The Sankana community in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region is hosting a four-member team from the US under the banner of an NGO known as Compass 21.
The team will train selected residents of the Sankana in managing business finances and hydroponics, which is a method of cultivating plants without soil, in a water-based nutrient rich solution.
The community training support by the team forms part of a follow up on some issues raised in a doctoral dissertation in the US by a Catholic Priest and native of Sankana, Rev Fr. Camillo Bonsuuri.
Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the study conducted between 2010 and 2011 which dwelt on “Education Policy on Extra Classes: Implications for Secondary Education in Northern Ghana” necessitated the formation of Compass 21 as an NGO to deal with development challenges in deprived communities.
Among those who welcomed the US delegation were the Paramount Chief of Sankana, Naa Pagraminge Saakoe Mornah, the Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah and the Human Resource Manager of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Eric Dakurah Faanuba.
The Team Leader of Compass 21 from US, Kianna Estenson who had worked on a similar program in Kenya and Uganda thanked the people of Sankana for the “beautiful manner” they were received and shed light on their mission.
She said the training in business and hydroponics is to help sharpen the skills of the beneficiaries in Sankana for them to earn income in a sustainable manner. Alex Hohe is in charge of business training whilst Ms. Morgan Coulson also known as CJ is responsible for teaching hydroponics. Ms. Clara Estenson is a volunteer on the team.
The founder and CEO of Compass 21, Rev Fr. Camillo Bonsuuri who doubles as the Headmaster of Holy Spirit Senior High School in Chamba in the Nanumba North District announced that through the Compass 21 initiative, other communities in the Nadowli-Kaleo District will benefit, saying the team from US is an enthusiastic ally.
Chairman of The People’s National Convention, (PNC), Bernard Mornah who spoke on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Sankana paid tribute to Rev. Fr. Camillo Bonsuuri for connecting Sankana to the rest of the world. Mr. Mornah said: “We are happy that through the collaboration of compass 21 that our son, Rev Fr. Bonsuuri is leading you to come here to bring innovation.”
“The Sankana Naa is excited that you are coming to introduce new methods of agriculture that is not necessarily dependent on our soil and also to learn how the indigenes of Sankana in the face clear of poverty had been able to keep themselves together, body and soul all this while, so that when the story is being narrated of what poverty is, it is not just the case of telling people that it is when people live on two Dollars per day”.
Mr. Mornah continued that “In fact, when you go round Sankana, you will realize that two Dollars a month, is not even available in Sankana, because poverty is real and your coming will help us to expose some of the fallacies of economic theory”. The Chairman of PNC entreated those who will benefit from the training to share the knowledge with others in order for it to have a multiplier effect in other localities.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
