Ghana

At Bonsaaso MVP works to ensure universal primary education

Two and a half years into the implementation of the Millennium Village Projects (MVP) in Ghana, the Bonsaaso Cluster in the Amansie West District, Ashanti Region is experiencing  “significant improvements at the household and village levels in agriculture, health and education sectors as well as a number of crosscutting domains” (ODI Formative Review of MVP Synthesis Report, 2008).

Agriculture is the main livelihood employing about 80% of men and 90% of women and generating about 73% of the total income. Most farming households in Bonsaaso depend on rain-fed agriculture. Small scale agriculture is predominantly practiced, even though there are a few large cocoa and oil palm plantations. The average farm size is 12.8 acres or 5 hectares, with more than half of the households (63%) having holdings of about 10 acres of 4 hectors. With the distribution of subsidized fertilizers, improved seeds and intensified agricultural extension service system, production of high-protein maize increased from 2.2 ton/hectare in 2006 to 4.1 tons/hectare during the 2006/2007 cropping season showing over 85% improvement.

Removing financial and geographical barriers, recruiting adequate and well trained staff, ensuring adequate supply of medicines, adopting primary health care approach and maintaining both fixed and mobile Ante Natal and Post Natal Care services, the improvements in the health conditions of these regions are significant. This is evident by    increased clinic attendance (including for pregnant and nursing mothers), health facility deliveries and high reduction in maternal mortality leading to a zero maternal mortality by June 2008. One year along the line i.e. the year 2007, 286 women gave birth in health facilities as against 116 in 2006 - an increase of 146%. Since then, 67% of women delivered their babies in health facilities. Also the number of new women seeking antenatal care increased from 344 to 787 (129%) during the same period while the use of family planning techniques improved from 296 to 2,278 (670%). Malaria topped the list of reported and treated ailment in clinics in 2007. Consequently, about 25,854 long lasting insecticide treated bed-nets were distributed in the Cluster and additional 6,000 for bordering communities.

Mr. Mensah Abrampah 50 years old Community Leader of Akyerekyerekrom who has lived his entire life in the Bonsaaso Cluster describing the change in his life as result of MVP said:

“The MVP stands for positive change in individual and community life styles. MVP has taken over the completion of health clinic initiated by the District Assembly. This has significantly improved accessibility to health service as people no longer walk longer distances (45 km) to Agroyesum referral hospital which is the nearest health facility available to them. Distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) has prevented the spread of malaria by mosquitoes. Doctors now provide free medical services: free eye screening or growth promotion (weighing of children) is done as monthly routine activity; free outreach is done through the Ante Natal Care (ANC) (services for pregnant women), and Health Care Assistants support community health interventions. I do not suffer from malaria as frequently as before the distribution of the bednet, and I do not attend the clinic frequently these days. My eye sight has improved, I am learning more from Health Care Assistants on personal and environmental hygiene. The health status for my family (wife and children) has improved”.

Under the education sector, the provision of suitable classrooms, teachers’ accommodation and meals/lunch every day has helped to increase school enrolment and keep pupils in school for full days of learning activities. Between May 2007 and March 2008, enrolment in three schools participating in the School feeding programme increased by about 40%. Enrolment in lower levels of primary schools and in kindergarten doubled. Since 2006, over 1,320 needy children have been supported in gaining access to basic education, 29 students (42% female) have entered Senior High School because MVP established scholarship scheme for brilliant but needy pupils (MVP Briefing at UN Heads of Agencies meeting, 27 November 2008). Qualified teachers have accepted transfer to the Cluster since accommodation has been provided.

In line with the MDG target of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water, and achieving improved sanitation, MVP installed iron and manganese removal plants in selected locations to provide water facilities in small towns, communities, schools and clinics, which hitherto depended on the mineral polluted water.

Government’s contribution to the MVP Cluster continues to grow as the MVP lobbies and appeals to the Government’s support to increase capital investment for the development of the infrastructure. From a situation of zero electricity connection in 2006, 6 communities are now fully connected to the national grid, with 2 others due to be connected after power transmission tests are completed.  Furthermore, the Government increased resources for rehabilitation and routine maintenance of roads in the Cluster, with US$2.5m investment in reshaping and rehabilitating 96.5 km feeder roads including construction of 60 culverts.

The Millennium Village initiative is attracting interest and partnerships among the UN System.  On the 24 April 2009, Ms. Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) visited the Bonsaaso Cluster. The visit took her to four sites:  Tontokrom Clinic, a Mwacafe iron and manganese removal plant at Bonsaaso, palm oil processing at Apenamadi for women’s group and maize storage facility at Dawusaso.  The positive contribution of MVP to the social and economic upliftment of the rural people inspired WFP Executive Director to partner with MVP in 5 key areas:

- Maize procurement to enhance market access for maize farmers;

- Provision of the agro processing equipment to oil palm and cassava women’s  processing corporative to enhance oil palm production at Apenamadi;

- Access to iodated salt for people in the Cluster;

- Support to female heads of household by equipping them with skills to undertake income generating activities; 

- Support economic livelihoods of people living with HIV to live a decent and healthy life.

MVP is steadily putting Amansie West on the map and generating interest for development partners, private sector and civil society. To the UN System, MVP provides a model to “deliver as one” in meeting the MDGs at the grassroots level.

Ghana is among 10 sub-Saharan African countries piloting the Millennium Village Projects. Since 2006, the MVP has pursued transformational interventions to provide decent and sustainable livelihoods for a cluster of 30 rural communities with an estimated population of 30,000 people in the forest margins of the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.

For more information, please contact: Akua Dua-Agyeman, akua.dua-agyeman@undp.org, MDG Support Advisor.