The Attorney General is expected to, by close of today; complete all the legal formalities for the establishment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) National Public Trust Fund.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Board of Trustees of the fund will be inaugurated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tomorrow.
The board would begin work immediately after it is inaugurated.
The eight-member board, Chaired by former Chief Justice Sophia A. B. Akuffo, has eminent personalities who have contributed to the development of the country in areas such as law, business, finance, media, and religion as members.
It includes Archbishop Justice Akrofi, former Anglican Bishop of Accra and former Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa, Mr. Jude Kofi Bucknor, and Mrs. Gifty Afenyi Dadzie.
The rest are Else Addo Awadzi, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer of the Special Ice Group of Companies, Dr. Abdul-Sameed Tanko, and Dr. Collins Asare, who would serve as the Secretary to the Board.
President Akufo-Addo, in a meeting with the members of the board of trustees at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, thanked them for accepting to serve on the board.
He said since the first case of the coronavirus pandemic was recorded in the country, the government had received offers of assistance from many people and institutions.
He said some had made important contributions while others want to make contributions but did not know how to go about it.
The establishment of the COVID-19 National Public Trust Fund would provide a structured means to receive offers from people to complement the government’s efforts in fighting the disease, he said.
He indicated that the board of trustees of the fund would receive the monies to support the government’s efforts to cater for the needy and vulenrable groups who would be affected by the measures which would be taken to address the problem.
President Akufo-Addo pledged that the government would give the board the needed assistance to facilitate its work.
With the assistance of the Bank of Ghana, he said the board would be given the necessary assistance to enable it receive donations from abroad.
“With the co-operation of people like you, I believe this challenge is one that we can overcome. People like you can help us to bring this thing under control,” he said.
Former Chief Justice Akuffo, on behalf of the members of the Board of Trustees, thanked the President for the confidence placed in them and pledged to undertake the work with integrity and efficiency.
“On behalf of the people of Ghana, I wish to thank you for making it possible that this channel is being created to be able to cater for the various needs that would arise, but particularly, being able to respond to the needs of the vulnerable,” she said.
BY YAW KYEI
