The members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have eulogised their brother Archbishop Emeritus Peter Kwasi Sarpong who clocked 50 years as a Bishop on March 8 for his major contributions to the promotion of Justice and Peace in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
“You played significant roles during the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II in the area of Justice and Peace, even to the point of being appointed a Consultant to the Papal Commission for Justice and Peace in Rome from 1972-1976,” said Archbishop Philip Naameh, president of the Conference at the Golden Jubilee Mass at the St. Peter’s Minor Basilica in Kumasi.
In a goodwill message on March 8, the Ghanaian Prelates said “You became a member of the GCBC at an early age of 37 as the second native Bishop of Kumasi and with dint of hard work, the then Kumasi diocese had given birth to four more dioceses; namely: Sunyani, Konongo-Mampong, Obuasi and Goaso.”
The message stated that “Your tenure as the Bishop of Kumasi also saw the elevation of Kumasi diocese to the status of a Metropolitan See in 2002 with you as the First Metropolitan Archbishop.”
“You served as the Vice President of the Conference from 1983-1988 and later as the President from 1988-1991. Your contributions towards the growth of the church in Ghana is very enormous,” it added, saying that “You were not only a leader for the Church in Ghana but you were also a leader and an inspirer of the Church in West Africa.
The GCBC message praised him as a leader of the African Church which he served as a member of the Standing Committee of SECAM in 1994 and President of AECAWA from 1995-2001.
“You were the first indigenous Rector of St. Peter’s Regional Seminary and so have a number of Bishops in the Conference as your Former Students. You are truly a strong advocate for Social Justice and Peace, the message stated.
The message added: “At a ripe age of 87, you never miss any of our November Plenary Sessions no matter the distance and your contributions at such sessions come with a depth of knowledge, noting that “You are solely responsible for looking for a Retreat Preacher for our biennial retreats over the years, a duty you continue to discharge faithfully until now.”
The Ghanaian Bishops described the Jubilarian as “a prolific writer whose books explore relationships between Christian Religion and Culture, “saying that “Indeed, your love for tradition and culture made you to introduce a lot of the traditions of the Ashanti’s into the Catholic Liturgy, making you an ardent promoter of inculturation.”
They told him that “You ensured that the perception that African traditions and culture is ungodly is demystified and in your desire to project the African culture, you met a lot of opposition but you were never deterred,” but “you continue to pursue what you believe in and with health on your side, the fruits are there for all to see.”
“It is our prayer that you will continue to enjoy good health in the years ahead of you so that we your younger Brother Bishops will continue to tap from your vast experience in the Episcopacy,” the message added.
Bishop Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum of Koforidua, who is a seminarian of the golden jubilee celebrant at the St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast described him as “the Abraham of our time” for his great works in the then Kumasi diocese in the West African nation.
The Holy Father Pope Francis in a message to the Jubilarian congratulated him for his good works for the Catholic Church throughout the world.
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Darkwa Akufo-Addo also described Archbishop Emeritus Sarpong as a great of man of God whose works have gone beyond the borders of Ghana, saying that he is a great pillar in the country development agenda.
