Catholic Bishops Call for Sustained Dialogue to Resolve Ethnic Conflicts

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has called for sustained dialogue and reconciliation in communities fractured by ethnic, land, and chieftaincy disputes across the country.

“These crises reveal that peace cannot be assumed but must be actively cultivated through inclusive engagement, mediation, and co-responsible collaboration among traditional authorities, government institutions, civil society, and religious bodies,” it said.

A communiqué issued by the Conference in Damongo, the Savannah Region, said conflicts in Bawku, Gbenyiri, Kalba, Bole, and Nkwanta South which have claimed more than 300 lives and displaced about 70,000 residents have reinforced the need for continuous efforts to bring lasting peace.

The call comes days after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, set November 30 and December 1, 2025, as the final dates for mediation in the protracted Bawku chieftaincy conflict, signaling renewed high-level efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute that has claimed hundreds of lives and destabilised the area for decades.

While lending their support to all those playing vital roles in helping resolve conflicts around the country, the Bishops implored all citizens, particularly political leaders, traditional authorities, and media personalities, to exercise maximum restraint, maturity, and responsibility in speech.

“We equally call for renewed commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and the protection of human dignity, emphasising that authentic justice and lasting peace emerge only when all stakeholders walk together in mutual understanding and shared responsibility,” said the communiqué read by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the GCBC.

The document was issued at the end of the conference’s Annual Plenary Assembly held at the St. Anne’s Cathedral, Damongo from November 7 to 14, 2025, under the theme: “A Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace in Ghana.”

Corruption Fight Must Be Independent

On corruption, the Bishops expressed concern over Ghana’s persistent ethical challenges in governance, noting that the country’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index score of 42 out of 100, ranking 80th out of 180 countries, underscores the need for more decisive action.

The conference called for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to exercise their mandates with complete independence and be seen to be doing so by all Ghanaians.

“Their investigations must be guided solely by evidence, the rule of law, and professional ethics, without fear or favour, regardless of the political affiliation, social status, or economic power of those under investigation,” the communiqué stated.

The Bishops called for adequate, predictable funding and genuine operational autonomy for these institutions to ensure they can effectively fulfil their mandates without being starved of resources or subjected to covert control.

They urged the Government and all state actors to refrain from any actions that could be perceived as interfering with the work of anti-corruption agencies, while simultaneously challenging these institutions to publicly demonstrate their independence through transparent, consistent, and impartial application of anti-corruption laws.

Other Key Issues

The conference also addressed several other critical national issues. On illegal mining (galamsey), the Bishops noted with alarm that Ghana has lost over 5,252 hectares of forest reserves in 2025, with 44 out of 288 forest reserves now degraded and about 75 percent of the nation’s rivers polluted, primarily by mercury and cyanide.

The Bishops called on President John Mahama to announce radical action against galamsey, including the declaration of a state of emergency in high-risk mining zones, swift prosecution of perpetrators regardless of political affiliation, and the full reclamation of lands ravaged by illegal mining.

On education, the conference reiterated its call for the Government to guarantee that at least 20 percent of student intake in Catholic pre-tertiary schools is reserved for Catholic children to ensure that faith-based formation remains accessible.

The communiqué expressed grave concern over the escalating use of inflammatory and divisive rhetoric in public discourse, particularly during electoral periods, and called for maximum restraint and civility in political discourse.

While acknowledging the relative stability of the Cedi, the Bishops urged that this should be reflected in the prices of goods and services in the country.

The conference also announced the establishment of a Pre-preparatory Committee to prepare for the 2030 celebration of 150 years of the Catholic faith in Ghana.

Assembly Highlights

The assembly was graced by the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Julien Kaboré, and the Savannah Regional Minister, Isifu Salisu Be-Awuribe. During the assembly, the Bishops paid courtesy calls on the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-Konuto Jewusoale II, and the Damongowura, Seidu Kelly Boresa I, where they held discussions on peacebuilding, youth advancement, and environmental care.

The Bishops also visited the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, and toured the Mole National Park and the ancient mosque at Larabanga, which they said deepened their appreciation for interfaith harmony.

Story By: Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.