Ghana Beyond Subsistence
Teaching Learning Connecting
It is the human being that counts.
I call gold; it does not answer.
I call cloth; it does not answer.
It is the human being that counts.
–Ghanaian Proverb
What is Ghana Beyond Subsistence?
Ghana Beyond Subsistence (GBS) is a 501(c)(3) Non Governmental Organization that supports rural development in Ghana and recruits and prepares U.S. teachers for guided immersion experiences in Ghana where we collaborate with local teachers, farmers, traders, and traditional, religious, and elected municipal leaders for mutual growth and community development.
GBS supports rural development and agricultural innovation:
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Supports farmers and traders through microloan and savings programs with a focus on women,
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Provides agricultural extension education and herd health services,
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Develops innovative approaches to agricultural production through maker spaces and technology.
GBS respects and honors the people, values, traditions, and languages of Ghana’s Volta Region through annual residencies that emphasize cultural immersion, education, and proficiency.
GBS promotes cooperative educational advancement through teaching-learning-connecting:
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Develops programming for U.S. and Ghanaian teachers and students,
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Organizes cultural exchange opportunities between U.S. and Ghanaian teachers.
Ghana is considered the “Gateway to Africa” for its strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea. The nation has a long stable democracy and healthy economy. Ghana is a safe all-weather travel destination where crime and unrest rates are lower than most Western nations. The people are extremely hospitable to tourists.
The Regional Capitol is the city of Ho, with a population of approximately 177,000. Ho is the largest city in the Volta Region, which is located in the southeast area of Ghana. The Volta Region is bordered on the east by Togo, the west by Lake Volta, and the south by the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Volta Region is the Ghanaian home of the Ewe people, an ethnic and linguistic minority in Ghana with roots tracing back hundreds of years to areas of modern-day Nigeria and further east in Africa.
The economy of Ho is driven by agriculture, health care, education, and regional and national government, and The city of Ho hosts the annual Yam Festival, drawing visitors from around the country.
As in the rest of Ghana, governance and authority is shared between civil and elected officials and traditional leaders, particularly in neighboring villages.
Most residents of Ho identify themselves as Christian (predominantly Evangelical Presbyterian or Catholic), Muslim, or following traditional African beliefs as their faith.
Area Total 9,504 km2 (3,670 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census). Total 2,118,252
Density 220/km2 (580/sq mi)
GDP (PPP) Year2014 Per capita $3,974
GDP (Nominal) Year2014. Per capita $1,902
TEACHING LEARNING CONNECTING