Ghana, Here We Come!

The AYAD Program has a distinguished history working with communities, organisations and governments across the Asia Pacific to fight poverty, empower local people and improve the quality of life of communities in developing nations. Since 1998 the AYAD Program has sent over 2700 volunteers to live, work and make a difference in 21 countries across the Asia Pacific region.

In 2010 the AYAD Program is excited to welcome not only a new country but a new region to our growing family as the first AYAD volunteers are mobilised to Ghana in Africa.

Fast Facts:
• Location: The Republic of Ghana is located on the Western side of Africa bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
• Size: an Area of 238, 537 sq km
• Population: Approx 23 million people.
• Capital: Accra.
• Languages spoken: English, Twi, Ga and Ewe.
• Natural resources: Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone.
• Main exports: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds
• Gross Domestic Product growth: 62% per annum

Development needs in Ghana: (using the UNDP Human Development Report 2009)
• Ghana ranks at 152 (out of 182) on the Human Development Index (Human Development Report 2009 UNDP)
• 53.6% live on less than $2 per day (30% on less than $1 per day)
• One third of rural populations lack access to safe drinking water and only 11% have adequate sanitation
• The average literacy rate in cities is 63% whereas in rural areas the average is 40%, and in the northern rural areas, this average has been said to be as low as 6.9%
• The rate of HIV is stabilising in Ghana, however it has been estimated only 30% of AIDS cases are reported which has been associated with inadequate access to health services. Nationwide, only 469 eligible HIV-positive children were receiving crucial Anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Given that more than 6,000 children are eligible for ART, there is still an enormous gap in the area of paediatric ART.
• Life expectancy at birth is 56.5 years (as compared to Australia at 81.3 years)
• Maternal mortality rate is 560 per 100 000 births (as compared to Australia where the number is so small as to be statistically insignificant)
• Mortality rate of children under 5 is 120 per 1000 births (as compared to Australia at 6 per 1000 births)

A pocket-sized history of Ghana:

The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa (the name Ghana comes from the title of the Kings that ruled the Kingdom).
Ghana is said to have human habitation dating back to 50,000 BCE. In the 1400s European exploration began in the region. Ghana became part of the British Empire in 1847 during which time Ghana was referred to as the Gold Coast, due to the abundance of gold that was found in the country.

Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence on March 6, 1957. Since 1982 Ghana has experienced political stability and poverty reduction is a key component of many present government development policies. In 2007 oil reserves were discovered off the shore of Ghana and, although this is not expected to flow for a while, this indicates there will be a major boost to the economy. Already Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cocoa with a strong export market.

Our Ghana In-Country Management Team:

Austraining International has partnered with WUSC (World University Service of Canada) in order to support and manage AYAD volunteers in Ghana. WUSC has a strong background in volunteer management across Africa, Asia and Latin America and bring a wealth of Africa experience to the AYAD Program. Lead by Akwasi Addae-Boahene and Patience Gamado, our Ghana ICM team will ensure the AYADs destined for Ghana are well looked after.

Akwasi Addae-Boahene has been the Ghana Country Director for World University Service of Canada (WUSC) since August 2004 and has a wealth of experience working on HIV/AIDs and education programs in Ghana. His extensive experience and enthusiasm for the power of volunteering make him a fantastic addition to the AYAD team.

Patience Gamado has spent over 16 years working for VSO (Voluntary
Service Overseas) as well as the University of Ghana Medical School and the Ghana Ministry of Education and Culture. Her background in volunteer management and excellent experience in Ghana will ensure a strong, supportive environment for our new Africa AYADs.

Our first Ghana Hosts:

Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice)
The Africa Rice Center is a research organisation which focuses on contributing to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa through research, development and partnership activities aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of the rice sector in ways that ensure the sustainability of the farming environment. The Center aims to benefit both African farmers, for whom rice means livelihood, and also local people for whom rice means food.

AfricaRice works hard to find the best methods for achieving their work. Intensive methodologies, such as Participatory Learning and Action Research (PLAR), have been supplemented by technology-mediated learning methodologies, using video, radio and information communication technologies in the attempt to both decentralise and democratise learning within the rice sector.

In Ghana, agricultural production is not keeping pace with population growth, so the need to increase productivity for farmers is vital for the survival of the community.

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) – Ghana
IWMI is a non-profit international research centre supported focused on improving the management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and nature.

IWMI helps contribute to the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty and hunger and maintaining a healthy environment, as access to food and water are vital in order to meet these goals. IWMI concentrates on water and related land management challenges that poor rural communities face. IWMI Africa shares the vision of the African Union for "an Africa free from hunger and poverty" and supports its New Partnerships for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Program.

The IWMI sub-regional research portfolio has its focus on efforts to reduce poverty and provide improved food security through sustainable and efficient agricultural water use. Related projects range from the analysis of adoption factors for treadle pumps to basin scale modelling, irrigation policy development, the relationship between malaria and irrigation, and health risk reduction despite wastewater use.

Human Rights Advocacy Center
The Human Rights Advocacy Center (HRAC) focuses on promoting information related to human rights, to the people of Ghana. This is in order to ensure there is an understanding of their rights and what protection they are legally entitled to. Some key areas which the HRAC are focused on include the right to information, constitutionalism and women's rights.

UNICEF Ghana
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, is focused on advocating measures to give children globally the best start in life. In Ghana UNICEF is involved in various activities to ensure that children in Ghana have access to civil rights and freedoms, basic health and welfare, education, so all children can develop to their full potential.

UNICEF Ghana is focussed on projects on equality of education, water and sanitation, maternal and child health working in partnership with key government and non-government actors and local communities.

(Data sourced from: CIA - The World Factbook, BBC News, Lonely Planet, Oxfam – Ghana Development Report and the UNDP Human Development Report 2009)