Support mental health

Do more to support mental health

I  wish to call on the Government to fast track  the implementation  of the Mental Law to ensure that the right structures were in place for effective and efficient mental health delivery in the country.

Reports that Ghana’s mental health service delivery falls short of 97 per cent treatment gap is worrying. According to Dr. Akwasi Osei, the Chief Psychiatrist, 97 out of a100 mental patients, who require health care, do not get it.

It is unfortunate that mental health services in Ghana is mostly limited to three specialized psychiatric hospitals in Accra and Kumasi serving a small proportion of the population and with relatively less funding.

Another worrying situation is the challenge of staffing at these hospitals. It is appalling that there are only 12 practicing psychiatrists and 12, 700 psychiatric nurses serving over the 25 million people of this country.

I agree with Dr. Osei, when he called for the restructuring and overhauling of the mental health care system and implementation of mental health law to improve the situation.

I appealed to relatives of persons with mental illness to support them seek professional assistance, instead of sending them to spiritualist and prayer camps for solutions where they are molested, chained and beaten. 

Faith of our Fathers re-enacted

Faith of our Fathers re-enacted

Some Priests of the Accra Archdiocese recently re-enacted the ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ as part of the 120^th Anniversary of the Catholic Mission in Accra.

The play, held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka in Accra, was watched by hundreds of lay faithful and was the second after the first show at the Good Shepherd Parish in Tema, Community Two.

The drama, directed by Rev. Fr. Raymond Osei-Tutu, Parish Priest of Nima St. Kizito Church, was an adaptation of the script by Maurice Lyn of the Cape Coast Archdiocese, which recounts the resistance and suffering the missionaries and early converts faced in the Kingdom of Buganda now part of Uganda.

Fr. Osei-Tutu linked the death of the 23 Martyrs of Uganda, murdered in 1884 for their faith, to the ordination of the 23 Priests in the Archdiocese, and drew similarities of the experiences of the early Missionaries in Uganda and Ghana.

He noted that the Catholic Archdiocese in Accra has Martyrs of Uganda as one of her Patron Saints.       

Fr. Osei-Tutu, narrator of the play, acted the Character of the Missionary Priest in the play, who taught the people of Buganda the new faith and some songs.        

Rev. Fr. James Ahenkora of the Holy Family Church Mataheko, acted the impressive role of the unrepentant youth King Mwanga II, who demanded loyalty from the very subjects he sought to molest.

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Teresa Cudjoe, Assistant Priest of Taifa St. Dominic Rectorate, played the role Joseph Mukasa, an old Courtier and senior most member of the King’s Court.

Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kofi Hanson of St. Raphael the Archangel Church at Lashibi, acted out the controversial Prime Minister character, who orchestrated and masterminded the murdering of the early Christians.

The King’s darling young and wise Kizito, acted by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Salifu of the Kpehe St. Paul’s Church, exhibited confidence in the new faith he received, when he together with Charles Lwanga and the other companions defied King Mwanga’s order for them to renounce their new faith.

With the aid of a dreadful Royal Executioner, Mutakanga acted by Rev. Fr. Samuel K. Korkordi, Assistant Parish Priest of Christ the King, he dutifully effected the King’s order to torture and murder the new converts.

The cast included Rev. Fr. Francis Oteng-Bawuah of the Kotobabi St. Francis Xavier Church as the Fetish priest of Buganda; Fr. Gabriel Kojo Ettiene of Star of the Sea; Fr. Michael Melvin Mensah of Battor Church and Precious Nutsugah of Kaneshie St. Theresa's Parish, who acted roles of the two women in the play.

Others were Rev. Frs. Hilary Agbenosi of Kwashiman Prince of Peace Church; Januarius Akpabli; the newly ordained Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Duku for the Accra Archdiocese and Bro. Courage Dogbe, a Seminarian.   

The audiences who sat through the more than two-hour show, recaptured the faith, suffering, tribulation and challenges the early Missionaries and converts went through in living their faith.              

Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, commended the Priests for staging the show, adding that they made the Priesthood a lively vocation.   

