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By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, March 28, RNG – Ms. Stephanie Sullivan,
US Ambbadador to Ghana sworn in on Thursday at 35 Peace Corps
Volunteers in Accra.
The new volunteers, who would serve to
two years, join nearly 5,000 Americans who served as Peace Corps
Volunteers in Ghana over the past 58 years.
Of the 35, 15 would be stationed in
the agricultural sector of the economy, while the rest would be deployed in
the health sector across the country.
Peace Corps came to Ghana in 1961 when
President Kwame Nkrumah launched his accelerated development plan in
Education.
The goal of US President John F. Kennedy of
establishing the Peace Corps was to build the capacity of the host countries and to
promote international peace and friendship through the exchange of culture.
In Ghana, over the decades, the Peace Corps
extended its activities to include the environment, health, business development,
water and sanitation.
Ms. Sullivan in her address said even though
58 years of Peace Corps activities in Ghana, this relationship
continues to flourish and remains highly valued by both countries.
"The work of volunteers has changed over the years
in response to changing development issues. Regardless of the nature of the
challenges, volunteers work very effectively at the local level –
in communities across Ghana, and with organizations that work daily
basis for improving the lives of the people of Ghana, "she said.
"Our ideas and ideals – expressed through
people working in partnership – have an extraordinary impact. I see it
every day in our development programs in Ghana, where we change and save
lives through our agriculture, education, governance, health, water and
sanitation and safety programs.
She said that this could also be seen in their
exchange programs such as the African Young Leaders Initiative; adding that
flagship program, the Mandela Washington Scholarship, young leaders
from Africa are honing their skills at American colleges and universities and coming back
on the continent to develop solutions – in Africa, for Africa, by Africans.
"We follow the principle of helping people
acquire the ability to help themselves. Peace Corps is on the front line of this
job."
The ambbadador noted that they do it because
a stable, prosperous and democratic Ghana was good for Ghanaians and for the
Americans.
Ms. Sullivan appealed to the Peace Corps
Volunteers to serve as grbadroots ambbadadors.
"Working diligently in your communities, you
will touch lives in unimaginable ways. Through your actions and attitudes, your
service and your kindness to others, you will show that Americans are deeply attached
Ghanaians and commit to working side by side in the long term, "she said.
I said.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health
said the friendly society between Ghana and the United States would continue to grow
stronger and flourish.
He said that there were a few thousand of
Ghanaians, whose lives had been positively affected as a result of
activities of Peace Corps volunteers.
"To the volunteers, I congratulate you not only for
your spirit of volunteering, but also to agree to serve in the most rural areas
and under-served communities, where even some Ghanaians will refuse to surrender ",
Said the minister.
"Do not forget that you are role models, change
agents and, above all, ambbadadors of the United States. "
Mr. Gordon Brown, Country Director, Peace Corps
Ghana said that this group of volunteers consisted of the best that the United States had to offer.
Some of the Peace Corps volunteers in a
An interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) revealed their joy of receiving
the opportunity to serve in Ghana.
A couple, Ms. Emily Crane and Mr. Wes
Knowles, who was badigned to Bolgatanga, told the GNA that they would be
using their skills, knowledge and experience to help farmers improve their productivity.
productivities.
Mrs. Margaret Holladay, who was posted
in Twifo Praso in the central region said that she would work in the fields of
maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV / AIDS and water
sanitation.
GNA
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