Gratitude Notes VI

Making a good night memory requires a reflection on our experiences in the day and the special moments shared.
Whether pleasant or unpleasant, we have to be thankful for the rich moments we lived in this day.
Wishing you soothing rest.
Be Blessed abundantly
Good Night 😴
©KYB✍🏿09/11/22

St. Vincent reaches out to Lepers in Ghana

Stirred by the desire to reach out and support the less privileged in society, the National Board and leadership of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) to visited and interacted with the cured Lepers at the Weija Leprosarium in Accra. Buoyed by the mission of the society and the zeal of their Spiritual Director, Very Rev. Fr. Andrews Campbell, SVD, the SSVP leadership, accordioning to Mr Vincent J. Ahulu, National President of the Society took the initiative to reach out to the cured Lepers. He reiterated the need to extend care to the needy by using the commitment of society to continue prioritising care for the vulnerable. At a Holy Mass that heralded the visit, the leadership could help but join the members to sing to animate the celebration, which was presided over by Rev. Fr. Abraham Kwasi Dzibitor, SVD, the Provincial Secretary of the Ghana-Liberia Province of the Divine Word Missionaries. Stressing the importance of gratitude in one’s life, Fr Dzibitor in a homily, observed that “gratitude isan attitude we should embrace in our lives”. “If someone does something for you, however simple it may be, we have to show gratitude” he stated, emphasising that gratitude comes from the depths of ones hearts. Stating further that gratitude goes beyond saying thank you, the Homilist urged the beneficiaries to constantly remember their benefactors in their prayers. As part of the visit, the SSVP leadership presented assorted items including a lunch pack, provisions for breakfast, soft drinks and toiletries as well as made GH¢ 5,000 cash to the cured Lepers. Likewise, Mr John Ampao, Prefect of the Leprosarium, thanked the Society for the gesture and prayed that the success of the group and its members. Among the leadership of the SSVP at the programme, were Lt. Gen. Augustine Blay, National Vice President of the Society and Mr Gabriel Asempa Antwi- National T

reasurer of the group.

An Evening Wink

An evening windy sunset winked again at our walk with Wednesday.
Time and again, we hear we are running out of time, even when we seem to be racing with it and not enjoying enough of its romance.

But what's the time again, please?
What's clocking the hour, please?
What moment is it, please?
How much time do we have?

Well, since we can not tell how much time we all still have,
Perhaps we should reflect on our lives and be measured and mindful of what we ought to do with the gift of life.

I just remembered You.
And this is to wish you the best of the evening.
Have a blessed evening.🌺
Greetings 😉 😉 
©KYB ✍🏿24/08/22

Buffer Zone Regulations development Underway

*Ing. Dr. Clifford Briamah, M.D of GWCL limited 

delivering the address.  

Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources has announced that the Ministry with support from the World Bank is developing the Buffer Zone Regulations to strengthen the regulatory processes of watersheds in the country.

She called on Ghanaians to protect and preserve the vegetation along the banks of water bodies in order to safeguard the water resources. 

Madam Dapaah made the statement in a speech read on her behalf by Dr. Clifford Briamah, Managing Director of Ghana Water Company Limited, during the tree planting exercise along the Weija Dam Acquisition site, to mark this year’s Green Ghana Day.

She bemoaned the recalcitrance and impunity of some primary stakeholders in and around the Weija Dam Acquisition site and stressed the commitment of the ministry and the Water Resources Commission as well as the stakeholders to eradicate encroachment and water pollution activities to protect the dam and the water resources.

“We must bear in mind that the State compulsorily acquired this important buffer zone to conserve the water resources that serve as the source of water for over 5 million people within the Greater Accra and Central Regions” she stressed.

Highlighting the importance of the day, the Acting Executive Secretary for the Water Resources Commission, Mrs. Adwoa Dorcas Paintsil, noted the relevance of trees and vegetation and appealed to the people to support efforts of protecting the vegetation.

She said planting trees to protect and restore the vegetation around the buffer zones, was a vital exercise to preserve, protect and prevent the pollution of our water bodies.  

Since water was key to our survival, Madam Paintsil stressed the need for all to collaborate with the Water Resources Commission to protect the buffer zones from encroachers.

Mr. Stanley Martey, Chief Manager, Public Relations mentioned the essence of the day and called for efforts to preserve the trees and the vegetation around the water body.

Similarly, Naa Amakuma Otudom II, Queen Mother of Weija, who chaired the programme, stated that “when the last trees die the last man dies,” charged Ghanaians to inculcate the value of planting trees to conserve the forests.

