Hubert Marries Priscilla

Mr. Hubert Nsoh Zan, a staff of the Energy Commission and Priscilla Nana Boatemaa Asante, staff at the Ghana National Petroleum Cooperation (G.N.P.C), has solemnised their marriage at the Holy Cross Parish at Choggu, Tamale.

To ensure a happy marriage, Most Rev. Peter Paul Y. Ankyier, Bishop of Damongo Diocese, who officiated the Mass, urged the couple to always acknowledge God, who established marriage institution. ‘Be prayerful and loyal to each other’ he added.

He described marriage as God’s gift to man and a vocation to serve the Church, adding that the institution of marriage is a faith experience and a witness to discipleship.

Observing that marriage is a continuous learning process and work in progress, the Prelate he called on the couple to adjust, be patient, forgiving, kind and supportive to with each other.

The Bishop entreated the couple to remain responsible to their external families but be careful in how they allow them into their marriage, stressing that couple should first please their spouse.

Since there were challenges with every commitment, Bishop Angkyier stressed the need for the couple to be one minded, have faith and hope in God.

The Bishop explaining the role of husbands in the marriage, tasked Hubert to develop a vision and mission for his family and promote the spiritual development of his wife, and urged the Priscila to accept her husband’s authority, acknowledge and appreciate his vision.

He entreated Hubert to show love to his wife by being devoted and committed, and urged Priscilla to respect, be supportive and cooperative with her husband.  

The Groom is the son of the Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary for the Department of Human Development at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), Accra.

Concelebrants at the well-attended Mass were Very Rev. Frs. Daniel Saaka, Vice Rector of St. Victor’s Seminary, Tamale and Hilary Pogbeyir, Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish.

Among well-wishers at the Mass were relatives, members of Knights of Marshall and friends.

Palmer-Buckle Charity Classic inaugurated

The Chief Justice

 Ms Sophia Akuffo, Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, has called on well-meaning Ghanaians to support the Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Charity Classic (APBCC) to ensure the completion of the restoration of the Holy Spirit Cathedral and support charity works of the Catholic Church.

She commended the Church for her role in serving the needs of the poor and marginalised in the society over the years, adding that the Catholic Church has shown that it does not only preach the Gospel but also serve the needs of the poor in the society.

The Chief Justice presenting an award to one of the winners

The Chief Justice, as the Special Guest at the inauguration of the APBCC at the Achimota Golf Park, applauded organisers of the programme for using golf, which she refers to as a game of leisure, to raise funds for charity and the restoration of the Cathedral project.

She thanked God for the gift of the Archbishop’s life, whom she recounted knowing when he was Fr. Palmer-Buckle, for being a diligent priest, and commended his profound love and dedication for Ghana.

In his remark, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra said the Cathedral Restoration Project goes beyond cement and mortar, adding that it’s the house of God and a national monument, which must be preserved.

He enumerated a number of national events held in the Cathedral, including the consecration of the Nation to the Sacred Heart on the eve of Ghana’s independence, as well as hosting an ecumenical service during Ghana’s 60th Independence anniversary.

Whilst commending the organisers for putting up the programme, the Local Ordinary urged Parishioners in every parish in the Archdiocese to contribute a minimum of GH¢100 a year or GH¢ 8. 30pessewas per month towards the Cathedral Restoration Project.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle

The Archbishop explained that the inaugural programme was to raise the seed money not only for the Cathedral Restoration Project, but to support the charity works of the Archdiocese, including the ones being run at the City of God, Agbogloshie, and the Catholic Action for Street Children among others.

Ordained into the Priesthood on 12 December 1976, the Archbishop said he has always loved to be a Priest to serve the people of God, and thanked God for His grace and mercies on his life.

In appealing for support, the could not hide his love for Reggae Music, as he performed his rendition of the Legend Robert Nester Marley’s Redemption Song to the admiration of the patrons and guests.

Dr. Sam Esson Jonah, a business magnate and a Founding Patron of the APBCC donated US$5000 in support of the project, stating that there couldn’t be a worthier course to support than the initiative that goes to support the needs of the poor and the vulnerable in the society. “The Catholic Church represents the very best we should all support”, he added.   

Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Filton-Mensah, Administrator of the Cathedral, taking the guest through a documentary on the cracks in walls of the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka, observed that the architectural integrity of the Cathedral has been compromised and the edifice was not as strong as it was 60years ago when it was built.

The Administrator, commenting on the severe structural damages on the roof, ceiling, the parapet, basement and tower of the Cathedral as well as cracks on portions of the walls, posted US $1million dollars as the estimated cost of the restoration project.

He explained that the challenge was due to the absence of a periodic maintenance regime of the Cathedral over the years. “We have had challenges because we have not been able to keep up with periodic maintenance” he stressed.

Reporting on efforts being made, Fr. Filton-Mensah in a documentary showed an elevated view of the reconstructed roof-on-roof of the Cathedral with eight vents by Domod Company at GH¢240, 000.

The programme was organised by the founding Patrons of the Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Charity Classic and Catholics in Banking, Finance, Business, Services, Media and their Families and Friends.

Dr. Frank Adu Jr, Managing Director of CAL Bank Limited and a Founding Patron who chaired the inaugural function, described the APBCC as a laudable project, which he argued should be institutionalised to be an annual programme to support the Church’s charity works.

Acknowledging the success of the inaugural event, he said playing golf and raising funds to support charity was commendable.

He however debunked the notion that golf was a sport reserve for the rich and affluent in the society, saying it was a game for everybody, and appealed to the National Sports Council promote the game of golf at the national level.

The inaugural fundraising Golf Tournament to kick start the programme and under the theme: Tee-Off To Restore the Holy Spirit Cathedral, was graced by the celebrated Dance Hall Artist Samini, who helped raised about GH¢ 20,000 during his lively performance, which got the Archbishop and the Priests around dancing.

Other Artist who performed at the function were Daughters of Glorious Jesus and the Black Lace Band who treated the guest to good music.

Winners of the golf tournament male category were Barry Dzadey, Dr. Frnak Adu Jr, Kwaku Okyere and Kofi Dickson. In the female category Vetsch Bempong, Mercy Werner and Aku Yabah were the winners. They were all presented with trophies and awards.

Advocacy, key to ending land grabbing

Tactical advocacy and empowerment of people in communities were identified as vital to stop the creeping incidence of land grabbing in the country and secure community lands for domestic agriculture.

To this end, a number of Faith Based Groups in the country led by the Catholic Church, in collaboration with some communities affected by land grabbing, Traditional Leaders, Civil Society Organisations, as well as state agencies have mapped out ways to nip the occurrence of land grabbing activities in the bud.

These were part of outcomes of a two-day Annual Learning and Review Meeting (ALARM) on Land Grabbing in Ghana organised on the 19^th and 20^th of December at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) in Accra.

Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of NCS, observed that there are severe consequences on the economic condition of communities when they lose their agricultural lands, adding that the church will not relent in its efforts to solidarise with communities threatened by land grabbers.

He echoed the concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ in their 2016 Communique issued in Tamale, on the subject, after Caritas Ghana’s survey on the situation in the country in 2016. 

With the biting effects of land grabbing on family life, including the stresses on marriages, Fr. Anondee reiterated the commitment of the Church to continue speaking for the affected families and communities for state actors to address the issue.

In the light of the theme of the meeting: Securing Community Lands For Domestic Agricultural Production and Food Security in the Context of SDGs 2, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, noted that the dialogue was to demand policy attention for the issue which is critical in the economic and livelihood condition of the rural poor.

He noted that the dialogue also seeks to understand what avenues were available to land owners when their interest were under threat.

The Queen Mother of Bole Traditional, Kansawurdu Bukai, shared the unfairness in the acquisition of large tracts of lands at Babator, in the Northern Region by a multinational company.

Mr John Peter Amewu, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in a speech read for him, noted that the plight of peasant farmers who have lost their lands and thrown into abject poverty as a result of land grabbing.

He also expressed displeasure about how illegal mining ‘galamsey’ activities, was affecting commercial agriculture, which posed great threat to food security and water bodies.

Commenting on the Policy dialogue, he said meeting which aimed at charting a path that would put community interest above parochial ones and help make progress in addressing the issue of land grabbing in the country.

