As Christmas approaches we bring you greetings from Ghana and an update on all the work that you have helped to support during 2003!
The sections are listed below - click on each one to read the complete section:
The inequality of a trade system that adds to world poverty was brought home by some recent action in Ghana!
America subsidises rice production to keep its farmers in work and ensure a good rice supply. Then they export the surplus and flood the market in Ghana with cheap subsidised rice. A major TV campaign encouraged Ghanaians to buy ‘American Rice’ and all their ‘worries will be over’!
So people stopped buying the locally grown rice and Ghanaian farmers started to suffer.
The Ghanaian government hoped to stop this flood of imports by increasing the import tariffs on imported rice. The tariff increases were announced to the Ghanaian parliament in the annual budget but they were never implemented. Why? Because within days the IMF (International Monetary Fund) had put pressure on the Ghanaian government and the plans were shelved. The IMF used conditions attached to loans and debt cancellation to dictate the Ghanaian trade policy.
Poverty can’t just be helped by charity.
As part of your preparation for Christmas this year, please try to find 3 minutes to download a ready made letter to Gordon Brown (our representative on the IMF) to make your voice heard! www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign/letters or pick up a copy available at the back of many churches (or contact us at the address below). All you have to do is sign!
And don’t forget to find time this Christmas to celebrate all the good things that you have helped to happen at Ahotokurom this year.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS and EVERY BLESSING FOR 2004
Special thanks go to all the parishes, schools, youth groups and individuals who have supported the work of Ahotokurom this year. There are too many people to mention here. Know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of the people there. Every day they give thanks that people like you care about people like them!
Great news and very special thanks to an anonymous donor who has given match funding of £10,000 to help the efforts to raise funds for a disabled accessible minibus!!! For every pound raised – there’s a pound in the kitty to be claimed! What a challenge!