Ghana's recent humanitarian donation worth GH¢10 million to conflict-ridden Sudan and hurricane-hit Jamaica and Cuba was up for mention and commendation at the 135th Council Meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (C 135) in London on Wednesday.

The commendation followed a statement by the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Naval Captain (rtd) Kamal-Deen Ali who said it was a token of Ghana’s deep solidarity, respect and fraternity for the victims of the affected countries, adding that “by so doing, we exhibit the unique attribute that connects us as one people”.

The statement attracted applause for President John Dramani Mahama for his humanitarian support to the affected countries.

President Mahama on behalf of the government and Ghanaians recently presented humanitarian donation worth GH¢10 million to conflict ridden Sudan and hurricane hit Jamaica and Cuba. 

The humanitarian items are to be distributed in the ratio of 50 per cent to Jamaica, 30 per cent to Cuba, and 20 per cent to Sudan. 

The items consist of 2,400 bags of Ghana rice; 540 bags of sugar; 377 boxes of medication; 500 mattresses; 500 pillows; 100 cartons of gari mix and 50,000 pieces of t-shirts. 

The rest are three 20 footer container of chocolate products; 20 pieces of 500 litre water tanks; 20 pieces of hand wash stations; 10 pieces of emergency portal toilet; and assorted clothes.

And then at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra on Tuesday evening during the 80th anniversary celebration of Manchester Declaration, which is referred to as the Fifth Pan-African Congress, President Mahama also announced that Ghana will send men from the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to assist in the reconstruction of affected areas in Jamaica following the recent hurricane.

The team will be made up of men and women with expertise in engineering, masonry, carpentry, and they are to help in the construction of makeshift shelters for the Jamaican people. and went ahead to appeal to African nations to extend immediate humanitarian assistance to Jamaica, following the extensive devastation caused by recent powerful storms on the Caribbean island.