When devastating floods struck parts of Ghana on 29 June 2026, leaving families displaced and communities struggling with the loss of homes, belongings and livelihoods, Lions International District 418 – Ghana responded to the call to serve.
Under the leadership of District Governor Lion Ebo Prah Manson, PMJF, GLCF, the District applied to the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for emergency humanitarian assistance. Following a comprehensive application and review process, LCIF approved an Emergency Grant of US$15,000 (Ref: EMR28954/418) to provide immediate relief to affected families.
The approval marked the beginning of an intensive District-wide humanitarian effort.
To ensure that the grant was implemented transparently, efficiently and in accordance with LCIF requirements, the District Governor constituted the District 418 LCIF Emergency Grant Implementation Committee, chaired by Lion Wisdom Kormla Awittor, MJF, Region 1 Chairperson.
The nine-member Committee brought together expertise from service, disaster relief, finance, hunger relief, environment, marketing, zone leadership and the Leo movement. It was charged with planning the intervention, verifying beneficiaries, coordinating procurement, mobilising resources, supervising distribution, ensuring financial accountability and documenting the programme for reporting to LCIF.
From Grant Approval to Action
The Committee immediately began work, holding a series of planning meetings and coordinating with relevant authorities and community stakeholders.
During the LCIF review process, the District was advised that certain operational expenses, including transportation, distribution and monitoring, were not eligible for funding from the emergency Grant. The budget was therefore revised so that more of the LCIF funding could be directed towards essential relief items for affected families.
But the Committee recognised that the scale of need was greater than the original intervention could address.
District 418 therefore called on Lions, Leo-Lions, Leos, clubs and friends of Lions to complement the LCIF grant with additional financial and in-kind support.
The response was remarkable.
Members donated food, clothing, footwear, hygiene and sanitary items and other essential supplies. Volunteers supported collection, sorting, packaging, warehousing, transportation and distribution. Appropriate storage and distribution facilities were also secured as the Committee prepared to move from planning to implementation.
Through these additional efforts, the total reported value of the intervention grew to approximately US$18,300, representing about US$3,300 in additional resources beyond the original LCIF grant.
More importantly, the District was able to expand its reach from an initial projection of approximately 286 households to 500 households, an increase of about 75 per cent.
Four Communities, One District in Service
The relief programme culminated in four major distribution exercises on 14 and 15 August 2026.
The first activity was held at the NADMO Office in Winneba on Friday, 14 August, where 100 households received assistance.
The following day, District 418 simultaneously extended its humanitarian response to three additional locations.
At Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality, serving the Abokobi and Ashongman communities, 200 households received relief support.
At the Tema New Church School in Community 5, a further 100 households were supported.
And at the Samreboi Community Center, another 100 households received assistance.
In total, 500 households benefited from the programme, representing an estimated 2,000 people, based on an average of four persons per household.
The relief packages included essential items such as rice, gari, beans, cooking oil, tomato paste, drinking water and cutlery, complemented by fairly used clothing and other donated supplies.
Lions and Leos Answer the Call
One of the most significant features of the intervention was the scale of volunteer mobilisation across the District.
At least 258 Lions, prospective Lions, Leos, NADMO officials and other volunteers participated in the four activities.
This included:
- 118 Lions
- 6 prospective Lions
- 82 Leos
- 52 NADMO officials and other volunteers
The strong Leo participation was particularly notable. At Tema Community 5 alone, 52 Leos participated in the relief exercise, demonstrating the growing importance of young people as active partners in Lions service.
Immediate Past Leo District President Leo Richard Okai, who participated in the media engagement, highlighted the relationship between Lions and Leos and the value of young people gaining direct experience in humanitarian service.
Restoring More Than Material Possessions
Beyond the statistics were real stories of loss and recovery.
At Samreboi, media reports indicated that more than 200 houses had been submerged, 26 buildings completely collapsed, more than 500 residents were affected, and two lives were reportedly lost during the floods.
Beneficiaries who spoke to the media described the loss of household belongings and the difficulties they continued to face. Many nevertheless expressed heartfelt appreciation to Lions for remembering their communities and providing practical assistance during their recovery.
Christopher Bervel, representing NADMO at Samreboi, commended Lions for the intervention while noting that some affected families continued to require support as they rebuilt their lives.
The experience reinforced an important reality: emergency relief cannot replace everything a family has lost, but timely intervention can restore dignity, provide immediate comfort and remind people that they are not alone.
“When There Is a Need, There Is a Lion”
The relief programme also attracted coverage from GHOne TV, which documented the activities and interviewed District leadership, Leo representatives, beneficiaries and local officials.
During his media engagement, District Governor Lion Ebo Prah Manson, PMJF, GLCF, reflected on the humanitarian philosophy behind the intervention.
He emphasised that Lions are inspired by compassion and kindness and have a responsibility to respond when disaster strikes.
His message captured the essence of the entire programme:
“When there is a need, there is a Lion.”
The District Governor also underscored that the LCIF grant was not distributed as cash to individuals or clubs. Rather, it was converted into approved essential relief items, with strict requirements governing procurement, documentation, financial accountability and reporting.
A Committee That Delivered
The successful implementation of the programme reflected the dedication of the District 418 LCIF Emergency Grant Implementation Committee:
- Lion Wisdom Kormla Awittor, MJF – Chairperson
- Lion Obed Opoku Agyekum, PMJF
- Lion Ignatius Kwasi Afrifa, MJF
- Lion Widad Valeria Domey
- Lion Deloris Enyo Awalime
- Lion Joseph Tawiah Cofie
- Lion Charles Mawutor Djrakey
- Lion Jacqueline Tiaba Jakpa
- Leo Richard Okai
From grant approval through planning, procurement, fundraising, volunteer mobilisation, storage, logistics, distribution, publicity and documentation, the Committee successfully transformed an international grant into a coordinated humanitarian intervention across four communities.
The District Governor subsequently commended the Committee for its leadership, teamwork, integrity and willingness to go beyond the call of duty.
The Power of Partnership
The success of the programme also demonstrated the multiplier effect of partnership.
The US$15,000 provided by LCIF created the foundation. District resources, additional donations, volunteer service, NADMO participation, local authorities, community leaders and support from Lions and Leos expanded its reach.
What began as an intervention projected to reach approximately 286 households ultimately reached 500 households and an estimated 2,000 people.
That achievement demonstrates what becomes possible when international Lions resources and local service leadership come together.
District 418 extends its profound appreciation to the Lions Clubs International Foundation, Lions around the world, NADMO, participating local authorities and communities, GHOne TV, donors, volunteers and every Lion, Leo-Lion and Leo who contributed towards the success of the programme.
Service in Action
The District 418 Emergency Flood Relief Programme was more than a distribution exercise.
It was a demonstration of compassion in action.
It showed how a District can identify an urgent community need, mobilise international support, establish an accountable implementation structure, rally its membership, build partnerships and deliver meaningful assistance directly to vulnerable families.
The final numbers tell an important story:
- US$15,000 LCIF Emergency Grant
- US$18,300 Total Reported Intervention Value
- 4 Relief Locations
- 500 Households Served
- Approximately 2,000 People Reached
- 258 Participants Mobilised
- 82 Leos in Active Service
Most importantly, behind every figure was a family reminded that someone cared.
District 418 has demonstrated what it means to remain Rooted in Service, while living its commitment to Service, Fellowship and Friendship.
When there is a need, there is a Lion.
