The Kenneth Elvis Anewenah Foundation has expanded its annual “Meals on Wheels” birthday outreach to include baby cots, exercise books and pharmaceutical supplies as it continues efforts to preserve the humanitarian legacy of the late Dr Kenneth Elvis Anewenah.
The fourth edition of the initiative, held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, under the theme “Serving God and Humanity,” saw the Foundation distribute hot meals to vulnerable people and institutions across the Upper East Region.
The outreach covered the Centre for Child Development, the Bolgatanga Main Lorry Station, God’s Love Children’s Home, Hope Children’s Place, Mama Laadi Children’s Home, the Upper East Regional Hospital, Navrongo Central Prison and the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo.
Speaking during the exercise, Board Secretary of the Foundation, Bamidele Amao, said the initiative was a continuation of Dr. Anewenah’s tradition of spending his birthday with the poor and needy.
“Every year on his birthday, he went out and actually mingled with the needy, the poor, and shared hot meals with them and gave support in whatever form that people needed. The family and the foundation, thinking worthy of this, have actually continued this tradition.”
Mr. Amao said the initiative was in its fourth year and the second time it was being held in the Upper East Region, after previous editions were held in Accra, including visits to Nima, Mamobi and other parts of the city.
He said this year’s programme had been expanded beyond the provision of hot meals to provide additional support to hospitals, prisons and children’s homes.
“Today’s programme is slightly different. We will continue to provide meals everywhere we go, but in addition to that, we also have some support for facilities at the hospitals and the prisons. We’ve got medication that we’ll give to the prisoners.”
He added that baby cots were being provided to hospitals, while exercise books were being donated to some children’s homes.
“Our foundation is growing, and every year we are adding on to what we give out to the poor and the needy.”
At the children’s homes, beneficiaries received hot meals and exercise books. The Upper East Regional Hospital and the War Memorial Hospital received hot meals and baby cots, while inmates at the Navrongo Central Prison received hot meals and medications intended to serve as basic first-aid support.
A beneficiary at God’s Love Children’s Home, Grace Yamba Tiapabayar, expressed appreciation for the donation and appealed for continued support in three key areas.
“We truly appreciate your kindness. We would also like to humbly appeal for your continuous support in three key areas: scholarships for some of our needy but brilliant students; helping us set up our library with books, computers and other learning materials; and assisting with the maintenance of the home.”
She said such support would improve the lives, education and future of the children.
“Your support in these areas will greatly improve the lives, education and future of the children. Once again, thank you for your generosity and for believing in us. May God bless you and the Foundation.”
Joyce Odeh, Managing Director of Hope Children’s Place in Bongo, said the gesture was significant to the vulnerable children because it made them feel remembered and supported.
“It’s very significant to have an occasion like this, especially when we have such vulnerable children with us. It makes them feel that they belong, and it makes them know that there are other people who think about them beyond losing their parents and stuff like that.”
Madam Odeh said the Foundation’s previous visits had made a significant impression on the staff and children of the home and expressed hope that the partnership would continue.
She said the home had several needs, including deteriorating structures, roofing sheets, paint, stationery and working used laptops to establish a library.
“We have a lot of needs. Actually, if you can see, most of our structures are going down. So, presently, we are looking for roofing sheets and paint to paint around.”
She added that the laptops and other educational materials would help improve the children’s academic performance and support the establishment of a library.
“We are also looking for some of the stationery that you have brought to the children, and used laptops that are working, because we want to set up a library for them to boost their academic performance and get some kind of good future for the children as well.”
The Foundation says the Meals on Wheels initiative is part of efforts to continue the late Dr Anewenah’s tradition of marking his birthday by serving the poor, needy and vulnerable.
According to the Foundation, Dr. Anewenah, who died in 2022, was a businessman and humanitarian who supported orphanages, assisted brilliant but needy students and created employment opportunities across northern Ghana.
The annual initiative began publicly in Accra in 2024 and was expanded to the Upper East Region in 2025. The Foundation says it reached more than 1,500 people during the 2025 edition. The 2026 edition has expanded the scope of the initiative beyond hot meals to include healthcare, educational materials, and other forms of institutional support.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Simon Ayamdoo
