On 17th December, 1999; in its resolution 54/120, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
This year (2014) the theme of International Youth Day is "Youth and Mental Health."
Patients and personnel in Mental Health Treatment
In Ghana our mental healthcare is not something that we should boast of as a country. In May 2014 the Nurses of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital demonstrated against the fact that there were no drugs to treat the patience and this made the aggressive mentally ill patients attack the nurses from time to time. Also, we see too many mentally ill people on the streets of Ghana, even in the Capital City and sometimes we witness them attack other innocent citizens. This year, I was told of the story of a woman who was attacked and sexually assaulted by a mentally ill person at a beach in Ghana. This among other things call for our urgent attention as a country to take a second look at the mental health treatment agenda as a country.
We will be quick to praise the Parliament of Ghana and the Government of Ghana for the Mental Health Act, 2012 Act 846. However, we do not believe that this bill is being implemented with due care and skill and in as much as it is a very nice paper, if its efficacy ends on the shelve and in libraries, then the scarce resources that went into its preparation has become less than useful to the state and that will mean a financial loss to the Country.
Since today is a day for the youth, we cannot go without mentioning some other things that are bedevilling the youth of this country.
Ministry of Black Star Soccer Team instead of Ministry of Youth and Sports
The first to mention is the fact that the ministry of Youth and Sports has now become the Ministry of Black Star Soccer Team and Sports to the complete neglect of the youth of Mother Ghana. It is very easy for us to hear that the NYA is there for the youth but equally the Sports Council is there for Sports and yet the Ministry sends all its focus on sports and even that the Black Stars Soccer team and as for the youth, little can be said about us.
In addition, the country?s educational system is (excuse me to say) pathetic and ridiculous; our Universities have been closed down, Polytechnics have been closed down for close to three months without any urgency to see them back in class, our Senior high schools are also likely to close down and our dear children at the basic level are not receiving the needed resources to facilitate teaching and learning.
Youth in Prison
Also, we will be glad if as a country, we can take a better look at the rehabilitation plan we have for our dear brothers and sisters in prison, we believe that the current rehabilitation plan is not the best as it seeks to harden criminals even the more; than to reform them when they go to prison, and this has adverse effects on other in-mates and in the event that they are released from jail to integrate into the society, they become a threat to innocent citizens
The need to inaugurate the NYA Board
Finally, we wish to implore the office of his Excellency John Dramani Mahama to make haste in the inauguration of the National Youth Authority Board so that we can all make active our little but needed contributions as youth to help build the better Ghana we are all in want to see.
Conclusion
Yet in all these things we are resolute in our believe that the Government of Ghana is able to provide us with Quality Education, and the Ministry of youth and Sports is able to relook into the area of youth development again and finally, we do fathom the fact that the government has better plans for our dear mentally ill friends and therefore we look forward to seeing all the good plans of government as per Act 846 in active operation in Ghana so as to help build a Better Ghana
God Bless Ghana,
God bless the youth of Ghana
And God Bless the Students of Ghana
Thank you.
(Signed)
ORCHILL PRINCE DAVID SAMMY BINFOH DARKWAH
NUGS REP. To NYA BOARD NUGS President
0501336111 0208499214
Ayilu Raymond Kwojori
PRESS & INFO. SECRETARY
0240383605
No comments:
Post a Comment