Jean Claude Mukadi, the Acting Country Director of World Vision Ghana, has expressed immense satisfaction with the projects undertaken by the organization in the Bawku West Area Program in the Upper East Region. These initiatives are aimed at improving the livelihoods and sustainability of the communities.
One notable intervention is the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project, implemented on a 30-hectare land in the Adonsi community. This initiative has rejuvenated the forest which was severely depleted 6 years ago due to human activities such as bushfires and the cutting down of trees for fuelwood.
“I am satisfied with the interventions by listening to what communities were stressing in terms of achievements and the changes in their lives. For example, the FMNR beneficiaries talked about medicinal plants they harvest to treat diseases. I think this is something I wasn’t aware of, and these are the positives we did not even plan for. So we are satisfied with the results,” Mr. Mukadi stated.
Additionally, World Vision Ghana has provided ruminants to members of the Adonsi community, enhancing their economic stability and food security. The introduction of the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) has further empowered the community members by offering them financial support and savings opportunities.
In the Kamega community, similar interventions have been implemented to promote sustainable farming practices. These efforts are geared towards improving food security and ensuring a sustainable livelihood for the residents. While calling for collaboration between World Vision Ghana, other NGOs, and the government, Mr. Mukadi entreated the beneficiary communities to own the initiatives “to make sure that everything is sustainable.”
He was speaking to the media during his visit to some project areas under the Bawku West Area Program of World Vision Ghana – a Christian humanitarian organization. The purpose of the visit was to interact with staff and community members on what the NGO had done and what can be done differently to improve the lives of community members. His visit was extended to the Tarikom community, where asylum seekers displaced by conflict in Burkina Faso are seeking refuge.
Joshua Baidoo, the Strategy and Integrated Programs Director, said the NGO is working with the World Food Programme where cash transfers are given to the asylum seekers to support their families’ upkeep and for them to start businesses. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to ensuring every child thrives through education, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), economic empowerment, and the restoration of degraded lands.
“We are ensuring that the children of the asylum seekers can attend school. So most of the children are in school, and because of that, there is stress on the school facility. Tarikom community, for instance, we provided furniture, constructed new latrines, constructed a mechanized water system, and also made some donations in terms of clothing, school uniforms, footwear, among others,” he indicated.
Aside from the educational materials, he said recreation items were donated for the children when in school, while toilet and bathroom facilities were constructed at both the Reception and the Settlement Centers. A beneficiary, Mbawin Asitanga, said the initiatives demonstrate World Vision Ghana’s dedication to addressing both immediate needs and long-term goals, ensuring that the communities can thrive and become self-sufficient.
He expressed gratitude for the support and initiatives, saying the organization’s efforts have not only addressed critical issues but have also instilled a sense of hope and resilience among the community members.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Joshua Asaah|Bawku West
