By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Upper West Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has presented ¢18,424 to a Wa-based journalist, Morris Baanamwine, who had a motor accident on 9th July 2023.
Mr Banaamwine, who sustained a head injury during the accident, lost consciousness and was referred from Wa to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for further medical care.
The situation required financial commitments that were beyond the capacity of the average Ghanaian, so the Upper West GJA had to act fast to launch an appeal to support one of its own.
Luckily, Morris has been discharged from KATH, and he is back home in Wa to recuperate.
Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the Upper West GJA Executive, led by the Chairman, Sualah Abdul-wahab visited Morris Banaamwine at Mangu, a suburb of Wa, to wish him a speedy recovery and present the money so far raised to him.
The Upper West Regional Vice Chairman of GJA, Seidu Ibrahim Bomanjo, is coordinating the fund-raising in support of Morris Banaamwine set the ball rolling at the presentation ceremony.
He stated: “When he was involved in the accident, the leadership of the GJA quickly came together and sought clearance from the family to be able to do what we did. Some people were even questioning us. I had a call from somebody who said, Who gave us clearance to do what we were doing?
Because at that time, we needed time to do the needful, I decided to do those things. But I think the public, particularly the Upper West public, were very, very helpful. I now realise that there are a lot of good people in the Upper West Region, and they in fact did a lot, though we had some from other parts of the country.
So as we are going to give this money, 18,424 Ghana Cedis, I will give it to the Chairman, who is our leader, to hand over to our brother, Morris Banaamwine.”
The Upper West Regional Chairman of GJA, Sualah Abdul-wahab who handed over the money to Mr Banaamwine was equally thankful to all those who responded positively to the distress call to help and stressed the necessity for all motor riders to wear helmets to protect themselves.
For his part, Morris Banaamwine expressed his appreciation to the GJA and all those who helped him get his life back.
A Regulatory Officer of the Upper West Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority, Kamaldeen Ismail, and Abdul Fatawu of Radio Wa were also grateful to the GJA for the initiative to reach Morris Banaamwine in his time of need.
