BOFAM Foundation Supports Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital with Food and Clinical Items
The BOFAM Foundation has supported the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast with food items and some basic clinical equipment to alleviate some of the hardships they face in their daily running of the hospital.
The hospital which is located in the out skirts of Cape Coast in the central region operates with 5 main wards with a population of about 276 mentally challenged inmates constituting of children and adults.
The donation was made on November 11th 2022 by Ms. Hellena Buabeng a representative of the BOFAM Foundation in Cape Coast.
Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, Md. Joan Bobison, a Senior Nursing officer and the Deputy Administrator of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital expressed her gratitude to BOFAM Foundation for this kind gesture. She further appealed to the Bofam Foundation to consider renovating a toilet facility in one of the male wards which has totally broken down thereby making defecation for about 30 inmates has become a very difficult situation. She emphasized that the mental state of the inmates is the more reason why sanitation should not be taken for granted in such a facility.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Ms. Grace Korkor Tetteh also expressed her appreciation saying that government support has not been forth coming as expected and as such this intervention has come at the right time when food prices are increased on a daily basis.
The items donated included bags of rice, cooking oil, canned foods, digital thermometers, BP checking apparatus, screens and sanitary items totaling an amount of GHC62,150.
The BOFAM assists the Women with Disability Support Association
The BOFAM Foundation has supported the Women with Disability Support Association with GHC36,600 in aid of setting up micro businesses in dress making, soap making and hair dressing salon for 3 of their members.
The 3 beneficiaries are disabled in the legs and move about with the aid of wheel chairs and clutches. Mrs. Victoria Appiah the leader of the association presented an application for support to the BOFAM Foundation to set up micro businesses for some of her members. The donation was made on December 2021 by Ms. Hellena Buabeng a representative of the BOFAM Foundation to the WDSA in Kumasi.
In all 3 container shops were constructed for 3 beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries; Maame Yaa Bawuah who has completed vocational training in hair dressing was given a salon with hair making appliances including hair dryer, straightener, mirror, plastic chairs, hair washing basin etc. Madam Enomiah also received industrial sewing machine and start up consumables for her sewing shop.
On their part all the 3 beneficiaries will train nine young lady members in hairdressing, sewing and soap making at no cost to the trainees. This is the individual contributions of beneficiaries to the success of the project.
The association has about 30 members who meet regularly for self-support activities and also to create awareness for living a successful life with disability.
Report on One Day Solar Awareness Workshop held in Tamale
Funding support: BOFAM Foundation
DENG Limited and DSTC solar training Centre with funding support from the BOFAM Foundation has organized one-day solar awareness workshop for some NGOs in Tamale.
In all 13 senior staff members from Care International, Children Believe, IWAD, Shea Network, Wee North, School for life, YEFL Ghana, 2Scale, Feed the Future, North Code, ACDEP, attended the workshop on 27th September at the Ashcal Hotel in Tamale.
The workshop offered a comprehensive capacity – building for senior level staff to enable them make informed decisions with regards to solar irrigation, lighting, vaccine fridges etc for the rural communities in which they operate.
The objective of the workshop was to provide theory and practical education on solar powered systems to the NGOs to support their work whiles introducing DENG solar products and DSTC solar trainings to them as well. As part of the workshop event, Ms. Hellena Buabeng and Mr. Alvin Otoo had a radio interview at Diamond FM to talk about DENG products and training.
Mr. Nicholas Opoku conducted the training workshop and Ms. Hellena Buabeng spoke to participants about the possibility of project collaborations with the BOFAM Foundation.
Event Team
Mr. Kenneth Cornelius
Mr. Alvin Otoo
Mr. Nicholas Opoku
Ms. Hellena Buabeng
BOFAM Foundation Assist Ms. Comfort Boafowaa with GHC15,000 Business Boost and Sustaining Grant
In an effort to boost and sustain small scale businesses owned by young women, the Bofam Foundation has supported the business of Ms. Comfort Boafoa owner of Connie’s Peanut Paste with GHC15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Ghana Cedis) to buy bags of groundnuts and also process it into peanut paste to augment her business stocks and hedge against the frequent price increase.
Miss Comfort Boafoa is an orphan who lives with her younger brother who has recently gained admission into the university. They both depend on her small scale groundnut paste business to feed, pay their bill as well as university fees for her brother.
Due to this, her business was almost collapsing with daily price hikes of raw groundnuts hence she sorts assistance from BOFAM Foundation to purchase raw materials in bulk to sustain her business.
Since receiving this assistance she has more sacks of groundnut which she produces into groundnut paste gradually making her more profit.
BOFAM Foundation Supports Adolescent Health Project
The BOFAM Foundation has supported the Adolescent Girl Health Foundation (AGHF) with an amount of GHC40,000 (Forty Thousand Ghana Cedis) towards the implementation of a Menstrual Hygiene Management activity under the School Health Education for Adolescent Girls (SHEfAG) Project which will provide a holistic menstrual health education, increase access to free menstrual products and advances menstrual equity in rural Ghana schools and communities.
The project will also provide essential education to basic and secondary school adolescent girl child on menstrual health to prevent frequent school absenteeism which results in school drop out in the long term. As part of the Menstrual Hygiene Management activity, free sanitary pad will be provided for the school girls in rural areas.
Through this project, poor school attendance and academic performance of the adolescent girl in this communities which are related to poor health indicators of students will be tackled. Peer-to-peer learning is always high and sustainable. Thus, the Menstrual Health Management activity will facilitate peer to peer led awareness programmes on personal health and hygiene among students.
The students apart from free menstrual pads received educational packs containing note pads, pencils, pens, erasers etc.
Mrs. Millicent the CEO of AGHF NGO said this support will not only assist this project but will also in the long term ensure school attendance sustainability for young girls. She was grateful for the support given by the Bofam Foundation.
BOFAM Supports Adom Gari Fryers Women Association With GHC20,000 for Gari Frying Equipments
The BOFAM Foundation has supported the Adom Gari Fryers Association with GHC20,000 to acquire modernized gari fryers, Cassava miller and cassava dough squeezer for the expansion of their gari frying cottage industry. The association has 12 members with 11 females and 1 male.
The Adom Gari Fryers Association is a group of young ladies involved in the processing of cassava into gari. The Association was formed in 2018 by bringing together women who were into gari frying. It started with 5 members and currently has 12 members. Since it became an association, more ladies have joined and the demand for the gari production has increased which brought about the need for mechanization to meet demand.
The total cost of the equipment needed was GHC31,360 out of which BOFAM donated an amount of GHC20,000 to buy the necessary equipment to increase their production.
Previously, the women were exposed to various health risks especially from the smoke emanating from the fire place used for frying the gari. Bofam Foundation’s support alleviates this health risk with the provision of the modernized gari fryers which has a high pipe mechanism through which the smoke exits.
This assistance has also helped the women to be more efficient in their work with an increase sale.
BOFAM Foundation Supports Dzoansti Women Bakers with Equipments
The BOFAM Foundation has supported Dzoanti Women in Kpando with baking equipment worth GHC37,070. Apart from the equipment the women were taken through modern techniques of training in pastry making.
The revolving project will train over 25 women and the youth to create jobs for themselves. Stalls were also constructed for some of the women to start pastries business of their own to improve their lives.
The Dzoanti Women presented an application to the BOFAM Foundation in February 2022 which was vetted and approved by the board.
Prior to this support, the BOFAM foundation has supported the Dzoanti Village with a school library including books and furniture for the Dzoanti basic school in Kpando.
BOFAM Foundation Donates Ghc 30,300 to Gambabga Witches Project
The BOFAM Foundation has once again supported the Gambaga witches camp with a donation of GHC30,300 to acquire bags of maize, rice, school uniforms and shoes for the inmates of the camp and their children. The donation was made on 18th January 2022 by Ms. Hellena Buabeng a representative of the BOFAM Foundation to Madam Gladys Mahama the Minister of the Presbyterian church in Gambaga and also in charge of the Witches Camp.
On January 12th 2022, Rev Gladys Mahama appealed to the BOFAM Foundation to assist them to acquire some basic needs for the inmates of the camp. According to her, they have been neglected by their families. The women here do not have any source of income to survive unless through the benevolence of charities like the BOFAM Foundation.
The camp accommodates over 60 inmates both adults and children. BOFAM Foundation has supported the Gambaga Witches Camp since 2013 with various interventions including solar compound lights, solar powered water pump for drinking water and roofing sheets.
The camp is home to people who have been accused of witch craft in their families. It is a way to reintegrate them into society after they have been ejected from their homes and abandoned by their families.
This donation ensures that the children have school uniforms and foot wear to go to school. Some of the women are into farming whiles some of the girls are also learning sewing, bead making and soap making.
BOFAM, DENG and GIZ Donates Solar Power System to Prisons Ministry Half-Way Home Project
BOFAM Foundation, DENG Limited and GIZ Ghana have handed over a solar power system facility to the Prisons Ministry Half Way Home Project at Asutuare on February 1 2022. The solar equipment and installation was funded by BOFAM Foundation, DENG Limited and GIZ with an amount of GHC150,00xx0. The Bofam Foundation donated an of GHC97,416, DENG donated GHC50,000 and GIZ contributed with a grant of GHC20,584 making a total of GHC150,000 for the project.
The solar system comprised of a solar water pumping system with a 20,000 litre water storage tank for the farm and solar lighting for the 3 room dormitory block.
Prior to this intervention, the Prisons Ministry first presented an appeal for support to DENG Limited in November 2017 and in November 2021 the BOFAM Foundation approved an application which was received through DENG to support the ministry.
The Halfway Home project is an initiative by the Prison Ministry to have a capacity-building and rehabilitation project for discharged prisoners to enable them re-integrate into communities of their choice.
This 107-acre location is a farming-based facility which aims to provide the resident (ex-inmate admitted into residence) the facilities to learn market-gardening (vegetables) and cash crop farming (mango, coconut, noni), poultry, ruminants farming and processing as well as basic farm management.
The resident shall be linked with a ready church-family in a location of his choice, and thus helped to successfully resettle.
The facility over the years of implementation, has faced hardships with access to water for crops especially during the harsh dry season and this has decimated most of their crops. Thus with this intervention assures them of continuous flow of water for both farming (including irrigation) and domestic purposes. The solar lighting for their 3 room dormitory will also make it possible for the Prison Ministry to receive their first residents.
The Home is located at Kusunya is a village about 30min drive from Asutuare and is a purely private Church establishment, funded mainly by individuals and organizations. BOFAM and DENG Limited by this donation become one of the target corporate donors since the inception of the project.
Present at the handing over ceremony was Mr. Sam Okudzeto the founding chairman of the Prison Ministry, DOP Hansen Awuku the Director of Agric at Akuse Prisons, Mr. Raphael Wiese the Program Manager for the Green People’s Energy at GIZ, Mr. Felix Quansar – DENG Chairman, Mr. Kenneth Cornelius – DENG CEO and Mr. Akumfi Buanya the Executive Director of the Prisons Ministry.
