West Orange Cops Donate 40 Bikes To Ghana Village

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange police rescued 40 bicycles destined for destruction and put them to good use, donating more than 40 bikes to a rural village in Ghana.

With the overseas help of a local mailman, the Sept. 15 donation resulted in more than three dozen bicycles making their way to the villagers, who will use them to gain employment and for local transportation, according to town officials.

Collaborating with nonprofit organization Adopt One Village, a West Orange church, Siemens and multiple private donators, the West Orange Police Department partnered with Emmanuel Anim-Sackey - also known as “Baba” in his local village of Abetifi-Kwahu – to get the bikes into the hands of the people who need them.

The bikes belong to AOV and are on loan so that they can’t be sold or bartered for other items, the nonprofit stated. In addition, the nonprofit said that it has built a relationship with a local bicycle repair person and has pledged to restock him regularly with tools so he can maintain the bikes.

This month’s donation isn’t the only outreach the WOPD has made to Ghana. So far, local police have made three, large quantity bicycle donations to Adopt One Village, the nonprofit stated.

Photos: West Orange Township

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