Aussies Donate To Ghana

The patients and staff of the Physiotherapy Clinic in Rockingham, Fremantle Primary School, Malabu School for Disabled Children and the Anesthetics Department of King Edward Maternity Hospital in Perth have donated books to students of Golden Star School, Dumasi School, Bogoso Methodist and Prestea International. Mr. George Manso-Howard, a board member of Bogoso Gold in Ghana presented the books on behalf of the donors. Bogoso Gold shipped the books from Australia. The company has also spent US$34,000 over the last eight months on Prestea school and it is preparing to start up a scholarship scheme.

The headmasters and teachers were very appreciative and praised the initiative of the donors. Mr. Shaun Dennis, Maintenance, Supply and Safety Manager for Bogoso Gold Limited passed on the appreciation of all the management and staff of Bogoso Gold Limited to all the donors. Mr. Dennis mentioned that the company has the pleasure of viewing the gratitude, hope and happiness the books bring on the faces of the children and school staff.

The donations were coordinated by Ms. Judith Killen, a resident of Perth and a Physiotherapist. Ms. Killen is an Australian citizen, but has a close association with Ghana. In September 2000, Ms Killen joined an Australian study tour to Ghana to study traditional culture and drumming. During her visit to Ghana, she met with her World Vision sponsored child in Busua Ahanta West. Ms Killen has a strong and deep connection with Ghanaian people, the culture and country and she hopes to go back to Ghana to support the setting-up of an early detection and treatment of eye cancer in Ghanaian babies. According to Ms Killen, once babies and children are brought to Korle Bu Hospital, funding for their diagnosis and treatment is required and she is happy to do public speaking and educating to raise awareness, both in Australia and in Ghana to assist with ongoing funding. She is therefore in contact with several of the Ophthalmologists and Specialists at Korle Bu, and awaiting their written proposals for the project. In April 2003, the Australia Ghana Investments Company awarded scholarships to six students of the Asare Bediako Senior Secondary School in Akrokerri, Ashanti. The students who benefited from the scheme were Benjamin Amoah, Ernestina Frempong, Sophia Antwi, Samuel Mensah, Josephine Serwaah Akoto and Priscilla Safo Mensah. The award presentation took place at the Akrokerri Palace. Mr. Edward Adams, Assistant Headmaster of Asare Bediako Secondary School and Nana Buruwaah II Queenmother of Akrokerri thanked AGI Pty Ltd for the donations and advised the students to take their studies seriously to justify the awards. The Ghana Association of New South Wales recently donated spectacle frames worth about 41 million cedis to the Ministry of Health in Accra after a fundraising bonanza at Buli Tops, near Wollongong (80km from Sydney). Two humble Ghanaian academics, Professor Ernest Baafi and wife Mrs. Mercy Baafi both lecturers at the University of Wollongong initiated the fundraising through the Ghana Association of New South Wales. The Association is organising another fundraising event scheduled for 13 September to raise funds for the purchase of pediatric eye testing tools for Ghana. The Gala Night and Fundraising will take place in Wollongong with major attractions of Cultural Dancing, Live Gospel Music, Rap Music, Ghanaian costumes and fashion and dancing to Ghanaian highlife. The Karifi Drummers will also be featuring at the function. The Omanhene of Tepa, Nana Adusei Atwenewah Ampem I will be attending as a special guest of honour and will add colour with the rich Ashanti Chieftaincy in display.