Category Archives: Ghana

In Ofankor: Odo Fri Nyame (Love from God)
The members of Love from God have provided a model of cooperation that is now being sought by WomensTrust as a prerequisite for new loan programs. When The Village Net first met the women in March 2007, we had no idea how fortunate we were to begin this particular relationship. This is a very organized women’s association, with dedicated volunteer leaders. They were anxious to begin receiving loans, and knew that they needed to ensure repayment in order for the loans to grow. The group secretary, Mme. Theresa Mensah, began making the rounds on repayment day, collecting passbooks and payments so that members would not have to leave their businesses. In addition, Love from God has served as an additional level of guarantee, as the weekly dues paid to LfG are used to keep loans current when members face obstacles.

104 Ofankor borrowers include 63 very active members of Love from God. There are some 100 additional women that were members prior to the loan program who may now return and begin paying dues.

Most of the women are traders. They travel to larger markets and return to the village with food and household goods, which they then resell. Many sales take place from the top of one’s head as one walks along the horribly congested and dirt-clogged highway in the beating sun. Then, there is graduation to an open shelter, sometimes made of chicken wire and pieces of wood or metal. Finally, the trader sets her sights on a kiosk, preferably of metal, that can be secured (and is often slept in). The village also has some services businesses, such as hairdressing or sewing, and a few villagers raise small livestock.

On March 6, 2007, Ghana celebrated its 50th Anniversary of Independence from the United Kingdom (as the former Gold Coast crown colony). The country is a republic and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is about the size of the State of Oregon, but is located near the equator and its climate is tropical. Ghana’s per capita income is nearly twice that of poorer West African countries, but its economy is heavily dependent upon international investment and technical assistance. Because of its heritage, English is the official language. However nine other languages are recognized by the government. Approximately 60% of the population is Christian. Life expectancy is high relative to the rest of Africa, with an average of 58 years.
Learn more about Ghana http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana

The Greater Accra Region
This region is considered the gateway to Ghana, and it is the location of the country’s Capital City, Accra. It is the smallest of the 10 regions, but is the most densely populated (largely due to Accra and the port city of Tema). The region lies along the Atlantic coast and stretches north into the interior, so the climate varies from hot and humid to dry. The University of Ghana at Legon is located approximately 14km from Accra.
For more about the greater Accra region visit http://www.ghanatourism.gov.gh/regions/region_detail.asp?id=11

Ofankor Village (personal observations)
The village lies about 8 km from Accra on the highway between Accra and Kumasi, a rail stop and trading center. This highway is currently being rebuilt by a Chinese construction company and is expected to be completed within a few years. This will be a great asset to Ofankor, but it is currently a huge disruption. Ofankor is within walking distance of the other WomensTrust Villages, Pokuase and Amasaman, and business owners and customers do move among the villages.

Ofankor’s population is estimated at 20,000 people, and about 12,000 of those people live within families that earn $2 or less per day. The village also plays host to the Barrier, a checkpoint that was established years ago and remains today. It is easy to spot Ofankor from the market activity that takes place on both sides of the highway. The village does not have a chief, but is led by an elder member of the royal family. A women’s association was formed last year so that “women’s voices will be heard.” The women in Ofankor support their families largely through trade of products purchased in Accra or Kumasi, or through sales of prepared food. Some are service providers such as hairdressers or seamstresses. They are proud of their hard work.

The people we met are very welcoming to Americans. We experienced graciousness at every turn, with hotel staff offering to take us to appointments, people stopping to engage in conversation and answer our unending questions, and even one acquaintance who took our melting shoes for repair. We have made friends that we look forward to seeing for many years to come.

But the village faces challenges. We learned that Ghanaians are very sensitive to how they are portrayed in the west, and they asked for care in our sharing of information and photos. The following is offered simply to illustrate the many areas in which we could become involved in supporting Ofankor to sustainability.