Village BICYCLE Project, ghana

VBP programs make cycling an attractive choice for entire communities, as improved mobility enables growth in productivity with better access to jobs, schools and healthcare, not to mention the environmental and health benefits of cycling.

Bicycles provide time-saving transportation that significantly increases access to income, health and education. Instead of hours spent walking with loads of vegetables for market, the farmer can cycle his goods in a fraction of the time. Students on bikes can use extra hours studying instead of trudging many miles to school, and mothers are able to carry children and supplies with substantial ease.

Ghana is considered one of the more stable countries in West Africa since its transition to multi-party democracy in 1992. Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan nation to break free from colonial rule. Gold, cocoa and more recently oil form the cornerstone of Ghana’s economy and have helped fuel an economic boom. The country is named after the great medieval trading empire that was located northwest of the modern-day state until its demise in the 13th century.