The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has shown its commitment to eliminate the use of kerosene (paraffin) lanterns for reading by school children in rural communities without access to electricity.
With its blessing, Caritas Ghana is championing the supply of portable, durable and auto-charging solar lamps to replace the kerosene lanterns that are emitting harmful fumes in poor communities.
The Episcopal Chairman of Caritas Ghana, Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, together with Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho as well as Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General, National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference sanctioned and encouraged the use of environmentally safe solar lamps.
Studies show that toxic fumes from lanterns are injurious to children’s health; especially to their eyes and lungs.
Experts say that kerosene lanterns are also not environmentally friendly, in addition to their high potential to cause domestic fire outbreaks.
The initiative, which is part of Caritas Ghana’s Social Impact Investment programme on Electronic Waste Management, requires their partner SUN24 of USA to supply the lamps based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2017.
To this end, Caritas Ghana is currently distributing over 17,000 pieces of solar lamps to some 54 earmarked villages across 18 Arch/Dioceses in the country.
Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, who noted that the project was to help promote safe sources of lights to remote areas without electricity, passionately appealed to the Government “to lend useful support to the initiative by granting tax exemption to Caritas Ghana for the lamps, which were received for a social and charitable cause.”
He also commended the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), for its resolve to help promote and expand the cause for children in deprived communities and ensure their safety.
Mr. Francis Koku, Parliamentary Liaison Officer of the NCS, also assisted the Prelates to showcase the new solar lamps.
Report by Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng
