Ghanaian music star Rocky Dawuni and supermodel Elle MacPherson recently completed a June 13 -15 tour of Ghana in West Africa on behalf of (RED) and the Global Fund.
The visit served to announce a grant from (RED) and the Global Fund for HIV / AIDS treatment programs and the delegation also included the President of (RED) Tamsin Smith and Adele Sulcas of the Global Fund. Accompanied by Dr. Nii Akwei Addo (Head of the Ghana National AIDS Campaign Program,) the group toured Korle- Bu and Police Hospitals in Accra as well as St. Martin’s Hospital in Agomenya to see projects where the grant will be utilized.
The Global Fund grant including (RED) grant will amount to a total of 97 million dollars (U.S.) disbursed over 5 years. The overall goal is to diminish HIV/AIDS illness and death by rolling out on a national level, a comprehensive package of prevention, treatment, care and support services.
(RED) was founded by U2 front man Bono and Bobby Shriver to harness the power of some the world’s most iconic brands in the fight against HIV / AIDS. The money realized from the sale of (RED) products is then contributed to the Global Fund.
2007 has proven to be a year of tremendous action for musician /activist Dawuni, having just completed a successful tour of Israel where he performed with the country’s star Mosh Ben Ari. In March, his annual 7th “Rocky Dawuni’s Independence Splash” concert celebrating Ghanaian Independence Day, attracted over 40, 000 people at La Pleasure Beach in Accra, Ghana and Rocky also traveled extensively with UNICEF to the northern part of his homeland to bring attention to the pressing need for clean water and sanitation.
Currently, Rocky is featured on the highly successful Instant Karma: Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur Deluxe Edition release (Warner Bros Records) which features covers of John Lennon songs by global stars including Black Eyed Peas, U2, Christina Aguilera, Green Day, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. In addition, Dawuni’s afro beat “Wake the Town” is destined to reach new audiences when the genre-defining track is featured on video giant EA’s forthcoming FIFA 2008 video game.