Dabokpa Technical Training Institute
The BOFAM Foundation has donated a Mini Solar Lab equipment and funds to train 60 solar students of the Dabokpa Technical School in Tamale.
The one-month project commenced on 1st November 2021. In all a total of GHC67,246 Ghana Cedis was used to purchase the training lab equipment and also conduct 2 solar trainings. The project was facilitated by DSTC Solar Training Centre with funding provided by the Bofam Foundation.
The Dabokpa Technical Institute has various departments including the recently added Renewable Energy Department. The RE department has about 70 students made up of both male and females between the ages of 15 to 22 years.
The Principal of the school, Mrs. Mariama Mahama expressed her gratitude to BOFAM for the kind gesture. She said the solar lab equipment will go a long way to assist the students in their practical sessions. She mentioned that since the start of RE department, the students have only been learning the theory aspects of the solar because they did not have the required practical session equipment.
This project is a compliment to Government’s efforts to increase vocational and technical training in the Ghanaian educational system.
BOFAM Foundation Supports Eduaid Ghana
The Bofam Foundation has supported Eduaid Ghana to train some women in Batik tie and dye making at Nkukrom village in eastern Region of Ghana. The project targets to train about 60 women in the field of tie & dye and batik making is expected to last for 4 weeks. Currently the first batch of 30 women have completed training and were given business starter packs which included yards of calico fabrics, dyeing chemicals, wax, dyeing colors etc. The women have formed groups and they intend to produce and sell as a group. For the sustainability of the project, Eduaid Ghana intends to find some buyers for the ladies to be able to produce in large quantities and generate a sustainable income for themselves and family.
The project amounted to GHC50,100 out of which BOFAM donated an amount of GHC25,000.
Ms. Hellena Buabeng from Bofam foundation inspected the project.
Obaa Farms
Obaa Farms is owned by a group of 5 women in Amanten in the Bono East Region. They grow corn, cassava, beans and vegetables for sale.
Since they started farming about 9 years ago, they have always relied on rain to cultivate their crops, until recently when they have been able to raise some money to sink a borehole on the farm.
Currently the borehole is not mechanized and as such they will still rely on the rains to feed water to their crops. This immensely decreases their rate of productivity.
BOFAM Foundation has approved a donation of a solar driven water pump with accessories and a storage tank. Read the full application here.
Bedzidzi Local Restaurant
Bedzidzi catering services is a local Ghanaian foods catering services who are well vexed in the preparation of indigenous Ghanaian dishes for weddings, funerals and other events. It was established in June 2019 and has been growing albeit slowly.
The name “Bedzidzi” is a Fante word meaning you are invited to eat or come and eat.
Bedzidzi catering services uses locally cultivated vegetables acquired from the women’s fresh farm market at Medina market bought right from the female farmers themselves thereby supporting the local woman farmer. They also buy home grown beef and poultry instead of imported meat as their way of supporting local meat farmers in Ghana in their own small way.
Bedzidzi has applied for a loan to expand the business with a Local Restaurant.
BOFAM Foundation has approved a loan of GHC12,500. See the application here.
Sack-Tech Business Ventures
Sack-Tech Business Ventures are producing cereals and black pepper sauce on a small scale. BOFAM Foundation supports the company with a loan of GHC9,000. Read the application here.
BOFAM has approved a loan to Kezzysnakpacks
Kezzysnakpacks is a small snack business selling fresh juice and pastry. BOFAM Foundation has approved a loan of GHC7,470. Read the application here.
BOFAM has approved the application from Blessed Queen Fashions
Blessed Queen Fashions applied for investment in production of nose masks i November 2020. BOFAM has approved the investment and payed out a loan of GHC8,850. Read the full application here.
BOFAM Foundation supports 16 female electrical technicians
The BOFAM Foundation has supported 16 female members of the Progressive Electrical Contractors Association to be trained on the Installation and Maintenance of Stand Alone solar systems from 15th to 17th July 2020.
The training took place at the DSTC Solar Training Centre and was conducted by Mr. Nicholas Opoku Kwarteng a DSTC senior technical trainer. The electrical technician ladies were taken through 3 days of basic theory and practical aspects of installing a standalone solar system.
The attendees for the training were selected from Accra, Koforidua and Ho regional association members. On behalf of the PECA, Mr. Morrison the president of the Association said the ladies have the zeal to install solar systems however they lacked the technical ability and knowhow. He said renewable energy is becoming a new area of choice for electricity and acquiring this knowledge will boost the marketability of the young ladies.
He was very optimistic that the training support received from BOFAM Foundation has come at a very opportune time for the ladies. He also requested for more training support to be considered by BOFAM for about 50 more of their female member technicians in Takoradi and Kumasi. He said if BOFAM is able to provide the training fees for the ladies, the association will make an effort to provide accommodation and transportation for the ladies to be trained.
BOFAM Foundation donates GHC 13,000 to Ghana Blind Union
The BOFAM Foundation has donated GHC13, 000 to the Ghana Blind Union towards the acquisition of 200 pieces of white canes to assist some of their members with their daily movements. The donation was in response to a request made by the president of the Union, Mr. Obeng Asamoah for some canes to assist members who are unable to afford white canes on their own.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Union, Mrs. Stella Wilson the secretary expressed her gratitude to BOFAM Foundation for this timely support. She said some of their members who are partially vision impaired can move about with the aid of a white cane however their inability to purchase the canes makes it difficult for them to move about.
She was happy that 200 hundred of their members will benefit from the donation.
Ms. Hellena Buabeng presented the donation of behalf of the BOFAM Foundation.
BOFAM Foundation has received an appreciation letter from Ghana Blind Union. Click here to read it.
