The Friendly Octopus

Many doors of discomfort

Many doors of infighting

Many doors of struggling

The liberation banner is on

The battle is on.

But the friendly octopus

Tightens its grips

With firm tentacles

On the dusty treasures

It suffocates its prey

The helpless prey is whimpering

 Falling and yet worshiping this deadly traps

Yet the octopus like a spider

Spins intricate webs for this weak poor prey.

With infested wounds the prey

Yells for uncomfortable partnership

From this friendly octopus of yesteryear

Hmmm! This prey must rethink of rebirth

It must rejuvenate and revive the liberation breeze

For a happy destiny.

The prey must betray its betrayers

And renew its eternal baptism

For its eminent salvation.

KYB signs

17/1/14

@ Gbawe Bulemin, Accra 

   

Preserve your sights

Preserve your sights-Ghanaians urged

A call has gone to Ghanaians to take good care of their eyes to preserve their sights and help in early detection and treatment of eye diseases.

Dr.Oscar Debrah, of the Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service, entreated Ghanaians to go for regular eye checks ones a year or ones in two years, adding that though Glaucoma cannot be prevented early detection could help manage the situation.

He made the appeal at the 10^th Anniversary Celebration of the Rübsam Eye Clinic at the St. Dominic Hospital at Akwatia in the Koforidua Diocese, on the theme: Sight; Is A Gift to Preserve.

Dr.Dabrah who commended the Clinic for its feet, charged it to embark upon outreach programmes to screen and sensitise the public on eye, adding that 80 per cent of blindness was preventable.

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua Diocese and Chairman for the occasion underscored the need for people to protect their sights because the eyes are important organs of the human beings.  

He commended the Dominican Sisters of Speyer; the German Rotary Voluntary Doctors, the management and Staff of the Clinic for their efforts and achievement over the years.

Dr. Mercy Dawson, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital and head of the Eye Clinic in an overview said the Clinic was established as a result of over 25 per cent of clients at the Out Patient Department (OPD) presented eye problems.

She said through the efforts of the Dominican Sisters of Speyer, the Rotarians of Germany including Prof.Schuette, Prof.Sprandel, with Mr. and Mrs. Erhard Ruebsam offering financial support to construct the Eye Clinic, which was commissioned on August 16, 2003 by Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, then Bishop of Koforidua Diocese.

Since its inception, Dr. Dawson noted the Hospital recorded 172, 522 OPD attendance of which 21,760 reporting for Glaucoma; 17,938, Refractive Error; 16,055 Cataract; 9,965 spectacles dispensed and 106,804 accounting for other conditions.

She said 221 outreach programmes were undertaken during which 23,151 patients were screened but noted that lack of diagnostic tools and well-equipped outreach van were hampering their outreach programmes.

In a welcome address, Mr. Daniel Augustine Bempong, said the celebration was the outcome of the collaboration among the stakeholders including their benefactors, the management and staff, and government working together to create the enabling environment for health delivery.

He said the need for optometric and ophthalmic services would increase since Ghana’s population was ageing with their attendant visual challenges.

He said the nation could do better by fulfilling its obligation to help treat the illness associated with the eyes, in order to give hope to those afflicted and help children from losing their sights.

Mr. Baba Jamal, Member of Parliament for Akwatia, thanked the Catholic Church for its role in healthcare delivery and thanked the Dominican Sisters of Speyer for their tremendous efforts at health delivery at the hospital, as well as the Hospital for establishing the Eye Clinic.

He said plans were advance to establish a Medical School at Akwatia to train more medical professional in the country. 

Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli, President of the Accra Rotary Club described the collaboration between the hospital and the Rotary Club as a fruitful one that will be further strengthen.

She commended the Hospital and the staff for the good work and they were doing and said the partnership will continue to grow.

The Chiefs and Elders of Akwatia and Boadua in congratulated the Hospital for the service to humanity and thanked the Dominican Sisters for the role in raising the hospital to its enviable status.

There were solidarity message from the German Rotary Club, who annually send Volunteer Doctors to the Eye Clinic, the Dominican Sisters in Speyer, the National Catholic Health Service.

A fund raising activity to purchase a new buss for the Eye Clinic’s outreach activity yielded 11, 000.

As part of the ceremony a bouquet and a plaque were each presented to Mr. and Mrs.Ruebsam, the Dominican Sisters, the German Rotary Club and the German Embassy in Ghana for the various contribution to establishment and running of the Clinic.

The pioneer staff of the Eye Clinic including Dr. Dawson were also honoured at the function graced by dignitaries comprising representative of the German Ambassador to Ghana, Minister for Health, Civil Authority, Clergy, Religious, Friends and well-wishers.

Earlier Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum, assisted by Most Rev. Gabriel EdoeKumordji, Bishop of Donkorkrom Vicariate blessed a fully equipped Ambulance the Dominican Sisters of Speyer Donated to the Hospital.   

*Mr. and Mrs.Ruebsam receiving the bouquet,

*Dignitaries and staff at the function

*BishopsAfrifah-Agyekum and Kumordji blessing the new Ambulance.

