The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has donated assorted items to the Lepers Aid Committee (LAC) to support Leprosaria in Ho and the group of cured lepers in and around Wa as part of the mobile industry’s effort to support the National fight against the corona virus disease.
LAC is a non-governmental organization chaired by Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, S.V.D has for over three decades championed the plight of cured lepers in Ghana. The intervention of LAC has led to the creation of leprosy units at Weija in the Greater Accra Region, Ho in the Volta Region and Nkanchina in the Northern Region.
The items comprising bags of rice, cooking oil, maize, beans, sardines, sugar, tomato paste, disposable face masks, nitrile gloves, gallons of hand sanitizers and disinfectants were donated to LAC to support inmates to observe the hygiene protocols directed by the Ghana Health Service.
Dr Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, who led the delegation said, “as the nation observes the Covid-19 safety protocols, residents at the leprosaria were in critical need of these relief items to protect and feed themselves.”
“As a Chamber, we are committed to also remember those within marginalized groupings. We have considered residents at the leprosaria who suffer from Hansen’s disease (leprosy) or the effects of the disease, and we are here to showcase our commitment with this donation” said Dr Ing. Ashigbey. He also reminded Ghanaians that cure lepers are not contagious, other individuals and groups should reach out to the Leprosaria across the country in this time of great need.
Rev. Fr. Campbell expressed his appreciation to the staff and members of the Chamber for coming to the aid of the leprosaria. He also used the opportunity to admonish the general public to treat persons with leprosy as well as the cured lepers with dignity and replicate the gesture shown by the Chamber.
According to Rev. Fr Campbell, the restrictions created from the pandemic has dwindled fundraising activities for LAC’s work with cured leprosy patients. “The soup kitchen we organize from the parish for street children in Accra, where children are also counselled and taught skills, are funded from weekday Mass offerings and donations,” said Fr. Campbell.
Fr. Campbell expressed his gratitude on behalf of LAC, highlighting that the Chamber’s donation couldn’t have come at a better time as this. He further called on other organizations and well-meaning Ghanaians to emulate this gesture and support them.
My brother Paul Kunutsor wrote on Facebook when he read the story iI pray Father Campbell to be later canonized as the Patron Saint of the Street Children and Lepers in Accra. As a Missionary from Dublin, he has portrayed over the years, his unvarnished love and compassion for the underprivileged and destitute in the society.
His soup kitchen in Christ the King feeds a great number of children for the better part of the day, who would otherwise have to wait for their mothers to return from the market and cook for them. VP Dr Bawumia thanks for your gratuitous donations for a worthy cause. You always prove to the world that you had indeed worked with the World Bank and the BOG.
God continue to bless Father Campbell and VP Dr Bawumia for the rare exhibition of unequalled generosity in this country.
Source: ashigbey.com
