Ghana

Ghana is a country located in West Africa and is termed as a low-income food-deficit country. It has nonetheless taken important steps to meet macro-economic targets over the years. GDP per capita increased from US-$304 in 2002 to US-$369 in 2003 while poverty decreased from 58 to 40 percent during the 1990s. It has also been measured that the rate of undernourishment diminished from 64 percent in 1979 to 13 percent in 2002.

In spite of these improvements, Ghana’s place in the 2005 UNDP Human Development Index went down to 138 compared to 129 in the year 2002. Forty-five percent of the population still lives on less than US$ 1 a day, even though the country boasts accumulating national wealth, the distribution of wealth is not even and is yet to be seen in the poorest segments of the population. The capital of Ghana is Accra and the incidence of poverty is only 2 percent, whereas the rural areas average 70 percent and the three northern regions range between 70 to 90 percent.

Food insecurity and insufficiency persists in northern Ghana especially during the months of March to September. Malnutrition among children is a major concern as 22 to 30 percent of those who are under five are underweight or stunted. However, regional disparities between the north and south of the country, partly due to poverty and to lack of, and poor access to, services, are a cause for concern. In northern Ghana, Infant Mortality Rate is twice as high and the Under Five Mortality Rate is three times as high as in the capital region. Around 33 to 48 percent of the children in the northern part of the country are underweight or stunted, much higher than those in the southern part of Ghana.

It is a grave concern that ethnic discrimination persists as an undercurrent in Ghanaian society and that, according to a survey, 25 per cent of respondents felt discriminated against because of their tribal origins. Violent ethnic conflicts in Ghana are sporadic and the most concern should be directed towards the negative traditional practices that actively discriminate against people on racial or ethnic grounds, in particular in cases of interracial marriages.

There is no legislative or other measures adopted to eradicate practices that are harmful to the health and dignity of women, especially in regards to female genital mutilation which was made an illegal offense in 1994 is still practiced and the treatment of widows is also disheartening. Within the cultural context, children continue to be subjected to harmful traditional practices. Many of these include ritual servitude (trokosi), female genital mutilation (FGM), widowhood rites, early marriage and polygamy.

Religious conflicts in Ghana also persist and because religion in Ghana is often related to ethnicity, it could be classified, in some instances as indirect racial discrimination.

The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) concluded its hearings in July, 2004. It was established by the government in 2002, primarily for just a year, its purpose was to collect a record of human rights violations done during Ghana’s periods of unconstitutional rule since their independence in 1957, and to recommend reforms. Most of the witnesses were victims of human rights violations under the military governments headed by former President J.J. Rawlings. Many of the 2,000-plus testimonies that were heard included ill treatment, torture, disappearances of family members, and an indefinite number of police brutality cases.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ghana is gradual; the government reported that the number of people living with HIV averaged to about 320,000. The population of Ghana is a little over 23 million. HIV is highest in the eastern regions of Ghana and lowest in the northern regions. It is more prevalent in urban areas, mining and border towns and along main transportation routes.

About 80% of transmission caused is through heterosexual intercourse while mother to child transmission accounts for about 15% and the rest are caused by things like blood transfusion. HIV prevalence is very low among younger age groups as relatively very few are affected during their youth. The infection levels are highest in the middle income groups with the poor least affected.

Populations thought to be at risk include sex workers, prisoners, transport workers, sexual partners of people who already have AIDS. Around 9,600 children are living AIDS/HIV and about 180,000 children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

Malaria by far is the worst disease in Ghana and affects 17 million of its 22 million people annually, costing the nation aroundUS$94 million for treatment alone. These figures are probably an underestimate of the real burden, as many cases go unreported.

Those infected by malaria are in and out of hospital and unable to work. Malaria heaves on a heavy burden on farmers. Swarms of mosquitoes make it impossible for farmers and their families to sleep indoors especially, during the rainy seasons when they are forced to sleep outdoors around bonfires.

The productivity of future generations is also being undermined by this epidemic. Pregnant women and children under five are a significant proportion of those infected each year. If a child survives the infection, serious illness at an early age stunts development, with lifelong repercussions

Malaria, acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, malnutrition and measles remain the five leading killer diseases of children.

Excess cultivation and slash-and-burn agriculture of cleared land have resulted in widespread soil erosion and exhaustion. Over cutting, heavy logging, overgrazing of firewood, and mining have taken a huge toll on forests. Burning fuel wood contributes to the devastating environmental problems of deforestation and global warming. People suffer directly, too: 1.4 million deaths every year are due to smoke related ill-health. About 1/3 of Ghana's land area is threatened by deforestation. Industrial pollutants include arsenic from gold mining and dangerous fumes from smelters. Water pollution is a combination of industrial chemicals and agricultural chemicals. Ghana's cities produce about 0.5 million tons of solid waste annually with no or inadequate waste treatment facilities. About 91% of all urban dwellers and 62% of the rural population have access to pure water.

The ban on hunting in closed reserves is only sporadically enforced, and the nation's wildlife is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction. Of the country's 222 mammal species, 13 are threatened, as well as 10 of the nation's 529 bird species and 4 types of reptiles. In addition, 22 of over 3,000 plant species are endangered.

A recent survey (UNESCO/UNDP) estimated that about 58% of adults are literate. The child literacy ration for those who reach grade 5 is 63% .Only about half of these students (47%) go on for further education in secondary school, while the enrollment ratio says that only 47% of Ghana’s children are in secondary school, the attendance ratio begs to differ, out of the 47% enrolled, about 37-40% actually attend school. And a mere select go on to college. The government should have imminent concern that half the country is illiterate and more than half the children have limited or no access to education. Many children in rural areas have no access to public schooling. Secondary education has little over half of the eligible children enrolled, and the number decreases even more on the university level.

The over all literacy rates for Ghana did improve significantly, it more than doubled from 30% to 64% between 1970 and 2002. Women, though still remain among the most uneducated. There is a high amount of people in need of literacy training; one of the many reasons why Ghana has an average literacy rate is that the political stability is to being worked on, after years of unconstitutional rule. The government does not allocate enough funding for this department.

Besides the lack of funding, there is also a lack of trained personnel and those who do go on to acquire a tertiary education end up migrating to another country for a better future taking the skills and knowledge necessary to improve the education system and the country, with them.

ARUDMO - A' Rural Development Movement - The goal of our programs is to promote sustainable action against chronic poverty by providing resources and information that empower families and communities by helping such communities help themselves. Our program activities generate income and improve the health and nutrition of participants and their families. It also empowers Civil Society to contribute in building healthy and vibrant nations across the continent by putting machinery in place for sustainable rural communities.

Connect Ghana Research - Connect Ghana Research is non-profit organization that is committed to help people around the world who are in search for information in diverse fields from Ghana and Africa as a whole.

ADMINA YOUTH FOUNDATION INT. - To launch literacy and awareness-building campaigns with the objectives of UNESCO's goal- 'Education for all’. To provide elementary education to the street/ working children. To develop programs for the protection of the Ghanaian child and creating environmental awareness among the Youth. To preserve the Cultural Heritage.

AGELESS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION - The organization empowers disadvantaged people especially women and children, campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS and corruption, and promotes environmental protection, human rights and affordable information technology for poorer people.

Cafacayo - In short, it is our goal to seek for financial, practical as well as conceptual support to provide them with a better living and help them help themselves. Majority of them are orphans without contact to relatives.

Care and Concern For Humanity - Care and concern for Humanity is a Non profit making, Non Religious and non-Governmental Organization. To assist the poor, school dropouts and the disabled in their communities through education and helping raise their social and economic status

Education For All - We are committed to serving as a platform for the dissemination of knowledge and the cross-fertilization of ideas, cultures, values, usages and ways of life of persons around the world. We bring the youth, professionals, and students together with one aim of leaving a positive imprint on rural communities in Ghana. Voluntarism is our watchword and services our goal.

Farmers Education and Empowerment for Development (FEED) - FEED is focused on reducing rural poverty in Ghana. We integrate agriculture support, health education, literacy, and book keeping skills to provide a sustainable solution to the problem of rural poverty.

Ghana Health and Education Initiative - The Ghana Health and Education Initiative strive to encourage the growth of health and education resources in Humjibre, Ghana, by empowering the local community to achieve its goals.

Global Hands - Global Hands is an organization coordinating both volunteer assignments and tours of Ghana with the main purpose of promoting peace and understanding between individuals of different nations.

ORPHANAGE, TEACHING AND WORK CAMP PROJECT IN GHANA - Our program is focused on addressing the needs of the street children forced from their homes through poverty, neglect or abuse. This project presents the opportunity to help Street Children and those who have lost their parents.

Africa Volunteers Needed! - The needs today in Africa are critical. Here is a way for you to make a real difference. Put your skills to work for the benefit of children and their families as a volunteer in Ghana and Tanzania. Global Volunteers has worked on the continent since the early 1980's, and has seen how needs have grown. Your talents and interests will be carefully matched with the immediate needs in our host communities. Choose from service opportunities scheduled year-around in these impoverished, small villages. Teach English, tutor at-risk children, help build classrooms and housing, assist with health care, and serve on new projects as needs arise. Choose from one-week, two-week and three-week service dates. The service program fee, tax-deductible for U.S. tax-payers, ranges from $1,950 to $2,385; student discounts are available. Groups are welcome.

Agricultural Researcher - Fearless Planet is working with the Ningo communities to initiate a fruit and vegetable drying program. Tomatoes, peppers and mangos grow abundantly in the area. The women have begun planting tomatoes and peppers on the land at the center, where Fearless Planet will be managing community cooperative production of a variety of food products for local and export sales.

Cape Coast School for the Deaf - Cape Coast School for the Deaf (Cape Deaf) aims to give formal education to hearing-impaired children in Ghana. The school seeks to equip its students with basic literacy, numeric and problem solving skills. Furthermore it teaches its students important skills such as carpentry, farming, and dressmaking, enabling the students to be participants in the socio-economic life of this developing nation. http://www.ikando.org

Caring for People with Disabilities - Caring for people with disabilities helps create a compassionate and nurturing environment for the physically and mentally disabled. Volunteers provide much needed support and individual attention, and help with their physical and mental development.

VOLTA VOLUNTEERS FOUNDATION - is running a year round programmer to help meet the needs arising in needy communities in around Ghana.

Ghana Refugee Camp - Peace & Education Volunteers Needed - The organization was founded in May 2003 by Liberian refugees who saw the need and potential for peace among their people who have been ravaged by many years of civil war. This need has directed their primary focus to peace and reconciliation for Liberians who have been traumatized by the conflict in their home country.

Help orphans at the UNHCR Refugee Settlement - Voluntary repatriation movements are expected to take place throughout this year and next, with it crucial to help prepare refugees, particularly women and young people, to rebuild their lives in their home country.

Literacy and English Teacher for Young Women and the Disabled - The volunteer will be expected to give Literacy and English classes to young women and the disabled of 3 vocational training centers with Ho Township. The classes will be held twice a week and in collaboration with teachers from the schools.

Reforestation & HIV/AIDS Campaign - The Nsenoa area once a rain forest has now been turned into a savannah zone. The communities realizing the dangers have embarked on re-forestation programs to restore the environment of the area which is also a transitional zone. Volunteers will join the communities in the exercise and also take advantage of such forums to educate them on HIV/AIDS.