ActionAid Ghana, a human rights non-governmental organisation has invested GH?35 million in various projects in the Sissala East District alone during its 18 years of operations there.

These interventions include education, women empowerment, human rights, food security and local governance, among others, Mr. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, Country Director of ActionAid has announced.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman was addressing traditional rulers, development partners, sponsored children, parents and members of beneficiary communities from Sissala East and Jirapa Districts at its 25th anniversary celebrations in Tumu on Wednesday.

The celebration also saw the inauguration of two school blocks each, in the Sissala East and Jirapa Districts.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman said the new country strategy paper, which was launched recently, intends to expand the organisation’s programmes and operations in the Upper West Region to cover more communities.

He said the organisation would very soon introduce its local sponsorship scheme to give Ghanaians the opportunity to donate towards the development of disadvantaged communities, using the Upper West Region as its entry point.

He said a fundraising team would be formed to work out the modalities and appealed to people in the region to subscribe to it and commit funds for the development of the communities.

He said the organisation intends to reach out to the people to make regular donations to help their fellow Ghanaians.

“We have found that Ghanaians care for one another and take pride in helping people in need, and this will help in sustaining the sponsorship we receive from our funding affiliates in Britain, Greece, Italy and Brazil”, he said.

He said ActionAid Ghana was working with 1,438 children from 33 communities in the Sissala East and Jirapa Districts, with each child being sponsored by people in its funding affiliate countries.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman said the future advancement and progress of Ghana, as well as parents, depends on their children’s education.

“We may have excuses for our failures in any other area of our national life but education and well being of children should never be debated or deferred for another day”, the Country Director admonished.

He said Ghanaians have the responsibility to extend learning opportunities and quality education to children in deprived and marginalised communities.

“No child should be left behind no matter where they live, where they were born or the occupation of their parents”, he pointed out.

The celebrations brought together school children from Tumu College of Education Demonstration School, Sakia, Egala and Kong Basic Schools to compete in drawing, spelling and talent shows such as singing and dancing.

Individual students, who excelled were given school bags. Participating schools were also given awards.