The 47th Annual Plenary Assembly of the National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC) was officially opened on Friday at the Pastoral Centre in Apowa, Takoradi, with a passionate call for lay faithful to raise their voices in the pursuit of justice, peace, and national transformation.
The opening ceremony, presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, brought together bishops, clergy, and lay leaders, including Host Bishop John Baptist Attakruh of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Bishop John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Co-chair of the Laity Council and bishop of Donkorkrom Vicariate, Bishop Joseph Francis Kweku Essien of the Diocese of Wiawso, Sir John Tandoh, Chairman of the Laity Council, Fr. Francis Lemaire, Vicar General of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, and Fr. Gabriel Liashiedzi, Executive Secretary, Department of Pastoral Ministry and Evangelization, National Catholic Secretariat.
Addressing the assembly under the theme “Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace,” Archbishop Kwofie challenged the laity to move beyond spiritual reflections and confront the practical challenges facing Ghanaian society.
“These are the little things we want to see our country catch up with before we look for other things,” Archbishop Kwofie declared. “Making sure we don’t cheat the little ones, our environment is safe today and the future, the evils of Galamsey is a common fight, we make sure food and drugs authority is working, the money going to our roads and schools and hospitals are judiciously used, our hospitals do not overcharge, our monthly salaries can take care of us and our children decently, we can pay the school fees and the needs of our children, joblessness is drastically reduced, pay before you are employed, the private sector must be encouraged to employ more people, and above all, our Ministers are all doing their work perfectly.”
The Archbishop’s remarks grounded the assembly’s theme in the everyday struggles of Ghanaian Catholics, linking justice and peace to concrete issues of economic survival, accountable governance, and environmental stewardship.
He then posed a critical question to the gathering: “Now, the question is, how can we strengthen the voices of the laity in Ghana to be heard, to achieve this?”
Reflecting on the fragmentation within Christianity, Archbishop Kwofie reminded the laity of their unique identity within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.
He urged them to make a difference by living their faith authentically and speaking boldly on matters of justice and peace.
“The fact remains that most of the Christian churches all claim to be the true inheritors of the Lord Jesus. This is where we need you to make a difference,” he said. “The difference is you belong to the Church founded by Christ, which has its faith, morals, and service. We indeed all profess to be followers of the Lord. Our voices must be heard. We who are at the forefront of the journey towards justice and peace must always make the clarion call to be heard. If we don’t do that, we are tending towards our fall,” he stated.
With those words, the Archbishop formally declared the 47th Plenary Assembly open, invoking the blessing of the Holy Trinity.
BY: Vanessa Yeboah//Newswatchgh.com
