Progress Report on the building of a treatment center
June 21, 2006
Completion of the building
Three days before Hilda and I left Ghana to return to the USA we were able to complete the Treatment Center. There are two large bedrooms with space enough to house three to four men each. There is a large living room/dining room, a toilet, shower and a kitchen. The building is on a site of almost two acres. Currently there is no electricity to the building but the building has been wired and has electrical fixtures. There is also no running water. The cistern described below will hold water for residents until funds are raised to drill a well. Efforts to obtain water from two separated hand-dug wells of 35 feet yielded no water and ended at bedrock. A bore hole through the bedrock will have to done. The lack of electricity and running water will not delay the opening of the Treatment center; these amenities are lacking in many homes in Ghana and the cistern and lanterns will suffice for the short term. However, without a bore hole to provide water for living, the facility will be limited to housing two or three individuals.
We are still working on obtaining funds and training for the staff.
We have been advised to have the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous translated into the major languages of Ghana. We are proceeding with this effort and are now contacting people who will do this translation. Such an effort if successful will have a long term impact in Ghana.
November 1, 2007
The Treatment Centre building is complete. It has been provided with furniture for up to four men. Two individuals lived at the Centre earlier in the year. The lack of adequate water is a problem. There is a small group of people in nearby Kukurantumi who are willing to provide support for several men living at the Centre as a half-way house. The AA meeting in Kukurantumi meets twice a week. There is a possibility that several Christian men in the USA will provide funds for the drilling of a bore hole.
April 2008
We had no one in residence this year due to the lack of a reliable water source. We are still seeking funds to drill a bore hole which will provide the necessary water.
We have been able to translate three chapters from the Big Book into the vernacular, Twi language. The local AA group uses these chapters in their meetings.
