Cape Coast Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle has warned Catholic parents against seeking protocol admissions for underperforming children, citing threats to school standards.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast says he is increasingly unable to help Catholic children gain admission to elite schools such as St. Augustine's College and Holy Child School because of poor academic results.

Speaking at the 80th Anniversary Lecture of St. Paul's Commandery No. 354 of the Knights of St. John International in Sekondi, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said some parents approach him seeking his influence despite their children posting aggregate scores as weak as 32, far below the cut off for highly competitive institutions.

He cautioned that pushing underqualified students into these schools through protocol could erode academic standards and jeopardise the long term sustainability of Catholic education in the region.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle questioned whether some parents were investing enough in their children's overall development, urging them instead to prioritise guidance, encouragement and academic support at home.

Chairman of St. Paul's Commandery in Sekondi, Emmanuel Bissue, used the occasion to reflect on the anniversary's theme, calling on members of the Knights of St. John to consider the legacy they are building and how their faith translates into service.

He noted that membership in the order carries responsibilities beyond ceremonial participation, rooted in a deeper Christian calling to service.

The event, themed "A Knight of Charity in a Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace," marked eight decades of the Commandery's presence in Sekondi. The gathering brought together Catholic clergy and lay leaders at a moment when Catholic institutions across Ghana continue to grapple with balancing access, faith based mission and academic excellence, tensions the Archbishop's remarks placed squarely in the spotlight.