¢40m Support For Volta Lake Victims

A group of anonymous contributors to the “Say it Aloud” page of the GhanaWeb on the Internet has raised a total of ¢40 million as support to victims of the recent Volta Lake disaster near Abotoase in the Volta Region.

The contributions were spontaneously raised under the “Dzudzorme Relief Fund” on the web and remitted through the accounts of the Logistics Officer of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Mr Fiifi Kakraba Penyi.

With the assistance of the Tapa Zonal Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr William Asiedu Ampeh, 84 survivors and families of 10 deceased persons were identified as beneficiaries and each received ¢380, 000 irrespective of age.

A German businessman in Ghana, Mr Chris Ameln, who served as an agent for the donors, said it was amazing that people with opposing views and critical concerns against each other could reach a common latitude of donating to a cause.

He said it was a good sign of accommodation of divergent views and said it was a miracle since the contributors did not know whom they had given their money to.

Mr Ameln said there were 20,000 visitors to the website everyday and that could be an opportunity to harness the neutrality of Ghanaians and channel it into meaningful development.

In an acknowledgement, Madam Lebene Amekudzi, who survived with eight children, said they were grateful to the donors, who did not even know them, adding that God would reward them for their gesture.

Madam Amekudzi, who lost a child in the disaster which occurred on April 8, 2006, said they were depending on charity now, and stated that the donation and future ones could help them to engage in business activities for her livelihood.

Mr Musah Labila, who lost his wife in the disaster, said that shelter was an immediate problem for him after the traumatic experience and added that he was still struggling to take care of seven children.

Madam Charlotte Ashiagbor, a mother of six, who described herself as a stranger in the town, and said she lost ¢12 million in the disaster, appealed for assistance to re-start her business.

Story by Tim Dzamboe.