Catholic Bishops Urged to Produce Quality Hosts in Africa

Accra, 16 January, 2026 / 5:41 PM

The Bishop of Ghana’s Catholic Diocese of Koforidua has challenged the church in Africa to take greater responsibility in overseeing the production of quality and authentic liturgical materials, such as Eucharistic hosts, communion wine, and the liturgical vestments.

In his speech during the 12th Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) Rector’s Conference at St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary, Sowutuom in Accra, Bishop Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum said that the quality of flour and the correct measurements required for the preparation of hosts is often not respected, urging the church leaders to properly monitor the production to ensure quality hosts in Africa.

“Those who are producing hosts, mass wine, and other liturgical things. Who is checking this? The church has its own ways of looking at these things,” the Bishop said in his speech, which was published by the Catholic publication, The Catholic Trends, on Friday, January 16.

The Catholic Bishop, who is also the Vice President of RECOWA, compared the quality of the Liturgical materials in other continents and Africa, noting the difference in the quality of hosts.

He said that while hosts made in Africa tend to break, those in Europe “are quite solid”, adding, “It means the quality of the flour and measurements and so forth are not being respected. We need to look into that as an issue for the Bishops.”

The Bishop cautioned against purchasing liturgical materials that have not been approved by the Catholic Church, especially at a time when Pentecostal churches are increasingly adopting such materials.

“People are now selling communion wine, which is accepted by the Anglicans, and the so-called Pentecostals celebrate masses, and they accept anything,” he said, and added, “Our lay people are buying from them and bringing them for the celebration of the Eucharist. That is not acceptable.”

The Vice President of RECOWA also expressed concern over the growing use of inappropriate materials to make liturgical vestments, particularly chasubles, and urged Priests to use designated fabrics for their vestments.