Your Excellences’, Niimei, Naamei, distinguished guests, fellow mental health workers, ladies and gentlemen. All protocols observed.
I am delighted to be standing here in Ghana after 35 years living in overseas as Mental Health Nurse to officially launch the Mental Health Foundation of Ghana and the Mental Health and Well–being Foundation of Ghana, both registered charities in Australia and Ghana.
Our journey began after seeing the images of the Human Rights Reports published in October 2011 sent to me by Mr Samuel Doku. I called upon my “Partner in Crime” Ms Helen Walters and said we must do something about this. Helen and I have spent over a thousand hours to put the conference package together.
We are grateful for the understanding from the Ghana Health Services. Our aim is to have a conversation with the people working within the current mental health system in Ghana and to look at ways we can begin in our expertise and support. We thank Dr. Anna Dzadey for enlightening me about the situation, especially having such grandiose ideas. We thank Dr Akwasi Osei, the Chief Psychiatrist of Ghan and Prof. Joseph Asare, the chair of the Psychiatric College for all their support.
I spoke with Dr. Anna Dazdey, the Medical Director of Pantang Hospital about my grandiose ideas. We are now registered as charities both Ghana and Australia.
We are extremely grateful for Professor Chris Kweley from university of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia lending his support to my ambitious ideas and bringing the University of Newcastle Grad-School on board. A major sponsor of this conference and we will hear more from them today. We have very quickly developed partnerships and collaborations across the globe, evidence in the number of countries represented at this conference.
We have the following countries represented : Australia – 11, Canada – 2, Norway – 2, Hungary – 1, Kenya – 1 , India – 1 , Nigeria 2 – Including the First Female Consultant Psychiatrist from Hausa/Fulani background, USA of course, Germany, Scotland / UK, Netherland and links with South Africa.
We have been recognised by the World Mental Health Federation, the organisers of the World Mental Health Day. We cannot thank enough the Australian High Commission Mrs Joanna Adamson for her personal commitment for this project as the support that we have received from the Australian High Commission, Accra Ghana.
We have also received support from the Ghana High Commission in Australia, Mr. Paul Yaw Essel who unfortunately cannot be here.
– I’m sure his girl Helen (Yaa) and Mera (Efua) are missing him.
As a Rotarian, I am also grateful for the support from Rotary International district 9790, namely Greensborough, Ivanhoe and Craigieburn for their generous donation. We are collaborating with other Rotary Clubs, Osu RE, Accra Airport West and Accra Cantonment to assist us in bringing a container load of items such as computers and hospital equipment which was donated and distributed to the Psychiatric units in Ghana.
Other collaborators include :
– The West Africa Informatics Fellowship Program
– The University of San Francisco
– The Diaspora Unit
Volunteer Force – Daniel, Mera, Laavanya, John Acquah
Finally I would like to call on a family member of the late Professor Samuel Nii Ayi Turkson, former head of department of psychiatry of the University of Ghana Medical School for his inspiration and support for Psychiatric Services in Ghana.
THANK YOU
