Allow Missions to select qualified heads

Government has been urged to allow Bishops and other Heads of Missions to choose qualified practicing members of the faith to head their schools in the country to ensure efficient and effective management of these institutions.

The Association of Catholic Heads of Higher Institutions (ACHHI), made the appeal at the end of its 38^th Annual National Conference at the Pope John’s Minor Seminary and Senior High School at Koforidua last month.

In a seven-point communique, the Association encouraged heads of Schools to intensify the teaching and learning of Religious and Moral Education in their schools, which as a prerequisite in ensuring the holistic formation of the students.

The Communique also called on Catholic heads of schools to acquaint themselves more on Government’s educational policies, as well as the objective of Catholic education in the country. This is envisaged to equip them with adequate knowledge needed to lead the young people entrusted to their care.

Similarly, the heads advocated for the clear definition of the General and Regional Managers of Unit Schools roles and their offices, calling for the offices to be well-resourced to enable the officers function effectively.

The Communique signed by Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas Kwame Apetorgbor, President of ACHHI and Rector of St. Cyprian Minor Seminary SHS, Sawla, reechoed the need for all stakeholders to actively play their roles towards a more effective management and administration of the schools.

Members at the Conference, themed: Effective Management and Administration of Catholic Schools: The Role of Stakeholders, were optimistic that the partnership between the State and the Missions which the Government has always supported, would be strengthened for the benefit of students, parents and the country as a whole.

“Since Catholic spirituality makes preferential option for the poor, we welcome the Free Senior High School Policy.” While encouraging dialogue and constructive criticism to get the best out of the policy, they expressed hope that the programme would be of “utmost benefit to the poor and needy in society”.

Youth Link celebrates Komla Blege

Youth Link Ghana a non for profit Christian Organisation with interest in helping the holistic education of Children to maximise their full potentials, recently honoured Mr. Walter Komla Blege, a seasoned Art Composer, Author, Educationist, Historian and Politician.

Presenting a citation to the octogenarian, Mr. Kakra Opoku Agyakwa, Executive Secretary of Youth Link, extolled the Musician’s contribution to the growth of music in the country and stressed the need to celebrate these men while they lived.

The citation lauded Mr Blege “for using music to convince the world that your identity lies in the expression of indigenous African music”.

Beside the citation, Youth Link selected one of his compositions -Enno Ninyo, to wit Let it be good, as the theme song for this year’s edition of the Voice Battle held at the Ghana Police Church at 37, Accra.

While thanking organisers of the programme for the honour, Mr. Blege, in his all white attired, urged composers to project Ghanaian values and unique identity of the country in their compositions.

At 86, he still shares the conviction that music is his desire – a desire that convinces him that the answer to the question of his identity lies in the expression of indigenous African music.

Mr. Blege who is deeply influenced by the traditional genre of music, including gabada, gavu, gbolo and borborbor, is the first Ghanaian to have written a two-hour opera on the advent of Christianity in Africa by Europeans, using the example of the Bremen Missionary in Peki.

With hundreds of composition to his credit, the Art Composer is also recognised for his significant role in the indigenisation of the Ewe Music for Christian liturgy in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

He is the author of the book entitled: Teaching for Development, which won the 1988 edition of the Ghana Book Award.  Until recently, Mr. Blege was the President of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC), Ho.

His Excellency Charles B. Josob, Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana, commended Youth Link for celebrating Mr. Blege, who he urged the young to emulate.

Madam Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, eulogised Mr. Blege, urged stakeholders to harness the power of music in nation building.

G.A.E.C School Wins Voice Battle

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Basic School in Accra put up a spirited show to unseat defending champions Mount Zion Methodist School to win the 5^th edition of the Voice Battle concert.

The Choir in their colourful traditional kente with white top and a head gear to match, showed that they meant business during the contest at the Ghana Police Interdenominational Church at 37, Accra.

They stole the show by their composure, stage craft and warmed their way into the hearts of patrons by the way they moved with the rhythms of the song.

The winners displayed creativity, confidence and dynamism in the way the performed the songs on stage, which even got the composer of the compulsory song Mr. Komla Blege nodding.

The programme organised by the Youth Link Ghana, in partnership with the Mount Zion Methodist School, winners of the 4^th edition of the show, brought together Pupils from Valley View University Basic School, Oyibi, who emerged third.

