Mental Health News/ Articles
It was exactly 2:13pm, Friday 2nd March, 2012 when
the Honorable Second Deputy Speaker
of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Acquatey MP for Kwabenya gabbled after he had said “The
Mental Health Bill is duly passed”, after the house had unanimously responded “I” to the
speaker’s final question on the Bill.
In apparent ecstasy, the Chief Psychiatrist, Dr. Akwasi Osei and his team (including Dr. Anna
Poklu –Dzadey, Medical Director of Pantang Hospital, former Chief Psychiatrist, Dr. J.B. Asare,
Mr. Emmanuel Largi and Sulemana Bening, both of Ministry of Health, and other officials from
the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, breached parliamentary protocol by applauding.
In rare show of appreciation for the work of the Honorable House, the Chief Psychiatrist and
the entire Psychiatry Unit on Wednesday 14th March, 2012 organized a mammoth brass band
procession through some principal streets of Accra, to inform the public about , and also to
thank parliament and the Ministry of Health, for the passage of the Bill.
It all began at 10:00am from the Accra Psychiatric Hospital premises through the main street
of Adabraka to Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue to the Greater
Accra Police MTTU Headquarters, down the Kinbu High School lane to the High Street to the
Ministries area. At the Ministry of Health the Chief Psychiatrist expressed appreciation to the
Ministry of Health, the Honorable Minister Alban S.K. Bagbim, and officials of Ministry who
played various roles in and various stages culminating in the passage of the Bill. Dr. Akwesi
Osei was particularly impressed with the untiring efforts of Hon. Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Deputy
Health Minister, who led the Ministry of Health team throughout the debates deliberations and
consideration stages in parliament.
Anemana, Chief Director, Ministry of Health, Dr. Reginald Odoi, Mrs. Estella Appiah of the
Attorney General’s Department as well as NGO’s like Basic Needs, Mental Health Society
of Ghana, Ghana Mental Health Association, Friends of the Psychiatric Hospital, Coalition of
Advocates of Mental Health Reforms, among others.
The Honorable Minister on his part praised the fighting spirit of the Chief Psychiatrist and his
team in pushing for the Bill, praised parliament and promised the Ministry’s unflinching support
to ensure the Bill gets implanted and functional as soon as it receives the presidential accent.
The Hon. Minister then asked his deputy, Hon. Rojo Mettle-Nunoo to lead the procession to the
unit’s appreciation parliament.
Last changed: Jan 09 2013 at 2:42 PM
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