Ever since the emergence of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), between 31 December 2019 and as of 25 April 2020, 2,744,744 cases of COVID-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions and testing strategies in the affected countries) have been reported, recording 195,387 deaths.

This devastating situation has not only brought about sad stories in these countries but has rendered many countries especially developing nations on their knees begging for grants to help salvage the plethora of economic and social implications that have struck them as a result of the pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) over 800 million people all over the globe depend on Social Interventional programmes and kind gestures of nations, groups and Corporate Organizations and well-meaning individuals to survive daily. Basic social needs such as food, shelter, water and some protective items are the key things these people need each and every day to fight not only the COVID-19 but extreme hunger and thirst.

Subsequently, in Ghana, the government has been able to bring hope to the less privileged and needy people who hitherto the benevolence of groups, corporate Ghana and individuals, would have suffered the heat of hunger and thirst. Many groups, Members of Parliament and individuals continue to create an enabling environment where everyone regardless of who and where they are located to be able to get food and water to survive on.

Key among these people is the eminent and outspoken lawmaker, Hon Kofi Armah Buah, the member of Parliament for the good people of Ellembelle Constituency. He has brought up the "FOOD BANK FOR ELLEMBELLE".

An initiative of Hon Armah-Kofi Buah which seeks to work with ready partners to combat extreme hunger and alleviate poverty. The initiative further explains that hunger is a painful, unpleasant and complex situation caused mostly by lack of the means, mostly financial to purchase enough food commodities and other essentials. Most people who face hunger often struggle to meet other basic needs as such as employment, housing and healthcare.

It is estimated that about 5% of Ghana's population are food insecure and about 2 million people are vulnerable to becoming food insecure. The most severely affected are the elderly and children. Ellembelle Food Bank is thus, focused on providing food for the less privileged and people in need.

The aim of the Armah Buah's food initiative is to improve the standard and quality of life of the people of Ellembelle, especially the senior citizens by alleviating hunger.

The initiative looks forward to getting key partners who are ready and willing to support the course without any partisan or parochial conditions. It's therefore imperative on community organizations, cooperate entities, Local Government Authorities, Religious bodies, individuals and NGOs to coordinate and help address hunger.

The Ellembelle Food Bank initiative will serve to muster support from all these corners to combat hunger especially among senior citizens and low-income families in Ellembelle Districts. To become a partner one is expected to meet the criteria below;

1. Any organization or individual willing to donates in good faith without conditions.

2. Cooperate entities willing to adopt sponsorship of the Food Bank as part of their Cooperate Social Responsibility(CSR)programs

3. In-kind donation to the food bank.

4. Partners willing to support by funding of the Food Bank.

Due to the nature of our current situation, the food bank must be managed well to bake to last throughout the period in which the COVID-19 may linger up to.

Therefore it is only individuals who fall within any of the following categories are eligible to receive commodities from the Food Bank;

1. Temporary assistance to needy families.

2. Support of the needy in times of disaster.

3. A senior citizen living in Ellembelle in need.

Ghanaians must commend such great initiatives engineered by selfless, caring and sensitive individuals which is geared towards alleviating hunger and poverty to bring hope to many people.

May God bless the many likes of Hon Armah-Kofi Buah who always put the interest of their people and constituents first.

Mensah Patrick- Coordinator

0204716804

Karim Ayebillah A. Atubigah - Deputy PRO

0249708070