Pan-African Foundation Donates Medical Supplies

...Worth Billions of Cedis to mother Ghana

Friday, September 13, 2002, representatives from various hospitals and Institutions across the country gathered at the warehouse of the New Ghanaian Times in Accra to receive large quantities of medical, dental and school supplies donated by the Pan-African Foundation. The Pan-African Foundation is a non-profit Christian relief organization dedicated to demonstration the love of Christ and preserving life by assisting those less fortunate in Africa especially Ghana. The donations include, surgical kits, surgical gloves, syringes, face mask, isolated gowns, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, baby incubators, stretchers/gunnies, Intensive Care lotions, gauze, surgical tapes, disposable red bags, pharmacy tray, medicine cups, Epson salt, change tray, books, etc valued billions of Cedis to various hospitals, Clinics, and schools across Ghana.

The organization was founded in 1997 by its president Mr. Emmanuel Ofori, a native of Ghana residing in the United States. Some of the present beneficiaries include: Korle-Bu Hospital, Ridge, Akim-Oda, Nsawam, Ashanti-Mampong, Wenchi, Abetifi health Center, Agona-Duakwa, Obo-Kwahu Health Center, Amasie East and Offinso in Ashanti region, Lawra, Nalergu, Akosombo, Koforidua Gov?t hospital, St. Clements clinics etc. Unfortunately, some of the hospitals I wrote to contact Accra for their donation five months ago never responded. They include Ho, Bawku, Okomfo-Anokye hospital, Cape Coast etc.

In the past, several orphanages, schools and hospitals including; Korle-Bu, Ridge, Atibie, Nsawam, Police Adabraka Rehab Center, school for the blind and deaf, churches, middle and high schools etc have also benefited. For the past five years the organization had donated medical, dental and school supplies, equipment valued over ($4,000,000.00) four million dollars to Institutions across Ghana. In February 2000, the organization was able to put together a (14) fourteen member medical and volunteer team from United States to setup clinics in several towns and villages in Ghana to assist the less fortunate.

Mr. Emmanuel Ofori who is the founder and president of the organization was please to be able to assist his native country with all these frustrations. He will like to send his appreciation to members of the organization (both) in United States and Ghana, volunteers as well as TV 3, GTV, Peace FM, Joy FM, Top Radio, Gold Adom FM, Ghanaians Times, Daily Graphic, chronicles, Free Press and other news media who came to witness and report the event. The president of the organization will like to see the present administration take advantage in working and supporting organizations such as this for the good of the loving people of Ghana.

Mr. Ofori said, he is aware of several Ghanaian organizations and individuals willing to donate fire trucks, several hundred computers, books for higher institutions, hospital equipment etc but are discouraged from what they read and hear with frustrations, bureaucracy, red tapes etc. For an example: Pan-African Foundation had to spend almost (20,000.000) Twenty million Cedis for charges including port demurrage to get the donated items from the Port of Tema. It took two months to obtain Tax exempt status from Ministry of Trade, VAT, CEPS etc whiles the donated items sit at the port of Tema.

Some organizations or individuals who have to go through these frustrations, charges including demurrage will be compelled to sell some of the items to pay for the cost. The president said, he is one among several Ghanaian organizations and associations across the globe with interest in Ghana and encourage the administration to work with Ghanaian organizations and individuals especially in America to help setup a structure to receive medical, dental and school supplies, equipment, computers as a contribution to the Country. Three years ago, the organization had to ship similar supplies valued over ($200,000.00) two hundred thousand dollars to Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Kenya, Mozambique, Botswana, and Northern Nigeria because these countries have created a structure with easy access of their nationals and interest groups abroad to donate in large quantities in support of their country.

Pan-African Foundation will welcome any move in working with the government to setup a structure in getting donated items to various Institutions across the country from abroad. Ghanaians abroad can donate computers, books for higher institutions, medical, dental and school supplies, heart monitors, EKG and X-Ray machines, Fire trucks, sewing machines etc valued in billions if not Trillion Cedis to places such as schools, hospitals, clinics and communities in desperate across Ghana. I know of a Ghanaian willing to donate computers, five fire trucks etc for Ghana but afraid of going through what am facing. Some African Countries have created a way by working with their citizens abroad in creating a successful program in support of their government of their country.

Pan-African Foundation with its network in nine States can donate medical, dental and school supplies, large quantities of computers, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, baby incubators, (100,000,000) one hundred thousand pair of eye glasses, Heart monitors, EKG, X-Ray machines etc valued over ($5,000,000.00) Five million dollars each year to the country instead of the government going for loans with huge interest. I do encourage the President of Ghana, government officials and fellow Ghanaians, the organization will continue to support the country with all these problems to alleviate some of these problems.

There are groups such as Council of Ghanaian Association of Maryland, Ghana Nurses Association of Midwest, Ghana Cyber Group, Asanteman, Okyeman, GA-Adamgbe, Birim Society of North America, Science Saves Society, Friends of Ghana, Books of Africa, Luke Society etc can save the Kuffour administration and the country ($20,000,000.00) Twenty million dollars each year instead of international loan with high interest. I again encourage the administration to take these suggestions and ideas as an opportunity for the loving people of Ghana. I hope our contribution and voices will be heard as we continue going through these frustrations.

GOD BLESS MOTHER GHANA

Emmanuel Ofori
President/Project Director
Pan-African Foundation
Post Office Box 70277
Richmond, Va. 23255
Tel 804 755-1212
Email: oforipanaf@aol.com
Website: www.panafricanfoundation.org