We haven't been doing very well in posting information on our blog. Byron Merriweather of Oxford House International was in Ghana for six weeks getting Hopeful Way/Oxford House on its feet, and we seemed too busy to post information. By 1st November there were four persons living in the house. Four additional persons lived in the house for some time and left for various reasons. Two of the residents were on assignment at Pantang Hospital and stayed in the house for three monhs before returning to the UK. Byron completed his stay with Hopeful Way in Accra on 31st August and Dan left for the U.S. on 2nd September to take care of a medical problem. We will try to post some additional information on the blog in the coming weeks. Dr. Eugene Dordoye and others are giving guidance to the house on behalf of Hopeful Way Foundation.
Submitted by
Dan O'Laughlin
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Oxford House Representative in Ghana
Some proposed activities for Byron Merriweather from Oxford House U.S.A. who will be visiting Ghana from 21 July to 31 August, 2009. He will be a guest of Hopeful Way Foundation and will be staying at Hopeful Way House (HWH) in Oyarifa. Please make suggestions regarding his itinerary below:
21 July, Tuesday –
8:30 a.m. Arrival at Kotoka International Airport
11:00 To Hopeful Way House, tentatively with Dr. Dzadey, Pantang Hospital
22 July, Wednesday –
8:00 a.m. Greet Dr. Asare (if possible)
Greet Dr. Osei and Dr. Dordoye, Psychiatric Hospital (if possible)
11:00 a.m. AA Meeting Psychiatric Hospital
Meet potential residents of Hopeful Way House
1:30 p.m. Valley View Clinic, greet Dr. Lamptey
23 July, Thursday –
Visit rental house in Adabraka
1:00 p.m. Lunch at Edvy Restaurant, National Museum
3:00 Depart for Mercy Centre, Cape Coast
Meet Mercy Centre staff and residents
24 July, Friday –
Meet Mercy Centre staff and residents
Visit Castle
Return to Accra
25 July, Saturday –
11:00 a.m. AA meeting Valley View Clinic
Meet potential residents of HWH
26 July, Sunday –
To be arranged
27 July, Monday –
8:00 a.m. Addictive Diseases Unit Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,
Mr. Logosu Amegashie
9:00 NA Meeting at ADU
Meet potential residents at HWH
28 July, Tuesday –
10:00 a.m. Pantang Hospital Workshop for Staff
Meet potential residents of HWH
29 July, Wednesday –
10:00 a.m. Accra Psychiatric Hospital Workshop for Staff
Meet potential residents of HWH
30 July, Thursday –
To be arranged
Meet potential residents of HWH
31 July, Friday –
10:30 a.m. Al-Anon meeting at Social Advance Institute, Dan’s office
11:30 AA meeting at Social Advance Institute
Meet potential residents of HWH
21 July, Tuesday –
8:30 a.m. Arrival at Kotoka International Airport
11:00 To Hopeful Way House, tentatively with Dr. Dzadey, Pantang Hospital
22 July, Wednesday –
8:00 a.m. Greet Dr. Asare (if possible)
Greet Dr. Osei and Dr. Dordoye, Psychiatric Hospital (if possible)
11:00 a.m. AA Meeting Psychiatric Hospital
Meet potential residents of Hopeful Way House
1:30 p.m. Valley View Clinic, greet Dr. Lamptey
23 July, Thursday –
Visit rental house in Adabraka
1:00 p.m. Lunch at Edvy Restaurant, National Museum
3:00 Depart for Mercy Centre, Cape Coast
Meet Mercy Centre staff and residents
24 July, Friday –
Meet Mercy Centre staff and residents
Visit Castle
Return to Accra
25 July, Saturday –
11:00 a.m. AA meeting Valley View Clinic
Meet potential residents of HWH
26 July, Sunday –
To be arranged
27 July, Monday –
8:00 a.m. Addictive Diseases Unit Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,
Mr. Logosu Amegashie
9:00 NA Meeting at ADU
Meet potential residents at HWH
28 July, Tuesday –
10:00 a.m. Pantang Hospital Workshop for Staff
Meet potential residents of HWH
29 July, Wednesday –
10:00 a.m. Accra Psychiatric Hospital Workshop for Staff
Meet potential residents of HWH
30 July, Thursday –
To be arranged
Meet potential residents of HWH
31 July, Friday –
10:30 a.m. Al-Anon meeting at Social Advance Institute, Dan’s office
11:30 AA meeting at Social Advance Institute
Meet potential residents of HWH
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Hopeful Way and AA
The Hopeful Way Foundation and Alcoholics Anonymous are independent and separate organisations but the Twelve Steps of AA are used in the programmes of the Foundation. Below is the sharing of Betty, and AA member, which appeared on the internet, on 8 July, 2009.