Africa prepares to host future WYD

Africa prepares to host future WYD

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), is in the process of making a request to the Holy Father, Pope Francis to consider Africa to host the World Youth Day (WYD) in the near future.

Sir Benedict Assorow, Director of Communications of SECAM, who recently attended the WYD event in Rio de Janeiro with Rev. Fr. Joseph Komakoma, SECAM's Secretary General, told The Catholic Standard, in a recent interview, that the request for the continent to host it would possibly be in 2019 or thereafter.

He said although infrastructure and communications (logistics and transportation) remained a challenge in many African countries, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana were being considered as possible hosts.

He noted that even though the Secretariat was yet to put in the request for the Holy Father's consideration, many people were happy Africa was working towards hosting it.

To this end, ground works were underway to prepare the continent to host the event in future, as part of which a Pastoral Letter by Prelates of Africa has directed the organisation of the Regional and Continental WYD celebrations.

A section of the Youth from Benin at Rio  

Unlike Rio de Janeiro and other cities which hosted the event in the past with huge attendance, Sir Assorow suggested that because of the peculiar challenge of infrastructure and communications in Africa, a reasonable quota of delegates per country throughout the world should be allocated to help the continent host the event.

"Africa cannot afford to host two or three million young people but may be in position to host a million," he added.

Asked why SECAM participated in the event, the Director of Communications narrated that SECAM was invited to a meeting in Rome that was to prepare for  the Madrid 2011WYD and in Rio de Janeiro, where concerns for Africa host to WYD were raised.

He said a report was subsequently presented to SECAM Plenary Assembly which sanctioned Africa's bid to possibly host the event in 2019 to coincide with SECAM's 50th anniversary.

Sir Assorow sharing his experiences at Rio de Janeiro said the Catholic youth in Latin America were alive and very much involved in the growth of the Church, calling for more roles for Catholic youth in Africa.

Some participants of DR. Congo at the event

With much expectation on the Continent to host the WYD, SECAM's Director of Communications expressed the hope that Africa would rise up to the occasion.    

Concerns for Africa's bid was  raised again at the just ended 28th edition of the event in Rio de Janeiro, where expectations among Catholics for Africa to host a future World Youth Day (WYD) is high, especially after all the continents except Africa has hosted the event.

Rev. Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku, a participant at this year's event, reports that African youth at the event rejoiced when the Archdiocese of Krakow in Poland was named host of the 2016 WYD event, but expressed the desire that the time has come for Africa to host the world event.

“This would give a chance for millions of African Catholic youth to also experience and participate in one of the major Church events of our time” they said.

He reports that the issue which began as a lobby has gained some prominence on social media, adding that "although they differ on where it should be held, African youth are unanimous that after having hosted the World Cup, the continent should be seen as having the capacity to host the WYD."

He noted that Ghanaian, Mozambican, Zimbabwean and South African youth he interviewed were all in favour of an African World Youth Day.

By Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

     

Catholic Men’s Council

Catholic Men’s Council for Accra

The Accra Archdiocesan Catholic Men’s Council (AACM), was recently inaugurated at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka, Accra, with a call on men to actively partake in the evangelisation of the Church.

The new group, is an umbrella body for all Catholic Men Groups in the Archdiocese, tasked to co-ordinate their activities and intensify the evangelisation.   

It has Commander Joseph A. C. Combey (Rtd) as Chairman, with Mr. Lord Akita, Mamprobi Deanery; Mr. David Asetena-Krah, Kpehe Deanery; Mr. Philip Owusu-Ankomah, Kaneshie Deanery and Mr. Dominic Kpodovia, Osu Deanery as well as Kingsford Nii Otoo, Tema Battor Deanery, as Vice Chairmen.

Other Executives are Mr. Joseph Korang, Secretary, Mr. Edward Taylor, Assistant Secretary and Financial Secretary; Mr. Tony Wiredu, Treasurer and Mr. Kingsley Assensoh-Bediako, Public Relations Officer and Mr. Tobias Quist, Immediate Past Chairman;

Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, who performed the inauguration and induction of the Executives, entreated Catholic men to be salt and light of the world, urging them to arise, rejoice and renew the Church in Accra.

