The Nkwanta South branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oti Region has strongly condemned the recent assault on three Catholic priests in the area.
The priests, Father Robinson Melkis, Father Frank Henry Jacob, and Father Martin George, were attacked by a group of angry youths, allegedly linked to the NDC, on Wednesday, December 11.
The youths accused them of stealing equipment from the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP). The priests were accompanied by two officials from the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly, who were also physically attacked during the incident.
However, the Ghana Police Service has indicated that its initial investigation reveals the three priests were travelling with officials from the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly, including the Municipal Engineer, to Chieso to inspect a cleared plot of land that had been worked on using DRIP machinery.
In a statement issued on December 12, the police mentioned that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo-Dampare, had spoken with the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, assuring him of efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
In response, the Nkwanta South NDC Secretariat also stated on December 12, denouncing the attack as “unacceptable and contrary to the values of our society.”
The statement, signed by Constituency Secretary Prince Fiagadzi, clarified that preliminary findings indicate the assaulted individuals were Catholic priests, and that they had not stolen the DRIP equipment.
The priests were not wearing their clerical attire as they were en route to the project site. Fiagadzi further mentioned that the constituency leadership had since visited the priests and offered an apology on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, cases concerning religious leaders should be handed with caution. Before attacking any man of God make your investigation well and get your facts.
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