http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk en-gb friendsofghana.org.uk 2012-4-15T00:00:00Z friendsofghana.org.uk http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#116489 APRIL12 UPDATEA quick update while I have a good connection here. I returned back to Ghana in January and was greeted by beautiful weather. francis had worked hard on the centre building a long bamboo fence around the farm painting the house outside and the floors which unfortunatly turned out to be a disaster. we did not allow for the fact that the paint would not dry so its like walking on jam. Anyway we will resolve that issue.The registration of our new NGO is still proceeding however we had to build an office as requested by Social Services in the compound that has taken some time but is near completion.Dealing with any authority here takes time and cannot be rushed. However many future plans now rely on the final registration. I have been assured by the Director of social Services that we will get our registration very soon.Meanwhile on the project front we have now financed the school in Abura to get the photocopier repaired and we are about to distribute some technical trainin... 2012-4-15 13:32:35 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#110555 Just a quick update and to post a photo of Weies Kittson a lady from Holland who yesterday donated some items of baby clothing medicines etc to the clinic in Butre she also visited the clinic last year for the same purpose.Francis was on hand as always to help. 2012-1-17 15:02:30 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#110554 2012-1-17 14:59:42 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#110549 SPEACH To all our loyal helpers volunteers past present and future UK and Ghanaian staff and those of you who just want to nose around our site. Firstly. a very Happy and prosperous New Year to you all may your god grant you all you desire and a little bit more. Secondly my apologies for not keeping up this blog as much as I would like to have done.OK thats the speach finished now for all the news and updatesAfter taking early retirement from York College in August I had prepared to leave for Ghana almost straight away however after some routine medical checks I was told I had diabetes and had to remain in UK to establish some medication structure.It came as a bit of a shock considering I always thought I lived a fairly healthy lifestyle.But Hey look now nearly 6 months on and my blood sugar levels are at normal. Latest research says stress can be a major factor in diabetes. But thats not to say I have not been stressed in the last 6 monthsI have but in a different way. Finally I got ... 2012-1-17 13:08:42 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#98335 Well it has been some time now since I posted anything mainly because I have been so busy as usual. This year is special for FOG and me personally. I am taking early retirement from York College at the end of this month and after a busy family schedule in August I hope to be over in Ghana in September. I am looking forward to managing FOG from Ghana however I will be leaving the UK end of things in the hands of our good friends Glyn and Eunice who helped out over in Ghana last year and who still work at York College.The sad news of the unexpected death of Nana Butre recently has left us all devastated. I unfortunalty could not attend the funeral and that caused me great pain as he was such a good friend to me. However I should be in Butre when the new Chief is installed and hope I can somehow create a similar relationship with him.Recruitment for volunteers has been slow this year we have experienced some cancellations owing to the increase in University fees the uncertainty of Further... 2011-7-14 08:59:40 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#85742 Good News We are now Taking enquireys for volunteer placements for this year. It has taken some time to get things reorganised in Butre but it has been worth suspending operations there for a while just to improve the volunteer experience and make it more rewarding than before.We have uploaded some photos in the galleries of kids Xmas party at Butre that Auntie Ellie donated for I understand that some photos are coming of the Kids Xmas party in Abura that FOG helped with we will upload those as soon as possible.Finally some photos of some medical people that Francis encouraged to donate to the Butre clinic.News to date in Butre the bridge has collapsed for the third time and it beats me why they spend so much money and do not seek professional help. I gave advice when I was there in October but this was not used. Highlighting some of the issues of dealing with the communities there basically there are too many chiefs and not enough IndiansFrancis has been assisting a UK NGO to help wi... 2011-1-30 12:37:43 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#83607 Happy New Year Afehia pa to all who have visited the site and especially all those that have contributed to the projects in some way volunteers fundraisers and helpers. What we managed to achieve in 2010Rebuiltrestored part of kids nursery in Butre completed by volunteers of E4APaid for 2 street lights in Butre Distributed clothes to the needy of ButreVolunteers assisted in schools and clinic in Butre painting buildingsteaching etcFrancis persuaded some Doctors to provide medicines for Butre clinicCompleted collection of rainwater and drainage for the centreSet up fishing boat nets etc to provide jobs and raise funds for FOGRepaired mini bus and pick up for volunteers and to raise fundsLiased with local business to consolidate Turtle projectProvided funds for kids party in Butre and AburaIn AugustOctober started to completly reorganise volunteer projects by appointing Francis QuaysonGlyn and Eunice Venables volunteered to help with administrationWhat we hope to achieve in 2011To finish... 