PAX ROMANA ICMICA GHANA
a. History
Pax Romana ICMICA was carved out of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS- Pax Romana) after 1949 when students who have completed University saw the need to continue the family tree of IMCS. Pax Romana ICMICA-Ghana has a long standing history of the movement existence in Africa. The first ever African Seminar was held in 1957 in Ghana.
b. Major Activities
- Promoting global partnership for solidarity through ecumenical dialogue, inter-religious and cultural dialogue
- Promoting Culture of Peace
- Human Rights Advocacy
- Promoting Poverty Reduction Strategies
- Ecological Sustainability
- Lay Spirituality
- Women Empowerment for Leadership in Church and Society
- Young Professional and Youth Leadership
c. Membership
We have over Four Hundred (400) members, but those who we can rely on are about Sixty (60). The challenge is that zeal, apathy and lackadaisical attitude are unimaginable.
d. Branches and International Participation
Prior to the World Assembly which was held in London (1983), the Tamale, Kumasi and Accra branches were formed. However, there was the need for the movement to rekindle the spirit of ICMICA in its post-international representations. National meetings were organized, one in Tamale and the other in Kumasi respectively. Prior to the World Assembly which was held in Rome in 1987, there was a West Africa confab in Yaoundé which was represented by Kumasi and Accra in July 1987. Consequentially, the major event, the next World Assembly was held in Rome in the year aforementioned of which all the three main branches qualified to be represented but only two (2) tickets were given to Accra and Tamale (late James Kwofolie and James Kofi Tinkong) represented Ghana. The then Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kumasi now Emeritus Bishop Peter Akwasi Sarpong was well informed and became deeply involved.
e. Revival Methodologies
The movement in Ghana until its decline in October 1999, was affiliated to the International Secretariat in Switzerland and Pan Africa Secretariat in Kenya and also recognized by the National Catholic Laity Council of Ghana. In 2004, members of IMCS Executives at the National Consultative Meeting (NACOM) approved of the need to revive the Movement hence encouraged the process. In August 2007 after several months of consultations, an interim National Executive Committee was set up during a Pan Africa Interreligious and Cultural Dialogue Workshop held in Kumasi, Ghana.
In 2008, the name popped up and went off in National meetings. Practically, the movement name became popular when the then National President of IMCS Pax Romana in 2012 made several presentations on ICMICA. The movement is now very popular and has since been in constant connection in IMCS Biennial and Annual National Congress (ANEC), IMCS Pax Romana National Conference meetings from 2012 to date. Presentations have also been made in National Youth Council World Youth Day Local, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Meetings and National Biblical Apostolate Programmes at Provincial and National levels. The motivation and encouragement emanated from our constant contact with the then Vice President and now substantive President of Africa, Dr. Frederick Wamalwa whose impetus is pivotal to a brighter future of ICMICA in the Sub region.
f. Interview with Dr. Johannes Awudza in 2014.
A meeting was held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Chaplaincy with Dr. Johannes Awudza, a latter day pioneer of ICMICA-Ghana on the 18th December 2014 to gather information in connection with strengthening the National Movement and with a firm conviction that all things being equal, the movement would never shrink.