frs. Wilhelm Kolks from Munster Diocese in Germany, Clement Aapengnuo and Sylvester Kuubetersuur from Damongo Diocese, John Kpan from Wa Diocese and Boniface Maasoayele, the Parish Priest, among others.
Ambassador Naa Yakubu Abdulai, Paramount Chief of Sagnarigu Traditional Area, Dame Anna Fati Paul, a Gender Activist and educationist, among other dignitaries, delegations from the National Peace and Council, Justice and Peace Commission, some Women and Men Religious, the faithful from the main parish and some of its outstations, as well as the family and friends of Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus, attended the Mass.
By Francis E. Monnie//Newswatchgh.com
