THE Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a Catholic-friendly society, on April 15, 2020 presented a cheque for GHc100,000 to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) in response to an appeal for support to fight COVID-19 pandemic.
With the support of Sir Kt Bro Tony Kemavor and Most Respected Lady Sis Felicity Acquah, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall, Sir Kt Bro Charles Cobb presented the dummy cheque the Vice President of the GCBC, the Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle.
The Knights and Ladies of Marshall is a Catholic fraternal organisation which aims at bringing Catholics together in the practice of unity, charity, fraternity and service.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofi and the Secretary General of GCBC, Very Rev Father Lazarus Anondee, flanked Most Rev Palmer-Buckle to receive the cheque.
The donation is targeted at supporting GCBC to procure personal protection equipment (PPEs) for frontline health workers and also provide relief items to the poor and vulnerable population.
Commitment
Speaking at the ceremony to present the cheque, the Supreme Knight, Sir Kt Bro Cobb said the decision by the KLOM to donate towards the fight against COVID-19 was in view of the negative impact the disease had made on all aspects of the society.
“We are all committed to stopping the spread of COVID-19 so that our country can quickly return to normalcy and for us to resume our participation in pour usual daily and Sunday masses,” he said.
He said the Noble Order was making the donation not because “we have so much, but because we find the challenge before us as a threat to the very existence of the human race”.
“As Christians and soldiers of the Church, it is our duty to be part of the solution and defend the Church, which is the people of God,” he added.
Sir Kt Bro Cobb said the donation was an example of the many charitable acts and support that the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall continued to extend to the Church and humanity.
“We were able to mobilise the funds out of the magnanimity of our individual Brothers and Sisters who desire to see a speedy end to this pandemic,” he stated.
Stay positive
For his part, the Most Rev Palmer-Buckle called on the public to stay positive and adhere strictly to the measures put in place by the government to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
He said although the steps taken by the government in dealing with the pandemic might have some challenges, it was important for the other stakeholders to fill the void by supporting to correct the difficulties rather than dwell on weaknesses inherent in them.
“The government cannot do everything about COVID-19 all alone. So let us encourage people to complement what the government is doing and even add on to it when we can; that is how we can collectively win the fight,” he said.
Frontline workers
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle paid glowing tribute to frontline players such as health workers, security officers and the media for putting their lives on the line to save lives and provide relevant information on the pandemic.
He noted however, that while a few excesses might occur, especially while the security agencies enforced the movement restrictions imposed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, it was important for the media to project the good things they do to help the country at this critical time.
“In reporting on COVID-19, we should focus more on the people on the frontline who are making sacrifices of their lives to safe other people. Let us highlight the positive work of these heroes and heroines.
“If we have about 1.9 million people getting COVID-19 infections across the world and only a minute percentage of them are dying, we should be telling the good story of those who are surviving it and let people know that if you get the virus, it is not a death sentence, ” he stressed.
Local support
For his part, Most Rev Kwofie called on all organisations and individuals to contribute their widow’s might towards winning the fight against COVID-19.
“COVID-19 has affected the whole world and every country is fighting to survive it, so it will be difficult for Ghana turn to other countries for help. We must look inward to see how to contain it with local resources and collaboration,” he said.
He indicated that although the Catholic Church had already contributed significantly to the fight against the pandemic, it would not rest until the disease had been dealt with.
For instance, he said the Accra Archdiocese of the Church had spent a total of GH₵111,000 on the procurement of personal protection equipment (PPEs) and support to vulnerable groups.
Write up by Sir Kt Bro Albert K, Salia