A New Safe Haven For The Aged In Ghana?

Nehopcosa! What is ‘Nehopcosa’? At last the aged have some hope. ‘They deserve some happiness, peace and some respect during their last days on this planet before they part it.’ New Hope Charitable Outreach Services for the Ageing (NEHOPCOSA).

Out of passion and compassion, the founder, Mr Daniel Attah Brenya assisted by his wife, Mrs Josephine Attah Brenya and a few volunteers, Nehopcosa was born.

Mr Brenya said that their vision ‘is caring for the aged and creating a friendly society which seeks to fight dementia, poverty, starvation, social isolation and accusation of witchcraft which is associated with ageing in life.’

He said, “It is sad that lack of education particularly in the African cultural setup compel people to believe that elderly people with dementia are associated with witchcraft.”

Mr Brenya said, “Through education, campaigns and workshops this perception will be eradicated to create a better living standard for the aged population.

New Hope Charitable Outreach Services for the Ageing is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with registration number-(G-34,030) under the Companies code 1963 (Act 179) of the republic of Ghana.

The main objective of ‘Nehopcosa’ is to improve the quality of life of older people, support their independence and inclusion, and to provide services and programs to relieve distress, poverty and sickness. Part of their aim is also to meet the aged diverse needs including economic, social, cultural and spiritual.

The ultimate hope is to rekindle the age old interest of Ghanaians in looking after the elderly and their social well-being.

It is non-denying fact that increases in population, economic hardships, lack of basic facilities have created a situation where ageing is seen as a menace and burden to society. Unfortunately, past governments have been slow in promoting or improving the lifestyle and well-being of our old people hence the castigation of our elderly resulting in frequent abuse, neglect, abject poverty, starvation, social isolation, and premature death from curable diseases and the fear from the stigma of witchcraft accusation.

In 1950 there were about 200 million older people around the globe. This has risen to about 550 million today due to the fact that people are now living longer as a result of improved living standards and advancement in medicine.

The founder of Nehopcosa said the organization will promote the use of hearing aids, magnified texts, wheel chairs, etc. to enhance the well-being of the disable elderly. He also said they would liaise with other NGO’s, work hand in hand to achieve their common goal in enhancing the living standards of the elderly. He said plans were underway to build a recreation centre for the elderly at Bimma in the Sekyere Central district. Asked where he gets his funds from, he said from his limited resources and some benevolent people. So far, an amount of €500 has been donated by Her Excellency Mrs Evelyn Anita Stokes-Hayford, Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy. He hoped that more philanthropists would be moved by the kind gesture of this new organization and would donate generously to this good cause.

The Assembly man for Bimma Mr Agyenim Boateng Mohammed also a member of the organization, assisted in registering 96 senior citizens in and around Bimma to form the nucleus of the Bimma branch and hoped this would be extended to other districts in the country in the near future.

On the 14th of August, 2011 a day clinic was organised for over 76 members and non- members which attracted two volunteer nurses from both Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and three nurses from Mampong Government Hospital all in Ashanti.

Mrs Grace Fokuo talked about Hypertension and its effects, whilst Mrs Sally Amoakwa spoke about Stroke and Diabetes. Ms Sandra Ama Pomaa talked at length on the six food groups for energy. They also checked the blood pressure, weight and height of the participants and gave them advice.

The Chief of the area Nana Osei Ababio who had already pledged to release 3 acres of land to the organization for a community centre for the aged also thanked the volunteer nurses for their precious time and advice. Others who pledged acres of land for various projects included: The Chief of Owuobooho, Nana Agyenim Boateng-20 acres, Opanin Kwame Brenya-3 acres, Opanin Kwabena Brobbey-3 acres, Mr Agyenim Boateng Mohammed-3acres. The founder appealed to all philanthropists and well-wishers to support generously.

Charity, it is said, often consists of a generous impulse to give away something for which we have no further use however, unless a man is a recipient of charity, he should always attempt to be a contributor to it.

True charity is helping those you have every reason to believe would not be able to help you no matter what.

Old age will always be that period when a man is too old to take advice but young enough to give it. The open hand will surely hold more friends than the closed fist.

New Hope Charitable Outreach Services for the Ageing is based in Asuoyeboah-Kumasi in Ashanti and can be reached by the following contacts: P.O. Box A.Y 366 Asuoyeboah-Kumasi, email: [email protected]; Tel: 0322050846.

Douglas Chartey.

London - UK