Ghana
Ghana is found in West Africa bordered by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Togo to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. According to the World Bank, Ghana is home to over 24 million people with almost half of these people living in rural areas. Nearly 40% of the population is below age 14 – a large and growing population of children and young people seeking a more prosperous future with good health, access to education and livelihoods that can support their future.
Ranking at 135 out of 182 countries in the Human Development Index, life in Ghana has some advantages over neighbouring countries with many challenges in this region. Cocoa is a main cash crop however a resident of rural Ghana likely can’t afford to eat chocolate that is produced around the world from this crop. The Ashanti Region of Ghana has a deep history of gold mining and other extractive exports while a developing oil sector is seen for the future elsewhere in the country. Of the total population, over 3.42 million people do not have access to a safe water source and nearly 21 million don’t have improved sanitation to use each day. The people of Ghana, young and old, women and men, deserve the basic necessities of water and sanitation for a healthy daily life.
Ryan's Well in Ghana
Ryan’s Well has supported water and sanitation projects in the rural area of Amansie District surrounding the town of Kumasi since 2006. Partner organization Dawn of the New Age (DONA) was introduced to us through our colleagues at Rotary of Cornwall, Ontario. School and community projects help to provide safe water sources with drilled wells and rainwater harvesting tanks, improved latrines, hygiene awareness and skills for local water source committees to sustain these resources for years to come.
Local Partners:
Ryan's Well works in partnership with local water and sanitation organizations in Amansie Districts near Kumasi. Learn more about our partners in Ghana.
Ghana Photo Gallery
Ghana in the blog