The Omanhene of New Juaben traditional area Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III has made a case for proper retirement entitlements for catholic priests in Ghana.
Catholic priests in the country have raised concerns over poor retirement condition after years of service.
Speaking at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association on Wednesday, 4th January 2023 in Koforidua, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III urged the Catholic church to institute insurance scheme for retired priests ,provide monthly stipends and decent accomodations for them.
“With humility I want to make the following proposal that the leadership of the Catholic church must ensure that each and every Catholic priest is at least entitled to insurance policy especially health insurance which will guarantee them access to healthcare delivery in times of need”.
Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III continued “that the retire catholic priest should be made to enjoy in their lifetime monthly stipends .That retired catholic priest should be provided with staff including cooks, house helps,drivers etc whose welfare is equally catered for by the church as recognition of their dedicated service in the Church and society at large,that, Leadership of the church provides decent accommodation for all retire priests and the leadership of the church provides for the needs of his dependants of retired catholic priest if any through a scheme that may be established .The church should continue to integrate catholic priests in their mainstream activities even after their retirement to make them feel out and valued”.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo mounted a spirited defence for Akonta Mining Company Limited insisting the firm is not involved in illegal mining in the country.
President Akufo-Addo was responding to the Chairperson of the event, Ing. Ken Ashigbey who had questioned why Chairman Wontumi continues to walk a free man when he should be investigated and prosecuted.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference recently joined calls for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party Bernard Antwi Bosiako alias chairman Wontumi owner of Akonta mining Limited for illegally mining in Forest reserve.
The Company was stopped from mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve in October 2022 by the Lands Ministry.
According to the Ministry, even though Akonta Mining Limited had a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the company had no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
Meanwhile, Akonta Mining is under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Catholic Church,Most Rev.Afrifa Agyekum called on colleagues to intensify evangelism in spite of prevailing challenges.
Source : Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