An AA Member Shares: My name is Betty, and I am an alcoholic. I'm a bi-product of AA Online twelve years ago yesterday. We were at a different site, and many of the facilitators here today were there. I had been drinking for thirty years and was indeed powerless. One night I found the site and listened to what you all had to say. Soon, I was asking questions and was amazed and awed by you people. Coming into the rooms of AA, I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe -- couldn't do anything. My mind was gone. I even went to a shrink and my doctor for help. You all told me to get to face-to-face meetings, and I did. It took two weeks to get enough courage to do so, but I went. I found a wonderful woman to help me. She guided me and slowed me down. She said, "First Things First." I wanted everything right away...It didn't happen. It got worse before it got better. Newcomers, be prepared for the ride of your life! This is truly an awesome program, and if you work it, it works! It saved me and it was a miracle. God Bless you all.
An AA Member Shares: My name is Betty, and I am an alcoholic. I'm a bi-product of AA Online twelve years ago yesterday. We were at a different site, and many of the facilitators here today were there. I had been drinking for thirty years and was indeed powerless. One night I found the site and listened to what you all had to say. Soon, I was asking questions and was amazed and awed by you people. Coming into the rooms of AA, I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe -- couldn't do anything. My mind was gone. I even went to a shrink and my doctor for help. You all told me to get to face-to-face meetings, and I did. It took two weeks to get enough courage to do so, but I went. I found a wonderful woman to help me. She guided me and slowed me down. She said, "First Things First." I wanted everything right away...It didn't happen. It got worse before it got better. Newcomers, be prepared for the ride of your life! This is truly an awesome program, and if you work it, it works! It saved me and it was a miracle. God Bless you all.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES (EAP)
TRAINING IN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES
Hopeful Way Foundation is also making plans to conduct a three-day consultation on Employee Assistance Programmes which are aimed at assisting employers and employees deal with problems related to alcohol, drugs and other issues. Much interest was shown in EAPs by the participants in a training conducted in April by Hopeful Way Foundation. If the training on EAPs is held, a resource person would come to Ghana to assist in the effort. We will provide more information in the coming weeks on the proposed training.
Hopeful Way Foundation is also making plans to conduct a three-day consultation on Employee Assistance Programmes which are aimed at assisting employers and employees deal with problems related to alcohol, drugs and other issues. Much interest was shown in EAPs by the participants in a training conducted in April by Hopeful Way Foundation. If the training on EAPs is held, a resource person would come to Ghana to assist in the effort. We will provide more information in the coming weeks on the proposed training.
TWELVE STEP TRAINING
Hopeful Way Foundation is considering the possibility of conducting a training programme in August for those who want to learn more about alcoholism and drug addiction. Emphasis would be placed on becoming more familiar with the twelve-step programmes used in overcoming such addictions. The idea of doing the training came as a result of an interest in Jasikan to send some people to Accra to become more familiar with AA meetings and how they could be started in and around Jasikan. If there is sufficient interest, a training programme will be organised in Accra from 23 August to 3 September, 2009. Participants will likely stay in Hopeful Way House where Big Book study sessions will be held along with Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions study groups. Participants could come from various parts of Ghana and would be expected to pay something for the training.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Anti-Drug Day at Addictive Diseases Unit
Below is the invitation letter sent by Mr. Logosu Amegashie for a celebration at the Addictive Diseases Unit on 29 June, 2009.
