Cardinal Turkson inducted Fellow of GAAS
By Damian Avevor and Steve Kakrabah-Quarshie
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His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, has been inducted a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), Ghana’s Premier Learned Society.
The induction which took place at the GAAS Auditorium in Accra, formed part of activities to mark the 2015 Founder’s Week celebration of the Academy on the theme: Managing Ghana’s Oil Resources. Cardinal Turkson, who is the Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana at Fiapre in the Sunyani Diocese, was inducted by the President of GAAS, Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, followed by the signing of the Register of Fellowship and presentation of Membership Certificate by Prof. Sawyerr. |
The induction of Cardinal Turkson was preceded with a citation read by Emerita Prof E. Ardayfio-Schandorf, Vice President of GAAS (Arts), who also decorated him with a Brooch (medallion).
The Cardinal’s induction brings to four the number of persons associated with the Catholic University, who are Fellows of GAAS. They are Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Sir Dr. Kwame Donkor Fordwor and Prof. James Hawkins Ephraim, former Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University College.
The induction ceremony preceded the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture delivered by Cardinal Turkson on the topic: People and Planet: The (Moral) Imperative to Change Course (Pope Francis’ Encyclical on Integral Ecology).
It was attended by people from the Academia, the Clergy and the public including Prof. Emeritus Francis Nkrumah of the Nougochi Memorial Institute, Accra; Nana S.K.B. Asante, Chief of Asokere in the Ashanti Region; Very Rev. Emmanuel Abbey-Quaye, Assistant Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat(NCS); Very Rev. Fr. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of the Accra Archdiocese; Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Coordinator, National Catholic Service Centre, NCS; Very Rev. Fr. Francis Lemaire, Vice Rector of the St. Paul’s Seminary at Sowutuom, who led some Seminarians to the ceremony.
Also present were Staff and Students of the Catholic University, led by its Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Anthony Bonnah- Koomson; Sir Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications of Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); Mr. Dan Dzide, Executive Secretary of DEPSOCOM, NCS; Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development, NCS and Prof. Ephraim.
The Cardinal’s induction brings to four the number of persons associated with the Catholic University, who are Fellows of GAAS. They are Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Sir Dr. Kwame Donkor Fordwor and Prof. James Hawkins Ephraim, former Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University College.
The induction ceremony preceded the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture delivered by Cardinal Turkson on the topic: People and Planet: The (Moral) Imperative to Change Course (Pope Francis’ Encyclical on Integral Ecology).
It was attended by people from the Academia, the Clergy and the public including Prof. Emeritus Francis Nkrumah of the Nougochi Memorial Institute, Accra; Nana S.K.B. Asante, Chief of Asokere in the Ashanti Region; Very Rev. Emmanuel Abbey-Quaye, Assistant Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat(NCS); Very Rev. Fr. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of the Accra Archdiocese; Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Coordinator, National Catholic Service Centre, NCS; Very Rev. Fr. Francis Lemaire, Vice Rector of the St. Paul’s Seminary at Sowutuom, who led some Seminarians to the ceremony.
Also present were Staff and Students of the Catholic University, led by its Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Anthony Bonnah- Koomson; Sir Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications of Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); Mr. Dan Dzide, Executive Secretary of DEPSOCOM, NCS; Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development, NCS and Prof. Ephraim.
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In a response, Cardinal Appiah Turkson expressed gratitude to the Academy for the honour done him, saying that it was not only for himself but the Church in Ghana and to his Office at the Vatican.
He promised to uphold and advance the cause of GAAS to the best of his knowledge and also to live to the ideals for which he was inducted in the Academy. For his distinguished and valuable contribution, Cardinal Turkson was elected Fellow of the Academy of Arts and Sciences on March 14, 2013. |
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The Academy recognizes distinguished personalities, in both the academia and professional fields, who have made significant contributions to the body knowledge, its extension, preservation, sustenance and dissemination in building capacity of the individual for the good of the society.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in November 1959 by Government Instrument of Incorporation with the aim of bringing together the highest level of intellectuals, Experts and Professionals in the country to constitute a ‘Think Tank' in the Arts and Sciences.
As part of its core mandate, the Academy is expected to advise the Government of Ghana and other relevant bodies on issues of importance to national development. The mission of the GAAS is to encourage the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilization of knowledge for national development through the promotion of learning.
The Founder’s Week celebration is the oldest of GAAS tradition which started in November 1960 as the First Anniversary celebration.
In November every year, since then the Academy had celebrated the Anniversary. The Week is always intense with activities as attention is firmly focused on important national and topical issues.
The Founder’s Week starts with the Presidential Address delivered by the President of the Academy and followed by a three-day Symposium on selected subject quite often, of topical or national interest. The last day is dedicated to what is called the Anniversary Lecture, now renamed Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture in memory of the Founder.
Cardinal Turkson was born on October 11, 1948 at Wassaw Nsuta in the Western Region to a Methodist mother and while his father was a Catholic.He studied at St. Teresa's Seminary at Amisano and Pedu before attending St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, where he obtained a Master of Theology Degree.
During this time, he also took summer coursework at the University at Albany. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop John Amissah on July 20, 1975.
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in November 1959 by Government Instrument of Incorporation with the aim of bringing together the highest level of intellectuals, Experts and Professionals in the country to constitute a ‘Think Tank' in the Arts and Sciences.
As part of its core mandate, the Academy is expected to advise the Government of Ghana and other relevant bodies on issues of importance to national development. The mission of the GAAS is to encourage the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilization of knowledge for national development through the promotion of learning.
The Founder’s Week celebration is the oldest of GAAS tradition which started in November 1960 as the First Anniversary celebration.