Installation of Solar Water Pump at Presbytarian Montessori School, Fumbisi – Upper East Region
The Bofam Foundation has donated a solar powered water pump to the Presbyterian Montessori School in Fumbisi in the Upper East region. The pump has also been installed on a well in school. The project which was completed on 10th March 2020 was done at a cost of GHC25, 275.
The water project is estimated to serve about 300 people both from the school and the community. The system installed included a 2hp Grundfos solar pump and 0.8kW of solar array. This was installed in an open well with a depth of about 6m. The mechanization was necessary because the school children and the people in the area had to fetch the water by using a gallon tied to a rope and they have to draw it as many times as possible until their bucket or pot is full. A water filter was also installed to improve the quality of the water from the well. The system also included an 1100-gallon reservoir (water tank) which will now store the water from the well. This tank will help them store enough water even when the sun goes down.
The children now can fetch water from the stand pipe anytime they need water. The installation was done by Mr. Nicholas Opoku Kwarteng a solar technician from DSTC solar training centre.
Govinakrom Community School – Water and Toilet Facility
The BOFAM Foundation has constructed and mechanised one bore hole and a 4 unit toilet facility for the Govinakrom Community School in the Eastern Region.
The project which was commenced in June 2019, took 7 months to complete. In all a total of GHC44,038 was used to complete both projects. The project was facilitated by the Bofam foundation with funding provided to Bofam by 11 Danes from Denmark, 1 Dane living in Andorra and from Bofam’s own resources.
The school has about 136 boys and girls making up pupils between the ages of 5 and 17years. Prior to the project, the school fetched water from the village borehole which is a distance away from the school and also used nearby bushes close to the school as makeshift toilets. Due to the lack of water in the school, the pupils often did not wash their hands after going to toilet in nearby bushes.
The headmaster of the school, Mr. Ntiri expressed his gratitude to BOFAM for the kind gesture. He said since the completion of the project, the pupils are happier to come to school. Some even bring containers to school so that at closing time they will fetch some water home to their mothers. One child said she looks forward to coming to school early because she can use the toilet in school instead of always looking for a nearby bush to ease herself when the need arises. The bore hole not only serves the school children but the community inhabitants who live close to the school.
BOFAM Foundation donates 5 garden lights to Orthopedic Training Centre, Nsawam
The BOFAM Foundation has revisited the Orthopedic Training Centre at Nsawam to donate some solar garden lights to the centre. In all 5no. of 10W garden lights were donated. The lights will increase the illumination of the Centre’s compound and make movements easier in the night for the disabled inmates of the facility.
The 5 garden lights was handed over to Mr. Kofi the caretaker of the facility upon completion of the installation. He expressed his gratitude to BOFAM Foundation for always remembering to assist them. All five systems were successfully installed and working.
Prior to this donation, BOFAM installed 10 streetlights at the facility in 2016 and some more in 2017 to improve their night movement and also reduce robbery cases which was rampant because the compound was not well illuminated.
The OTC is home to many disabled people both children and adults who otherwise did not have hope of using their limbs or having severed limbs fitted with artificial ones.
Below are some photos from the installation.
BOFAM Foundation donates Lego toys to Koforidua Deaf School
Trustees from the BOFAM Foundation has visited the Koforidua School for the Deaf on Wednesday 21st February 2018 to donate Lego toys to the kindergarten department of the school.
The trustees, Mr. and Mrs. Bosteen presented the Lego toys to Mr. Jordan Agbonaa the Head Master of the school. The kindergarten children are 37 in number from ages 4 to 11yrs old both boys and girls. The children were very excited to receive the toys which hitherto they did not have access to such playing items.
After the donation, the trustees were taken round to the school. According to Mr. Agbonaa, the school is currently in need of compound lights to illuminate the school to ward off thieves and also easy access by students in the night. He stressed that sometimes stealing occurs mostly at night which can be avoided with a well-lit compound.
The school has various vocational skills training departments including a sewing and tie dye making department. The sewing which sew various items from cloths to school bags it is not fully equipped for proper training as 6 out of 8 foot operated sewing machines are broken beyond repairs.
Solar Lights for Hostel Facility at OTC
BOFAM Foundation has once again donated solar lights to a hostel facility at the Orthopedic Training Centre at Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
On Friday 26th January 2018, the Trustees of BOFAM Foundation made a final inspection visit to the hostel facility at the Centre. The team was received by Sister Elizabeth Newman the Director of the Orthopedic Centre.
The solar lights installation is a collaborative effort between BOFAM Foundation and the Orthopedic Centre with BOFAM contributing USD8, 630
Sister Elizabeth Newman the Director of the institution expressed her gratitude to BOFAM Foundation for the kind gesture given to them. The hostel facility houses students of the training centre who are undertaking diploma programs in orthopedics.
The Orthopedic Training Centre has a population of about 320 patients comprising men, women and children who are receiving treatments for various forms of limb defects.
BOFAM Donates Lego Toys to OTC Day Care Centre
The BOFAM Foundation has donated some Lego toys to the OTC day care Centre at Nsawam on Friday 26th January 2018.
As part of efforts to expand their activities, a day care Centre has commenced on the premises of OTC where children with different disabilities are taken care of during the day to enable their parents attend to their jobs.
Explaining how the Day Care works, Sister Elizabeth Newman the Director of OTC said some of these children are normally left alone with no one to care for them in their homes as their parents have to work during the day; in view of this the OTC decided to have a day care center to assist such parents in the locality as they can barely afford proper care for the children without working.
The children are collected in the morning from their homes and returned to their parents in the evenings by the OTC staff.
