General News of Thursday, 30 January 2025

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Freemason Controversy: Archbishop Palmer-Buckle has not written any letter to me – Afenyo-Markin

Alexander Afenyo-Markin is the Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin is the Minority Leader in Parliament

The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has reacted to an official statement of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra prohibiting its members from associating with Freemasonry.

Addressing the development, Afenyo-Markin said that he has yet to receive any official letter or document from the Catholic Church concerning his membership in the Freemason fraternity.

According to him, his church leader, Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, has not sent him any official letter expressing disapproval of his association with Freemasonry or urging him to revoke his membership in any way.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV on January 29, 2025, the lawmaker said “My Archbishop Palmer-Buckle has not written any letter to me. I have been seeing letters flying around, but nobody has written to me personally.”

Reaffirming his commitment to his Catholic faith and his unwavering stance, the Effutu constituency lawmaker expressed his willingness to have a candid discussion with his church to explore various perspectives on Freemasonry and address the negative perceptions often linked to it.

“I am a committed Catholic. I am ready to discuss issues about fraternities that I join. I am ready to open up. If I was afraid, I wouldn’t have brought it up. There are many Catholics who are Freemasons and are afraid to talk about it,” he continued.

Afenyo-Markin indicated that should his church take a position on his association with Freemasonry, he would decide whether to leave the Catholic Church or remain.

“If I receive a delegation of my church leaders for a conversation, we will have a good discussion. If it gets to a point where the church takes a position and says, 'Kwamina, we really disagree with you,' then it would be for me to decide whether, in that circumstance, I would still remain a Catholic or move to the Anglican Church and become an Anglican," he stated.

The controversy surrounding freemasonry came to the fore during the vetting of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo.

In response to questions about his affiliation to the fraternity, raised by Afenyo-Markin, the Ranking Member of the committee, Opare Addo affirmed the values and principles he has embraced through the organization, openly acknowledging his membership.

The admission sparked mixed reactions, with the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra reiterating its longstanding position of prohibiting its members from associating with freemasonry.

MAG/AE

Also watch Miki Osei Berko's interview on Talkertainment below: