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GRID: Ghana Rural Integrated Development
WHO
The Ghana Rural Integrated Development organization is the Canadian counterpart to the Northern Empowerment Association which is based in Ghana, West Africa. The board was assembled and launched in 1983. The founding members made lifetime commitments to develop this partnership and they continue to give of their time, energy, skills and resources to respond to the desperate situations facing Ghana's widowed, orphaned and impoverished, particularly those situated in the remote northern country. Over the years, new members, with a similar vision and from a variety of backgrounds, have joined this group. All have at one time or another visited the projects in either a working or monitoring capacity and returned to Canada even more committed to support NEA in their efforts to reduce poverty.
WHERE
GRID, is based out of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia where four of the board members live. To keep overhead costs to a minimum, the office is located in the Board Chairman’s residence. Other members live in Ontario and one member is from the United States. The Evangelical Community Church in Bloomington Indiana has received donations and provided receipts to donors in the United States since 1990 and remains a valued partner in the work.
WHAT
GRID primarily undertakes fund raising and public awareness engagements throughout Canada and some parts of the United States on behalf of the Northern Empowerment Association. In addition, GRID liases with the Canadian International Development Agency and other supporting groups to keep them abreast of progress on various projects and activities. GRID also assists in the gathering and shipping of materials requested by Ghana for their projects. Several containers of agricultural, medical and education goods have been sent over the 20 years that the projects have been operating. Another important aspect of their work is in facilitating of work visits to Ghana of volunteers. In 2007 alone, 35 volunteers spent time in Ghana with NEA, transferring skills and improving the quality of health in the vast area reached by Projects 2 & 3 GRID is a certified member in good standing with "The Canadian Council of Christian Charities
GRID BOARD
WHEN
October 1983:
Acadia University foreign student David Mensah opens a letter from home and is faced with the reality that three members of his family back in Ghana have died of starvation. Through a series of events, the letter makes its way into the hands and hearts of … Read the inspiring story in “Kwabena: An African Boy’s Journey of Faith”.
1983:
“The Mensah Food and Orphanage Fund” is created to respond to the ongoing needs of Ghana’s widowed, orphaned and impoverished.
1984:
Coldbrook Baptist Church member Mr.D.Clamp visits Ghana and witnesses the crises first-hand. Returning to Canada, his first-hand account confirms the interested group’s need to come alongside this organization.
1984:
Coldbrook Baptist Church, Coldbrook, Nova Scotia, Canada, expresses a willingness to provide a permanent organization focused on overseeing the organizational responsibilities and fund-raising efforts of “The Mensah Food and Orphanage Fund”.
1996:
The Mensah Food and Orphanage Fund changes its name to “Ghana Rural Integrated Development" (GRID), feeling that its new title more adequately conveys its mandate.
2006:
Ghana Rural Integrated Development was incorporated under the Ghana Corporations Act and thereby became Ghana Rural Integrated Development Inc.
To date:
GRID
continues to undertake fund-raising on behalf of the NEA, as well as conducting public engagement activities throughout Canada, with the purpose of increasing the awareness of the needs and conditions facing the people of Ghana. In addition to these responsibilities, GRID also spotlights the support of CIDA and the contributions they bring to solving problems within developing countries. The GRID board and NEA board diligently work at keeping administrative expenses minimal (GRID: less than 5% of budget allocation; NEA: 5% - 6% of budget allocation) all the while maintaining a cost-effective framework for remaining aware of developments within both organizations throughout the year. In addition to this, representatives of the GRID board participate in the monitoring and evaluation of project development in Ghana every 3-4 years. Both boards maintain transparency and accountability to one another in all areas of development.BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Eugene Paisley, Vice-Chairman
I met David Mensah barely two weeks after he arrived in Canada and knowing he had just arrived in the country, invited him to my dairy farm. This was the beginning of a friendship that would see me leaving my Canadian farm and visiting Ghanaian farms. I was present in Ghana in 1981 when Chief Sooh Naba donated the land for the establishment of the Janga Project. This trip opened my eyes to the needs of the people and I knew that God would have me support this team of young Ghanaian men and women to address them. When the GRID board was formed I gladly accepted the invitation to become a member. Since the project was agriculture based, I felt I could contribute from the experience I had gained in my farming career.
Mr. Paul Haughn, Member
When the former treasurer resigned from the Board due to his increasing workload, Paul was invited to consider taking on this position. At the time Paul and his wife Jean were familiar with GRID/NEA’s work and were praying about getting involved. Although his work at the time, (comptroller of the 3 South Shore, Nova Scotia, hospitals was very demanding, he felt this was an area where he could use his skills to serve God through this organization. Paul acted as Treasurer from 1991 until 2007 when he retired for health reasons. He continues to be a member of the board and remains committed to this partnership. Jean and Paul have made 3 work/monitoring trips to Ghana during their years on the Board.
Mr. Jacques Lapointe
Mr. Lapointe got to know David in his early years in Canada when he was an elder at the church David was pastoring. He and his wife Brigitte were acquainted with the NEA plans before any of the work began and have watched GRID and NEA grow right from the beginning. Mr. Lapointe joined the board in 2000. His experience as the CEO of several pharmaceutical companies, including Glaxo Canada and Glaxo UK, have given him a wealth of managerial experience and knowledge of health issues which is of great benefit to GRID/NEA. He has made two visits to Ghana to monitor the progress of projects and develop relationships with the NEA board and staff.
Mrs. Jean Haughn
Jean Haughn joined the board in 1991. She got to know of GRID/NEA through her church in Nova Scotia and she and her husband Paul were looking for a way that they could become more involved with the organizations. Mrs. Haughn acted as Assistant-Treasurer from 1991 to 2007. She has made three monitoring visits to Ghana and assisted in one of the local primary schools on one of the visits.
Dr. Norman Musewe
Dr. Musewe, originally from Zimbabwe is a pediatric cardiologist and practices in Markham, Ontario. He has nearly 30 years of medical experience. He has a keen interest in Christian development initiatives in Africa and has been a valuable advisor to the board on health and other issues since he joined in 2003. He and his wife Endra paid a working visit to Ghana where he trained medical professionals and also treated patients.
Dr. Douglas Webster
Dr. Webster is a pastor, teacher and prolific writer. He has taught in China, Mongolia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Canada and the USA. He has a sincere desire to assist GRID/NEA to alleviate poverty in Ghana through its holistic programs. He has been the guest lecturer for three pastor’s training sessions at Carpenter. Dr. Webster was the first of the board members to meet David Mensah when he began his studies at Tyndale College in Toronto and has followed the progress of this work from the very beginning.