The Bishops of the Standing Committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences for Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) held its first meeting for the year 2017 during the first week of Lent in Accra, Ghana on Sunday March 5 2017.

According to a statement made available to CEOAfrica by SECAM, the meeting which was attended by the Episcopal Conference of Ghana, featured the celebration of Ghana’s 60th Independence Anniversary.

The event also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Apostolic Nunciature “the Pope’s embassy” in Ghana.

Representing the Holy Father at the double celebrations was the Cardinal Governor of the Vatican State, His Eminence Giuseppe Bertello, who had been a Nuncio in Ghana many years ago.

The Cardinal was hosted by the apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Jean Marie Speich who many years ago worked at the Nunciature in Nigeria.

During the Independence Mass celebrated on the second Sunday of Lent, Cardinal Bertello declared his undying love for Africa and urged Ghanains to sustain the work of evangelization.

The Bishops of SECAM congratulated the Ghanaian nation for being a leading light in Democratic Governance in Africa and prayed that Ghanaian leaders continue to take the lead in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of its people.

The Standing Committee of SECAM also expressed deep acknowledgement and appreciation for the role which Vatican Radio has played over many decades in the evangelization of Africa and the task of catechesis and spiritual development of Africans.

They noted that Vatican Radio has always been a credible source for accessing news about the Universal Church and a ready channel for sharing news about Africa with the rest of the world.

They however expressed concern about the recent shutdown of the shortwave services of the radio which afforded millions of Africans the opportunity to hear Holy Father and share in the Church’s concerns and mission.

The Bishops, while recognizing that Vatican Radio services can still be received through the internet, pointed out the fact that many Africans simply do not have the means or the technology to enjoy such services.

The Bishops then called for the restoration of the shortwave services as a means of sustaining the mission of evangelization on the African Continent.