Accra — His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academics of Sciences of the Vatican has issued a passionate appeal for justice and responsibility in the stewardship of Ghana’s rich natural resources.
Addressing the nation during the Republic Day National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service at the Forecourt of the State House, Cardinal Turkson called for a renewed commitment to the common good over personal gain.
“The wealth of this land — its gold, oil, cocoa, and fertile soil — is not the inheritance of a few. It is a gift entrusted to all Ghanaians,” he said.
He warned that when resources are hoarded or misused, the very fabric of society begins to unravel. “Unchecked ambition leaves negative externalities for all of us.”
Cardinal Turkson reminded Ghanaians that faith must not remain confined to churches but must influence policy, leadership, markets, and daily life.
President John Dramani Mahama, who was in attendance, echoed the call for moral leadership, stating: “Public office is not a privilege for personal gain. It is a sacred trust to serve all, especially the vulnerable. Even the presidency is not above the law.”
He emphasised that Ghana’s strength lies in its values — honesty, sacrifice, and compassion — not in military or economic might.
Adding a hopeful vision, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams of Action Chapel International expressed his dream of a Ghana where “our sons and daughters no longer queue at embassies for visas,” but find opportunity and purpose at home.
