CFAS Organizes an event with RJOY from the United States to display Ghana’s diverse culture
The Centre for Ageing Studies (CFAS) on 3rd July 2023 organized an event to display Ghana’s diverse culture. This was done through dances and folklore, herbal and traditional medicinal practices, and a tour among others for one of our stakeholders from the United States. Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY). RJOY is a non-profit organization in California, USA that interrupts cycles of violence and incarceration by promoting restorative justice practices and policies in schools, communities, and the juvenile justice system. The focus is on reducing racial disparities and public costs associated with high rates of incarceration, suspension, and expulsion. They provide education, training, and technical assistance and collaboratively launch demonstration programs with school, community, juvenile justice, and research partners. So it is in that same vein that they have partnered with the Centre to promote healthy ageing in Ghana. Some stakeholders who attended the event included a team from RJOY, Samuel Amo Tobin Foundation and Naro Aged Care
Professor Mavis Dako-Gyeke giving her opening address and to her immediate left is Prof Teiahsha Bankhead and Prof. Jim Bowie
The event started after an opening prayer from Rev. Korkor Hammond, Minister-In-Charge, Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church. The Director of the Centre, Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke in her opening speech expressed gratitude to all present for attending the event and urged them to pay keen attention to the presentations as well as ask questions and make contributions when necessary. After a welcome statement from the Director, there was a traditional dance from the Abibigromma Theatre Company, University of Ghana. Prof. Jim Bowie and Prof. Teiahsha Bankhead then took turns to make their statements at the event and expressed their gratitude to the attendees present.
The first presentation was by Dr. Mavis Boakye and her team, who are herbal medicine practitioners from the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapim. She mentioned the various plants uses and their benefit to the human body. She also mentioned the constituents of some plants and how the Centre arrives at the right dosage of plant medicine for human use. She further described certain processes that her institution goes through to produce herbal medicines that can cure major diseases in the body.
Dr. Mavis Boakye giving her presentation and a team from Centre for Plants Medicine Research
The second presentation was done by Mr. Albert Ocran, a traditional healer from Onarco Herbal Centre, Accra. In his presentation, he also mentioned key ingredients his herbal Centre uses in the preparation of Herbal medicine for consumption. He spoke of the fact that God in his own way had created different plants to solve different illness and diseases in the human body and that it was up to practitioners to explore and find the suitable herbs and plants that can treat specific diseases. He expressed his gratitude to the Director of the Centre for Ageing Studies for the opportunity given him to talk about the benefits of traditional medicine.
Madam Rhodaline Adu, also a traditional healer from Madina, Accra gave the attendees a different dimension to how she uses herbal medicine in her daily practice to cure illness and heal diseases. She shared the uses of some traditional medicine and how she used these medicines to cure herself from cancer. She further urged attendees to take keen interest in traditional medicine and use it for their own benefit.
Madam Rosalind Adu and Mr. Albert Ocran giving their presentations on Herbal Medicinal Practices.
As the event unfolded, there was a poetry recital from Dr. Daniel Appiah-Adjei and his team from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon titled, PRIDE OF THE NATION. This poem highlighted the vision and goals of University of Ghana, and it also celebrated the past achievements of the University over the years since its establishment.
Poetry recital by from School of Performing Arts 
Cultural performances by Abibigromma Dance Company
Dr. Akosua Agyemang and Dr. Delali Dovie from the Centre for Ageing Studies received donations from the RJOY team headed by Prof.Teiahsha Bankhead and Prof. Jim Bowie. Some of the items included diapers, kids’ toys, shoes and clothing. The Centre acknowledged the donation received. Stakeholders from Samuel Amo Tobin Foundation and Naro Aged Care also thanked the donors for the items received and how it will go a long way to help elderly persons in their agency. In addition, Mr. Charles Amo Tobin from Samuel Amo Tobin Foundation gave a statement at the event. He expressed his thanks to members present and encouraged more of such events in the future to help people become aware traditional medicine and their benefits to the human body.
A cross section of participants at the event
A vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Ama Aidoo, Centre for Ageing Studies. During the interaction and refreshment session, attendees were entertained by a performance from the Abibigromma Theatre Company, University of Ghana. The event ended after a closing prayer from Rev. Korkor Hammond, Minister-In-Charge, Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church.