By Stanley Senya
Accra, Oct. 5, GNA – International Needs Ghana (INGH), a Christian social development organisation, has launched its 40th anniversary celebrations with a renewed commitment to transforming lives, empowering communities, and advancing its Christian service to Ghana.
The year-long celebration, launched in Accra, is being held on the theme: “Transforming Lives and Communities: 40 Years of Christian Service.”
Mr Cromwell Awadey, Executive Director of INGH, said the anniversary marked four decades during which the organisation, together with its partners and communities, had demonstrated God’s love through practical interventions addressing the physical and spiritual needs of people.
He said the journey had contributed to human capital development, improved household incomes, strengthened livelihoods, protected children from abuse, exploitation, and violence, and provided young people and communities with opportunities to build better futures.
Mr Awadey said the organisation’s social development interventions, innovative approaches and strategic partnerships had brought “hope, emancipation, transformation and empowerment” to oppressed, socially excluded, marginalised and spiritually bonded individuals, groups, and communities.
He said meaningful transformation could not be measured by numbers alone, but also by the changes experienced by individuals and communities as a result of the organisation’s interventions.
“A child given another opportunity for formal education; a young person who achieved his or her chosen professional goal; and a community that believes that a better future is possible and leads its own development path” were among the outcomes that demonstrated the organisation’s impact, he said.
Mr Awadey said the achievements of the past 40 years were the result of the collective efforts of successive Boards, management and staff, volunteers, churches, partners, stakeholders and, importantly, the communities served.
He expressed appreciation to all those who had contributed to the INGH story and said the anniversary would provide an opportunity to recognise their contributions through an awards and thanksgiving programme to be held next year.
He said community durbars would also be organised as part of the anniversary activities, with discussions focusing on child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and empowerment.
Mr Awadey said the anniversary was an opportunity not only to look back with gratitude, but also to renew the organisation’s commitment to the values that had guided its work over the past four decades.
He said INGH would embrace new technologies, ideas and approaches in development, deepen partnerships, build stronger communities, and strengthen its faith and obedience to the Great Commission to serve more effectively.
Dr Charity Binka, Board Chair of INGH, said the organisation’s four decades of service had given hope and a voice to people who, by virtue of where they were born or the communities in which they lived, might otherwise have had limited opportunities to realise their potential.
She said the organisation’s impact could be seen in beneficiaries who had become professionals, including nurses and lawyers, as well as individuals and communities who had gained hope, voice, and a stronger sense of identity.
Dr Binka urged stakeholders to appreciate INGH’s contribution to creating opportunities for people who might otherwise have remained socially excluded.
Mr Reindolph Perbi, Former Chairman of INGH urged the organisation to use the anniversary to reflect on its foundation and draw lessons for the future, stressing the importance of strong foundations and nurturing them to produce lasting results.
He called on the current generation to preserve the vision and values upon which INGH was established.
He said the 40th anniversary should serve not only as a celebration of past achievements, but also as a period of reflection and renewed commitment to sustaining the organisation’s mission and impact in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei