Abeiku Santana, FNB Bank & Prince Of Africa Donate GHC 12,000 And A House To WWII Veteran

During the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana, Abeiku Aggrey Santana and his partners Derrick Cobbinah, Africa's Project Officer for the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forces Help Africa and GUBA Foundation supported and brought to light the activities of WWII veteran, Joseph Hammond who recorded a walk of 14 miles in a week as part of a fundraiser to support Africa's frontline workers.

The 95-year old Ghanaian World War II veteran walked 3.2 kilometres (two miles) each day to reach his target on Africa Day in Accra and raised almost £43,000.

This gesture by this noble man went viral in the international media including Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, DW, France 24 and Washington Post.

It also attracted a number of corporations and individuals to reciprocate the goodwill and stretch their arm of support to the veteran. 

Today, September 11, the First National Bank has donated a sum of GHC 12,000 to the veteran warrior.

The bank, which recently launched a project dubbed “Accelerated Support for Pandemic Intervention and Relief Effort” (ASPIRE) to assist government and its stakeholders in mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic made the donation to honour the gallantry of Mr Hammond.

Speaking to the media, Mr Dominic Adu, who is the first Ghanaian CEO of the bank, said they were proud to share in the veteran’s story.

"The stories that he tells are so compelling. It's a history of our life; the history indeed of the world, not just of Ghana. And to be the CEO of First National Bank which has actually given me the opportunity to meet him, I am extremely privileged. In terms of what we intend doing, I am glad you have actually mentioned the change in his life because he definitely deserves it. On our part, [you know] the donation is to support his life", the CEO said.

He was delighted that First National Bank will look back in the future and also tell their story as the best bank that ever existed in Ghana.

Consequently, Ghanaian Billionaire, Philanthropist and Prince of Africa, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Freedom Jacob Caesar, and his New Africa Foundation also donated a fully furnished house to the 95-year old Joseph Hammond who lived 75 years of his life in his family home in Accra.

The Prince of Africa and his foundation has been at the act of showing greater level of generosity amidst the covid-19 pandemic.