The world is currently battling the dreaded 2019 novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) which has resulted in the lock down of major cities around the world and the collapse of big world economies.
Ghana is also doing her best in the fight against the disease which has infected 636 persons within the jurisdiction so far. Some measures have been put in place to prevent further spread or community infection. They include the closure of all schools and borders (Land, Air, Sea), the ban on social gatherings and observing social distancing, the lock down of Greater Accra/Greater Kumasi and its environs.
However, the biggest challenge at the moment is where some recalcitrant Ghanaians are finding it difficult to stay at home and observe the social distancing order by the President.
In a bid to make sure that those who will be greatly affected by the coronavirus disease are ably supported, the President set up a COVID-19 National Trust Fund and encouraged both individual Ghanaians and the corporate world to make donations to the fund.
And as the Chairman at an event would always do, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made the first pledge by donating his next 3 months’ salary (April, May, June) to the fund; and the Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia followed suit. Members of the legislature have also pledged 50% of their salaries to the fund.
I am never against the donations going into the fund from both individuals and corporate bodies. However, after hearing the figures some private and autonomous government bodies donated, I became worried that these companies would have such amounts in their accounts and still refuse to absorb the thousands of unemployed Ghanaian graduates out there looking for jobs. In some instances, salaries of staff working for these companies are delayed all with the excuse that there is no money.
But I beg to differ on that. Let me take you through a list of some government and private entities that have donated to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund so far in no particular order.
Pharmaceutical giants Amponsah Effah Pharmaceutical LTD have donated GH¢50,000 to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund. The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry have also presented GH¢100,000 to the fund. The National Lottery Authority (NLA) have also given GH¢ 200,000.
Prefos Limited have donated GH¢ 150,000.00 as well as Personal Protective Equipment worth GH¢100,000.00. Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited have also given GH¢100,000 while the Commercial Quarry Operators Association of Ghana presented GH¢ 10,000.
The National Investment Bank have donated GH¢185,000 with the We 2 Seafood company donating GH¢ 300,000. Africa World Airlines have presented $100,000. Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) also donated $181,000; with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) donating $350,000, the highest so far.
The rest include Hollard Ghana donating GH¢100,000, Absa Bank Ghana giving GH¢1 Million, Interplast also giving GH¢1.2 Million and Takoradi based road contractor Justmoh Construction Limited contributing GH¢500,000.
Newmont Ghana has also supported the fund with $100,000 with the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) giving GH¢200,000.
Other institutions that have made donations include road contractor Joshob Construction, the National Petroleum Authority and a host of other government and private institutions.
It saddens my heart that these companies have all of these monies stocked up in their bank accounts but are unwilling to employ young energetic Ghanaians with the excuse that they don’t have the financial capacity to do so.
From the figures produced in this write up, it clearly shows that these institutions are not just willing to help the unemployment situation we face as a country.
It is my prayer that COVID-19 ends soon so that we can go back to our normal lives.
Ewurama Acheampoma