Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, SVD, Parish Priest of Christ the King (CTK) Church in Accra, has decried the recent suicides in the country with a call on parents to show unflinching love and affection to their children to avoid temptations of suicide.
The past few weeks have seen a lot of media reports on suicides in Ghana, a situation, he said could be avoided if parents especially fathers, pay more attention to their children and have time for them.
Inaugurating a 70-member Catholic Men Association (CMA) at CTK recently, Fr. Campbell said when fathers performed their parental roles, their children would not be swayed by friends into acts that could lead them to commit suicide and other social vices.
He urged members of the Association to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in their homes for protection against evil acts, and for families to live happily.
He commended the Association for its numerous spiritual and charitable activities since its formation a year ago, urging the members to encourage men especially the floating Parishioners to join the Association.
The members pledged to co-operate and collaborate with the Priests and other Societies in the Church, promising to be good and faithful men of the Church.
Mr. Sam Kwofie, President of the Association, thanked Fr. Campbell for his encouragement and love for the Association and said it had supported Church activities, organised charity and outreach programmes as well as retreats.
Mr. Kwofie said, the aims and objectives of the Association, were to help members identify their potentials as Catholics; develop greater awareness of dignity and responsibility of members as Christian men, husbands and fathers.
He said it was also to support Church activities, appealing to women to encourage their husbands to join the Association to serve God and mankind.
Mr. Kwofie, who was the Father of the Year for 2015, and upon whose initiative the Association was formed, encouraged its formation in all Parishes in the Accra Archdiocese.
On behalf of the Association, he presented a token amount to support the Soup Kitchen Project by Fr. Campbell.
The Patron Saint of the Association is St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Executives were also inducted into Office. They are Mr. Kwofie, President; Capt. Joseph Afriyie Boachie, Vice President; Mr. Michael Yaw Owusu, Secretary; Mr. Wumbilla Salifu, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Ian Ebo Cole, Financial Secretary; Mr. Augustine Angloeha, Treasurer; Mr. Sammy Laing, Organiser; and Maj. Mark Ankobiah, Assistant Organiser.
The rest are Anthony Ebow Essien, Protocol Officer; Mr. Joseph Yanzu, Assistant Protocol Officer; Mr. Daniel Ala Adjatey, Welfare Officer; Mr. Ike Umerah, Assistant Welfare Officer; and Torgbui Bruno Oscar, Chaplain.
By Damian Avevor
