In an attempt to help the needy and the vulnerable in society during and after the COVID-19 global pandemic, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on 29th March, 2020 inaugurated a Board of Trustees for COVID-19 National Trust Fund, in a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, with former chief Justice, Sofia Akuffo selected as the chair.
The rest of the board members are, Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Mrs Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, Mr. Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Dr Tanko. Mr. Collins Asare who is will work as Secretary to the board.
The president noted that organizations and individuals have been very helpful since the outbreak of the virus, and many more wanted to know how best they can help.
He said “the best way was to establish a public trust so that the monies come do not get mixed with Government money. The public trust will 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 has pledged his 3 months salary to the trust.“I have directed the Controller and Accountant General to pay my next three months’ salary, i.e. April, May and June, into this fund. Let me also thank, from the bottom of my heart, the churches, financial institutions and individuals who have all made donations to help in this fight. God richly bless them.” he said.
Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia has also pledged his next three months salary be paid into the fund.
UBA has donated a sum of $350,000 and MELCOM doing a similar donation with sanitizers to COVID-19 Fund and the Presidency respectively.
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President Nana Addo in his fourth covid-19 ddress to the nation on Friday, 27th March, 2020, imposed in pursuant to the powers granted the of the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions of movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two weeks, effective Monday, 30th March, 2020, and subject to change.
Ghana’s total confirmed cases increased to 152 from the previous 141, after 11 news cases were recorded on Sunday 29th March, 2020. 5 deaths recorded and 2 recoveries made.
The global total confirmed cases has now reached 719,414, with 33,901 deaths recorded, and 150,918 recovered. (updated 29th March, 2020: 22:18 GMT)
By: Christian SOWADA (chrissowada@gmail.com)