The Catholic Church has expressed concern over the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) “lackadaisical” approach in holding accountable those responsible for attacking priests in Nkwanta during post-election violence

   The Catholic Church has sharply criticized the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, accusing him of a “lackadaisical” attitude in addressing the violent attack on three Catholic priests in Nkwanta, Oti Region, on December 11, 2024. The priests, all expatriates from India, were assaulted by a group of locals who falsely accused them of stealing state property. The attack resulted in serious injuries to the priests, and the Church is now expressing concern over the lack of action to bring the culprits to justice.

The three priests, Father Robinson Melkis, Father Henry Jacob, and Father Martin George, have been serving in Kpassa, Nkwanta-North District, since 2005 as part of the Franciscan Capuchin Friars. They were at the time performing missionary work when they were confronted by a mob that unjustly accused them of stealing equipment meant for the state. The priests were then physically assaulted without any provocation. Father Henry Jacob sustained a serious injury, suffering a broken left eardrum, and was flown to India for medical treatment.

Following the attack, Dr. Dampare personally ensured the priests received immediate medical attention at the Police Hospital in Accra and later at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Despite this initial response, the Catholic Church has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of further progress in the investigation and the fact that the perpetrators, who are reportedly known individuals in the area, have yet to be arrested. The Church has questioned whether the lack of urgency in the investigation is due to the fact that the victims are Indian nationals rather than Ghanaian citizens.

In a statement issued on December 30, 2024, Most Reverend Gabriel Akwasi Mante, the Catholic Bishop of Jasikan Diocese, condemned the police’s failure to take swift action against the assailants. He pointed out that the priests had been in the process of fueling a bulldozer they had rented from the Nkwanta-South Municipal Assembly to level the ground for a new Formation House at Chaiso, when they were attacked. The Church is now calling for the police to take immediate action to bring the attackers to justice. However, to date, no arrests have been made, and the assailants remain free.

The statement raised concerns about the potential diplomatic fallout between Ghana and India if the attack is not addressed properly. “We stand to be corrected if the Ghana Police Service, headed by Dr. Akuffo Dampare, is unaware of the disgrace and the negative impact on the relationship between the governments of Ghana and India if the culprits are not arrested and brought to justice,” the statement read.

The Church also criticized the IGP’s apparent failure to prioritize the case. They questioned how Dr. Dampare, who has handled far more complex cases, has allowed the perpetrators of such an obvious crime to evade justice. “Is it that the IGP, who swiftly responded to the unacceptable crime by offering initial healthcare to the priests, has suddenly forgotten the gross injustice that has been meted out to them?” the Church asked in its statement.

Most Reverend Mante called on the government to put in place stronger measures to ensure that violence and attacks on citizens and legal residents, especially after elections, are prevented. “This canker seems to be unfortunately becoming a disgraceful unwritten law in the country,” he remarked, highlighting the growing concern over post-election violence and its potential to harm Ghana’s reputation both domestically and internationally.

The Church’s statement underscores the importance of timely justice and accountability, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals who serve the country. It also raises broader questions about the protection of human rights, law and order, and diplomatic relations, especially when foreigners are involved in incidents that could harm international relations. The Catholic Church continues to demand that the authorities take swift and decisive action to ensure that justice is served and that similar incidents are prevented in the future.