During an October 31 ceremony hosted at the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Robert P. Jackson honored nine Ghanaian communities selected to receive grants to promote education, agriculture and economic growth at the local level. The grants, totaling $75,000, are part of the Ambassador’s Small Grants Program. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Jackson praised the communities for developing sustainable, high-impact, community-supported projects.

“As grantees, you are joining a distinct group of communities and organizations throughout Ghana,” he noted. “You have demonstrated that you can unite your political, civil society, religious and business leaders to provide for the needs of your community — with a little extra assistance from the U.S. government. But in reality, the real efforts are yours, and we are honored to be your partner.”

Projects and communities/organizations selected for funding include:

• The Nerebehi Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) Training Center in the Ashanti Region: construction of an electrical workshop
• The Misthy Cee Development Center in the Ashanti region: completion of a school dining hall
• The Ampabame Community in the Ashanti region: completion of a primary school and a junior high school
• Keba Africa: the purchase of new furniture and learning materials for the Castle Road Special School in Accra
• The Zimnuopare community in the Upper West Region: completion of a classroom block
• The Ebongapar Women’s Group in the Upper West Region: reconstruction of a shea processing facility
• Three organizations received grants to buy new gari processing equipment and stoves:
  • The Nyamebekyere Women’s Gari Processing Association in the Brong Ahafo Region
  • Premier Agribusiness Association in the Eastern Region
  • Miyingor Farmers Group in the Volta Region

The Ambassador’s Small Grants and Special Self-Help Program has provided support to grassroots development efforts since 1964. Over the last three decades, the U.S. Embassy in Accra has distributed more than $2.3 million in such grants to support community development projects. Communities interested in learning about the Small Grants Program should visit the U.S. Embassy Ghana website for more information: https://Gh.USEmbassy.gov/education-culture/ambassadors-special-self-help-program/.