More than 32,000 households in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri and Yunyoo-Nasuan districts in the North East Region have received large quantities of food and assorted items from the Yennutona Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

The initiative was aimed at easing the burden of food insecurity and poverty among the beneficiaries, especially during the lean season.

The foundation also supported vulnerable groups, such as widows, the physically challenged, alleged witches, and the aged with farm inputs, cashew seedlings and funds to enable them to work and cater for their needs.

Valued at over GH¢400,000, the support was part of the foundation’s annual humanitarian assistance aimed at alleviating the plight of the people and empowering vulnerable persons.

Residents in the beneficiary areas have been experiencing food crisis and severe hunger every lean season, due to the impact of protracted conflicts that rocked the area a few years ago.

Most residents lost their property in those conflicts and have since not recovered from the incident.

Worsening their plight is last year’s prolonged drought that hit northern Ghana and parts of the middle belt, destroying food crops.

To alleviate their plight, US-based Nanleeb Konlan, who is an indigene of the area, through his foundation, has been providing assistance to the people during each lean season.

Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, Mr Konlan said the gesture formed part of his annual support to the residents, particularly the vulnerable, in areas severely affected by the protracted conflicts and perennial drought.

“This lean season comes with serious food shortages. I believe this support will provide immediate relief and also help families refocus on other important areas of their lives, such as education, health, and work,” he said.

He stressed that the financial support given to some of the women would help boost their businesses, to enable them to support the upkeep of their homes, stating that “when women are economically empowered, the whole community thrives.”

Peace and unity

Aside from that, Mr Konlan, who is a businessman, said he had been able to use his influence to unite the people, lamenting that the conflict had caused havoc in the area for the past years.

He said conflicts and peace were mutually exclusive; hence, the need for them to chart a new path for sustained peace to help rebuild the affected communities.

Gratitude

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed their gratitude to the foundation for the support and said it would go a long way to improve their standard of living.