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Queen of Peace Catholic Church to train 60 sign language interpreters
● Rev. Fr. Rene
As Chinese disability civil rights activist, Chen Guangcheng, aptly said, “How a society treats its disabled is the true measure of a civilisation.”
This means that, it is important for able-bodied persons or institutions to make conscious efforts in supporting people living with disabilities in order to alleviate their sufferings.
One of such institutions living up to this expectation is the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Madina in the Greater Accra Region.
The church is on a mission to train 60 sign language interpreters this year.
This was to ensure that the hearing-impaired who attended mass at the church and nearby parishes were not deprived of understanding what was said at mass and social gatherings.
The exercise estimated to cost about GHc80, 000, is opened to volunteers who are ready to help demonstrate skillfully the teachings of Christ or the word of God to the understanding of the unhearing.
Rev. Fr Rene Yao (SMA), the founder and first Chaplain of St. Martin’s Deaf Ministry, said the Catholic Church needed the support of all well-meaning citizens to make the initiative a reality.
He was optimistic the introduction of the sign language during mass and other social gatherings would motivate people living with disabilities to attend the church and get the best out of the time spent there.
The training programme, he said, would be done in batches to rope in more volunteers to deepen the church’s evangelisation, programmes.
Rev Fr. Rene said: “As Catholics, the volunteers would be empowered to share the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus.
The training would offer the (volunteers) the responsibility to bring the message of Jesus to everybody.
“The church is looking at the possibility of sustaining the training in subsequent years, so that those trained could be useful to people in the society.”
He said funds being raised for the project would also be used to rehabilitate a room for physiotherapy for the Hope for Life Foundation, which is an organisation that handles disabled issues.
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
