In the rural town of Gwollu, near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso, stands a crumbling defensive wall built hundreds of years ago to protect families from violent raids. This stark reminder of the Atlantic slave trade’s painful past is a testament to Ghana’s spirit of resilience and families’ long-held desire to protect the most vulnerable populations.
In this modern age, local Catholic leaders in Ghana are often at the forefront of efforts to defend the poor, uphold their dignity and restore hope and opportunities. Bishop Bomansaan is one such leader making a difference in the Diocese of Wa.
He entered the Missionaries of Africa at the age of 21 and was serving as deputy superior general of the society when, in 2024, Pope Francis appointed him as Wa’s new bishop. Since then, Bishop Bomansaan’s relationship with Cross Catholic Outreach has flourished — and, as a result, incredible transformations are underway in impoverished towns and villages throughout the diocese.
One of the most exciting transformations is the construction of a new multipurpose building in Gwollu. For more than two decades, community members had been striving, to no avail, to raise enough funds to build a proper church. With the help of Cross Catholic Outreach and its generous supporters, this long-term dream has finally become a reality!
The new concrete-block multipurpose facility has ample space for Mass and will host Catholic faith activities and community gatherings, such as meetings for women participating in the diocese’s microenterprise program.
“Physical structures [like the Gwollu multipurpose building] attract people to attend meetings and prayer services,” explained Bishop Bomansaan. “Slowly, they find themselves reconnecting and recommitting to their faith.”
Another exciting development is taking place in the town of Sabuli, located about an hour and a half from Gwollu. With the support of U.S. donors, the diocese has built the St. James Catholic School complex, which has a three-room kindergarten block, a six-room primary school, a three-room junior high school and housing for four teachers and their families. This will allow 256 girls and boys to receive a quality Catholic education.
“Cross Catholic Outreach’s interventions have resulted in better educational opportunities and improved infrastructure,” explained Bishop Bomansaan. “We have experienced an increase in enrollment. Importantly, the physical structure itself attracts parents and teachers and encourages families to draw closer to the Lord.”
For children like Justice (shown above), the new school means a more personalized learning experience. The third grader used to crowd with 80 or more classmates into a dilapidated structure with no electricity.
“Our new school encourages us,” he said. “Everything is clean and tidy and beautiful! I will study hard. I want to be a policeman.”
In John 10:10, Jesus tells us, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” This abundant life is manifested in places like Gwollu and Sabuli when we come together to share blessings with others. It is witnessed in the faces of schoolchildren like Justice and in the women who gather for small-business training. Most importantly, abundant life is found in the Eucharist so lovingly offered to our Ghanaian brothers and sisters during Mass.
“Cross Catholic Outreach is a cooperative effort to give life to the people. Each project is life-giving,” said Bishop Bomansaan. “You have improved the socioeconomic and religious life of many families. People in rural communities have the fullness of life.”
As our partnership continues to flourish, we thank all those who have supported Cross Catholic Outreach’s efforts in the Diocese of Wa. Your support is transforming lives and reigniting hope!
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.