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Receive Christ’s body in worthy manner – Rev Fr Kyei
Rev Fr Bernard Kyei, the Priest –In –Charge of St John of God Catholic Church at Amrahia in the Adentan Municipality of the Greater Accra Region has advised Christians to treasure the reception of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in a worthy manner since it is acceptable and pleasing to God.
Preaching the sermonat the church on Sunday, June 19, 2022 to mark the solemnity of Corpus Christi,he said though the body and blood of Jesus Christ had undergone criticisms and subjected to series of tests by people who doubted the veracity of themystery, these could not discredit the value it contained.
Rev FrKyei explained that Corpus Christi was a mystery many people failed to comprehend and that it was unfortunate some Christians had grown weak and sick because of theunworthy manner in which they received the body and blood of the Saviour.
Hesaid the transformation of the body and blood was beyond what the physical eye could see and therefore, advised them to take advantage of the humility of Jesus Christ to feed their souls in order to promote their spiritual growth for eternal life.
He emphasised the need for Christians to always yearn for the reception of the body and blood of Jesus Christ because the Saviour of the universe promised, “I am the bread of life that has come down from heaven, and anyone who comes to me shall have everlasting life.”
He again said that the communion believers received was the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, adding that Melchizedech prefigured the coming of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world.
Touching on the celebration of Fathers’ Day, he said that marriages were fraught with a myriad of problems, some of which included childlessness after many years of marriage, the attitude of irresponsible fathers who had created problems for mothers, difficulty in getting mento marry, living in abusive and quarrelsome marriages, and men who engaged in polygamous marriages, among others.
Rev FrKyei praised fathers for the invaluable services they have rendered totheir families and the state and asked them to continue though the task was daunting.
He bemoaned the fact that though the world celebrated Fathers’ Day, some mothers had gone through serious problems due to the conduct of some fathers, adding that despite the challenges, they should be grateful to God.
He advised the faithful to look at the positive side of life and praise God in all circumstances because the Creator would work out everything good in their lives.
He called on Christian wives and families to pray for husbands who were irresponsible so that God would change their character saying that some fathers suffered in silence while the contributions of others were not recognised.
Mr Kodzo Mensah Vormawor and Mrs GertrudeAzumah, both senior members of the church, also commended the invaluable services fathers had rendered to their families and prayed that God would bless them and give them the zeal to do more.
They asked fathers who were not living up to expectation to turn a new leaf in order to attract the love and respect of their children.
In gratitude to God for their 20th wedding anniversary, Mr and Mrs Kenneth Azumah donated new dress to the church choir.
Parishioners also witnessed the inauguration of the St Joseph Northern Society of the church under the Presidency of Mr Edward Adimazoya, who is the President of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC).
By Raymond Kyekye
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
