The South African High Commissioner to Ghana says there are ongoing talks with government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop programmes to empower women, the youth and people living with disabilities.

According to Grace Jeanet Mason, the two countries need to collaborate to implement initiatives to address some social vices like domestic violence.

“During President Ramaphosa’s state visit to Ghana in December, a letter of intent was signed between our two respective governments to cooperate in women empowerment, youth and women with disabilities.

“There are a number of programmes we will set up in terms of collaborating between our two countries, educational programmes, study tours, best practices in terms of what we do and what we can learn from Ghana.

“So, those are the opportunities that we’re working on from our governments and our respective nations,” she told JoyNews at the sidelines of the Ark Foundation Mother’s Day Shelter Fundraiser.

Executive Director of Ark Foundation, Angela Dwamena Aboagye, explained that the fundraiser was meant to tell Ghanaians that “we do not depend on any foreign aid or anything. It’s just Ghanaians who are going through troubles [and] we want Ghanaians to support us.”

“You can imagine being in your own home with people who have various needs and having to provide for them. So, you have to pay the social workers who work with them; you have to take them to the hospital and pay for it; antenatal care, you pay for it.

“Many people come without National Health Insurance; we have to put them on it, and even then, if they need specialised care like some of our children who come with special needs, you have to pay for it,” she added.

Groups such as the Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Stanbic Bank, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Ghana Prisons Service made some donations to the Foundation.