You are here: HomeNews2003 05 16Article 36451

General News of Friday, 16 May 2003

Source: NANA SIFA TWUM LONDON

Good Start For "Five Pounds No Balance" Police Fund

The appeal for funds launched by the Ghana High Commission in the UK for the acquisition of equipment to improve facilities for the Ghana Police Service has received tremendous response from the general public, especially the Ghanaian community in the UK.

The fund launched in March this year, is dubbed “Five Pounds No Balance”. It is the first of its kind outside Ghana in aid of any public institution like the police.

The Minister Counsellor/Information at the Ghana High Commission in London, Mr. Fritz Andoh, in an interview with this reporter, noted that within the short period of time, thousands of pounds have been realised.

Though he could not immediately released figures, Mr. Andoh said the High commission is highly impressed about the response of Ghanaians towards the appealed. He said the Commission continues to receive cheques almost every day from Ghanaians in and outside the UK. He intimated that cheques received so far range between 10 and 200 pounds with the highest amount coming from the Managing Director of Regalon International Mr. Samuel Antwi.

The High Commission‘s Official expressed optimism that an appreciable amount of money would be realised to help equip the police in Ghana. He re-iterated that a 30-member committee to mount a crusade on the promotion of the appeal and also to manage the fund has been formed to make the objective easy to achieve.

He said among other things, the committee is to determine, in collaboration with the Police Service, the type of tools and equipment to be purchased for delivery by November this year. It is also empowered to serve as the co-ordinating body for all activities and events to be organised in connection with all fund-raising events in the UK.

He appealed to all Ghanaians to contribute to the fund, adding that a well equipped police will ensure reduction in crime wave. He said cheques could be addressed to the Ghana High Commission, 13 Belgrave Square, London SW 1X 8PN, Telephone (0044) 2072354142, with the inscription “Five Pounds No Balance” at the back.