Former VP Funds Church, Supports Leprosy Patients for Years

When Father Andrew Campbell needed help completing St. Jude's Catholic Church in Accra, Ghana, his friend Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia didn't just write a check. He saw the project through to its completion and showed up to celebrate with the community.

The former Vice President commissioned the newly built church in New Weija on Sunday, marking another chapter in his decade-long support for vulnerable communities across Ghana. For Fr. Campbell, who calls himself a "beggar priest" without shame, Bawumia's consistency has been life-changing.

"Anytime I am broke, I go to Dr. Bawumia and he always comes to my aid for my people," Fr. Campbell shared at the ceremony. The priest leads both St. Jude's and the nearby Weija Leprosarium, where cured leprosy patients live.

Last year, when Fr. Campbell was defrauded and couldn't feed the elderly residents at the Lepers Aid Centre, Bawumia immediately provided food supplies. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.

As Life Patron of Lepers Aid Ghana, Bawumia has spent more than ten years supporting people affected by leprosy. He regularly visits the community, sharing meals and spending time with residents who are often marginalized by society.

Why This Inspires

Perhaps the most touching example of Bawumia's commitment is four-year-old Priscilla. Abandoned at birth at the Weija Leprosarium because of severe leprosy-related deformities, she faced a difficult future.

Bawumia funded her initial amputation surgery in Ghana, then paid for her travel to Italy for five months of specialized treatment. She returned with a prosthetic leg and a new chance at life.

Fr. Campbell emphasized that his friend's support extends beyond writing checks. "He comes here all the time to spend time with us, interact with us and eat with us," the priest said, noting that Bawumia responds even to last-minute requests.

During the ceremony, Fr. Campbell reminded attendees that cured leprosy patients deserve dignity. "They are not third or fourth-class citizens; they are God's children," he said.

The new church stands as a promise kept between friends, but it represents something larger: a consistent commitment to seeing and serving people others might overlook. For more than a decade, Bawumia has shown up for this community in practical, tangible ways.

Fr. Campbell summed it up simply: "Dr. Bawumia has never said no to us."