The National Trust Holding Company (NTHC) has announced its commitment to increasing its corporate social responsibility initiatives in 2017. This decision is part of the company’s strategies for its operations in 2017. As part of a series of events marking its 40TH anniversary this year, NTHC has provided a mechanized borehole with a 7000 litre water storage tank at a cost of GHS 15,000 to supply potable water to inmates of the Weija Leprosarium.

Acting Managing Director of NTHC, Francis Apanka has said the company arrived at the decision as part of a bigger programme to give back to the community while building a strong and sustainable business into the future. “It is a natural position to arrive after 40 years in operations. In accordance with the adage that life begins at 40, NTHC is beginning new life and naturally we are asking ourselves where and how we want to take our business in the next 40 years. We want to add more value to all our stakeholders – customers, shareholders, partners, and staff and of course our community including the most disadvantaged sections.

Therefore we consider a duty and a privilege to be able to bring some comfort to our brothers and sisters at the Weija Leprosarium.” Mr Apanka said, “As part of our sustainability drive we have rolled out a financial literacy programme which aims at reaching over a million students and other groups of young people across the length and breadth of the country to promote a culture of savings and investment very early in life. On behalf of the inmates of the Leprosarium, Chairman of the Lepers’ Aid Committee, Reverend Fr. Andrew Campbell, expressed immense delight at the gesture from the company. He said they were grateful for the thoughtfulness and consideration explaining that they no longer have to spend dire funds on water purchasing due to the presence of the NTHC sponsored borehole.

Father Campbell encouraged staff of NTHC to do more to help the poor, needy and marginalized in society. He also admonished the families of the inmates to show more love and care to the patients and not to neglect and abandon them as has been the case. Prefect of the inmates, Madam Gladys Adobea was beside herself with adulation for the kind gesture towards them at the facility. She said after consistent pleas to authorities and benefactors, they finally have one of their most pressing needs met, for which they would be eternally grateful to NTHC. According to the 2016 World Giving Index report, Ghana ranks the 77th most charitable country in the world. The report published by the Charities Aid Foundation, surveyed 150,000 people from 130 countries and asked people whether they had given money to charity or volunteered or helped a stranger in the last month. The results gave an indication of a “global Big society” with a fifth of the world’s population had volunteered, almost a third of the world’s population had given money to charity, and 45% of the world’s population had been “good Samaritans” and helped a stranger.

The National Trust Holding Company hopes to improve Ghana’s ranking next year by creating more avenues for their staff and clients to give more. NTHC launched its 40th anniversary in June and has lined up a youth literacy program targeting second cycle and tertiary institutions. The program is expected to reach more than half a million students with the aim of encouraging young Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of good financial choices and planning. Other areas the company will focus on include the informal pensions sector and the expansion of their presence in the Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Closing activities for their 40th anniversary celebrations, NTHC also plans to make donations to Lepers’ Aid Committee in Kokofu in Kumasi.  In addition the company will hold a thanksgiving service on the 18th of December 2016, to show their gratitude to the Almighty God to climax the 40 year milestone.

source:citifmonline