Mental Maps

On the marks of life's hill, we mount our mental antenna.
On the mile of many thoughts, we map the moments of men.
In the morning of evenings, and in the evening of mornings,
We ask a lot of questions of why things happen to us,
And it's my prayer you are comforted and strengthen in these times. Remain blessed.
Greetings from me to YOU.
©KYB ✍🏿02/03/2023

Strengthening eyecare in healthcare at Dzelukope

A person’s ability to see is more important to many. Perhaps that is why people often prize their vision to all other senses. Indeed, one study even went further to explain why some people consider losing their eyesight to be the worst health ailment that could befall them. Interestingly, what makes the situation even more alarming is the staggering statistics that more than 2 billion people globally face vision impairment. Of the number, experts say almost half of the cases could have been prevented with early detection and care. Although the idea of sight loss can be scary, the prompt diagnosis by an eye specialist can and in many cases, help preserve vision. Eyecare Dzelukope Although there are several eyecare centres concentrated in the cities, Eyecare services at Dzelukope has made the town popular to many. Today, Dzelukope is synonymous to eyecare because of a missionary’s effort to preserve the sight of people. Upon his arrival in Ghana in 1960, Rev. Fr. Joseph Cramers, SMA, a missionary from Holland working at Anfoega, Liati, Kete-Krachi, Jasikan, Vakpo and Denu, had observed challenges some people he encountered had with their sights. His interest to do something about the situation increased when he was newly posted as the Parish Priest of Dzelukope, St Peter Claver Catholic Church, in 1970, replacing Rev. Fr. William De-Roy of Scotland. Fr. Cramers with additional responsibility as the local manager of Catholic Schools in the area, saw the difficulty some teachers had in writing their lesson notes as a result poor vision. The situation worried him and he thought of helping improve the visions of the teachers so they could effectively teach and help prepare the students for life. Consequently, when visiting Holland in 1978, he brought fixed reading spectacles with him to Ghana, which he issued to the teachers and other workers in the area who had poor vision. This effort, led to the establishment of the New Look Optical Works in May 1979, and he went further to recruit some youth for training in order to handle the optical works. Extension of Eyecare Services Since its inception, Fr. Cramers and his team by dint of hard work took care of the sight of the people within the Keta enclave and beyond. Due to the special care they gave to their patrons at Dzelukope and through routine outreaches, word soon spread to the other parts of the region of the effective eyecare services the New Look Optical Works was offering. Driven by the desire to serve the people who overwhelmingly subscribed to the care at Dzelukope, Fr Cramers in 1984, barely five (5) years after starting the main office at Dzelukope, opened the first branch at Yendi and another one at Nsawam in 1985. Other branches were opened at Takoradi, Half-Assini, Saboba, Jasikan, Aflao, and Ho among others. Operating under the guidelines of National Catholic Health Service, now National Catholic Health Trust, as well as under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and sharing the compound with the St Peter Claver Catholic Church, evoked the compassion and dedication with which staff attended to health seekers. Transition of Eyecare With its speciality in eye care, the facility has over the years rendered services in eye screening, refraction and dispensing of drugs and spectacles. And through the walls of Dzelukope’s New Look Optical Works, thousands have regained their sights and many who feared going blind had their fears assuage after being attended to by specialist from Dzelukope. Indeed, after 50 years of his missionary work in Ghana, 31 of which was directly invested in eyecare, and having attended to hundreds of thousands of patients from different parts of the country and neighbouring countries, Fr. Cramers left the shores of Ghana in 2010, due to ill-health. Prior to leaving, Fr Cramers handed over the New Look Optical Facility to then Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Kwami Adanuty in 2010. Fr. Cramers however passed-on on 31st December 2012, two years after leaving the shores of Ghana. At a memorial Mass held in his honour, in April 2013, at Dzelukope, Emeritus Bishop Adanuty decreed that the name New Look Optical Works be changed to Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre. Indeed, it was to honour the man who made Dzelukope a household name for quality eyecare. Elevation of facility The announcement by Very Rev. Fr. Lt. Col. Winfred Delali Kodzo Sraha (Rtd), Keta-Akatsi Diocesan Administrator of Health of the elevation of the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre, Dzelukope to the status of a Clinic did not come as a surprise to many patrons at this year’s World Day of the Sick held at Dzelukope. This is partly because of the hard work of the staff, which Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Buishop of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and the Diocesan Administrator commended the staff of the Centre for keeping the dreams of the founder the late Rev. Fr. Joseph Cramers, SMA alive. They both urged staff not to relent in their oars but to keep up the good work to sustain the gains made. New Project and Appeal To further enhance improved services of the facility to the public, Mr Daniel Gemegah, Acting Director of the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre and Clinic, stated that a two (2) storey building us under construction to give clinic a bigger space to attend to more patients. The construction which is about 80 per cent completed, according to the Acting Director was the joint effort of the staff and the Diocesan Health Directorate. Noting that the construction was funded by internally generated funds since 2017, Mr Gemegah appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians, and donors to support the early completion of the project. Indeed, since eyecare is crucial in healthcare, it is essential to support and strengthen the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre and Clinic to be Bigger and better Eyecare facility in serving Ghanaians in rural setting. By Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

