Mankessim is located in Mfantsiman in Central Ghana. People in Mankessim are primarily dedicated to farming, trading and fishing; the typical house is made of mud and bricks. The people in this community have access to primary education, but if they want to pursue secondary and tertiary education, they need to travel to the city. When visiting the community, they expressed that their top needs are improving the sanitation projects, access to household toilet facilities, and access to credit. Global Brigades is currently working with Medical brigades in Mankessim and seeking collaboration with local partners to implement water, sanitation, healthcare and economic projects as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Ghana.
District: Mfantsiman
Region: Central
Global Brigades establishes mobile clinics in Mankessim in an effort to provide access to basic health care services to the community members. In conjunction with the government-run Ghana Health Service, Global Brigades is working to improve healthcare in the region, including supporting the establishment and training of local Community Health Workers. This program will be soon available in Mankessim.
Medical Brigade clinics are hosted in Mankessim‘s CHPS Compound. Volunteers assist local doctors and community nurses in serving patients at each station in the clinic. Each day of the brigade, an average of 3 educational workshops is facilitated with the clinic’s patients.
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In working closely with the medical program, the dental program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of medical brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of dentists within a reasonable distance. This program will soon be available in Mankessim.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers | Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
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Community members in Mankessim rely primarily on fishmongering and animal husbandry to make a living. Reliance on agriculture and lack of access to basic financial services make economic growth in the community a serious challenge.
Access to credit is limited by barriers in transportation and exclusion from formal financial institutions. If community members aren’t able to access these institutions, their only option is to solicit credit from loan sharks, who charge exorbitant interest rates. Additionally, maintaining savings may not be a common practice for many rural communities in Ghana.
Volunteers
Loans Disbursed
Capital Invested
Business Consultations
In addition to working with the community banks, the Business Program provides support and technical skills in establishing anchor businesses that generate additional capital. The goal is to better integrate isolated communities into the local economy and allow for growth.
During this process, interested community members receive training to increase their familiarity with business terminology, develop their business administration skills, and promote innovation and diversification in the types of business ventures they pursue.
While Mankessim establishes a community bank, business brigades are working closely with businesses to improve their growth and revenues.
| Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers | Chapter | Date | # Of Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mott Community College | March 2025 | 11 | |||