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.

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.

Collective efforts needed to manage e-waste

Logo of the Project

Ghanaians were entreated to support Caritas Ghana’s initiative to manage electronic waste in the country in order to curtail the toxic generated in the process and preserve our environment for future generation.

Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey, out-going Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, made the appeal at the launch of the project in Accra and challenged Ghanaians to do their little best to save the earth from destruction.

He expressed worry about the way greed and avarice was driving people to destroy our water bodies and environment, stressing the need for all to work together to save it from further destruction.

Mr. Ashigbey, said the tag of Agblogbloshie as the dirtiest place on earth, was a great indictment on Ghana. How did we get there? How did we allow ourselves to get into this abyss? He questioned

Stating that Caritas Ghana was offering Ghanaians the chance to address the e-waste menace, the Managing Director said it was a good project that provide our people in rural and peri-urban areas access with clean water supply, as well as solar lamps for use.

He called for collective efforts to turn the tide around, in the proper management of electronic waste, whilst leveraging the gains to support the poor.

With the launch of the project, Caritas Ghana and its partners will focus on collecting, managing and selling e-waste by-products to curb the poison emitted into the environment, and support livelihoods of poor in the rural areas by providing clean water and renewable energy source.

Shedding more light on the project, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana and Department of Human Development of the National Catholic Secretariat(NCS), noted that his outfit will undertake advocacy for adequate policy response to “address looming health and environmental calamity of e-waste”.

He said Caritas Ghana will also embark on nation-wide public education ad sensitisation for behavioural and attitudinal change on disposal of e-waste, as well as set-up actual collection ccetres of e-waste for proper recycling. 

To this end, Mr Akologo stated that Caritas Ghana and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) signed a Memorandum of Intention for Technical Support to build capacity of people to be engaged in the collection and recycling of e-waste.

Besides “a number of Companies, by their sponsorship of this programme and other on-going discussions, are willing to and have actually signaled their support for this cause” he stated.

By the project, the Executive Secretary declared the intention of Caritas Ghana, “to set-up the e-waste management as a social enterprise venture whereby the collection, management and sale of the by-products from e-waste will generate income to support other social needs of very deprived communities and the poor”.

He explained that proceeds of the sale of e-waste by-products would be used to purchase water purification systems for improved sanitation in rural and peri-urban communities for the poor and needy; particularly children and women, and to provide solar lamps for rural communities, without electricity which replaces harmful toxic fumes from kerosene lamps.

Mr Markus Spitzbart, Head of Programme, Sustainable Management and Disposal of E-Waste at the GIZ in Ghana, stated that the social recycling business that Caritas Ghana seeks to set-up will provide an ideal institutional and company framework, where eco-levies charged to the manufacturers and importers, could be used to ensure environmentally sound e-waste recycling.

He however, appealed to the Ghana Government to establish legal framework to ensure the proper working of the recycling fund.

At the launched, renowned Gospel Artiste Mary Ghansah, performed a song for the programme, that rallies support from people to embrace the call to save our environment from destruction.  

Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the launch, urged Ghanaians to perform good works, by preserving our water bodies and protecting our environment.

Whilst commending Caritas Ghana for starting this initiatives, he challenged the media to join the campaign in promoting the enterprise, and appealed to the Government to reduce taxes on materials to be used in the production of filters for portable water and renewable energy sources.

Present at the functions were Very Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), Rev. Frs. Wisdom Larweh, and Duiedonne K. Davor, Assistant Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the Department of Social Communications respectively at the NCS, as well as sponsors and partners of the project.    

NCHS celebrates Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

The thunderous applauds by dignitaries and participants signified the cheerful approval of Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum’s steadfast commitment and remarkable service to the advancement of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS).

As Bishop responsible for Health, for the past seven years, he undertook several initiatives and championed efforts to improve quality and affordable healthcare delivery to Ghanaians.

For his efforts, the NCHS honoured him with a plaque and a gift, at the just ended 15^th Annual Conference held at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo-Region.

The prelate, who also heads the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, worked tirelessly to promote and advance the work of the NCHS in many areas.

