The Catholic Church in Africa is a leading provider of quality social services and is at the center of key development initiatives. Unfortunately, very little is known about the important role of the Catholic Church in society, the founder of the Apo Group, a leading Pan-African communications agency has said. In his message to delegates of the 19th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) taking place in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, the founder and chairman of Apo Group acknowledged the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa, and regretted the fact that the services of the Church lack adequate media visibility, and go unnoticed. “Africa is the only continent where the number of Catholics is increasing. And the contribution of the Catholic Church to Human Development in Africa is also constantly increasing,” Mr. Pompigne-Mognard said on Tuesday. He added, “The few media specialised in Catholic-related news are doing a very good job, but they are reaching only the ones who are already convinced Catholics.”
Mr. Pompigne-Mognard said that the role of the Catholic Church in Africa is especially notable in education and health provision, where the Church is providing better quality services compared to those in government institutions. He told delegates of the 19th Plenary Assembly of SECAM at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Conference Center that in the last 10 years, Africa is the continent, which recorded the largest increase in the number of schools managed by the Catholic Church. In the same period of time in matters health, Africa is the continent, which recorded the largest increase in the number of healthcare facilities managed by the Catholic Church, the founder and chairman of the pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service said. “In fact, the market shares of Catholic schools and healthcare facilities are higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world,” he said, and added, “Not to mention the fact that, in sub-Saharan Africa, satisfaction is higher with faith-based schools and healthcare facilities than with public providers.”
“The Catholic Church also manages countless Medical Schools and Nursing Schools across the continent,” the Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur further said on the second day of the July 25 – August 1 19th SECAM Plenary Assembly that has brought together over 120 Catholic Bishops in Accra, Ghana. Delegates of Plenary Assembly who are meeting under the theme, “Ownership of SECAM: Security and Migration in Africa and its Islands”, are drawn from the eight regional associations of the continental symposium, which include the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC), the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa Region (ACERAC), and the Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA/CERAO).
