The Regional Conference of Major Superiors of West Africa (RECOMSWA) and the Africa Religious Union – Ghana (ARUG) recently convened at Christian Village, Santasi, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.
The gathering served as a reminder to societal leaders regarding the value of selfless service in achieving transformational leadership.
In furtherance of this objective, leaders, particularly consecrated men and women of religious bodies have been urged to exercise leadership not through power or control, but through selfless service to humanity.
The three-day conference was held under the theme: “Consecrated Life for Transformation: Safeguarding, Transformative Leadership, Witnesses of Hope.”
The event brought together Bishops, Archbishops, Reverend Fathers, Sisters and Brothers, Nananom (traditional leaders), and local government authorities, among others.
Delivering a keynote address under the sub-theme Consecrated Life for Transformation and Hope, Rev. Sr. Simona Brambilla, Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, reminded attendees of the biblical foundation of leadership.
In a speech read on her behalf, she noted that Jesus himself admonishes that “whoever must be a leader among you must be the servant of all,” highlighting that true leadership stems from humility and sacrifice rather than seeking authority.
She emphasized that those called to exercise authority will only do so successfully if they seek the will of God with intensity and righteousness.
“Without being rooted in Christ, there can be no authentic transformation,” she stated.
She further indicated that transformational leadership promotes co-responsibility, making leaders and followers equally accountable toward a common goal.
Providing the background in his opening address, the President of URCAO-RECOMSWA, Father Paul Saa-Dade Ennin, explained that RECOMSWA serves as the umbrella organization for all conferences of Consecrated Life in the West African sub-region.
Its mission is to ensure that consecrated life remains a prophetic, credible, and transformative presence in both the Church and society.
Father Ennin addressing the congregation
Father Ennin disclosed that there are 15 national conferences under RECOMSWA, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Ghana.
The Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, described the theme as both timely and compelling.
He noted that it speaks directly to the prophetic vocation of consecrated men and women in responding to the spiritual, social, and moral challenges of our time.
In a goodwill message, Sr. Lucy Hometu, President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious – Ghana (CMPSR-GH), said the assembly offered a valuable opportunity to deepen communion among institutes and discern creative responses to the “signs of the times.”
A section of the participants seated at the conference
Representing the government, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Frank Amoakohene stated in a message read on his behalf that religious men and women have historically been powerful agents of transformation in Africa.
“They built the first schools that educated our leaders, established hospitals, and reached the poor and marginalized,” he noted, adding that the government remains committed to collaborating with faith-based organizations to advance education and support vulnerable communities.
Story by Francis T.K. Cofie