From KwesiYirenkyiBoateng

Pen of Truth

Pen of Truth Competition launched

The Pen of Truth Awards, a Ghanaian educational television reality show for young aspiring graduates and graduates to compete for chances to reform their society with their innovative ideas was launched on Monday March 3 in Accra.

According to Mr. KwadwoBoateng, Operations Manager of Cheetah Communications Ltd, organisers of the Awards programme, the competition would offer a platform for critical analyses of Ghana’s economy from an intellectual perspective and equip the participants with entrepreneurial and employable skills.

He said the initiative which started two years ago was aimed at engaging and empowering undergraduates and graduates in ventures that would translate their knowledge into practical and productive enterprise, as well as them become solution-driven persons and entrepreneurs.

Though the competition is targeting Business and Commerce, and Art and Culture as the two thematic areas for now, organisers say others areas will be introduce including Health and Medicine, Law and Media, Food and Agriculture among others would be introduce in subsequent years.

Mr. Michael Amoah, member of the Cheetah Communications explained that the Competition was in four stages, the first which last for six weeks is dubbed the Research Task and entails writing and submission of research essays.

The second stage (Knowledge Ball stage), includes the selection of 40 participants who would undergo employment and entrepreneur Clinic, and the third stage (Board Room stage) comprises the selection of the final 20 participants to meet the board to defend their research essay.

The final stage is the Awards stage where the best winning essays are chosen and awarded at a banquet.

Mr. Amoah noted that the Awards which is opened to all undergraduates pursuing certificate, Diploma, HND and First Degree programmes as well as Diplomates and Graduates who left school in the last five years.

He said interested Applicants could download the Pen of Truth application form from: www.cheetahcommunications.gh.com and obtain a competition code at GH c 20. From any UT Bank.   

Mr. KwekuRockson, Former Acting Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, who chaired the function the programme was a unique one since it was geared towards addressing a the youth unemployment situation and empower young entrepreneurs in the country.

Launching the Awards, he said the competition was going to be a thorough one and advised organisers to get the message to all tertiary schools in the country, and be meticulous in empanelling judges.

He also advised them to look for sponsorship to sustain the programme.

Mrs. Margaret Tekyi Micah, Chief Executive Officer of Next Ideas, partners of the awards programme, urged Ghanaians not to despise small beginnings but support one another improve and develop their dreams into full potentials.

She said instead complaining about the state of thing the youth should start working on their dreams, adding that “whatever dream you have focus on it”.   

  

Stop selling knowledge

Stop selling knowledge to children- Teachers told

Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra Archdiocese, has called on teachers to device innovative ways to impart knowledge to students.

He decried instances where “some teachers have resorted to selling their wisdom and knowledge at high costs and, sometimes  even collect double monies for work not done or not properly done” at extra classes, and urged teachers to rather help the students entrusted to their care rise by finding time to impart knowledge them.

The Archbishop said these in an address during the 15^th Anniversary and fifth Speech and Prize Giving Day of the Our Lady of Mercy Senior High School at Tema.

It was on the theme: Quality Education, The Role of the Church and Government.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle who queried how teachers output could be assessed in cases where students or pupil flops in examination, called a mechanism to heighten the sense of moral responsibility in teachers and parents in the task of bringing up their children and wards properly and seriously.

He highlighted the essence of obedience and discipline in quality education delivery, and said the ultimate aim of education was to enable the person become a useful citizen, one ready to serve his or her society to the best of their ability.

He said the only way to make this country a haven was to inculcate the indispensable virtue in the pupils and students in our schools, urging teachers to discipline the students to help them become self-discipline and self-control in society.

The Archbishop who centered his address on obedience, growth in stature, wisdom and in favour with God as well as growth in service to humanity, noted it was the duty of every teacher and parent to make sure that children grow in the fear of the Lord, favour of their fellow human beings and in the love for their neighbors.

He exhorted the students, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and guardians, and all stake-holders in the enterprise of Catholic Education, to read and abide by read the Gospel of St. Luke Chapter 2:41-52 and advised students to be studious, make good use of the internet facility in their studies and have enough rest.

He said Catholic Church was in the education enterprise because Jesus Christ mandated her to do so, adding that the delivery of quality education was to help form individuals identify to respond to their God given vocations as well as make children grow with a deep sense to serve humanity.

The Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr. Kwesi Hutchful noted the importance of the Church state partnership in the provision of quality education in the country and urged teachers in the various units seeking transfers to follow due process.

He said whether the schools were established by the mission or state, there was a critical for stakeholders to perform their roles to sustain the schools.

Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, said government cannot provide quality education alone, but noted that they would continue to collaborate with the mission provide it.

He advised parents and teachers not to relent in instilling discipline in their children to become good citizens in future.

In an address, Mr. Clemence Yao Baba, the Headmaster of the School, said the school which started with 15 students and 11 teachers, was established in 1999 by the Our Lady of Mercy Parish at Tema Community One.

In 2001, the school with motto FEDES-SACTITAS-SANCTITIA (Faith, Holiness and Knowledge) was absorbed into the public system aims to be the best rated school in Tema Metropolis by 2015.

