A new series of events by Christian Aid aims to throw the spotlight on the poverty that continues to grip Ghana in spite of its wealth of natural resources.

In 2007, academic and theologian Dr Robert Beckford travelled to Ghana on a Christian Aid-backed trip to find out why Ghana is still struggling to break free from poverty 50 years after it gained independence.

His visit was filmed for the Channel 4 documentary 'The Great African Scandal', which lifted the lid on the scandalous reality behind the production of the rice, chocolate and gold that ends up in British high street stores. It also revealed the extent to which unfair economic policies are keeping farmers and their families locked in a life of grinding poverty.

Honing in on the issues raised in the documentary, Christian Aid will kick off its African Scandal? series of events on 8 February at London South Bank University, showing clips from the documentary and bringing together a number of guest speakers, including Dr Beckford who will lead panel discussions with questions from the audience.

Christian Aid and its indigenous partners have carried out substantial development work in Ghana since the 1970s, particularly in the rice sector where many local rice farmers have seen their livelihoods swallowed up as a result of World Bank and IMF loans.

These loans were granted on the condition that the country open its markets to foreign produce at the expense of the Ghanaian Government supporting its own farmers. Local farmers used to command almost 50 per cent of the domestic market, but that has now shrunk massively in the face of substantial imports of rice from the US.

Mohammed Adam Nashiru, a rice farmer from Botanga in Ghana said, "We are being cheated...pushed to the wall."

Christian Aid funds programmes through eight local partner organisations, some of which campaign on economic justice issues.

Dr Beckford said: "As a theologian, justice and the ongoing fight for change are central to my writing, teaching and film-making."


Tour Dates:

? London Friday 8 February 7pm
South Bank University Events Theatre, Keyworth Centre,
Keyworth Street, London SE1 6NG

? Birmingham Wednesday 20 February, 7pm
The Drum, 144 Potters Lane , Aston , B6 4UU


? Bristol Wednesday 27 February, 7pm
The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum ,
Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads , BS1 6QH


? Manchester Wednesday 5 March 7pm
Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, M15 5ZA


? Liverpool Wednesday 12 March, 7pm
The Foundation of Art and Creative Technology
88 Wood Street, L1 4DQ