Kumasi, March 26, GNA - Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the Knighthood of Saint Gregory the Great and the Dame of Gregory on Mr Dennis Adjei and Mrs Mary Mansusu Adu-Owusu for their numerous contributions towards the development of the Catholic Church in Ghana. Mr Adjei, 42, is legal practitioner in Kumasi while Mrs Adu-Owusu is a retired teacher.

The Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, the Archbishop of Kumasi, conferred the titles on the two of the Pope Benedict at a Pontifical mass at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church at New Tafo in Kumasi on Saturday.

A citation accompanying the conferment recounted the numerous contributions of Mr Adjei to the church and the various positions he holds in the church and in some second cycle institutions in the country.

It described his assistance rendered to the Archdiocese as simply immeasurable. He is the chairman or a member of the board of directors/governors of many Catholic institutions as well as second cycle institutions.

The citation named some of his positions as board chairman of Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Pope John II Formation Training Centre in the Obuasi Diocese, Goaso Diocesan Health Centre, Christian Village Mechanical Workshop, Kumasi, Afua Kobi Girls' Secondary School at Trabuom, Esaase-Bontefufuo Secondary/Technical School and Saint Peter's Vocational School in Kumasi and among others.

It noted that it was Mr Adjei's services to his God, church, humanity, profession, compatriots and many other reasons that the Archdiocese of Kumasi solicited the Knighthood of Saint Gregory the Great for him.

Of Mrs Adu-Owusu, the Archdiocese commended her for her invaluable service to Catholic women of the Archdiocese, as a member and then secretary of the executive of the Catholic Women's Council and subsequently first Women's Co-ordinator of the Council.

It said having served on almost all committees in the parish she is now a deserving member of the Council of Elders adding that she assisted tremendously in the formation of priests and sisters through her prayers, advice, example and regular pecuniary remittances and contributions.