Archdiocese of Accra to engage Ghana’s young people in dialogue

Gabriel Asempa Antwi - Accra.

Under the theme "Present & Connected," the 2024 Accra Archdiocesan Youth Congress promises to be a forum where young people will have the opportunity to engage directly with Archbishop, John Bonaventure Kwofie and his two Auxiliaries Bishops -Anthony Narh Asare, and John Kobina Louis as well as other members of the clergy.

Take-up your role in the Church

During a discussion session at the launch of the Youth Congress held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra recently, Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Narh Asare, emphasised the importance of active participation from the youth. He urged them to move beyond mere criticism and take ownership of their roles within the Church.

"If this is your Church, if you love Christ then you must love his Church. And if you live in the Church, then all hands-on deck," Bishop Asare asserted.

Let us dialogue

He continued, "Come, is there anything worrying you in your parish, in your family, wherever you work, in your school, let us dialogue about it. You know it is when you share, then you become more educated," said Bishop Asare.

For his part, Youth Chaplain of the Archdiocese of Accra, Fr. Alphonse Bulloro, echoed Bishop Asare's sentiments, emphasising the congress as an opportunity for the youth to share their ideas and concerns directly with the Archbishop and clergy.

"This year 2024, the youth of the Archdiocese of Accra will go into congress. The purpose of this congress is for them to talk to our Archbishop, chief shepherd, and his auxiliaries and the priests of the Archdiocese who are ready to listen to them," stated Fr. Bulloro.

Some of Ghana’s young people at a Beach clean-up event during Lent.

Present & Connected

The Congress, scheduled to take place from 26 June to 29 June, will kick off with a three-day intensive dialogue session at St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Sowutuom, bringing together 150 youth from various youth movements and deaneries across the Archdiocese of Accra. This session aims to delve into pertinent issues affecting the youth and the Church.

On 29 June, the congress will culminate in a grand gathering of approximately 3 000 youth at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.

June 2024 Youth Logo in Accra, Ghana

The climax event seeks to not only celebrate the unity and vibrancy of the youth but also to showcase the outcomes of the dialogue sessions and inspire collaborative solutions to challenges faced by the Church and society.

"The young people have this opportunity to journey with our Archbishop and his auxiliaries and also the leaders of the Archdiocese," emphasised Fr. Bulloro.

"We pray that everything will be successful," said the Youth Chaplain.