The Mirror pampers dads

The Mirror, Ghana’s most popular and biggest-selling weekend newspaper, in partnership with Graphic Courier, has given a surprise treat to about 100 fathers in celebration of this year’s Fathers Day.

The fathers, living in the Greater Accra, Western and Eastern regions, were surprised by their children and loved ones with paid-for food packages and hampers that were delivered to them in the comfort of their homes last Sunday (June 21, 2020).

The three-course lunch packages and hampers containing pieces of cloth, mugs, towels, some souvenirs and food items were presented in appreciation of fathers who had contributed significantly to the lives of their children.

The surprise treat was dubbed: “Pamper Your Dad”.
It was sponsored by the Alisa Hotels; Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL); Promasidor, brand owner of Cowbell, Mercedes Cafe-Silver Star Tower, Connect FM and Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel, Takoradi.

Dispatch
At exactly 9 a.m., 13 smartly dressed dispatch riders of Graphic Courier — a subsidiary of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) -- had their motorbikes lined up at the entrance of the Alisa Hotel, ready to pick and dispatch the packages to their various locations.

The locations included Nsawam, Tema, Pokuase, Dansoman, Sapeiman, Lapaz, Madina, La, Awoshie, Kwashieman, Adentan, Michel Camp, Koforidua, Takoradi and Akosombo.

Exciting moment
Some recipients of the packages expressed their excitement and shock when they saw The Mirror team with the packages.

The icing on the cake was at the Ankonam Farms at Oyarifa where the children of Justice S.K. Asiamah and Prophet Kwame Mensah received 22 surprised packages ordered by their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
At Nsawam Signboard, 70-year-old John Mensah, whose birthday happened to fall on the same day, could not help but flash broad smiles.
According to his son, Mr Isaac Mensah, his father had suffered a mild stroke and he did not want to wait another day to surprise him.

At Oyarifa in Accra, some children decided to surprise their mother, Madam Mercy Addison, as they believe she is the ‘father’ who had taken care of them throughout their education and still provides them with anything they need in life.

Celebration
The Adverts Sales Manager of the GCGL, Mr George Danso, said the company deemed it necessary to surprise dads especially at this time when there was the coronavirus disease, adding that: “It is our way of celebrating hardworking fathers who have been there for us.”

He said since there was a ban on large public gatherings, The Mirror came up with this innovative way of reaching out to fathers.

“I urge fathers to continue to secure our homes and direct our families because fathers are stewards over our families and one day we will be accountable for this family God has given to us,” he noted.

Subscription
Mr Danso called on the public to download and subscribe to the Graphic NewsPlus App which allowed readers to subscribe to the company’s newspaper brands in the App Store and Google Play Store.

“Keep buying The Mirror every Saturday and with the Graphic Courier Service, people can now have their goods delivered to their preferred destinations,” he said.

Overview
The Assitant Editor of The Mirror, Mrs Hadiza Nuhu-Billa Quansah, who gave a rundown on the genesis of the programme, said adverts were placed in the Daily Graphic and The Mirror for the public to order packed meals together with gift hampers for their fathers.

“People placed orders by simply sending mobile money to our account and we took their contacts and names of their fathers and GPS locations.

“We are not in ordinary times and so it was important that we observed the safety protocols on COVID-19 and ensure there were no large gatherings,” she said.