Never Take God's Love for Granted

Christians have been advised to renew their faith in God during this Lenten season, by appreciating God’s tender love and mercy shown towards humanity. Rev. Fr. Solomon Yayra Xeflide of the St. James Catholic Church, Osu RE, in the Archdiocese of Accra, who led the 2023 Lenten Retreat for members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, University of Ghana, Legon, reiterated the need to draw closer to the love of God. Speaking on the theme: ‘His Boundless Love Reaches Out To All Men’ at the SVD Home for Aged Religious at McCarthy Hill, Fr. Xeflide extolled God’s attribute of love to humanity, but warned against the tendency to take this love for granted. The Retreat Master who noted that the stories in the Bible reflects God’s love for humanity, stressed that Christ’s sacrificing his life in order to redeem humanity, was the greatest example of love every Christian should treasure. Fr. Xeflide stated that the love of God was always present, and charge Christians to endeavour speaking God’s language of love, by identifying the divine love through constant prayers and seeking deeper personal intimacy with Him. As part of the retreat, members of the society participated in the Stations of the Cross; Sacrament Reconciliation, and Adoration of the Holy Eucharist, which was climaxed with a Holy Mass. The Society also made a donation of assorted items to the retired Religious. Prof. Onike Rodrigues, President of the Society, who thanked the Priest, Choristers and members for participating at the Retreat, expressed the hope that the exercise would go a long way to strengthen the spirituality of members. In attendance was the St. James Youth Choir, which sang the Mass and accompanied the group in the retreat programme with melodious hymns. With a focus of providing personal service to the poor and less privileged in our society, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, founded in 1833 by Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam, is an international voluntary charity organisation in the Catholic Church. Over the years, the society strives to meet the needs of the needy and vulnerable in our society.

Make the Time

Time is a priceless gift of measure.
TIME and energy are two unique gifts we need.
But since every day is a journey of time,
There are times we become too routine to appreciate the true value of TIME.
Sometimes it's okay we could be hard-pressed for time,
We could even be on time or behind on time.
But in between morning, afternoon, and evening times
Between the jolly-silent times of a lifetime are the end times.
And while being mindful of these hard times, we have to make time to connect the essential dots of life.
While making judicious use of these times, it's vital to appreciate every moment, because there is NO TIME.
And whether we have divine timing (God's Time), World Time, African Time, or the Greenwich Mean Time, or if you like the Ghana Man Time, we technically don't have time to waste.

Kindly make the time to:

  1. Connect with people (loved ones, the vulnerable, and those who need your attention)

  2. Communicate (Pray to God, Listen to your partners) 

  3. Care (Reflect, Rethink, and Reach out).
In the meantime please let us make time to intentionally live, learn, relearn, relive, and rethink every action we take.
Greetings from me to you.
©KYB ✍🏿 23-02-23

