ICGC donates GH¢200,000 to support the Mental Health Authority

The International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) has donated GH¢200,000.00 raised from this year’s Life Walk to support the Mental Health Authority. The life-changing event has supported the authority for five years running as part of the church’s commitment to helping improve conditions in the nation’s psychiatric hospitals and raising awareness to ensure the appropriate management of mental health cases.

Life Walk is a health and social event held annually by ICGC to promote healthy living and raise funds to support mental health in Ghana. This year’s event was a 12-kilometre walk that started from Christ Temple East of the church in Teshie and went through Rasta Road, Tse Addo, the Military Cemetery, the Major Mahama roundabout and its enclave, back to the starting point. The well-organised walk was characterised by brass band music and gospel ‘jama’ songs by various cheer groups drawn from various branches of the church.

Leading the participants were senior officials and pastors of the church, including the General Overseer, Pastor Mensa Otabil and his wife, Lady Joy Otabil, the General Secretary, Rev. Morris Appiah, the Regional Overseer for Accra North, Rev. Yaw Annor, the Regional Overseer for Accra South, Rev. Anthony Cudjoe and various district and area heads.

After the walk, Rev. Anthony Cudjoe, on behalf of the General Overseer, Pastor Mensa Otabil, presented the cheque to the Authority. He mentioned that ICGC’s support for mental health was anchored in the understanding that it was an aspect of Ghana’s healthcare system that was underserved and needed the most resources.

Rev. Cudjoe further remarked that Life Walk was more than a fitness and wellness event but an evangelistic and charity event and reminded the gathering of how Jesus Christ went everywhere doing good.

“Our mandate, and the third strand of our mission, is to influence society positively with the impact of the gospel,” he noted.

The acting Chief Executive Officer of the authority, Dr. Caroline Amissah, received the donation on behalf of the Authority. She commended the church for its continuous support of the institution in bringing attention and awareness to mental health issues. She revealed that, unlike previous years, when mental health was given little attention, things had changed with the issues now placed in the spotlight, resulting in a stigma reduction.

Dr. Amissah noted that the Authority’s collaboration with ICGC and other partners had led to an increased demand for mental health care, with more people now reaching out freely for support when they had issues.

She called on other institutions to emulate the gesture by ICGC to complement the efforts of the state.