Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith proposes GH₵20,000 fund for retiring Anglican priests

The Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA), Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, has called for the establishment of a specialized pension fund to support retiring Anglican priests across Ghana. Speaking at the induction ceremony for the new leadership of the Ghana Anglican Clergy Association (GACA), the Primate proposed a minimum financial package of GH₵20,000 for each retiring cleric to ensure dignity and financial security during their old age. The proposal was made during GACA's 13th national conference, where a new leadership team led by Venerable Dr. Paul Shaibu Katampu was officially ushered into office. Most Rev. Dr. Ben-Smith underscored that the proposed GH₵20,000 benefit should be standardized across the country, regardless of which diocese a priest served. He noted that such a significant financial package is necessary to recognize the decades of service provided by clergy members who often lack robust social safety nets after leaving active ministry. To ensure the sustainability and effective management of the fund, the Primate highlighted the critical need for comprehensive data collection on all clergy members within the province. Accurate records, he explained, are essential for long-term planning and the equitable distribution of retirement benefits. He urged the Anglican community and the GACA leadership to collaborate on gathering this information and to create a mechanism for ongoing contributions that would sustain the fund for future generations of priests. Venerable Dr. Paul Shaibu Katampu and his newly elected executive team now face the task of implementing these welfare reforms. Most Rev. Dr. Ben-Smith expressed optimism that the church community would rally behind the initiative, viewing it not just as a financial obligation but as a moral imperative to care for those who have dedicated their lives to spiritual service. The move is expected to provide much-needed relief to aging clergy and set a benchmark for clerical welfare within the Anglican communion in Ghana.