Catholic Church condemns attack on three Priests in post-election mob violence

Political parties in the country have been urged to put an end to the disgraceful mob actions that are increasingly becoming an unwritten norm following elections.

Such behavior, if not curbed, could lead to long-term tensions that may negatively impact both domestic and international relations.

This call was made in a statement released last Thursday and signed by the Catholic Bishop of the Jasikan Diocese, Most Reverend Gabriel A Mante.

The Jasikan Diocese of the Catholic Church was responding to the recent unjustified mob attack on three Indian Catholic priests in Nkwanta, Oti Region, that took place the previous Wednesday.

“We take this opportunity to call on successive government and election-winning political parties to put effective mechanisms in place to check and bring an end to violence and needless attacks on citizens after elections. This canker seems to be unfortunately becoming a disgraceful unwritten law in Ghana” the Church said. 

These Priests had leased a bulldozer from the Nkwanta-South Municipal Assembly to work on a piece of land they were preparing to construct a Formation House project for the seminarian at Chaiso in the Nkwanta-South Municipality. 

They paid an amount of GHc 9,700 and were moving the equipment to the site at Chaiso when they were pounced upon by the mob who accused them of stealing the equipment. 

The Catholic Church vehemently condemned such unjustified mob actions and called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent. According to the Church, the action was unwarranted since the Priests were on a mission that would be beneficial to the country at large. 

Up till now, according to the Catholic Church they have not heard of the arrest of the perpetrators and therefore are demanding that the authorities should move fast to bring the perpetrators to face the law.

The Catholic Church also noted that it was important to allow the law to take it course  and not the public to take the law into their own hands. 

The three Catholic Priests are Father Robinson Melkis, Frank Henry Jacob and Fr Martin George all belonging to Capuchin Friars. They have been engaged in missionary activities in the country since 2005.

It would be recalled that they were beaten to such an extent that Father Henry Jacob cannot hear in one of his ears. He has been referred to the Yendi Hospital.

Two other officials of the Nkwanta-South  Municipal Assembly who were accompanying them were also brutally assaulted by the mob. They are the Municipal Engineer and the Municipal Town and Country Planning Officer, Samuel Worlanyo Asugbey. 

The mob went on to report to the Police that they were stealing one of the Assembly road equipment and were remanded to police custody and had the equipment impounded. Upon the intervention of the Vicar-General, they have been granted bail pending further investigation. 

Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Democratic Congress branch of the Nkwanta-South Constituency has rendered an unqualified apology to the three Indian Catholic Priests and the Jasikan Diocese of the Catholic Church today. 

In a release issued at Nkwanta and signed by the NDC Constituency Secretary, Prince Succeed Fiagadzi, said they were deeply appaulled and saddened by the attack on the Catholic Priests by some youth around 9:am last Wednesday .

They describe the heinous act as unacceptable and apologized for the harm, trauma, and distress inflicted on them.

“ Your selfless dedication to serving humanity  and preaching the message of love and compassion deserves utmost respect and gratitude”, they added.