A major humanitarian effort coordinated by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Ghana has provided crucial assistance to more than 1,000 people escaping extremist violence in Burkina Faso, according to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC).
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 GCBC Plenary Assembly on November 10, the conference president, Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, commended CRS’s Sahel Peace Initiative (SPI), a component of the 2019 Steps Toward Peace programme, for its impact on communities traumatised by terrorism. He noted that the initiative has helped displaced families with food support, healthcare, and access to education while promoting community resilience and peaceful coexistence.
Violent attacks on Christians in Burkina Faso have intensified in recent years, forcing entire communities to flee. Open Doors reports that jihadist groups continue to target churches, kill believers, and shut down Christian worship across the country, while new converts to Christianity face rejection from their families and communities.
Ghana, which borders Burkina Faso to the south, has become a refuge for many escaping these threats. Bishop Gyamfi revealed that since 2022 alone, more than 15,000 Burkinabé asylum seekers have entered the northern part of Ghana. Despite widespread poverty, he said, local communities have welcomed them with extraordinary generosity, often without significant external assistance.
“Peace is hollow without justice, and security cannot hold without compassion,” he said, praising grassroots efforts that have helped traumatized families find safety.
The Sunyani Bishop highlighted several interventions spearheaded by the Church in Ghana. With the help of traditional leaders from both Burkina Faso and Ghana, mediation teams have calmed tensions in border communities and assisted displaced people in returning home where possible. He described these actions as faith expressed through healing and practical solidarity, rather than theoretical advocacy.
He also reflected on internal conflict-resolution efforts within Ghana. Working alongside the National Peace Council and regional authorities, the Church has played a significant role in mediating disputes such as the protracted conflict between Doba and Kandiga in the Upper East Region.
However, Bishop Gyamfi warned that Ghana’s internal stability is under strain. While often praised as a strong democracy, he said the country faces deep-rooted issues including corruption, inequality, and periodic violence. He cited the 2024 general elections as an example, describing them as one of the most violent in recent history, with multiple casualties, injuries, and more than 100 arrests linked to post-election disturbances.
The bishop also voiced concern over severe environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. He lamented that polluted rivers, ravaged forests, and poisoned farmlands have created a moral and social crisis, disproportionately harming the poor—especially women and children. He described the environmental damage as “a silent violence” against vulnerable communities and an affront to God’s creation.
This year’s GCBC Plenary Assembly, themed “Synodality in the Service of Justice and Peace in Ghana,” builds on last year’s focus on the Jubilee Year and the proclamation of Christ as the nation’s hope. Bishop Gyamfi said the current theme invites the Church to walk together, listen to one another, and commit to transforming society through cooperative action rooted in the Holy Spirit.
Credit: aciafrica
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