Obuasi (Ash), Nov. 5, GNA- Roman Catholic Bishops will from Monday hold a week-long conference at Obuasi to discuss a number of issues of national and religious importance. All the 18 Catholic Bishops in the country will attend the conference that has the theme "Catholic Church - Reading The Signs of the Time".

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on the conference the host Bishop, The Most Reverend Thomas K. Mensah said time has come for the Catholic Church to lead the crusade in assisting the government to address moral problems facing the nation.

Touching on the theme of the conference, Bishop Mensah said the signs of the time included the insecurity of travellers since armed robbery on the country's highways has become alarming.

Bishop Mensah, who is also a member of the Pontifical Council Responsible for Health in Africa, said HIV/AIDS and drug abuse are becoming a worrying problem "and the whole nation should know that drug abuse has become a killer".

"It is time we address these issues on HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and other moral problems as Ghanaians", he said. Bishop Mensah touched on the Church and said the conference will consider how to make the youth develop interest in the Church and also have better orientation about themselves and the relationship with the Church.

He said the Catholic Church in Ghana has come to the limelight with the installation of Cardinal Peter Turkson.