By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, June 6, GNA – ‘Friends of Eric Opoku’of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Friday donated assorted food items, detergents, and an undisclosed amount of cash to the Mama Laadi Children’s Home in Bolgatanga to mark the Minister’s 56th birthday.
The items included bags of rice, cartons of canned tomatoes, gallons of cooking oil, detergents, and other essential supplies to support the upkeep of children at the facility.
The gesture the voluntary support group, formed part of activities organised by the group to celebrate the birthday of Mr Eric Opoku, who turned 56 on June 5, 2026.
Other activities held in his honour included a football gala and a party for members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bolgatanga.
The events were sponsored by Mr Muniru Ayouka, Upper East Regional Coordinator of the Friends of Eric Opoku.
Presenting the gesture to the facility, Mr Akambange Nsobila, a member of the group, said the donation was aimed at supporting vulnerable children while celebrating the Minister’s birthday.
He explained that the group, which has members across the Upper East Region, was formed to promote the achievements of Mr Opoku and support his vision for national development, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“We are not doing this because of personal gain. We decided to celebrate his birthday by putting smiles on the faces of children who need support and care,” he said.
Mr Nsobila noted that the Minister was unaware of the donation and that members of the group voluntarily contributed resources to undertake the initiative.
He said the group had been impressed by the Minister’s performance since his appointment as Minister of Food and Agriculture in 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama and cited government agricultural initiatives, including the Feed Ghana Programme, Nkoko Nkitinkiti and agribusiness interventions, as evidence of his commitment to transforming the sector.
According to him, the ‘Friends of Eric Opoku’ would continue to engage the public through community outreach and media engagements to highlight the Minister’s contributions to national development.
Receiving the items on behalf of the home, Mr Gabriel Ayine, Social Worker at Mama Laadi Children’s Home, expressed gratitude to the group for the support, saying that the donation would significantly contribute to the welfare of the children, particularly at a time when the facility was facing resource constraints.
“We are sincerely grateful for this gesture. Many people pass by this facility without taking the time to know what we do here, but this group has demonstrated genuine concern for the children and the work we do,” he said.
Mr Ayine noted that while the home occasionally received donations of food items, support for other essential needs such as education, healthcare and operational expenses remained inadequate.
He appealed to individuals, organisations, and philanthropists to support the facility to improve the living conditions and future prospects of the children.
He also commended the ‘Friends of Eric Opoku’ for choosing the children’s home as the beneficiary of the birthday celebration and urged the Minister to continue supporting initiatives that promoted the welfare of vulnerable groups in society.
The Mama Laadi Children’s Home, also known as Operation Mango Tree, provides care and support for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children in the Upper East Region.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo