SOS Children in Ghana

SOS Children has been there for families in Ghana for four decades. At times of disaster, such as the floods of 2007, we have helped through emergency relief and long-term support.

With SOS Children, you can help orphaned and abandoned children in Ghana by sponsoring a child:

Life in Ghana is improving, but its people still face many challenges

The quality of life for the average Ghanaian has improved as the country has enjoyed economic growth and a reduction in extreme poverty. However, for those marginalised in society, life still presents many challenges. Approximately 260,000 Ghanaians are affected by HIV/AIDS, and some cannot afford anti-retroviral treatment or forgo it for fears of discrimination. In the capital Accra, violence is all too common in the poorest areas. 28% of Ghana’s population still live in poverty and the life expectancy is around 58 years. In rural areas, about 30% of people have no access to clean water drinking sources.

Children in Ghana

• 27,000 children under the age of 14 in Ghana are living with HIV. Many more have been orphaned due to AIDS. It is estimated that in total in Ghana, over one million children have lost one or both parents.

• Street children are a common sight in Accra. Many get no education and remain illiterate, leaving them in a dangerous cycle of poverty and neglect.

• Whilst school attendance rates are fairly high, approximately 1 in 5 children do not attend primary school and it is therefore no surprise that 34% of Ghanaian children are involved in some form of child labour activities.
  

Our charity work in Ghana

Tema

The schools at Tema include an International College. Established in 1990 it offers courses leading to the International Baccalaureate and IGCSE to SOS children from all over Africa, as well as non-SOS Ghanaian children. Many students go on to university in Europe and the USA as well as Africa.

Asiakwa

Kumasi

Opened in November 2009, SOS Children's Village Kumasi has 12 family houses for 120 children, as well as an SOS Nursery and an SOS School for 210 pupils. An SOS Medical Centre can treat about 12,000 people a year.

Tamale

Aids Orphans in Ghana

Life in SOS Children's Villages Ghana

Emmanuel was born in 1981. He was admitted to SOS Children's Village Tema in Ghana when he was only five years old. The dire conditions he was living in with his grandmother did not allow her to offer him everything he needed for his development. She therefore took the boy to SOS Children's Village Tema, where he was able to experience not only improved living conditions, but also a good education.

Now aged 29, he is about to complete his studies and will soon get his engineering degree before embracing a career that will allow him to make his dreams come true.

Emmanuel lived at the village for 17 years. He had a real family life; a life that marked his childhood. "I had three brothers and five sisters. Christmas and Easter is great when you are a child because you get new shoes and clothes and also go out for parties, but the village also organizes one big celebration where all family houses come together in one location and party; it was fun because there was a lot to eat and drink", he said.

He is grateful for the education received at SOS Children's Village Tema because without village intervention, 'life probably would be very questionable'. The key values that had an impact on him during life at the village are love and sharing.

Local Contact

SOS Children's Village Association of Ghana   

P.O.Box 16657

Accra North   

Ghana 

Tel: +233-302 22 2867