Around the Achimota Melcom, Achimota Old Station, and the Achimota Overpass, the event, which was sponsored by the church’s corporate social responsibility, drew homeless people and beggars.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR), a singing group of the Catholic Church, distributed food, drinks, and water to hundreds of street beggars and homeless people in the Achimota area in the spirit of the holiday season.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Seth Peprah, Coordinator at the CCR, stated that Christmas provided a chance for Christians to demonstrate and share their love with the less fortunate members of society while also serving as a reminder of God’s unending love.
He said that as a church, they were carrying out the will of their Creator by providing food for the less fortunate, such as street beggars and the homeless.
“The journey of love to feed the street beggars was taken from Matthew 25:35-40, which says,” For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink…..” he said.
“We believe that a time to celebrate Christmas together with the homeless people on the street is an opportunity for us to feed our Lord Jesus Christ, an opportunity to also put joy and happiness in the heart of our brothers and sisters out there,” he added.
“This is the first project that we are embarking on, so, we are hoping to get good feedback so that we decide on the next step. So, if we can provide them with shelter and give them a place to sleep where we will be checking up on them so that they will also feel at home,” he added.
Mr Peprah urged the government to enhance social intervention programs that sought to help the weakest members of society by providing them with respite.
The Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) Programme and other social intervention programs will be expanded, the government announced in its 2023 budget statement and economic policy, to help more vulnerable Ghanaians.
According to Mr Peprah, the government should also think about building shelters for the nation’s rising number of homeless people. “We are pleading with the Gender Ministry that, if they can also come on board, come and join Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church and the CCR, it would be good, so that we all champion the charity work,” he appealed.