The Apostolic Nuncio to the West African country of Ghana, the Most. Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski has commended the Traditional Leaders in the Tamale Archdiocese in Ghana’s Northern Region for promoting peace, unity and roles they had played in the socio-cultural, economic, health and political lives of the people.
He appreciated them for their collaboration with non-governmental organisations in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment to vulnerable groups and individuals.
The Polish Nuncio accredited to Ghana made the commendations during recent courtesy calls on some Traditional Leaders at their Palaces including the Kpembewura, Banbagne Ndefeso IVat Kpembe, near Salaga and the Dakpema, Fuseini Bawah and Gulkpenaa, Abdulai Alhassan in Tamale as well as the Chief Imam of Tamale.
The courtesy calls were part of the Nuncio’s nine-day Pastoral visit to the Tamale Archdiocese from February 19 to 28, 2022.
In his remarks to the Traditional Leaders, Archbishop Jagodzinski also commended them for their efforts in reducing crime and abuse against children, especially in Tamale and appealed to them to collaborate with the Local Church to care for the environment as being espoused by Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si”.
He also paid courtesy calls on some Religious and Political Leaders, accompanied by the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale; Very Rev. Frs. Matthew Yitiereh, Vicar General of Tamale and Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Kuusah, President of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Association and Mr. Samuel Awugah, Chairman of the Tamale Archdiocesan Laity Council.
At the Church level, he celebrated Masses, interacted with Priests, Religious, Seminarians, and the Lay Faithful, visited the tomb of the Servant of God, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, Emeritus Archbishop of Tamale, prayed for his beatification, and participated in the activities to climax the 75th anniversary of St. Victor’s Major Seminary.
During his visit to the St. Stephen’s Parish at Bakamba, near Kpandai in the Eastern Deanery of the Tamale Archdiocese to celebrate Mass with Christ’s faithful, the 53-year old Papal Envoy was installed as a chief with the stool name, Owure Osankpa (Giver of Life) in the Chumburung language.
The installation was performed by the Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Emmanuel Kwabena, on behalf of the Odikro (Custodian of Land), Nana Kwaku Kanyeabue who was present at the Mass.
Calling on Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, the Northern Regional Minister at his office in Tamale, the Apostolic Nuncio expressed gratitude to him for the Region’s collaboration with the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Tamale and extended to the Minister and his co-workers the fraternal greetings and peace of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
He reminded them of the Holy Father’s invitation for all to journey together in a culture of dialogue and mutual co-operation in addressing the humanitarian challenges of modern times.
As a fraternal relation between the Vatican and the State, he imparted Apostolic Blessings on them and presented the Regional Minister with a medal.
Speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Issahaku, the Chief Director at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, lauded the Catholic Church for her role in the development of the Northern region, especially in the areas of education, health care, peace building and promotion of inter-religious dialogue, among others.\
He appealed to the Church hierarchy to consider restoring the once reputable Catechists’ Training Centre at Sunson near Yendi to its former glory.
