President John Dramani Mahama, on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, has donated modest but heartfelt relief items worth GHS 10 million to three countries — Jamaica, Cuba, and Sudan — that have been hit by humanitarian crises.
The gesture responds to the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 cyclone that swept through the Caribbean, affecting more than 1.5 million people in Jamaica, Cuba, and other islands, as well as the heavy toll on refugee agencies grappling with thousands displaced by the Sudanese conflict.
The donated items include 2,400 bags of Ghana rice, 540 bags of sugar, 377 boxes of medication, 500 mattresses, 500 pillows, 100 cartons of gari mix, and 50,000 T-shirts.
Other items comprise three 20-foot containers of assorted Ghanaian products and chocolate, 20 pieces of 500-litre water tanks, 20 hand-wash stations, 10 emergency portable toilets, and assorted clothing.
President Mahama said the donation represents Ghana’s deep solidarity, respect, and fraternity with the affected countries.
“You can imagine the kind of devastation it wreaked on Jamaica, and from there, it continued to Cuba. Hundreds of people have lost their lives and the numbers are still rising. Others remain missing and unaccounted for,” he observed.
He described the presentation as symbolic of Ghana’s friendship and goodwill during challenging times for brotherly nations, reflecting the spirit of camaraderie with the people of Jamaica, Cuba, and Sudan.
“Sudan is actually becoming the forgotten war because of Ukraine and Gaza. It seems the world’s attention has shifted away from there,” he added.
“Some of the atrocities, the genocide, and the humanitarian suffering taking place in Sudan are not things that belong to the 21st century.”
According to President Mahama, the items will be distributed in the ratio of 50% to Jamaica, 30% to Cuba, and 20% to humanitarian agencies in Sudan.
The products were donated by Ghanaian businesses, including Latex Foam, Ash Form, MTN, Farm Masters Global, Twilion Company, Dignity DTRR Apparel, Pharmanova Ghana, and Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd. Others include Mancwa Commodities Ltd, Duraplast Ltd, Terraprime Group Ghana Ltd, Mid Atlantic Group, Ghana Cocoa Board, Cocoa Processing Company, and businessman Ibrahim Mahama.
The High Commissioner of Jamaica to Ghana, H.E. Lincoln George Downer, who received the items on behalf of the three nations, expressed gratitude to President Mahama and the Government and People of Ghana.
