The National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has organized a forum for Catholic Development Organizations in Ghana to help harmonize all charitable activities being carried out by the Catholic Church in the country.

The Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), a non-governmental organization and development wing of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall of the Catholic Church is also partnering the NCS and CRS to organise the two-day first Country forum on the theme: “Enhancing Catholic Organisations’ Effectiveness for Public Policy Engagement- Focus on Ethics and Minimum Standards”.

About 60 participants made up of 20 diocesan officers as well as some development partners from Italy, Germany, Mauritius, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, among others, are attending the forum sponsored by Misereor, a donor agency in Germany.

Rev Father Nicholas Afriyie, Secretary General, NCS said the Catholic Church in Ghana was working in partnership with a wide range of development partners in different sectors, and there was the need for such a forum.

Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development, CARITAS Ghana, said the forum heralded the Pan-African Conference of the Caritas member organizations which Ghana is scheduled to host in February next year.

He said effective coordination was critical for organisational effectiveness and as such the annual forum had been initiated to trade ideas, knowledge, and experiences as well as develop strategies for coordinated response and action in development, especially in public policy engagement.

Mr Eddie Prah, Board Chairman of MAREDES said it was the responsibility of lay organisations in the Church to lead such public policy engagement for the overall good of society.

Mr Jacques Dinan, Executive Secretary CARITAS Africa, said the Church should meet more often to think about ways to improve upon its work and obligation towards society.