The European Union (EU) delegation to Ghana in collaboration with the National Authorising Officer’s (NAO), Office of Ministry of Finance has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to selected basic and senior high schools as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the Greater Accra Region.
The initiative is one of the EU’s several contributions to continue with the fight against COVID-19 in Ghana. The aim of the exercise is to support the Ministry of Education to effectively roll out government’s measures in enabling final year students complete their exams safely and also the continuing students of the various schools to remain protected from covid-19.
The items donated to the schools and NGOs to benefit their communities include 200 veronica buckets, 35 community handwashing stations, 20 megaphones, 300 gallons of 4.5 litre hand-washing liquid soap and 2,500 reusable facemasks.
Deputy Head of Delegation, EU-Ghana, Pieter Smidt, speaking at a short presentation event, indicated that the donation is part of a wider effort from the EU to support Ghana in this difficult moment and will continue to work together with the government and with other partners to give an effective response.
“With this donation, we want to remind everyone that the European Union solidarity between the different countries of Europe and countries outside Europe like Ghana, remains priority. Our projects that are implemented all around Ghana included initiatives to support communities during the COVID-19 crises. Thus to help in the health sector, to assist the poor and to support the most vulnerable communities,” he said.
He also emphasised that all the items were made and procured locally in the country with the purpose of generating employment and income avenues to the several Ghanaians in the value chain.
In total, 20 basic schools both primary and junior high schools and 15 senior high schools have been selected to benefit. These schools include Accra Academy, Accra Girls, Aquinas, Odorgonno, Labone, Armed Forces Senior High Technical school and Legon-Presec SHS.
Greater Accra Regional Health Coordinator, GES, Rev. Patrick Banafo commended the EU for the support, indicating that the items will support in sustaining good health status in the schools which has direct bearing on teaching and learning.
“The dreadful times in which we find ourselves leave no room for delay so the items will be sent as soon as possible to the various schools for them to put it into use. All government allocated PPE for schools has been received by GES and distributed to the schools accordingly but we still need more and it will also take the efforts of corporate and benevolent organisations to complement what government is doing,” he said.
The partner NGOs present at the event were also presented with some quantities of the PPE to share to their communities of operation to benefit the poor and vulnerable in the communities.
The EU Delegation in Ghana has the mandate to ensure the representation of the EU in the country, follow up on political, economic, and commercial developments in the country. It also implements development cooperation, policies and projects between the European Union and Ghana, based on the European Development Fund (EDF) and specific budget lines.
