Mohammed Tijani and Mike Oquaye Jnr. presenting the cheque to Noguchi officials
The Ghana Missions abroad have donated $100,000 to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana (UG), Accra, as part of their contribution to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The NMIMR is the foremost testing centre for the pandemic in the country since its outbreak in March this year, and the cash is to assist it to buy more test kits.
At a short presentation ceremony yesterday, a representative of the Ghana Missions abroad, Mike G. Ocquaye, High Commissioner to India, said the missions were notified of the National Covid-19 Trust Fund instituted by the government and encouraged to solicit funds from the Diaspora.
“Considering that we are all in this pandemic together and realizing the need to support government’s efforts as patriotic Ghanaians, all home-based staff of Ghana’s Missions abroad resolved to make voluntary contributions into the National Covid-19 Trust Fund,” he said, adding “it would enable the procurement of critical items, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies, especially test kits, for frontline health workers.
“It was further resolved that since Ghana has adopted the protocols of testing, contact tracing, isolation and treatment in the fight against the pandemic, the amount should be used to purchase test kits to assist, particularly the NMIMR and other research laboratories, to conduct more tests in aid of the government’s globally-acknowledged efforts.”
He hinted that “in our inordinate determination to support this fight”, the contributions of the Diaspora were being mobilized and would be brought in as and when they gather them.
Mr. Ocquaye gave an assurance that the Ghana Missions abroad “stand in readiness to sustain its quota of support in aid of the ministry’s mandate and place for national development.”
Receiving the donation, the Director of NMIMR, Professor Abraham Kwabena Annang, expressed gratitude to the Ghana Missions for the gesture, saying “it has come at a very good time.”
He said Noguchi continues to receive requests for testing which is likely to be increased since countries are getting ready to open their borders, adding “this donation prepares us for the future.”
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio