Peace Fm
May 3, 2010
http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/201005/42723.php
Members of the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church at Mamprobi in Accra on Sunday, May 02 received a rude shock when they turned up for worship only to find the sanctity of their church desecrated with human excreta and offensive posters by unknown persons.
The act was said to have been carried out at 3am in protest against some policies and demands of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle, who was expected at the church for a confirmation service.
The first church service which was to begin at 7am was delayed, as the members had to wait for the mess and the strong stench which filled the air to be cleansed. The service eventually took place without any incident.
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When the area was tided up, normal service was held and the Archbishop Palmer-Buckle was on hand for the confirmation which was done during the second service.
In his sermon, the Archbishop made a brief reference to the incident and promised that the issue would be dealt with by the Parish Pastoral Council.
Some of the inscriptions on the walls of the church had read, "Your Grace, your transfer to Accra is the greatest mistake of the faithful in Accra", "Palmer-Buckle, if you want more money, then (sic) sell your $2,000,000 Trasaco Mansion. Oooh! Wa na money", "Palmer-Buckle, You are here at your own risk – Person Non Grata", "Our Parish was far better before Ashitei Rasta came in. But today we are worse off", Papa Ajasco (JB) and Awilo Sharsharp (Matthew) must go", If grey hair shows wisdom, there would not be CIBT (Tantra Hill)", and "your CIBT was/is a waste of our widow's mite".
The CIBT refers to the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology at Tantra Hill which some church members have cited as a waste of the church's funds.
Police officers armed with batons were seen patrolling the church premises and one of them who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had been detailed to keep peace and order because of what had happened earlier in the day.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the church's security man, who gave his name as Baba, said he had heard some noise at the main entrance, only to realize that the gate had been locked with a padlock from outside, with the place smelling of human excreta when he arrived at the gate. "When I moved to the next gate to check on it and inform the Parish Priest, I realized that the entrance to the auditorium had also been smeared with faeces," Baba said.
He said he informed the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr John Ashitei Boye, who directed him to break the lock, adding, "I had to jump over the wall to do that."
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