GRID & NEA -PREPARING FOR WHAT’S AHEAD – A PREVIEW

2021 may be the most challenging, eventful year in our long history of working together in Northern Ghana. Six years in the making, by far the largest, most complex project GRID & NEA have ever undertaken, the Leyaata Hospital, scheduled to open later this year, will be a modern, sophisticated facility helping thousands annually.  Completion of a large 100-bed dormitory and three churches is also planned.  The five-year Leyaata Ane Project will be completed and the equally large Babanayaa Project gets underway. Both of these address needs in many communities. Many other important initiatives are also advancing.   Tens of thousands of people are being positively impacted both physically and spiritually by these alone. 

While we complete what’s before us, we plan and pray also for what may lie ahead.  What has become evident is that, through this intense period of implementation in Ghana, NEA’s capacity and capabilities have grown exponentially.  We’ve proven our ability to successfully take on large, sophisticated projects like a hospital, Leyaata Ane and Babanayaa.  NEA’s ability to manage multiple projects, both large and smaller, simultaneously, is well established. The growing expertise of our NEA staff is a tremendous asset going forward.  We have been able to establish new relationships in Ghana and beyond that will serve us well in the future.  Yet, we have been able to maintain a close relationship to those we serve, ensuring that small, individual and community needs can be identified and addressed. 

In North America, despite COVID, we have just completed our best financial year ever, thanks to our many supporters who have responded, well beyond expectations, to the needs brought before them.  Over the past few years, new supporters, both large and smaller, have put their trust in us to permit the completion of what is underway in Ghana. We’ve established new relationships with Foundations, Trusts and individual donors while strengthening the relationship with those who have supported us for many years.  GRID has greatly benefited from a wide range of expertise, both in our virtual office and in large part through volunteers, to support the work in Ghana.

These are some of the reasons we can plan confidently for the future. And in a way, this describes the new GRID and NEA going forward. The Lord has provided, and we always seek to fulfill his will and his plans as we look ahead.  Allow us to share a preview of what the future may look like.

Plans are being made for large projects such as converting the hospital to solar power that will have tremendous economic and environmental benefits.  A large extension to our aquaculture program is in development.  In a few years, an extension to the hospital to make it the 100-bed facility that was originally foreseen will need our attention.  We also must address the ongoing need for clean water, agricultural and local aquaculture programs, and other elements of our holistic, sustainable approach in the 160 communities in our catchment area.  Youth training, education and growing our coverage of spiritual needs with the establishment of new congregations and churches are all important priorities.  And there are many other identified local needs that we must be ready to fulfill. 

NEA, with its many entrepreneurial enterprises, is capable of maintaining what is already established.  The list of possible new initiatives in part described above is dependent on GRID’s ability to identify sources of funding.  We hope that credibility has been established with our supporters, and you will look favourably on our plans and continue to partner with us. And we continue to look for new partners.  Some have a great capacity to consider some of our larger projects.  Others perhaps, either individually or in conjunction with others, would be able to address our more mid-sized proposals while others, as a group, would be able to provide funding “Where Needed Most” or what we might call “The Ghana Operating Fund,” which would provide for the local allocation of funds to smaller but equally important needs that together will help reach even more people.

We hope you are encouraged by this brief overview. As always, we continue to rely on God’s guidance and provision, but we also know that he uses people to bring his plans to reality.  We value your ongoing prayers and support as we move ahead with confidence.

In His service,