He said it was by divine will that their inauguration was taking place during the 120^th Anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Mission in Accra and in The Year of Faith.

The Archbishop explained that the aim of The Year of Faith pronounced by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was to challenge the faithful to let their lives shine and spread the good news to their families, communities and society at large.

To discharge this task successfully, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle urged members of the Council to read Pope Benedict’s Post Synodal Exhortation to Africa: Afriae Munus, to make Africa the true Spiritual Lung of Humanity.

He urged members to rally behind their leaders and support them to help the Council grow from strength to strength.

Cdr. Combey in a welcome address said the Council started two and half years ago at the behest of Sir Samuel Kofi Asubonteng, Executive Secretary of the National Catholic Laity Council, whom he commended.

Sir Asubonteng in a remark, urged members to also read the new Encyclical by Pope Francis, charging them to be prayerful, united and work together to promote the Council.    

A representative of the Accra Archdiocesan Catholic Women Council (CWC), Mrs. Rita Ainooson, President of the Kaneshie St. Theresa CWC, congratulated the Men’s Council in a goodwill message.

Christian Fathers Association; Catholic Men Association; Catholic Men’s Confraternity; The Brotherhood Society and Men of Galeli sent representatives to the ceremony.

National Development Plan

'National Development Plan'

·        A panacea for Ghana's growth says Nubuasah

A Ghanaian Prelate has proposed the enactment of a holistic long term and binding national development plan for the country and depart from the era where governments used political party manifestoes to govern the country.

The call was made by Most Rev. Frank Nubuasah, SVD, Bishop of Francistown Vicariate in Botswana in an interview with the Catholic Standard in Accra, when he recently visited Ghana.

He stressed the need for a five year or 10 year cycle of national development plan which should elicit the views of all segments of the Ghanaian of society, be nationalistic in character and capture the nation’s aspirations and visions.

He underscored the essence for a National Development Plan that would guide the attainment of set goals of the country and which should be followed through by all elected governments, for continuity and progressive development of the Ghana.  

He stated that to ensure holistic development the country we should strive to run transparent by reducing corruption, accountable and address the poor maintenance culture.

Sharing Botswana’s experience, he said there was need for Ghana to institute measures that would improve responsible and accountable governance to not only win the trust of their citizens but the donor agencies as well.  

Bishop Nubuasah expressed concern about the poor maintenance culture in Ghana and most African countries, describing the phenomenon “as a systemic weakness that must be tackled with all seriousness”.

“For instance in most schools there are broken chairs parked and left to rot. Why can’t the school mobilise support from the Parent Teacher Association to fix those Chairs to enhance education? He queried.

“There was something we are certainly not doing right,” he stated and added that “if the country did the right things we would all benefit from its growth and development.”

The Bishop, sharing his views on the Supreme Court ruling of August 29, commended Ghanaians for conducting themselves peacefully during the election and Supreme Court verdict and expressed delight, but cautioned Ghanaians “not to look down on the judges” who gave the verdict, but respect them since they were neutral and referees in settling electoral dispute.

He said entreated adherersof religion particularly Christian and Muslims to continuously pray for peace to prevail in the country.

Said the Bishop: “peace is God’s gift to man, which is different from what the world gives.” He added that the peace in the country was the fruit of the prayers Ghanaians offered.

He urged citizens to live in peace with themselves, their families and the environment through conservation.  

The Bishop said by resorting to the Supreme Court,Ghana has shown that people could live peacefully even though they disagree and have their differences, noting that it was a healthy sign democracy the country’s was growing.

He cited the smooth transition of power from a sitting government to the opposition as a plus for the country, noting that the Supreme Court ruling has Ghana boosted the democratic credential of the country, which was a good example for other Africa countries to learn from.

He pleaded: We have only one Ghana so let’s work to engender greater national cohesion and peace in the country.