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New mother and child hospital brings hope to underserved region of Ghana

Several Church donations improve healthcare and sanitation in different regions of the West African nation

The Upper East Region of Ghana is one of the most underserved areas of the West African country. Day-to-day living in the area is a struggle for residents, due to low levels of industrialization, poor infrastructure and high poverty rates. The area has a lower-than-average life expectancy compared to the rest of Ghana, with limited access to education, healthcare and other essential services.

The high rate of maternal and child mortality is of special concern, due to the lack of trained healthcare professionals, facilities and transportation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is striving to make a difference by funding a new state-of-the-art mother and child hospital in the region’s capital of Bolgatanga. The facilities are expected to serve more than 1.3 million people in the area.

The project was initiated and managed by Engage Now Africa, a non-governmental organization working in collaboration with Ghana Health Services, explained a news release from the Church’s Africa Newsroom.

Elder Kofi G. Sosu, Area Seventy in the Church's Africa West Area, and Dr. Lynette Gay, founder of Engage Now Africa, speak during a hand-over ceremony of a new mother and hcild hospital in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana, on Nov. 14, 2024.
Elder Kofi G. Sosu, Area Seventy in the Church's Africa West Area, and Dr. Lynette Gay, founder of Engage Now Africa, speak during a handover ceremony of a new mother and child hospital in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana, on Nov. 14, 2024. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder Kofi G. Sosu, an Area Seventy in the Africa West Area, said the Church is committed to following the example of the Savior.

“This maternity clinic is more than just a building; it’s a sanctuary of hope, a haven of healing and a symbol of our shared humanity,” Elder Sosu said. “To the people of the Upper East Region, we say: this clinic is yours. It’s a gift from people who care, who believe in your worth and who want to see you thrive.”

Dr. Hafiz Bin-Salih, the regional minister who commissioned the hospital, said, “Improving maternal health should be the priority of every community. ... It is in this light that I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Engage Now Africa and the Church, our key partners behind the construction of this hospital.”

The project is one of several the Church has done in the country regarding health, education, clean water and other priorities.

The Church also worked last year with Engage Now Africa to install a solar-powered borehole water system in the Upper East Region to benefit several communities. The solar-powered pumps now fill 5,000-liter tanks with clean water, providing a more steady and reliable supply of water. This also means women and children do not have to travel long distances to access safe water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

A woman draws the first water from a new solar-powered borehole water system funded by the Church in the Upper East Region of Ghana on July 11, 2024.
A woman draws the first water from a new solar-powered borehole water system funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Upper East Region of Ghana on July 11, 2024. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Two new mental health facilities funded by the Church in 2024 in the Afaho Region and the Central Region will help fill treatment gaps for those communities.

Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Africa West Area presidency, presided at the event in the Central Region and opened the ceremony with his remarks.

“As we gather here today, we are not just inaugurating a new facility, we are bearing witness to the Savior’s love and concern for the mental and emotional well-being of His children,” Elder Morrison said. “This psychiatry unit is a tangible representation of the Church’s commitment to exemplify the Savior’s love and to provide hope, comfort and healing for those who are struggling.”

Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Africa West Area presidency, second from right, stands with hospital administrators as they cut the ribbon for a new mental health facility in Winneba, Central Region, Ghana, on Dec. 12, 2024.
Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Africa West Area presidency, second from right, stands with hospital administrators as they cut the ribbon for a new mental health facility in Winneba, Central Region, Ghana, on Dec. 12, 2024. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In December 2024, schools and residents of two communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana received new sanitation facilities and mechanized water systems in projects funded by the Church. Both donations were provided by Water and Sanitation for the Urban through the Church’s financial contribution, explained Africa Newsroom.

President Samuel Kwame Amoah, president of the Obuasi 4th Branch in the Church’s Obuasi Ghana District, explained how members of the Church follow the Savior’s teachings to take care of those in need. The handover events included cultural dancing and ribbon cutting ceremonies.

Local leaders and Church officials participate in a hand over ceremony of new sanitation facilities and boreholes in Juabeng, Ashanti Region, Ghana, on Dec. 17, 2024.
Local leaders and Church officials participate in a handover ceremony of new sanitation facilities and boreholes in Juabeng, Ashanti Region, Ghana, on Dec. 17, 2024. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church donated food and supplies to the Osu people last year, who are indigenous inhabitants of the greater Accra area in southern Ghana.

When Elder Samuel Annan-Simons, an Area Seventy, made the formal presentation, he remarked on the good relationship between the Church and the Osu people — and how they hope to help families in need, especially children, “so that they can grow up to be people who contribute to their community.”

During the Light the World initiative, Church members in Ghana delivered food to their neighbors and communities in need as well.

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