Accra (Greater Accra) 12 July '99

The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has noted with concern that in spite of the enormous financial resources that the government is putting into education, standards continue to fall.

It also noted the inability of parents, particularly in the rural areas and the low-income bracket, to educate their children due to rising cost of education.

This is contained in a communiqué issued in Accra after its annual Plenary Assembly held in Tamale from July five to nine, signed by 16 bishops.

The bishops said it appears Ghana is moving fast towards an elitist society, in which only a few rich people can afford good education, even by sending them abroad.

"We want to reiterate that the Church is ever committed to assisting in the provision of education, especially for the poor and deprived."

The bishops called on the government to improve upon its commitment and efforts in the education sector and enhance the involvement of the Church and civil society in the educational enterprise.

On crime, the bishops said the rising rate of indiscipline, lawlessness, murders, armed robbery and violence gives great cause for alarm.

They said the proliferation of arms has made matters worse, and the inability of the security services to arrest the situation leads some citizens to take the law into their hands to exact instant justice.

"This situation is not helped by the image of some judges, legal personnel and security agents, who are allegedly corrupt and take bribes and refuse to administer true justice."

The bishops observed that the recent influx of violent and immoral films and video programmes in the country have had adverse effects on the life-style and cultural and moral values of the youth.

They appealed to all media houses and video centres to be circumspect and selective in their desire to provide entertainment, and urged parents and teachers to take responsibility for programmes that children watch.

The communiqué also dealt with women's issues, the youth, the aged and the family.

On women, the bishops noted that women continue to experience great hardships in the society and too many of them are becoming victims of domestic violence, rape and ritual murder.

"The Church and State cannot be indifferent to the plight of women, and more effective ways have to be found to empower them so that they can live dignified lives."

The bishops said as a result of familial poverty, and social and cultural transformations, the young are becoming increasingly impatient and disillusioned and, at times, rebellious.

The Conference noted that many youths drift to the urban centres, where they swell up the numbers of the unemployed. "This poses a challenge to the State and Church."

The bishops also noted that families live in abject poverty, saying poor pay and increasing unemployment make the future of these families bleak.

"The crisis of the family is threatening the peace and stability of the nation. Looking into the future, we would encourage the youth to prepare adequately for married life and accept the discipline of responsible parenthood".

The Conference expressed regret that while in the past old age was a blessing, it is now becoming a burden, as most of the aged are denied the necessary support to live a dignified life.

It commended the government for instituting a day for Senior Citizens and deplored frustrations that retired persons go through to get their pensions.

The Conference called for the removal of "unnecessary administrative bottlenecks" that delay the prompt and full payment of pensions and retirement befits.