Mr. Amewu stated Government’s readiness to tackle issues confronting land grabbing in Ghana in line with National Development Goals and the SDG’s.

He said the Ghana Enterprise Land Information System- (GLIS) is being developed, under the Land Administration Project II, to fully automate services rendered by the Lands Commission to the public.

Besides, the Minister mentioned Government’s intention to implement the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) targeting ‘galamsey’ areas, to among others things, roll-out pragmatic measures to provide alternative livelihoods, reclaim galamsey sites and restore arable lands to boost food security.

He noted that as part of initiatives to curb the practice of land grabbing in the country, the Lands Commission was also developing detailed guidelines on large scale land acquisition in the country.

Mr. Amewu, cited a recent World Bank Report on securing land for Africa, and said the report painted a distressing contrast between the availability of vast land resources and extreme levels of poverty. 

The report questioned why Africa with vast arable land yet has the highest productivity gap globally.

The Minister commended the critical Caritas Ghana was playing to ensure the efficient, equitable, judicious and sustainable use of land resources within Ghana and across Africa.

He said assured that Government would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to muse over a suitable solution to put lands to optimum use.

A Principal Land Administration Officer at the Land Commission, Dr. Stanislaus Adiaba, observed that most lands in Ghana were held by traditional leaders, who do not have adequate legal and technical know-how to deal with land grabbing.

He said stakeholders are working on policy harmonisation and reengineering to consolidate the merger the four land sector agencies, which includes the establishment of Client Service Access Unit (CSAU) in Accra, Koforidua, Sekondi, Tamale and Bolgatanga.

Among participants were Most RevS. Joseph Osei-Bonsu and Gabriel A.A. Mante, Bishops of Konongo Mampong and Jasikan Dioceses respectively.

C.Y. Baba Honoured

Mr Baba reviewing the parade

  The momentary standing ovation and the widespread applause that accompanied the introduction of Mr Clemence Yao Baba to the durbar at the Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Senior High School at Tema, was enough acknowledgement of a servant leader.

Mr. Baba, the immediate past Headmaster of the OLAM SHS, touted to have supervised improvement of the 17-year-old school, which has become a centre of excellence under his watch, was presented with a citation for his contributions at the school in the last four years.

For his effort, the School Navy Cadet and band mounted a colourful parade, and displayed some drills in his honour, which Mr. Baba, nicknamed ‘query man’ later reviewed.

The impressive Cadet also gave him an honourable farewell escort from the durbar grounds to the gate of the school.

The citation commended him for his dedication, firmness and proclivity to promote discipline and excellence at the school.  

Mr. Baba in an address recounted efforts made under his four-year tenure and touched on the completion of the school’s library, store, and staff common room projects, as well as the washroom and other projects, which were at different stages of completions.

He mentioned the introduction of Ga and Akwapim Twi in the Arts programmes run by the school, as well as other initiatives that encouraged the studies and supervision of academic work at the school.

The former headmaster who takes the reins of Chemu Senior High School, also in Tema, has served the Catholic Education Unit for the past 18 years. He once served as the Eastern Regional Manager of Catholic Schools under the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, before his appointment to OLAM four years ago.

Mr Baba thanked Mr Francis Ahiafor, Board Chairman of the School for his support as well as everyone who helped him during his tenure in office.

As a loyal member of the Catholic Church, a member of the Knight of St. John International and promoter of Catholic education, Mr. Baba acknowledged he would miss the School, but pledged his commitment to them, saying “I will still be a father and a friend to the school”.

He has since assumed his post as the new Headmaster of the Chemu Senior High School.

Mr. Baba being escorted from the durbar grounds

New Head for OLAM SHS

Mr. Baba handing-over to Madam Siabi

Madam Siabi

Madam Janet Attaa Siabi, the new Headmistress of the Our Lady of Mercy Senior High School, Tema Community One, has pledged to uphold Catholic principles, promote discipline and excellence at the school.

The new head, who promised to build on the successes of her predecessors and maintain high academic standards at the school, appealed to all stakeholders to support the development of the school.

She made the appeal during her installation and handing over ceremony at the forecourt of the school in the presence of the staff, students, family members and well-wishers at Tema.

