In a remarkable display of international solidarity, Ghana has stepped forward with significant humanitarian aid to support countries reeling from recent crises. On November 8, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced a donation of relief items valued at GHS 10 million to Jamaica, Cuba, and Sudan, according to Pan African Visions. The gesture arrives at a time when these nations are grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters and ongoing conflict, and it underscores Ghana’s commitment to global fraternity—even as the world’s attention is pulled in many directions.
The backdrop to Ghana’s donation is nothing short of catastrophic. Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 cyclone, tore through the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Over 1.5 million people across Jamaica, Cuba, and other islands were affected, with hundreds confirmed dead and many more still missing. President Mahama addressed the devastation directly, stating, “You can imagine the kind of devastation that it wreaked on Jamaica, and from Jamaica, it continued to Cuba. Hundreds of people have lost their lives and are still counting. Other people are missing, who have not been accounted for.”
But the Caribbean was not alone in its suffering. In Sudan, the ongoing conflict has displaced thousands, overwhelming refugee agencies and causing what President Mahama called “some of the atrocities, the genocide, and the humanitarian suffering that is taking place in Sudan are not something that belongs to the 21st century.” He lamented that Sudan is “actually becoming the forgotten wall because of Ukraine and Gaza. It looks like the world’s attention has shifted from there.”
The relief items provided by Ghana are as varied as they are essential. The donation includes 2,400 bags of Ghana rice, 540 bags of sugar, 377 boxes of medication, 500 mattresses, 500 pillows, 100 cartons of gari mix, 50,000 T-shirts, three 20-foot containers of assorted products and Ghanaian chocolate, 20 pieces of 500-litre water tanks, 20 hand-wash stations, 10 emergency portable toilets, and assorted clothes. This collection reflects both immediate needs—like food, water, and medicine—and the comfort of home, with Ghanaian chocolate and clothing included as tokens of goodwill.
The distribution of these supplies is carefully planned: 50% will go to Jamaica, 30% to Cuba, and 20% to humanitarian agencies working in Sudan. The products themselves are the result of a collective effort by Ghanaian businesses, including Latex Foam, Ash Form, MTN, Farm Masters Global, Twilion Company, Dignity DTRR Apparel, Pharmanova Ghana, Atlantic Lifesciences Ltd, Mancwa Commodities Ltd, Duraplast Ltd, Terraprime Group Ghana Ltd, Mid Atlantic Group, Ghana Cocoa Board, Cocoa Processing Company, and businessman Ibrahim Mahama. Their participation highlights the strength of public-private partnerships in times of crisis.
Receiving the donation, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Lincoln George Downer, expressed deep gratitude on behalf of all three nations. The act, he noted, was more than just material support—it was a reaffirmation of friendship and shared humanity during challenging times.
While the region recovers from the hurricane, Cuba faces an additional threat: a fresh outbreak of the chikungunya virus. According to the Miami Herald, the American embassy in Cuba issued a travel warning on November 9, 2025, after the virus was detected for the first time since 2015. Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, causes intense joint pain, rash, and fever, with the potential for severe complications, especially in newborns. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned, “Women infected at the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby before or during birth. Newborns infected in this way or by mosquito bites are at risk of severe illness, including long-term complications.”
Between January 1 and September 20, 2025, Cuban authorities confirmed 34 cases of chikungunya in regions including Guantanamo, La Habana, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, and Santiago de Cuba. The World Health Organization corroborated these figures, pointing to the growing public health challenge. The resurgence of chikungunya is part of a broader trend: diseases like Zika, malaria, West Nile, yellow fever, Oropouche, and dengue fever are all on the rise, fueled by increasingly wet and warm weather patterns and atmospheric pollution—factors that create ideal breeding conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
In response, Cuban health officials have ramped up precautions. They’ve bolstered public health treatment facilities and launched house-to-house inspection campaigns to identify and control mosquito breeding sites. These efforts aim to stem the tide of transmission before it spirals out of control.
Meanwhile, the CDC has emphasized preventative measures for residents and travelers alike. Their recommendations include vaccination, the use of insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in cool, well-screened environments. Around the home, simple steps like managing stillwater areas can help reduce mosquito populations. For those seeking natural solutions, plants such as lemongrass, lavender, and lemon balm can act as effective deterrents.
The broader battle against mosquito-borne diseases, however, is not just about immediate action. It also involves addressing long-term environmental factors. The CDC and public health experts suggest that reducing pollution—by switching to electric vehicles, upgrading to energy-efficient heat pumps, and embracing renewable energy—can help curb the spread of these diseases by mitigating the conditions that allow mosquitoes to thrive.
With the region facing a dual crisis—natural disaster recovery and the threat of infectious disease—Ghana’s aid could not have come at a more critical moment. The combination of material support and public health vigilance is vital for countries like Cuba and Jamaica as they work to protect their citizens and rebuild.
Looking ahead, the hope is that international attention and support won’t wane as headlines shift elsewhere. President Mahama’s words serve as a poignant reminder: “It is in the spirit of camaraderie with the good people of Jamaica, Cuba and the Sudan.” In times of crisis, gestures of solidarity—no matter how modest—can make all the difference, offering not only relief but also a renewed sense of global community.
