Our Parish has established a strong link with Fr. Joseph Aduse Poku in Ghana, dating back to 1994. Fr. Joseph has come to stay with us each summer since 1994.
The money donated by the parish to Ghana is directed towards the needs of the people of the two parishes of Boma and Bechem. Fr. Joseph facilitates and coordinates where the money goes, in conjunction with his Bishop. Projects which have been undertaken include:
- Help in building a church for the Bofoaka faithful.
- Assistance in creating a library for the studious but needy children of Bechem.
- Setting up a sponsorship programme for an average of twelve needy pupils per annum. Most recently, a photocopier, printer and computer were acquired for the students, in addition to a large quantity of books. The average cost of educating a child at primary school level is £15 per term; and the cost of a school uniform is £8.
One current need is for water for the people of Bofoaka. Borehole water will solve the problem, but this is quite an expensive enterprise if the community is to take its water from one source throughout the year.
If you wish to contact Fr. Joseph, please e-mail us at office@stjustusandanselm.org.uk.
Background on Ghana
Ghana, originally known as the Gold Coast, became independent from Great Britain in 1957. It is now a well-administered country by regional standards, and is often seen as a model for political and economic reform in Africa. It has a constitutional democracy.
Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cocoa. Its population is 23 million. English is its official language, and a number of African languages are also spoken. The country is 63% Christian, and it has a literacy rate of 75%. The discovery of major offshore oil reserves was announced in June 2007. However, oil is not expected to flow for some years.
Although Ghana has largely escaped the civil strife that has plagued other West African countries, in 1994-95 land disputes in the north erupted into ethnic violence, resulting in the deaths of 1000 people, and the displacement of a further 150000.
