Yendi (N/R) Nov. 13, GNA - This year's annual plenary assembly of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, is underway in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region. The eight-day conference, being attended by 18 delegates is on the theme: The Church in Ghana in service to reconciliation, justice and peace. You are the salt of The earth - you are the light of the world."

In a keynote, the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora, Bishop of Bolgatanga said the platform was used for prayers, consultations and deliberations to promote co-operation in the ministry and an organic pastoral solidarity. Most Rev. Abamloora said the conference was deliberating on national and church issues to get a better understanding to influence the catholic mission in Ghana.

He used the conference to announce officially the appointment of Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson as the 16th President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace by Pope Benedict. The Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina said as a dynamic church with great following in the country, it was imperative that the bishops met periodically to take stock of their programmes and activities to enable them devise strategies for the way forward.

Mr. Nayina called on religious leaders to use the pulpit to preach peace, tolerance and love to the warring factions in Dagbon and Bawku. He said escalation of the conflicts would facilitate the retrogression of the North and take the people a long time to recover. The regional minister said the security situation had wider implications for the peace and development of the country. Mr. Nayina said it was apparent that efforts of the Government, Church and other development partners, towards the development of the region would be useless if it was not linked to peace, security and justice delivery in Dagbon.

He appealed to all the citizens of Dagbon to exercise restraint and allow the Committee of Imminent Chiefs and the law enforcement agencies to deliver justice to all without fear or favour.

Mr. Nayina said the Catholic Church had made tremendous contributions to the socio-economic development of the country notably in the area of education, health, agriculture, poverty and peace building. He said through the intervention of programmes like the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, Northern Rural Growth Programme and other social interventions; the ruling National Democratic Congress intend to improve the fortunes of the people by providing economic opportunities such as irrigation system, mechanised agriculture and improved marketing strategies. In a speech read on his behalf, the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Na Yakubu Abdulai Andani expressed his appreciation to the Catholic Church for its efforts towards peace building such as the inter-religious Dialogue, which provides a platform for Muslims and Christians to interact. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yendi, Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi- Nai announced plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the creation of the diocese. 13 Nov. 09