By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Ahead of Christmas, an International Charitable Organization, the AMI Foundation has begun the distribution of rice to prisons and health centers in three counties of Liberia.
In Montserrado County, the AMI Foundation presented rice to the Monrovia Central Prison, Sonniiwin Health center, Clara Town Health Center, Cora Medical Clinic in New Kru, West Point Township Public School and Clinic, and the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital.
The donation comes in the wake of recent rice shortage in Liberia and widespread reports that prisons around the country have been experiencing food crisis including the Monrovia Central Prison.
AMI Foundation initiative is being done in collaboration with Monrovia City Government, as they admit the recent shortage of rice in the Liberian market.
Recently, Liberians were seen in long lines to get rice from the market due to the huge scarcity something that many Liberians both at home and abroad condemned the government of the issue.
But the AMI Foundation is backed by the AMI Group of Companies, which has continued to venture into driving growth and social development in Africa as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the AMI Foundation in giving back to society, particularly the needy.
The donation of over 400 bags of 25Kg of rice, which started on Friday, November 25, 2022, covered Monrovia, for which, one hundred bags of 25kg rice was donated to inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison, while Sonniiwin Health center received thirty bags, Clara Town Health Center twenty-five bags, Cora Medical Clinic in New Kru town fifty bags, West Point Township Public School, and Clinic fifty-seven bags and Liberia biggest government hospital the John F. Kennedy Hospital sixty bags respectively.
Speaking at the presentation on behalf of the AMI Foundation in Liberia, the AMI Group of Companies Managing Director Trokon Lawrance Banwreh said the charity initiative is part of the Institution’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).”
“At the AMI Foundation, we take great pride in giving back to the community and we are always looking for new and innovative ways of making a difference in the places we operate. We believe it is our responsibility to be actively involved and we welcome any requests for grants, donations, or funding,” Banwreh said.
Mayor Koijee grateful
In response, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee noted that the gesture for AMI Foundation is welcoming, especially in this difficult economic situation in Liberia.
“I was moved and touched by the AMI Group of Companies, through the AMI Foundation a company that operates in Monrovia and in other countries around the world to have to give back to society most particularly the needy. Not too often, do we see companies operating within our City, Monrovia that will do these things, but I am grateful to the AMI foundation for the gesture,” the Monrovia City Mayor noted.
Mayor Koijee however, used the occasion to call on other institutions or companies to follow the example of the AMI foundation in reaching out to the neediest in society.
In remarks, Assistant Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice, Eddie Tarawali commended the foundation noting that it came as a surprise.
“I like to firstly extend my gratitude to the almighty God and the Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson Tamba Koijee for the great work he has been doing for his people in Liberia and the Foundation for the gesture made to the prison compound. I am indeed grateful,” Minister Tarawali said.
Minister Tarawali maintained that the Monrovia Central Prison has over one thousand five hundred inmates as such there is a need for support in buttressing the government.
He however promised the AMI foundation that the rice will be used for the intended purpose.
Receiving the donation at various hospitals, Health centers, and a Public School in Monrovia, the beneficiaries lauded the AMI foundation for the donation describing it as timely.
For his part, the Officer in Charge at the Cora Medical Clinic in New Kru town A. Slewon Bestman praised the AMI Group of Companies for identifying with them.
“It is not the amount but thought so we say a very big thank you. I am so happy to have been chosen among many clinics in this area and for recognizing our work. Let God bless you and let your work be multiplied,” Mr. Bestman said happily.
At the John F. Kennedy Hospital, the Administration treasured the donation and said it was timely.
“Wow! this came at a time when we were already discussing how to get rice because all of our rice has finished. We are so happy about this donation. it came in time,” The JFK hospital administration noted.
The day-long event was closely followed by Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, Assistant Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice, and members of AMI Foundation in Liberia.
Meanwhile, the Foundation in partnership with the Monrovia City government expected to continue their donation for the second day in Bomi and Margibi counties on Saturday, November 26, 2022, respectively.
While the donation of the rice was ongoing, the Senior Management of the AMI Foundation also meet with the Director General of the National Commission on Higher Education and the Assistant Minister for Information at the Ministry of Education, where the Foundation Invested 200,000 USD towards Financial Aids, and Scholarships across Junior and Senior High Schools, Vocational Institutes, Colleges, and Universities across Liberia.