Madam Siabi being installed

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Gosu, Dean of the Tema Battor Denary, who performed the installation on behalf of the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra, charged her to live by the tenets of Church and promote holistic education. 

Until her appointment, Madam Siabi, who hails from Kete Krachi in the Volt Region, was the Assistant Headmistress of Nungua Senior High School in Accra, after serving as Vice Principal of Teshie Technical School and Assistant Headmistress of Odorgono Senior High School.

She is a product of the Bimbilla College of Education and holds a degree in Social Studies as well as a second degree in Social Policy Studies from the University of Education, Winneba.

The New Headmistress, who is married to Mr. K. Bour-Donkor, is a staunch Catholic and the Vice Chairperson of the Pastoral Council of the St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church at Baatsona, Spintex Road, as well as a certified marriage counsellor at the Church.

Madam Siabi commended her predecessor Mr. C.Y. Baba for his contribution in improving standards at the school, and expressed her gratitude to God to be part of the School.

With a staff strength of 65 and 19 non-teaching, a student population of 1,100, she urged all to be punctual to school, perform their duties diligently and leave up to expectation.

In a congratulatory message, Mr. Fancis Ahiafor, Chairman of the Board of the School, urged her not be afraid to make decisions to improve the school, entreating her to seek the constant intercession of Mother Mary in the discharge of her duties.

Similarly, Alhaji Chief M.M. Sani, Chairman of the School’s Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A), who pledged the support of the Association, entreating her to be fair and firm in her decisions. 

Sustain empowerment of PWDs in Ghana

His Excellency Andrew Barnes, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana has called for sustained efforts of all stakeholders in empowering persons with disability in the country, to enable them contribute their quota to national development.

He recognised that understanding the challenges of disability, giving favourable systems, supporting and improving services, to persons with disability could help them make enormous contributions to national development.

He made these remarks at the commissioning of a 10-bedroom recovery ward for male amputees receiving medical treatment at the Orthopaedic Training Centre (OTC) at Adoagyiri, Nsawam in the Koforidua Diocese.

The project, estimated at a cost of 60,000 Australian dollars (GH₵180, 792), and funded by the Direct Aid Programme of the Australian Government, formed part of the Australian government’s consistent contributions toward disability inclusion in Ghana.

Each room is well furnished with two beds, toilet and bath as well as other required accessories to aid rapid recovery for the beneficiaries, as well as provide a conducive accommodation for male amputee patients at the facility.

The High Commissioner said the Austrialian Government’s consistent, “albeit modest, contributions in the area of disability are in line with the Australian Government’s commitment to empower people with disabilities and to ensure that development leaves no one behind”.

“This is why we are also pleased to be able to support this and other quality initiatives that aim to minimise and reduce barriers, improve service delivery and the lives of people with disability” he noted.

Mr Barnes stressed: “It is therefore truly an honour for us to be able to partner with organisations like the OTC to bring hope and smiles to people with disabilities and our partnership makes it possible for us to support and further Australia’s objectives of ensuring inclusive development in developing countries,”

The High Commissioner commended management and staff of the OTC for their commitment and support to people living with disability, adding that “we give due recognition and express our heartfelt appreciation to the staff of OTC and all others who have made it their mission to help improve the situation and lives of people with disability.”

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua Diocese, commended the OTC for the wonderful service it was rendering to persons with disability in the country.

“Had it not been for the establishment of the OTC, many amputees in Ghana would have been confined to their family homes or loiter on the streets soliciting for alms instead of living decent lives” he observed.

He commended the late Bro. Tarcecious the founder of the facility for his vision, which he noted has been upheld by management and staff, some of who were victims of amputation.

According him, the centre generated no income but rather spent on many beneficiaries’ amputees regardless of their religion, gender and backgrounds.

In her address, Rev. Sr. Elisabeth Newman, SSND, Directress of OTC, noted that of the 10 per cent of people with disability in the world, eight per cent lived in developing countries, including Ghana, where 31.6 percent of the disability population in Ghana had physical disability.

Sr Newman said the lack of accurate data made it difficult to know precisely how many amputates were in Ghana, but noted that the growing number of amputees in the country caused by accidents and industrial accidents was “frightening.”

