New Catholic Bishop for Wa installed
Pomp and circumstance characterised the ordination and installation of the newly appointed bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa in the Upper West Region, Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, at the Wa Sports Stadium last Saturday.
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He is the fourth bishop of the Wa Diocese of the Catholic Church.
The bishop, until his appointment by Pope Francis on February 17, 2016, was the Superior General of the Society of the Missionarises of Africa and was elected in 2015 by the Union of Superior Generals in Italy to attend the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family.
Dignitaries and consecration
The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, joined a large gathering of Catholic bishops, including the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, and politicians in the Upper West Region to grace the occasion.
Performing the episcopal ordination and installation, His Eminence Cardinal Turkson, the principal consecrator, was supported by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Rev. Philip B. Naameh as co-consecrators.
While the Dagaare and English Choirs treated the gathering to hymns, the Police Band provided some melodious music.
Sermon
Most Rev. Naameh, who delivered the homily, called for unity among the Catholic faithful in particular and Christians in the country generally.
He underscored the need for Christians all over the world to commit themselves to biblical values to help correct the many wrongs in the system.
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He expressed concern about the fact that the concept of sacrifice was now being replaced by selfishness and the penchant for amassing wealth for personal enjoyment, instead of love for all, dedication and selfless service.
“We see many Christians these days seeking positions of privilege without working hard to earn them,” Most Rev. Naameh said.
He also said the installation of Bishop Baawobr should serve as an opportunity for the people in the region to rededicate themselves to God and eschew rancour and division.
To Catholics who have resorted to depending on other pastors for solutions to their problems, he stated that constantly engaging with God and sharing their problems with Him would make them even stronger than “those so-called powerful men of God.”
Vice-President
In his address, Mr Amissah-Arthur congratulated the newly installed bishop and wished him well, while reiterating the government’s position to partner the church to promote development.
He acknowledged the importance of the clergy, and said, “while politicians raise the political temperature, it is for you in the church to bring harmony and moderate that tension.”
The Vice-President expressed optimism that the country would continue to grow in peace in spite of the diversity, which for him, made Ghana the beacon of peace.