The day care center has 2 teachers who take care of the special needs children.
Lego play bricks to the deaf and blinds schools in the Eastern Region
The BOFAM Foundation has again visited the Demonstration School for the Deaf, Mampong in Eastern Region and made a donation of Lego playing bricks to the school.
As part of efforts to support the school, BOFAM Foundation requested for Lego play and learning bricks from the Lego foundation who responded with a donation of six (6) Lego boxes to be given to the school.
The Lego bricks was given to the nursery department of the school with about 45 children between the ages of 4 and 9 years old.
Apart from the School for the deaf in Mampong, BOFAM made a donation of some of the Lego bricks to the Akropong School for blind also in the Eastern Region. The headmistress of the Blind School Madam Mahela Narh received the items on behalf of the school.
The BOFAM trustees were also taken round the school’s vocational training department to see their works.
Solar Street Lights to the Demonstration school for the Deaf
The BOFAM Foundation has donated 20 pieces of Solar Street Lights to the Demonstration School for the Deaf (DEMODEF) at Tutu in the Eastern Region on Tuesday 7th November 2017.
Prior to this donation, an assessment visit was carried out by the BOFAM Foundation team earlier this year to ascertain the lighting needs of the school. Included in the donation was the rewiring installation of LED lights in some of the classrooms and dormitories at the school.
The school headed by Mrs. Trudy Segbefia was very happy to receive the items. She said the lights especially will assist effective communication for the children. According to her the deaf use a lot of sign language and therefore good lighting in the night will go a long way to assist them.
She also stated that even if they could afford lighting the school’s compound, it will come with electricity bills which the school is in no position to afford. These solar street lights has therefore alleviated one of their great needs.
SEWING MACHINES: Apart from the lighting systems, BOFAM through the support of some individual financial supporters namely: Lonny and Bo Oland, Home Alone Golf Club Luxembourg, Aase and Arly Petersen, Iben Seippel, Per Ogaard Madsen, Lotte Bittmann, Alf Muhlig, Bo Bittmann and John Drechsler also donated 11 sewing machines to the DEMODEF sewing department.
Madam Grace Boafo the head of the sewing department also thanked BOFAM Foundation for their kind donation of the sewing machines. She said the children numbering about 40 have to take turns to use the few sewing machines available until the kind intervention of BOFAM foundation.
They however appealed for support to renovate the deaf blind department which is woefully under equipped for the use of the children.
Donation to Demonstration school for the Deaf
The BOFAM Foundation with financial support from Mr. Iben Seippel, Mr. Per Ogaard Madsen and Mr. John Drechsler has donated 3 manual sewing machines to the Demonstration School for the deaf / blind at Tutu in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Prior to making this donation, some trustees from BOFAM paid an inspection visit to school in March 2017. During the visit, the head mistress of the school Madam Trudy Segbefia enumerated the various problems affecting children and school as whole. Among the problems included inadequate sewing machines for the sewing department, poor compound and classroom lighting, broken windows and mosquito nets as well as a dire need for the deaf/blind department to be renovated as soon as possible.
On 30 August 2017, Mr. Iben Seippel, Mr. Per Ogaard Madsen and Mr. John Drechsler donated Euro 200 respectively to be used for the purchase of 3 manual sewing machines for the school.
The donation was made on Wednesday 6th September by Ms. Hellena Buabeng and was received by Madam Trudy Segbefia and some officials of the schools.
Donna Marie Mike undergoes successful heart surgery
Three (3) year old Donna Marie Mike has undergone successful surgery after BOFAM foundation donated an amount GHC10, 000 towards her surgery. The total cost of the surgery was GHC24, 000.
In March 2017, the parents of Little Donna Marie, Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Mike sort for financial assistance from BOFAM foundation through Ms. Hellena Buabeng who attends the same Catholic Church with them.
At an annual general meeting of the board of trustees the request for support was discussed and accepted hence a donation of GHC10, 000 was made to the Korle – Bu Teaching Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre in April. A successful surgery was carried out on 27th June 2017.
Her parents were full of appreciation for BOFAM Foundation because they had no hope of raising the total cost of surgery if BOFAM had not come to their aid. Donna was born with cerebral palsy which has made it difficult for her to walk. Luckily she can now stand on feet without help after the surgery and her parents are hopeful that with the assistance of physiotherapy, she will be able to walk in the near future.
Little Donna Marie has recuperated well and has since been discharged from the hospital.
BOFAM Foundation Renovates Maternity Block of Agona Nsaba Clinic
Agona Nsaba Health Center is the main health facility in the district capital, Agona Nsaba, but has no laboratory and theatre services to give the needed comprehensive health care. The maternity unit is very rudimentary and needs a major renovation and retooling.
Renovation of the maternity block into a standard maternity unit theatre and laboratory will go a long way to provide quality health care to the people of and neighboring communities at the same time offer backup and complimentary health care to the other health centers and CHPS compounds in the district.
In view of this, a request for assistance to renovate the clinic was made to the BOFAM Foundation. Upon receiving the request, a BOFAM Team visited the clinic to inspect the facility in November 2016. The team was made up of Mr. Frede Bosteen, Mrs. Marianne Bosteen and Ms. Hellena Buabeng.
Subsequent to the Inspection, a decision was made by the trustees to commit an amount of GHC 45,500 to the project.
The project commenced in December and was completed and handed over to the community on 15th March 2017.
On 15th March 2017, a BOFAM Foundation Team from Accra and Denmark inspected the facility and handed over to the community through the Chief Bishop Boappiah II. The team included Mr. Frede Bosteen, Mrs. Marianne Bosteen, Mr. Anders Bosteen, Ms. Berit Bosteen and Ms. Hellena Buabeng.
