Manye Foundation, N.g.o, Tema, Ghana, West Africa

The Manye Foundation is a small non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists migrant families in Kpone Barrier, Ghana, West Africa. The main operation of the foundation is overseeing a primary school that offers a merger of traditional and enhanced curriculum.

The foundation also administers other programs with the goal of accessible, relevant, and enjoyable education. We are a small organization that relies on volunteer work, local support, and hard work. Although we try to lay out our programs in a systematic order, you should recognize that beyond Manye Academy, many of these services are provided informally, as a need arises. As we expand, more of our programs are becoming fully integrated and institutionalized.

The Manye Foundation is located in a squatter settlement of migrant families in Kpone Barrier, Ghana. We are right along the prime meridian, right along the Gulf of Guinea coast in the middle of West Africa. We are on the outskirts of Tema, Ghana’s main port east of Accra. Kpone (pronounced ‘Pohn’) is the name of a nearby fishing village on the other side of the main road between Accra and Togo.

The ‘Barrier’ comes from the police barrier along that main highway, established under Jerry Rawlings to stop armed robbers.

Many wealthy Ghanaians are beginning to build homes in our village, providing jobs for the squatters, yet eventually forcing them to move out. Presently, most family members make cement blocks, are carpenters, or electricians for housing construction. Some family members are “rag-pickers,” individuals who scavenge through the “boiler” (dump) for resalable goods.

Nearly all farmers also farm, including goats, peppers, and other crops.