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Procession on Mental Health Bill Passage
Posted by Johnny (john) on Apr 06 2012
News >> Mental Health

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