Mob Assaults Three Indian Catholic Priests at Nkwanta
Priests Attacked Over False Theft Allegations, Leading to Outcry and Official Apology
- Three Catholic priests were attacked by a mob in Nkwanta
- Father Frank Henry Jacob lost hearing in one ear, while the priests and two municipal officials were assaulted for 30 minutes
- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) issued an official apology
Three Indian Catholic priests, Father Robinson Melkis, Father Frank Henry Jacob, and Father Martin George, were severely beaten by a mob at a fuel station in Nkwanta, Oti Region, last Wednesday.
The priests, who have been in Ghana since 2005 as part of their missionary work with the Capuchin Friars, were accompanied by two officials from the Nkwanta-South Municipal Assembly when they were attacked.
The incident occurred while they were fueling a bulldozer they had rented for a project to build a Formation House for seminarians in Chaiso.
The mob accused the priests of attempting to steal the equipment, and the assault left Father Frank Henry Jacob with hearing loss in one ear. The priests were only rescued after 30 minutes when officers from the Ghana Immigration Service intervened. The attack was partially recorded and shared widely on social media.
Following the incident, the priests were briefly detained by police on theft accusations, but they were granted bail after the Vicar-General of the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan, Monsignor Joseph Kofi Nsiah, intervened.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nkwanta-South Constituency issued a public apology to the priests, expressing deep regret for the violence and offering support to the victims of the attack.
The NDC condemned the act as unacceptable, emphasizing respect for the priests’ service to humanity and their mission of love and compassion.
