Buffer Zone Regulations development Underway

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

delivering the address.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Eliminate Barriers to Fish Passage’-WRC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adoagyiri Catholic Youth Choir Outdoors Album

*The Youth Choir 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*The Youth Choir performing at the Launch

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”.