AFRICA/GHANA - Three Indian Capuchins attacked

Accra (Agenzia Fides) - Three Indian Franciscan Capuchins were brutally beaten by an angry crowd at a petrol station in Nkwanta, in the eastern Volta region of Ghana.
The three religious are Father Robinson Melkis, Father Frank Henry Jacob and Father Martin George, who live and work in Kpassa, in the Nkwanta-North district of the Oti region, and have been missionaries in Ghana since 2005.
The incident occurred on December 11, when the religious rented a bulldozer from the parish of Nkwanta- South to work on a plot of land where they planned to build a formation house in Chaiso, in the parish of Nkwanta-South.
After paying the agreed rental price for the vehicle, the three Capuchin friars were accompanied by two municipal officials to take it to Chaiso.
When they went to fill up the bulldozer's tank at a petrol station, they were attacked by an angry crowd who accused them of trying to steal the bulldozer.
The religious and the two municipal officials were brutally beaten for 30 minutes until they were rescued by officials from the Ghanaian immigration service. The crowd reported to the police that the religious were committing a theft. The police initially took the three religious into custody. However, thanks to the intervention of the Vicar General of the Jasikan diocese, they were later released and taken to hospital where they received the necessary treatment. The worst affected was Father Frank Henry Jacob, who lost hearing in one ear.
The Ghanaian police chief has meanwhile contacted Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghanaian Bishops' Conference, and assured him that the incident will be fully investigated and those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/12/2024)

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