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Regional News of Thursday, 10 April 2008

Source: GNA

US Volunteer goes to the aid of orphans

Odupong Ofakor (C/R), April 10, GNA - Ms Lisa Tuttle, an American Volunteer in Ghana has appealed to well-to-do Ghanaians to share their wealth with the vulnerable as their contributions in putting smiles on their faces. She made the appeal on Thursday when commissioned a dinning hall and kitchen, a borehole and a presentation of a 33-seater bus for the Good Shepherd Orphanage at Odupong Ofakor near Kasoa in the Awutu-Senya District. The dinning hall and kitchen cost 30,000 dollars, the bus, 25,000 dollars and the borehole which has a generator and a poly tank at 10,000 dollars.

Ms Tuttle noted that, there were many Ghanaians who could be described as living a "first class life" but refusing to share their wealth with the needy, especially children and women to enable them also to enjoy "better life". She said when she arrived in Ghana about three years ago and was posted to the orphanage, she realised that a lot needed to be down to assist the inmates so she decided to help with the provision of some of infrastructural requirements. Ms Tuttle said she took pictures of the then kitchen and the source of drinking water of the home to the United States and after showing them to her parents and family friends, they decided to assist. She said the Father and Founder of the Orphanage, Bishop Kwaku Addei, had the vision and mission to maintain the orphans, but needed financial assistance to help the children to develop their talents.

Ms Tuttle stated that, she had invested 4,000 dollars in a poultry farm to support the feeding of the orphans and also to sell some of the birds to generate revenue for their upkeep. Bishop Addei, who is also the Founder and Leader of Great Word of God Church, appealed to philanthropists, corporate institutions, churches and individuals for assistance to cater for the orphans. He said the 65 orphans at the home ate three times a day and needed a substantial amount to cater for them adding that, it was difficult for him and the management to mobilise funds for that. Bishop Addei all the inmates attend school and needed help for their training to enable them to grow up into responsible citizens to contribute their quota to national development. He praised Barclays Bank for constructing a hostel for the children.