Friday May 27, 2011, will forever remain in the memory of the Catholic Bishop of the Sekondi Takoradi Diocese, Bishop John Martin Darko. It was a day on which he was publicly humiliated by members from the Apowa branch of the church, for attempting to enforce what was supposed to be a routine practice in the church.

The Bishop, who was installed a couple of years ago and speaks both English and French fluently, was chased away by the Apowa congregation for attempting to post two new parish Priests, Rev. Fathers Francis Oppong and George Nii Korley, to head the church.

Information available to The Chronicle indicates that the Bishop and the two fathers had to be quickly driven away in a car, to avoid physical assault by the rampaging members of congregation, who were bent on teaching him a lesson.

An insider, who spoke to this reporter, alleged that the action of the church members was in protest against the transfer of two Parish Priests, Rev. Father Francis Apprey (Parish priest) and Rev. Father Mathias Nwiah (Assistant Parish Priest), by Bishop Darko.

The two former priests were said to have led the congregation to put up a modern church complex, but were transferred under controversial circumstances by the Bishop.

One of the transferred priests was said to have been so infuriated that he decided to travel abroad for further studies.

The church members, who were unhappy with the action of the Bishop, decided they would not accept the new parish priests posted to head the church.

Bishop Darko thought the threat was an empty one, and, therefore, decided to lead the two new priests to Apowa to head the congregation, only to meet the wrath of the church members.

Bishop Martin Darko confirmed the story in a telephone interview with The Chronicle and noted: “What happened on the day was both a human and evil problem.”

He said he was in the process of writing a report about the development to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XL

According to him, some of the priests working under him were behind the commotion, because they wanted to usurp his powers.

Bishop Darko further told The Chronicle that he was waiting for the congregation to appoint their own parish priests.

A section of the congregation, which spoke to this reporter, condemned the action of their colleagues, contending that the Bishop had the powers to transfer any priest, without challenge.

Meanwhile, some of the priests working with Bishop Darko have reportedly written a letter to the representative of the Pope in Ghana, claiming that he (the Bishop) hates some of them who are from the Nzema tribe, a claim which has been denied by the Bishop.