Advocates Redesign

Tag: Nkoranza South

  • Nkwabeng community expands healthcare access

    Nkwabeng, a community near Nkoranza in the Bono East region, is taking bold steps to improve healthcare delivery by expanding its local Out-Patient Department (OPD), a project driven by the community’s vision for accessible, quality health services.

    Through Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), community members collectively identified the need to expand the OPD section of their health center to ease congestion and improve health outcomes.

    The expansion work began in November 2024 and has since reached the lentil level, with roofing works set to begin soon.

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-governmental organization, is supporting this project with a Gh.c 120,000.00 microgrant. 

    The grant has empowered the community to lead and manage the project, ensuring that the intervention reflects local priorities and promotes long-term sustainability. 

    Mr. Herthson Kumah, FCAP Chairman for Nkwabeng, expressed his enthusiasm for the project.

    “We are very excited about this initiative. I am especially glad that ACA, through the Municipal Assembly of Nkoranza South, chose our community as a beneficiary of the Oman yie die project. This OPD extension will go a long way to improve healthcare access for everyone in Nkwabeng and nearby communities.”

    Mr. Osei Nimako, Program Manager, also shared his thoughts about the project’s impact when completed and praised ACA’s model of community empowerment.

    “I am very hopeful this project will serve the community well. I commend ACA for its consistent efforts in promoting community-driven development and facilitating spaces where communities like Nkwabeng can lead their development initiatives.”

    Once completed, the expanded OPD is expected to significantly reduce waiting time, improve service delivery, and create a healthier environment for both patients and healthcare workers. 

    This project highlights the power of community-led development and the importance of supporting local voices and leadership in driving lasting change.

    Nkwabeng’s progress stands as a strong testament to what is possible when communities are equipped with the requisite knowledge to lead their development initiatives.

  • Government asked to adopt FCAP for accelerated development

    Government has been asked to adopt the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) as the most effective tool in planning and executing development projects in the various district, municipal and metropolitan areas in the country.

    The call was made by Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) after they had undergone a week-long training at Nkoranza in the Bono East region as part of preparations towards the implementation of FCAP in parts of the Nkoranza South municipality and the Atiwa West district of the Eastern region.

    Also called “Oman yie die”, FCAP aims at strengthening local participation in the implementation of the medium-term development plans of beneficiary districts in Ghana through the active involvement of the community members and is currently being implemented in Fanteakwa South, Abuakwa South, Atiwa West and Nkoranza South by Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organization which supports West African communities facing threats to their human rights at the hands of multinational corporations.

    FCAP is a community-driven tool that keeps decision-making and community development in the hands of the local community members. It is a tool widely used by Spark Micro-grant, ACA’s partner NGO, in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo to stimulate and accelerate community development initiatives.

    The main goal of this initiative is to have it replicated in all districts in the country in the long-term.

    The Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) play a lead role in the implementation of FCAP and are responsible for mobilizing their communities and monitoring projects being implemented.

    Cost-effective

    In an interview, the Community-Based Facilitator (CBF) for Akuma near Nkoranza, John Tuffuor, called on the government to collaborate with ACA to replicate FCAP in the rest of the country.

    “I noticed that community-driven projects undertaken through FCAP is cost-effective as compared to similar projects executed by the government so I will recommend to the government to critically study this concept and replicate it in the various districts”, he said.

    He added: “I think government can collaborate with ACA to make this happen. This concept of community development carries the entire community along, with community members assisting with communal labour so it’s helpful.”

    Community ownership

    Another participant, Gifty Acheampong, the Assistant Planning Officer of the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly, noted that FCAP ensures that communities own the project and thus provide all the needed support required for its implementation.

    “This training has taught me that we can implement projects by paying less when we involve the community members because when they are being involved, they own the project and can support us in so many ways that we cannot even quantify in monetary terms to undertake the project as we want it to look like”, she said.

    “I have come to the realization that if the local government authority would allow communities to have a say in project identification and implementation, it would go a long way to galvanize more support and enthusiasm in the process. This will also ensure that the community members will embrace the project and support its execution whole-heartedly”, Felicity Acquah, the CBF for Akwabuoso in the Atiwa West district of the Eastern region also said.

    The participants were drawn from Asuano, Barnofour, Abountem, Akuma, Brahoho, Nkwabeng, Akumsa Domase, Bonso and Bredi, all in Nkoranza South of the Bono East region as well as Akwabuoso and Ekorso Akwadum in the Atiwa West district of the Eastern region.