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Today the Western Heritage Home Board of Directors held a meeting in Fr. Paul Awuah’s living room. James Kainyiah (aka Nana Kaku Bullu II, Development Chief of Axim and local businessman) chaired the meeting. This NGO (as non-profits are called here) was founded by James in 2005 to help the children in Axim.
As Advisory Member, I attended the meeting, along with Isaac Bentil, owner of a local printing business and leader of the Methodist laity in this region of Ghana; Ms. Frances Polley, retired senior high school mathematics teacher; Madame Hajara Yakubu, Director Community Development Vocational Institute; Fr. Paul Awuah, lead priest in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church; and Nana Adjow Sika II, Upper Axim Queen Mother. Sarfo Hayford, Science Curriculum Supervisor, was unable to attend.
Those present are respected community leaders who have served WHH since its inception. It has not been easy. This “United Way” type of locally-led NGO is not common in Ghana; in fact, we know of no other. This is completely new to this community. They’ve had successes and disappointments, but they don’t give up. They are remarkable people.
They decided to expand their Board to include younger local leaders with a broader range of expertise and have issued invitations.
At this meeting, they laid out their main priorities for 2012. 1) to work with the Ghana Education Service to make sure the JHS Science Center housed in their building is well-launched and running smoothly; 2) to move their internet café from the their building to the Axim Town Center and create a first-rate service for local businesses and people in general; 3) to employ an instructor to develop a computer learning program based on the One Laptop Per Child computers to complement the JHS Science program; 4) to thoroughly research and hopefully establish an eye clinic in their building, as people are now traveling all the way to Cape Coast (about three hours minimum by tro-tro) to get eye treatment.
In addition, they work as a trusted umbrella organization with Ghana Together to receive and re-direct funds and/or to facilitate communication and provide local coordination for other projects such as supporting the Axim Public Library, the EWB KVIP toilet project, or the Anglican Creche.
It’s a pleasure for me, as the President of Ghana Together, to work with these warm, friendly, and dedicated friends. Who knows what we can accomplish by joining forces for good in this community?
