Vitol has joined in the fight against COVID-19 in Ghana, by donating two PCR machines and 1,000 test kits worth GH¢318,000 (USD53,000) to the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund (GCPS-Fund).

The items were handed over to the Managing trustee, Senyo Hosi at the construction site of the 100-bed infectious disease isolation and treatment facility at the Ga East Hospital in Accra.

Jonathan Norton, Country Manager for Vitol noted that having been a major player in the energy sector in Ghana for over 25 years, the company felt it necessary to support its host country by donating key equipment needed for the infectious disease isolation and treatment centre, which will be a major bulwark in the fight against COVID-19.

He is hopeful that the test kits will help kickstart the operations of the facility which is due to be completed by the end of this month.

“We obviously need to help in our small way and a facility like this needs equipment and so we are very proud to be here to donate two PCR machines which are highly accurate equipment as well as 1000 test kits to get the facility started,” Mr. Norton said.

Impressed by the work done so far on the project, he applauded the vision of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund to construct the facility and charged all and sundry to participate in supporting the “bold and ambitious” project.

“We are encouraged to see the private sector that we are part of come together at this time of need or crisis to rally together to build such a necessary and valuable facility for Ghana going forward,” Mr. Norton said.

“I encourage others to make either cash or equipment donations so that this facility in Ghana can be prepared and ready to rise to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In brief remarks to receive the donation, Managing Trustee, Senyo Hosi, thanked Vitol for the kind gesture in supporting the building of the 100-bed infectious disease isolation and treatment facility.

“We are impressed by the fact that you’ve made donations to other funds but have also found space in these difficult times, especially for the oil and gas sector, to still make a donation towards the good of the people of Ghana,” Mr. Hosi said.

The GCPS-Fund is an initiative by private business executives who set it up with a seed fund of One Million Ghana Cedis. They have also been campaigning to raise at least One Hundred Million Ghana Cedis from local and international sources to aid the Government of Ghana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.