Lessons on Wills, Addiction for Chaplains

Mr. Adjei taking the Chaplains through how to write Wills

Thirty-four Catholic Hospital Chaplains recently received training on what Wills entails, the complexities involved and how to document nuncupative Wills, during a recent meeting at Sefwi- Wiawso.

A section during the presentation

Touching on who qualifies to write a will, George Adjei Esq., Director of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), noted that every person above age 18, is capable of making a Will. This, he said excludes persons with unsound mind, infants or person bellow 18 years and persons who are senile, including persons suffering from memory loss and those unable to speak audibly or coherently as well as persons suffering from excruciating pain or in a state of hysteria and persons under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Adjei, highlighting the importance of Wills noted that Wills were written to avoid trouble and confusion after the death of a person, as well as give effect to the wishes of the deceased.

Another importance of a Will he noted was to circumvent some customs and traditions from taking the effect, and to provide for the upkeep of family members and loved ones, as well as avoid PNDC Law 111 from taking effect on the Testator’s property.

Speaking on the topic: Writing Nuncupative Wills, Mr. Adjei, explained that a Will is a legal document containing instructions about the disposal of a person’s property. It is essentially a declaration of a person’s intentions concerning how his/her property should be distributed after his/her death.

Some of the Chaplains taking notes 

He expounded that a nuncupative Will (oral will) is a Will that has been delivered orally (that is, in speech) to witnesses, as opposed to the usual form of Wills.

Explaining further, Mr. Adjei noted that nuncupative Will should be voluntary by the Testator, who has attained maturity age and not suffering from any mental incapacity.

He also noted that properties of the Testators must be self-acquired.

Mr. Adjei also advised Chaplains who might be entrusted with such wills to record the oral will, when it was being made and transcribe them for safe keeping.

The Director explained that the topic was chosen because, in their work, Chaplains regularly encounter these situations during the end of life care. “Where it is possible to invite a lawyer, this may not be necessary but in case of ‘emergency’, that is where death is almost imminent, a Chaplain could document these wishes”, he added.

A Chaplain seeking clarification.

He also made the distinction between an oral Will and death-bed wishes or dying wishes.

Noting that Wills take the effect after the death of a person (Testator), he advised Ghanaians to write Wills and periodically revise them.

Dr. Anita Appiah, Coordinator for Community and Institutional Care at the Directorate of Health, speaking on Addictions, called Chaplains and those handling addicts to respect their (the addicts) rights and dignity.

As pastoral agents, she entreated Chaplains to be willing to help addicts appreciate their challenge, adding that even though their clients may deny they were addicted at the initial stages, they should strive to build rapport with them in order to facilitate their healing.

Dr. Appiah described addiction as a chronic disease characterized by compulsive thinking about what one derives satisfaction from, and difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

Drawing the distinction between substance and process addictions, she urged Ghanaians to be concerned about Addictions and work together with other experts by providing the needed support to the patient.

Mr. Essegbey (R) interacting with some Chaplains.

She noted that the essence of the presentation was to create awareness among the Chaplains on the drug the phenomenon, which is on the ascendency and how they could work with experts to help counsel the addicts.

Similarly, Mr. Ivan Essegbey, Senior Coordinator of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Directorate of Health, NCS, who acknowledged the invaluable role the Chaplains played in the hospitals, encouraged them to submit their data on time to the Directorate.

*Mr Adjei taking the Chaplains through the topic on Wills.