NGO launches peace and health programme

By Kwamina Tandoh/ Theophania Dzadza, GNA
Accra, Oct. 26, GNA - Family Life and Home Affairs, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has launched a peace and health programme scheduled for November 5 at the GBC forecourt and later at the Children's Park in Accra.

The programme would include a health walk, blood donation and free eye screening.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr Eric Dartey, President, Family Life and Home Affairs said the NGO was assuring the public of its commitment to continuously ensure the complete health of families.

'The walk and blood donation exercise are activities we perform very often; but this time the event has been expanded to include free eye screening.

'All in a bid to help the little way we can support families; you know that the families are the components that make up the general populace. If the families are healthy the generality of the people will be healthy nation,' he said.

He explained that the peace concept in the programme was to promote and preach the essence of peace amongst the Ghanaian populace.

Mr Dartey encouraged the heads of the security forces, religious leaders, opinion leaders' chiefs, technocrats and all others to talk more on justice and fair play; this was because peace cannot be achieved without justice.

Mr Amankwa Ampofo, Chairman of the NGO appealed to the corporate bodies and philanthropists to contribute to its projects in the bid to serve humanity.

The Lordina Foundation presented 10 boxes of medical items made up of gloves, cotton buds, amongst others to support the organisation's blood donation exercise.

A representative of the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Ransford Ninson, Director General Administration, Ghana Police Service urged the media to position themselves as neutral arbiters, provide relevant public education, and avoid hate and violence-inducing publications and broadcast.

'Your gate-keeping function will be in utmost demand and test to filter and sift all media materials to ensure that, what is fed to the public is not which inflames passion and will cause a breach of the peace.

He, therefore, advised the media to project peace but not to ferment trouble and conflict.

Mr Joe Lartey, Retired GBC Sports Commentator advised Ghanaians to shun inflammatory statements that have the tendency to cause division among the citizenry as the nation prepares for the elections.

He said 'hate speech' led to wars, hence the need for all to be mindful of public speaking and avoid insulting words that would trigger hatred to mar the upcoming elections.

Citing Rwanda as an example, Mr Lartey said irresponsible public speaking was one of the biggest cause of conflict on the Africa Continent, with some neighboring countries having witnessed unrest leading to loss of lives and property.

The Family Life and Home Affairs provides an innovative and dynamic framework for the active participation of individuals in relationship management knowledge, connecting developing countries, think-tanks, regional and international organizations.

Others are financial institutions, and civil society organisations with relevant seminars and charity events. It comprises Love summits, Health walks, Blood donations exercises, Peace walks and Inter religious games and charitable donations to the less privileged in the society.

GNA