Prepare Students for life

The Participant with dignitaries at the function

Very Rev. Fr. Joseph K. Nsiah, Vicar General of Jasikan Diocese, has appealed to teachers not to only teach their pupils and students for exams but to prepare them for life.

Describing teachers as agents for change and development, he entreated them not to be content with they already know but to improve and update their knowledge in order to enhance their delivery.

He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of a month-long in-service training programme for teachers from the eight political districts under the Jasikan District, at the Diocesan Formation and Counselling Centre, Nsuta-Buem 

The in-service training, the second of its kind in the Diocese aimed at improving educational standards in the eight Districts, was organized by the Jasikan Diocesan Development Office, with sponsorship from Manos Unidas-Spain

Fr. Nsiah, citing the example of Japan and other countries, making through investment in their human resources, called for the same investment in teachers and students in the country, stressing the need for supervision for teachers to deliver.

To make this a reality, Mr. Innocent Bediako, Nkwanta North District Director of Education, also tasked teachers to stay committed to their profession and impact positively in the lives of their pupils and students.

He challenged teachers to add value to themselves, accept posting to deprived communities and share knowledge with their colleagues in order to give off their best at all stages of education to help groom good citizens for the country.

Similarly, Mr. Lawrence Aziale, Jasikan District Chief Executive, who commended the Jasikan Diocese for the project, observed that in-service training was critical for teachers to sharpen their tools in order to deliver.

He also urged teachers to appreciate their profession, motivate themselves, as well as encourage each other, and explore their environment and make the best of the opportunities there.  

In line with its vision for education, he said the District has established Scholarship schemes for Teachers and Best graduating students in the District to pursue further studies at the University.

Speaking on the theme: Education-Tool for Change for Development, Mr. Linus Attey, a retired educationist, noted that policy and administrative inconsistencies were affecting education delivering in the country.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders to rededicate themselves for the betterment of education in the country, urging the Government to ensure the completion of all uncompleted school buildings, and the provision of Teaching and Learning Material (TLM) on time.

To ensure the attainment of quality and responsive education, Mr. Attey also called for the motivation of teachers to give off their best, while urging the teachers to accept posting to rural areas.

Some participants who spoke to the Catholic Standard expressed their gratitude to the organizers of the programme notes that the training would go a long way to impact on their delivery in their respective schools.

The Science teachers, who were taken through the training in the first week were able to find simple innovative ways of developing mirror periscope, osmosis, and diffusion experiment with local materials. 

Fr. Pius Biamse, Director Diocesan Development Office noted that the in-service training for the 480 teachers of Science, Mathematics, English, and Information Communication Technology (ICT) was to support teachers at the basic school level and hone their skills with innovative ways teach the pupils.

He thanked Most Rev. Gabriel A.A. Mante, Bishop of the Diocese, as well as Seth Appiah and Josephine Sika who supports him at the Development Office.       

Among dignitaries’ present were some chiefs and Rev. Msgr. Vincent Antie, Director of the Diocesan Formation and Counselling Centre.

Be wary of land grabbers

Chiefs and stool heads have been urged to be wary of multinational companies and their cohorts who seek to buy large tracts of their lands.

Nana Tidibo

Nana Tidibo Kowura Odamba II, Paramount Chief of Ntroboman Traditional Area in the Nwanta South District of the Volta Region, advised the chiefs and those responsible for the lands in their communities, stressing that they should opt for a partnership instead of the outright sale of the lands.

He made the remarks as part of in-service training for teachers in the Jasikan Diocese at Nsuta-Buem.

“When you sell your land, you have sold your treasure and mortgage the future of your children” he stated, adding that the best they should do is to lease the land instead of selling the land.

Nana Odamba said since “our land belongs to our ancestors, the living and our descendants”, there was no need selling it outright in a way that deprives future children access to the land for their use.

He shared the bitter experience how one multinational company “led by our own people” and with the promise to develop his paramountcy got 3750 hectares of land, paying a paltry sum of $5 per acre per year.