2011-1-1 10:22:09 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#80778 Now completed uploading photos of Russell and E4A crew ChloeSophie and Becky to Friends and Volunteer gallery 2010-11-20 13:30:37 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#80122 This is just a quick thank you to Glyn and Eunice my friends from York college who came with me in August 2010 and who helped me so much and whos work for FOG is now reeping benifits. They helped streamline accounts documentation and daily work sheets identified some deficencies in staff reporting and helped me investigate some of the issues raised by some volunteers. see friends gallery see also the tale of the baby when we went for refreshments after Mums mass. Eunice literally got left holding the baby while the mother disappeared and could not be found for an hour. see images of ghana 2010-11-12 10:58:03 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#80116 Just updateds all the recent volunteer feedback including the latest being Beckys. You will see from the last 2 reports that issues were raised concerning food and transport. These matters were addressed on my recent visit and from now on these problems should not be an issue.I would like to take the time now to mention the passing of my mother Maureen in july.A brave woman who although fighting her terrible illnessess never let on about the pain she was in. She was a fantastic supporter of the FOG project and helped raise a good deal of money for the people of Ghana. In fact her final wish was that any donations at her funeral should be for FOG and I used this money to install the 2 new street lights in Butre. While I was there in August they held 2 masses for Mum one in Abura and one in Butre. Mum was much loved by the people of Butre and the Chief of Abura had adopted her as his mother. She will be sadly missed by so many people.God rest her soul. 2010-11-12 10:03:12 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#79602 WOW it has been sometime now since this blog was updated since the last time I have been over to Ghana twice. I was there JulyAugust and just recently this October. Since Beckys visit in MayJune I felt the need to look into some issues see Chloes feedback that had been raised. We have for the moment suspended placing volunteers in Ghana until 2011.It is difficult to put down here all that I had looked into. However I took the issues seriously and with a lot of personal expense to myself have endeavored to put things right. The issues with Transport have now been resolved with FOGs Pick up and Mini bus back in service. I have now appointed a new project manager Francis Quayson to oversee all of the volunteer projects. I personally will be going to stay in Ghana in 2011 to manage the whole provision. Overall the feedback we have had from volunteers has been very good but there is always room for improvement and that is what I am and will always be committed to. I know that research into... 2010-11-6 11:34:20 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#65894 We wish Becky a safe journey on Monday Becky is going out to work in Butre for 2 months she will meet up with Chloe and Sophie who are still over there. Russell and the E4A team arrive back safely in UK last week. see Russells report They had the unfortunate experience of arriving at Accra airport to find that the airline they were booked to fly with had ceased operations. Luckily they managed to get flights home with Afriqiyah airlines who they highly recommend. They worked very hard on the nursery and completed on deadline. We hope to be receiving Russells report and maybe some photos soonWe have been in communications with a couple of American University students Julie and Brendanwho are doing some good work in Butre among other things they have completed some interesting surveys of the residents of the vllage. Their blog site is httpwearebutre.blogspot.com thats all for now folks. 2010-5-22 10:32:16 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#65893 2010-5-22 10:23:51 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#64248 The E4A boys left Butre last Sunday to spend 3 weeks travelling around Ghana. They managed to finish the Nursery building all that is left is the painting. Chloe and Sophie are leaving for Ghana tomorrow and among other things have offered to have a crack at the painting of the Nursery. So we wish them a safe journey and Akkwaba welcome to Ghana.Philip 2010-4-30 19:32:02 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#63260 Katie who went out with FOG last summer has sent in her report is now on the volunteer reports page see link. httpwww.friendsofghana.org.ukpage14.htmKatie has been madly busy at University her last year and has found it difficult to send in her report but we thank her for her efforts and realise it is not easy especially when you are busy with other things to do. Good job you kept a diary Katie 2010-4-18 16:24:34 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#63244 2010-4-18 12:12:01 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#62332 Russell of the E4A group has just sent photos taken over the last 3 weeks through the centres new internet connection. So I am attaching some here and the rest as they come in will go in the gallery Construction photos. Russell informs me that the work is going well and the group are all in good spirits they love the location also they met a backpacker in Accra who travelled to Butre with them and donated 2 weeks of his labour to the project. it looks like the project will cost more than anticipated whenever is it any different so as well as the money that comes out of volunteers fees it looks like FOG will have to donate the balance from its rapidly diminishing funds so the work can continue and be completed quickly. There is some suggestion from Nana Butre the Chief that this new part will be used as an orphanage.More news to come.Week1 March2010 you can see from this picture where the walls had collapsed due to rainwater undermining the foundations.Week 3 and new walls are going ... 