Donations pour in to fight coronavirus – Akufo-Addo reveals

Donations have started pouring in by spirited Ghanaians both home and abroad towards the fight against the deadly coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed

An eight-member board has since been inaugurated by the President of Ghana for the COVID-19 fund.

Government set up a fund for the public including individuals and Corporate entities to donate to support the government’s drive to fight the deadly coronavirus.

The President and Vice have shown leadership by donating three months’ salaries of theirs into the account.

The Board which was inaugurated today at the Jubilee House will be Chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo and is expected to coordinate the reception of donations and the disbursement of such.

Speaking at the inauguration, the President disclosed that well-meaning Ghanaians home and abroad want to donate towards the fight against the deadly disease and underscored the need to have a structured way of handling such donations to ensure accountability and fair distribution.

“I felt that the best way was to establish a public trust, so that the monies that come do not get intermingled with government money and all of those problems. A public trust that is to be managed by an independent body of trustees, so that people will see that these monies are being properly accounted for and properly deployed.”

The President mentioned that the Attorney General has been directed to help provide legal backing for the establishment for the Public Trust Fund.

On behalf of the board, Sophia Akuffo said: “We undertake to bear the charge that you have placed on us with full integrity and efficiency so as to make sure that all our outcomes are transparent and quality, and they fulfill the purpose for which the trust is being set up, We are very appreciative of the motivation behind the establishment of the fund. On behalf of the people of Ghana, I wish to thank you that this channel will be created to be able to cater for various needs that would arise, but particularly being able to respond to the needs of the vulnerable. I will not say much except to thank you once again”.