Friends of Ghana, Inc.

Providing a Holistic Approach to Helping Those in Need
 

Church Under Construction
Projects Completed in 2002
 Construction and dedication of a chapel in the village of Azani.  The Azani Chapel is being utilized not only for worship, but also as a center within the community for educational opportunities and needed social services.  A fresh water well was also dug at the chapel site for building projects, however, it is now being used as a source of water for the villagers as well...
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Classroom Building Under Construction
Projects Completed in 2003
 Construction of a Classroom Building at the Azani Chapel property.  Three multi-use classrooms were built behind the Azani Chapel to provide space for Christian education classes as well as community meeting space.  These classrooms may eventually be utilized for daycare for pre-school children during the week as well...
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Sorting Platform Under Construction
Projects Completed in 2004
 Implementation of Palm Oil Processing Cottage Industry Initiative.  Palm fruits are one of Ghana’s natural resources.  The fruit can be processed to produce oil for cooking as well as for soap and other products... 
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Projects Completed During 2005

Although a mission team did not travel to Ghana during 2005, our outreach efforts did not cease.  Working with Friends of Ghana Outreach and other partners, we were able to do the following:

  • Install solar panels donated by Solar Light for Africa (SLA) on the Greater Azani Palm Oil Processing Women’s Cooperative site, on the Azani Classroom Building, and on the Azani Chapel that was used as a community center during August 2005.
  • Provide batteries and lighting fixtures for the above listed facilities.
  • Continue scholarship assistance to the Busua students who qualified for Senior Secondary School (SSS) studies in 2003, but lacked the financial resources to attend.

Projects Completed During 2006

2006 marked our fifth year of focused assistance in the Western region. Outlined below are some of the priorities and projects Friends of Ghana, Inc. and Friends of Ghana Outreach jointly identified for 2006 and beyond.

 
  Visit the Ghana Mission Update Weblog for 2006 mission team updates and reflections.
 

  • Medical/Dental Clinics: Free medical and dental care assistance was provided over a 3 - 4 day period for those living in the rural villages of Azani, Akwadaa, Boekrom, and Sankor as well as for the children at OOEIM Orphanage Mission in Elmina. The medical services were provided through Ghanaian doctors and nurses with assistance from mission team members; the dental services were provided by an American dentist and a dental hygienist who were serving with the mission team. Free medicines, inoculations, and vitamins were provided to villagers as part of this effort
  • Cement Blocks for Orphanage: Purchased building supplies for OOEIM Orphanage Mission in Elmina.
  • Scholarships: Students who qualified for Senior Secondary School (SSS) from the Busua area received scholarships to pay for their schooling. SSS is a 3 year program of study and is generally equivalent to high school in the U.S. During 2006-07, our first scholarship recipients completed their final year of study; a new group of qualifying students was accepted for scholarship assistance through FOG once the initial group finished their studies.
  • Micro Loans Pilot Project: Micro loans of approx. $50 (450,000 cedis) were made to women in the Greater Azani area who did not have the funds necessary to purchase palm fruit or cassava for processing through the Greater Azani Women's Palm Oil Processing Cooperative established through FOG, Inc. in 2004.
  • Cassava Processing Machine: We added this extra piece of equipment is being added to the palm oil processing equipment donated during 2004 so that the women have the option of processing cassava during the low yield season for palm fruit.
  • Sorting Platform for Palm Fruit: Mission team members helped to construct a sorting platform will be constructed at the site of the Greater Azani Women's Palm Oil Processing operation to assist the women in their efforts to supplement their families' income.
  • School Uniforms: Students from kindergarten through SSS are expected to wear school uniforms; FOG offers funding for uniforms for those who cannot afford to purchase them.
  • Solar Lanterns: These provide needed lighting for the chapel and classrooms at Azani Chapel.
  • Water Purification Pilot Program: The purpose of this project is to provide a back-up system for providing potable drinking water for villagers in the Azani area and for those using the Azani Chapel and classrooms when their primary source is not functioning.