As the Obogu community and the families of the 16 members of the Saviour Church of Ghana continue to grapple with the recent tragedy, the government—through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection—has stepped in to provide further support.
According to the sector minister, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, while the families have already received various forms of assistance, including financial support and therapy, there is a need for more sustainable economic interventions to reduce their vulnerability.
Speaking after visiting the affected families and members of the Obogu community in the Asante Akyem North Municipality, Dr. Lartey explained that the area is one of 20 districts in the Ashanti Region selected for the Ghana National Household Registry Scale-up and LEAP Reassessment Data Collection.
“We sat and looked at the systems and structures and realized that even with all that we are doing, if we should exit without a proper plan, it will be difficult for them to fully recover. So, after the trauma counselling, the next intervention is enrolling them on the LEAP programme so that they will be able to stand on their feet,” Dr. Lartey said.
She stressed that the government’s approach is to ensure long-term recovery rather than stopgap measures.
“We are not in a hurry to push them to recovery. We want to walk with them every step of the way until they are fully recovered. It’s an entire community—that is the difference,” she added.
The affected families welcomed the intervention, expressing optimism that it would help ease both their economic burden and emotional pain. Kwame Gabriel, one of the bereaved family members, described the support as timely and reassuring.
Meanwhile, under the Ghana National Household Registry Scale-up and LEAP Reassessment Data Collection exercise, eight out of the country’s 16 regions have so far been covered, including the Ashanti Region. The nationwide exercise is expected to continue in the remaining regions in the coming weeks.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
