Charles G. Palmer-Buckle

In 2002 Charles Palmer-Buckle apologised on behalf of Africans for their part in the transatlantic slave trade, an apology accepted by Bishop John Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee. That year he also joined Ghana's National Reconciliation Commission.

Early life

Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle was born in Axim on 15 June 1950, one of twelve children. He attended St John's Seminary (now Pope John Senior High School) and studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, later earning a doctorate in sacred theology at the Salesian University there. He taught and served as chaplain at Pope John and Achimota School.

Bishop and archbishop

He was ordained a priest in Accra on 12 December 1976. In 1992 he was named the first bishop of the new Diocese of Koforidua, consecrated in January 1993, and in 2005 he became Archbishop of Accra, serving until 2018, when he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast. From 1995 to 2003 he was president of Caritas Africa and first vice-president of Caritas Internationalis. He served on the National Reconciliation Commission from 2002 to 2004 and has spoken out on political violence and homosexuality.