We Reap What We Sow

As a country, we must know that what "we reap only what we sow." I was in Ghana in August 2007 and had the opportunity to visit the Osu Children Home when some students from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, my Alma Mater, donated some items to the home. One may ask how much money and training have the operators invested in the training of the management of this facility. I believe that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is a great journalist and he must be commended for his wonderful investigative work. I currently work as a Home Coach for a Company in the United States which assists individuals with mental disabilities. Our mission is simple; to provide the best quality of care for the individuals we serve. I know that the operators of the Osu Children’s Home have the same agenda and they are also trying to make a difference. However, having visited the facility in 2007, I realized that the staff has a lot challenges.

I am not trying to condone the alleged abuses. The available meager resources have set the whole program up to fail. I am not trying to preach that Ghanaians should adopt the same mode of operation like in the USA. At the same time, we can not police a failing system. In any country, there are members of the society with special needs that may need our help. The government and civil society have a duty to help the less fortunate members of the society live a better life. We can achieve better standards for our orphans and disabled individuals in Ghana by spending more money in building an adequate infrastructure to accommodate them. Education is the most important ingredient in reducing abuse and neglect in any organization. Having said that the main aim of investigation is to find out what happened. There is a saying in Ghana, “ehureeaa ebe dwoo” meaning that with time the big story will disappear under the radar.

My recommendations to the government of Ghana and all the parties involved are that in making sure that the individuals they serve have the best quality of care, they should abolish the dormitory style and adopt the family teaching model where a duplex housing would be provided for three individuals who live with a couple. This system ensures accountability of staff with fewer ratios to supervise. There should also be targeted case managers who are licensed social workers who visit their clients at least once a week or twice a week to check on their health and living conditions. There should also be a qualified Advocate and Protection personnel and a team of qualified investigators who may be responsible for both training and investigating abuse and neglect. This system ensures checks and balances. There are a lot to be said and the powers that be can contact me on my email [email protected] for more information on how to help improve the conditions at the Osu Children’s Home. I am prepared to help if only I am given the chance. Kofi Boye-Doe graduated with a master’s degree in criminal justice-law enforcement summer 09 from Washburn University.

I rest my case.