He commended the Africa Network for Justice (AFNJ) for helping them in trying to rectify the irregularities in the agreement signed for the land.

With his experienced, he advised the Chiefs and stool heads in the country to be cautious of people who might front for some multinational groups in need of land to buy. “Please do not sell your lands” he pleaded.

Likewise, Mr. Wisdom Koffi Adjawlo, Programme Director of the Youth Volunteer in Environment, Ghana, speaking on the land grabbing, noted that the issue poses a huge threat to eradicating hunger and ending poverty as well as meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

H said there was a need for stakeholders to take action in tackling land grabbing and enrich their knowledge on the issue in order to address it.

“We need to cherish what we have,” he said, adding that we all have a role to play in our own small ways to preserve our land and ensure food sovereignty that would eventually help us end poverty.

Other speakers including the Mr. Lawrence Aziale, District Chief Executive for Jasikan, added their voices to calls for traditional leaders not to sell land, adding they could at best enter into a partnership with the investors who might want to buy their land.

New Choir Robes for St. Matthew Choir

Mr. Ansah with Fr. Bempah and the Choristers 

A new set of choir robes has been presented to the St. Mathew Adult Choir at Tarkwa by a parishioner of the Church at a thanksgiving Mass. 

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Ansah, who made the donation to the Choir, said the gesture was in appreciation to God for the care and healing of Mr. Samuel Ansah, who was taken ill in the last two years.

Mr. Ansah who narrated his near-death ordeal including the harrowing pain, discomfort and the burden of managing the sickness over two-years told the Catholic Standard he was grateful for what God has done for him through those trying moments.

As a sign of thanksgiving, his family presented the robes to support the Choir in their singing ministry.

Alongside the new robes, the Ansah family also provided 75 branded T-Shirts for the Youth Choir and 40 capes to the Singing Band at the Church.

  

Tarkwa St. Theresa marks 25th Milestone

The St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society at the St. Matthew Parish, Tarkwa in the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese has climaxed its Silver Jubilee celebration with a thanksgiving Mass, amidst pomp and pageantry.

Rev. Fr. Felix Bempah, CSJ, Assistant Parish Priest at the St. Michael Parish, Bogoso, who commended the society for its role in the Church, urged the faithful apply God’s grace in their live judiciously.

He explained that God’s grace is an unmerited favour to mankind through the merciful love of God, stressing that “without God’s grace, we are nothing”.

Members of St. Theresa Society in procession 

As missionaries missioned to our families, spouses and children, Fr. Bempah entreated the faithful to utilise the grace in doing God’s work, be good servants to their families, and to the Church.

Sharing his missionary experiences in Ecuador with the faithful, the Celebrant acknowledged that although there were challenges in one’s missionary work, like Apostle Paul he assured Christians that God’s grace was sufficient for them.

He, therefore, urged the faithful to always draw closer to God with a sincere heart, by praying regularly and constantly reading the Word of God. 

Obaapaynin Agatha Ama Sarfo-Ababio, a former National President of the Society, and the first President of the Tarkwa Branch of the Society recounted the initiative and inspiration of the late Most Rev. Charles Kweku Sam, then Bishop Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese and Rev. Msgr. Francis Yaw Tewiah, then Parish Priest of the St. Matthew Church, led to the establishment of the society at the Church on 4^th April 1992.

A section of the Members at the Mass

She noted that the Society which started with 35 members now boast of 100 dedicated members, and 12 distant members, with 75 percent of the members being communicant.

Obaapaynin Sarfo-Ababio, who commended members for their dedication and commitment over past two and half decades, urged them to continue working together to double their efforts and ensure the growth of the society in the years ahead. 

The Society, aside opening numerous branches of the Society in the Tarkwa and Asankragwa Deaneries, as well as parts of the Wiawso Diocese, the Tarkwa branch has produced two Diocesan Presidents out of the 10 Diocesan Presidents and a National President of the Society.

