Plan USA’s President and CEO Ahuma Adodoadji will travel to Accra, Ghana in early July to represent the child-centered humanitarian organization during President Barack Obama’s first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

“As a native Ghanaian, I am honored that President Obama has chosen Ghana to be his first African stop during this historic journey,” said Adodoadji. “The President clearly recognizes the enormous achievements Ghana has made as a model of sound governance which is critical to lasting development.”

Plan, which has offices in Warwick, started operations in Ghana in 1992 in the Bawjiase program area and now operates directly in five regions of the country.

“Plan has made a lasting commitment to the people of Ghana over the years by working with thousands of children and their families to help reduce poverty by promoting health care and education,” added Adodoadji.

Recently, the President of Ghana, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, visited Plan’s work sites in both Sissala East and West as part of his tour of the three northern regions to see what needs to be done on the ground. The President praised Plan’s management and staff for their good work during a visit to Plan’s offices in Tumu.

“I am very happy for the good work Plan Ghana is doing in this area to uplift the living standards of children and their families. I commend you highly for that,” Atta-Mills said. “I hope you will keep it up and possibly expand your program to cover more districts in the region. Keep the good work up Plan Ghana.”

Among Plan's notable achievements over the years is the increase in school enrollment figures from 60 to 95 percent due to a collaborative partnership with 300 communities to improve 180 school facilities in rural areas. In remote communities, conditions have been improved with increased access to usable water from 27 percent in 2003 to 73 percent in 2008.

Plan has also been instrumental in the facilitation of scholarships to more than 3,000 students, training of more than 1,000 teachers in rural areas and spearheading a birth registration drive (registration jumped from 17 percent in 2003 to 62 percent in 2008).

Plan has also pioneered the participation of children in international programs including the Commonwealth games in Australia in 2005 and UN Session on Children 2006. Last year, six youth from Ghana came to the United States as part of a partnership between Plan Ghana, Plan USA and the Diaspora African Forum. In an effort to promote the exchange of cross-cultural information and the development of cross-cultural awareness and understanding, these six child ambassadors experienced what life was like in the United States, met their American counterparts in schools and shared what their life was like in Ghana. When they returned to Ghana, each of the child ambassadors used their learning and experience to make a difference in their own communities.