The Chief expressed his gratitude to the BOFAM Foundation for the good work done and also requested for more support with building a school in some nearby villages where school sessions are conducted under trees. The physician at the clinic Mr. Patrick Akwaboah also thanked the BOFAM Foundation. He said the renovated maternity block will now give pregnant women a more conducive place to give to give birth.
The District has an estimated Population of 85,920 with female slightly dominating at an estimated population of 44,885 while the male population is estimated at 41,035.
BOFAM Foundation Sponsors Solar Awarenes Training Course in Northern Ghana
BOFAM Foundation has sponsored a solar awareness training course for a group of 12 stakeholders at the DSTC solar training center at Tamale. This training is to help create awareness of solar systems in one of the poorest regions of Ghana. The training was aimed at bringing installers, dealers and users of solar system to one place where those looking for services or products can find them. This will also enhance the knowledge of the participants; solar electricity as an alternative energy source. Proper and standardized installation has been lacking when it comes to the installation of solar systems in the country. This training will go a long way to improve the installation of solar systems in this part of the country. Setting the standard the DSTC training facility in Tamale is fully solar powered. The projector, the lights, the computers and fans were all powered by the solar system installed.
The two day training focused on theory and practical. Day one was dedicated to the theory and questions participants have. Day two was dedicated to the practical demonstration and installation of a dc solar system.
The theory was based on what solar energy is, solar home systems, system components and functions of each component, installation of components, maintenance and troubleshooting of solar home systems. Because we didn’t have enough time, participants were asked to discuss their knowledge about solar energy to help the facilitator to know their need when it comes to the technology. The discussion also focused on making sure the installation does not degrade the performance of any of the solar components knowing the function of each. The orientation and tilt angles of solar modules, ventilation, effect of temperature and irradiance, and solar resources. Much time was spent on system configuration since it is one of the basic things one needs to know when it comes to installation more than solar panel.
Day two, was fully dedicated to the practical session, testing of solar panels for short circuit current and open circuit voltage, measuring voltage and current at different tilt angles and orientations etc. there was also practical demonstration of system configuration, connecting series, parallel and series parallel circuits. For the installation, the street light was used for the practical session where participants assemble and installed the street light in front of the office. Participants were excited and proud of being part of the team that installed the systems.
Participants were happy to be part of the workshop and expressed their satisfaction and appreciation to the sponsors.
Donation value $ 2.000,-
Gambaga “Witches” Camp Re-Visited for Installation of Street Lights
Posted on November 21, 2016
Bofam has donated four solar street lights to the Gamba witches camp in northern region. This is to enable the camp have access to light at the camp whether there is grid or no grid. The four lights were strategically placed to complement the few lights they have around from the grid.
The all in one solar street light consist of 50Wp solar panel, 20Ah battery, 10A night control charge controller, and the 18W LED Lamp head. The system also comes with other accessories like the metal frame for the solar panels and structure to attach mounted pole. A 5m pole was also added to complete the system.
The installation process included civil works (digging and concrete), assembling of the street light, electrical works (connecting the system together) and mounting of the street light. All components and materials were put together before erecting the poles. The poles were set and supported before we added concrete. The installation lasted for only one day. All four light came on in evening around 6:00 pm and went off around 4:00 am the next morning. The light is able to illuminate about 10m radius. – Donation value $ 2.500,-
I was unable to meet the woman in charge of the home even though we spoke severally on phone because she had travelled to Builsa district in the upper east region. She gave me though, the phone number of one Mr. Mohammed who helped me to position the lights and also other logistics and labourers during the installation.
This gesture was appreciated both the woman in charge, the woman at the camp and Mr. Mohammed who was present during the installation.
Furniture and Books to Dzoantsi / Gadza Community Library
The BOFAM Foundation in line with bridging the educational gap between the rural and urban child has donated furniture and books amounting to GHC 12,500 to the Dzoantsi/ Gadza community assist the activities of a renovated library.
The donation of the items was in response to a request received from the community led by their Assembly man Hon. Emil Wordey. In March 2016, Hon. Wordey presented an application for support for his community to assist the children and also promote reading. He mentioned that due to the lack of a library facility the children do not perform well at the final examinations. He said parents are not able to buy appropriate books for their children to study due to their poverty level. BOFAM Foundation after considering the application donated furniture and books to the community.
On Friday 12th August 2016, Ms. Hellena Buabeng on behalf of the BOFAM Foundation travelled to Kpando to present the items to the community. Present at the ceremony were some Dzoantsi sub Chiefs Togbui Adjei iii, Togbui Kendra viii and Togbiu Gbeklor, the Anglican and Catholic priests Rev. Father Agboada and Rev Father Prosper Kwame Deh respectively.
Accepting the items on behalf of the community, the Assembly man thanked the BOFAM Foundation and requested for more books to fill up all the shelves created in the library block. He also requested for some solar lights for evening reading since the library block is without electricity.
Orthopedic Training Centre Solar Street Light Installation
BOFAM Foundation has donated 10 solar street lights amounting GHC47, 000 to the Orthopedic Training Centre at Nsawam in the Eastern Region (https://otcghana.org/).
The decision to assist OTC was made after a visit by BOFAM Foundation Trustees Mr. Frede Bosteen and Mrs. Marianne Bosteen. On Monday 8th April 2016, the BOFAM Foundation trustees visited the OTC to inspect the facility based on a request received to be assisted with Solar Lighting, prior to this intervention the facility had no source of lighting during lights off. This situation was not the best as most of the in mates at this orthopedic facility needed proper illumination at night to move about safely due to their various disabilities associated with amputated or deformed limbs.
