Executive Summary of the trip.

On Jan 2, 2010, a group (11 college students and a YMCA Program Director) of representatives from the University YMCA in Minneapolis, MN departed on a 12 day journey through the heart of Ghana. The goal of the trip was to learn about the developmental status of the country, particularly in the area concerning HIV/AIDs policy. A secondary goal of the trip was to learn more about the Ghana YMCA and to absorb the culture and history of the region. In this summary, we will outline our travels in Ghana and discuss HIV/AIDs policy in Ghana,

The Ghana YMCA was founded in 1890 by Wilkins Micaber Abbey. Currently, the Ghana YMCA consists of 8 divisions in the 10 administrative districts of Ghana. Their programs focus on HIV-AIDS peer education, afforestation and its consequences, and youth education and empowerment. Like all non-profit agencies, they suffer from funding issues, and must charge for many of their programs, including their secondary and technical schools. Despite this, most programs and chapters seemed fairly active and growing. As a whole the YMCA and Ghanaians in general are very friendly and open. Despite our outward differences, we were always welcomed and treated like guests.

Our journey with the Ghana YMCA started in the capital Accra. Accra is a bustling city of about 1.7 million people. It is the cultural, political, and economic hub of the country – housing about 70% of the manufacturing capacity of the country, as well as numerous museums, memorials, and political institutions. From Accra, we traveled west to the Cape Coast, where we toured the Elmina Slave Castle and Kakum National Forest. The Elmina Slave Castle is a major historical attraction in the region, as it was the site of the slave trade in West Africa until the 18^th century. We then traveled north to Kumasi, where we spent two days visiting universities, hospitals, and cultural institutions. The trip to Kumasi ended with us embarking on the most challenging part of our journey; the village stays. At this point we split into two groups and traveled to separate villages. One group headed to Mpraeso, while the other headed to Mampong. At the villages we meet with local YMCA volunteers and had opportunities to interact with youth. It was a great experience to learn more about the culture and the people. Finally, we returned to Accra to meet with local organizations and relax prior to our departure.

During our stay in Accra, we had the opportunity to visit with both the Ghana AIDS Commission and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to discuss the status of HIV/AIDs in Ghana and West Africa. Our conclusions are as follows: While Ghana has a low reported rate of HIV positive adults (1.7%), the number may not be entirely accurate due to sampling errors. The sample is taken from the testing of pregnant mothers and does not represent certain at risk populations. These at-risk populations include sex workers, homosexuals, and the incarcerated, where the HIV positive rate may be as high as 35%. Both the Ghana AIDS Commission and USAID are focusing on programs that remove the cultural stigma associated with HIV/AIDs. Programs include peer education, legislative reform, and confidential testing services.

In conclusion, we feel that Ghana is a stable, politically active country that has potential to become a major player in the African and global economy. While a large income gap still exists, the government (with outside help) seems capable of providing social programs to help those in need. This has led to improvements in health and quality in life – as reflected in the improving HIV/AIDs rates and increasing life expectancy. Further support in the areas of education, business development, and health education are sure to improve Ghana’s success.