According to Mr. George A. Adjei, Director of the NCHS, the Bishop did a lot to improve the work of the NCHS in the past seven years he served as Bishop Responsible for Health.

He commended him for his efforts in visiting many NCHS facilities in some parts of the country, and expressed gratitude to him for his willingness to promote health delivery in the country.

Similarly, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, new Episcopal Chairman for Health, extolled Bishop Afrifah Agyekum for his support and dedication to the growth of NCHS for the past seven years.

Bishop Fianu acknowledged his predecessor for his work in health care delivery and “also for agreeing to a slow handover process of this portfolio”.

In a valedictory remark, Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum reminisced moments when he was first appointed the Episcopal Chairman for Health, by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), stating that “I thought I was in a wonderland.”

But after seven years he noted that “it has been both eventful and a rare experience” and thanked the frontline staff of NCHS, working in remote areas, for braving the odds to work and making the best out of difficult situations.

During his tenure, the Prelate paid a duty tour of NCHS facilities in nine Arch/Dioceses and observed the limited resources at the disposal of health facilities and the circumstances some of the staff were working under. “The learning experience is so phenomenal” he said. 

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum who doubles as the Bishop of Koforidua commended the Director of the Directorate of Health at the NCHS and his team, Members of the Medical Ethics Commission, past and present members’ representative of the Bishops’ Conference on the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) Board, the Health Service Managers. “You were my Teachers and you guided me throughout my tenure” he observed.     

He entreated his successor to ensure the continuity of initiatives such as the Pool Procurement Programme, started in 2011 and the sustenance of the Catholic Medicines Centre at the National Catholic Secretariat, as well as the improvement in the management of NCHS facilities throughout the country.

He urged the NCHS to develop and register as a Trust with its own governance body that reports to the GCBC, which will enable the centralization of some major policies, so that with the approval of the Conference decisions and policies will become binding on all NCHS facilities in the country.

The registration of NCHS as a Trust, will “promote our unity and get our managers to comply with decisions and directives of the Conference” Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum argued.

Whilst pledging his resolute support to the work of the NCHS, the immediate past Bishop Responsible for Health expressed appreciation to all those who hosted them during their visits to NCHS facilities in the nine Arch/Dioceses.

‘Don’t take us for granted’-CHAG cautions

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has called on government not to take for granted the services member facilities of the Association were rendering a large segment of Ghanaians in the rural area.

As provider of over 40 percent of health care in the country, the new Chairperson of the CHAG Board has entreated government as a matter of urgency expedite repayment of the debts owed CHAG Facilities by the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Dame Dr. Agatha Ekua Bonney, the CHAG Board Chairperson made the appeal to government interview, highlighting the serious threat the indebtedness was posing to health care provision in rural areas and in the entire country.

She narrated the huge pressure on facilities to pay their suppliers and the shortage of critical medical consumables to help sustain the delivery of health care to Ghanaian.

She described the huge debts of over 13 months as severely hampering the delivery of quality healthcare and demoralizing genuine efforts of many CHAG Facilities dotted around remote areas to provide quality health care.

Dame Dr. Akua Bonney strongly appealed to the Government to as a matter of urgency consider settling the indebtedness of NHIA and ensure the immediate reimbursement to the health facilities for services they were rendering.

She expressed the desire of the Association to continue to dialogue with the government to ensure the settlement of the debts owed its member facilities, while pledging CHAG’s commitment to work with other stakeholders to find lasting solution and sustainable means of funding health care in Ghana. 

“As a Christian association we are unable to lay down our tools due to our principles of compassion to the patient, even though our facilities are really suffering” she echoed, appealing to the Government to consider their plight and ensure that payment were made to save the health facilities from collapsing.      

Funding NHIS

To ensure NHIS is not starved of cash, the CHAG Board Chairperson suggested that NHIS Fund be decoupled from the consolidated fund and used solely for what it was established for.

Given the challenge of the huge indebtedness to health facilities, she observed that ensuring sustainable health funding was paramount, to the delivery of quality health care, which is critical to Ghana’s development.   

