OUR WIDOW'S MITE TO HAITI (JAN 22, 2010)

IN spite of our economic challenges, Ghana has shown compassion towards the people of Haiti who were hit by an earthquake, with very fatal consequences.
A Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced a $3 million donation to Haiti following the January 12, 2010 earthquake.
The donation is in fulfilment of President J.E.A. Mills’s pledge in a letter to his Haitian counterpart, Rene Preval. that the government and the people of Ghana “will, in due course, make our modest contribution to your national efforts”.
The monetary support, in addition to the relief items being mobilised by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for the people of Haiti, may not be as big as assistance from other sources, but the gesture alone shows our heartfelt concern for the plight of the disaster victims.
By the gesture, we have demonstrated that we are not only interested in receiving from others but also that when the opportunity comes, we shall also extend our hand of support to those in need.
The situation in Haiti after the earthquake tragedy, which the United Nations described as the worst humanitarian disaster, demands a global mobilisation of relief items to restore everyday life to normalcy. More than one week after the disaster, the people are still in need of basic support such as food, water and medical supplies.
Although governments across the globe, including the United Nations, have stepped up mobilising humanitarian relief items, the level of devastation makes it difficult for all the victims to be reached and there is the need to step up the support initiatives.
The plight of the people of Haiti has been aggravated by the collapse of infrastructure such as roads, bridges and the international airport, thereby making the delivery of essential services very challenging.
It is also refreshing that local support for the people of Haiti is not being limited to what the government can do but that individuals and corporate bodies desirous of making donations are being asked to contact World Vision International which is engaged in an international relief effort for Haiti.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is encouraged by the show of concern by the people towards the pain that the earthquake victims are going through and their preparedness to lend their support to efforts to raise money for Haiti.
The fact that we are getting an enthusiastic corps of public-spirited Ghanaians who want to help reduce the pain and suffering in Haiti in itself is very commendable, but it must be done in a co-ordinated manner so that the donations can be properly accounted for.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to individuals and corporate bodies to donate their widow’s mite to the people of Haiti. In circumstances like this, the call has always been “Ketewa biara nsua” or “Yibima” and we are convinced that if every Ghanaian, no matter his or her status in life, decides to even forgo a meal and donate the money to the Haiti Fund, Ghana can raise quite a substantial amount of money for the earthquake victims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC salutes the government for showing the way, but we believe we can do more if majority of Ghanaians donate GH¢1 each to the people of Haiti.