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The cost of food and other basic supplies in Ghana are steeply rising. Families in poverty are at increasing risk of severe food insecurity, meaning they completely lack access to food for a day or longer. For Ghanaian children, malnutrition puts their very lives at risk.
The global food crisis is reversing progress against extreme poverty in Ghana and around the world, and Compassion’s local church partners are responding with both short and long-term solutions to combat malnutrition and bring hope.
Watch the video below and see an update from our church partners in Ghana.
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Thank you for praying for the children, families and local church partners we serve in Ghana.
When Comfort fell pregnant at 17, she not only faced fear and confusion at the prospect of being a parent, but her family disowned her. “My father had plans for me to further my education, but he was disappointed in me for getting pregnant. He washed his hands of me and did not care what became of me,” says Comfort. Read more open_in_new
Please note: Ghana is one of nine Compassion partner countries that are severely affected by the current global food crisis. Our local church partners are responding with both short-term relief and long-term solutions to fight hunger.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Ghana typically attend program activities at their local child development centre on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Ghana.
9:00am - A time of prayer and devotion and breakfast. A typical breakfast usually consists of maize porridge, milk, sugar and bread.
9:30am - Spiritual lessons, when children sing songs and learn Bible stories.
10:30am - Break time, when children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.
11:00am - Social-emotional lessons ranging from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem and godly character. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
12:00pm - Lunch and social time. A typical lunch generally consists of rice with sauce and either chicken, fish or meat, with seasonal fruit. Food is usually provided as children don’t always have access to nutritionally balanced meals at home. Parents are educated to provide nutritious food for their children, and highly malnourished children are given extra support, including a package of nutritious food such as eggs, milk, beans, rice and oil, once a month.
1:00pm - Health lessons, in which children learn practical health and hygiene tips including how to prevent malaria and HIV.
2:00pm - Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Older sponsored children also take part in skills training workshops such as bead and batik making, soap preparation and basket weaving. Parents and caregivers are offered health education classes as well as quarterly training on children’s rights, parenting, and business and financial management.
of the rural population live in multidimensional poverty
of people lack access to basic sanitation
mothers die from pregnancy related causes per 100,000 births
Along the Gulf of Guinea lies the vibrant West African country of Ghana. The local population are relaxed and hospitable and they deeply respect family values and honouring elders. There are over 50 different ethnic groups across the country, each with its own distinct handwoven fabric.
Poverty remains widespread and is particularly concentrated in rural regions of northern Ghana where over half the population live in multidimensional poverty. Trafficking and forced labour are serious threats for Ghanaian children in poverty, alongside their vastly inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan nation to throw off colonial rule and the first to halve its extreme poverty rate. It continues to be a leader in West Africa as more children pursue their education and living conditions improve. More people are moving to live in urban areas; more children have the opportunity to stay in school longer; the economy is diversifying away from subsistence agriculture (although agriculture remains an important source of employment and income) and it continues to grow.
But economic conditions have worsened in the past five years and these gains are under threat, particularly due to the global food crisis. A gap is widening between the richest and poorest. Those left in rural areas bear the brunt of low incomes but the people crowding into expanding cities face the problems of rapid urbanisation: greater congestion, dangerous pollution, lack of access to safe drinking water and other basic necessities.
Though the harsh realities of life in poverty threaten to rob many children of hope, the incredible stories from our over 400 Ghanaian church partners are a testimony to God's goodness in all circumstances.
During COVID-19 school closures, 16-year-old Evans used his skills to create an online learning platform to help his peers understand maths and science concepts. Mercy leaned into her church community and obtained a degree in computer science despite tragically losing her father during her high school years. Edwin, a centre director, is teaching local families how to make ‘tippy taps’, a simple and effective system to bring the life-saving gift of running water to children’s homes.
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Born with a debilitating physical deformity, Adzo was hidden away by her family from the time she was born and never had the chance for a real childhood. But thanks to Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program, Adzo has received medical care and is enjoying the chance to go to school... Read more
It can be disappointing if your sponsored child hasn’t responded to your questions or even mentioned the letter you sent them. Here’s why this could be happening, plus handy tips to prevent it. .. Read more
Stories about dangerous animals always seem to grab the world’s attention. Africa, especially, is known for human-wildlife conflicts and unfortunately, sometimes children’s lives are lost. But there is one creature that takes more young lives every year than any other animal on the planet. .. Read more