2010-4-6 16:04:13 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#61600 Well the Engineering4Africa team arrived safely I have spoken with Russell and the team are now settled in to the centre. they have started the work on the nursery school and are forging ahead after only 1 week. Sophie has now come on board and will be travelling out with Chloe in May to work with the children of Butre maybe the new classroom will be ready by then. Becky will be following up going out end of May untill July.I meanwhile am trying to write a small booklet for the Butre community to sell to visitors and I am not finding it as easy as I thought due mainly to the lack of spare time I have these days.Anyone wanting to know the meaning of the new sign on the front page This is an Adinkra sign for Sankofa go back and take or in the Ashanti proverb It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten It is often represented as a long necked bird leaning back with an egg in its beak. I attach this Ghanaian poem which somes it all up.That bird is wise. Look. Its beak ba... 2010-3-28 13:06:19 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#59966 Latest Stop Press Russell Shawn Owen Martin and Kieran are all leaving for Butre Ghana next Sunday for 6 weeks. They will be working on the Nursery school restoration project in the village.We thank them for their dedication and enthusiasm and wish them a safe and pleasant journey.Fanta Fantas Folly Butre Beach has recently been on national television speaking about the Turtle conservation project vote Fanta for presidentInternet Progress at last it looks like we have some sort of internet connection at the centre by way of Vodafones mobile network. 2010-3-7 13:15:33 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#58395 Just a quick update check out the YouTube video clip on Projects page. This is the first of many baby turtles being released in Butre since we started the protection project this year. My many thanks go to French Philip and Fanta who took up the challenge and have stuck with what is a difficult project for so many reasons. Also the efforts being made by The Hideout at Butre. Well done 2010-2-14 15:31:57 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#55228 Well here we go for another year 2010. I realise I have not updated this blog for a while been very very busy at work York College and running FOG and all the other stuff over in Ghana. So whats happened since last time well Emma returned after what seems a successful working vacation in Butre and has written an outstanding article on her visit there see volunteers reports and sent me a few pictures in friends and volunteers gallery. She managed to do a good job for us in presenting the generator to the upper school in Butre hopefully they can run some of the computers FOG presented to them awhile back. Good to see also that the painting in the nursery is still going on as it hasnt had a lick of paint for years. Still having enquiries about volunteering some expressing problems they have had with the larger organisations like I have said in the past a lot of these are like agencies they do not have direct contact in the field I should know as FOG has been approached by a number of t... 2009-12-31 14:14:26 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#50853 Latest news on FOG at the minute is we have had a good many enquiries about voluntereering recently Emma who has had a bad experience with one of the bigger organisations will be going out to work with us on some of the Butre community projects in November. Also we are linking with an organisation of engineering volunteers based in Wales they have just set up a website www.engineering4africa.org please take a look. they are interested in working on the bridge and collapsed nursery project in Butre. Other news Turtle Project Kirby Doak is in Butre at the time of writing this and has had meetings with Tess the Hideout Fanta Philip Fantas Folly and the community. Turtles Greenare being sighted up and down the beach. We are hoping now that Kirby and the organisation he is working with www.ncrcghana.org will designate Butre as an official conservation area. There is still much work to be done in this area especially working with the local community. Well thats all folks for now. I wou... 2009-10-18 11:20:49 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#49077 Greetings having not long returned from Ghana I have managed to grab some free time and give a brief update on my visit Volunteers Neil and Katie were there for three weeks and managed to accomplish some of their tasks they mainly occupied there time with at Butreweeding the clinic and fort painting part of the nursery holding a kids party selecting and handing out clothes meeting the Chief and attending various meetings. At Abura they met the Chief painted the latrines held a kids party at Emmanuel school and visited the JHS school where they had a meeting with Ernistina headmistresss and were shown the computer room. Projects I had a meeting with Kirby Doak an Australian gent who has been commissioned by the NCRC to try to organise a Turtle conservation project for the Western Region of Ghana as a result of which I held a meeting in Butre with the fishermen and local business