Ghanaian students based in virus-hit Wuhan region of China have received an equivalent of GHC40,000 from the government of Ghana to purchase food and other items as the Wuhan remains locked down over the deadly Coronavirus.
It comes after the China branch of the National Union of Ghana Students appealed to government to evacuate students from Wuhan.
In a statement acknowledging the government support, NUGS said: “The Ghana Embassy in Beijing, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regional integration, has given out a sum of 50,000RMB to NUGS-CHINA for the procurement of food and protective items for the distressed members in the wake of the Coronavirus Outbreak, which has claimed 213 lives and hospitalized more than 9000.
“This initiative was taken in response to challenges that were raised by Chapter representatives during a 4-hour meeting held on the 29th of January, 2020 between the Ghana embassy, the National ExecutiveCouncil, and representatives of NUGS-CHINA. During the meeting, chapter representatives unanimously affirmed that all Ghanaian students in their respective cities were safe from the virus”.
The statement added: “They mentioned that the shortage of nose masks and hand sanitizers had led to some concerns and prevented some members from going out to buy basic needs like food and water. At the end of the meeting that was chaired by H.E. Edward Boateng, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, the embassy Officials promised to channel all the concerns raised by chapter Executives to Accra and respond accordingly.
“According to directives from the Embassy during another meeting with the National Executive Committee(NEC) of NUGS-China on the 31st of January, 30,000RMB of the disbursed amount is to be given to chapters in Hubei Province. Hubei Province is the epicentre of the disease and is also where the lock-down is severest. The remaining 20000RMB is to be committed to the NUGS-China “NKWA NA ƐHIA” fund
created to provide support for all other chapters outside of Hubei Province”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
