Rio 2016: Groupe Nduom and Nosirrah Ghana donate to Ghana Olympic Committee

The Ghana Olympic Committee has received donations from Groupe Nduom and Nosirrah Plastic & Recycling Ghana Ltd ahead of Ghana’s participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Wednesday 27^th July.

At a short ceremony at the GOC’s Office at Ridge, the Chairman of Groupe Nduom, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, made a cash donation of $10,000 and also extended to the GOC hotel accommodations valued at $22,000 to Ghana’s Olympic Team.

In a bid to protect Ghana’s team against the Zika virus disease in Brazil, Nosirrah Plastic & Recycling Ghana Ltd. led by its CEO Harrison Amanor-Opata, also donated 600 tubes of ‘3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion’ valued at an estimated $4,800 to GOC officials.

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom told the gathered media that he had been looking forward to making the presentation to the Ghana Olympic Committee for a while now, adding that the gesture forms part of Groupe Nduom’s corporate social responsibility.

“I have been looking to meet them (GOC). This is the time to meet them,” he said adding that, “It (the donation) is not something we do just when we are going to the Olympics or the World Cup. It is something we planned ahead of time.

He explained the rationale for making the presentation saying, “It is all about something that we do to promote sports because it promotes discipline, confidence and the mental attitude that people have. Our foundation is built on the strength of what Groupe Nduom does. It is not what I do personally. It is what our companies do.

“When our companies do well and make some money, we take a little bit off and put it aside to support education, support health and so many other things so that we can also support  activities such as those of the Ghana Olympic Committee.”

Commenting on the cash donation, Dr. Nduom said that he hopes it goes a long way to motivate Ghana’s athletes at the Games.

“We wanted the money to go into people’s hands so that they have some money and it doesn’t become an issue in Brazil, having been there in Brazil and knowing the problems the footballers went through.

“It is a beginning and hopefully there will be some more. I wish you luck.

GOC President Prof. Francis Dodoo expressed his gratitude to the two companies for their kind gesture.

“We are fortunate that we have these very respectable people who have enough confidence to give these donations. The pair of donations we got from Groupe Nduom was fabulous. They gave us an amount of $10,000 which they said they wanted to go to people’s upkeep,” he said.

“The rooms are also really timely in the sense that a year and a half ago or so ago when we were asked to book rooms by Rio 2016, we didn’t have the funds to do it. The Ministry was at that point also not able to help. Consequently, we booked probably the fewest number of rooms that we have ever done for a major Games. And the dilemma we always had at the back of our minds was that if a dignitary wants to come and watch the Olympic Games, for instance if is His Excellency the Head of State wanted to come to watch two or three days of the Olympics, w.

Prof. Dodoo added that the donation of the insect repellent by Nosirrah Plastic & Recycling Ghana Ltd. will go a long way to calm nerves about the Zika virus among Ghana’s contingent.

“We’ve gotten this wonderful gift of insect repellent. It was a beautiful gesture for somebody to be in the United States and still think about the needs of our athletes when they go to Rio.

“This Zika phenomenon has been something that has scared many athletes from going to the Games.

“Consequently, it hopefully calms the psychological state of our athletes, so they can focus on what they are there for.

“We are grateful to both companies and we will do our best to support our athletes to ensure the athletes deliver the sort of performances that make these donations worthy,” he summed up.

Credit: Ghana Olympic Committee