It's easy to see why our families' hearts belong to Ghana: the country and people are just beautiful! I recently saw this for myself when I went to Ghana with our Team Sullivan volunteer group and made connections to help further AAI's adoption efforts in that country.

The volunteer group has existing relationships in Asikuma (Central region), a rural village about three hours over bumpy roads from the metropolis (over two-million) of Accra on Ghana's coast. The country is tropical and lush, and when we arrived children seemed to pour out of nowhere to welcome our group with smiles and greetings. We visited local families and a medical facility which is completely funded by this group's volunteer efforts. Seeing those donations directly help each of these families and orphaned children was truly priceless.

We also met children in care of CompAfricare, our partner Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)  in Ghana. Director Kofi Oppong toured us through a new school, just underway since December, 2012. The school sits on property in the village of Kawahu, approximately two hours from Accra, with a covered area ideal for outdoor playing, shaded from the hot, tropical sun and adjacent to a fresh-water pond (see AAI's Facebook for 2013 Ghana photographs). We played a game of catch with the kids and took them to a dinner at a local restaurant with a grassy field outside. An impromptu soccer game naturally ensued. Inside, the children danced up a storm with moves that I am sure I have yet to master. On my cell phone, I took photographs of the kids and asked if they'd like to send messages to their AAI families or to other agencies who care for them.

The time in Accra was frustrating - which makes adoption delays so much more understandable. Things that theoretically should not take long simply do because of unforeseen challenges such as an unusually different relationship with time. Sometimes things are delayed for weeks because - well, just because.

While in Accra I visited a number of foster homes with AAI children, taking pictures wherever possible. In addition, there are new homes being remodeled or under construction (they will be quite comfortable when they are done!). With changes in the country's policies, children will live in areas they came from, so some now housed in Accra will be moving to Kawahu into these new locations when complete.

Because a dignitary was in town, I was unable to visit our AAI children at Osu Orphanage. The access is limited already at the orphanage, and they closed off visitation for the day which was our only opportunity on this trip. Unfortunately, we also were unable to coordinate with our regional contacts  Joha Braimah and Muna Saeed, directors of The Ripley Foundation (partner NGO) to visit AAI children at those foster homes. Joha was out of the area and while Muna was available, our burden of meetings and the time involved just didn't allow for us to get it all done on this trip. Clearly another trip is in order to have an opportunity to spend more time and make more connections in Ghana's Cape Coast. It is very clear there is tremendous need here for assistance. Continued investment of our time and money will absolutely strengthen this program.

Most importantly, having a chance to get our feet on the ground in Ghana, we are assured that we have good support and a team to assist with our work. I look forward to what comes.

Sincerely,

Tina Flores-McCleese

AAI Interim Executive Director