Clubhouse Ghana, a mental health non-governmental organisation, has received a one plot of land donation at Abokobi in the Greater Accra Region to construct its mental health facility.
The land, which was donated by someone who wants to keep his identity anonymous, will be used to commence the multi-purpose mental health facility’s first phase – which will augment government’s efforts to provide quality medical care for people suffering mental health disorders and diseases.
The anonymous donor said he gave the land as part of his usual charitable deeds for people who are marginalised or underserved in their communities.
The Founder of Clubhouse Ghana, Houston-based Ghanaian-American ML Brookshire née Blay-Miezah, expressed her gratitude to the donor for believing in the project and making a practical move to assist construction of the facility.
This development comes after another donor, in December 2021 right after the launch, offered an Achimota property to be used as a temporary location to begin operations.
Clubhouse Ghana was publicly announced by the founder, ML Brookshire, through an official release; stating her intentions to establish the first-ever Clubhouse-franchised Rehabilitation Centre in West Africa, and in Ghana specifically, for the mentally challenged.
Clubhouse Ghana operates under the Clubhouse International Model and facilitates the reintegration of recovered individuals who have been diagnosed as having a Mental Health condition. The facility is simply a community-oriented centre that provides meals and recreational activities for any individual who believe in its principles and tenets. Hence, Clubhouse Ghana will also ensure a clean-up campaign by clearing the streets of unkempt, unbathed, half-naked supposedly ‘mad’ individuals who roam the streets of Ghana.
On the premises of the facility, ‘members’ (as they are called as opposed to recovered patients), will be able to enjoy an art room, a games room, a music room, a therapeutic room, a room to discuss how they can further their education through the Ministry of Education, as well as a room where they can even find out how to train as artisans with varying skill sets and dedicated apprenticeships, so that they can finally live independent and self-fulfilled lives.
To prove the concept of rehabilitation through the Clubhouse Model, a UK donor has given thousands of dollars to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital in order to rehabilitate 2 recovered patients (one of whom has lived in the hospital for 20 years after being abandoned by her mother at age 16).
The 2 patients are beginning their apprenticeships this month, with one trading at Makola Market in bead-making and the other understudying to become a hairdresser. Truly, at the age of 36 after being institutionalised in the hospital for twenty years, one of these patients has been able to hold onto her dream of being able to style the hair of young ladies – and is learning how to braid as well.
Clubhouse Ghana is presently in Partnership with 3 Rotary Clubs in Ghana and 2 Rotary Clubs in Texas: Accra Industrial, Cantonments, Sekondi-Takoradi, Houston-Texas, and Katy-Texas.
These Rotary Clubs have signed MoUs with the organization, and the Ghanaian club volunteers will be fully present at all outreach and fundraising events going forward. Under the supervision of Service Director, Karol Kunko, and other Rotary Presidents, Rotary Club has been able to realise four out of its seven ideals by aligning itself with the Clubhouse Ghana Project.
With regard to the partnership with Clubhouse Ghana, Rotary’s areas of focus will be basic education and literacy; disease prevention and treatment; economic and community development; mother and child healthcare; water and sanitation; peace-building and conflict resolution, among others.
Clubhouse Ghana is continually receiving support in cash or in kind, and can be funded via mobile money with corporate tax exemptions, and online at https://www.gofundme.com/ML4LyfeFoundation
