After supporting poor communities with food and supplies before a 14-day lockdown in Accra, the capital city of Ghana over the past weekend, real estate developer, industrialist and hospitality giant, Nana Kwame Bediako also known as “Freedom Jacob Caesar”, pledged one of his premier properties, Number 1 Oxford Street, a 5 star luxury serviced apartment hotel, as a quarantine location, isolation center, temporary hospital or safe place for nurses, doctors and other medical personnel should the need arise in the country’s battle against the spread of Corona Virus.
Freedom is the founder of the Kwarleyz Group, an umbrella company which encompasses Wonda World Estates, Petronia City Development, New Africa Construction, and Belfast City & Property Management, a portfolio that has designed and developed over 500 residential and retail units along with a 50-acre industrial and technological city currently under development in Ghana.
“We are hoping that the disease does not affect more people in Ghana. But should the need arise, we are preparing to work with government and health organizations to utilize No 1 Oxford Street Hotel and Suites as a center to house victims and/or medical personnel. We invested over $50 million to complete No 1 Oxford Street which recently opened in January but I am moved to offer the property to be used for good, to help my people during this critical time,” said Freedom.
On Sunday, 29th March, with less than 24 hours before the city’s mandatory lockdown began, Freedom along with his team, visited 4 of Accra’s poorest neighborhoods to distribute food and other essential supplies such as cooking oil, tomato paste, canned goods, and drinking water to over 1000 vulnerable families. With extremely limited availability of social services in the country, local communities in Ghana have had to rely on the generosity of individuals, churches and businesses for basic necessities in preparation for the lockdown in an attempt to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“The Corona Virus pandemic is having a devastating impact on communities around the world–physically, financially as well as psychologically. People are becoming more fearful by the day especially the low wage earners, street hawkers, waiters, and others who have no one to turn to for help to feed their families during this 14-day lockdown. As much as they need food and water, they also need hope. Through my efforts, I wanted to let them know that they are not forgotten. That no matter what happens, there are people like me, from their own community who care and will always be there for them and that help does not have to always come from outside,” shared Freedom, whose charitable initiatives also include the New Africa Philanthropic Foundation and work with Opportunity International.
Freedom’s Kwarleyz Group has been a leader in the luxury-inspired design trend happening in Ghana’s evolving real estate and hospitality industries as well as a preferred destination for celebrities and luxury enthusiasts visiting Ghana such as Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba and Jack Ma.