Sister Elizabeth Newman the Director of the institution expressed her gratitude for BOFAM Foundation’s assistance. She said the installation has come at a much needed time as they recorded series of robbery at the children’s department between last year and now and the situation has thus become very dangerous to deal with when the national grid lights goes off.
The Orthopedic Training Centre in Nsawam has a population of about 280 patients comprising men, women and children who are receiving treatments for various forms of limb defects.
Ahabaso Community School Project
The BOFAM Foundation has constructed a 3 unit classroom block estimated at $10,000 and handed it over to the Ahabaso community is the Upper Manya Krobo District. The decision to build a school for the community was inspired by a Daily Graphic article late 2014 which showed the most deplorable condition of the Abahaso basic school.
On Tuesday 20th October 2015, a 7 member BOFAM team arrived at Ahabaso at 11am to inaugurate the school building. Prior to their arrival the community had already gathered at the school for the ceremony. There were officials from the District Education office, District Assembly and the chief of the community as well.
After various speeches were read by the dignitaries present, Mrs. Bosteen cut the tape for the new school and handed over the building to the headmaster. Prior this intervention, children in the community had to attend school in a dilapidated building. There were no text books for learning and no office for teachers.
According to the Assemblyman Mr. Ayitey Dei the school was originally for the community and was later absorbed by the Ministry of Education. Unfortunately the government have not given much assistance since then. The school structure itself was in a deplorable state.
The BOFAM Foundation with support from Ghana Cement Works, DSTC Solar Training Centre and Eduaid Ghana provided the 3 unit classroom block, desks, some text books and a water storage tank to collect rain water for the children to use in school. The villagers also provided some communal labour during the construction of the building.
The ceremony came to an end at 12:45pm.
Juaben Hospital Receives Solar System support from BOFAM Foundation and EDUAID Ghana
The Juaben Hospital is located in the Ejuso Juaben District of the Ashanti Region situated some 15mins drive from the Ejuso junction on the main Accra to Kumasi highway. It is a hospital that serves about 12 communities, villages and cottages in the Juaben district area.
On Saturday 11th July 2014 the Health Officer in charge of the hospital invited EDUAID to visit the health facility as a follow up to series of requests and discussions for support to acquire solar power for their CCTV cameras at the Pharmacy Department.
According to Dr. Prosper Gbekor, the clinic has been recording high theft of drugs and loss of cash due to frequent power outages that affects the functioning of the CCTV cameras. When the lights go off, the cameras are unable to work and therefore the inability to record any activity at the pharmacy department. Also the records office is unable to keep a proper soft copy filling system on their computers for the same reason.
EDUAID considered the request for support for a total of GHC42, 916.00 but could not raise the money alone. Mr. Boateng the Director of EDUAID forwarded the request to BOFAM foundation for further assistance. After considerations from BOFAM Foundation, the cost was shared as follows
EDUAID GHANA GHC10, 000 + BOFAM Foundation GHC22, 916.
All installation equipment was transported to Juaben with the hospital’s pickup on Thursday 6th August and the installations was completed on Monday 17th August 2015.
Support of Great Farcos Football Club
Great Farcos Football Club is located in a poor suburb of the capital Accra. The ground is sand only, no grass, the two goals have no nets, there is no fencing around the ground, and no sanitary facilities.
A request was made to BOFAM Foundation to assist the club with basic football equipment: footballs, boots, socks, goal post nets, jerseys etc amounting to GHC 6,000 ( $ 1.000 ) to encourage the 20 players and to make them look more decent during tournaments. Since the club is doing good social work in this poor environment and the club and the players have no money, Bofam has agreed to sponsor the football equipment. The jerseys, however were sponsored by Deng Ltd.
In return the club members have agreed to clean up the whole environment in the area with tools provided by DSTC.
The pix shows the presentation of the equipment and the Football players.- The performance of the club will be monitored.
Sustainable Support For a Local Gender Entrepreneur
BOFAM Foundation offers sustainable support to Ms. Joyce Darkwah, Nkrankan – Koforidua, about 100km from the capital Accra.
On Saturday 22nd November 2014 Bofam secretary Ms. Hellena Buabeng travelled to Nkrankan near Koforidua in the Eastern Region to visit a Md. Joyce Darkwah who has applied for funding from the BOFAM Foundation to start up her own business as a hairdresser with the intention of setting up a hair dressing saloon at Nkrankan.
The journey started around 8am and by 10:30 I was at Nkrankan. I travelled from Accra to Koforidua by bus and continued to Nkrankan by a mini bus also known as trotro. At Nkrankan I was met by the applicant Md. Joyce Darkwah and her husband Mr. Emmanuel Nartey Kabu.
We interacted about her proposal and the challenges she faced as a local hair dresser. Ms Joyce Darkwah said she learnt hair dressing as a trade and has been practicing it for some time now. Sometime ago she had a Kiosk saloon which she lost due to the construction of a new road which unfortunately included the location of her kiosk and was therefore destroyed. At the time of the road construction, she was recovering from an accident and as such she could not find another location to relocate her kiosk hence it was demolished by the contractor. Since then she has been working from under a tree in front of her house.
During the raining season she is unable to work because the tree that serves as a shelter from the sun cannot do the same when it rains. Hair cream relaxers, rollers etc are all at the mercy of the sun and dust when she is working and this is not good for her business. Due to lack of a shop, she is unable to stock and store many products and therefore have to resort to buying them in singles when needed, this is too expensive.