She expressed worry over the lack of statistics on amputees in the country and called for proper measure to ensure the accurate data of the PWDs so their needs could be best served.

As part of the programme a well-furnished ward to cater for children with cerebral palsy was also outdoor. With this new Ward Sr. Newman noted that OTC wants to advance care to the children suffering from these special condition.

Disability Fund for GFD

The Ghana Federation of the Disability Organisations (GFD) is poised to launch the Disability Endowment Fund, come 5^th December 2017, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, to sustain its numerous projects and programmes.

The Fund would support GFD in its advocacy work for the rights of Persons with Disability (PWD), and build the capacity and strengthen the organisations of Persons with Disabilities in all 200 districts across the country.

According to Mrs. Beatrice Akua Mahmood, Project Coordinator of GFD, the Endowment Fund will support persons with disabilities discover their potentials and live their dreams, as well as help them contribute to national development.

Stating that “Disability is not inability”, She appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians, Cooperate Ghana, philanthropists, and well-wishers to support the fund either in kind or cash, to enable the Federation reach out to more persons with disabilities in the country.

She noted that contribution to the fund, among other areas, will help promote access to inclusive education, by identifying those with special needs, enrolling and maintaining children with disabilities in school.

In addition, part of the fund would support the Federation’s advocacy for inclusive education and healthcare delivery systems so that PWD’s could access education and healthcare services without challenges.

Why the Fund?

The Project Coordinator explained that the Fund is being introduced at a time donor support was dwindling, and the increasing need to sustain the implementation of GFD programmes and projects as well as replicate them across the 200 Districts in the country.

She also observed that the Fund would assist all eight (8) member organisations of the GFD in their programmes, support, train and equip PWDs with employable skills as well as facilitate their employment into the public and private sectors through advocacy.   

Target Groups

The beneficiaries of the Fund include all Persons with Disabilities in Ghana, and those drawn from the eight member organisations of GFD, comprising the Ghana Blind Union, Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, and the Mental Health Society of Ghana,

Others are Inclusion Ghana – a group of people with intellectual disability, Share Care Ghana – a group of people with auto-immune and neurological disorders, and Burns Survivors Association.

The Federation also works with persons with deaf-blindness and leprosy, and handles general disability issues whilst its member organisations focus on their specific disability needs.

Mission
With a vision of ensuring an inclusive society for all persons with disabilities in Ghana”, GFD declares it commitment to advocate the rights of Persons with Disability by influencing policies, programmes and activities at the national and local levels and to strengthen the organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

Achievements
The Federation which marks its 30^th Anniversary in this year, has succeeded in influencing the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in Ghana’s Elections, through the introduction of tactile ballot system by Electoral Commission of Ghana. This has enhanced blind persons to cast their vote independently in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 national elections.

Again the registration and voting of persons with psychosocial disabilities in psychiatric hospitals the 2012 and 2016 general elections, was made possible through GFD’s efforts.

Similarly, through its advocacy GFD has led to the enactment of the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) and Mental Health Act, Act 846, 2012 as well as Ghana’s ratification of the UN convention on the rights of Persons with Disability. 

The allocation of 3% of the District Assembly Common Fund to PWD’s, with guidelines for the management, disbursement, utilization, and accountability for the fund was the result of GFD’s effort.

To support the Fund, please call: 0302240530 and 0240867200

Promote Ecumenism in West Africa-Priests charged

The dignitaries with delegates

Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra has challenged Catholic Priests in the West African Sub-Region to commit to efforts to promote Ecumenism that would foster growth of development in member countries.

Calling Priests to be missionaries to Africa, he urged them to lead efforts in interreligious affairs, as well as be at the forefront in building effective relations with civil authorities in the sub-region to engender peace and help address the challenges confronting many countries of West Africa and Africa at large.

The Archbishop, made the observation at the opening of the 5^th Congress of Regional Union of Priests of West Africa at Koforidua, and entreated Priests to collaborate more with their Bishops to ensure the attainment of growth and development.

He re-echoed the call of Pope Paul VI to African Priests at Kamapala in 1969 at the formation of SECAM, for Priests to be missionaries to Africans and to reach to the world.

