 This village, like Obregyimah, is also in the Akuapem-South district of the Eastern Region. It is a village of about 950 people, set some 5 miles to the north-east of Yawkoko – the first MFZ established in Ghana on December 10, 2005. Since then, the villagers at Panpanso had been pestering Mr. Owusu, our local coordinator, with requests to do their village next. |
 A Typical Village Dwelling |
| We set out for Panpanso on August 17, 2006 after doing Obregyimah. The village had already been fumigated the week before and insecticide-treated bed nets as well as anti-malarial medication had been purchased and taken to the village |
 Getting Ready to Spray the Village |
| It is a village on the Accra-Kumasi trunk road, about 5 miles from Teacher Mante, which was transformed into a Malaria-Free Zone on February 20, 2006. Obregyimah has been clamoring for a similar status. Mr. Owusu and his team had fumigated the village and purchased insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and anti-malarial medication. |
 Spraying the Village |
 Spraying the Village |
| We set out in the afternoon because the morning clouds were threatening rain. Fortunately, it was a dry day. We took the main Accra–Kumasi trunk road and a few miles after Nsawam, we branched off onto a rutted dirt road, strewn with crevasses and boulders. After a 10-minute bone-shaking ride, we arrived at a clearing where a huge crowd had gathered. |
 Welcomed and Mobbed by a Throng |
I enquired from Mr. Owusu what was going on and he informed me that the villagers had gathered at the entrance to Panpanso. But where was the billboard, proclaiming Panpanso a “Malaria-Free Zone”? Mr. Owusu replied that the villagers wanted their billboard too to be on the main Accra-Kumasi trunk road for people to see it since that for Teacher Mante is on the road. Interesting. Perhaps, a contest should be held among the nearby villages to determine which village is the cleanest. Prizes should be awarded. This contest could be organized around an agricultural fair.
At our arrival, the villagers broke into joy and traditional songs, as well as dancing. They led us to the shade of huge baobab tree in the village center. |
 The Village Gathering |
 Thank you |
| A large banner, strung across the tree, read: “Thank You, Lance Laifer for saving our village from malaria.” |
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Another said: “Thank you Hedge Funds.” Read still another: “We need loan.” The latter was in reference to the micro-credit finance that was given to about 100 women in the nearby village of Teacher Mante. Apparently, Panpanso villagers wanted a similar credit facility. |
At the insistence of the chief, the villagers formed a long queue for each person to greet and welcome us to the village. Apparently, it is their custom. So we braced ourselves for the task of shaking the hands of nearly everyone in the village – from pregnant women, women with babies on their backs to children. But the expressions on their faces were genuine and of joy. The procession ended when an old wizened man sauntered up and vigorously shook my hand. He must have been 80 years old – minimum. He mumbled something I couldn’t understand but the expression on his face indicated that he was very happy. Malaria’s victims are most the young (under 5 years old) who have not developed a natural immune system, and the old, whose immune system or defenses have withered with age. |
 Greeting the Villagers |
| We were seated at a carefully laid-out table. The chief and the village elders were seated next to us. A procession of couriers carried the bed nets and anti-malarial drugs to the ceremony, carefully setting them down in front of the table. |
 The Gathering (1) |
 The Gathering (2) |
| The catechist from the nearby village of Yawkoko said the opening prayer. The village chief then gave a welcome address. He thanked Lance Laifer, the Hedge Funds community and the Free Africa Foundation for adopting and ridding their village of mosquitoes. Like his counterpart in Obregyimah, the chief also mentioned other amenities the villagers were desperately in need of – such as clean water, electricity, health clinic, and a primary school. But the most urgent, according to him, was preparatory school for the children. If we build it for them, they will name it the “Lance Laifer Preparatory School,” he told me. He spoke in Ewe, since the village is largely composed of Ewe migrants but his speech was translated to me by a local. |
 The Village Chief Speaking |
| Mr. Owusu spoke after him and then it was my turn. My short speech in English, which was translated into the vernacular by a local, was almost exactly the same as the one I gave the previous day at Obregyimah. I thanked the chief, the traditional council and the villagers for their warm welcome. I assured them that their additional needs have been noted and will pass their requests on to the sponsors. However, I stressed in my address to the village gathering – just as I did in the other villages -- that the bed nets were not to be sold. The villagers – especially the children – were to sleep in them. |
 Mr. Owusu Addressing the Villagers |
 Professor Ayittey Speaking |
I told them that it was important that they the initiative themselves to improve sanitation at the village and not sit back, expecting the government or some American benefactor to come and do everything for them. As an incentive to get them to help themselves, I indicated to them that I would be more than willing to consider any projects they start themselves that are aimed at malaria-eradication in their village.
In every village we visited, the people complained about politicians and government officials who take them for a ride. They only come to the villages at election time to make vain and empty promises. As soon as the elections are over, they vanish into thin air – never to be seen again until the next election cycle. We heard exactly the same complaint at Panpanso also.
I instructed the villagers to become more politically active and that they should demand to know from political candidates what they have done for the villages. If their answers are not satisfactory, they should not vote for them.
I also took the occasion to chastise African politicians and heads of state who ignore the plight of the people they claim to serve to salvage the continent from its economic miasma. African leaders and politicians need to cultivate the culture of service to the people and stop jostling for positions. “One does not necessarily need to become or assume the position of a president before he should render such needing services to his country and people,” I said. “In fact, anyone who claims he can solve a problem after becoming president is the least qualified to be one,” I continued.
I instructed the villagers to be bold in asking all presidential aspirants, who approach them for their votes, what they have done for the people before considering voting for them. I was surprised when the villagers applauded thunderously, signifying that they were far more politically sophisticated than I gave them credit for. |
 Enthusiastic Applause |
 A Jubilant Crowd |
 Even the Children Were Clapping |
| In an engaging ceremony, I presented the ITNs and anti-malarial medication to the chief for distribution to the villagers. Newspaper reporters took pictures, while television reporters video-taped the proceedings. |
 Presenting the Bed Nets and Anti-Malaria Medication |
 Expressing Gratitude on Behalf of the Village |
 With The Village Development Council |
| A bevy of village women entertained us with a spirited cultural dance. This time, I did not join them as I did with the young children in Obregyimah. There is a certain air of “innocence” that hovers around children that inoculates those who join them. |
It was a truly a grand occasion. Since one village wants to outdo the other, perhaps, a contest should be held among them, as indicated earlier. An annual contest on malaria eradication (which village has the most effective weapon, which village is the cleanest, etc.) can be held to make the campaign more sustainable. This contest may be embedded in an annual agricultural fairs, where prizes may be awarded for say the “Biggest bunch of plantain,” the “Biggest tuber of yam,” the “Biggest ear of corn,” etc. The obvious by-product is more food production, which will boost the village economy.
George B.N. Ayittey, Ph.D.
September 7, 2006. |
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