Tsakos Shipping donates to Tema New Town

Tsakos Shipping and Trading SA, a subsidiary of a major international shipping company, which is involved in oil shipments for Ghana for over 25 years, has donated milk and clothing to the Tema New Town Community.

Tema New Town is the home to an ultra-modern Greek Orthodox Chapel, built by the company, which is headquartered in Greece.

The donation, which took place last Monday, formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility, which focuses primarily on Education, Health and Sports.

A representative of Tsakos Shipping and Trading, Capt. Alkiviadis Kappas, disclosed that the Hon. Consular General for Ghana, Capt. P. N. Tsakos, had promoted Ghana in many ways for the mutual benefit of Ghana-Greece relations.

According to him, the company was very delighted to make this donation, since Tema has been their community for the many years they have operated in Ghana.

He disclosed that for the past eight years, the number of Greek businessmen and tourists who visit Ghana, both for business and tourism purposes, keeps increasing.

Capt. Kappas stated that the Hon. Consular General donated an amount of US$50,000 to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for the improvement of athletics in Greece during the 2004 Olympic Games, adding that he works with several Greek organisations to enhance Greek-Ghana relations, while servicing the interest of Ghanaians both in Ghana and Greece.

He disclosed that Tsakos Shipping had over the years been employing Ghanaian seamen on a number of vessels, and between 2005 and 2008, about US$11 million had been earned by the Ghanaian crew employed on the various vessels.

He added that Capt. Tsakos helped to build the Greek Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas, at Tema New Town, through various donations, adding that he was presently building a day care centre and healthcare centre for the people.

Capt. Kappas also hinted that the company employs a number of cadets from the Maritime Academy for practical training purposes each year, and this exercise has helped the cadets excel in their various areas, wherever they go.

Receiving the items on behalf the community, Nii Adjei Krakue II, Tema Mantse, stated that he would ensure that the milk and clothing were distributed to the neediest in the community.

According to the Chief, Tsakos Shipping and Trading continues to demonstrate good corporate citizenship, through a caring relationship with his people, adding, “Tsakos is currently collaborating with an international NGO to develop a school for the children of Tema New Town, and medical missions have also begun in the community.” He stated that the donation was a further demonstration of how socially sensitive Tsakos was to the people of Tema New Town.