The spouse of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mrs Margaret Kikelomo Abikoye, has donated various items worth GHC40, 000 to inmates at the Nsawam Maximum Prison and other items worth GHC25, 000 at Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital in Accra.
She was accompanied to the places by spouses of the Nigerian Diplomats, cross section of Nigerian Women Association in Ghana and the Nigerian Union of Traders Association (NUTAG).
Some of the items donated during the visit to the prison on Friday, November 16, 2018, include: bags of rice, garri, beans, maize, sowing machines, vegetable oil, palm oil, Yams, brooms, slippers, Toilet rolls, detergents etc.
The gesture is in fulfilment of Mrs Abikoye’s promise that the funds raised from the Bazaar would be channelled to assist places like NSAWAM Maximum Prison, Children’s home and other facilities
Recall that the First of its kind Charity Bazaar held in Accra on 15 September, 2018 as part of activities to mark the 58th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.
The Charity Bazaar was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Association in Ghana and the Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG) and attracted corporate and individual sponsors.
Speaking, the Deputy Director of Prisons who is also second in Command at Nsawam Prison, Owusu-Amponsah expressed gratitude to the team for the gesture.
He informed that the food in stock is not enough for the over, 3, 500 inmates who eat 21 bags of rice every day.
The prison chief also used the opportunity to appeal to the government to increase feeding fees for inmates from GHC1.80 to GHC5, while calling on corporate bodies to take a cue from the team and offer more assistance to the facility.
The Highlight of the visit was payments made by Mrs ABIKOYE to secure the release of inmates with fines, to enable them reunite with their families. Fines of the inmates range between GHC360-720. The Cash for the fines of six inmates, which included 2 Nigerians and four Ghanaians, was paid and their release secured on 27th November, 2018.
Mrs Margaret Abikoye and the team further visited Princess Marie Louise Hospital (Children’s Hospital) in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, 29th November, 2018 to make donations worth GHC25,000 to the facility.
The motives behind the gesture is to give back to the host nation, that has so much given warmth and comfort to the vast number of Nigerians living in Ghana and also to plunge into President Muhammadu Buhari’s Citizens Diplomacy.
She informed that the Nigerian President has directed all Nigerian Diplomatic Missions to promote the general welfare of Nigerians living abroad and to ensure that they contribute to their host community.
Some of the items donated includes, the re-painting of the Father Campbell’s Ward, standing scale, children’s scale, infant weighing scale, BP Apparatus for Children, BP Apparatus for adult, Mask & bag for infants, Mask & bags for children, Suction Machine, Children’s bed with mattress, Oxygen flow metre, wheel chair, finger Pulse Oximetre, Electrolux kettle, Blankets, Diapers, Cabinets with a cash donation of GHC3, 000 for repair of the Oxygen plant Unit in the hospital.
Dr. MAME YAA NYARKO, Medical Superintendent, who received the items on behalf of the Management of Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, Accra, thanked Mrs. Abikoye and her team, and informed them that the hospital which caters for vulnerable patients
depends largely on donations from individuals and corporate bodies to meet the vast need of the facility. She then took the team round the wards.
