Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP), on its 60th Anniversary celebration donated used clothing, soap, rice and other food items worth GH A21000.00 to the Weija Leprosarium. Mr. Kobina Greenstreet, CPP General Secretary, who presented the items at Weija, Accra, on Saturday, said the CPP had a long history of being sensitive to the plight of the underprivileged and oppressed in society.

He said when no political party in recent times remembered lepers in the country, the party found it expedient to demonstrate its kindness and love for inmates of the leprosarium.

Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, Chairman of the Lepers Aid committee, said inmates of leprosarium across the country for the past 18 years depended absolutely on friends, benefactors and institutions including the Committee.

He said the Weija Leprosarium paid for utility bills and for the maintenance of the facility. Rev. Fr. Campbell said until 2006 the facility received a daily amount of 1, 200 cedis (12 pesewas) for an inmate which was increased to 6,000 cedis (60 pesewas) but that was only paid for four months. He said currently, there was no funds from anywhere to support the inmates.

Rev. Fr. Campbell called on government to ensure that all lepers in the country register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to have access to health care. He appealed to Ghanaians to support lepers and other underprivileged people in society.

Mr. Seth Agyekum, a prefect at the Leprosarium, commended the party for their gesture and called on individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the inmates. 8 Aug 09