April 2021 Community Report

Prepared by Francis Osei Sarpong Country Director P: 024-711-0492 • E: [email protected]

www.HBCPromisedGhana.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Organization Overview ...... 4

1.0 HBC Promised Ghana LBG ...... 4

1.2 iPromisedGhana ...... 4

1.3 Key Organization Leadership ...... 5

About Salaga...... 6

2.1 Slave Market ...... 7

2.2 Slave Cemetary ...... 8

2.3 Slave Water Wells and Baths ...... 8

Key Findings ...... 9

3.1 Education ...... 9

3.2 Poverty...... 10

Donation Presentation ...... 11

Next Steps and Conclusion ...... 14

References ...... 16

Appendix I: Images from Salaga ...... 16

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Ghana is a country located in West Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Although relatively small in area and population, Ghana is one of the leading countries in Africa, because of its considerable natural wealth and partly because it was the first African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from Colonial rule under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1957. Ghana’s 2020 population is estimated to be 31,072,940 at mid-year according to United Nations data. Its population is equivalent to 0.4% of the total world population and Ghana ranks #47 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

According to the 2016 Ghana Poverty and Inequality Report, Ghana has steadily experienced a growth of over 7% per year on average since 2005. Following the attainment of middle-income country status in 2010 and discovery of offshore oil reserves, per capita growth in the country has remained relatively high. Despite the growth recorded, inequality has been increasing in the country and poverty remains prevalent in many areas.

The country is divided into 16 Regions, with the seeing the smallest progress in poverty reduction in the past and present years making it a major issue for Ghana as a country. The Savannah Region now makes up the largest number of poor people of any of the current 16 regions (i.e, 1.3 million) with the East Gonja District (the District located within) recording the highest poverty incidence on the District level with (84.2%) per the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

Based on an Internet search and data provided by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), HBC Promised Ghana, LBG’s leadership embarked on a three-day tour to the Savannah Region in April 2021, precisely Salaga to know more about the community, make a donation and see how to help in one way or the other.

Included herein is a report highlighting the history of Salaga, key findings and a donation presentation made by HBC Promised Ghana, LBG (HBCPG) to the 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergarten and Primary School in the community. It also concludes next steps and plans to mobilize funding and donations to support the school and community.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 3 ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

1.0 HBC Promised Ghana, LBG (HBCPG) is a non- governmental organization registered in Ghana under The Companies Act 2019 (ACT 982), (Registration #:CG123892020). The organization has a License from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to operate as a National Non-Profit Organization, (License No.: DSW/9879). Its mission is to develop programs and services responsive to the educational and capacity building needs of individuals, communities and organizations in Ghana.

The aims and objectives of the organization are: (1) Provide desks, uniforms and educational materials to students; (2) Conduct football activities to do health education and disease prevention activities; (3) Provide capacity building and technical assistance; and (4) Training and Development to non-governmental organizations that will assist them in their growth and development.

Through an international partnership with Healthy Black Communities, Inc. (HBC) a USA based non-government organization, HBC Promised Ghana, LBG is able to provide education materials, supplies and items to youth and young adults via donor mobilization.

1.2 iPromised Ghana (iPG) is a project of HBC Promised Ghana, LBG with its sister organization (Healthy Black Communities, Inc.) located in the USA. In 2006, HBC, Inc. began unofficially working in Ghana with an initial focus on clean water and disease prevention, more particularly HIV/AIDS. There is documented proof through pictures and Memorandums of Understanding for the events/activities that occurred from 2006 going forward. iPG is a West African community development initiative that works to assist in improving quality of life for youth and young adults through the donation of education supplies, materials and items to schools and students. Funding and support for this initiative comes from donors in the USA.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 4 1.3 HBC Promised Ghana, LBG Key Leaders: HBCPG’s leadership is critical to its growth and development. LaMont “Montee” Evans (Nana Kwame Sam I), an African American who serves as the President/CEO and has been visiting Ghana since 2004 mobilizing resources for youth and young adult as well as communities within the country. He also serves as the President/CEO of Healthy Black Communities, Inc. (USA), an organization with 20 years of experience in providing health education and disease prevention programs and services in the United States as well as having provided help in Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Evans served as Director of National Programs (African American Men United Against AIDS at National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Inc. from 2000 – 2002. He also served as the President/CEO for Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia leading their Shika Tamaa Capacity Building Assistance Program and other federally funded programs from 2002-2004. He served as the National Coordinator for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day from 2003 – 2012. In this role, he worked with more than 500 organizations annually to mobilize, prepare, and coordinate events/activities that would assist in getting African Americans educated, tested and involved around HIV/AIDS. In addition, to get African Americans newly testing positive or living with HIV to enter treatment.