In November every year, since then the Academy had celebrated the Anniversary. The Week is always intense with activities as attention is firmly focused on important national and topical issues.
The Founder’s Week starts with the Presidential Address delivered by the President of the Academy and followed by a three-day Symposium on selected subject quite often, of topical or national interest. The last day is dedicated to what is called the Anniversary Lecture, now renamed Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture in memory of the Founder.
Cardinal Turkson was born on October 11, 1948 at Wassaw Nsuta in the Western Region to a Methodist mother and while his father was a Catholic.He studied at St. Teresa's Seminary at Amisano and Pedu before attending St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, where he obtained a Master of Theology Degree.
During this time, he also took summer coursework at the University at Albany. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop John Amissah on July 20, 1975.
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He was a professor at St Teresa's Minor Seminary from 1975 to 1976. From there he entered the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, earning a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture in 1980. He returned to St Teresa's for a year, 1980-81, and became Vice-Rector at St Peter's Seminary in 1981.
He also did pastoral work in a Parish annexed to the Seminary. From 1987 to 1992, he did Doctoral Studies in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute but this was interrupted by his due appointment as Archbishop of Cape Coast. |
On October 6, 1992, Cardinal Turkson was appointed Archbishop of Cape Coast by Pope John Paul II. He received his Episcopal Consecration on March 27, 1993 from Archbishop Dominic Kodwo Andoh, with Archbishops Peter Poreku Dery and Peter Kwasi Sarpong serving as Co-consecrators.
He served as President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference from 1997 to 2005 and as Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana since 2003.
Cardinal Turkson is the first Ghanaian Cardinal and was one of the Cardinal Electors who participated in the Papal Conclave of 2005 which elected Pope Benedict XVI. He was described as "one of Africa's most energetic church leaders" by The Tablet, a Roman Catholic Magazine published in London. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the St. John Paul II in the Consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Title of S. Liborio (St. Liborius).
Currently, he plays a leadership role with the Roman Curia. He was described as the Chief Advisor to Pope Francis in the Boston College Chronicle for September 3, 2015. At Boston College, he delivered the keynote address on the theme “Our Common Home”.
His Paper tended to explore the spiritual and policy implications of the Laudato Si, which is the Pope’s Encyclical on climate change and was reported to be instrumental in the crafting of the Encyclical and its roll-out to the public.
Cardinal Turkson’s presentation on the Encyclical was published in the “Ecology and Jesuits in Communication”. His epilogue on ‘Love and Truth for the Sake of Humanity” was published in “Jesus Christ The New Face of Social Progress edited by Peter Casarella and published by William Eerdmus Publishing Company, Michigan, Cambridge.
He was a member of Governing Council of the University of Ghana, Legon (2001-2006) and of the Board of Directors of Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) (2002-2006).
He served as Treasurer of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (2007-2009) and presently serves as Vice President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA). He served as President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) (2007-2010).
Cardinal Turkson was also Chairman of the Ghana Chapter of the Conference of Religions for Peace (2003-2007) and Ghana National Peace Council (2006-2010).
He has been awarded numerous Honorary Degrees and speaks six languages, Fante, English, French, Italian, German and Hebrew.
The Cardinal was Relator General of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, "The Church in Africa, at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace: “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world” from 4-25 October, 2009.
He is a Member of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Evangelization of Peoples; and Catholic Education.
Cardinal Turkson also belongs to Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity; Cor Unum; Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses; XIII Ordinary Council of the Secretariat General of the Synod of Bishops; II Special Council for Africa of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
He served as President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference from 1997 to 2005 and as Chancellor of the Catholic University College of Ghana since 2003.
Cardinal Turkson is the first Ghanaian Cardinal and was one of the Cardinal Electors who participated in the Papal Conclave of 2005 which elected Pope Benedict XVI. He was described as "one of Africa's most energetic church leaders" by The Tablet, a Roman Catholic Magazine published in London. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the St. John Paul II in the Consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Title of S. Liborio (St. Liborius).
Currently, he plays a leadership role with the Roman Curia. He was described as the Chief Advisor to Pope Francis in the Boston College Chronicle for September 3, 2015. At Boston College, he delivered the keynote address on the theme “Our Common Home”.
His Paper tended to explore the spiritual and policy implications of the Laudato Si, which is the Pope’s Encyclical on climate change and was reported to be instrumental in the crafting of the Encyclical and its roll-out to the public.
Cardinal Turkson’s presentation on the Encyclical was published in the “Ecology and Jesuits in Communication”. His epilogue on ‘Love and Truth for the Sake of Humanity” was published in “Jesus Christ The New Face of Social Progress edited by Peter Casarella and published by William Eerdmus Publishing Company, Michigan, Cambridge.
He was a member of Governing Council of the University of Ghana, Legon (2001-2006) and of the Board of Directors of Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) (2002-2006).
He served as Treasurer of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (2007-2009) and presently serves as Vice President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA). He served as President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) (2007-2010).
Cardinal Turkson was also Chairman of the Ghana Chapter of the Conference of Religions for Peace (2003-2007) and Ghana National Peace Council (2006-2010).
He has been awarded numerous Honorary Degrees and speaks six languages, Fante, English, French, Italian, German and Hebrew.
The Cardinal was Relator General of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, "The Church in Africa, at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace: “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world” from 4-25 October, 2009.
He is a Member of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Evangelization of Peoples; and Catholic Education.
Cardinal Turkson also belongs to Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity; Cor Unum; Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses; XIII Ordinary Council of the Secretariat General of the Synod of Bishops; II Special Council for Africa of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
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