More than 6,000 widows from 15 communities in the Greater Accra Region received both health and economic support at the 2025 McDan Foundation Widows Support Project, held on Sunday (March 9) at Mantse Agbonaa in James Town, Accra.

This flagship programme of the McDan Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the McDan Group, was organised in partnership with RIDNE Food Consortium, a Ukrainian food and agriculture company for this year’s event.

The McDan Foundation hosts this annual event in celebration of International Women's Day and to provide economic relief to widows across the country.

Starting at 8 a.m., the enthusiastic crowd, including widows of over two decades, gathered from communities such as Atukpai, Chorkor, Lante Maamli, Swalaba, Mantse Agbonaa, Mamprobi, Korle Gonno, Bukom, Sempe, Akoto Lante, Faase, Osu, Teshie, and La to take part in the event.

Items worth millions of Ghana cedis were presented to the beneficiaries. These included 5kg bags of rice each, assorted soft drinks, packs of biscuits, and packs of salt from the Ada Songor Salt Project by Electrochem Ghana Limited.

In addition, special boxes of items packaged by RIDNE Food Consortium were given to the widows. The boxes contained wheat flour, canned turkey meat, canned sardines, pasta, dry peas, cookies, sunflower oil, rice cakes and condensed canned milk.

Health screening

The event also featured a health screening exercise for more than  2,000 women, men and children with various health conditions.

The McDan Foundation collaborated with the VIVA Health Foundation, a team of doctors and nurses, to carry out the screenings for the large crowd that gathered at the venue.

An Emergency Physician at the 37 Military Hospital and a member of the VIVA Health Foundation, Sheba Fiadzumor, shared with the Daily Graphic that her team had conducted eye screening, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) checks, dental care, diet consultations and screenings for other health issues.

She said hypertension was the most common condition diagnosed during the exercise, adding that although many of the beneficiaries were aware of their blood pressure status, they had stopped taking their medication for various reasons.

“We have been here since 8 am, and we have screened a lot of people with different conditions. The commonest sickness is hypertension. Most people have high blood pressure, which they know, but they have stopped taking their medication for various reasons. For some of them, the last time they checked it was low so they thought that they could stop taking the medicines because they can't afford to buy them, and others too have opted for herbal medication,” she said.

"We have put most of them on medication, and written referrals for them to see doctors because they need follow-ups and we have asked them to see a dietician to help adjust their diets as well."

"After this project, we hope to see that people are healthier and more aware of their health status and are constantly going for health check-ups," she added.

Dignitaries

The well-attended event attracted dignitaries from various fields including the Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley and his wife, Mrs Abigail McKorley together with their children and other family members.

Also in Attendance were the CEO of the RIDNE Food Consortium, Oleksii Khvorostianyi and his deputy, Sergii  Kovalchuk, together with representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy in Accra.

The rest are Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotey Otintor II, Ga Noryaa Manye, Naa Ahemah Okropong, Mamprobi Manye, Naa Adukwei Suomor, Abola Manye, Naa Okaitsoo IV, Sempe Shipi, Nii Adotey Dzata I, former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, former Mayor of Accra, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye, former Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Collins Amankwah and the Director, Sales and Marketing of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, Mr Franklin Sowa.

Touching lives

Speaking at the event, Mr Daniel McKorley expressed joy at being able to bring together thousands of widows to celebrate International Women's Day while bringing smiles to their faces.

He emphasised that the McDan Foundation considered it essential to support widows to alleviate poverty and end their suffering across the nation.

"I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to support my mothers, aunties and sisters here in Accra during this celebration. I was born and raised here, and these people know me as one of their own, so it’s my duty to bring this humanitarian project to James Town. "I’m equally excited about the health screening taking place today. They are being screened for various conditions, given medication, and we will follow up with financial support for those with serious health issues," he added.

Collaboration

Mr McKorley also urged other individuals and NGOs to support the less privileged in society, stating, "I hope other NGOs will come on board to support those in need because they truly require our help."

"We can't keep driving our luxury cars while our mothers and sisters are suffering in our communities. It just doesn't make sense. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to reach this point in life have a responsibility to support the less privileged so that God will continue to bless us," Dr McKorley said.

He added, "While I am excited about this project, it also makes me sad. When you look around and see how many people are struggling in this country, it's heart-breaking. Everyone needs help, and in truth, we all need help."

Mr McKorley said the McDan Foundation had been supporting widows since its inception, adding that “We will continue to do so. We've been to several regions, but today, we've chosen to bring our efforts to James Town. Widows are often overlooked in society, but for me, every widow in Ghana is like a sister, so I’m truly grateful to be here celebrating this day with them."

He revealed that the next project would be held in the Ashanti, Northern, Volta and Western regions.

Partnership

The CEO of RIDNE Foods Consortium, Oleksii Khvorostianyi, reaffirmed his company's commitment to the ongoing partnership with McDan Foundation in supporting the less privileged in Ghanaian communities.

"Although the distance from Ukraine to Ghana is considerable, our shared goal of helping those in need across various countries aligns perfectly with the McDan Foundation’s mission. That’s why we’ve come together in partnership, despite the physical distance. We’re thrilled to travel from Ukraine to Ghana and we’re excited to support this meaningful project,” he said.

 

"We would like to thank Dr McKorley for this great opportunity to partner with his foundation. We assure you that this is just the beginning of a lasting collaboration," Mr Khvorostianyi added.

Emulate gesture

For his part, the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotey Otintor II, expressed his gratitude to Mr McKorley and encouraged other Ga Dangme descendants who have been blessed by God to follow the McDan Foundation’s example.

"Before I begin, I would like to ask everyone to give a round of applause to our brother, McDan, for his generous gesture. As Ga Dangme people, this is exactly what we need — those of us who have been blessed by God must step forward and help our communities," he said.

Nii Otintor II urged other successful Ga Dangmes to follow McDan Foundation’s example and support people in their communities. 

Appreciation

A widow from Chorkor, Mary Oforiquaye, was moved to tears as she shared the daily struggles of raising her four children after the death of her husband 12 years ago.

"May the Spirit of God bless McDan every day of his life. This man is a treasure to widows, and I pray that God's blessings be abundant in his life," she said tearfully.

Sophia Okaitsoo Attoh from Atukpai, who lost her husband eight years ago, also expressed her gratitude: "I commit McDan into the hands of the Most High God. May God strengthen him and provide all his needs so that he can continue supporting us."

Sharon Bortey Clottey, 38, from Atukpai, who lost her husband in 2021, shared that she was moved to tears when Dr Daniel McKorley arrived to greet them before the distribution of items.

"If every business owner in Ghana supported widows the way this man is doing, we wouldn’t be as miserable as we are. We wouldn't feel the pain of losing our husbands or struggle to care for our children. May God bless him beyond measure, and I pray others follow in his footsteps," she said.

Another beneficiary, Alimatu Ankrah, a mother of two from Atukpai, who tragically lost her husband two years ago, spoke of the difficulties she's faced in recent years. She expressed deep gratitude to Dr McKorley for what she called "a help in time of need."

Alberta Coffie from Chorkor, who attended the event on behalf of her widowed mother, prayed for long life and good health for Dr McKorley. 

"There are so many orphans in our house, so when we cook this food and share it with them, we will always remember McDan.

May God bless him and may this blessing extend to his children, grandchildren, and his entire family," she said.

"My husband passed away 14 years ago, and we have two children. I am truly grateful to McDan and I pray that God elevates him even more. May his businesses thrive and may his family never experience lack. As widows, we sometimes receive help from others, but the support from this man is incomparable," said Christiana Nettey from Chorkor.