My People Are Suffering

When I do hear of NGO's and Philanthropic organisations everywhere in Ghana, I have always wished that they could touch down to earth with the realities in Nandom in the Lawra District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Our women are hardworking and dedicated, but they lack financial assistance to make ends meet.
Women from surrounding villages carry loads of fire wood everyday and walk several miles to the Nandom Township to be sold to 'Pito' brewers (a local beer) enjoyed by the "Dagara Indigenes" who are located in the north-western part of Ghana, in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
The people are involved in peasant farming and the rains are not favourable enough for any serious farming activity. The males are always found drifting to the south in search of greener pastures, but I tell you the semi-literates find themselves in mines in Tarkwa, Prestea, Obuasi and the farming communities in the southern portions of Ghana.
Literally those who have had the opportunity to go to school are always excellent in their various disciplines, thanks to the presence of the early Missionaries who brought about civilisation to the area. Through the Missionaries, the St. Theresa's Minor Basilica (The Largest Cathedral in Ghana and the second largest in West Africa and Africa after the one in La Cote D'Ivoire) and built with "STONES" since 1933, brought about education, health and every other activity that has sustained the people up till now.
The Late Cardinal Peter Porekuu Dery was one of the first to be baptized, and first priest to be ordained. The current Bishops in the three northern regions (who happen to hail from the area) are all products of the Mission Schools in Nandom.
People from far and near have benefited from the schools and we are yet to see the major impacts of government projects. Even though government came into take over the payments of the teachers and workers of the only District Hospital not found in a district capital, the provision of electricity supply in 1997, and potable water supply, Nandom has been what it is through the people themselves.
I therefore want to believe that if the suffering women who are forced to carry fire wood on their heads are adequately resourced, they can vigorously support their families and see to the education of their children through to the highest level.
There are several economic activities apart from pito brewing, carting of firewood, preparation of cakes - using beans to shea butter extraction, buying and selling of farm produce, weaving of local clothes, sewing and several other economic ventures which I believe NGO's can help resource them to effectively and efficiently work to be self empowered and prosperous.
I have always wished that I could have this opportunity to highlight the good, the bad and the ugly in that part of the country to my country men and women, and the world at large. This is an opportune time for me to share with you genuinely, what I come across everyday as I encounter my people and the pain and agony I go through seeing them in such a situation.
I happened to raise an amount of two thousand Ghana cedis just in support of some women groups in April this year and the kind of rush they came in their numbers was surprising. I have always had that idea at the back of my mind that they need support, but unfortunately, the said amount wasn't mine and had to be given back to the fellow who gave it to me. Now they are pestering me here and there to re-disburse the money to them. That is what they need, I got to realise, with the number of calls I received. Is someone listening? Please send this link to an institution that is capable of helping my women in Nandom.