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

Tempting Testament

In the testament of time,

Tempting tides tickle,

The templates of our temperament.

In the testimony of a term,

Typical tricks touches,

The tails of our trips.

In the text of these terminals, 

Tactical trust in these trends,

Tells the truth in our tempo.

In the transition of these tasks,

The thrillers in our tendencies,

Taste the treats in the traits.

In the tournaments of these thoughts,

Treaties of truce in turns and twirls,

Tames the threat of triggering the Trinity,

To terminate the transmission of traditional trophies.

In tracing the tracks of this third thread in town,

Let's beware of the tasty and tempting trials,

That could truncate access to our treasures,

After all our troubles here. 

Best wishes to you.

Stay blessed.

Greetings 

©KYB ✍🏿1/03/20

‘Free Education is not Free’

The Free Senior High School policy introduced by the Government to make secondary education in Ghana absolutely free, is not free after all, since there are additional financial contributions parents are expected to make to ensure quality education for their wards, Rev. Msgr. Alex Bobby Benson, has said.

Msgr. Bobby Benson, Director of Matthew 25 at Koforidua, lamented about the precarious situation of our education, and called on stakeholders to look at ways to address the bottlenecks in the system and safeguard quality education delivery in the country.

He made these observations in a homily at Madina, during the induction ceremony of 75 new members of the Accra Archdiocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society (SSVP).

Speaking on the theme: The Spiritual Growth of the Vincentian in the Economic and Political World of Today, he challenged members of the Society to support and bring hope to the needy in our society.

He said our current political and economic situation calls for the need for Christians, especially members of the Society to reach out to the poor in the areas helping in paying the fees of needy students and feeding the poor.

“What can we do in our little way to support the needy children go to school or the aged? he asked.

Msgr. Bobby Benson urged the SSVP members not to be deterred by the challenges of the time but to endeavour to reach out to others, while trusting the Lord in serving the needy.

“Don’t let the challenges kill your desire to help” he stressed, urging the members to make time, and use their talents, knowledge and resources to support.

He challenged members of the society to go back to their parishes and ask the parishioners to support, urging them to for instance organised the aged in their vicinity and fete them once a year.

 Mr. Emmanuel Tornyeagah, Archdiocesan President of the Society, who congratulated the new members and sustain the momentum you bring and continue to reach out to others.

He announced that the initiation of new members into the Society would from next year be done at the Parish level, and charged the various deaneries to get training Officers to continue training members of the society.

Concelebrating Priests at the Mass included Rev. Fr. Michael Ofori, Archdiocesan Spiritual Director of the Society, who inducted the new members.

Sr. Apedzi, Mr. Mensah honoured

The National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) has awarded Rev. Sr. Comfort Michelle Apedzi, OLA, Administrator of the St. Elizabeth Hospital, Hwidiem in the Catholic Diocese of Goaso for her dedication and meritorious service to the healthcare delivery system in the country.

In a citation, her sterling leadership skills, commitment, and contribution to the formation of the NCHS, as well were acknowledged.

Sr. Apedzi’s long dedicated service spanning over 28 years, serving in different roles at the St. Joseph Hospital, Nkwanta; and St. John of God Hospital, Duayaw Nkwanta, as well as the St. Elizabeth Hospital where is currently serving as the Administrator.

Similarly, Mr. Robert Mensah, Senior Transport Officer at the Directorate of Health, Accra was also awarded for his long dedicated service for over 29 years.

A citation also recognises his patience, humility, versatility and reliability beyond driving, and mentioned his preparedness to go the extra mile to lend support to some staff of the directorates.

By Kwesi Yirenkyi Boatong     

Our Lady of Grace wins Guardian of Life Award

The Our Lady of Grace Hospital at Breman Asikuma in the Cape Coast Archdiocese, won the maiden Guardian of Life Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement with their ‘Paulina Bottle’ innovation targeted at reducing Perinatal Mortality.

The award, the highest for individuals and institutions within the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), was conferred on the hospital at the just ended 17^th Annual Conference of the NCHS held at Takoradi, Western Region.

