Unrest in Ghana makes sister-city relationship difficult

OTHELLO — Instability and violence in northern Ghana have made it difficult for Othello to actively support its sister city Wulensi right now.

At least that’s what the Othello Sister City Committee concluded on Tuesday evening after hearing from Kwesi Osei-Bonsu, a pastor, professor, and tribal chief from the tiny town of Asaasefofoom in southern Ghana.

So, while the committee members wait for things to calm down in northern Ghana — a closely-fought parliamentary election and succession difficulties after the death of a prominent tribal chief — the committee decided to focus its efforts on developing a sustainable agricultural project in Osei-Bonsu’s farming community.

“It seems to me if we can set up a pilot program, teach local people to farm successfully, then when things quiet down, we can move it up north,” said E. R. Kelley, a former Othello mayor and a member of the sister city committee.

Osei-Bonsu, who said he’s spent over half of his life working and studying outside of his native Ghana — including frequent visits to Othello as a result of his doctoral research among Native Americans — decided that he wanted to do some missionary work among his own people.

Especially in northern Ghana, which is poorer than the south.

“I wanted to bring the technology you have here back to Ghana,” he said. “And some people told me, if you really want to help, you must go to the north [of Ghana]. I saw a lot of need.”

That need was met by a tiny Christian mission in the largely Muslim village of Wulensi, a mission that helps with essentials like clothes. It was also through that mission outreach that Osei-Bonsu helped foster Othello’s sister-city relationship.

So committee members pledged to see how they could support efforts to improve corn and yam farming by hand on 10 acres the residents of Asaasefofoom are currently clearing, to help with seed, tools, and a solar powered irrigation pump. In all, the committee is looking at providing a possible $25,000 for Osei-Bonsu’s fledgling farm project.

“I’ve done that,” Kelley said of farming by hand. “And that’s the reason I’m not a farmer.”

Members will spend the next week taking Osei-Bonsu around the area to talk to planters, implement sellers, and seed growers to see just how feasible any of this will be.

But Othello Mayor Shawn Logan was hopeful. It may be 10 acres now, he said, but it could become 10,000 acres in the future with enough hard work and faith.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.