The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council has taken delivery of food items from Government to be supplied to vulnerable individuals within the lockdown areas in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan area.
The items which include, bags of rice, beans, Gari and cooking oil are expected to be distributed to persons from poor backgrounds who cannot afford to feed during the lockdown period.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, speaking to Citi News insisted that the items must be given to the vulnerable.
“As you are all aware, because of this coronavirus pandemic that has taken over the whole world, there are several measures and one of them is the lockdown of certain areas or certain regions in the country. You know with the lockdown movement is restricted and it is not everybody who has the financial capacity to acquire enough foodstuff for which they can use within their homes during the period and as a result, the president has found it necessary to purchase some food items for distribution to the poor and vulnerable. In order to avoid politicization of the distribution, the president asked us to hand over the items to the men and women of God of the various religious groups.”
The leadership of Faith-based Organizations will work with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives within the affected areas to distribute the items.
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Council of Churches, Most Reverend Daniel Yinkah Sarfo, in a Citi News interview assured that the items will go to the right individuals.
“The idea is that all food items will be sent to the church premises which will serve as warehouses. So we have identified all the areas, and this morning the items were handed over to the regional minister and the minister also handed them over to the church leaders. The items are not for the churches that will be used as warehouses but they are just distribution points for the poorest of the poor and not for people who can afford to buy food under the lockdown. The items are for people in the community like the orphans, people living on the streets, the helpless and the needy and so we thank the President for that kind gesture and we promise him of our support and we will work in consonance will all the teams so that integrity will prevail and items will go to the right people.”
Government announces free food for over 400,000 Ghanaians
Government has begun the distribution of free meals to over 400,000 Ghanaians in locked-down areas amidst the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana.
This was announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo last Sunday when he addressed the nation to update Ghanaians on some measures being taken by the government in the fight of the pandemic.
