Ghana Münster engl

Annual “Partnership-Conference” at Franz-Hitze-Haus Muenster, 17-18 November,
2017: The Partnership of Münster Diocese and Tamale Ecclesiastical Province
Since 1982, the Muenster Catholic Diocese has been in partnership with the Tamale Ecclesiastical
Catholic Province of Ghana. The partnership programmes and activities include sharing experiences
of the Christian faith, cultural exchange, promotion of peace, and implementation of various
development projects. This year 2017 marks 35 years of the partnership, interestingly involving 35
partners. As is the tradition of the partner parishes of the Münster Diocese to meet every year to
discuss, share ideas and reflect on their activities and relationship with their Ghana partners, this
year’s event took place on 17-18 November, at the Franz-Hitze Hause in Muenster. The KAAD
scholars from Ghana who are pursuing various Master and PhD programmes in Germany, and the
Head of the KAAD Africa Department, Dr. Marko Kuhn, were invited to be part of the programme.
The programme of the anniversary focused on governance, peace and development. The
discussions were enriched by a number of presentations on these thematic areas. Dr. Steffen Krüger
from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, made a presentation on democracy and civil society, focusing
on the political and socio-economic atmosphere following the 2016 elections and transition of
power from the National Democratic Congress to the New Patriotic Party government. From the
traditional governance perspective, Fr. Michael Lieber Cobb, a KAAD scholar, delivered a
presentation on chieftaincy and the civil state in Ghana. He underscored the role of the chieftaincy
institution as the custodian of valuable customary norms and practices, and a partner to the state in
local and national development. Fr. Cobb noted that the Chieftaincy institution is however beset
with numerous, mostly succession disputes which derail developments in many parts of Ghana. He
concluded by highlighting the efforts of various groups especially the Catholic Church in promoting
peace in chieftaincy-conflict prone areas particularly in Northern Ghana. Buttressing the importance
of peace to development, Ms Sarah Czichowsky from Muenster, outlined the contribution of the
Catholic Church in conflict resolution and peace building, with a focus on the Northern Ghana in
general and the Yendi Diocese in particular.
Thirty five years of partnership was a worthy moment to take a deeper reflection on the work and
relationships in the partnership, and to obtain a direction for a better partnership tomorrow. A
podium discussion set the stage for this reflection. The three and half decade union has largely been
very successful, yielding fruits which include: exchange of ideas and cultures, human and
infrastructural developments, livelihood empowerment, peace and governance, and deeper
Christian relationships with self and neighbour.
The KAAD scholars made significant contributions in the discussions, offering some ideas for
strengthening the partnership relationships. One of these ideas was a stronger involvement of the
lay faithful in parish activities including the partnership work, as well as the maintenance of stronger
communication. Dr. Kuhn, the KAAD Head of Africa Department expressed gratitude to the
partnership committee for the support to the Ghana KAAD Scholars, as well as involving them in the
annual partnership workshops. He encouraged partner committees and parish leaders to tap the rich

skills and ideas of the scholars by increasingly involving them in not only partnership programmes,
but also other parish and church activities.
During the conference, also the big event of the Katholikentag 2018 in Muenster was already
anticipated. This convention of Catholics in Germany takes places every two years and will be in
Münster next time. Here the partnership activities with Northern Ghana will play an important role
and many bishops and other guests from Ghana will be present. The 35 th anniversary of the
partnership was graced with a Eucharistic celebration led by the Auxilliary Bishop of Muenster, Dr.
Stefan Zekorn. Con-celebrating were Jacob Jagri and Michael Lieber Cobb of the Yendi Diocese of
Ghana. Bishop Zekorn underscored the fact that everything good comes with challenges, and we
should thus thank God for blessing the relationships between the German and Ghana Churches for
35 years.
After the conference in Münster, a delegation travelled to Ghana to attend the celebration of the 35
years of Partnership. The occasion was held at Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region and
of the diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga. The Celebration on Saturday 25th November was attended
by delegations from all the five dioceses of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province, by delegates from
Münster diocese and of KASWA, the KAAD Alumni Association.
Dr. Andrew Limantol represented KASWA and KAAD and gave a speech including a message from
the KAAD headquarters. He also gave a brief background of KAAD, KASWA and KASWA Northern
Chapter. One of the KAAD alumni, Eric Kuvaarpuo, gave a very instrumental presentation on a
planned Project: “Strengthening Citizen Participation in Local Governance in the Tamale
Ecclesiastical Province”. During the thanksgiving mass service on Sunday, the 26th November, gifts
were presented and these included a gift for KAAD from TEPPCON as an appreciation for the
enormous role played by KAAD in the Partnership.