Hopeful Way Foundation
and
Addictive Diseases Unit – Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
23 June, 2009
…………………………………………
and
Addictive Diseases Unit – Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
23 June, 2009
…………………………………………
…………………………………………
…………………………………………
INVITATION
Meeting in Honour of International Day Against Illicit Drugs: 29 June, 2009
Dear Sir/Madam:
In order to raise awareness regarding the Twelve-Step Programmes aimed at assisting recovering addicts, the Hopeful Way Foundation, in conjunction with the Addictive Diseases Unit of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, invites you to an awareness creation meeting from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Addictive Diseases Unit on 29 June, 2009.
The first half of the meeting will consist of an open Twelve-Step meeting, with members of AA, NA and other interested persons reflecting on how we could possibly better carry the AA/NA message in Ghana.
The second half of the meeting will consist of remarks by a panel of distinguished personalities in the field of recovery. A general discussion will be held on measures that could be taken to help overcome addiction in Ghana.
Sincerely,
Logosu Amegashie
Addictive Diseases Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
Tel: 024-482-8891
…………………………………………
INVITATION
Meeting in Honour of International Day Against Illicit Drugs: 29 June, 2009
Dear Sir/Madam:
In order to raise awareness regarding the Twelve-Step Programmes aimed at assisting recovering addicts, the Hopeful Way Foundation, in conjunction with the Addictive Diseases Unit of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, invites you to an awareness creation meeting from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Addictive Diseases Unit on 29 June, 2009.
The first half of the meeting will consist of an open Twelve-Step meeting, with members of AA, NA and other interested persons reflecting on how we could possibly better carry the AA/NA message in Ghana.
The second half of the meeting will consist of remarks by a panel of distinguished personalities in the field of recovery. A general discussion will be held on measures that could be taken to help overcome addiction in Ghana.
Sincerely,
Logosu Amegashie
Addictive Diseases Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
Tel: 024-482-8891
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
AA Springs up in Jasikan - Nsuta
Alcoholics Anonymous is slowly but steadily spreading into more nooks and crannies in Ghana. After being planted in Wa, Upper West, AA has been embraced in Jasikan, a town in the Volta Region, about 180 km north-east of Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Professionals and other friends of alcoholics are showing a growing interest in setting up appropriate types of support systems which could benefit Ghanaians who have gone through detoxification, medical treatment and counseling. One such friend is Father Kofi Appiah, Director of the Diocesan Formation and Counseling Centre in Jasikan. After visiting an AA meeting of the Black Star Group in Accra , Fr. Kofi invited two of its members to come to Jasikan-Nsuta to start an AA group.
Without hesitation, the Black Star Group quickly dispatched two of its long-serving, recovering alcoholics, with much experience under their sleeves, to go and share their experiences, strengths and hopes with their still suffering brothers in Jasikan District. Chris D. and Sammy A. packed bag and baggage on 28 May, 2009 and headed toward Jasikan. The journey started just a day after Sammy A. had landed in Accra after spending four days in Johannesburg , South Africa attending an AA conference.
A tiring but interesting journey took us across the acclaimed Adomi Bridge , one of the legacies of the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. After enjoying mountainous greenery, we arrived in a beautiful and serene Jasikan where our host, Fr. Kofi Appiah, met us on arrival at the main lorry park. He drove us straight to the Diocesan Formation and Counseling Centre, the place purported to taste the first AA meeting held in the upper part of the Volta Region. The meeting took place the following day with nine alcoholics and two wives present.
Because it was the first AA meeting held in Jasikan-Nsuta, we divided the session it into two: an introductory, formation meeting followed by a sharing meeting. The Big Book readings were interpreted by Sammy A. into the Ewe language spoken in the Volta Region. Chris D. then took the group through some of the medical tenets of alcoholism, and described it as a disease with no known cure. A brief background of AA was given, including the experiences of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Mention was made of the various types of AA meetings before Sammy A. painstakingly interpreted the AA Preamble, How it Works and the Promises into a down-to-earth Ewe that brought about smiles and the nodding of heads by the participants. Beginning with Sammy D., the participants then took turns sharing their experiences with alcohol. The participants were full of life and hope and immediately began to discuss among themselves about organising the next AA meeting.
