The collection will take place in Catholic churches across Ghana on the final day of Caritas Week, which runs from November 8 to 15, and is intended to strengthen the Church’s capacity to respond to emergencies and support poor and vulnerable people.
Executive Director of Caritas Ghana, Mr Richard Akurugu, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday, explaining that the initiative was part of efforts to reduce the Church’s dependence on international development partners amid declining donor support.
He said Caritas Ghana submitted proposals to the Bishops’ Conference in 2025 to make Caritas Week an annual event on the Church’s calendar and incorporate an annual collection into the celebration. Both proposals were approved during the Conference’s November 2025 plenary.
Mr Akurugu said the initiative is intended to help the Church build internal financial reserves to respond more effectively when emergencies occur, rather than relying entirely on external funding.
“It is important for the church to begin to look at how we build internal reserves to be able to respond to emergencies when they happen,” he said.
According to Mr Akurugu, the funds raised will support Caritas activities at both diocesan and national levels, with 50 per cent allocated to Caritas Ghana for national coordination and the remaining portion supporting diocesan activities.
He said the collection would be subject to accountability measures, with parishes expected to record the amounts raised and report them to their respective dioceses. The dioceses would then consolidate the reports and submit them to Caritas Ghana.
The initiative comes as Caritas Ghana continues to respond to emergencies across the country. Mr Akurugu said the organisation had responded to emergencies in at least seven regions in 2026, including windstorms in the Upper East and North East regions and flooding in several parts of the country.
Caritas Ghana also provided relief to people affected by the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage.
Mr Akurugu said the organisation’s emergency responses had relied on donor funding, making it necessary to strengthen local support for its work.
The first annual collection under the new initiative will take place during the climax of Caritas Week 2026, which coincides with the World Day of the Poor on November 15.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Lord is the Refuge of the Poor”, with the campaign line, “A refuge for the poor, love in action.”
Beyond fundraising, the week will feature prayer, education and community activities aimed at encouraging Catholics to participate in the Church’s charitable mission.
Mr Akurugu said Caritas was not limited to an institutional department but involved every member of the Church who supports people in need.
Discussion about this post