 “Start looking at yourselves as missionaries to yourselves” the Archbishop said, urging Priests to be concerned with the happening in the universal Church.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Jean Marie Spiech in address urged Priests to look at Mary as their mother in discharge of their roles, entreating them to heed the invitation of the Church to love and venerate Mary by imitating her virtues.

He said SINCE the Blessed Virgin Mary was a perfect mother for Priests, they should reflect on her tender care in the pilgrimage of our faith.

The delegates

In an address, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Onukwuba, President of RUPWA, recounted that the birth of the association dates to November 2012, with a directives of Bishops of the joint Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA) to Priest from 11 countries within the sub region to hold a Constitutive Assembly of the Association.

He commended the Government and people of Ghana for the warm reception accorded the delegates, and commended the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for the preaching peace and their support of development of the country.

“For us to gather and operate on this level suggest that we want to contribute our quota to the development of our region” he said.

Most Rev. Michael Ekwoy Apochi, Bishop of Otupo and Episcopal Chairman of the RUPWA, assured the Priests of the support of the Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa in their celebration at the Congress. 

He thanked the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Archdiocese of Accra and the Diocese of Koforidua for their efforts in hosting the Congress. 

Opening the Congress, Very Rev. Prof. Francis Appiah-Kubi, President of National Union of Ghana Priest Associations (NUGPA), said even though they are religious and Priests, they were concerned about the regional integration of West African Countries.

He touched on the theme for the conference, “Behold Your Mother: Mary in the Heart of Priestly Ministry”, explained that as Children of Mary, through whom the Church 

The Congress attracted over 50 delegates from 12 member countries of the West African Region.  They include delegates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana.

  

LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ANGER

This guy was beaten mercilessly at the Kaneshie Market for STEALING GH¢1.50p the other day, perhaps he was not smart enough.
But you're there enjoying your post and superintending over malfeasance and you think the public will spare you when they get you.
I won't tell you how to govern or conduct your affairs, because you know too well the rules of the game and how to explain or justify your actions. However, I don't know how much you value integrity, reputation, respect and the  goodwill of the your people. I don't know whether you know or you care to know about the fact that public trust in your office is at its lowest?
If I were you, I would do my best and avoid repeating the mistakes of my predecessor, because the danger you face now is managing an eminent PUBLIC ANGER waiting to explode.
Maybe we are taking ourselves for granted and not listening to the silent whispers of the marginalised people.
Maybe we think of our people as second grade human beings and don't care much about their welfare. In singing  the patriotic ideals in our ethos, please be reminded that the people are watching.
Our society certainly needs a system re-engineering that will satisfactorily address our NEEDS.  Thanks for reading.
My names are Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng.
I have spoken.

Advocate for inclusive Development

Bishop Baawobr with the participants

Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr., Catholic Bishop of Wa, has called on Ghanaians especially Christians to reflect on the plight of the socially excluded including the poor, and think of ways to reach out to them.

The Bishop urged Parishes throughout the country, particularly those in the Wa Diocese to use the World Day of the Poor (Sunday November 19) to rethink inclusive development to address the plight of the poor in the country.

He made these observation during the opening of a National Seminar on ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ in Ghana’s Implementation of the SDGs, organised by Caritas Ghana with support from Sightsavers, Caritas Africa, MAREDES and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, at the Catholic Guest House,Tiegber in Wa on Thursday.

Bishop Baawobr speaking at the Seminar

The Bishop who expressed worry at the deplorable conditions of the poor, marginalised, and mentally challenged, entreated stakeholders to make effective and inclusive planning to ensure that no one was left behind in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The SDGs can bring real change provided all the stakeholders work at ensuring that every individual achieves the full package of rights and opportunities the SDGs express” he said.

Describing the Seminar as a heart-warming one, Bishop Baawobr, expressed optimism that “stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs will find and agree on what to do to so that no region or people or category of people is left behind or worst still is exploited in the process”.

Pope Francis recently named the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary time (November 19) the World Day of the Poor to help the Catholics and people reflect on plight of the poor in our society.

In his exhortation to mark the celebration of the Day, the Pope said: ‘If we want to help change history and promote real development, we need to hear the cry of the poor and commit ourselves to ending their marginalization’.

