Ghana’s moral and spiritual leadership has received high commendation from His Eminence Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier, OFM, the Special Envoy of Pope Leo XIV, who is on an official visit to the country to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in Ghana.
During a courtesy call on the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, at the Jubilee House in Accra, Cardinal Napier praised Ghana’s vibrant church and its commitment to integrity and national progress.
“Ghana should continue doing the wonderful things it is doing. The Church here is vibrant, a true sign of how much the country is moving forward,” he said. The Archbishop Emeritus of Durban in South Africa added that “Ghana stands out as a leader in Africa. It must continue to show the continent how to run a nation devoid of corruption and filled with purpose,” while extending Pope Leo XIV’s blessings to the Government and people of Ghana.
In her remarks, the Vice President expressed appreciation to the Catholic Church for its long-standing contribution to Ghana’s development, particularly in education, health, and moral guidance.
“We thank the Catholic Church for its immense role in shaping education, health, and moral development in Ghana,” she said. “The Government remains determined to play its part and leave a lasting legacy for future generations,” she affirmed.
The meeting underscored the Vatican’s goodwill towards Ghana and highlighted the enduring collaboration between the Church and the State in advancing faith, peace, and national development.
The 75th anniversary, which marks a major milestone in the growth of Catholicism in Ghana, recalls 18 April 1950, when Pope Pius XII elevated Cape Coast to the rank of an Archdiocese and created the Dioceses of Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Keta, formally organising the Catholic Church’s hierarchy in the country.
Adding his voice, the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Bodies, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, described the Church-State relationship as “a model for faith-based collaboration in Africa.”
“This visit by the Papal Envoy is not only symbolic but deeply spiritual. It reaffirms the Church’s historic role in nation-building and social transformation,” Hon Afriyie Ankrah stated.
He further noted that “Ghana’s example of religious tolerance and unity continues to inspire hope across the continent. We shall continue to deepen this relationship in the spirit of mutual respect and shared service to humanity.”
The Papal Envoy’s visit forms part of a series of national and ecclesiastical events commemorating the diamond jubilee of the Catholic Church’s hierarchical establishment in Ghana.
It reaffirms the Church’s deep partnership with the state in shaping the moral, educational, and social fabric of the nation.
