The President of EBID, Dr George Agyekum Donkor, made the presentation to Ms Sophia Akufo, Chairperson of the Ghana COVID-19 Trust Fund, in Accra.

Presenting the cheque, Dr Donkor said, "The ECOWAS Bank was deeply concerned about the profound impact the pandemic was having on the people of the region."

He added, "We have come here to show solidarity, to support the [Ghana] government concerning the various emergency measures that have been put in place to ensure that the lives of millions of the people are saved."

The coronavirus pandemic first broke out in the West African nation on March 12 and since then, the number of cases have climbed to 636 by Tuesday April 14, with 8 reported deaths, 17 recoveries.

In an attempt to stem its spread, Ghana government has introduced a wide range of measures, including; ban on social gatherings, closure of schools and enforcing partial lockdown in hotspot areas, and establishing a national Fund to mobilise resources.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, subsequently inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Covid-19 National Trust Fund with former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo as chairperson.

The Board is mandated to receive donations and contributions from the public and channel it to the most deprived and vulnerable in the society.

The 250,000-dollar contribution by EBID was in reaction to the call for both public and private support to help deal with the virus spread that had already been reported in 10 out of Ghana's 16 regions.

Dr Donkor said the Bank would come back to support the various efforts that the government had put in place "anytime the need arises" to help combat the deadly virus.

"Ghana plays a pivotal role in the Bank as a second united shareholder, and we cannot take you for granted in the enormous contribution that the government has made towards the advancement of the Bank over the years," he added.

Ms Sophia who received the Cheque was delighted for the gesture, saying, "This is such an important gesture for the regional bank to reach out in this manner to help Ghana not only to combat the virus, but also to alleviate the plight of the poor and vulnerable who maybe or have been affected by the virus."

"Indeed, development depends on the health of the people and this gesture is a clear expression," she added.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was grateful to EBID for recognising the exigencies of the coronavirus situation in Ghana by making such significant contribution to help the government tackle it.