About 400 people in the most marginalised communities in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, have gained support from Ghana Rural Opportunities for Women, GROW, a local Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO.
The beneficiaries, comprising of men, women and schoolchildren, have been given bicycles. The gesture is to support the rural folks, who have been identified as the 'most handicapped' to enable them embark on economical activities, including farming and small scale mining.
It will also help facilitate the transportation of schoolchildren who travel to far distance to access education. Presenting the bicycles to the beneficiaries in Nyobok, a suburb of the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of GROW, Dr. Vida Nyagre Yakong, disclosed her outfit was committed to putting smiles on the faces of the poor in the society.
She said she was downhearted following the pathetic living conditions of people in the strife-torn communities, adding she was bent on showcasing her commitment to their cause.
Dr. Yakong also pledged to maintain consistency in rendering her support to both the youth and the aged in the district. That, she said, would empower them economically to enable them lead meaningful lives.
She challenged politicians, other philanthropists and NGOs in the district to join hands with her to initiate development projects to move the most vulnerable communities in the district forward.
"We can't keep on depending on government for everything. Those of us who have made it in our careers must endeavour to sacrifice for the development of the area. It's indeed our responsibility to be committed in that regard", Dr. Yakong advised.
Dr. Yakong, who also doubles as a lecturer of the University for Development Studies, UDS, has been giving support to the poor in the district through her NGO over the past years.
Statistics reveals that since the establishment of GROW in 2008, about 300 students hailing from the district have been supported to access education at all levels.
The NGO has also established a health centre, known as Okanagan Health Centre in the district.The facility which is sited in Nyorbok, has helped to lessen the health challenges confronting the rural poor as they easily access healthcare.
Some women, both the aged and the young have been given goats, donkeys and donkey carts by Dr. Yakong's GROW. The CEO indicated plans were far advanced to establish a vocational school in the district to engage the youth to acquire some skills, a move, she said would reduce the rural-urban drift.
She further pledged to drill a mechanized bore-hole for the health centre by August, this year. Some beneficiaries, who spoke to Peacefmonline.com, lauded the philanthropist for her benevolent gesture and asked other upscale people in the area to do same.
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