GRID and NEA

Sustainable Development in Ghana

GRID

Uxbridge Medical Team in Nyamboi

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Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, continues to update us on their progress as she has access to technology and free time.  This morning she was able to send home a brief update while on the bus to Nyamboi.

Yesterday the medical team held what was to be a small NEA staff clinic.  The clinic ran until after dark last night and they saw over 300 people.

Laila Bishara diagnosed six people with diabetes. Laila is off to Wenchi today to run a diabetic clinic, where she will be very busy.

The hernia team completed several surgeries yesterday and was already operating when the medical/dental team left for Nyamboi.  The teams are all working very well together.

 Please pray that the team members can quickly get used to the heat and maintain their strength.

Uxbridge Medical Team Starting Work in Carpenter

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Dr. Jennifer Wilson, coordinator of the Uxbridge Medical team that is spending two weeks with NEA in Northern Ghana, has confirmed that everyone is safely at the home base in Carpenter.

Their voyage from Toronto to Carpenter went smoothly. Despite having ninety-five bags of medical supplies, each weighing 50 lbs, their check-in at the airport was well-organized and fast. The members reported that once airport security had confirmed that the contents of their luggage matched the description they provided, they were allowed to pass through very quickly. In fact, much of their time with security was spent in sharing their perspectives on the H1N1 virus.

The team is ready to begin work in Carpenter and the surrounding areas today. They are working with an Operation Hernia team from the UK, and already the teams are coordinating very well together.

As the doctors find time and access to technology to send updates, they will be posted here, so check back often.

Please continue to pray for the medical team and supporting staff, particularly for:

  • health for the medical team members
  • stamina for the medical team and the NEA staff supporting them, as these two weeks are busy and physically exhausting
  • strength and health for the patients whom they serve, that their recoveries are quick and uncomplicated
  • that residents of the communities in Northern Ghana might know the love of God as a result of this practical service

2009 Program Evaluation

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Excellent

In 2009, CIDA evaluated the GRID-NEA projects in Ghana. We were thrilled to see how positively our work was viewed, and wanted to share some of the findings with you.

Highlights from the Evaluation Report

  • Relevant: GRID-NEA projects are meeting real needs of people who otherwise would not receive assistance.
  • Holistic: The many interconnected components of our projects work together to achieve sustainable development.
  • Effective: We are stewarding resources well so that we can make the greatest impact possible.
  • Authentic: Our staff members are known for their commitment, integrity, and credibility.
  • Sustainable: The results from our projects are locally-based and long-lasting.
  • Exemplary: Some of the successes from our projects can be used to help other organizations.

If you’d like to learn more about the evaluation process, findings, and recommendations, you can download a summary or read more highlights online.

Enemies reconciled

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In the early 1990s, tensions between the Mo tribe and the Nkoranza tribe erupted into violent conflict. Women from both tribes fled their homes with their children while their husbands, brothers, and fathers fought. Many died during the war.

The violence eventually ceased, but strained relations between the two neighbouring tribes continued.

In early 2009, David Mensah – NEA’s Director and a newly-elected Mo chief – was praying about the situation.  He wanted to see the tribes reunited and working together for the betterment of their communities.

While David was discussing the situation with his wife, wondering how he might approach the Nkoranza chief in dialogue, he received a phone call. A representative of the Nkoranza chief contacted him with a request to dialogue!

Soon thereafter, David and a delegation of other Mo leaders met with the Nkronza delegation. As they went out to their meetings, the women were crying with joy that the tensions that had burdened them for so many years were being lifted.

Both tribes agreed to live in peace as friends. Furthermore, they developed an inspiring plan to protect all of the forests in their jurisdiction from charcoal harvesting. With the support of leaders from the two tribes, this will be an effective and crucial step in protecting Northern Ghana’s resources for the communities who need them.

The Mo and Nkoranza tribes are peacefully reunited.
The Mo and Nkoranza tribes are peacefully reunited.

Increasing Women’s Income

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women with harvestWomen experience a dramatic boost in income when they participate in NEA’s co-op programs.

Before they participate in NEA’s cooperative program, women earn on average $20 per year.  But women who participated in the co-operative program earned an average of $360 at their last harvest.

$360 isn’t a lot to earn in a year.? In fact, it’s a little bit less than $1/day, which is the world’s standard for measuring extreme poverty.

But these women are making the most of that income, and they rejoice in the new opportunities that open up for them as a result.? Many are using some of their harvest income to start small businesses that will provide them money year-round.? A lot of them have been able to purchase clothing for themselves, and some have even been able to put tin roofs on their homes.? Many are investing in their children’s education so that they, too, have opportunities for the future.

We rejoice with these women as they see their hard work bringing such benefits to themselves and their families.

Fish Farming: A first in Northern Ghana

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The first harvest from fish ponds in Ghana

In 2009, GRID and NEA reached a milestone in their aquaculture program. Two of the ponds that had been stocked by NEA were harvested for the first time, proving that against all odds, fish can be raised in Northern Ghana!

Harvest time was an exciting community event. NEA staff and the village pond management committee conducted the harvest with most of the community watching. Teachers found it impossible to keep children in class as they didn’t want to miss seeing the harvest. People were laughing, clapping and cheering as the nets came to the shore, laden with a good catch.

One pond yielded 1600 lbs of fish; another yielded 1800 lbs. Fish were shared among the residents of the host community, who rejoiced to be able to eat so well.

The fish ponds can be harvested several times a year, which means that they will be an ongoing, sustainable source of protein for communities who would otherwise endure severe hunger.

Thank you to our supporters, and to the Canadian International Development Agency, for making this important initiative possible.

Harvesting was done with loosely woven nets that allow small fish to remain in the pond.
Harvesting was done with loosely woven nets that allow small fish to remain in the pond.

Protecting the Black Volta River

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Ghana_WaterfallDid you know that GRID and NEA have facilitated the protection of over 250 km of the Black Volta river in Ghana? By organizing a team of over six hundred volunteers, we have been able to virtually eliminate the use of chemicals and illegal nets on this stretch of the river. Fishermen are noticing a return in the quantity of fish that they are catching, and are even seeing some species of fish that they had believed were extinct. We’re excited to hear this, and excited to think that poisoned fish are appearing less frequently in the markets.

We have plans to expand this protection another 40 km along the main river. We should point out that for every kilometer of the main river that we protect, there are at least as many kilometers tributaries that we also protect. This means that by the end of 2011, we hope to see 290km of the main river protected, and 350 km of its tributaries similarly protected.

On the map below, you can see highlighted in blue the waterways that we have been able to protect. The waterways highlighted in purple are those that we hope to protect by 2011.

Use the hyperlink at the bottom of the map to see a larger version of it.


View NEA Program in a larger map

Uxbridge Medical Team

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A team of 46 medical professionals departs for Ghana on October 31st.  During their two weeks in Carpenter, this group of surgeons, physicians, and nurses will be performing surgeries that are otherwise unavailable.  They will also train local health professionals and lead some community health education sessions.

This is an exciting and busy time for everyone — we would appreciate your prayers for safety, stamina, and health.  Stay tuned for more updates.