Unibank Manager, Ho, Joseph Abanga handing over the items to Joycelin Akorfa Ochlich, Chairperson of Cured Lepers Foundation
Inmates of the Schoon Hoven Cured Lepers Village in Ho expressed happiness when workers of the Unibank in Ho presented assorted food items worth over GH¢5,000.00 to them recently.
The ecstasy that overwhelmed the inmates stemmed from the fact that they run out of supplies and ate Gari three times a day with their dependants for the past weeks.
The Chairperson of the Cured Lepers Foundation, Joycelin Akorfa Ochlich, who narrated the ordeal of the inmates, explained that “before Unibank’s visit, the inmates ate Gari because we run out of food over the past two weeks.”
“We try to give the cured lepers one hot meal a day apart from giving each household some food items regularly. Unfortunately, they run out of supply and had to resort to gari.
She explained that the monthly stipend from the LEAP programme ranging from GH¢30.00 to GH¢60 depending on the size of household was woefully adequate.
The situation worsens if the stipends delays, she lamented.
She was happy that staff of Unibank celebrated its first anniversary in Ho with 80 cured lepers and about 120 dependants, most of whom are their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She therefore pleaded with the bank to adopt the village, calling on government and all well-meaning Ghanaians and organisations to support them with food, toiletries, detergents, drugs such as antibiotics, bandages, pain killers, among others.
The Branch Manager of Unibank, Ho, Joseph Abanga noted that the donation of 15 bags of rice, five gallons of oil, assorted detergents and toiletries, 10 cartons of tomato puree, among others, to the cured lepers formed part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility.
He was hopeful the items would be put to good use.
“Unibank has come to stay and serve the people of Ho and the entire Volta region.”
He also thanked businesses and the people of Ho and the region for their support and urged them to patronize the products and services of Unibank.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)