Msgr. Maher Chammas, Charge d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana, will visit the Catholic Diocese of Wa tomorrow. The purpose of his visit is to provide information from the Nunciature, a post from the official handle of the Diocese says.
The event will take place at St. Andrews Cathedral in Wa at 9:30 a.m prompt. Attendees are expected to be seated by that time.
The announcement was confirmed by the official handle of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Associations. The post read, “Msgr. Maher Chammas, Charge d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana, will visit the Catholic Diocese of Wa tomorrow.”
This visit comes just during the ongoing general meeting of priests of the Diocese to address the decline in the Catholic population in Ghana. As reported by Catholic Trends, the Wa Diocesan Priests’ Association (WADPA) is currently holding its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Tiegber, Wa, from May 20 to 22.
The theme of the meeting is “The Decline in Catholic Population in Ghana: The Role of the Priest.” Over a hundred priests are attending the event, which began with a recollection session at the Xavier Chapel.
Coupled with the issues of declining Catholic population and the welfare of the Diocese and its priests being discussed by the association, the Diocese has been in a state of “sede vacante” since the passing of His Eminence Richard Kuuia Cardinal Baawobr in Rome on November 27, 2022. Cardinal Baawobr served as Bishop of Wa from 2016 until his death.
The Diocesan Administrator who took over from the late Cardinal, Very Rev. Fr. Edward Tengan also died on 3rd August, 2023.
A communique signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Very Rev. Benjamin Siiriter said ” With profound sorrow, pain and a heavy heart, I regret, on behalf of the College of Consultors of Wa Diocese, to inform you that our dear brother, Very Rev. Fr. Edward B. Tengan, the Diocesan.”
“Administrator, returned to the Heavenly Father, yesterday, Thursday, 3rd August 2023, in the evening. He was 71 years old,” the statement added.
Fr. Cornelius Bayirinoba is currently the Diocesan Administrator for Wa.
Details of Msgr. Chammas’s visit to the Diocese remains unclear. Catholic Trends is closely monitoring the situation and will update the Catholic community with any new developments.