Dame Dr. Ekua Bonney, stated that CHAG which started the pilot of project of the health insurance at Nkoranza in the 90s is very much interested in its sustenance, but said if the NHIS were properly managed it would not be facing the challenges it was facing.

“Make NHIS fund work solely as it was set up,” she stressed. 

Vision

The Chairperson said the New Board would work in line with the vision of the founding fathers and ensure that CHAG and its member facilities become the best quality health care delivery centres throughout the country.

Under their three-year mandate, the Chairperson noted that the Board would prioritize patient care and satisfaction in the delivery of quality health care at throughout CHAG member facilities in the country.

She explained further that appropriate patient care and customer satisfaction were a prerequisite in the process of giving holistic healthcare delivery.

As CHAG marks its Golden Jubilee this year, Dame Dr. Ekua Bonney said the association would introduce strategies to improve and uphold high standards of holistic health care to the patient, which includes strengthening staff orientation on the new trends in patient care and customer satisfaction at all levels.

Faced with the hurdle of dwindling donor funds, huge debt of NHIS to facilities and a commitment to continue the provision of quality healthcare delivery; Mr. Sam Sarpong Appiah, Vice Chairperson, shared the vision of the Board to pursue mobilization of fund locally to augment other sources of funds.

He therefore called for a change in mentality and attitude in order to mobilize funds locally to aid the continuous operation of the health facilities in the country.

The Vice Chairperson said the Board vigorously promote prudent financial management regimes of funds and encourage close working relations between facilities and communities in which they operate in to rally support for their growth. 

Poor and sick fund  

In spite of the financial constraints, the Chairperson and the Vice reiterated the fact that most CHAG facilities were doing their best to assist patient meet the cost of treatment through the Poor and Sick Fund they established.

The Board Chairperson pledged CHAG’s committed to continue providing holistic health care delivering, which will offer spiritual, mental and emotional health care that hinges on the tenets of respect for patient’s dignity, and concern for the health needs of clients in a Christ like manner.

New Board members

Among the 16-member Board of CHAG chaired by Dame Dr. Agatha Akua Bonney, assisted by Mr. Sam Sarpong Appiah; as well as Dr. Yao Yeboah; Alex Kofi Osei Owusu, ESQ.; Mr Osei Yaw Asamoa; Mr. Mauurice Adu-Amankwah; and Mr Julius Wellens-Mensah.

Others are Mr. Peter K. Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG; Dr. Elias K. Sory; Joseph A. Aryitey, ESQ.; GEAORGE A. Adjei, ESQ.; Ms. Margaret Mary Alacoque Dapilah, and Dr. Frederick E.M. Kustsienyo, as well as Mr. Lawrence Ofosu Adjare; Mr Enoch Osafo, and Presbyter Jonas Gershon Dzodzodzi.

DO WE EVEN CARE?

I can sense a gradual build up of public mistrust in our political and criminal justice system.
The greed and dishonesty of MOST of our political elites is hurting the trust of many.
The selfishness of MOST of our religious leaders is seriously eroding the trust of many in religious affairs and affecting their faith in God.
The self-centeredness of MOST of our business owners and the quest to make profit at all cost is horrifying.
The lack of care in MOST of our Health centres and Charity homes is depressing and disappointing.
The rate of unemployment and the misbehaviour of MOST middlemen or job owners, who take undue advantage of the unemployed or job seekers is disturbing.
The frustrations many go through to acquire passport and other essential services from state agencies is perplexing.
The wanton destruction to our environment in our quest to exploit the natural resource deposits, is unprecedented and terrifying.

CULTURE OF DEATH
The daily report of deaths of our compatriots in bizarre circumstances that could have been avoided;
The general neglect, and benign inaction of those paid with our taxes, to take CARE of our safety and their incorrigible attitude to responsive action is sickening.
The least said about the loss of 58 Ghanaians to CSM; the lives claimed in the June 3rd 2015 event; the Kintampo water falls disaster and the numerous needless accidents that waste precious lives and maim many others on a daily basis is just appalling and nauseating.
The increasing suicide and homicide cases in our communities is upsetting and just shows that we don't even Care.

