Update to the Global Board on our work in Ghana
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SPIA work
THP-Ghana is now working in 16 epicenters, one of which,
the Nsuta-Awiregya Epicenter, was inaugurated in June 2003 by the Regional
Minister. Another epicenter, Taido Anomabou, is near completion and will be
officially inaugurated in May or June of this year.
These epicenters serve a population of almost one million
people. THP-Ghana is growing fast in all its activities. During the inauguration
of Nsuta-Awiregya in June 2003, and in the process of building the Taido
Epicenter, the rural partners as well as the Regional Minister representing the
central government have expressed their congratulations, satisfaction and full
support to THP-Ghana and its leadership for creating epicenters where
communities mobilize to resolve their hunger and poverty.
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AWFFI women responsible for developing a rural bank at
Nsuta-Aweregya Epicenter. |
- Vision, Commitment and Action Workshop: Animators
As in the other countries, VCA
workshops are organized by THP-Ghana on a monthly basis in each of the 16
epicenters; over 7,000 people have so far participated in those VCA workshops.
During the monthly meetings the animators present to participants the results of
their work in how they applied the principles and methodology of THP in their
communities, their successes as well as their shortcomings. These men and women
have achieved very good results in training and empowering and supporting the
local villagers in their effort to be self-reliant. In their “animator
initiated” projects they focus on building schools, sanitation facilities and
income generating activities. To date, animators have installed in various
epicenters 12 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrines in partnership with the
villagers. In addition they have also installed Food Processing facilities that
are particularly helping to reduce the drudgery of women. Another example of
community projects is the construction of primary schools in several communities
that are being built everywhere by the communities in partnership with the
animators.
To date the VCA workshops have
been delivered to over 7,000 people and more than 800 animators from various
villages were trained. As a result of this success more VCA workshops are being
scheduled in all the epicenters. This is leading to an enhancement of people’s
mobilization, motivation and commitment to the objectives of the end of hunger
and poverty.
Enthusiastic women from Matsekope and Amoyaokope
Epicenters at a Vision, Commitment and Action Workshop.
Catalytic projects
- Increased food production and Food Security
Children from a day care center developed by animators at their epicenter.
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In each epicenter there is a health center
run by the community and the local health officers provided by the government
with a view to improving the health and nutritional conditions in all our
partner villages. The health centers provide vaccinations for children and
primary health care for women. The local governments in partnership with our
rural partners also fund the creation of latrines and dig wells for safe
drinking water. The Health Ministry, as an expression of the government’s
partnership ensures that each epicenter has a minimum of two trained heath
officers who are available to the population.
The health clinic at the Atuobikrom Epicenter.
In May 2003, THP-Ghana launched a powerful
program for the Prevention of the Spread of HIV/AIDS on the basis of the Kampala
workshop entitled” AIDS and Gender Inequality” This program was launched
in Ghana with the participation of government officials, local and international
NGOs, and our partners in all the 17 epicenters of THP-Ghana. This program aims
at creating the awareness that gender inequality is one of the root causes for
the spread of AIDS and that if men can take responsibility in this matter and
commit themselves to safe sex, the spread of AIDS could be dramatically reduced.