Local assemblies which form the Greater Kumasi, of the Ashanti Region, have received some support to help fight COVID-19 in the city, as the second wave of pandemic threatens to disrupt economic activities and impede social life.
The joint support, offered by the Association of Local Government of Netherlands (VNG) and Local Federation of Local Communities of France (CUF), is also aimed at positioning the beneficiary assemblies to be able to scale-up their effort to address the plight of vulnerable people in society during these times.
To this end, in addition to the supply of PPE, the donors also included large some quantities of food items. They include 1,500 5kilograms bags of rice, 126 boxes of oil, and 126 boxes of canned fish. The others were 400 boxes of facemasks, 1,000 bottles of hand sanitisers, hairnets, aprons and ward boots.
The City Focal Person of VNG International, Mr. Prince A. Anokye, who presented the items to the assemblies, together with Mrs. Aba Oppong, at the forecourt of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), said VNG offered similar support last year. He explained that current development motivated the two bodies to deepen their support around this time.
The Metropolitan Coordinating Director, of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Kwadwo Akuamoah Boateng, who received the items on behalf of the six Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies lauded the gesture.
The Assemblies, owing to the current crisis, he noted, have been under a lot of pressure to provide the needed support to various groups in society. In view of this, he acknowledged that the donation would go a long way to help the Assemblies to meet the needs of especially the vulnerable members within the various communities in the city.
He assured that they will work with the guideline offered to ensure that the items reach the core vulnerable members of society. “This will ensure that the items get to those who actually deserve it,” he added.
Meanwhile, he further appealed to corporate bodies and spirited individuals to also come to the support of the MMDAs to help fight the pandemic.
He also appealed to the public to endeavor to strictly adhere to all the COVID-19 preventive protocols, including regular handwashing with soap and use of hand sanitizer, wearing of facemasks, observing social distancing among the others.
He said while the state is doing its part to curb the spread of the disease, the public is equally required to play its role to make the effort of the state successful.