To address the increasing trend of the perinatal mortalities at the hospital, the facility adopted the Quality Improvement (QI) approach by co-opting major stakeholders including doctors, nurses as well as other health personnel and the community members to tackle the challenge.

The project was aimed at reducing the perinatal death rate of 31.1 per 1000 live births to 23.8 at the hospital, which served as the major referral facility for Ajumako District Hospital, Brakwa Health Centre, Odoben Health Centre and Jambra CHPS.

With appropriate tools, the QI team including Madam Paulina Esuman, Nurse Manager of the Hospital, Dr. Benedict Owusu Boateng, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist and Dr. Francis Bentil, General Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, identified the root causes of the challenge and subsequently introduced high level change ideas to track the changes in the system.

The facility also introduced the change idea of improving the referral system by giving prompt feedback on WhatsApp platform, as well as through training of staff at the Our Lady of Grace Hospital and midwives at Ajumako in Standard Operating Guidelines and Emergency Obstetrics Care among others.

The innovation nicknamed the ‘Paulina Bottle’ where unlettered pregnant women in the area were encouraged to appreciate the fetal kicks taught at regular antenatal clinics, by counting the peddles in the bottle each time they experienced a fetal kick.

After the introduction of the ‘Paulina Bottle’ intervention, the mid-year data of still births at the Hospital decreased by 53.5%, that is from 43 in 2018 to 20 in 2019.    

The Guardian of Life Award was instituted by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, to recognise deserving recipients who have shown exceptional innovation with significant impact on saving lives.

Value of Catholic Professionals

The Metropolitan Archbishops of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, has urged Priests to recognise the value, talents and resources of the laity especially Catholic Professionals and work with them to build the Church.

He challenged Catholic Professionals to avail their expertise to the Church and join hands to build the Church in the Archdiocese of Accra and in Ghana as a whole.

The Archbishop made the call during an interaction session with members of the Catholic Professional Guild (CPG), at the Holy Spirit Cathedral Parish Hall, Adabraka, Accra.

Archbishop Kwofie, who declared his preparedness to work closely with the CPG to build the Church, commended his predecessor, Archbishop Chares Palmer-Buckle for starting the process of identifying the professionals within the Church.

He said this move was in fulfilment of the African Synod which enjoins the Bishops of Africa to set up structures for the formation of the laity, who would effectively contribute to the leadership and development of the Church and country.

Instead of blaming and lashing out at the Church for some failures in the Church, the Archbishop urged the professionals not to sit on the fence but to think about what they can do to improve upon the situation and support the process of building.

“Beyond identifying and criticizing the problems facing the Church, what can you do as professionals to help find solutions to build the Church?” the Archbishop asked.

He tasked members of the CPG to be missionaries wherever they found themselves and to let their lives reflect the Gospel values, and urged Catholic Teachers to stand up to support the mission of the Church in education.

Some CPG members also suggested the need for the Church to go into partnership with Catholics to establish schools to project the Catholic faith and her identity.

Concerns on the dwindling Catholic student population in Catholic schools was raised, with some members of the CPG calling on Catholics parents and their wards to choose Catholic schools. Besides, some argued that efforts and strategies should be made to ensure that Catholic values and faith are maintained in Catholic Second Circle Schools.  

The Archbishop also mentioned the efforts the Church was making in partnership with other Churches to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government which was yet to be signed after several years.

On prudent management of finances within the Church, some CPG members suggested the development of a standard accounting procedure to ensure transparency in the finances of the Church.

The Archbishop noting the importance of financial management, said “accountability and transparency are virtues we owe to ourselves and our families”, and stressed the need for Priests, leaders of societies and everyone to be accountable.

Mr. Edward Ayem, Convener of CPG thanked the Archbishop for making time to meet the group and urged members to actively support efforts to build the Church.

Strengthen Youth Entrepreneurship

The National Catholic Youth Organisation (C.Y.O) has appealed to the Ghana Government to make the policy on youth in agriculture and other entrepreneurship programmes attractive for the existing youth structures to easily access.

