Ghanaian youth must imbibe volunteerism spirit

The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has called on Ghanaians particularly young men and women to imbibe volunteerism spirit for humanitarian work to support vulnerable people in times of emergency and disaster.

“The voluntary service of young people is critically required to bring good health and security to all citizens,”

Mr Samuel Kofi Addo, Secretary General of GRCS said in Wa at the launch of the 90th anniversary of Red Cross in Ghana.

The occasion was celebrated on the theme: “Find the volunteerism inside you, together for humanity,” which Mr Addo explained volunteerism to mean that doing something good for humanity freely without resource or expecting any payback.

The GRCS was established by an Act of parliament (Act 10, 1958) as an independent body to support government ministries, departments and agencies in providing humanitarian and relief services to the vulnerable during emergencies and disasters.

Mr Addo expressed concern that some people in the Ghanaian society were killing the spirit of volunteerism necessary for championing a national course.

He appealed to government, corporate bodies and individuals to have GRCS in mind and provide them with the necessary resources and support to help the humanitarian society to deliver on their mandate to the people.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin-Salih, in a speech read of his behalf applauded the Red Cross Society for over the years contributing immensely to development of the region and the country at large.

He backed the call for the youth to inculcate volunteerism spirit to help discharge humanitarian services for the better course of humanity and national development and societal progress.

He said citizens ought to develop the consciousness of volunteerism for the development of societies and urged youth volunteers of GRCS to rise up and to strengthen existing Red Cross Clubs in schools and start new clubs. “This is the way we can bring back the spirit of volunteerism into the youth,” he added.

The National Chairman of People's National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah, highlighted the crucial role GRCS played in society to saving lives in times of disasters.

“The training of volunteers has helped many villages to continue to exist because in some communities when you see that disaster has occurred, it is obvious without GRCS the disaster would have eventually consumed wide range of them,” he said.

The youth were applauded for volunteering to enroll into the Ghana Red Cross Society to contribute their quota in delivering humanitarian services to disaster victims.