We Cannot be Indifferent to plight of Sick

With the prevailing economic conditions and the challenges caregivers go through to cater for the sick, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, reiterated the need for health workers and caregivers not to neglect the sick and the aged suffering from several ailment. He decried instances where sick people were abandoned, unattended to and often die out of hunger. “We cannot be indifferent to the suffering of the sick” he stressed, and challenged health workers and caregivers to take greater care of the sick and assist them in the journey to their recovery. The Bishop made these remarks during Keta-Akatsi Diocesan celebration of the 31st World Day of the Sick (WDS) at the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre, Dzelukope, near Keta in the Volta Region, under the theme: “Take care of Him” Compassion As a Synodal Exercise of Healing. He reminded the faithful and health workers about their responsibility to care for the sick and those discharged from the hospital, adding that lack of maximum care which make people lonely, causes their death. The Bishop urged Ghanaians, especially Christians to make time to visit the sick or even knock on the door of the sick or convalescent patient to regularly check on them and ask of their well-being, noting that these little acts could go a long way to facilitate their recovery and ultimate healing. Likewise, the Chief of Dzelukope, Torgbui Gatsiko IV commended the Catholic Church for instituting the World Day of the Sick, and stressed the need to love and care for the sick. Stating that “since we are all susceptible to sickness” it was only proper to take greater care of sick people in our midst, show compassion to them and walk with them to recover. In a remark, Hon. Emmauel Gemegah, Keta Municipal Chief Executive who also acknowledged the Catholic Church for its numerous contributions in education and healthcare delivery, urged the Church, which first piloted the mutual health insurance scheme in the 90s, which the State adopted to start the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to reinstitute the scheme for the Church to augment government’s effort. He added that the Church with its sterling leadership could even start a Bank to offer efficient banking experience just like it has done in the areas of education and healthcare provision. As part of the celebration, Very Rev. Fr. Lt. Col. Winfred Delali Kodzo Sraha (Rtd), Keta-Akatsi Diocesan Administrator of Health praised the health workers in all the six health facilities in the Diocese for their hard work and urged them to continue giving of their best to sustain the healing ministry. He also announced the elevation of the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre, Dzelukope to the status of a Clinic and expressed appreciation to all staff who kept the dream of the founder the late Rev. Fr. Joseph Cramers SMA, alive. Re-echoing the Pope Francis’ message for the day, Fr. Sraha noted that the WDS is an invitation for stakeholders to reflect on the life of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:35) and engage with the vulnerable lovingly. The World Day of the Sick instituted in 1992 by Saint Pope John Paul II, aims at celebrating the sacrifices and amazing work done by Catholic healthcare organisations in the face of poverty, inequality, and pandemic.

Gratitude Notes VI

Making a good night memory requires a reflection on our experiences in the day and the special moments shared.
Whether pleasant or unpleasant, we have to be thankful for the rich moments we lived in this day.
Wishing you soothing rest.
Be Blessed abundantly
Good Night 😴
©KYB✍🏿09/11/22

St. Vincent reaches out to Lepers in Ghana

Stirred by the desire to reach out and support the less privileged in society, the National Board and leadership of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) to visited and interacted with the cured Lepers at the Weija Leprosarium in Accra. Buoyed by the mission of the society and the zeal of their Spiritual Director, Very Rev. Fr. Andrews Campbell, SVD, the SSVP leadership, accordioning to Mr Vincent J. Ahulu, National President of the Society took the initiative to reach out to the cured Lepers. He reiterated the need to extend care to the needy by using the commitment of society to continue prioritising care for the vulnerable. At a Holy Mass that heralded the visit, the leadership could help but join the members to sing to animate the celebration, which was presided over by Rev. Fr. Abraham Kwasi Dzibitor, SVD, the Provincial Secretary of the Ghana-Liberia Province of the Divine Word Missionaries. Stressing the importance of gratitude in one’s life, Fr Dzibitor in a homily, observed that “gratitude isan attitude we should embrace in our lives”. “If someone does something for you, however simple it may be, we have to show gratitude” he stated, emphasising that gratitude comes from the depths of ones hearts. Stating further that gratitude goes beyond saying thank you, the Homilist urged the beneficiaries to constantly remember their benefactors in their prayers. As part of the visit, the SSVP leadership presented assorted items including a lunch pack, provisions for breakfast, soft drinks and toiletries as well as made GH¢ 5,000 cash to the cured Lepers. Likewise, Mr John Ampao, Prefect of the Leprosarium, thanked the Society for the gesture and prayed that the success of the group and its members. Among the leadership of the SSVP at the programme, were Lt. Gen. Augustine Blay, National Vice President of the Society and Mr Gabriel Asempa Antwi- National T

reasurer of the group.

An Evening Wink

An evening windy sunset winked again at our walk with Wednesday.
Time and again, we hear we are running out of time, even when we seem to be racing with it and not enjoying enough of its romance.

But what's the time again, please?
What's clocking the hour, please?
What moment is it, please?
How much time do we have?

Well, since we can not tell how much time we all still have,
Perhaps we should reflect on our lives and be measured and mindful of what we ought to do with the gift of life.

I just remembered You.
And this is to wish you the best of the evening.
Have a blessed evening.🌺
Greetings 😉 😉 
©KYB ✍🏿24/08/22

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