GCBC Plenary enters day 2 with meeting with Christian Council, Ecumenical Service set for 6pm 

The May Plenary of the Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference (GCBC) entered its second day earlier today with a meeting with the Christian Council of Ghana.

The Bishops together with their counterparts from the Christian Council are expected to deliberate on issues of national importance, taking into account socio-political as well as faith matters among others.

It is expected that issues such as fuel prices as well as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 will receive a great deal of attention at this joint meeting.

In November 2023, GCBC members thanked Ghana’s legislators “for the work done so far on the Bill, particularly the commitment of the speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban K.S Bagbin to ensure the successful passing of the Bill.”

Awaiting President Nana Akufo-Addo’s assent to become law, the new Bill imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for those found guilty of identifying as LGBTQ. Anyone convicted of forming, advocating for, or funding LGBTQ groups risks a jail term of up to five years.

The office of the President is reported to have attributed the President’s delay in assenting to the bill to some pending cases at the Supreme Court.

On the other hand, despite global oil prices dropping to multi-week lows on account of escalating supply levels, subdued demand and challenging economic indicators, local prices have accelerated.

A cocktail of factors, including sustained power cuts, exchange rate difficulties, elevated global domestic oil prices, and the latter’s effect on food prices, continue to raise concern among market observers.

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Since 2022, unstable economic conditions in Ghana have prompted many international corporations to relocate their operations with French Bank Société Générale and Spain-based delivery company, Glovo being the latest victims in the West African Country. The fluctuating value of the Ghanaian cedi, high inflation rates and the high cost of imports are major factors contributing to this trend.

Later today, the Catholic Bishops are expected to hold a joint Ecumenical  Service with the Christian Council of Ghana at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Osu at 6pm.

Ecumenical services play a vital role in advancing the Catholic Church’s commitment to Christian unity, reconciliation, and cooperation. They provide a tangible expression of the Church’s desire for all Christians to be “one body in Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27), working together for the greater glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.