Former Ghana-Liberia SVD Provincial urges local funding push as foreign support dwindles

Delivering his farewell address at the installation ceremony of the new Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Andrews Aboagye Obeng and his Council on 1 June 2026, Fr. Kuupol said the future sustainability of the Province depends largely on the commitment of local members, partners and benefactors.

He noted that while the Province had benefited significantly from foreign donors and mission offices over the years, those lifelines can no longer be relied upon as they once were.

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“The reality is that foreign donors and the subsidies received from our Mission Offices are dwindling daily,” he said, urging a shift toward “conscious and generous local contribution” to sustain the Church’s mission.

Fr. Kuupol described his six-year tenure as one shaped by both global disruption and institutional growth, pointing especially to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine conflict, which he said tested the resilience of the Province.

Despite these challenges, he said the Society experienced growth in its spiritual, pastoral and communal life, crediting unity and collaboration across different groups within the Church.

He expressed gratitude to fellow SVD missionaries, bishops, religious congregations and lay partners for what he called “shared commitment to the mission of Christ.”

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He also highlighted the role of Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), lay associates and benefactors, noting that their support helped sustain missionary activities that would otherwise have been difficult to execute.

To the incoming leadership, Fr. Kuupol called for continuity of teamwork and strong communal support, urging the faithful to offer the same loyalty and cooperation he had enjoyed during his tenure.

He expressed confidence that the new Provincial Superior and his Council would lead the Province into “a new chapter of service and growth,” while building on the foundations already laid.