SUMMARY PROGRES REPORT PD AND GHANA HOMELESS PEOPLE’S DIALOGUE- GHANA November 2005

 The Federation began at the end of 2003 and today there are 52 savings and housing schemes in 82 communities and 5 Regions (Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, and Volta) with a total membership of more than 6,000 families and a total savings of about ¢450,0000,000 (approx. $50,000 USD).   People’s Dialogue and the Ghana Homeless People’s Federation work in four of the largest urban localities in the country (Accra metropolis, Kumasi metropolis, Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, and Ashaiman

Partnership ,Collaboration ,  Institutional Building, & Exchange 

• Negotiations with city officials and relevant Ministries on alternative to eviction of old Fadama has been ongoing. Working jointly with UN Habitat and other stakeholders, The Government of Ghana Through relevant Ministries, NGO’s is considering alternatives to Evictions in Old Fadama. In a letter dated November 14, 2005, signed by the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, the GOG is requesting collaboration and support from SDI /PD  to carry out an Enumeration in Old Fadama. At long last!

 PD regards this partnership an the single most important development in its alternatives to forced evictions Programme in Ghana.

• During the just ended World Habitat Day Celebration, People’s Dialogue and GHPF, worked in partnership with The Sekondi/Takoradi City Authorities together with Government Ministries in the planning and participation of the Day.
• About 1500 Federation members from all 5 regions assembled in Takoradi to mark the day which climaxed with grand durbar where federation leaders, Members of Parliament ,City officials and International partners took turns to address the crowd. It was significant  since this was the first time the  GHPF entered their name in the Governments and city authorities book of Urban Actors /Civil society groups  as a sign of recognition and acceptance.
• The Collaboration and partnership with Government and city authorities received a further boast when at the celebration of the Day, Federation members requested support from the Government to complete a Community Water Project they have initiated.  The Minister of  Local Government and Rural Development and the Chief Executive of the Sekondi /Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly donated a Water Tank in aid of the Federation community water project.
• One of the most significant developments in the life of PD and GHPF is the first ever Community-based Enumeration in Ashaiman in October 2005.
• A 5 member Ghanaian team participated in an International Exchange to Kenya. April 2005. The Ghanaian team were expose to Commununity-led loans and Enumeration skills. Upon their return to Ghana, Community loans have started and an Enumeration exercise has started and the skills and experience learnt is being applied.
• In October 2005, Five (5) SDI members from Kenya and South Africa were in Ghana to support their Ghanaian counterparts to do Enumeration.
• Again in April 2005, Jane Weru, of Pamajo Trust , Kenya together with 2 colleagues from HI   participated in The Ghana Housing Policy Review. They made very important inputs and Suggestions on SDI and their counterparts experience and work at the forum and their inputs have been included in the Ghana Housing Policy.

• Discussions and negotiations have concluded with the Ashiaman Zonal Council for the construction of a sanitation unit in Ashiaman. The Assembly has earmarked a plot for the Federation to construct the said Sanitation unit. Federations Teams/ Working groups have been formed and planning is ongoing to undertake this joint Project.
• PDG and the Ghana Homeless People’s Federation took part in an informative discussion with Government officials, Policymakers, representatives of the financial sector and Private Housing providers to deliberate on house to develop a framework on affordable housing in Ghana. PD continue to serve on the Technical; committee to review Ghana’s Housing Policy
• As a further demonstration of the Governments commitment to work with the urban poor federation, a request has been made to PDG by two relevant Deputy Ministers – Housing, and Lands Ministries for an exposure visit to other SDI participating Countries to learn best practices on how to work with and partner the urban poor federation in Ghana.
• Upon request from railway dwellers in Ghana leaders of the GHPF mobilized the railway dwellers and introduced the SDI and formed the Ghana Railway Dwellers Federation to negotiate with Government and the Ghana Railway Corporation to prevent the use of eviction and to explore negotiated solutions.
• An organised, recognised Federation of the urban poor in Ghana – The GHPF in Ghana  has now gained legitimacy, recognition and acceptance as a  well-organized network of poor communities that is helping to institutionalize collaborative pro-poor strategies for town and city development. 

            The  partnership between People’s/GHPF, UH Habitat’s SUF and the Tema Municipal Authority and the Government of Ghana to carry out the Community based Enumeration  and the Collaboration in Sekondi/Takoradi Federation Community Water project presents an examples of communities and local government  working  and planning together  for development schemes. – The launching of the Enumeration Exercise produced valuable learning-by-doing between those involved and their counterparts.