A Trip to the Mo-Dega Project

Contributed by Eleanor Nicholson

On Thursday of our first week in Ghana, Joanna Gwinn, Tina Cheema, and I, accompanied by Gladys Odoi of the Methodist Church in Ghana and Dr. Samuel Bruce and Tom Ahima, two of the founders of the Mo-Dega Project, made a long, dusty and bumpy journey from Aburi northwest to the village beyond Wenchi where the Mo-Dega farmers were awaiting us. In an amazingly spacious, dimly lighted octagonal thatched hut, we heard the stories of some of the fourteen men and three women seated there, who had been waiting for hours to tell us about how their small loans had made it possible to buy seeds and seedlings, plant them and await the harvest. For Joanna the contrast between the self-confident farmers of 2010 and the same folks who somewhat skeptically listened to promises in 2008 was remarkable.

At the heart of all of the stories was the frustration brought about by the excessive rains of late May (surprising even the meteorologists). William described the ruin of much of his first planting of tomatoes, but he is hopeful that, with the approaching dry season, his second planting will be successful. Others shared similar experiences.

The next day we toured the fields themselves. Some were only a few acres, but the peanut farm was fifteen acres—and thriving. We walked through plantings of okra, little white eggplants (“garden eggs”), peppers, melons, cassava, and yams. Cashew trees abounded. Thanks to the abundant rain, the landscape was green and lush; thanks to the sun, it was hot.

The Mo-Dega project was begun in 1986, but foundered after the local Methodist minister, who had taken a deep interest in the work, was transferred. In 2007 our Northern Illinois Conference approved its revival. As a result of Joanna Gwinn’s trip to the project when the 2008 FUMC team was in Aburi, First United Methodist Church of Evanston has taken up the project and is preparing to send proceeds from Pennies for Poverty through the UMC Advance.Given the dramatic difference even our relatively small contribution in 2009 has made to both the economic possibilities and the morale of these hard-working farmers, we are committed to continuing our support of this promising project.

First photo: With the Mo-Dega team: Dr. Bruce, far left; Gladys Odoi, center; Rev. Fuachi, kneeling; and the Mo-Dega farmers.

Second photo: Tina, Eleanor and Joanna listen to Mo-Dega farmers in the meeting house.

Third photo: Mo-Dega farmers who wanted to share their stories.