By: Kingsley Attitsogbui| Ho
The Ewe Haborbor of Southern California in the United States of America, has donated food items worth over Ghc35, 000.00 to the Cured Lepers Village in Volta regional capital, Ho.
The Ewe Haborbor of Southern California in the United States of America is a non-profit organization made up of Ewe-speaking people residing in Southern California, U.S.A.
The items included bags of rice, maize, beans, millet, detergents, toiletries, provisions, medicine among others.
During a short ceremony at the Cured Lepers Village in Ho on Saturday, August 12, 2023, to hand over the items, a representative of the group, Miss Joy Agama, on behalf of the group explained that, the gesture formed part of the association’s project of given back to the society.
She explained that, some years ago, members of the Ewe Association of Southern California decided to start taking up small projects on their own in the homeland by donating some learning materials to schools and the Ho leprosarium came into their discussion as the next project.
“We chose Ho Leprosarium because of its long-standing record of having a positive impact on the lives of many people”. She noted.
“On behalf of Ewe Haborbor of Southern California, I want to thank you for everything that you do. Ewe Haborbor of Southern California is grateful for the tremendous impact that your services at Ho Leprosarium have had on the lives of thousands of people over the years” she stressed.
According to Miss Agama, the gesture is the association’s widow’s way of putting smile on the faces of the cured Lepers whom for many years have been isolated from their families and many of them cannot do things on their own because of how badly they were affected by the condition at the time.
She further called on other benevolent organizations and well-meaning Ghanaians to always remember the cured Lepers and support them with as little as possible.
Caretaker of the Centre, Mr. Nelson Atito, who received the items on behalf of the cured Lepers expressed gratitude and appreciation to the donor association as he observed that, the donation came at the right time.
He said, since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, life has been very difficult for the cured Lepers as the only main source of support for the center comes from donations from associations such as the Ewe Haborbor of Southern California, Philanthropists and individuals.
He added that, the Village is being threatened by stray animals such as dogs which pose danger to the Cured Lepers as many of them cannot walk, see well and have their fingers damaged because of the condition, which make it difficult for them to do things on their own.
He said the centre in Ho currently has sixty-five (65) Lepers from Freetown, Agortorme and Godokpoe and 135 in the Volta Region.
The Assemblyman for the Wusu-Dome Electoral Area, Anthony Kofi Bruce, appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly to give priority to the road leading to the area and construct drainage systems, as the area floods anytime it rains.
The Ewe Haborbor of Southern California is also a member of a the umbrella organization, Conference of Ewe speaking Association of North America (CEANA) with a main purpose to promote welfare, ensure unity among themselves and also promote the development of their homeland.
The donation which was the third time in 4 years formed part of the association’s Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Cured Lepers.