Regional News of Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Source: GNA

Tourism Minister celebrates Valentine with lepers

Mr Kojo Aggrey, a cured leper at the Weija Leprosarium, on Tuesday defined Valentine’s Day as a day for love.

Responding to a question posed to them by Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism, Mr Aggrey said Valentine’s Day was the replication of the love that God showed on humanity through His son Jesus Christ.

The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority and supported by Ghana Cocoa Board, Produce Buying Company, Baileys’ and Cocoa Processing Company were at the Leprosarium to distribute cocoa based products and chocolate to the inmates.

Items donated to the Leprosarium included four boxes of Golden Tree Chocolate, two buckets of Chocolate Spread and two bags of cocoa powder.

Valentine’s Day celebration which is celebrated in Ghana as Chocolate Day is on the theme: “Showing Love to the Vulnerable in Society.”

Mr Aggrey as a sign of appreciation led the inmates to sing praises to God for the gesture shown by the Ministry and partners.

Ms Dansua, who presented the items, said government is concerned about the less vulnerable in the society, saying, “Government cares for you.”

She promised that the Ministry would provide three street lights for the Leprosarium at the request of Mr George Quansah, the care taker.

Mr Quansah called on other philanthropists to come to their aid to enable them complete an ultra-modern building complex under construction.

At the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, the Sector Minister said government cared about the inmates, saying, “Humanity is the foundation of tourism”.

Ms Dansua explained that the chocolate and the cocoa based products were a token to show their love to the inmates.