people. Met up with a young woman Liz Gentilcore who represents an NGO in UK httpwww.lincsuk.org. they... 2009-9-20 10:45:32 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#45084 I will be leaving for Ghana tomorrow returning 3rd September. Charlotte will be answering any emails to the site while I am away. Neil and Katie will follow me out for 3 weeks and hope to involve themselves in the projects.For myself I will probably be my usual busy self having meetings visiting projects working on the centre and lots lots more. However I am determined to get at least one days fishing in while I am there I think the Elephants may have to wait. So I look forward to updating the site when I return.Watch this space. Nyame Adum. Philip 2009-7-17 16:35:40 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#43640 Latest update Have just completed predeparture briefing for 2 new FOG volunteers Neil and his daughter Katie. They have been very generous so far and not only funded the completion of the latrine project and water gutter for Emmanuel school but also sponsership for one of FOGs workers in Ghana. They will be arriving in Ghana towards the end of July and there placement is for 3 weeks. The long awaited Reportdiary from Charlotte is now posted in the VOLUNTEER REPORT page and is a fantastic insight into some of the difficulties and experiences of our volunteers well done to all the volunteers for their reports. I will be leaving for Ghana in a few weeks with a very busy programme ahead of me. As it will be my 60th birthday when I am there I am hoping to get take the time out to go and see the elephants in Mole I probably will not get the time but one can always hope. FOG is growing steadily by the day and is making an impact on what we do. Even if it is only by way of our contact wit... 2009-6-21 11:52:32 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#41500 Just a quick bit of news We have just recieved another generous and much needed donation from St Dunstans school and St Dunstans Parish. It is with these wonderful donations we have managed to continue with our building of Emmanuel School in Ghana. Now we have 6 classrooms and 2 latrines built there are still a number of targets in need of completion for example electricity to the school so they can use the computers that F.O.G. donated last year. Potable water is a must as well as finishing the drainage system around the school. These donations will go a long way to helping with these projects. So I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of the peoplechildren of Abura Ghana to Deputy head Sharon Bakerthe pupils staff and parish of St Dunstans for all your support. I will be visiting Ghana soon to supervise the starting of some of the above projects and will keep you updated as to progress. May God bless you all. check out photos in Friends gallery 2009-5-12 17:28:54 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#40008 Just a quickie to say that Carlotte and Louise have now returned to UK after their placement in Ghana. The reports I have had so far have been positive. They managed to do some teaching in both AburaButre schools and assisted the organisation and building of 2 latrines for Emmanuel School. They are very enthusiastic about returning possibly in February 2010 to get involved in more local projects. Charlotte and Louise will post some stuff on this blog soon telling us about their experiences. Liam and Bradley are still out there Bradley returns to UK this Saturday. They have been very busy with the help of local people they have managed to build steps up to Fort Batenstien. This will certainly make it easier for everyone especially tourists to visit the site. Finally I understand the children of St Dunstans in UK are still interested in what is going on especially with the school and the kids of Emmanuel school. I would just like to thank them for their interest and support over the p... 2009-4-17 12:04:52 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#37025 Page 1 Hi from Ghana Subject Hi from Ghana From Liam Harvey ltliamdharveygoo glemail. comgt Date Fri20 Feb 2009 170332 0000 Update from Ghana Hey guys Hope everything in EnglandAustralia is brilliant. I hear the weather in England has been fun. Im a little pissed that I missed all the snow. Ghana has been fantastic Brad and I are really starting to settle in here. Our flight was long but great fun with a hot and clammy stop over in Nairobi airport on the way. I met a Kenyan man who was stewarding on the plane to Accra Ghana. He told me that Ghana is truly one of the most peaceful and friendly countries on the African continent. From what I have seen it could easilv be true. We arrived at Accra airport and were met by Josh the Ghanaian man who has been looking aft... 2009-2-21 18:59:30 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#36893 Well things are now moving along with Liam and Bradley now at the center in Butre they have been there now for almost 3 weeks. From our phone conversations they are over the moon with their placement and to quote Liam when we have talked to other volunteers from other organisations we feel we have struck gold in comparison. So far they have managed to construct some steps to fort Batenstien working with The Butre Tourist association. They have also been overwhelmed by their welcome from the Chief and local residents. They have met the Headmasters of the schools and hope to be doing some teaching in the local schools. They will also be going to see the Chief of Abura on Saturday and hope to do some work there in the community among which may be to start construction work on some latrines for the school which F.O.G has built in the village. Pre departure meeting was held on 7th February