THE Chairman of the Ghana Lepers Association, Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, has criticised politicians, especially those in government, for talking big but doing very little to alleviate the suffering of the underprivileged.
He said over the last 30 years, leaders of the country, particularly some health ministers, had looked on unconcerned while cured lepers at the country’s leprosariums in Accra, Cape Coast and Ho were neglected.
Rev. Campbell was speaking to the Daily Graphic after the Greater Accra branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) had donated items worth hundreds of Ghana cedis to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium in Accra.
The items, including used dresses, footwear, bags of rice and sugar, and bars of soap, formed part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the formation of the CPP.
Rev. Campbell called on the government to ensure that the cured lepers benefited from the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP).
“Over the last 18 years, the lepers association had to depend on the benevolence of public-spirited Ghanaians and members of the association to maintain the leprosarium which was built more than 50 years ago, pay water and electricity bills, register the inmates for the National Health Insurance Scheme without governmental support,” he said.
According to Rev Campbell, who is also the Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Community Two in Tema, he had to pour out his heart and tell the story as it was because he felt let down by various politicians.
He said he had contacted many politicians, who on their own volition made promises to the poor and neglected inmates, but they consistently failed to honour such promises.
He said three years ago, he complained bitterly about the withholding of the daily subsidy of 60Gp from the government to each inmate, but after receiving it for three months, it had ceased.
Rev Campbell, who has been working with the cured lepers for the last 30 years, added that no amount of frustration and neglect would reduce his commitment to seek their welfare.
He, however, commended individuals and organisations which had over the years shown love and compassion to the inmates.
After hugging, cuddling and planting pegs on the cheeks of the cured lepers, Rev. Campbell expressed worry that although the inmates had been cured, some as far back as 30 years ago, people still treated them with the same measure as what pertained in the Old Testament in the Holy Bible.
“They are human beings created in the image of God so we should show them love and compassion to them. It was not their fault to be in such a situation. If their close relatives have abandon them, the state must not worsen their plight by refusing to assist them to have decent meals,” he said.
Rev. Campbell said another distressing issue was that unlike the Weija Leprosarium, the Ho and Cape Coast ones were not known and, therefore, attracted little or no support from the general public and corporate entities.
The General Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, described the picture painted by the Father Campbell as disturbing.
He, therefore, assured the inmates that apart from assisting them from time to time, the party would also highlight their problems at bigger and proper forums.
He said the CPP was committed to its ideal of constantly creating opportunities for the marginalised in society.
An inmate, Madam Gladys Adobea, commended the CPP for their support, and recounting history, she told the gathering about how Dr Kwame Nkrumah personally saved cured lepers 50 years ago, when some residents of Accra wanted to demolish their buildings and drive them away.
In a related development, the Orange Four Square Church of New Jersey in the United States of America has donated bags of rice, a quantity of soap and vegetable oil for the upkeep of the inmates.
According to a representative of the church who wanted to remain anonymous, the church read the appeal by Father Campbell through the media and decided to offer their widow’s mite.
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