Ghana

Basic Information

• Assisting: 2,585 girls at the primary and JSS levels
• Target areas of assistance: Eastern Region (East Akim and New Juaben districts), Upper East Region (Bongo, Bawku, and Garu-Tempane districts), and the Northern region (West Mamprusi, East Gonja, Gushiegu, Karaga, Nanumba North, Nanumba South, Saboba/Chereponi, Savelugu/Nanton, Tamale Rural, Tolon/Kumbungu, Yendi and Zabzugu/Tatale districts)
• Partners: The ARK Foundation (Eastern Region), ISODEC (Upper East region) and School for Life (Northern region)
• School year calendar: September - August (Primary and Junior Secondary School)

Program Overview

Selection Process

Scholars are selected through a transparent process which increases accountability and inclusiveness. The girls are chosen by local selection committees made up of school heads, District Education Officers, District Girl Child Officers from the Ministry of Education, religious leaders, District Assembly members and/or other community opinion leaders. School heads and parents/guardians of girls who wish to apply for the scholarships fill out application forms which are sent to the selection committees. Girls and their parents/guardians are then called in for interviews after which selection is completed.

The scholarships are comprised of text books, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, uniforms, shoes, bags, bicycles and food (sacks of rice, millet, etc usually given out during the lean season). The bicycles and food are given only in the Northern and Upper East regions as determined by local needs. This year, one partner in the Northern region also gave out insecticide treated mosquito nets as part of the scholarship package.

Mentors

There are over 50 mentors in the program in Ghana. Mentors are volunteers who are teachers, health workers, clergy, district education officers, and girl-child officers. The mentors monitor the girls' academic work and help to organize and supervise study groups for the girls. Additional activities such as HIV awareness and health discussions have been conducted. The mentoring programs in Ghana are designed to build the scholars' self-esteem improve their academic performance and provide them with essential life skills.

Program Update

In Year 1, the AGSP in Ghana provided scholarships to 1,332 girls in two regions of the country with assistance from an in-country consultant, Ekem Amonoo-Lartson. The AGSP activities in Year 1 were implemented as planned.

Year 2 activities began in September 2005. Disbursement of the scholarships took place and the mentoring and community activities were launched with a high level of enthusiasm and participation on the part of the girls and the communities. In Year 2, the target number of scholarships to be distributed country wide was 2,100. By working with distributors, our partners were able to exceed the targets and support 2,322 girls.

In Year 3, again our NGO partners were able to exceed the targeted numbers. The projected number of scholars was 2,470 for the school year, while 2,585 girls were AGSP scholarship recipients.