Catholic Bishops' Conference launches Caritas Ghana

By Celestina Seyram Tsievor/ Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
Accra, June 4, GNA - The Ghana Catholic and Bishops' Conference, has launched Caritas Ghana, in Accra, a charity organisation to contribute to the enhancement of the dignity of the human person.

The Most Reverend Gabriel Mante, President of Caritas Ghana, who launched the organisation, said it is a global and credible brand which is present in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world.

It has dynamically adopted people-centred initiatives to bring change in the lives of affected and at-risk communities.

He explained that the existence of Caritas does not downplay the social services that the church has always rendered to humanity in areas of health, education, livelihoods, relief and incomes but rather it is to enhance the quality in the years to come.

Most Rev Mante noted that the organisation would undertake social action research as a means to improving social-service delivery.

In addition, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement and other initiatives could be realised with the active participation of civil society engagements, which depends on credibility and robustness.

Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana and Head of the Department of the Human Development at the National Catholic Secretariat, said recent findings point to inequality gap reaching new extremes between individuals and social groups and the livelihoods of rural peasants.

He said Caritas Ghana is to build partnerships and network in the spirit of effective development co-operation to contribute to civil society activism in the nation.

Globally, he noted that the Caritas confederation has existing memorandum of understanding and other means of collaboration and cooperation with the UN bodies such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Others are the European Union and National Governments and present in 200 countries and territories like Germany, the Netherlands, South Sudan, Bangladesh, Jordan France and others.

By formalising the existence of Caritas Ghana, they intend to signal the government and her development partners that they are willing to domesticate these mutually rewarding partnerships in the context of development, the Executive Secretary added.

Mr Akologo observed that Ghana's relief, humanitarian, social inclusion and safety-net policies and programmes could benefit from cooperation and partnership with Caritas Ghana.

GNA