Vodafone Ghana has presented two fibre glass rescue boats to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to sharpen its flood response capacity and make it spot ready for any future flooding in the country. The company also donated 30 life jackets, two outboard motors and fire extinguishers to NADMO. At the same ceremony, Vodafone also made a cash donation of GH¢15, 000 to the chiefs and people of Swedru to help them rehabilitate parts of the town that was devastated during the June floods. Kyle Whitehill, Chief Executive of Vodafone Ghana, who made the donation said the GH¢15, 000 was from Vodafone’s recent Red Alert promotion in which Vodafone customers donated GH¢1 by sending a text message to a short code. “Funding for the boats and other rescue items was provided by the Vodafone Ghana Foundation,” he said. Officials from the Vodafone Ghana Foundation told Adom News Vodafone generated more than GH¢17,000 from the Red Alert Promotion but had to pay taxes of more than GH¢2,000 before donating. The officials appealed to government to wave taxes on donations to enable companies like Vodafone to do more by way of corporate social responsibility. National Coordinator of NADMO, Mr. Kofi Portuphy received the boats on behalf of his organization and thanked Vodafone. “The boats come at a crucial time in the life of NADMO when we are combating severe floods in Kintampo and parts of the Northern Region,” he said. Mr. Portuphy said at the start of floods, NADMO had only two boats from the Ghana Navy, “but these new boats from Vodafone will greatly enhance our operations.” He noted that more than 65 villages and communities had been inundated with floods, with over 4,000 people displaced by rising levels of the Black Volta. Mr. Portuphy said the people of Salaga and Banda would particularly benefit from the boats because more than 35,000 people have been displaced in that area. Nana Oburo-Kwateng, a Chief of the Swedru also thanked Vodafone for the money, saying it would help reduce the stress on livelihoods lost during the floods. By Samuel Dowuona/Adom FM/Ghana