An interesting development took place during the meeting. After hearing the participants share their stories, a visiting Catholic priest promptly confirmed that he was probably an alcoholic. He shared his experiences and was in full appreciation of the AA programme. He wondered why such an important and greatly needed organisation such as AA was not better known in Ghana . He promised to take steps to help establish an AA meeting in his town, and wanted assistance from us in getting started.
Fr. Kofi Appiah, who is also a counselor in alcohol and drug addiction was full of appreciation for our coming to Jasikan-Nsuta. He believed that our presence would motivate the group to start an AA meeting and to return to productive lives while enjoying “The Promises” as found in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Wives at the meeting seemed to appreciate the fact that their husbands were suffering from a disease and had not chosen “to destroy themselves”. The wife of a professional teacher said that she was relieved to learn that her husband was suffering from a disease that could be arrested. She could not hide her happiness when she realized that there was still hope of bringing her husband back to sanity and sobriety. She pledged to renew her commitment and support for her husband.
It was thought that it may be useful to introduce Al-Anon to the family members of alcoholics in Jasikan.
Submitted by
Chris D.
Professionals and other friends of alcoholics are showing a growing interest in setting up appropriate types of support systems which could benefit Ghanaians who have gone through detoxification, medical treatment and counseling. One such friend is Father Kofi Appiah, Director of the Diocesan Formation and Counseling Centre in Jasikan. After visiting an AA meeting of the Black Star Group in Accra , Fr. Kofi invited two of its members to come to Jasikan-Nsuta to start an AA group.
Without hesitation, the Black Star Group quickly dispatched two of its long-serving, recovering alcoholics, with much experience under their sleeves, to go and share their experiences, strengths and hopes with their still suffering brothers in Jasikan District. Chris D. and Sammy A. packed bag and baggage on 28 May, 2009 and headed toward Jasikan. The journey started just a day after Sammy A. had landed in Accra after spending four days in Johannesburg , South Africa attending an AA conference.
A tiring but interesting journey took us across the acclaimed Adomi Bridge , one of the legacies of the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. After enjoying mountainous greenery, we arrived in a beautiful and serene Jasikan where our host, Fr. Kofi Appiah, met us on arrival at the main lorry park. He drove us straight to the Diocesan Formation and Counseling Centre, the place purported to taste the first AA meeting held in the upper part of the Volta Region. The meeting took place the following day with nine alcoholics and two wives present.
Because it was the first AA meeting held in Jasikan-Nsuta, we divided the session it into two: an introductory, formation meeting followed by a sharing meeting. The Big Book readings were interpreted by Sammy A. into the Ewe language spoken in the Volta Region. Chris D. then took the group through some of the medical tenets of alcoholism, and described it as a disease with no known cure. A brief background of AA was given, including the experiences of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Mention was made of the various types of AA meetings before Sammy A. painstakingly interpreted the AA Preamble, How it Works and the Promises into a down-to-earth Ewe that brought about smiles and the nodding of heads by the participants. Beginning with Sammy D., the participants then took turns sharing their experiences with alcohol. The participants were full of life and hope and immediately began to discuss among themselves about organising the next AA meeting.
An interesting development took place during the meeting. After hearing the participants share their stories, a visiting Catholic priest promptly confirmed that he was probably an alcoholic. He shared his experiences and was in full appreciation of the AA programme. He wondered why such an important and greatly needed organisation such as AA was not better known in Ghana . He promised to take steps to help establish an AA meeting in his town, and wanted assistance from us in getting started.
Fr. Kofi Appiah, who is also a counselor in alcohol and drug addiction was full of appreciation for our coming to Jasikan-Nsuta. He believed that our presence would motivate the group to start an AA meeting and to return to productive lives while enjoying “The Promises” as found in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Wives at the meeting seemed to appreciate the fact that their husbands were suffering from a disease and had not chosen “to destroy themselves”. The wife of a professional teacher said that she was relieved to learn that her husband was suffering from a disease that could be arrested. She could not hide her happiness when she realized that there was still hope of bringing her husband back to sanity and sobriety. She pledged to renew her commitment and support for her husband.
It was thought that it may be useful to introduce Al-Anon to the family members of alcoholics in Jasikan.
Submitted by
Chris D.
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