Over the years, the society beside its spiritual activities, has been a pacesetter in enriching the presentation of offertory gifts at Mass, provision of vestments for the Altar Servers at the Church and other Parishes, supporting the vocation of Priests and Religious in the Diocese and beyond, as well as orphanages and the Tarkwa Government Hospital.

Obaapanyin Sarfo-Ababio and leaders with the Priests 

Opanyin Charlotte Bissah Osei, President of the Society at Tarkwa, who thanked God for the countless blessings on the society over the 25 years, extolled the members for their commitment and support to the growth of the society.

She noted that the society was poised to surmount its challenges and remain vibrant in serving God and mankind, and encouraged members to be resolute and continue in their efforts.

As part of the anniversary, the Society initiated 56 Little Flowers (young members of the Society), elevated 10 dedicated members of the Society to the honorary status of past Presidents, and presented a citation to Mr. Patrick Addae, the longest-serving patron of the society.

The Society which organised Novena on the theme: "We did not choose you but you chose us to go and bear fruits” John 15:16, offered prayers for the souls of the 11members and two patrons of the society.

At the Mass, the Society made a presentation of a five burner gas cooker, blender and other kitchen wares, valued at GH ¢5,000 to the Parish.

Little Flowers of the Society

Among dignitaries present at a reception to climax the celebration were Rev. Frs. Anthony Nii Noi Dowuona, Pastor of the St. Matthew Parish; Michael Blay-Morkeh, Spiritual Director of the Society and Anthony Arkesson, Member of the Society.

Others were Opanyin Augustina Abieku, Diocesan President of the Society.

                                                 

    

Search for alternative Parkinson’s Disease treatment underway

Research is underway to test the viability of natural plant-Mucuna pruriens (velvet beans) as a cost-effective alternative to Parkinson disease treatment in Ghana.

Mucuna Pruriens (MP) a tropical legume native to Africa and tropical Asia, widely reputed for its medicinal prowess, has 7% levodopa in its seed, which is an important medication for Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Momodou Cham, Medical Director of St. Anne’s Polyclinic at Tagadzi in the Volta Region and lead researcher undertaking the studies in Ghana, expressed his readiness to share the findings with Ghanaians after the end of the study.  

He observed that the antiparkinson medication levodopa, which is given to patients to manage the disease, in Ghana cost between $21 and $62, which was beyond the means of most patients.

He shared news about the ongoing study with a team at the Richard Norvati Memorial Hospital, Sogakope in the Volta Region, during a recent presentation to Parkison’s Disease Support Group in Ghana at the Baptist House at Abelenkpe in Accra.

Members of the Support Group who welcomed the news were optimistic that the outcome of the research could contribute to saving patients some monies in managing the disease.

At the moment, the cost of treating Parkinson’s disease in Ghana, which is not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme is expensive and a drain on patients’ resources.

Mr. Jervis Djokoto, founder of the Support Group in Ghana, was hopeful that the finding of the studies could greatly help patients who spend a monthly average of GH ¢3,000 on treatment.

Having been diagnosed with the disease in 2003, Mr. Djokoto said he was spurred to start the Support Group in Ghana, after experiencing what the support group in the US was doing.

The group, he explains was basically a gathering of patients, care providers and resources persons who meet regularly to share their experiences and knowledge of the disease. 

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease is a long-term neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. Though its cause is generally unknown, experts link it to both genetic and environmental factors.

According to reports, of the 6.2 million people with the disease in 2015, about 117,400 died globally. It is a fact that, Males are more often affected than females.

Symptoms include slowness of movement, rigidity or stiffness of muscles, freezing, constipation depression, and swallowing disorder among others, but Dr. Cham, noted that tremor was not a cardinal sign of the disease.

Dr. Charm who bemoaned the fact that there was low awareness of the disease in the country, said those above 60 years were more at risk of getting the disease.

Studies in other parts of the world including Bolivia show that the Mucuna pruriens variant utilis is safe for use and an alternative to over the counter levodopa.