The organisation which bemoaned the frustration the youth are going through to access these opportunities under government initiatives urged the state to put in place the necessary structures which will encourage the youth to go into entrepreneurship.

The appeal was contained in a resolution issued at the end of the 57^th National Management Council Meeting of the organisation, held at the Notre Dame Minor Seminary at Tankuna, Navrongo last month.

Government was also entreated to enact policies to ensure ready market for agricultural produce to boost the morale and motivate the farmers and the youth who want to go into agro production.

On youth formation in the Church, the organisation urged the Catholic Church to be more concern and involved in youth formation at all level of the Church and ensure that whatever is taught to the youth is in conformity with the church’s teachings.

To this end, the resolution signed by Snr. Crusader George Nigo Fulguu, National Chairman of C.Y.O, also entreated the Church to involve the youth in decision-making that affect them, and also empower the youth with the necessary skills and resources to embark on the Church’s mission of Evangelisation.

The C.Y.O also appealed to the Church for the appointment of a National Chaplain for the organisation to facilitate its work in the youth apostolate.

Over 85 delegates including Chaplains, National and Diocesan Officers of the CYO from all the Arch/Dioceses, except those from Donkorkrom Vicariate, attended the 6-days Meeting.

They deliberated on the theme: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to your word” (Lk.1:38) and resolved to avail themselves to God, and take instructions from authority at all levels.

The stated their commitment to work towards developing potentials of members and to build the capacity of their leaders through leadership formations.

Beyond encouraging the positive use of social media to promote the new Evangelisation among the youth, the leaders also assist the Church as an army of youth in addressing the security threats the church is facing currently.

Increase support for Mental Health

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), has entreated the Government to increase its support for mental health services as significant number of Ghanaians are beginning to suffer from this condition.

The Government was urged to make available psychotropic medicines so that the several mental health units created at the various districts are equipped to serve mental health clients in the country.

The appeals were contained in a communiqué issued CHAG at the end of its 52^nd Annual Conference Held in Tamale from 21^st – 22^nd August 2019, on the theme: Ghana’s Journey Towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): The Role of CHAG.

CHAG which pledged to reduce maternal and child mortalities amidst the limited resources also urged Government to support emergency services to ensure that the envisaged package of health services on the UHC agenda are delivered to Ghanaians.

The Communiqué signed by Mr. Peter Kwame Yeboah, Executive Director for CHAG, pledged the commitment of the network to work with HEFRA and the new Quality Management Unit at MOH, as it seeks to introduce a network-wide Quality Safe Care programme for CHAG institutions.

To this end the CHAG entreated Government not to renege on its support to quality related units such as HEFRA and the new Quality Management Unit at MOH, adding that the work of these institutions coupled with those initiated at the facility level will ensure that Ghanaians have access to quality of services.

CHAG also affirmed its commitment to pursue strategies to ensure that Ghanaians access quality, equitable and affordable health care without posing any financial risk to them.

The communiqué also assured CHAG’s readiness to ensure the delivery of quality and affordable health care, to all especially the unserved, underserved, and poorly served in the country.

The network also pledged to work with stakeholders and partners to ensure quality improvement systems, efficient supply chain, responsive human capital and solid health financing strategy among others, as well as embrace innovative approaches to health delivery especially in the area of data protection, data storage and data usage to help improve health outcomes and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

CHAG which applauded Government for its support over the years to the network implored the Government to guard the National Health Insurance to make it efficient by reducing moral hazards, reducing fraud and using technology that enhances claims management.

The network also urged the Government to separate the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) funds from the consolidated funds to ensure that health providers are paid timely in order to have all logistics, medicines and essential supplies to provide the needed health services to all Ghanaians.

CHAG is the second largest provider of health services, continuing Christ’s Healing Ministry, with over 344 institutions in the remotest places of Ghana. The network call on all to ensure Universal Health Coverage becomes a reality in Ghana. 

‘Prioritise Retooling of NHIS’-Gov’t urged

Dignitaries at the Conference

To ensure equity in health care coverage, and safeguard access to healthcare services as well as financial risk protection against the cost of quality healthcare, Government has been entreated to prioritise the retooling of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), recently said that “in its present state, the NHIS needs to be strengthened to enable it to respond to the needs and demands of patients, public and service providers”.