Other participating schools included the Our Lady of Holy Cross, Kasoa, Unique Child School, Teshie, Alpha Beta School, Dansoman and May Flower International School.

Also in attendance were the Englebert School, British International School, and the Living Star School.

Similarly, Pupils of the Ghana Pearl School, founded by Mr. Blege also staged a performance at the function.

At the programme some patrons and teachers who prepared the pupils for the competition were presented with certificates for their efforts.  

Accra to turn waste into wealth

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra has expressed it readiness to partner Caritas Ghana and other stakeholders to turn tones of electronic wastes into wealth and help preserve the earth.

Shot of old discarded TV sets culled from the net.

Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, who decried the threat electronic and plastic waste posed to the country, voiced the enthusiasm of the Archdiocese to see to the fruition of the soon-to-commence Caritas E-Waste Project in the Archdiocese.

The Archbishop made these remarks after a recent Senate meeting at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, where Officials of Caritas Ghana, the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) and City Waste, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) briefed the meeting about the need for the project to save and preserve the earth.

The Caritas E-Waste ‘Care for our Common Home’ project, launched in October 2017, was a response to calls by Pope Francis in his second encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ and the GCBC for immediate action to address electronic waste and ultimately help preserve earth.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle observed that “as human beings we have been destroying our environment through improper disposal of our waste to our own detriment,” adding that by purchasing the latest technological devices, people inadvertently create so much waste (e-waste)”.

E-waste dump culled from Alamy stock photo

Through the project, the Archbishop noted that e-waste would be properly disposed of in ways that were environmentally friendly and safe, which would help preserve the earth and avert the destruction and further pollution of the environment.

Aside preserving the environment, he noted that the project would also create gainful employment for the youth who would be engaged when the project rolls out.

To this end, the Archbishop mentioned that the Accra Archdiocesan Youth Council and the parishes would be involved to help conscientise and mobilise the youth to take advantage of the opportunities the project would avail them.

According to Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary, Department of Human Development/Caritas Ghana at the National Catholic Secretariat, Caritas Ghana and City Waste were ready to partner the Archdiocese of Accra in piloting the E-Waste Project.

With huge tones of e-waste generated in Accra, the Executive Secretary, explained that after the successful piloting in the national capital, the project would be scaled up and extended to other Arch/Dioceses in the country.

Mrs. Vivian Atiayibor, Managing Directress of City Waste, stated that her company has a state of the arts facility to enable the implementation of the project, as well as follow safety standard rules to ensure that the project was succussful.

Touching on the legal frameworks in the control and management of electronic waste, Mr. Lambert Faabeluon, Director of the Standards, Compliance and Enforcement Division at the EPA, commended Caritas Ghana for the value it was bringing in formalising the e-waste collection in the country.

Critical Thoughts

Take a critical look at the happenings around you.

There’s a top down disease nibbling our core values away.

It's like a big man or Centre periphery thing that is embedded in our structure.

This subtly stifle innovation at the nascent state and suffocate creativity at the grassroots.

That's our system. That's the frustrating system we run.

It's just sickening and unproductive.

This system has also successfully turned our active people into a too tolerant passive people.

We need an eminent change.

We need a mental revolution.

We need an attitudinal change.

We need a mental reawakening to topple our too quiet docile nature.

We need to say enough to the excessive official statements of vertical truths.

We need to extinguish the greed in our creed and celebrate creativity and innovative ways of doing things.

We need to whip action into our talks and stop celebrating these official nonsense and incorrectness in our political damnation.

Tell you what, this style of democracy we are practicing is not the answer to our progress.

Perhaps what we need is A RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE SYSTEM.

A Governance system which will empower us to be true to ourselves and live as we ought to.

It is still a journey we must relive in this age our existentiality.

KYB

Caritas Ghana kick starts E-waste project

The Caritas Ghana, the Charity wing of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), has held a roundtable meeting with partners to prepare the grounds for the implementation of the E-Waste project.

The Caritas E-Waste ‘Care for our Common Home’ project, launched in October 2017, was in response to calls by Pope Francis in his second encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ and GCBC for immediate action to address electronic waste and ultimately help preserve earth.

Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary, Department of Human Development/ Caritas Ghana, explained the purpose of the meeting, to get to know the companies expressing interest to partner in the E-Waste project and agree on the next step towards a possible cooperation.

He also presented the concept note of the project to the partners, and invited them to submit proposals of interest, which will possibly lead to bilateral dialogue on building synergies on areas of value addition, as well as the contracting phase of the project.

The companies present at the meeting included, City Waste, Closing the Loop and Atlantic Phones, took turns to explain their work in relation to electronic waste management and expressed interest in partnering with Caritas on the project.   

Each of the company representative clarified the nuances and risk involved in the collection of e-waste products, especially phones, laptops, the processes and procedures involved in removing the various parts and export of other components.

The Participants at the meeting

Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), who welcomed the partners to the meeting, noted that the Project was inspired by the Pope Francis’ encyclical: Laudato Si with particular reference to the content of paragraph 21 (LS21).

The Church, he explained would continue dialoguing, with various stakeholders including the Government, Corporate organisation, among others to explore the best way of working together to address the e-waste menace in the country.

He also donated copies of the Laudato Si to the representatives of the companies and encouraged them to read in order to support efforts to save our common home

Expedite action on Education Partnership

Dignitaries with delegates 

Government has been advised to commit more resources to the running of schools in the country and expedite action on the partnership Agreement in education between the Church and the State.

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, who expressed disquiet about delays in implementing the partnership agreement, asked the Government to stop paying lips service to the partnership and implement the agreement to ensure the delivery of quality education.

The Bishop, made these remarks at the just ended 38^th Annual Conference of the Association of Catholic Heads of Higher Institutions (ACHHI) held at the Pope John’s Senior High School and Minor Seminary, Koforidua.

The Local Ordinary who chaired the opening, commended members of ACHHI for their tireless efforts in training students, and called on stakeholders to work together to rid politics of education.

Mr. Eric Kwakye Darfour, Eastern Regional Minister, who drew a direct link with education and progress in every human endeavours, commended the Catholic Church for her role in the provision and sustaining the high standards in education.

He appealed to the Church to working together with the state to ensure mutual cooperation in meeting the needs and aspirations of the state and Church in their investment in education.

Very Rev. Fr. John Kobina Louis, of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (CIBT), Accra, in an address on the theme: Effective Management and Administration of Catholic Schools: The Roles of the Stakeholders, urged all parties to work together to ensure attainment of Church’s goals in education. 

He noted that although several governments have praised the Catholic Church for her contribution towards education in Ghana, most of their policies does not promote the achievement of the Church’s educational goals.

Fr. Louis expressed hope that the Government will make good their promise to handover the management of mission schools to their respective owners, with financial support for the running of the schools.

In his address, Very Rev. Nicholas Kwame Apetorgbor, National President of ACHHI, said the Church’s venture in education was for the integral development of the human person, which the Church was committed to.

He entreated administrators of Catholic Schools to be proactive in injecting Catholic values of discipline, respect for all and hard work in the students they were training.

He called on stakeholders to be proactive in taking over the administration of mission school in the interest of the nation and the young people, who he said were yearning for quality holistic education that prepares them for the world.

Fr. Apetorgbor who also heads the St. Cyprian Senior High School at Sawla in the Damongo Diocese, urged the administrator of Catholic Schools to encourage their students to critically think about innovative ways of tackling social issues in the country.

“The educational environment and processes in our schools should be fine-tuned to appreciate and reflect more on self-discipline, personal conduct and social responsibility, as well as promote spiritual, social and moral values,” he added.

As part of the week-long Conference, the Heads had a retreat at Nkurakan, and deliberated on pertinent issues concerning the entrenchment of Catholic values in their respective schools, as well as the development and progress of ACHHI.

PIAC honours Zan Akologo

Mr. Zan Akologo receiving the award from Ms. Aniwa

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), has honoured Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development/Caritas Ghana at the National Catholic Secretariat, for his distinguished service to the people of Ghana.

Presenting a citation on behalf of Mr. Joseph Winful, Chairman of PIAC, Marilyn Aniwa, Coordinator of PIAC, commended Mr. Akologo for his worthy contributions and dedication to the course of PIAC over the past three-years.

