The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has donated a cheque for GH¢150,000 and items worth GH¢350,000 – including PPE, beverages, provisions, water and oxygen to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund.
The move, according to AGI, is in response to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s call for support in the fight against spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.
The presentation was done during yesterday’s press briefing on the update of COVID-19 by the Ministry of Information. At the presentation, president of the association, Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi, commended government for focusing efforts on containing the pandemic and working hard to reduce the virus’s rate of spread in the country.
Making reference to the negative impact of Covid-19, he said: “Within two weeks, we have all been hit by the outbreak of COVID-19 in diverse ways. Indeed, this pandemic and its attendant actions such as the lockdown have really affected businesses and created interruptions of manufacturing activities in Ghana”.
He continued: “It is for this reason that we appreciate with admiration government’s timely strategy and intervention to alleviate economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on citizens and industry in Ghana”.
He particularly mentioned engaging local manufacturers to produce GH¢3,600,000 worth of face masks, making available GH¢600 million to be accessed by SMEs as soft loans, and ensuring the extension of due dates for filling of taxes from four months to six months, among others, as measures that will go a long way to help reduce negative impacts of the virus on businesses
Dr. Adu Gyamfi stated further: “We acknowledge the engagement so far with AGI in developing these measures, and we anxiously look forward to further engaging with government on the modalities for effective implementation of these lifeline packages”.
He indicated that other areas of tax relief are also important, and AGI will take these up with government in subsequent discussions.
“I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our gallant members who have been very supportive of government in these difficulties times.”
He said a lot of AGI member-companies had on their own made separate donations to the fund.
“In addition, AGI has mobilised cash and items from Danadams Pharmaceuticals, Tropical Cable and Conductors, Samartex, Nestle Ghana Limited, Fanmilk, Duraplast, Voltic, Berock Ventures, Afariwaa Estates, Asadtek Group, Redmoon Ventures, Ghana Timber Millers Organisation, GOIL, Merricom Solutions, M&G Pharmacueticals, Sleek Garments, FC Perfumery Polytank, IPMC, Sid Cosmetics, Crocodile Matchets, OsAfric Ltd., Lion Aluminium, Kane-Em Industries, and Metalex Ltd.”
Other donors include Fay International Limited, Worchar Agrow Processing Limited, DT Engineering, Debbies Limited, Voltic, Lexta Co., Qualiplast, Gandour Cosmetics, M & G Pharmaceuticas, Pharmacare and Nobel Industries, and Accra Brewery.
He said the AGI is considering another round of mobilisation, and urged members to continue making their contributions to AGI and be part of the next presentation.
“We also commend all Ghanaian health workers, security and other frontline persons putting their lives on the line to save others,” the AGI said.