for Charlotte and Louise who will be leaving for Ghana next month. Photos to follow soon. 2009-2-18 18:49:37 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#34906 I was interviewed by the BBC on Saturday evening about our work in Ghana and of all things the recent Ghanaian election why they picked me to discuss that subject I do not know. So it looks like FOG is starting to attract some attention especially in the media and other quarters. We were also invited to Londons Guildhall a while back which was quite an honour however our associate Sharon was taken ill and could not attend. more updates later. p.s. it would be nice if some of the visitors to this site would make some comments on this blog. 2009-1-12 19:39:27 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#34330 Well its New Years Eve and I thought it was time to update the site blog. 2008 has been an extraordinary year for F.O.G. It started with all the anxiety and wasted time concerning the container being kept in the port for 1 year. Some problems at Emmanuel School with some bad managment causing financial difficulties. However the container problem was resolved by our good friend Thierry Cauchy and staff at GREL who by the time I arrived in Ghana in August had managed its release and the contents safely stored in their warehouse in Takoradi. I also need to thank once more Ebeneezer Kojo Kum lawyer Robert Grierson assistant principaland staff of York College Hugh Bayley MP for York and his secretary and finally the shipping company and Ghana Port authorities for their extraordinary help in the final successful outcome of this project. As mentioned in previous blog 2 schools in Abura 1 school in Butre 1 GREL school and 1 VocationalTechnical school in Takoradi each recieved 10 computers co... 2008-12-31 15:55:18 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#29830 Just a quick blog to comment on my return from Ghana. It was hard work nearly 3 weeks spent working in the GREL warehouse lost lots of weight sorting the contents of the container. Then we delivered computers and a number of items to various of schools will post the list and more details on my next blog . There remains some items to be distributed to the needy of the region and this will have to be accomplished on my next visit. At least that way I can be satisfied that all the hard work and generosity by so many people in the UK and Ghana contributed willnot have been in vain. Finally again a big thanks to GREL and their staff who without them we may have lost the container for good. Phil 2008-9-17 17:56:56 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#27488 Well we are now into the month of June and I can report some good news regarding the container. After much frantic effort by various parties the container was finally released from the port earlier this month and is now unloadedstored securely in GRELs warehouse.Although some charges were incurred Friends of Ghana will shoulder this burden the final cost was nowhere near what the final bill would have been. This massive final cost was accrued as result of the container bieng laid up for over one year and included storage and container hire charges.I will not waste time and space explaining the bungling and lack of efficiency on the part of certain individuals in Ghana particularly in the early days.However I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people both in Ghana and the UK for a successful outcome to this project.The Ghana Port Authority Manager who kindly waived the storage charges.The Shipping Company who also waived their charges.Hugh Baile... 2008-7-26 11:11:11 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#25532 The container of charity goods is still in the Port of Takoradi. It has accrued rental charges of approx 1634000 plus. The York College Principal Hugh Baley M.P. for York and Friends of Ghana have all written letters to the Port manager begging him to waive the charges explaining that all the problems are not of our doing and the container project was done in good faith by the people of York to help the Ghanian people. As I write this we have heard nothing from the Ports manager. However with the brilliant assistance of our Lawyer Kojo Kum and Thierry Cauchy manager of GREL rubber estates and his team out in Ghana there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So fingers crossed that when I go to Ghana in August the container will be out and I can organise the distribution of the items and to the people they were intended for. As mentioned above I will be going out to Ghana with my good friend and ex VSO volunteer Dr Stijn Van Teeffelen and his son Boris in August and I ... 2008-6-14 17:05:25 http://www.friendsofghana.org.uk/page5.htm#21066 News so far on the container Just when I thought all the paperwork was complete so I was informed and we thought it was about to be released I was informed by our Lawyer Kojo Kum on Friday that although we had been given exemption on the clearance we did not have exemption for the vast amount of money accrued since July 2007 for storage and handling in the port.I am hoping that the Minister involved will look kindly on us and exempt the charges. Otherwise I do not know what is the fate of all the goods donated and all the hard work that went into this project. Watch This Space.Good News is the roof on the Abura school is now complete thanks to Sarkodie and a small donation from UK.Sharon Deputy Head of St Dunstans is trying to revitalise the penpal scheme between her children in UK and the kids at the Abura school. Also hoping to participate in a Dfid initiative which will allow linking for the 2 schools and maybe staff exchange visits.Two volunteers Neil and his wife Dawn goi... 2008-3-9 10:01:18