To this end, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel F. Saaka, Vice Rector at the St. Victor’s Seminary, Tamale, urged Parishes to give prominence to the World Day of the Poor and use the occasion to champion the course of the poor and vulnerable, whilst impacting on their lives in the communities.

He challenged Catholic Charities to continue making preferential options for the poor, and support the vulnerable, especially those, whose lives and property are under threat.

“The call for solidarity with the poor, is very significant” he stressed, entreating the Church to pay more attention to issues of child labour or trafficking, waste management, care for the environment and check the culture of waste.

In a statement, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, observed that incidences in our country of defilement of minors and disruptions to the school feeding programme in some very poor communities that left children without their daily ration of food were signs of a weakening system of protection for the vulnerable.

Decrying the elusive and scanty action given to social protection in the country, he called for a push for demonstrable commitment by public policy actors and architects of national development plans to ensure social protection issues were adequately catered for.

“It is no longer acceptable that the weak, poor, marginalised and vulnerable in society are an after-thought of planned policies and development programmes” he declared.

He explained that the principle to ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ meant a conscious policy and programming direction that aims to reach first those furthest behind or at the periphery of society.

Mr. Akologo noted that the seminar, a continuity of Caritas Ghana work last year, to assess the status of Ghana’s implementation of the SDGs and dialogue to ensure that everyone, and especially the poor themselves, understand how they will be accounted for when measuring progress with the SDGs.

Madam Grace Antwi-Atsu, Global Advocacy Advisor at Sightsavers, noted that her organisation was working together with partners, including Caritas Ghana to ensure that no one was left behind in the implementation of the SDGs.

This was after the realisation that most Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), who make up 15 % of the world population, were not systematically included in the progress made against Millennium Development Goals.

To make the biggest impact by 2030, Madam Antwi-Atsu said Sightsavers seeks new alliances and partnerships, as well as use advocacy to ensure no one was left behind.

She called for evidence based advocacy, and entreated funders, non-profits, and other civil society groups to maintain pressure on governments to include PWDs and all marginalised in their development plans.

Notwithstanding the considerable economic growth and reduction of poverty over the years, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in a speech read for her stated that persistent economic and social inequalities calls for the intensification, harmonisation and sustenance of interventions to deal with the problems.

She said poverty which has been halfed from 56.5% to 24.2% nationally from 1992 to 2013, was still rife in the three Northern Regions, with Upper West recording 70%.

She noted that though efforts were being made to increase women participation in the political front, increase women access to MASLOC to improve their women financial status, among others, Government would collaborate with Caritas Ghana and other development partners to provide more interventions to bridge the poverty gap.

Over 45 participants drawn from MAREDES, Ghana Federation of Disable, Diocesan Development Officers, as well as Civil Society groups attended the two-day Seminar.

‘Make Mental Health your business’

Ghanaians have been entreated to examine their attitude to persons with disability in the country, particularly persons with mental disability, and rethink how they relate with them.

Mr. Yaro

Participants at the just ended National Seminar on ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ in Ghana’s Implementation of the SDGs in the Upper West Regional Capital, Wa, appealed to Ghanaians to seek ways to support Persons with Mental Disability, and reduce the stigma against them.

They underscored the need for every Ghanaian to take mental health issues seriously and work to support persons exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.

Various participants have pledged their commitment to support sensitise the public on mental illness, extend support to the mentality challenged

The Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES) in a presentation on ‘Leave No One Behind’ Ensuring People with Mental Illness are catered for in Development Processes, called for concrete steps to take care for the persons suffering from Mental Illness.

Commenting on Mental Health Situation in Ghana, Mr. Peter Yaro, MAREDES, estimates that 10.1% of Ghanaians have mild to moderate mental disorders, adding that a further 650,000 are suffering from severe mental illnesses.

He expressed worry about the fact that Mental health care in Ghana is overly medicalised, specialised and centralised, and called for the integration of mental care, increase in non-drug therapeutic services as well as self-care and community mental health at Public Health Care level in Hospitals.

Section of the Participants

Mr. Yaro bemoaned the low budgetary portion to Mental Health in the National Health budget, stressing that “the less than 10% of health budget allocated to mental health, with the available allocation going to mainly the psychiatric hospitals and personal emoluments of the workers was woefully inadequate.

