poreku attended two sessions of episcopal gatherings that pope john paul ii had convoked with the first being held from 24 november to 8 december 1985 and the second being held from 1–30 october 1987. it was at the former that he said roman officials should allow for "enculturation" to allow for the ghanaian church to assume its own cultural sense of identification in "matters of life and worship". poreku also served two terms on the pontifical council for the laity during the pontificates of both paul vi and john paul ii. he resigned from his position on 26 march 1994 after two decades of service and upon reaching the retirement age. the resignation letter was sent in 1993 but was not accepted after the pope responded "nunc pro tunc" meaning "not until we can replace" with a new archbishop. but the resignation was accepted not long after in 1994 after poreku suffered a stroke.