Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has come to be part of Corporate Communications for some time now and when Entities go out of their way to support communities that they have not directly benefited from, then it makes it even more commendable.
For example, when mining companies destroy communities via destruction of farmlands and the environment; make billions of cedis/dollars, and then decide via Corporate Social Responsibility to build insignificant infrastructure for the affected communities, that type CSR is not what really catches my attention.
Most recently, the First Sky Group, led by Mr. Eric Kutortse, has really lifted high the flag of CSR and many Ghanaians, including myself, cannot pretend not to notice the heavy philanthropism that is being exhibited by Mr. Eric Kutortse, and his First Sky Group.
Some time ago, the First Sky Group decided to assist the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital with kidney dialysis machines and since then, the company has paid the bills of thousands of Ghanaians who are suffering from kidney problems.
I am aware that the machines that have been bought for the Korlebu Teaching Hospital and other medical facilities, runs into billions of cedis.
Just like the Ghana Heart Foundation was set up decades ago to assist the Cardiothoracic Center at Korlebu, the First Sky Group through its Founder and CEO, Mr. Eric Kutortse, has done same for the kidney treatment center.
Indeed, my attention has been glued to the most recent philanthropic gesture by the First Sky Group vis-à-vis the Akosombo Dam spillage which has flooded many communities in North/South Tongu and has rendered thousands homeless.
We have heard politicians make all kinds of comments aimed at throwing needles political punches in order to score very cheap political points, and their type of kind gesture is not what catches my attention because it is politicians being insensitive to the serious plight of people in distress.
It is very sickening when politicians insensitively score cheap points with the excruciating plight of innocent citizens – especially children and the vulnerable.
In the case of the First Sky Group, it is a private Entity that has chosen to show gratuitous benevolence to the affected communities/persons and critical eyes cannot fail to recognize such a gargantuan gesture from them.
That is to say, unlike the politicians who are making gestures to score cheap voting points, the First Sky Group is not doing for any points – apart from the point of helping suffering Ghanaians.
What makes the gesture even more heart-warming, is the fact that apart from consumables that have been donated to the affected communities/persons, the First Sky Group has taken a very bold initiative to construct accommodation for those who lost their properties and obviously cannot survive being homeless under the current excruciating harsh economic conditions.
So, for the record, when it comes to construction works for the affected communities, the First Sky Group was the first to make the firm and concrete move so to do.
Of course, it is not a “one man show”, so the flow of other groups into the affected communities to help construct new structures is welcome news by all standards and I salute all such groups and individuals for the humanitarian assistance.
Indeed, my Evangelical Presbyterian (EP), Church, Ghana, has in the past Sundays, been taking special offertories and making appeal to members to donate in cash and kind to support the affected persons/communities.
It is most commendable that an individual and his Group can decide to take on such a huge financial burden when it was not budgeted for in any way.
Yes, no one anticipated that this was going to happen so it is very fair to believe that the First Sky Group is making its monumental resources available out of whatever ancillary budget it must have made – and not what it made at the beginning of the year for its CSR activities.
I know it for a fact that Mr. Eric Kutortse has the fear of God in him and is an open believer in the Gospel so some of us are not surprised that he has chosen to allow the blessings that God has bestowed upon him, to benefit the less fortunate in society.
When the Gospel tells us to love our neighbours as ourselves; this is exactly what the First Sky Group is doing to the glory of God.
Our neighbours are not those who live next door to us; our neighbours are human beings who have been created in the image of God just like other human beings, and extending a much-needed helping hand to them in times of deep distress, is nothing but a serious attachment to the admonishing that Christ gives the Church.
As for the politicians, who themselves go promising heaven on earth, and think that they should be worshipped for doing very little to help the suffering masses, we leave them to their conscience (that is if they have any at all).
People are suffering and if you have the resources of state to help, there is no need to rub it in and create the impression that you are doing them a favour.
I can only continue to thank Mr. Eric Kutorse and his First Sky Group for what they continue to do in the name of God for humanity all over the country.
Mr. Kutortse has decided that as a Ghanaian and a devout Christian, no matter where people are in need in the country, once he can make help available, he will do so without any considerations of reward – his only reward being that his help to people would allow the name of God to be glorified.
May God bless the work of Mr. Eric Kortutse and the First Sky Group and may heaven smile favourably on his work so that he knows deserved prosperity at all times.
“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters shall be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:25).
“Norvinye Eric, Mawu ne yra wo klpe wo afekor tegbee le Yesu Kristo fe nkor me”. Amen!!!
Samuel Koku Anyidoho
(Founder & CEO, Atta-Mills Institute).