With increasing trend of mental illness among the Ghanaian population, Mr. Yaro expressed the need for the training of more expert in the mental health, adding that current 15 Psychiatrists and 12 Clinical Psychologists in the country were underserving the people.

Participants expressed worry at the 98% treatment gap for mental illness in the country and called for a collective and concerted efforts to address reduce the treatment gap and ensure their inclusion in development plans. 

They noted that stigma, negative perceptions, fear, helplessness, poor attitudes towards mental illness, as well as inadequate infrastructure and service policy was affecting the delivery of mental illness and epilepsy in the country.

Non-State Actors in Ghana working to address Mental Health in Ghana, include Basic Needs-Ghana, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the MAREDES, the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG), and the Centre for People’s Empowerment and Rights Initiatives and others.

They are engaged in advocacy to address right to treatment, human rights highlighting non-discrimination, no stigma and no abuse, and adequate budgetary allocation for mental health, and policies and programmes inclusive of the needs and rights of persons with mental health and epilepsy care needs.

However, Mr. Alexander Bankole Williams of the Ghana Federation of Disability (GFD), noted that the discrimination against persons with disability in the country was more attitudinal, and called for change in our attitude in order to end the stigma to persons with mental illness, since they are also human beings.

Champion Mental Health at Workplaces-CHAG

With increasing cases of mental health related illnesses in the country, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), is urging organisations to take a critical look at mental health and promote it at their workplaces.

Dr. James Duah

Dr. James Duah, Deputy Executive Director of CHAG touched on the relevance of metal health at the work place in order to ensure productivity of the employees, adding that poor performance of worker who hitherto were at their peak, could be related to Mental Illness.

He made the appeal at the St. Joseph Hospital, Effiduase, Koforidua, during a CHAG/UKAID Training Workshop on the Management of Mentally Ill Persons for Faith-Based/Prayer Camp Leaders and Traditional Healers in the Eastern Region.

The Deputy Executive Director, stated that delusions, depression, suicidal tendencies, isolation or quietness, hallucination and one’s inability to cope with the normal daily stress of life, as well as hampered ability to relate well with others, were some symptoms that suggests that people were suffering from mental illness.

Noting that one out of four (4) persons in Ghana were at risk of being mentally ill, Dr. Duah, observed that society was becoming chaotic because we often fail to detect the symptoms of mental illness in people.

He also noted that the burden of mental illness in Ghana was 13%, adding that about 41% of Ghanaians were having one psychological problem.

In managing the cases, Dr. Duah, called on Ghanaians to support the treatment of persons suffering from mental illnesses, stressing that a lot of mental health issues needed physical therapy and psychosocial support.

He noted that the Faith based groups, traditional healers, prayer camps leaders and other stakeholders could help in reassuring and counselling patients, as well as refer them to health facilities for them to be attended to.

The Deputy Executive Director in acknowledging the enormous challenge mental illness poses to everyone in the country, urged Ghanaians to focus on it, since it affected everyone.

Rev. Br. Johannes Torwoe, Superior of the St. John of God Brothers at Koforidua, who chaired the function, encouraged Ghanaians to undertake regular health check, be prayerful, not to drink when faced with problems, love one another, and be each other’s keeper.

He urged people to also watch out for the early warning signs of mental illness, and connect to care or refer them to health facilities.

Dr. Duah addressing the participants

Mr. Victus Kwaku Kpessese, Executive Secretary of Health for the Koforidua Diocese and the Local CHAG Chairman, urged participants to work together to promote mental health in the Eastern Region.

He suggested the creation of a platform to address the challenges and question bothering on mental health or those that may arise during care provision.      

About 500 participants attended the training workshop, sponsored by the UKAID. Among them were operators of Prayer Camps and Traditional Healers in rural areas; Mental Health Nurses and Chaplains drawn from CHAG facilities in the Eastern Region, as well as some managers of the health facilities.

The participants shared some experiences and expressed their gratitude for the knowledge learnt, which they say would go a long way to impact on their operations.

At the programme, Dr. Duah, also launched the Golden Jubilee of CHAG, while paying glowing tributes to the founding members of the Association and commending their commitment and sacrifices in living their roles that has contributed to the success of CHAG.