The Ghanaian community in of fishermen, soldiers serving under UNAMSIL and other professionals, last Saturday raised over fifteen thousand United States dollars ($15,000) during the re-launching of "A dollar a month" at the Ghana High Commission in Freetown.
Speaking at the re-launching ceremony, the Ghana High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. Kabral Blay-Amihere told Ghanaians and friends of Ghana that they were here to re launched the "A dollar a month" project for all Ghanaians resident in Freetown or in transit in Freetown.
He said at least $12 per year was all that was required to make a difference in the lives of their most unfortunate compatriots, adding that the first project initiated last year raised up to the tune of $ 20,000.
He said through these funds, Sierra Leoneans and Ghanaians have benefited, adding that three important organizations in Ghana including Ghana Armed Forces Education Unit, the Ghana Eye Secretariat and Ghana Education Service have also benefited from the venture.
The Ghana High Commission presented 300 dual desks and 200 eyeglasses, which were procured with the funds from the project initiated by the Ghana High Commission to mobilize funds from Ghanaians in Sierra Leone to support development projects in Ghana and Sierra Leone.
He said the Ghana High Commission is the first Ghanaian foreign mission to undertake such a venture, from Sierra Leone which is just emerging from an 11-year civil conflict.
He said Sierra Leoneans have also benefited from a similar gesture by the Ghana High Commission through the donation of ten tape recorders to the Milton Margai School for the Blind, bags of rice to the Amputee camp in Murray town, and design sewing machines to Handicapped Action for Movement, an NGO devoted to equipping the physically challenged.
Kabral Blay-Amihere implored his compatriots to support this worthy course for development initiatives.
The guest of honour at the ceremony, Chief Tony, a Nigerian business tycoon in Sierra Leone said he was delighted at the honour given to him and assured his audience of his love for Ghana, adding that he will always be ready to support Ghana.
The pledges amounted to the sum of $ 3,000 to the project.
The master of ceremony was Kojo Mensah of radio UNAMSIL, while Ghabatt 7 military band treated the audience with nice music from Sierra Leone as well as Ghana.
