Ghana

The Ghana Girl Guides Association

Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting introduced: 1921
Number of Girl Guides/Girl Scouts: 7835 (01/01/2006)
Status: Full Member
Guiding Introduced on: 01/01/1921
Admits boys: No

WAGGGS Region:

Africa

Contact us

Chairperson
C/O Po Box 98
ACCRA

Telephone: 00 23321404070
Fax: 00 23321406003
Email: boateng_alice@yahoo.co.uk

Click here to view additional information on this organisation

Promise:

Girl Guide Promise

I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to God,
To serve my country and help other people, and
To keep the Guide Law.

Brownie Promise

I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to God,
To serve my country and help other people, and
To keep the Brownie Law.

Law:

Girl Guide Law

A Guide is loyal and can be trusted.

A Guide is helpful.

A Guide is polite and considerate.

A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides.

A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things.

A Guide is obedient.

A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties.

A Guide makes good use of her time.

A Guide takes care of her own possessions and those of other people.

A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does.

Brownie Law

A Brownie is truthful, obedient and cheerful
And thinks of others before herself.

Motto:

Girl Guide Motto - Be Prepared

Brownie Motto - Always Ready to Help

Age groups:

Adult Leaders 25+

Young Leaders 15-21

Rangers 12-15

Girl Guides 10-12

Brownies 7-10

Huhuwa Guides 6-7

Development of the movement:

Guiding in Ghana was launched in Accra in 1921 and spread to towns and villages all over the country during the next 20 years. In 1930 the Association’s headquarters were built in Accra, and since 1945 cadet companies have been established in most of the women’s training colleges.

Programme:

The programme is based on an eight-point system and incorporates keeping fit; becoming a homemaker; giving service; keeping the Guide Law; getting to know people; enjoying the outdoors; thinking for yourself; and exploring the arts. In 1987, the Junior (Brownie) Guides were created in line with the age groupings in the new national education system, and the first group of the Huhuwa Guides also came into being.

Relationship to society:

International Links and Co-operation

The Ghana Girl Guides Association has maintained links with Scottish Guides. Groups of Guides continue to visit Ghana every three years. During their visits they help provide labour for ongoing building projects aimed at improving infrastructure in Ghanaian villages. Scottish Guides also fully fund the participation of Guides from these villages at national camps in Scotland. In addition, they provide funds to the Association to help support some Guiding activities.

Since January 1995, the Danish Guide and Scouts Association (DDS) has co-operated with the Ghana Girl Guides Association. As part of the co-operation, the DDS provided funds for office equipment and training of an administrative secretary as well as a few Young Leaders to help run the office. This has improved administrative procedures as well as communication and information flow both internally and externally.

DDS also provided funds for the training of Adult Leaders and District Commissioners. This has made the decentralization of most activities to the district level effective as District Commissioners have acquired an initial training to supervise and assist Adult Leaders.

DDS has funded the printing of regular newsletters to disseminate information and decisions taken at management meetings to members of GGGA. In addition to this, DDS provided funds for the update of a Guiders’ manual to be used for instruction at all unit levels. A song book with old and new songs, some of which were composed by the Guides, has also been funded. As well as funding, DDS has sent volunteers who have helped with training and programme planning at various levels.

At present a Guide Youth Leader is in Ghana for a year to work with a local Guide Youth Leader. Their task is to assist with the membership drive, especially outside Accra, and help strengthen the already existing units.

DDS organizes yearly summer work camps with GGGA. At these work camps they provide fund and labour for ongoing projects belonging to the GGGA, the most recent being the preparation of a newly acquired site in the middle belt of Ghana (Asokore) where the GGGA intends to build a training/recreational centre as well as a craft village. When completed this will be open to Guides from all over the world and to visitors, as well serve to generate income for the GGGA.

These joint camps have helped strengthen the Ranger group in Ghana. The cooperation with DDS has enabled some leaders and Rangers not just to participate in activities in Ghana but to have the chance of attending training seminars and experience Guiding in Denmark.

A group from GGGA is also being sponsored to attend a National Jamboree scheduled to take place in Denmark. The first five years of the co-operation ends at the end of 1999 but DDS wishes to extend it for another five-year period.

British Guides have also been in close links with GGGA. Since 1997 British Guides have been visiting Ghana in the summer for inter-cultural links with Ghanaian Guides and Rangers. This involves a week of camping with the local girls during which time they teach British crafts, games and songs and learn the same from their Ghanaian counterparts. The second week involves touring various places of interest around the country. During the third week the Guides experience Ghanaian hospitality in the homes of fellow Guides who participated in the camp.

Working with the Community

Work in the community has continued especially in the areas of health and the environment. The GGGA has already planted 1,200 trees in 1999 and hopes to have planted 2,500 by the end of the year.

In close links with the Ministry of Health, the GGGA is helping identify for treatment people with ‘Buruli Ulcer’, a disease which seems to be afflicting more and more people living in remote villages. The Rangers are also educating youth in adolescent reproductive health and related issues.