Ghana assists Haiti victims

Accra, Jan. 22, GNA - Ghana on Friday presented a cheque for three million dollars to the United Nations (UN) as her contribution towards the rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Haiti.

Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD said the presentation was an opportunity for Ghanai= ans as well to assist the victims.

Special bank account numbers; 6010608295 at Zenith Bank and 1201130012344 at Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) nationwide have been opened to receive cash donations for the victims. Alhaji Mumuni said in addition to the bank accounts, government had entrusted and charged World Vision Ghana, to accept donations through a special "Haiti Relief Fund".

He appealed to Ghanaians to donate generously to help save the more than three million earthquake survivors in Haiti, which was hit by a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale on January 12,= 2010. It has claimed about 200,000 lives and left many people missing, cau= sed damage to properties and land.

Mr. Daouda Toure, UN Resident Co-ordinator, who received the cheque,= expressed appreciation for the support that would alleviate suffering of the victims.

He said UN had deployed rescue mission with large quantities of reli= ef items including food, clothing and medical supplies, yet the catastrophic=

and devastating nature of the disaster would require extra assistance fro= m the international community to help save more lives.

Mr. Toure said UN had lost about 50 of its personnel in the disaster=

including Hedi Annabi, UN Special Representative and his Deputy Luiz Carl= os da Costa. A minute silence was observed for the deceased. Mr. Basilio Okello, National Director, World Vision Ghana, thanked t= he government for the trust and confidence in the organisation to collect donations to support the victims. He said World Vision had also mobilised and dispatched some relief items as well as volunteers to Haiti and appealed to Ghanaians to offer generously to help reduce or eliminate other forms of epidemics that characterised the aftermath of such disasters. In another development, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament f= or Assin-North, who has championed the cause on the need for Ghana to show s= ome love and solidarity to the afflicted nation of Haiti, presented a cheque for 10,000 dollars. The management of Zenith Bank presented a cheque for GH¢10,000 to= the UN as their widow's mite. 22 Jan. 10