In pursuance to the United Nations developmental agenda,with specific attention on the sub-Saharan Africa,the Center for Sustainable Development (CESDEV),University of Ibadan,Nigeria, is engaging various stakeholders in the upper West Region of Ghana on developmental strides.
The students of CESDEV from different areas of specialisation in the Development Practice Programme,(DPP) who have been on a two -week international field trip to Ghana, arrived Wa,Upper West Region, on Wednesday, visiting various organisations contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,(SDGs).
Their first point of call on Thursday,after eight hours journey from Kumasi to Wa,was the University for Development Studies,Wa,in Upper West Region,the campus that houses the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies,where they were received by the Dean of Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Dr Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile and Dr. Sylvester Gada,the Dean of School of Rural Development.
Dr. Derbile explained that the University which was established in the year 1992 operates a multi-campus system,with the main campus in Tamale, where the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and School of Allied Health Science are situated.
According to the Dean,other campuses are in Nyankpala,North Region Ghana,where they have the Faculty of Agriculture,Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources,Faculty of Consumer Science and Communications. Other Faculties are located in Navrongo,Upper East Region,where they have the Faculty of Applied Science and the Faculty of Mathematical Science.
With a keen interest in any development Initiative,the students proceeded to Kpaguri Estate in Wa,where an NGO called,Community Development Alliance (CDA-GHANA) is doing exploit.
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| Executive Director of CDA-GHANA addressing CESDEV students |
The vision of the NGO reads; "We are inspired by a Vision of a “Prosperous & Resilient Community where the basic human development needs of individuals and families are met and where women and children are free from poverty, disease and inequality and enjoy good health and well-being in a sustainable fashion”.
According to the mission of the NGO,it exist to promote sustainable and resilient community development initiatives through advocacy and the application of cutting edge innovations that are culturally appropriate, gender sensitive and responsive to the needs of individuals, families and communities in a sustainable fashion.
The Executive Director of the NGO,Mr. Kanton Salifu Issifu,opened the mind of the students to certain truth in area of development with reference to African developmental needs. He harped on social accountability, the need to begin to hold leaders at various level of government accountable for the resources they are holding in thrust for the citizenry.
While reiterating the importance of appreciating the people's contributions and their culture in any developmental plan or programme,he frowned at the usual exclusion of the citizens from the business of governance by African leaders, as if the citizens are only needed during electoral process,a practice he described as "electoral democracy".
On Friday,the students led by their Coordinator,Dr. Olawale Olayide, visited an health facility in Sankana,Nadowli-Kaleo District,a Community based Health Planning and Services,(CHPS),that serves a population of about 5000 people of Sankana community.
Nurse Gifty Mimo,a health worker in the CHPS, in the company of a senior health Officer,Mr Makate Timothy, during an interactive session with the students, explained their operational modalities in the health facilities, which is the closest to the people and also the least in the hierarchical order of health facilities in Ghana.
They explained that they deal more in preventive measures than curative, by going from house to house to educate people on basic health tips,while attending to other ailments like malaria,diarrhea,skin rashes,minor injuries,and baby delivery handled by the matron, etc,while they refer other cases to higher health facilities.
An interesting aspect of the story is the collaboration between government and the herbalists,Traditional Medicine Practitioners,Traditional Birth Attendants and the fact that the community leaders also join hands with the government to prevent primitive practices that increases infant mortality rate, by enacting bye law that compels whoever give birth at home to pay a fine of 30 cedes (approximately 140 US dollar).
While the students of Masters in Sustainable Practice,(MDP) and Social Sustainability specialisation were at the CHPS,at the same time,the Economic Sustainability and Environmental Sustainability students were at the WA school for the Deaf which is currently training about 255 students with different degrees of hearing impairment.
The head of the school, Mr Babilah Samuel took time to explained the structure of the school from the kindergarten -2 years,Primary -6 years,Junior High School - 3-4 years, and the last stage,which is the vocational training in; Carpentry,Weaving,Block Laying and Concreting,and Crafting.
Following the theme for the programme,which is "Enhancing Endogenous Development and Partnership for Sustainable Development",the students concluded their activities for the day at the palace of the traditional head of Wa Kingdom,Naa of Wa,His Majesty,Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV.
It was explained that Naa of Wa is a paramount ruler who oversee about Ten different kingdoms and chiefs who comes to pay allegiance to the King. The King who was glad to receive students all the way from Nigeria traced back their ancestral home to Nigeria,he said the people of Wa migrated from Zamfara State in Nigeria some centuries back.
His Majesty, while responding to questions posed by the students as regard the cultural background and economic activities of Wa Kingdom, he explained that the people of Wa are predominantly farmers. Addressing the process of marriage, he emphasized the place of Kola-nut (12 pieces) in the engagement process. While 30 pieces of kolanut is to be presented as a penalty for daring to approach their daughter without firstly informing the family. On how the colonial activities has affected the economic fortune of the people,he said the advent of the Europeans came with both positive and negative impacts.
Musowo Temitope J
Development Communication Expert
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