He said with 52 teaching and 20 non-teaching staff, the school recorded improved academic results and success in other disciplines, but added that lack of science laboratory equipment, encroachment of the school land were some of the challenges the school faced.

Mr. Baba appealed to organisations and individuals to come to the School’s aid and to expand the wash rooms, buy a car to assist movement of the school.

He thanked the government for supporting the school over the years, governors and stakeholders of the school as well as the Priests and his predecessors.

Benefactors of the School, including Sir P.V. Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission were awarded with citation, alongside long serving staff and students who excelled academically.

Earlier, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle with some dignitaries inspected a guard of honour mounted by the School’s Naval Cadet Corps. 

Other programmes organised as part of the 15^th Anniversary included a float through some streets of Tema, talk on Sanitation and Hygiene; Science and Maths Quiz Competition and cleanup exercise.  

*Archbishop Palmer-Buckle with some dignitaries inspecting the guard of honour

(inset) the dignitaries at the function. 

Our heroes, our pride

With cautious steps they warmed their ways into our bosom memories. They touched, infected and affected many hearts and tasted our passionate reverence as they walked our dusty paths. They kissed the roughness in our gentility and endured our pleasant recklessness when their unpalatable words or actions or indifferent principles scratches or disturbed the order. Yet they never relented in the pursuance of their dreams, visions and aspirations.

They may not necessarily be the saintly characters of religion but are like that next door neighbour whose tenacity to duty, passion for excellence has brought honour to our society.

I cannot stop listening to their inspiring thoughts or even think of erasing their memories from my mind. Some were very close associates and friends of the friends but I admired them not because they were sinless supper humans but because they understood their calling and activated their enthusiasm in pursuance of those ideals.

I cannot name them all, because the list is endless. Some of them are interred in our subconscious mind and are part of our living memories. But a lot more are out there walking and breathing a dignified silence of their maturity and perhaps nursing future torchbearers.

The mere mention of their names adds a distinction of stateliness to the presence of a people, especially when special courtesies are accorded to their fellow countrymen because of the esteem in the names of those heroes and heroines.

We may know some, but it’s not enough to just know them. We must not just honour them but celebrate them while they live, and not wait to pay glowing tribute to their memories when they join our ancestors in the hereafter.

The demise of Prof. Kofi Awonoor, one of Ghana's finest and erudite Poet, a Nationalist who evoked the Pan-Africanist Spirit in his thoughts and works, died tragically in Kenya when terrorists of the al-shaabab sects in Somalia marred the beauty of The Founder's Day on Saturday September 21. It's a sad day indeed to loss such an academic gem and a nationalist of our time.

The torrent of messages that poured in after his death are enough to pacify the dreadful death to reinstate his soul in his mortal frame, if there should be a chance. But it goes to confirm the fact he and perhaps others gone before him were illustrious sons and daughters worthy of celebration.       

It is not enough to name them after national monuments, institute memorial lectures in their name or declare a national holiday in their honour, rather we should strive to learn the lessons they sought to live or preach when they lived. And resolve to better and improve our lots and engender the common good.

Let every town name, honour and celebrate the deeds of their illustrious daughters and sons for, what use is it to celebrate them after they’ve silently left the scene? It is important to celebrate them today and tomorrow. 

May their lives and stories inspire us to be diligent in our strive for national unity, progress and the enhancement of the lives of every Ghanaian.

God bless us all.

My Words of gratitude

My words ofgratitude

For the unmerited love, affection and graces

over these years,  I thank you Yahweh.

For your mercies and forgiving heart,

accept my humble praise and gratitude Lord.

For the lives of my parents, relatives, friends and friends,

friendly enemies and well-wishers , I am most appreciative.

Thank you all for accepting me into your fold and  treating me as one of your own.

I am eternally grateful to you Mother, Father, friends and friends, friendly enemies and well -wishers for tolerating my troubles, complaints, clumsiness, naughtiness, mistakes, surprises and imperfections.   

For the moments you offered me warmth and a reason to keep moving;

The moments you believed me and encouraged me to continue the pursuit;

The instances you inspired hope in me to keep trying, I am indebted.

I can't mention or list all your names but be assured that I will never  forget you, since I treasure you in my heart.

To those of you who have preceded to your maker, know that I'll always cherish your memories.

And it is my prayer the good Lord keep you in His warm bosom till we meet again.   

As human I make mistakes, I fail and err in my attempt to be me but I thank you for  condemning my action and not my human person. You've given me a chance to learn.

For the countless moments I have wronged, hurt, offended, disappointed and displeased you  in my interactions, action and inactions or in my quest to be me, or the times I couldn't return your love in equal measure, do find a place in your hearts to forgive me.

As I climb up the age ladder, I'll need you the more because you all have a part to play in my life.

So never stop being that friend, that pal, that buddy, that  comrade, that companion, that associate or  that person to keep that vital link or anchor the network for life through your continuous association with me. And please remember me in your prayers.

Thanks for the best wishes.

Morja me enu hwe