Caritas Ghana Called to Strengthen Co-operation with Church and Government

Caritas Ghana, the development and humanitarian arm of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, held a Donors’ Conference on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to launch its 5-year strategic framework for deprived communities in Ghana.

The event took place at the GNAT Hall in Accra under the theme, “Strengthening Collaboration for Integral Human Development in Ghana.”

This brought together many key stakeholders, including donor agencies, government officials, civil society leaders, development partners, and representatives of the Catholic Church, to discuss new ways of working together to improve human development in Ghana.

In a keynote address, Dr. Fritz Gockel, an Economist, praised Caritas Ghana for its ongoing work in supporting the poor and vulnerable, noting that Caritas has brought hope to many people in Ghana and beyond, especially through its support for migrants and refugees.

Dr. Gockel added that “Caritas’ work is rooted in important values like human dignity, solidarity, justice, and care for the poor”, urging Caritas and its partners to focus on collaboration, transparency, and long-term results.

He also encouraged Caritas Ghana to improve its collaboration with the government and local authorities, stating that it will make their projects more effective and better aligned with national development goals.

Dr. Gockel, however, highlighted some challenges of the previous strategic plan, citing poor coordination, weak systems, and unclear roles among partners.

He welcomed the new strategic framework and said it shows that Caritas is ready to grow and improve.

The Strategic Framework focuses on six main areas, including Building Strong Institutions, Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods, Environment, WASH, and Climate Change, Good Governance and Peacebuilding, Emergency Preparedness, and Health and Education Services.

These areas aim to reduce poverty, protect the environment, support equality, and respond better to emergencies in deprived communities in the country.

Dr. Gockel asked donors and partners to work in better ways, saying, “It is important to use resources wisely.”

He encouraged Caritas Ghana to cut unnecessary costs and find ways to do more with less, saying that would help gain trust and attract more support.

He also urged Caritas to work more closely with other church agencies to avoid duplication and improve efficiency.

Quoting Pope Francis, Dr. Gockel noted that “lay people have a big role to play” and called on Caritas Ghana to train lay people who can help shape good policies and speak up for the poor.

The conference ended with a call for all partners, the Church, government, donors, and communities to work together.

Dr. Gockel said that “in the face of human need, no one should look away”, reminding everyone that the mission of Caritas is to bring hope and dignity to every person, especially the most vulnerable.

By Celestine Edem Gbologah