Ga King and Elder Nielsen Present Church's Donation to Children's Hospital in Accra Ghana

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated much needed medical and technology equipment to the Princess Marie Louise Hospital in Accra Ghana.  Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa West Area, joined together with the Ga King, His Royal Highness Tackie Teiko Tsuro-II, to present the donation during an event at the Hospital on 3 March. The King is known to his people as the Ga Mantse.

Joining Elder Nielsen were his wife, Wendy, Elder Jorg Klebingat, General Authority Seventy and First Counselor in the Area Presidency, and Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Area Presidency.

The Princess Marie Louise Hospital was built in 1926 and serves the people of Greater Accra.  The Hospital specializes in maternal, reproductive, and infant and child health.  The Church donation included incubators and computer equipment as well as other needed supplies and equipment.

Attending the event was the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Sackey, who said to the Church leaders “for many years we have talked about helping the hospital, but now you have taken action, and by doing so have shared your love for the people, and especially the children of Accra.”

Elder Nielsen began his remarks by quoting Luke 18:16,” the Savior asked that we suffer not the little children to come unto Him and forbid them not.  By following the teachings of Jesus Christ, we are also carrying out the vision that his Royal Majesty has for his people here in Ghana”.  He said that we will work together and align ourselves with the Ga Mantse to bless the lives of the little children of Ghana.  Elder Nielsen noted that in this “we will have connected hearts.”

He also shared his love for the people of Ghana and his desire for the Church to continue to bless the lives of the Ghanaian people through collaboration with the Office of the Ga Mantse and other Government officials. “We asked, what can we do to help?” he said.  “By being together here today, we are doing what we were asked to do, help the little children.”

The Ga Mantse is highly revered in the Ga lands, Greater Accra Region and other parts of Ghana, and is one of the prominent rulers in Ghana.  He opened his remarks by saying, “the Office of the Ga Mantse and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are making a very essential intervention that will enhance the quality of healthcare delivery in this facility for the benefit of children.”

“This is our joint Independence Day gift to all the children of Ghana,” he stated.  On 6 March, Ghana celebrates 66 years of independence. 

He noted that the donation includes incubators and computers, “which will increase the survival rate of infants, especially of premature babies who badly need incubators, and turn this Hospital into a paperless institution and make possible online consultation and management of cases.”   

“It would be remiss of me, not to convey profound gratitude to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” the Ga Mantse said. “They have done multiple humanitarian works in Ghana including provision of water, interventions in sanitation, construction of places of convenience for children and enhancement of healthcare. For all this we are most grateful.”

Dr. Abena Okoh, Accra Metro Director of Health Services accepted the generous donation for the Princess Marie Louise Hospital. “These donations fall in line with our strategic goals for 2023, to advance health care delivery gaps for equity in health coverage,” she said, and added “your gifts will optimize the use of data and technology to improve access to quality health care, strengthening prevention and control measures for emergent and reemergent public health events.”

At the end of the ceremony the benediction was offered by the Very Reverend Andrew Campbell, founder of the Lepers Aid Committee and parish priest of Christ the King Catholic church in Accra. Father Campbell has served in Accra and with the Princess Marie Louise Hospital for 52 years and has been instrumental in raising the funds necessary for expansion of the Hospital over the years.  In his benediction he said “we commit all the equipment and computers to you God, for the blessing of the children of Ghana.

 As the event was concluding, the Ga Mantse turned to Elder Nielsen and said, “this feels good, this feels right.”  Elder Nielsen nodded and said, “I agree.”