‘Eliminate Barriers to Fish Passage’-WRC

With the stated decline in migratory fish species in rivers, Madam Adwoa Paintsil, Acting Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission has called for the restoration, opening, and maintenance of the habitat for fishes by eliminating barriers to the fish passage as well as improving in-stream, floodplain and mash conditions.

She made the appeal during the recent World Fish Migration Day observed in Wa, Upper West Region, adding that Migratory Fish needed free migration routes in order to migrate, reproduce, feed, and complete their life cycle. 

“The more people were aware of the huge challenge fishes faced in the world, the more opportunities we give them”, she noted, adding that once fishes do not reach their habitat, they cannot produce and maintain their population.

Madam Paintsil observed that through the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach, WRC provides guidelines for the proper utilisation, conservation, development, and improvement of water resources which helps protect the fishes in their natural habitat.

She stressed that removing barriers to fish passage would help recover threatened and endangered migratory fish and support the sustainability of economically important commercial and recreational fish.

Likewise, Mr. Ben Yaw Ampomah, immediate past Executive Secretary of WRC who chaired the Programme, noted that between 1970 and 2016 the population of migratory freshwater fish species declined by 76% on average.

He added that the celebration of the World Fish Migration Day gives attention to fishes and ways to help protect and preserve our rivers and fishes. It also helps raise the needed awareness as an essential step to make real change for migratory fish species and the rivers they rely on.   

Dr. Hafiz Ben Salih, Upper West Regional Minister in a keynote address observed that Migratory fish typically travel through rivers to complete their life cycle, with some swimming more than 10, 000km, adding that billions of people around the world depend on them for food, sport and research.

He bemoaned the fact that many migratory fish species are critically endangered or threatened. Moreover, illegal mining, farming, and harvesting of firewood within the riparian buffer zones as well as crude fishing practices were factors contributing to the degradation of the Volta Basin’s major water resources, especially the Black Volta River. 

To this end, the Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, Mr. Peter Maala Suglo, who represented the Minister, commended the IUCN for its pioneering efforts, as well as the Swedish International Development Cooperation for their support, and called on stakeholders to forge a closer collaboration that will ensure the protection of the water resources and the fishes.

As part of the occasion, there was a site visit to acquaint dignitaries with fish culture in a part of Wa. 

Adoagyiri Catholic Youth Choir Outdoors Album

*The Youth Choir 

It was an evening of joyful moments filled with lively medleys of songs aimed at animating the faith of the patrons and well-wishers, during the launch of the maiden album of the St. Joseph the Worker Youth Choir at Nsawam-Adoagyiri.

The maiden album titled: ‘Yen Aseda Ni’ which is a gospel genre with a collection of ten (10) songs was the first of its kind at the Church, a feat many patrons were proud of.

With the launch of the album, Rev. Fr. Andrew Kwami Dunyo, Priest at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, noted that the Choir has added another chapter to the annals of the Koforidua Diocese.

He congratulated the Choir and their collaborators as they sought ways to enhance and animate liturgical celebrations in the Church.   

Likewise, Dr. Eric Debrah Okyere, Lecturer and Chairman at the launch, expressed excitement at the laudable feat of the Choir and urged them not to relax on their oars.

He called on Catholics to value the good things in the Church and support Choirs making efforts to enliven the Church programme.

The high point of the launch was when the renowned Composer Newlove Annan took the floor to conduct the mass Choir rendering two popular songs under his belt: “But they the wait upon the Lord’ and ‘Your Grace and Mercy’, which many patrons and present to dance.

According to Kofi Selawoe Atiglah, the Choir started in 2000 when Rev. Fr Emmanuel Debrah, then Priest-in-Charge of the Church shared the vision of starting a youth Choir at the Parish when he taught the song ‘Mum be Hwe Nyame bi’ at the Church to help animate the liturgy.

In spite of the challenges, the Choir which is the current defending champion of music in the Koforidua Diocese is poised to sustain its performance and animate the liturgical celebration.

Mr. Atiglah commended the Priests, Patrons, Parishioners of the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and all collaborators who supported the Choir over the years.

The first copy of the CD/flash drive was purchased by His Lordship Bernard Bentil, Patron of the Choir for GH¢ 2,000.00.

In attendance were the St. Joseph the Worker Main Choir and the St. John’s Youth Choir from Nsawam, which supported the launch. 

*The Youth Choir performing at the Launch