THE appearance of the late Servant of God, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, on Ghana’s new GH¢2 banknote is a fitting national tribute to a religious leader whose work helped advance education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and economic development in Northern Ghana.
The recognition honours a distinguished Catholic leader. For people in the Upper West Region and other parts of the north, it recalls a visionary whose contributions extended beyond his pastoral responsibilities.
Cardinal Dery believed that faith should be reflected in practical efforts to improve lives for generations. His ministry addressed poverty, limited access to education, inadequate healthcare and other challenges facing rural communities.
Born on May 10, 1918, at Zimuopare, near Nandom in the Upper West Region, he became the first Catholic priest from the area, the first Bishop of Wa and later the first Archbishop of Tamale. In March 2006, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals.
A major pillar of his development work was education. At a time when many communities in Northern Ghana had limited access to formal schooling, he supported the expansion of Catholic educational facilities and opportunities for young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He believed education could equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to overcome poverty and participate meaningfully in society. Generations of people from the region benefited from educational opportunities and went on to serve in different fields.
He also recognised the relationship between health, clean water and development. Through the Church’s work under his leadership, efforts were made to improve access to healthcare and safe drinking water in underserved communities. These included digging wells and providing boreholes to communities that depended on unsafe water sources.
The interventions also supported efforts to address guinea worm disease in parts of the then Wa Diocese.
Cardinal Dery’s concern for human dignity included the advancement of women. He challenged practices that undermined their worth and supported opportunities for women and girls to access education and participate in community life.
He further promoted rural economic empowerment through credit unions, farmers’ cooperatives and agricultural projects, including animal traction. These initiatives encouraged savings, improved access to credit and helped farmers strengthen their livelihoods. Read More.
BY GORDON WELLU
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
Read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
