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RECOWA

Some participants during the January 17 virtual event. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Synodal Process “a gift from God” to Church in Southern Africa: Catholic Official

Jan 23, 2023

The Director of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) has said that the people of God in the region have welcomed the ongoing preparations for the Synod on Synodality that is at the consultation phase at the level of the continent as “a gift from God”.

Mons. Joseph Kakou Aka greets Pope Francis in Rome. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Former RECOWA Secretary General Appointed Bishop for Yamoussoukro Diocese, Ivory Coast

Dec 28, 2022

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Joseph Kacou Aka, the immediate former Secretary General of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), as Bishop for Yamoussoukro Diocese in Ivory Coast.

Catholic Priests “must never give in to the calls to arm the Church”: Nigerian Priest

Jun 16, 2022

The President of the Regional Union of Priests of West Africa (RUPWA) has urged his brothers in the Priesthood to steer off any acts of violence and calls to be armed amid ongoing Christian persecution in some countries in the region.

Bishop Hassa Florent Koné of Mali's San Diocese. Credit: ACI Africa

To Realize “true peace” in West Africa, “fraternity must be built at all levels”: Bishop

May 14, 2022

A Catholic Bishop who was among delegates participating in just concluded fourth Plenary Assembly of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) has underscored the need for fraternity “at all levels” for what he termed “true peace” to be realized in West African countries.

Sr. Clare Emeroum. Credit: ACI Africa

Catholic Nun in Nigeria Blames Country’s Woes on Illiteracy, Ignorance, Poverty

May 11, 2022

A Catholic Nun in Nigeria has said that the challenges the West African country is facing, including insecurity, can be addressed by eliminating illiteracy and ignorance especially among young people as well as poverty.

Br. Teo Grageda. Credit: ACI Africa

Plenary of Catholic Bishops in West Africa “great force of solidarity”: Religious Brother

May 10, 2022

The coming together of Catholic Bishops under the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) for their fourth Plenary Assembly was a “great force of solidarity” and a move towards togetherness, a Religious Brother has said. 

Members of RECOWA present their final communiqué to journalists in Abuja on 7 May 2022. Credit: ACI Africa

Catholic Bishops in West Africa “denounce policies” Allowing Exploitation, Marginalization

May 9, 2022

Catholic Bishops in West Africa have, in the final communiqué of their fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly, denounced “policies and practices” that give room to exploitation of populations and marginalization of persons.

Members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) at the closing Mass of their fourth plenary assembly in Abuja, Nigeria on 8 May 2022. Credit: ACI Africa

RECOWA Plenary Assembly Ends with Commitment “to new vision of fraternity”

May 8, 2022

Members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) have, in their message at the end of their fourth Plenary Assembly, taken the commitment to work for a new fraternity in the West African subregion amid a wide range of challenges.

Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle of Ghana's Cape Coast Archdiocese. Credit: ACI Africa.

Pray for Vocations, Help Christ’s Disciples Answer Call: Ghanaian Archbishop to Christians

May 8, 2022

The Catholic Archbishop of Cape Coast Archdiocese in Ghana has, on the annual celebration of Vocations Sunday, May 8, encouraged followers of Christ to “pray for vocations” and help disciples of Jesus Christ “faithfully” answer God’s call.

Bishop Joseph Kwaku Afrifah-Agyekum of Ghana's Koforidua Diocese. Credit: ACI Africa

“Align catechism to lives of people” amid Challenges in West Africa: RECOWA Vice President

May 7, 2022

The new Vice President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) has, in an interview with ACI Africa, emphasized the need to align the teaching of the word of God to the daily challenges people face in West Africa.

Yemi Osinbajo, ice President of Nigeria addressing participants at the fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly that opened on Tuesday, May 3 in Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese. Credit: CSN

Catholic Bishops in West Africa Urged to Build “bridges across every divide”, Foster Peace

May 7, 2022

The President of Nigeria has called upon Catholic Bishops under the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), to “bridges across every divide” in West African nations and foster peace to safeguard the countries therein from fracturing.

Bishop Alexis Touably Youlo, elected President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) on 5 May 2022. Credit: ACI Africa.

Newly Elected RECOWA President Counting “on support of my brothers in the Episcopate”

May 6, 2022

The newly elected President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), has, in an interview with ACI Africa, said he is counting on the support of his brother Bishops as he takes the helm of the body that brings together Catholic Bishops in 16 countries of West Africa.

Philippe Cardinal Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso's Ouagadougou Archdiocese. Credit: ACI Africa

Burkinabes “really suffering, still await a strong signal in terms of peace”: Cardinal

May 5, 2022

The military leadership in Burkina Faso needs to do “much” more to address the plight of the people of God in the West African nation who are yet to see “a strong signal in terms of peace”, the Cardinal in the country has said. 

Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi addressing participants during the fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly that started on May 3 in Abuja, Nigeria. Credit: Courtesy Photo

End “tribalism, all other forms of division”: Nuncio in Nigeria to Bishops in West Africa

May 5, 2022

The Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria has called on Catholic Church leaders in the 16 West African countries that make up the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) to make every effort to end “tribalism and all other forms of division” that seem to be on the rise in Catholic communities.  

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama addressing participants during the plenary assembly of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA). Credit: CSN

Leaders in West Africa “must use political power” for Good Governance: RECOWA President

May 4, 2022

The President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), the common forum of the Catholic Bishops from 16 West African countries, has called on political leaders in the African region to use their authority to foster good governance, and for the “common good”.

Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi (center), the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), the National Director of Social Communications (right), CSN, Fr. Dr. Michael Nsikak Umoh and Director, Pastoral Affairs, Fr. Michael Banjo (left) during the April 6 press conference. Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network

Fratelli Tutti, Regional Challenges Focus of Planned Plenary of Bishops in West Africa

Apr 6, 2022

Catholic Bishops in West Africa are expected to deliberate on Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on human fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti and challenges facing the region during their Plenary Assembly scheduled for May in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

A poster announcing the virtual pilgrimage of members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA). Credit: Archdiocese of Abuja

Launched Virtual Pilgrimage in West Africa to Showcase Testimonies of “justice issues”

Nov 4, 2021

The online pilgrimage, which members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) launched is expected to feature people’s “contributions to the struggle for justice”, the Catholic Church leaders have said in a statement. 

Bishop Jacques Assanvo Ahiwa, Auxiliary Bishop of Ivory Coast's Bouaké Archdiocese. / Archdiocese of Bouaké .

New Ivorian Bishop Asked to Prioritize Zeal, Responsibility in His Episcopate

Oct 5, 2020

The representative of the Holy Father in Ivory Coast has, on the occasion of the Episcopal Ordination of the Auxiliary Bishop of the country’s Bouaké Archdiocese, called on the new Bishop to practice his Episcopate “with zeal and responsibility.”

Bishop José Câmnate na Bissign, the first native Bishop in Guinea-Bissau whose resignation became official on Saturday, July 11.

The Resignation of the First Native Bishop in Guinea-Bissau

Jul 14, 2020

Bishop José Câmnate na Bissign whose resignation became official on Saturday, July 11 was the first native Bishop in Guinea-Bissau.

Archbishop Paulo Borgia, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ivory Coast with Participants at the meeting on Land Grabbing in Africa organized by RECOWA.

West Africa Bishops Meeting to Seek Solutions to Massive Land Grabbing in Africa

Mar 13, 2020

After concerns of massive land grabbing in Africa were raised by the West African Bishops at the helm of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) during their February meeting, these Church leaders have convened a follow-up meeting with other stakeholders including experts in Ivory Coast’s economic capital, Abidjan to seek solutions to the challenge.