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Change negative perception: Blood donation saves lives – Methodist Bishop
Rt Rev Samuel Ofori-Akyea Tema Bishop for the Tema Diocese
Usually when the subject of voluntary blood donation comes up, some people are not enthused about it because of some misconceptions they may have.
This, over the years, has made it challenging for individuals or groups who are passionate about blood donation to help save lives.
At the 26th annual synod of the Methodist Church of Ghana of the Tema Diocese held at the Immanuel Methodist Society, Tema, the Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev Samuel Ofori-Akyea called on the public to be receptive to the drive for blood donation and officials engaged in it.
“Don’t frown at them” he told the congregation because in his opinion it is a worthy cause.
The Diocesan Bishop said donating blood helped to save live which could be that of the donor’s children, parents or even the donor himself subsequently when he or she is also in need.
He said health personnel and volunteers of teams who help to donate blood must be appreciated and accepted because their service was important to humanity so they should be commended and not given cold reception.
Rt Rev Ofori-Akyea encouraged the church members and the public at large who qualify to give blood to always avail themselves when the opportunity presents itself because the blood helps to stock various blood banks for the use of church members and the public at large.
Speaking on the theme: “discipleship; living the transformed life in Jesus” with focus on revival, transformation and growth of the church on the sidelines with the media, he called on the public to be selfless in their service to humanity and live good Christian lives worthy of emulation.
A member of the Tema Diocese Blood Donation Team Anthony Sam Anoom said the Diocese had been engaged in the drive for volunteers to donate blood for the past 10 years.
He said the exercise had helped many church members and their families during emergencies and times of distress.
He said plans were in place to get as many churches as possible under the Diocese to contribute in getting as much blood as possible for the Tema General Hospital which was usually the first port of call for their members as well as the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
