US Ambassador tells volunteers to be change agents

Mr. Robert Jackson, the United States (US) Ambassador, has urged Peace Corps Volunteers to go the extra mile to aid communities where they are working to become more productive.

The expectation was that as ‘change agents’ they would build strong relationships and assist the people to accept new ideas and new ways of doing things to transform their lives.     

Mr. Jackson was speaking at the end of a 10-week orientation for 22 US Health Corps Volunteers at Akim-Maase.

They would be working in the areas of water and sanitation, HIV-AIDS and nutrition across eight regions – Eastern, Central, Volta, Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Upper East, Upper West and Northern.

Mr. Jackson reminded them to respect the culture and traditions of the local communities, telling them, to always keep in mind that they “are grassroots ambassadors of the US”.    

They should represent the core values of their country – strong work ethics, progress and change, and directness in relations with others.    

Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, praised the volunteers for accepting to work in deprived communities and assured them that they would be given the needed support and cooperation. 

A total of about 5,000 Peace Corps Volunteers had served in various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and society since they started coming into the country in 1961.

Source: GNA