Tamale: The Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON) has called for strengthened reforms to improve Catholic education in Northern Ghana. This was contained in a communique issued by TEPPCON and signed by the Most Reverend Philip Naameh, President of TEPPCON and Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, and was copied to the Ghana News Agency in Wa.
According to Ghana News Agency, the communique was developed from TEPPCON's 21st Biennial Plenary Assembly, held in Wa at Tiegber from November 24 to 28, 2025. The conference was under the theme: 'Catholic Education in Northern Ghana: History, Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward.' It was attended by all the Archbishops of the Catholic dioceses in Northern Ghana-Tamale, Yendi, Damongo, Navrongo-Bolgatanga, and Wa-as well as traditional leaders, students, and some members of the church.
The communique emphasized the critical role education plays in sustainable development in Ghana and called for strengthened efforts to advance Catholic education in the Northern territories. It urged priests and local managers to regularly visit, monitor, and supervise Catholic schools and engage with learners and teachers. This initiative aims to enhance collaboration with district and municipal education officers and to establish active education committees in parishes.
The document encouraged the Bishops to focus on establishing endowment funds to train more personnel, particularly priests and religious leaders, to ensure smooth succession plans for managing Catholic education. Additionally, it commended the government's efforts in expanding schools in the country and called for more Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) schools in the north to equip the youth with employable skills and reduce migration to the south.
The communique addressed the journey of Western education in Northern Ghana, noting the challenges faced during colonial rule, such as strict restrictions that hindered the establishment of schools in the north. In contrast, Southern Ghana had a longer-standing educational presence due to European missionaries. The first school in Northern Ghana was established in Navrongo in 1907, followed by another in Jirapa in 1937.
Despite these challenges, Catholic education in Northern Ghana has grown significantly, with a total of 1,657 educational institutions spread across various levels, including kindergarten, primary schools, junior and senior high schools, vocational training centers, seminaries, tertiary institutions, and special schools. The communique highlighted that Catholic education is now the second-largest provider of education in Ghana, playing a leading role in delivering Western education in Northern Ghana.
The Bishops emphasized that Catholic education initiatives have transcended religious instruction, serving as pivotal agents of social change through schools such as Teacher Training programs and literacy campaigns. The communique highlighted the Catholic Church's role in bridging disparities caused by colonial neglect and government underinvestment, thereby establishing a foundation for human capital development in Northern Ghana.
The document reiterated the relevance and appeal of Catholic education, grounded in Gospel values of honesty, respect, and hard work, alongside Ghanaian cultural practices. It also noted the Catholic Church's contributions beyond education, through social interventions aimed at poverty alleviation and improving living standards, executed by various Catholic Diocesan development organizations.
Challenges facing Catholic education were also outlined, including government policies and reforms that sometimes undermine gospel values and Ghanaian cultural principles, increasing student indiscipline, interference by political parties, traditional authorities, religious groups, and bureaucrats in school administration, along with rising cases of drug abuse, examination malpractice, and violence in schools.
The communique called on Catholics to support Catholic schools through contributions and participation, stressing the importance of regular school monitoring and supervision by priests and local managers. It urged Catholic teachers to incorporate Catholic values in their teaching and serve as role models of Catholic faith and traditions.
Finally, the communique urged the Bishops to persist in their efforts to expedite the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government regarding the management of faith-based educational institutions, to ensure smooth management and facilitate the administration of Catholic schools.
The TEPPCON 21st Biennial Plenary Assembly was a five-day conference that reflected on the history, achievements, challenges, and way forward to improve Catholic education in Northern Ghana.