Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to deploy members of Ghana's 48th Engineers Army Regiments to aid in the reconstruction efforts in Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The regiment comprises skilled personnel, including engineers, masons, and carpenters, who will assist in building makeshift shelters for those affected by the hurricane.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama made this announcement during his keynote address at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra. The event marked the 80th Anniversary Celebration of the Manchester Declaration, also known as the Fifth Pan-African Congress. During his speech, President Mahama urged other African leaders to support Jamaica and Cuba, emphasizing the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
He shared that he had received a call from Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who, along with other Caribbean leaders, was in Jamaica to show solidarity in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The leaders witnessed firsthand the extensive damage caused by the hurricane.
President Mahama highlighted the importance of Pan-African solidarity, stating that Ghana had already sent various relief items to Jamaica and Cuba, including rice, medication, mattresses, and blankets. He emphasized that the need for shelter was critical, as communicated by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
President Mahama called on African nations and the international community to assist Jamaica and Cuba in their recovery efforts. He noted that Ghana's Foreign Ministry had informed the African Union of the situation, urging member states to contribute resources like blankets and tarpaulins for makeshift shelters.
The event was attended by former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, who supported the call for broader assistance to the hurricane-affected regions.