Accra, Sept. 25, GNA- The Ghana Association of Bankers on Tuesday presented a cheque for 580,000 Ghana cedis (5.8 billion cedis) to the Ministry of the Interior in response to a nationwide appeal by government to aid flood victims in the three northern regions and other parts of the country.

Mr. Daniel Kwabena Mensah, Executive Secretary of the Association, said the donation formed part of their social responsibility. He said members of the Association were touched by footage they watched on the effects of the flood on the lives of victims and therefore felt the need to donate.

Mr. Mensah said the donation was to address the immediate relief needs of the flood disaster victims in the Upper East Region. He assured the Ministry that individual banks and staff were also preparing to make donations in cash and in kind towards the upkeep of the victims.

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of the Interior, who received the cheque on behalf of government, said the floods had had a great effect on the victims. "Quite a number of farms have been submerged by these rains and whole villages cut off from the rest. Some areas have even been invaded by snakes and crocodiles. Hitherto, it was not like that. It is quite frightening," he said. The nation, he said, was dealing with a disaster of a large proportion and called for donations since the victims would have to be sustained for about a year before they could fend for themselves. The Minister said at the appropriate time government would restore water and communications systems in areas affected by the floods. He appealed to all development partners and organizations to come to the aid of the victims saying "let us together as a nation, private or government sector, to help these people to get their lives back on track." 25 Sept. 07