The citation extolled Mr. Akologo’s efforts as Chairman of the Sub-Committee for developing PIAC’s Communication Strategy, which improved visibility and PIAC’s good relations with the public.

The Executive Secretary, who represented the Christian Group on the Committee, expressed appreciation to the members for a fruitful working relation, fostered over the past three years to enhance PIAC’s work in the country.

PIAC is an independent statutory body, established under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) and mandated to promote a transparency and accountability in the management of petroleum revenues in Ghana.

It is constituted by professional groups including Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana Academy of Arts and Science, Think Tanks and Pressure Groups including Trade Union Congress and Traditional/ Religious Groups.

As part of its work, PIAC publishes an Annual Report on the management of petroleum revenues in the country.

Don’t discriminate against the sick

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Kofidua has urged Catholic health providers to sustain quality care provision to every patient and respect their dignity, adding that the Church’s health facilities were not-for-profit, but meant to serve the health needs of all.

The Bishop reiterated Pope Francis’ call for healthcare providers to continue serving the sick with renewed energy, at the joint Arch/Diocesan launch of the World Day of the Sick for the Accra Archdiocese, Koforidua Diocese and the Donkorkrom Vicariate at the Holy Family Nursing Training School, Nkawkaw.

He urged health professionals to serve all fairly and not discriminate against any health seeker, stressing that everyone was a child of God and needed to be accorded the greatest care.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum, who also visited and prayed for kids at the Children’s Ward at the Holy Family Hospital, re-echoed the fact that the health profession was a vocation and a call to serve, saying, those solely seeking monetary gains were in the wrong profession.

Nana Effah Opinamang III, Obominghene, who chaired the function, commended the Church for instituting the World Day of the Sick, entreating her to sustain the event to promote efforts at bringing relief to the sick.

He entreated health practitioners to cultivate favourable relationships with their patients, show them compassion and sensitise them to live responsibly and tidy their environment to promote health.

The Chief also appealed to the Government to continue the good projects started by the previous governments in order to help the rural poor access affordable health care in their localities.

Mr. Victus Kwaku Kpesese, Executive Secretary, Koforidua Diocesan Health Service, noted that the recognition of staff at the annual function was to motivate hardworking staff and thank the awardees for their efforts in helping save lives. 

 

He also entreated managers of the various health facilities to up their effort in making their recommendation for the awards in time.

   

Dr. Isaac Adu-Poku Antwi, Medical Director of the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw, said the World Day of the Sick offers an opportunity for the healthcare providers to reflect on the sick and those suffering.

He called on health practitioners to be wary of medico legal issues that could land them in legal tangos, huge fines, imploring caregivers to be circumspect in the care they give.

Similarly, Ms Celestine Asante, Kwahu West Municipal Directress for Health, who commended the Catholic Church’s effort in health delivery, tasked health workers to go the extra mile in extending care to the sick.

Likewise, Rev. Fr. Richmond Sintim, Chaplain of the St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua, urged care givers to respect the dignity of their patient and focus on giving them the best of care at all times.

At the function, some staff of the Emergency Unit of the Holy Family Hospital staged a sketch on how a lady trapped in a galamsey pit was resuscitated by the staff, after the ambulance brought her. The cast at the end, added their voice to calls to end galamsey in the country.    

The Bishop and Dignitaries with the awardee

Mr. Donatus Duncan Adaletey, Executive Secretary for Health in the Accra Archdiocese read a citation in honour of Mrs. Catherine Agbotame Hdzor, who was adjudged the Best Worker, Senior Category, in the Archdiocese for her long dedicated service.

An elated Mrs. Hadzor who couldn’t hide her delight, danced to the melodious tunes rendered by the Therapeutic Voices of the Holy Family Hospital.

She thanked God for the honour and expressed gratitude to management and staff of the Battor Catholic Hospital.

40-acres for Nkawkaw Nurses’ School

A Section of the College

The Holy Family Nurses’ Training College at Nkawkaw in the Koforidua Diocese has received a major boost to expand its facilities to train more Nurses to provide care to sick in the country.

This was as a result of Nana Effah Opinamang III, Obominghene’s recent donation of 40 plots of land for the relocation and expansion of the School’s facilities, near the Nkawkaw by-pass of the Accra-Kumasi highway.

