Famous British film, television and stage actor Sir Roger Moore will visit Ghana 15-20 October to support the global effort to eradicate poliomyelitis, an official of the UNICEF said in Accra Wednesday.
The actor, who is best known for his role as James Bond in the 007 films, will participate in the launch of Ghana’s National Immunisation Day 19 October.
Sir Roger, 76, who is also UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador, will acquaint himself with the agency’s activities in Ghana.
According to Johannes Wedenig, UNICEF’s programme officer, Sir Roger would be joined during his first three days by high level representatives from the British private sector to assist the United Kingdom committee for UNICEF in its private sector fund-raising efforts.
Wedenig said the actor has been advocating children’s rights throughout the world since 1991 when he joined UNICEF and has also shown concern about iodine deficiency in children, which is prevalent in Ghana’s northern region.
In Ghana, though the consumption of iodised salt is low, it has increased from zero percent to 22 percent of households.
It is estimated that over the next five years, more than 100,000 children would be mentally impaired due to iodine deficiency.
Sir Roger would visit some UNICEF projects at James Town and Pambros Salt Industry in Accra as well as Elmina and Afram Plains. He will also tour guinea-worm endemic areas in the northern region.
He will assist in the house-to-house immunisation in Accra and Elmina after the launch of the National Immunisation Day and interact with the people.
