The ‘World Day of the Poor’ was instituted in November 2016 by His Holiness Pope Francis to mark the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. This day which is observed on the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time of the Church’s liturgical calendar has also been adopted by the Marshallan Relief and Development Service (MAREDES) as Maredes day during which various charity events are held and a statement released.
Maredes, established eleven years ago is the charity-oriented NGO arm of the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a Catholic Friendly Society. Over the last decade Maredes has been involved in humanitarian activities such as disaster relief, hospital donations, support for lepers, girls’ education support, teacher training programmes, community water support etc. Maredes also forms partnerships with like-minded organisations to make the world a better place.
This year the day falls on 13th November 2022 under the theme
“For your sakes Christ became poor (cf. 2 Cor 8:9)
Pope Francis writes: “Jesus Christ… for your sakes became poor” (cf. 2
Cor 8:9). With these words, the Apostle Paul addresses the first Christians of Corinth in order to encourage their efforts to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters in need. The World Day of the Poor comes this year as a healthy challenge, helping us to reflect on our style of life and on the many forms of poverty all around us.
Several months ago, the world was emerging from the tempest of the pandemic, showing signs of an economic recovery that could benefit millions of people reduced to poverty by the loss of their jobs. A patch of blue sky was opening that, without detracting from our sorrow at the loss of our dear ones, promised to bring us back to direct interpersonal relations and to socializing with one another once more without further prohibitions or restrictions. Now, however, a new catastrophe has appeared on the horizon, destined to impose on our world a very different scenario.
The war in Ukraine has now been added to the regional wars that for years have taken a heavy toll of death and destruction. Yet here the situation is even more complex due to the direct intervention of a “superpower” aimed at imposing its own will in violation of the principle of the self-determination of peoples
The war in Ukraine has also brought in its wake harsh economic effects globally especially inflation. Our subregion, Africa, is still suffering from the effects of global inflation which is especially driven by the rising cost of imported petroleum products. This has adversely affected the purchasing power of many and especially harming the poor and vulnerable. The imposition of sanctions on Russia and the war situation in that region have adversely affected trade with those nations and consequently the incomes of those who depend on these revenues to feed their families.
In Ghana, a menace that is destroying communities and livelihoods is galamsey or illegal mining. Communities in some parts of the Country are losing farmlands and thereby livelihoods to galamsey miners. Generations unborn are going to suffer from long-term health implications of toxic chemicals such as mercury as these heavy metals pollute surface and underground waters that form the long-term health implications that would not manifest immediately but in the near future.
Most surveys conducted in Ghana show clearly that women and children outnumber men who engage in galamsey activities. This therefore exposes the most vulnerable of the country to severe health risk. These vulnerable groups of persons apart from dangers posed by mercury and arsenic poisoning, also face the threat of HIV/AIDS and malaria. The prevalence of malaria in such communities is on the rise leading our children to their early graves. Drenches left by miners have become death traps and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes due to significant water in them.
There is a decline in fish stock due to mercury and arsenic spillage into streams and rivers with devastating consequence on aquatic biodiversity. Farmlands, forest areas and communities are literally getting uprooted for illegal mining and further destroying livelihoods.
More importantly precious lives are lost due to collapse of mining pits and galamsey pit cave ins, disturbingly women and children are the most affected. Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated. At times, however, a kind of laxity can creep in and lead to inconsistent behaviour, including indifference about the poor. It also happens that some Christians, out of excessive attachment to money, remain mired in a poor use of their goods and wealth. These situations reveal a weak faith and feeble, myopic hope.
The words of the Apostle chosen as the theme of this year’s World Day of the Poor present this great paradox of our life of faith: Christ’s poverty makes us rich. Paul was able to present this teaching, which the Church has spread and borne witness to over the centuries, because God himself, in his Son Jesus, chose to follow this path. Because Christ became poor for our sakes, our own lives are illumined and transformed, and take on a worth that the world does not appreciate and cannot bestow. Jesus’s words are clear: if we want life to triumph over death, and dignity to be redeemed from injustice, we need to follow Christ’s path of poverty, sharing our lives out of love, breaking the bread of our daily existence with our brothers and sisters, beginning with the least of them, those who lack the very essentials of life.
In conclusion, we call on leaders of warring factions and Countries to look within their hearts and give peace a chance. We encourage leaders everywhere to continue to build peace and take decisions in the interest of Peace. We call on the authorities in Ghana to diligently enforce the laws that outlaw illegal mining so as to protect the environment, health and livelihoods. We encourage all Christians and people of faith to actively engage in actions that would supply the needs of the poor and ensure no one is left behind.
W/Bro. Dr. Andre Kwasi-Kumah Maredes Board Chairman