CULTURE OF IMPUNITY
The era where we pamper these vigilante groups for their deeds and misdeeds is worrying.
The situation where we free wrong doers who are well connected and excessively punish those who commit similar or minor crimes is unfortunate and troubling.

THE SUBTLE SIGNALS
The way we vent our anger on alleged thieves (mob justice) in our society is a subtle sign of the lethal rage in people waiting to explode one day.
The general public's out cry demonstrated during the Marwako episode is a subtle sign of a deep seated anger in people.
The diplomatic campaign against the galamsey conundrum or enigma is a subtle sign of how livid people are.
And the low turn out in our general elections is a subtle sign of the low confidence people have in our political system.

ARE WE TAKING OURSELVES FOR GRANTED?

The tendency to take ourselves for granted in this country is disquieting.
Often times, we hear politicians downplaying public agitations or concerns of people and contending that the dust will soon settle.
Our being a peaceful people or nation, managing the 'smooth' transfer of power between the two major parties should not make us too complacent.
Perhaps me think the work of the Peace Campaigners should continue to foster fairness and unity in our development, instead of they going to sleep only for them to resurrect during an elections year.

LEST WE FORGET

Lest we forget the events that led to the 1948 riots in the Gold Coast.

Lest we forget the fate of the former President of Burkina Faso.

Lest we forget to take ourselves serious and address the issues that affect our collective interest.

Lest we forget to value the people who elected us.

Lest we forget to be the CARING PEOPLE we ought to be.

Lest we forget our history and the people we are.

Lest we forget to pray and act fairly towards each other.

May God bless our Homeland Ghana.

#IstillCare#

How Safe is our STC?

The front view of the bus from Abidjan

The need to move from one place to the other and to transport goods to and fro, has created the need for transport services for people, by roads linking towns and various destination and by water or air. 
However the desire of every traveller aboard any means of transport is to get to their destination safely, without compromising their safety, comfort and the basic things that could cost their lives. 
The once famous Ghana’s State Transport Corporation, which trumpets this ideal in its motto: "We Take You There Safely", has sadly lost favour with majority of travellers, including yours sincerely. 
It was my hope and the hope of two colleagues of mine to have a wonderful and a comfortable ride back to Accra, after a late night ride from Yamoussoukro to Abidjan. We least expected the experience we had on the journey. 
In order not to miss the bus we arrived at the bus terminal two hours before time, secured our tickets and paid for our luggage, which were duly weighed before it was even 8:00 am. The goods on the ground were packed inside the load compartment of the bus, which appeared not too healthy for the journey. 

Over loading
After boarding the bus at 9:10, the personnel loading the bus, reopened the luggage compartments to rearrange and pushed more luggage, compressing and mishandling people's luggage. 

The aisle of the bus blocked by goods 

The aisle blocked  with goods

As if that was not enough, the personnel brought on board more goods which they packed on the floor of the aisle of the bus between the seats and under the seats. They hurriedly packed the rice bags, with several cartons of oil, among a collection of other personal effects that obstructed movement of passengers on board the bus. In fact, the Personnel loading the goods on the bus even blocked the second door at the rare of the bus which serves as an alternative entrance making the bus look like a messy trap. 

In the process they even damaged some luggage of passengers. 

Officials  of the Intercity STC turned a deaf ear to several complaints made by the passengers, who aired their displeasure about the excess load packed on the space between the seats. What even angered the passengers most was the seemingly lack of interest by the drivers and the bus conductor to even offer an explanation or an apology on why the goods were packed in the bus.
Upon further complaints by passengers, one of the Personnel loading the goods, who begged the passengers to be calm even worsened his case, when he offered a flimsy excuse that the goods would be offloaded at Takoradi. By this time, the bus had already started the journey 30 munities late than the Departure time.
   
Faulty Bus
After several trials to spark the Yutong bus, it finally started with the aid of about five mechanics.  It is true God made man and man-made machines hence the bus could break down at any moment but this bus with registration number GN 1023-11 looked sick and does not qualify to ply a distance as long as Abidjan, Accra- Abidjan. The seats looked unkempt and discoloured with dark-grey dirt stains. 

The bus being pushed by some passengers at Sekondi

Simply put, the bus was just unhealthy and unfit to embark on the long journey, but the drivers and manager(s) at Abidjan STC terminal seem not bothered to even make arrangement for a much healthier one.
The engine of the bus ceased at Sekondi near the Sekondi Central Prisons, causing an evening traffic around the Ketan Roundabout in the Western Region. It was an interesting scene, where the men on board the bus helped pushed the tired bus to a safer side of the road. If it were some other transport company, a different bus would have been called to convey the stranded passengers to their destination but it was a different story. There was not a single bus on standby at the Takoradi bus terminal so we had to wait on mechanics from the Takoradi station as they struggled to get the state coach move again. The bus had to crawl from Sekondi to Accra, using more travelling time and causing unnecessary uneasiness among the passengers.  We were supposed to get to Accra latest by 8pm that fateful day but we got to Accra after midnight.

Respect for Passengers

Beyond a good name, respect for one's clients is what helps organisations maintain their reputation.  There was one STC driver I once encountered on one of my trips from Kumasi to Accra, who introduced himself and greeted the passengers on board the bus. After praying with the passengers, he informed us of where and where the bus would stop, and added that we should not hesitate to alert him if any of us had a challenge.

That was the kind of service one passenger on board the bus from Abidjan to Accra on that fateful Tuesday 16th August 2016 misses. She reminisced how the good old STC was in the 80s when she started traveling with Ghana’s finest transport service but stated emphatically that the STC service today is terrible.

It does not make business sense to travel with a transport organisation which inconveniences passengers and does not respect them. Once they have paid for the service of a transport service, the onus lies on the transport service provider to see to it that the passengers’ safety and comfort is secured at all time and not compromised. 

The instance where some passengers were left at the Côte d’Ivoire side of the border without waiting for every passenger to get on board was gross disrespect and a breach of the safety of the passengers. The case where the personnel loading the bus demand monies from passengers after they have paid for their luggage is not right and must cease.  

Customer Relations
Customer service is the end-all to any company’s success or failure. The customer is what provides the income that a company needs to thrive and determines whether or not a company can continue to stay in business. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that a high level of customer service always be something to strive for. Without continued excellence in customer service, a company’s success is over before it starts. It is expected that a company as huge as the STC would have a sense of customer feeling and if not to solve the problem on the spot, should be able to calm agitated customers down with a professional touch. The STC office at the Ghana side of the border at Elubo where complaints are to be lodged is opened and deserves some commendations. Be that as it may, as to whether the office is serving its purpose or not will be an issue to be contended by STC as a company and its customers. A gentleman greeted us warmly as we entered the office. We began by saying we had a complaint that we wanted him to know about. Before we could finish our narration, a simple complaint had become a debate. According to him, the bus was overloaded with goods. Yes. But the goods belonged to the passengers on-board. Assuming all the goods belonged to the passengers on-board as he suggested, does it make sense to overload a bus just because the goods belong to passengers? To an extent that the second door of the bus was completely blocked and in case of an emergency, passengers would have struggled to use a single exit instead of two. The possible outcome is needs not to be mentioned. What was expected of this gentleman was for him to come out of the office and walk with us to the venue where the car was parked to ascertain for himself the intensity of the concerns being raised and render apologies even if nothing was going to be done about it. He chose to sit in his office to argue with us. Not wanting any long debate we told him we came to lodge a complaint and not to debate and left his office.

Passengers deserve better 

It is a sad reality that the once renowned State Transport Corporation (STC), now the Intercity State Transport Company has lost the Accra-Kumasi-Accra route to the VIP Tours, a private company. It is worrying that the sanitation condition at the bus terminal is a nightmare and the aging buses continue to ply our routes, without regard to passengers’ safety.    
As a carrier having the Ghana flag embossed on the company logo, your passenger and clients deserves better treatment from you. Your company indeed should uplift the name of Ghana in Côte d’Ivoire, instead of undeserving them in this embarrassing manner.
In fact, it is not enough to claim you will take your passengers to their destination safely. Your attitude towards your clients must change for the better. Treat passengers well and exceed their expectation, so that they will always choose your service above others.