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

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 unloaded/stored securely in   GREL's 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 Bailey MP for York who gave needed support.
Robert Greirson Deputy Principal, York College, who has maintained interest and support throughout.
Mr KojoKum Lawyer, who under much sufference from myself constantly causing him hassle, dilligently assisted in bringing all of the the loose ends to a final conclusion.
Felicity Acolatse and his assistant John Forson ,who did some amazing work, with great efficiency within the port.
Theirry Cauchy GREL manager, well what can I say about this man? we all owe such a debt of gratitude to him, without him none of this I think would have been possible. GREL itself for showing its commitment to the social welfare of the people of the Ahanta district and allowing Thierry the use of its infrastructure to facilitate the containers progress and distribution.
Finally my friends and family who have propped me up when I have stumbled under this burden of responsability,in particular my mother who has had to put up with all my moaning and groaning.


So now begins the next phase, I will be travelling to Ghana on 3rd August  and am looking forward to organising the distribution of the items and making sure they get to the people for whom they were intended. Hopefully on my return I will be posting some photos and a report on how things went. So now is a time for celebration and joy, and once again a big thanksto all of you that helped in this project. I would like to give you an old Irish Blessing:

" May the road rise up to meet you,
  The wind be always at your back,
  The sun shine warm upon your face,
  The rain fall softly on your fields, and
  untill we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand."

Philip.
 

• The container of charity goods is still in the Port of Takoradi. It has accrued rental charges of approx £4000 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 dare say that Stijn will do some consultation work with the local people, as did his wife Yvette last year

• Neil (another ex VSO volunteer) and is wife Dawn went out in March and although were only in country for a short time they checked out the projects there and presented a favourable report on their return.

• St Dunstans school in Surrey are now linking up with our school in Abura and writing penpal letters to the kids there. Also they provided yet another generous donation to the school fund, maybe enough to provide some latrine facilities there. So thanks once again for your support St Dunstans.

• Liam Harvey and friend are to go out in January 2009 for 3 months to work on various projects, he then intends to travel accross Africa to Zanzibar where he spent his early years growing up.

• 2 more volunteers Charlotte and Louise intend going out in March 2009

• Finally, I am still recieving reports on various bogus volunteer organisations (  I will not name the countries involved ) however it is enough to say, beware and check them out first. Many will quote cheap unrealistic fees, that will leave many volunteers stranded in Ghana. As a registered VSO global educator I take exeption to the amount of these bogus enterprises that have sprung up purely to make money and not deliver what they promise, which is to help those who want to help others.
• Philip 14/6/08

• 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 going out at the end of the month for 2 weeks, ENJOY IT.