Ghana

              

Introduction to Ghana  (View video...)

 

Ghana is a proud country.  Lying in the center of the West African coast, it’s proximity to the Equator gives it a climate that is primarily hot and dry.  Roughly the size of Britain, its population is well over 20 million.  While English is the official language, a number of tribal languages are also in use.  Since achieving independence in 1957, its people have worked at transforming it into an economically sound democratic nation, free of political and civil strife.  In many ways it is West Africa’s most stable country.  It is also one of Africa’s more economically sound countries, with gold, timber, cocoa, diamond and manganese exports. 

 

Despite political stability, and economic resources, the progress of rebuilding the economy has been a long one. The country remains heavily dependent on international assistance, both financially and technically.  Roughly half of Ghana’s population lives in extreme poverty, on less than $1 per day.  As much as 79% of its population is classified as living in moderate poverty on less than $2 per day.  The country’s government works diligently towards reducing poverty, promoting growth and improving the delivery of basic social services, but with so many issues in one country, it is difficult to choose which gets first priority. The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy provides the official basis for World Bank and International Monetary Fund assistance.  This strategy has been effective in significantly improving some aspects of life in Ghana. 

 

Even with the docile political climate and efforts at improving the economy; poverty, disease and the lack of healthcare are major challenges for Ghana. HIV/AIDS has completely devastated entire families, or in some cases wiped out both parents, leaving children orphaned and infected with no one to care for them. Childhood mortality is acute. Something as preventable as diarrhea continues to be one of the five main causes of children’s deaths in Ghana.  Another disease plaguing Ghanaians is malaria.  Some children suffer from an acute attack of cerebral malaria that quickly leads to coma and death; with others succumbing to the severe anemia that follows repeated infections.  Children who survive are at risk of being developmentally delayed.  Preventive treatments for malaria cost approximately $2.50Cdn.  This is a minimal cost for North Americans, but put in perspective in Ghana, it equates to significantly more than a day’s wage for one dose.  It is a similar issue with deworming meds, which are readily available for only $1.50Cdn.  The people of Ghana depend on local rivers and streams; using this water for washing, bathing and drinking.  They share it, of course, with their local wildlife.  The water is rarely treated or boiled, creating a cycle of illness.  Untreated water causes infestations of parasitic worms which deplete children of the little nutrition they receive.  The water is also the cause of dysentery, cholera and many other diseases including water-borne blindness. 

 

The lack of health education and lack of funds for health related items is particularly devastating for the country’s orphanages.  Primarily privately run and funded, every dollar must be stretched to its maximum.  In Ghana, the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and the Volta regions have the largest concentration (77%) of the documented orphans and vulnerable children.  Girls are most often affected, as they are more likely to drop out of school to take care of their parents, siblings or other family members infected with HIV/AIDS.

 

A side effect of the grave poverty in Ghana is children living on the streets.  UNICEF estimates that there are 6000 babies who live on the streets with their mothers in the capital city of Accra. During the day a small number of these children will receive a meal and take a nap at an aid agency run daycare.  At night they are back with their mothers on the street.  There they are faced with malaria, malnutrition, abuse and violence.  Most have no hope of surviving.  In Ghana, 1 out of 20 children dies before their first birthday, and one in ten before they reach the age of 5.

 

Our Project

The two orphanages we hope to support in Ghana are the Volta Home Orphanage in Ve deme and the Deladem Orphanage and Daycare in Logba.  Having made two extensive trips to Ghana, and having witnessed first-hand the effects of poverty, illness and lack of basic necessities we know where we can start to make improvements in the lives of these children.  By investing in clean drinking water, sanitation and disease prevention we can reduce illness and mortality rates. By supporting children in school, and allowing them the opportunity to continue their education, we can give them access to many opportunities.   It is our hope that by helping these children, and by helping these communities, their success can extend to other generations and other villages. 

 

Our goals within these communities are to:

-         improve water quality

-         teach and reinforce sanitation practices

-         deworm children

-         provide the means to prevent malaria; to include the purchase of malaria medications and treated bed nets as required

-         improve the standard of living through the provision of basic necessities

-         provide a means for older children to continue beyond a basic education

 

In order to support the economy in Ghana, All for Humanity will be purchasing as many of the supplies in country as is feasible.  However, we realize that in some cases supplies will need to be purchased in Canada and shipped with us.  We have also established an education fund that will pay the school fees for children from these orphanages to continue beyond the Junior Secondary School level.  Children at the Volta Home are taught onsite the Primary and JSS level but must attend school elsewhere to receive further education.  From age 16 on, families must pay for their children to attend a Senior Secondary School. With only 500 of these schools nationally, many children must board, which increases the cost per student.  Without the aide of an education fund, it is virtually impossible for any of the children we are trying to support to continue in school.