Madam Pomah

Madam Olivia Pomah, Principal of the School, who expressed delight and appreciation to the Chief and people for the gift, noted that plans were afoot to develop the parcel of land.

She conveyed her gratitude during the recent World Day of the Sick held at the School’s premises and called on stakeholders to support the expansion project of the school.

She envisaged that the fruition of project, will enable the College to admit more students, desiring to acquire skills in modern nursing practice.

The Principal advised qualified applicants who to desire to receive training at the College to buy Ministry of Health Scratch Card at the Agriculture Development Bank or at the Ghana Commercial Bank and apply online.

She stated that selection of qualified candidates in to the College was based on merits, adding that successful candidates with the right good grades, who passed a pre-interview exam and an interview will be admitted.

To Catholic facilities willing to sponsor and assist candidates at the College, she advised them to do so after the candidate have gone through the process and secured admission into the College first.  

She noted that to ensure excellent academic records of student, the College has introduced measures to enhance teaching and learning so that the students are not just the best in academics but well formed to take the challenges and demands of the nursing profession.

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua in a remark also thanked Nana Effah Opinamang for his generosity and pledged that the land would be put to judicious use.

The Chief who chaired the function, commended the Church for her role in the healthcare delivering in the country, appealing to the Government to commit more resources to sustained provision of healthcare and other essential amenities for the wellbeing of the people.

The College, a quasi-private one established in 1974, by the Catholic Church, has over the years trained thousands who are in active service in many health facilities within and beyond the borders of Ghana.

Currently the college runs Diploma in Registered General Nursing, in affiliation with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, which is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the National Accreditation Board.

Hundreds mourn Fr. John Oppong

Hundreds of mourners including Prelates, Priests, Religious, relatives, faithful, and well-wishers from all walks of lives attended the funeral Mass for the late Rev. Bro. Fr. John Kwadwo Oppong, O.H., at the St. George Cathedral in Koforidua.

Among the mourners was a grief-stricken Maame Minta, mother of the deceased, with family members of Bro. Oppong, as well as the confreres of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God.   

Fr. Oppong, OH, 62, until his death was the First Councilor, as well as the Superior Director of the St. John of God Hospital at Sefwi Asafo and also a Management Advisory Board Chairman for the Order of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God Centres in Ghana.

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, was the main celebrant at the Mass, concelebrated by Most Revs. Joseph Francis K. Essien, and Peter K. Atuahene, Bishops of Wiawso, and Goaso, respectively.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum in a remark expressed sadness at the death of Fr. Oppong and consoled the family and the St. John of God Brothers of the Hospitaller Order, reassuring them to take solace in the Lord Jesus Christ who will resurrect him.

Prelates and Priests praying for the deceased

He said death was inevitable, adding that ones we are born, we begin to die, but urged Christians to take consolation in the Gospel of our salvation.  

In a homily, Rev. Fr. Anthony Asare, Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Tema Community 8, the classmate of the deceased, recounted the gentleness, piety and spirituality of the late brother.

He extolled his goodness, love and friendliness, urging the mourners and the faithful to water the virtues he lived and emulate whatever good thing they remember of the deceased.

Tributes by the Confreres of the late Bro. Oppong; the National Catholic Health Service, Accra; the St. Joseph Hospital, Effiduase-Koforidua and the St. John of God Hospital, Sefwi Asafo, celebrated his love, selflessness, calm disposition.

The late Bro. Oppong was born, baptized and confirmed at the St. Mary’s Parish, Tepa in the Goaso Diocese. He made his simple profession on 24^th June 1985 in Rome and made his solemn profession in Koforidua on 3^rd November, 1991. He was also ordained a Priest at Koforidua on 31^st July, 1995.

Some Brothers  conveying the coffin of Fr. Oppong

He was nominated in August 1995 as Scholastic Master at Afagnan and First Counselor by then Africa General Delegation. He was appointed local Superior of Tanguita, Benin on 22^nd January 1996. He had also served as Scholastic Master in Nairobi, Kenya and appointed Superior and Director of St. John of God Hospital Tigania Community, Kenya.

Described as a good manager, a great listener and unifier, the late Fr. Oppong will forever be remembered for being a man of “great discretion and great attention” who brought a “ray of sunshine” to all he encountered.