The COVID-19 National Trust Fund that was set up under Act 1013 to receive and manage contributions and donations from well-meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies has so far received a total of GHȼ57.15 million in cash donations.
These donations were made between the period April 2020 and March 2021.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta who disclosed this during the presentation of this year’s mid-year-budget in Parliament today, Thursday, July 29, 2021, said “As at 30th June 2021, the Fund had disbursed an amount of GH¢52,501,540.44, for various programmes as well as procurement of items.”
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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Sunday, 29th March, 2020, inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, at a brief ceremony at Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s Presidency.
The Board of Trustees, which is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, is in charge of receiving contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. The other members of the Board are Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, . Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, Dr Tanko. Collins Asare will act as Secretary to the Board.
Inaugurating the Board, President Akufo-Addo noted that, since the outbreak of the virus in Ghana, especially during the course of last week, organisations and individuals have made donations, with others wanting to find out how they can also contribute to the cause.
I felt that the best way was to establish a public trust, so that the monies that come do not get intermingled with Government money and all of those problems. A public trust that is to be managed by an independent body of trustees, so that people will see that these monies are being properly accounted for and properly deployed,” he said.
The President added that the work of the Board will complement the efforts being made by the State in catering for the poor and vulnerable, stressing that “whatever money we raise, that is the target”.
Pledging the full support of Government for the work to be undertaken by the Board, President said “I have full confidence in the integrity of all the people around this table, and of your dedication to the public welfare of our country. That is why I have chosen you to say on this committee.”