The Archbishop made the appeal at the 52^nd Annual Conference of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in Tamale recently, under the theme: Ghana’s Journey towards Universal Health Coverage: The Role of CHAG. 

By strengthening the NHIS, the Archbishop argued that it will enable the National Health Authority to fulfill its legitimate obligations to Service Providers on time, in terms of prompt reimbursements and payment of economic tariff structure, which would serve as an enabler and co-driver to the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Ghana.

The Archbishop said “the UHC journey is only possible when dedicated health professionals imbibe the missionary spirit to serve needy populations in unreached segments of the society,” and urged Service Providers to ensure efficient service provision that champions the Culture of Health and promote a supportive environment.

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister for Health, said in spite of Ghana health system having infrastructure, primary health care, and financial protection, we still have “massive problematic inefficiencies” in the health system that needs to be addressed.

To this end, he said the Ministry of Health is in the process of outdooring a road map to improve health care delivery and the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage by 2030, and invited CHAG to also make inputs into the roadmap.

He said plans were afoot to put in checks and also clean the system of inefficiency in the NHIS so that it offers the best to the public.

Similarly, Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby, CEO of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in a keynote address stated that UHC is a global phenomenon and Ghana is making a bid to be the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve UHC especially with its domestic resources.

She observed that the NHIA and the Ministry of Finance have done an extensive reconciliation and were paying outstanding claims to the health facilities up to December 2018.

Dr. Dsane-Selby further noted that her outfit has also started clearing the arrears from January 2019 and possibly to March 2019, adding that payments would be regular from there in a bid to catch up. “We hope that this will curtail the phenomenon of co-payments which has crept in defeating the purpose of NHIS and Universal Health Coverage” she stressed.

Presenting his report, Mr. Peter K. Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG, the network has “with barely 7.5 % of health infrastructure in Ghana, in 2018, contributed 32.1% of national in-patient care/admissions and 22.0% of national OPD services”.

Peter K. Yeboah

To ensure Quality Improvement Initiatives, he noted that CHAG would scale up the WHO Quality of Care Patient Safety Initiative in CHAG facilities and support PharmAccess and other partners to embark on comprehensive quality improvement programme for the entire network. 

He said in its bid to offer the urban poor and needy access to healthcare, some Churches have been establishing healthcare facilities in needy urban environments, adding that the intent is not to duplicate but fill gaps and overlaps in access to quality service provision and to complement government journey towards UHC.

The Executive Director, noting the need for CHAG to reposition itself as a reliable partner in the movement towards making UHC a reality in Ghana by 2030, called on member facilities to work together with a refocused passion that reflects the needs of our clients, and a renewed presence and visual identity to lead the national and international stage, backed by a rejuvenated purpose to “inspire our clients, our staff and the community to push for more”.

EVAG assists Centre of Hope

The Event Vendors Association of Ghana (EVAG), has presented assorted items to the Centre of Hope at Abossey Okai, Accra, to support the Centre serves the needs of its beneficiaries.

The donation, the first the by association was part of activities commemorating the first anniversary of EVAG, which was under the theme: Touching Lives with Every Step.

Mrs. Kate Hassan, President of the Association, who also donated a cheque for GH ¢3,000, said the gesture was to assist the Centre meet the needs of the marginalised in society.

Sr. Paulina Ollo, FMM, who received the donation on behalf of the Administrator of the Centre, thanked the Association for their kind gesture.

She briefed the gathering on the day-to-day activities of the Centre and the number of beneficiaries it takes care of and noted that inadequate funding was a challenge.

Mrs. Theresa Ntiamoah-Marfo, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of the Centre, also touched on the initiative of the late Archbishop Dominic K. Andoh of Accra, who established the Centre to attend to the urban poor, including orphans, persons with disability, and cured lepers as well as those with HIV/AIDS and the marginalised in society.

She commended EVAG for their kindness and appealed to philanthropists and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the Centre.

