MP FETES ORPHANS AT BONGO (PAGE 13, JAN 11, 2011)

The Member of Parliament for Bongo in the Upper East Region, Mr Albert Abongo, has cautioned community members and families against inhuman treatment of orphans and destitute in the society.
He said negative cultural practices such as accusing orphans as witches or evil and responsible for the death of their parents or as agents of some calamities must stop.
The MP gave the advice at a ceremony at Bongo when he feted orphans and the destitute at an orphanage managed by the Church of Christ.
Mr Abongo, accompanied by his wife and children, advised parents and the community to show love to such children since it was through no fault of theirs that they lost their parents.
“These children deserve our love and support at all times to enable them also grow to become responsible citizens,” he said.
He commended the Project Director of the Orphanage, Evangelist Adams Akurumolga, and his team of care givers for their dedication and care for children who otherwise would have been ostracised and encouraged them not to give up.
He also urged them to allow the children in their care to interact occasionally with other children in the community to help in their socialisation process.
Mr Abongo later donated a 21-inch colour television set and some assorted clothing to the inmates of the home for their upkeep.
The MP urged the managers of the home not to focus on only the spiritual development of the children but also concentrate on the provision of better nutrition and quality education for the inmates to enable them to grow to become responsible citizens.
Evangelist Akurumolga, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the home was established in April, 2006, with the aim of helping children who lost their parents at birth and children of the destitute in the society.
He said the home, which started on a rented premises with four children, was facilitated by a missionary from the Hotsprings Village Church of Christ in the United States, Mr Donald Collins.
He said the home accommodated 30 children.
Evangelist Akurumolga said the home ran a school from nursery to primary six and was presently putting up a classroom block to support the education programme it ran.
He commended the Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Salifu Alemyarum, and the Department of Social Welfare for collaborating with the management to protect children in the community.
He appealed to other NGOs and philanthropists to come to the aid of the home and support its programmes.