The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has raised concerns about the increasing spate of lawlessness and crime and called on the government to resource the security agencies to forestall such occurrences in the future, MyNewsGh.com reports.

It specifically mentioned high profile murders, kidnapping cases and the lawless activities of political vigilante groups that continue to threaten the peace of the nation and the loss of lives in the country explaining that peace is paramount in all things.

“Peace is paramount for a nation’s well-being and that of its citizens” and therefore is “deeply saddened by recent reports of high profile murders and cases of kidnappings in the country, especially in the Western Region”, it noted.

In a 2019 Pastoral Letter on the theme: “Grace-filled Time to Seek Peace and Reconciliation with God, Neighbour and Creation” dated Friday, March 1, 2019 and signed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale and President of the GCBC, Most Rev. Philip Naameh it added “We are equally concerned about the lawless activities of political vigilante groups that continue to threaten the peace of the nation and the loss of lives….” while “… praying to God that perpetrators of such heinous crimes will quickly repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness, we call on government to resource the security agencies with the necessary logistics and equipment to help them bring all perpetrators to book, while putting in place the necessary measures to forestall such occurrences in the future to ensure the safety and security of all citizens and residents living on our land,” it added.

The conference expressed hope that peace will be restored in Alavanyo-Nkonya conclave, Sankore, Mim, Drobo and Japekrom, among others in order to foster development.

“It is their prayer and hope that “the new-found peace in the area will be sustained to lead to development, while other areas that are currently crying for peace like the Alavanyo-Nkonya conclave, Sankore, Mim, Drobo and Japekrom, among others will also experience peace soon.” The letter stressed.