By Tony Kaye | AVN Vice-President
The AVN-Ghana team inaugurated our new national office in Bolgatanga on November 25th 2015. In front of around 50 guests, the building was officially opened in the presence of Seri Youlou, co-founder of AVN, together with representatives of several local authorities and institutional agencies. During the ceremony, several speeches underlined the innovative aspects of the NV concept, the opportunities offered by AVN's presence in Ghana, and the willingness of local authorities to work with AVN.
In his opening speech, Giulio Cocchini, AVN's national coordinator, emphasised the innovatory nature of the NV concept: " We could have founded a building enterprise selling Nubian Vault houses, or we could have donated for charity NV buildings to underprivileged people. Yet, we are convinced that neither by selling or donating houses we could have spread the Nubian Vault concept as rapidly and widely as we did so far. AVN strongly believes in the power of market and operates for allowing a free market for Nubian Vault to emerge."
In his closing speech, the honorary president of the ceremony, M. Victor Atinga, Municipal Director of Bolgatanga's Department of Rural Housing, stressed the need for collaboration between AVN and the local authorities and agencies: "The Nubian Vault Association's local building materials technology and their collaboration with Department of Rural Housing for the operation and functioning of this technology is therefore hereby earnestly recommended to Regional Council, Municipal District Assembly, Government Agencies, Local Authorities and NGOs, with an appeal to you all, to appreciate and help, support and co-operate with this collaborating Unit of Department of Rural Housing and Nubian Vault Association. "
This inauguration opens a new chapter for AVN in Ghana. After over 18 months' presence, during which 6 NV buildings have already been constructed in the country (including a henhouse, a computer lab, a dormitory, and a new wing forn the Royal Palace at Kazigo) the existence of a national office built by NV masons represents a real advance for the program. Its construction reflects the initiation of a relationship with local authorities, clearly demonstrated by the allocation of the site to AVN by the Department for Community Development. It has also provided an opportunity for the on-site training of several Ghanaian masons (12 local apprentices are in training), and a showcase building to attract future NV clients.
The new AVN office will provide an essential logistical support for the effective promotion of the NV concept in northern Ghana - our first formal transfer of the program from a 'francophone' to an 'anglophone' African country. It will also, in conjunction with the AVN Head Office in France, actively pursue fund-raising efforts to help train many more local apprentices and to develop the market for NV homes in the region. Any help you can provide will, as alays, be very welcome.
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