Francis Osei Sarpong, a Ghanaian who serves as the Ghana Country Director who has served in multiple leadership roles during undergrad and graduate studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He has also worked in several supervisory positions in the country. Sarpong is a native of the where he did his Primary education, with being the place he completed his Secondary High Education.

Sarpong is equipped in his career role with a Bachelor’s of Art in Communication Studies and a Master’s Degree from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He joined HBCPG in 2019 at the beginning of the iPromisedGhana Initiative.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 5 ABOUT SALAGA

The Savannah Region is one of the 16 , forming part of the six newly created regions out of the original 10 Regions.

This Region was created on the 12th of February 2019 with the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 115 after the people in the

Figure 1. The Salaga Community (Savannah Region) catchment of the Region voted YES for its creation. There is a total of 581,368 individuals living in the Savannah Region with a total voting population of 206,350. Out of the total voting population, 205,731 (99.7%) cast a YES for the creation of the Region in a referendum dated 27th December 2018. , the capital of the Savannah Region has six Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) and seven constituencies under its jurisdiction.

The MDAs in the region are , Sawla/Tuna/Kalba District, , West Gonja District, East Gonja District and District Assemblies. The region covers a total land area of 35,862km and is bordered on the North with , East by Ghana-Côte d'Ivoire International Border, the South by Bono and Ahafo Regions and West by North East and Northern Regions.

Salaga is a community and the Capital town of the East Gonja District in the Savannah Region with a population of approximately 25,472. The community is a three hour drive on both a feudal and a tared road from Tamale, the Regional Capital.

Historically, the Salaga community served as a key market town particularly for the busy regional kola trade during the 18th and 19th Centuries, and controlling Salaga gave a monopoly over trade to the North and trade to the South.

The Salaga Market served as a transit point through the Northern Sahel and the Southernmost coast of the “Sahel” as well as through the Dagomba towns of Kpabia and . This resulted in transport of cattle and groundnuts from Yendi via the Salaga Market. It was also the transit point through which kola was transported from modern day Ghana to northern .

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 6 Due to its busy nature, the town and its market was overturned to serve as an important junction from which slaves were transported to the coast for export during the Trans-Atlantic slave Trade. Salaga being a cosmopolitan town was inhibited by Hausas, Wangaras, Dagombas, Gurmas and other groups from the region yet dominated by the indigenous Gonja.

The HBCPG team (Evans and Sarpong) upon their arrival visited some assumed interesting sites of attraction like the Salaga Slave Market, the Salaga Slave Cemetery, the Salaga Slave Wells and Baths. They also toured a few school grounds within the Salaga community.

2.1 At the scene of the Salaga Slave Market, which supposedly had been useful and active due to the role it played during the 18th and 19th centuries as afore- mentioned, had only a sign board that was laying on the ground. There was no indication that this was the site, as modernization and time had worn on the environment causing the people of Salaga to sell their goods, fruits Figure 2 "Welcome to Salaga Slave Market" sign board. and vegetables.

Unlike other Ghana tourist sites visited by the HBCPG Team (i.e., Castle, Cape- Coast Castle, Assin Manso Slave Market, Pikworo Slave Camp, etc. places that played key roles in the history of slavery), no careful attention had been paid to make this place attractive and effective in many aspects of today’s life to serve as historic education and a fund generator to the community in which it is found. The Salaga Slave Market seemed to fall on the other path of all these positive gains. This site, which should have been easy to identify, was found hidden in the middle of mini shops and other activities that had no concern and attachment to the historic place, making it difficult to identify and the story not being told. The sign post which could be of help to strangers and visitors to the site was in a devastating state and on the ground without any form of activeness or usefulness under a tree on the extreme right of the roofing fenced area. The site had no exact and trained tourist personnel to take visitors around and give detail information.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 7 2.2 The Salaga Slave Cemetery had a single piece of rock donated by a group in 2015 to show the burial ground where many slaves had been mass buried. Nothing else indicated this was a cemetery. After making inquiry, information revealed that there use to be a fence around it. However, due to heavy rains and improper care taking, it fell off leaving the area bare and open with the single rock to show as a cemetery.

Figure 3 The Salaga Slave Cemetary

2.3 The Salaga Slave Wells and Baths site had an entrance with a short wall on both sides of the front view with no inscriptions on it. Inside the walls were four abandoned water wells which served as the final place for slaves to take a bath before being transported on to the Coast for sale into the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. All the wells were dry of water and other parts of the site were seen as farming land and a grazing yard for the cattle in the community.

Figure 4 Salaga Slave Wells and Baths

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 8 KEY FINDINGS

HBCPG’s key findings have been summarized and organized in two parts, Education and Poverty based on observations during the tour.

3.1 Education: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” “The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation!”- Nelson Mandela

It is trite knowledge that the development of any community is intricately linked to the level of education of its population. Access to education is thus an integral feature and driver for the betterment of the human condition and that of society at large. Out of the total persons in the East Gonja District, age 12 years and above, 68.1% have no form of education with only 24.2% having a basic education. Also, 83.9% of the married population have no education with about 11.2% of the married population having only basic education.

HBCPG found that within the Salaga Community, it was observed within both the government owned and private schools, student populations were at their maximum capacity which further underlines the fact and need for the people in the community to have access to education in whatever condition it may take them. However, conditions cited showed a need to gain a smooth and reasonable education, but education was seen as one of the most challenging issues facing the community.

It was revealed that students, in some of the schools had to sit under trees to have shelter to study due to the deficit of classroom space not being enough to accommodate all them. Classes and schools are forced to close whenever rain or the heat from the sun becomes overwhelming. There are instances when downpours come suddenly, which at times can destroy materials (i.e., books, writing utensils, etc.) thus interrupting education and learning.

In reference to having access to a washroom/toilet, students and staff alike are forced to go to the bush and ease themselves (i.e., urinate or defecate) whenever nature calls or have stomach inconvenience. This affects class time and interrupts the smooth delivery of education for the students as teachers are not able to assist in any way other than to allow them to leave and handle

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 9 the situation at hand. There are no toilet/washroom facilities available for the students and/or teachers to use.

It was also noted that the community possesses the zeal and understands the value and importance of education. However, necessities as simple as classroom facilities for them remains missing. A high level of excitement was evident in the actions and on the faces of the teachers and students when receiving the donated materials from HBCPG. The donated items will help make learning and teaching easy and smooth for those in the Salaga Community.

3.2 Poverty: The overall development of a country is dependent on the production of goods and services that is also made possible by the human resource of the country. Although all persons, irrespective of age and sex, consume the goods and services; only a section of the total population who are employed contribute to the production of these goods and services. Generally, the larger the employed population, the more wealth is created leading to the general well-being of the population.

According to the 2016 Ghana Poverty and Inequality Report, Ghana has steadily experienced a growth of over 7% per year on average since 2005. Following the attainment of middle-income country status in 2010 and discovery of offshore oil reserves, per capita growth in Ghana has remained relatively high. Despite the growth recorded, inequality has been increasing in the country and poverty remains prevalent in many areas.

It was no different in the Salaga community (East Gonja District) which recorded the highest poverty incidence on the District level with 84.2% per the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Of the population aged 15 years and older, 61.0% are self-employed1; 29.0% are contributing family workers; 0.7% are casual workers and 1.0% are domestic employees (house help). Overall, men constitute the highest proportion in each employment category except the contributing family worker apprentices, domestic employees and a few other categories. The private informal sector is the largest employer in the district, employing 96.1% of the population followed by the public sector with 2.7%.

1 Self-Employed is defined as market sellers, motorbike riders, bus loaders and those providing domestic goods.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 10 The standard of living in the Salaga community was very low as it was observed that, there is no industrial development happening nor any major projects which fall in the determinants of a community development (i.e., modern school facilities, Public Toilets, Hospitals, stable source water among other social amenities). It is important to note that the Salaga community is primarily into farming and agriculture. Therefore, it is not surprising that over 76.0% of the employed population aged 15 years and older were into agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Salaga community members have overtaken the school toilet which was originally meant for students and staff, thus forcing them to go into the bushes and ease themselves. In the unfinished classroom facility (built 12 years ago) located next to where the children learn; there is the activity of openly defecating on the property which has an effect on the school in the sense of air pollution. This tells the story of the economic standard and portfolio of the community.

DONATION PRESENTATION

In the process of touring the Salaga Community, the HBCPG Team had a chance to visit a few community schools which are helping in one way or another to shape the children and the lives of the people to be better. After careful observation, it was revealed that, some schools like the 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergarten and Primary School were in dire need of education materials and support to make the process of education smoother for teachers and students alike.

The school was one of the 870 pre- schools established by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, wife of His Excellency Jerry J. Rawlings, President of the Republic of Ghana during his time in office. She served as the President of the 31st December Women’s Movement and used this platform to stir up interest for the accomplishment of child development and family planning.

Figure 5 31st December Womens Movement School Building

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 11 The movement was initiated with the goal to empower women in the society. “My desire is to see the emancipation of women at every level of development to enable them to contribute and benefit from the socio-economic and political progress of the country. Women’s vital role of promoting peace in the family, the country and the world at large must be acknowledged. And to do this, they must be empowered politically to equip them adequately for the challenges of critically identifying and assessing solutions for the betterment of society!” – Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

After touring the school grounds briefly, HBC Promised Ghana, LBG (HBCPG), consulted the headmaster of the school (Mr. Mahama) to discuss how to support the children and improve their education and life. The team was led to the Ghana Education Service located within the Salaga Municipality to inform leadership about their intentions to donate to the school with which permission was granted.

On Wednesday, 22nd April 2021, the first ever donation to the 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergarten and Primary School in the Salaga Municipality of the Savannah Region was made by HBC Promised Ghana, LBG (HBCPG). It was historical as no entity had ever made a contribution or donation of its kind according to the School’s PTA Chairman (Mr. Alhaji Digi). Headmaster Mahama shared that student classrooms were outside under a tree and when weather presented challenges (i.e., rain, dust or too hot), the children had to be sent home.

Due to a generous donation from Star of Georgia #378 OES, PHA (Atlanta, GA – USA) to iPromisedGhana, HBCPG was able to present to the school shoes, book bags, reading books, writing pads, pencils and pens which were all necessities to help improve the lives of the students in the school. This donation is part of a bigger vision to enhance progress in the entire community and the Nation as a whole. From the moment the first book bag was opened to reveal donated items, the children were yelling and screaming in excitement to show their appreciation and gratitude for whatever was being given.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 12 Key Leaders present from the Ghana Education Service at the school to receive donations on behalf of the staff and students of the 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergarten and Primary School: Mrs. Christiana Maabo Donzun (Municipal Director); Mr. Braimah Mahama (Assistant Director, Financial and Administration); Mr. Kawuribi Adams Figure 6. GES and School Authorities receiving donations by HBC (Assistant Director, Supervision); Mr. Promised Ghana, LBG’s President/CEO Ebenezer Bonzali (Public Relations Officer); Mr. Mahama (Headmaster) and the staff of the school including as well as Mr. Alhaji Digi (P.T.A Chairman).

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 13 NEXT STEPS AND CONCLUSION

One of the most devastating challenges from the HBCPG’s Team visit was to learn that, even in 2021, given the vast and large development happening in the world; children continue to sit under trees that serve as classrooms. According to the staff, students and parents present at the school; students sit under trees to get shade for study since classrooms in the school are not enough to accommodate all Figure 7 The 12-year old abandoned classroom facility the students. However, a structure erected 12 years ago to provide new classrooms and a covered area for children to learn has been abandoned since being put into place. Thus, the school is forced to close whenever there is rain due to the inconvenience it may cause for studying.

Ghana Education Service authorities were excited with the donations presented, however requests for more supplies and education materials were made (i.e., Oliver Mood) as these were being provided. Thus, challenging HBC Promised Ghana, LBG (HBCPG) to come to their aid in resolving and assisting to complete the abandoned classroom facility and provide additional education supplies and materials. With rain, sun and little hope of its completion to help and enhance education in the community and provide convenience to students and staff, HBCPG requested for a proposal to learn of the costs to complete the classroom facility.

As part of the great works of HBC Promised Ghana LBG and the iPromisedGhana Initiative, the organization has decided to adopt 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergarten and Primary School as one Figure 8 HBCPG CEO visiting a borehole drilling site

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 14 of its 2021/2022 projects with a main goal to complete the abandoned classroom facility and dig a bore hole for clean water to be accessed by students, teachers and staff. Estimates and architectural plans have been submitted to HBCPG and are being vetted for accuracy of costs and time to completion.

In conclusion, there is a need for a big thank you to Star of Georgia #378 OES, PHA2 in the USA, who helped to enhance the lives of Salaga children and teachers through the iPromisedGhana Initiative with their donation of school supplies, bookbags, pens and shoes. We are also thankful to the many donors in the USA who continue to be supportive and committed to other projects under the umbrella of iPG/HBCPG. As this project continues to unfold, it is estimated the classroom facility along with outfitting it with desks, teacher tables, cupboards, and other items needed will call for more than $125,000 USD with the classroom facility construction costs and borehole drilling taking up the majority of the resources.

HBC Promised Ghana LBG will call for the devotion and sincerity of all those interested in helping to move the 31st December Women’s Movement Kindergaten and Primary School forward with fervency. Through its longstanding and unwavering relationship with Healthy Black Communities, Inc. (USA) and its License to operate as a National Non-Profit Organization in Ghana from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, HBCPG is confident in its ability to complete the commitment outlined herein to provide Salaga children with quality education facilities and education materials.

May God continue to bless America and make Ghana Great and Strong!

2 A sisterhood organization located in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 15 REFERENCES

• Ghana Statistical Service. (2015). Ghana Poverty Mapping Report. • Cooke, E., Hague, S., McKay, A., (2016). The Ghana Poverty and Inequality Report.

APPENDIX I: Images from Salaga

Figure 1: The Salaga Community (Savannah Region): This is a picture captured while entering Salaga to highlight some of the infrastructure challenges facing those who live there.

Figure 2: “Welcome to Salaga Slave Market” Sign Board: This is a picture of the sign post supposedly to help people locate the Salaga Slave market without difficulties. It has unfortunately rusted and fallen on the ground.

Figure 3: The Salaga Slave Cemetery: This is a picture exhibiting a rock to signify burial area of slaves who died during the slave trade in the community.

Figure 4: Salaga Slave Wells and Baths: This picture represents one of four water wells which dried up, however they served as a source of water for the slaves to take their last bath before being transported to the slave castles.

Figure 5: 31st December Women’s Movement School Building: This picture shows the end Old structure of the existing School facility.

Figure 6: GES and School Authorities receiving donations by HBC Promised Ghana, LBG’s President/CEO: The picture shows how excited students were and the acceptance of the donation made by HBCPG to the school and the community.

Figure 7: The abandoned 12-year classroom facility: This is a picture to tell how deplorable the school structure has become since being erected 12 years ago.

Figure 8: HBCPG CEO visiting a borehole drilling site: The picture shows HBCPG’s CEO at a borehole drilling site to understand the process for digging a borehole for the school to have access to water on a daily basis.

HBC Promised Ghana, LBG - April 2021 Savannah Trip Report: Page 16