GAP GHANA GLOBAL ACCESS PLATFORMS REGIONAL BREAKUP: Ghana consists of several regions, all once ruled by the Ashanti Kingdom. The southern region is more economically developed and has higher rates of literacy and education with higher concentrations of Christians. The north region has far greater Muslim populations and unreached people groups. The countries to the west, north and east of Ghana have multiple other unreached people groups that workers in Northern Ghana would be most culturally suited for upon training and cross-cultural development. Ghana means “Warrior King.” Demographics: 72% CHRISTIAN Population: 27,000,000 18% MUSLIM Government: Sovereign Unitary Presidential 5% TRADITIONAL Constitutional Democracy 5% NONE History in Ghana: Ghana was first settled around the 11th century, in 1874 Great Britain began to take control of multiple regions of Ghana, including it in their “British Gold Coast” colonies. These Gold Coast colonies declared independence in 1957. Many military coups would follow, with multi-party elections again re-enacted in 1992. Ghana is considered the 5th least fragile state and 6th least corrupt state in Africa from a survey completed in 2012. Strategic Position of a new GAP Platform: The GAP Ghana team has developed 6 missionary training bases in the south and eastern TAMALE regions of Ghana over the past 19 years and have trained over 2,000 workers. Recently they have been finding favor with Muslim chiefs in the Northern and Upper regions of Ghana, as a result they have sought to develop a consolidated training center in Tamale, the largest city of Northern Region. Nature of Northern Region: The Northern Region is substantially drier than the south, and yet 75% of their economy is agricultural. It is positioned in Muslim dominated territories that are not offended by Christianity but simply have no Christian presence. The ethnicity of citizens of the Northern Region are more similar to the people groups that are yet to be reached, making them the best candidates. Compassion Opportunity: Northern Ghana continues to struggle with clean water. To this day around 40% of this region is without access to clean water. In addition, Malaria is the culprit of 42% of deaths in Ghana. To date the Ghana team has dug over 174 wells, providing clean water access to over 252,000 people and provided Malaria relief work to over 34 villages. These compassion opportunities have proven highly effective for gaining grounds in regions that have to date resisted the Gospel. Objective with GAP Ghana: Over the past 19 years there have been 315 churches planted. With all the invitations into Upper Ghana where Muslim populations persist, the Director of Ghana has a target of establishing another 450 churches in the next three years and developing over 10,000 new workers out of the Northern and Upper regions who are currently Muslim. The GAP Strategy and Platform will consolidate the tremendous amount of work and resources already poured into Ghana and seek to unite with other local ministry work, develop increasingly robust compassion and relief programs, and equip the new training center with the highest level cross-cultural training to reach north into Burkina Faso, west into the Ivory Coast, and east into Togo and Benin. Ultimately the goal is to train workers to go into North Africa. 450 CHURCHES THREE YEARS UNREACHED PEOPLES NOW WITHIN REACH: Wala People: Population: 187,000 people Language: Wali Geography: The Lobi-Wala occupy the Black Volta region where the countries of Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso meet. Heritage: This people group developed a reputation as teachers of the Qur’an and as devout prayer warriors. That tradition continues to this day. The Wala are one of the most resistant people groups to the gospel in West Africa. Many Christian missionaries have been chased out of Wala villages over the years. The Wala, though farmers, are also skilled archers who shoot poisoned arrows. Beliefs: A majority of the Lobi follow their traditional animistic beliefs (belief that non-human objects have spirits), while most of the Wala have partially adopted the dominant religion of the area: Islam. Their "conversion" resulted in the eighteenth century when Dyula Muslim traders were absorbed into the Wala state and began to speak Wali instead of their Mande language. The Muslim Dyula subsequently became part of the Wala group and brought Islam with them. Strategy: Although the Lobi-Wala have the New Testament written in their language, very few have become Christians. Most of them have never yet heard a clear presentation of the Gospel message. Increased missions efforts, additional laborers, Christian broadcasts, and evangelistic literature are greatly needed to effectively reach the Lobi-Wala. Mamprusi People: Population: 291,000 people Language: Mampruli Geography: Most Mamprusi live in their homeland, Mamprugu, an area of northeast Ghana between the Dagbani in the south and Frafra in the north. There are also small communities of Mamprusi in towns in southern Ghana. Heritage: The Mamprusi are part of the Na Gweba people originally from what is now Togo. Of the people groups descended from Na Gweba the Mamprusi are the leaders. Beliefs: Two-thirds of marriages are polygamous. Children are given both Mamprusi and Muslim names. Naa-wuni is the supreme god, and people communicate with their ancestors through sacrifices and offerings. The literacy rate among the Mamprusi is less than 15%. Primary religion is animistic, 15% is Islam, and less than .5% Christian. Strategy: The low literacy rate of the Mamprusi people is a major barrier to the Gospel if it comes only in written form. Oral form and video will be critical for sharing the Gospel story, however more importantly is building mutually beneficial relationships with the villages and leaders to gain influence. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Build the Training Center The new GAP Ghana Training Center will have capacity to train up to 50 workers at any given time, will include offices, lecture halls and a conference room. Total cost of this training facility will be $125,000. Build the Dormitory Long term the ideal situation will be to have housing for workers willing to come in for training and deployment. To build this dormitory that will house 50+ individuals will be around $120,000. Well-Reserve Fund Compassion and Relief are critical to the work in Ghana and beyond, opening doors that have otherwise never been opened. The Well Reserve Fund stands as a reserve War Chest, funds raised in order to be deployed strategically to share the love of Christ where clean water doesn’t run, and to open doors into otherwise resistant regions. The cost of each well is in the range of $5000 - $7000, and we hope to have a Well Reserve Fund with $150,000 ready to go..