TV3 Network has presented a cheque of GHC 225, 000 being the money realized from an appeal launched on behalf of the June 3 disaster victims, to the First Banc Financial Services who are managers of the June 3 Disaster Endowment Fund.
The TV3 Network on June 8, 2015 launched an appeal for fund at a ceremony held at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra to raise GHC 10million to support survivors and dependants of the victims of the flood and fire disasters which claimed more than two hundred lives.
The Fund has three components which are General Donations to the target group, Environmental Campaign and Victim Support Education Endowment Fund.
The climax of the fundraising was held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel, Accra last Friday and was heavily attended by a number of dignitaries including Dr. Zanetor Rawlings and Mr. Frank Agyekum.
Receiving the cheque, the Managing Director of First Banc Financial Services, Samuel Annie Asiedu assured that the money would be invested to serve its purpose adding that his bank wants to be part of the success story of the June 3 Disaster project to give hope to the people.
Giving an update of the fund, Nicholina Annor-Adjei, June 3 Steering Committee Chairperson mentioned that more than four thousand flood affected persons in thirteen sub –metros within Accra have so far benefited from the fund.
She explained that each beneficiary in the Education Endowment Fund is entitled to GHC 7500 within a period of five years and covers pre-tertiary education of the victims’ and survivors’ dependants.
Ms. Annor-Adjei indicated that the June 3 Disaster Fund Committee had earlier made donations to a number of burnt victims on admission at three major hospitals in Accra including, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.
Speaking on the environmental component of the fund, she expressed delight that under the leadership of the lead campaigner Dr. Zanetor Rawlings in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Zoomlion, the committee mobilized the support of residents in the sub metros including Korle-Klottey,Adabraka –Sahara to embark on voluntary clean up exercises across the city of Accra.
The Chairperson assured that over the next two months, TV3 in partnership with the World Bank, Cities Alliance and Channel 2 Communications will be exploring some possible solutions on an interactive segment called June 3 in perspective.
The new environmental interactive segment will be aired on TV3 New Day morning programme every Tuesday.
Mr. Frank Agyekum who represented former President John Agyekum Kufour said disasters stall both the individual and country’s development since resources will have to be diverted into relief services.
The former president advised that there was the need to be each other’s keeper by ensuring that people manage their waste properly adding that it was more appropriate to call a person littering to order than to suffer the consequences of such actions.
The Board Chairman, Mrs. Norkor Duah, reiterated that more remains to be done in the future to sensitize Ghanaians to play key roles in addressing societal issues.
The General Manager of Fiesta Royale, Francois Olivier on behalf of the company presented cheques to each of the sixteen dependants who attended the function.
By Solomon Ofori and Sarah Cobbinah