Pax Romana Ghana Climaxes Diamond Jubilee

The International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) Ghana Federation has celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a call on members to rededicat themselves to the cause of the Movement to impact on students and the society at large. Prof. Johannes Akpabla Mawuli Awudza of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in a Keynote Address, challenged the leadership of the Movement to develop strategic short-medium- and long-term plans to guide and revigorate Pax Romana in Ghana. The Anniversary which brought together students from all over the country, was on the theme: 75 Years of Our Existence in Ghana, Living Our Faith That Christ May Be in All, My Role as A Catholic Intellectual in The Light of The Synodality of The Church. Prof. Awudza, a latter-day Pioneer of the Pax Romana, speaking at the auditorium of the Accra College of Education, commended the founding Fathers for their foresight in starting the group, and entreated the members to stay committed to the group, encourage each other and to stay focussed in their faith and studies. To counter the challenge of social media and globalisation posed to student evangelisation and staying in tune with the core values of the movement, Prof. Awudza, entreated members to intensify their study sessions. The Professor, citing poverty as a hurdle affecting a large section of the members, proposed the setting up of a Fund to support needy students. He donated seed money of GH₵1,000. He urged all Pax Alumni as well as the current members to support the fund. Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Afriyie Amposah, a Resident Clinical and Counselling Psychologist at the University of Ghana Career and Counselling Centre, speaking on lifestyle diseases, noted that Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DAS) were on the rise among the youth. He said the causes could be linked to overthinking, fear of the unknown and addiction to social media which he noted creates a false sense of belonging but in reality, a lot of them are lonely. Fr. Amponsah advised the youth to learn to connect, make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as well as exercise and listen to good music. As part of the programme, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Naah, was introduced as the new National Chaplain of the IMCS Pax Romana Ghana Federation. He takes over from Most Rev. John Opoku-Agyemang, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese. The new Chaplain called on the leadership and the entire membership of the movement to work together in order to transform the world. A former National Security Coordinator, Mr. Francis Poku, who Chaired the occasion also praised the pioneers, and volunteers who support the movement on the various campuses. He charged the members to pray for peace in the country during and after the 2024 general elections. As part of the 75th Anniversary, series of activities including Blood donations and Health Screening, Choralfest dubbed Peace Concert to advocate for Peace before, during and after the 2024 General Elections of Ghana, and Pax in Praise were held. Other activities included the Diamond Jubilee Float interspersed with Street Evangelism, Feeding the Hungry, Promoting Peace with short message on placards through some streets which ended with the Presentation of Petition to the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference at the National Catholic Secretariat, Accra. The IMCS Pax Romana Ghana Federation, an Association of all Catholics pursuing any academic programmes in tertiary institutions in Ghana, has its membership cutting across almost all tertiary institutions in Ghana both public and private. The movement started as St. Thomas Aquinas Society in Ghana, the then University College of Gold Coast now University of Ghana Legon in 1949. Some of the major activities include, promoting global partnership for solidarity through ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious and cultural dialogue, as well as promoting Culture of Peace, Human Rights Advocacy and promoting Poverty Reduction Strategies. Others are the ecological sustainability, lay spirituality, women empowerment for leadership in church and society, young professional and youth leadership. From Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng