The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated 12 Nissan pickup vehicles to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) in Tamale, Ghana. The donation, made on January 8, 2016, aims to enhance service delivery by distributing the vehicles among nine metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs), as well as three regional departments within the Northern Region of Ghana.
The MMDAs that received vehicles include Tamale Metropolitan, Savelugu, Central Gonja, Saboba, East Mamprusi, Nanumba North, Nanumba South, Tolon, and West Gonja. Additionally, the Northern Region Health Directorate, Northern Region Environmental Health Unit, and the Northern Region Department of Social Welfare each received a vehicle.
USAID/Ghana Mission Director Andrew Karas presented the vehicles on behalf of the U.S. government. During the handover ceremony he stated: “These vehicles will enable local governments to provide more efficient and improved services to even their most vulnerable and remote citizens.” He further expressed confidence in fostering "healthier, more resilient communities" through partnerships aimed at building "a stronger Ghana."
This donation was facilitated by USAID's $60 million Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) project. As part of the U.S. government's Feed the Future and Global Health Initiatives RING focuses on improving livelihoods and nutrition for at-risk households in Northern Ghana. The project's goals include reducing stunting in children under five years old by 20 percent and doubling incomes for targeted vulnerable households in the region. RING collaborates with the Government of Ghana supporting both NRCC and 17 MMDAs.
For over five decades USAID has been active in Ghana working towards increased food security better basic health care access to education and strengthened local governance benefiting all Ghanaians.