As part of a week long study tour, five senior Local Government officials from Ghana came to Buriton in August.
After spending the morning with Andrew Bray and family at Nursted Farm, the visitors had lunch at the Five Bells and met members of Buriton's Village-to-Village Group which coordinates the community's link with Dominase in Ghana.
The study tour was a direct result of Buriton's work with Dominase as the local authorities in both countries now share good practices and ideas. Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council liaise with the Upper Denkyira West District Assembly - with any costs involved funded as part of UK Government's International Aid programme.
It was the existence of well-developed links between Buriton and Dominase which led to the wider programme of support.
In rural Ghana, over 60% of the people are involved in farming - virtually all are small, family farms with little / no cooperation between them. Traditional downland farming, diversification, methods of local government assistance and sustainable development were discussed on the Buriton leg of the tour.
The visitors (three Chief Officers and two leading elected representatives) learnt a great deal on their visit to Hampshire and have returned home with many ideas to help improve their local economy and living conditions.
They expressed sincere thanks to everyone in Buriton for all the assistance provided to the people of Dominase and its surrounding out-station villages.
