Accra Lions Football Club and China-based Black Stars player Frank Acheampong carried out a coordinated outreach and engagement campaign in Abokobi by donating various food and medical supplies to over 500 families severely disadvantaged by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is biggest donation by a football club in the country and player in the wake of the deadly disease, providing emergency food parcels and provisions to households across the town on the fringes of the Ghanaian capital.
The campaign, targeted at the poor and needy natives of Abokobi where Accra Lions are based, saw the Division One side donating food and medical items with support also coming from the Chinese Super League player with Tianjin Teda.
Each household received a huge parcel containing one 5kg bag of rice, cooking oil, box of canned fish, canned tomatoes and pasta while the medical supplies included sanitizers and facemasks as well as the club’s paraphernalia.
The move by the club is to maintain contact with the fans in these unprecedented times and provide vital support and assistance to some of the most vulnerable, socially isolated and at-risk members of the community in the wake of the deadly disease.
Players and officials of the teams visited the homes of the natives on Monday evening to check on them before donating the vital food and medical supplies to the families to ensure they are redirected to some of the town's most vulnerable people.
“I am delighted and proud to be a player of Accra Lions because to be part of this noble mission means a lot to me, especially during a time where helping the most vulnerable in our society is vital,” the midfielder said.
“The coronavirus outbreak in Ghana means that there are now lots of needy people who aren’t eating as they should, so helping the needy in our community of Abokobi is something that brings me fulfilment.”
“We are very happy to be able to support the people of Abokoni during this challenging time. We set up this well-coordinated response and it is essential that we play our part in supporting the community we belong to,” Nuru Yakubu said.
“This aligned community response has not only done the noble thing of helping the needy but has also taught our young players the important lesson of looking after the disadvantaged in our communities.
“Such community efforts will help our players learn to become footballers who are conscious of the society around them with morality backing their efforts as people society looks up to.”
Club manager Ishmael Hamidu revealed that Accra Lions will continue with its outreach programmes to support the community in diverse ways.
“Accra Lions Football Club will continue to aid those who are in need in the town of Abokobi during these most uncertain of times and we will look into supporting the community in other ways in future.
“In times like these, the concept of community takes on a whole new meaning and we want to reciprocate the support the fans give the team week in, week out.
“Our fans have consistently gone above and beyond in their backing for the team and it is only right that we also come in to support our people in times of need.
“This aligned community response is the result of a lot of hard work and collaboration with our players and coaching staff as we collectively came together for the people of Abokobi.”
Accra Lions squad has been on break since the Ghana FA suspended football activities in the country and regrouped to carry out this charitable exercise after government eased restrictions of gatherings last week.