USAID/Ghana's partner wins Development Partner Award

A USAID implementing partner, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has been honored by Ghana's Excellence Awards Foundation with the "International Development Partner" award for its meritorious service to the people of Ghana .

The award is given to an international organization whose activities point towards international cooperation and sustainable development of Ghanaians. USAID/Ghana won the first-ever International Development Partner award in 2000.

The ceremony was held in Accra on August 19, 2005 . Among dignitaries present were Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, who received the Global Excellence Award; Presidents John Kufuor of Ghana and Mathieu Kerekou of Benin; and Prime Minister Edem Kojo of Togo.

ADRA/Ghana's relationship with USAID dates back to 1983 when there was a severe food shortage in Ghana. The US Government, in response to the crisis, provided Ghana emergency food aid through ADRA. Since then, ADRA/Ghana has focused its efforts away from relief and more towards development.

ADRA/Ghana receives about $4.4 million annually through the USAID Food for Peace program. A major portion of the food, primarily wheat, is sold locally to generate local currency. ADRA uses the money to train rural farmers in improved agricultural practices, and to provide input credit as well as seedlings for orchards and reforestation. ADRA also helps communities to rehabilitate poor roads that improve access to market centers and to upgrade potable water and sanitation facilities.

ADRA/Ghana's activities are directed to the more food insecure areas, and directly benefit over 300,000 people. Over the years, food sufficiency and rural incomes for this poorer target group have remarkably improved, and disease incidence has reduced. Through activities supported by ADRA and others, corn yield per acre in targeted areas increased from 400 kg in 2002 to 959 kg in 2005. Similarly, mango production increased from 700 kg per acre in 2002 to 2704 kg per acre in 2005, while citrus rose from 354 kg per acre to 7295 kg per acre. In an unusual achievement, ADRA's support to a concentrated pocket of blind farmers in the Jirapa district of Ghana's Upper West Region has raised the farmers' income ten fold from $55 to $550 for growing vegetables. The increase in food production and its use contributed to reducing malnutrition among under five-year children from 30% in 2002 to 20% in 2005 in targeted areas.

Many beneficiaries have built new houses, acquired vehicles and household appliances, and provided education for their children. William Ankomah, an ADRA-assisted farmer said: "I sold 30 bags of cashew for $1,600 and used the money to complete my house. I thank ADRA and the American people for their support."

More remarkably, ADRA's initiative in promoting citrus, mango and cashew tree crops has provided farmers with a sustainable livelihood, supplied raw material for local fruit processing industries and external markets, and created jobs for rural and urban dwellers. In Ghana 's Eastern Region, for example, cultivation of improved, exportable mango, has created jobs for over 5,000 people and made the area the most prominent in mango production.

USAID/Ghana is thrilled that its partner, ADRA/Ghana, was recognized by the Excellence Awards Foundation in helping rural farmers to enjoy a sustainable and improved living standard.