OUR GOAL: ESTABLISH AN E-CENTER IN GHANA

We now want to expand this program to include Ghana where the BYU I Pathways program has become so strong. It currently is the most stable and promising area of West Africa. Businesses have been identified by church leaders, and interns will be hired in Ghana and trained by Idaho E-Center interns and staff. Due to the great advantages of technology the interns can interact and do projects together for some of these Ghanaian companies.

The goal is to give the local interns experience while growing businesses and contributing to the growth of the economy in Ghana. This can be done through research, mentoring and funding at more reasonable interest rates. (The Ghanaian Banks are charging 31% interest at the moment which is crushing business)

Bob has hired his first Ghanaian E-Center Associate, Hans Akosah, former head of Technology for a Ghanaian insurance agency.  He is a businessman at heart, with ideas of his own and will be of great assistance with the projects, especially with his knowledge in technology.

We have been in meetings with Elder John A. Koranteng, who is the Area Seventy Authority over the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) in West Africa to make certain that our goals align with the needs and can complement the established self-reliance program. 

Elder John A. Koraneng, Bob and Marva Pothier

Before leaving for Ghana, Bob Pothier, Stephen McGary(BYUI Faculty) and Cory Smith (Current  E-Center Director) met with Elder Bob Gay in Salt Lake.  Elder Gay is over the PEF Program. He is aware of our goals and efforts . He and his wife have been a great blessing to the people of Ghana through the years.

It is our sincere desire to be of assistance to the established church programs and keep in close contactwith them.  President Kim B. Clark, President of BYU Idaho, counseled us to have the Idaho 

E-Center as a separate organization from the school itself and we have seen the value of that counsel because of the opportunities that are more open for funding and interacting with other organizations. 

We have always reported to the administration at BYU Idaho and continue to serve with their approval.  In Ghana we will want to work closely with the church authorities.

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