Members of the Association interacted with beneficiaries and entertained them with good music, while some of the beneficiaries of the Centre staged some performances, including poetry recitals at the programme.

As an association for event vendors, organisers, and management, which was launched in August, 2018, Mrs. Hassan said it aims at bringing all those in the event organising and management industry together, to collaborate and help members to build a better industry.

Mrs. Hassan noted that the association also promotes and encourages the highest level of ethics within the industry, while maintaining the highest standard of professional conduct, and improve the standards through forum, seminars for players to give of their best.

Mr. Ato Kwamena Attuquayefio, Vice President of the Association noted that with over 70 members, the group is committed to maintaining excellence in the industry and to provide standardized service to their clients. 

The Association prior to the donation  had a walk through some principal streets of Accra. 

* Mrs. Hassan presenting the cheque to Sr. Paulina, while some Board Members of the Centre and Members of the Association looked on.

'Let Your Faith Shine'

Rev. Mgr. Francis Abuah Quansah, Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese has charged Catholic women to internalise the values of compassion and mercy in their hearts and shine as a light in their families and in society.

Msgr. Abuah Quansah who compared the ideal Catholic woman to the Good Samaritan, urged women to be compassionate towards their neighbours as well as show respect and dignity to all.

The Apostolic Delegate made these remarks in a homily at a thanksgiving Mass to climax the 8^th Biennial Congress of the St. Theresa of the Child of Jesus Society of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese at the St. Matthew Parish, Tarkwa. 

As women of character and women who matter in our society, the Apostolic Delegate reminded women them of the mission Jesus Christ entrusted to them to be the salt and light of the world.

Concelebrants at the well-attended Mass included Rev. Fr. Clement Kwasi Adjei, Director of the Directorate of Good Governance, Justice and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Nii Noi Dowunor, Parish Priest of St. Matthew Church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Atta-Mensah, Diocesan Spiritual Director of the Society and Rev. Fr. Micheal Blay Morkeh, Tarkwa Denary Spiritual Director of the Society. 

Very Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Annan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, speaking on theme of the Congress: The Ideal Catholic Woman as the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World in the 21^st Century, entreated women to emulate the virtues of St. Theresa and let their faith shine in their conduct and character.

He urged Christians especially women to excel in their good works and never get tired of doing little things for others, adding that Christianity is a practice that must be seen in our lives and not only in the Church.

The Vicar General said as ideal Catholic women, they have a role to protect their families and ensure the sanctity of the marriage as well as preserve human life at all stages.

Fr. Annan, observed that the greatest challenge of Christians today is the temptation to go with the crowd and the tendency to lose their values and self-worth with the current challenges confronting our society but stated that the ideal Catholic woman should not conform to the world but transformed by the enlightenment of the Word of God.

Noting that life was a challenge, the Vicar General urged Catholic woman to be the flavour of life and endeavour to bring some modicum of joy that enhances the quality of people, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized in the society.

He said the ideal catholic woman is a special one who goes to Mass and involves herself in all the churches activities, preserve and protects her family as well as preserves the environment from degradation.

Over 900 delegates from 59 branches of the society in the Diocese participated in the 4-day Congress, held at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.

Dignitaries including traditional authorities with their retinue, Priests and the Religious, as well as Government officers and well-wishers,  graced the opening of the Congress.

Tεtrεtε Okuamoah Sekyim II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, who commended the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their efforts, urged them to continue striving to be the ideal Catholic women.

He said the need for the ideal Catholic woman to be the salt and light in the world was a wakeup call to all Christians to rethink their actions and attitudes.

The Omanhene who asked Christians to be firm in their faith stressed the need for them to practicalise their faith and emulate the virtues of St. Theresa.

Similarly, Mr. Albert Kennedy Asmah, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly in a remark commended the Catholic Church and members of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their commitment to development, assured the public that the Tarkwa and Ahwetiaso road under construction would be completed by close of the year.

He appealed to women to support the Government’s effort to develop the area, noting that seedling would soon be supplied to farmers in the area under the planting for food and job programme.