Introduction to my work in Ghana

We’ve all heard stories and seen pictures of Africa that involve starving children, AIDS, conflicts, corruption, desperation. These messages may be factual but they are far from describing the whole picture. For every tale of desperation and heartache, there are a hundred of hopes and successes that are leading Africa towards a bright and positive future. What motivates me to work in development is knowing that change is possible.

My role as overseas staff with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) will be supporting the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Most people in northern Ghana make their living as small-scale farmers. MoFA is the main government body which exists to serve the needs of these farmers. They manage to reach the small-scale farmers through their team of Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) who are scattered around the country.

My focus with MoFA is to develop sustainable systems that can motivate AEAs to innovate and encourage them to use their ingenuity to solve the many challenges of the small-scale farmers of northern Ghana. One such system already being examined by EWB overseas staff is the possibility of influencing the curriculum at agricultural schools where AEAs get their training.

I will be employing problem solving, insight and networking skills to further the extent and effectiveness of MoFA at spreading on-going and newly-developed solutions to the challenges AEAs face in reducing rural poverty.

I firmly believe that poverty is an absence of opportunity and we can always choose to make a difference. My goal is to leave a strategy and lasting mindset within the extension services of MoFA that inspires creative and progressive problem solvers to work their buns off for the rural Ghanaian farmer.