Having approved the application in principle The BOFAM Foundation has constructed a metal container salon shop for Ms. Joyce Darkwah.
During a visit by some trustees of the BOFAM Foundation in January 2015 final approval was given to the project. She has since started her hairdressing business and attends to about 10 – 12 customers a week thus providing a steady income for Joyce and her family.
Donation Of Text Books To St. Joseph Roman Catholic Junior High School, Tamale
On December 2014, the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Junior High School in Tamale made a request to BOFAM Foundation for assistance to acquire some text books for the school. The request was made to the Chairman of the BOFAM Foundation when visiting the school. The school had a deficit of science, mathematics, English, Social Studies and French text books for the JHS 1-3 streams.
Upon reviewing the application, BOFAM accepted the request and thus released an amount of GHC 5,160 for the purchase of the books and also transportation to Tamale where the school is located.
The books were purchased in Accra by the BOFAM office and sent via the O.A transport to Tamale. Madam Gladys a teacher at the St. Joseph R/C JHS collected the text books from the O.A transport terminal and sent it to the school.
On Friday 12th December 2014, a representative of BOFAM Foundation, Mr. Evans Sinkari presented the text books to the school and they were received by Madam Mary Sanyare Yang the Head Mistress of the school. The event was witnesses by the Parent Teacher Association of the school and the press.
BOFAM offers Scholarship to Ms. PRISCA AMOH
On 17th July 2014, BOFAM Foundation received an application for Educational Support from Mr. Emmanuel Amoh on behalf of his daughter Prisca Amoh. She is a 14 year old brainy girl who hails from Bodwease in Central region. Her application for the support which sums up to GHC 6,150 is to support her through to the Senior High School level. This money is to be used in settling her school fees, buying exercise books, text books, exam registration, feeding and sundry for her final year at junior high school and 3 years of senior high school. Prisca Amoh is in her final year at the Junior High School level and readying herself for the final exams which will take her to the senior high school and she will continue to the university.
Her application for GHC 6,150 is for the next four years of her education to the completion of the senior high school level. Depending on how well she passes her final exam, her father may present another request for her university level for BOFAM’s consideration.
Upon consideration of the application, BOFAM accepted and is committed to releasing funds for the requested purpose in four instalments to be paid one instalment per year at the beginning of each academic year as indicated below:
# Description Amount GHC Payment Date
1 Fees for 2014/2015 academic year. 3 terms of final year JHS, registration for final JHS exams, boarding and hostel Expenses 1,900.00 15th August 2014
2 First year admission and school fees for senior high school (1st term) and books 2,150.00 1st August 2015
3 Second year senior secondary school – Fees:1st to 3rd terms and books 1,050.00 1st September 2016
4 Final year senior secondary school – Fees: 1st to 3rd terms and books 1,050.00 1st September 2017
Total: GHC 6,150.00
Apemso School Project
On October 8th 2014 a 2 person Bofam delegation flew to Kumasi to meet with Mr. Ken Boateng, Director of an NGO Eduaid Ghana who has applied to the BOFAM Foundation to assist the Apemso Community Basic School at the Juaben District, Ashanti, with some development funding.
We were met at the Kumasi Airport by Mr. Boateng who drove us for about an hour south-east of Kumasi to the village – Apemso. Where the school is located. The village itself was really a miserable sight. Many of the houses are no more than ruins. In the village we saw a small group (maybe10) of children, at the age of 8-10, we stopped to ask why they were not at school. The answer was that they did not have any money. When we came to the school the headmaster explained that they were supposed to have an extra class and for that they pay 20 pesewas. This is how poor the people are around there.
The school has about 200 pupils and 9 teachers. Four of the teachers live with their families (9 in all) in an aprox. 20 square meter building with an outdoor kitchen. The school buildings looked ok but some are without doors and windows. There was no water as the well had sunk in and the rain had polluted the water. So no possibilities for washing hands after visits to the toilets!
The children needed school materials and school uniforms. They need light to enable them to study in the evening. The teachers need a room where they can prepare the lessons and store the books. At the moment they use a small table under a tree. All in all a difficult situation for teaching.
Now Bofam is considering how best to assist the school.
A follow up meeting was held with Mr. Boateng of Eduaid in Accra on 13th October, when Bofam committed the following funds for the school:
- School uniforms for 150 pupils
- Writing and reading books for all.
- 90 mathematical sets
- 4 footballs
- Writing materials – pens and pencils.
Total costs $ 3,000 of which 15% shall come from Eduaid and the community.
Additionally it was decided to contribute 50% towards the Renovation of a teachers meeting room/library at a total cost of $ 1.420. – 50% shall come from Eduaid and the community.
Some solar lights are needed for one school block ( see photo ) and for the teachers quarters. This is still being considered.
Mr. Boateng was asked to present a donor proposal in respect of a much needed water pump, including a new bore hole. The estimated total Cost is about $ 10,000 including the drilling of a new borehole, accessories, water tank, installation and training. – Eduaid and Bofam will team up to find ways and means to provide funding for the pump.
Accra 13/10/2014
Visit to “Witch” camp at Gambaga, Northern Ghana
Trustees from the BOFAM Foundation have recently visited the so called “witch” village at Gambaga in the Northern Region of Ghana to explore ways and means of helping to improve their life style.
As a starter Bofam presented 2 bags of rice to the village which has 80 women and 36 children living in 90 huts.
After an inspection of the village and a meeting with the leader a request was made for a supply of grass to repair the roofs of some of the huts. The women themselves would sew the grass into roof mats.
The request was later approved.
As a follow up in due course the trustees want to recommend the supply of small solar home systems for the 90 huts which have no electricity.”