He led in the organization of the first ever RI PolioPlus Partners visit to Ghana in 1998, and was the Chairman of the Ghana National PolioPlus Committee of RI 1995 -2001. He has two distinct accolades to his credit: Pioneer of the PolioPlus Partners trips abroad & Father of the West African Project Fair. A very fine gentleman, he initiated the establishment of the annual Rotary West Africa Project Fair in 2005, and chaired the oversight Committee from 2005 to 2010, among other top Rotary positions he occupied at Club, Country, District and International level. I present to you, PDG Robet F. Atta.
Q: You are credited with introducing PolioPlus Partners visits to Ghana. Can you recount the events leading up to this?
At Rotary International Convention in Indianapolis, USA, in 1988, the leadership of District 5170 (California, USA) approached the then District Governor, Alain Bambara of District 9100 to find out what PolioPlus activity they could undertake in District 9100. DG Alain Bambara connected them to the Ghana delegation at the convention, Ghana, in his view, being the ideal country to kick- start the partnership. After consultations, it was agreed the Americans would provide funds for the forthcoming National Immunization Days (NID) in Ghana. District 5170 raised a substantial amount of money ($175,000) which was matched by the Rotary Foundation for the project.
PDG Robert presenting a lantern to a female volunteer group in Mali
Then at the suggestion of the Ghanaians, a group of Rotarians from District 5170 decided to travel to Ghana, at their own expense, to participate in the NID. They applied to the International Polio Plus Committee in Evanston for permission to come to Ghana but were refused. They ignored the refusal and sent a team of 120 Rotarians to Ghana to participate in the week-long activity, including 2 days of polio immunization. That was the very first polio plus partners visit in the whole world to participate in NID. The programme that was later expanded to cover all polio endemic countries, including India and Pakistan.
In my position a Chairman of the Ghana National PolioPlus Committee, I assumed the responsibility of organizing the trip for the Americans. Ghanaian Rotarians hosted most of their guests, offered hospitality and entertainment resulting
in long lasting friendships, as well as partnerships for club projects.
Q: Let’s look at the issue of polio & the role of Rotary in Ghana. From District 9100 to District 9102, any progress made so far?
We started with a situation where the Ministry of Health was unwilling to carryout national immunization days. They rather preferred the District Health officers handling vaccinations at the district levels in their own time. However, through a lot of pressure by Rotary with the support of our WHO and UNICEF partners, we convinced them that the success of polio eradication was through the national immunization campaigns. NIDs enabled us to virtually reach every child in the country, resulting in drastic reduction of polio cases, and leading to what can only be termed a success today. Naturally I am very delighted we have achieved the ultimate objective of eradicating polio in Ghana. We are hoping once Nigeria also becomes polio free, Africa will be certified a polio free continent. One area of concern is surveillance, the continuing coverage to ensure that there are no new polio cases and if there are, remedial action is be taken promptly.
Q: Any reservations to the exercise?
I am actually concerned that we are not carrying out national immunization days. It is an exercise that we must continue to undertake until that final day when the whole continent and indeed the whole world is declared polio free. I wish to see more vaccination activity but I know the problem has to do with financial constraints. The International PolioPlus Committee is naturally focusing its attention on Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and our Government is turning its attention to other demanding health needs, but this affords us Rotarians the opportunity to continue the advocacy and impress upon all the benefits in continuing the NID program.
Q: Let’s come to the West Africa Project Fair; your flagship initiative which a lot of clubs within the district and even beyond have benefitted from, in numerous ways. Tell us a bit about it.
In 2002, during my year in office, I travelled to the District 5170 in California, for a programme titled ‘Partners
in Service-get-Together’, through which partner countries or District representatives are brought together. During the process, the representative from Central America, PP Foster and I developed a relationship. After my year in office he wrote to encourage me to set- up the project fair, a partnership program in operation in Central America which they found extremely useful.
Rotarians at the 2018 West Africa Project fair in Cotonou
I had no idea what a project fair was, but I was motivated and excited about the idea. With the assistance of PRID Brad Howard, we put together a program for the West African Project Fair. I must say that the first attempt in 2004 was aborted midway during the organizational stage, but we tried again the following year and succeeded. Over 50 West African clubs participated with some 18 partners from the USA and UK visiting. This laid the foundation for a more successful project fair the following year, 2006. The West African project fair has come to stay and this year we will
be holding the 14th edition in Monrovia, Liberia.
It has been my wish that project fairs are extended to other parts of Africa, that is why it was a great joy that last year project fairs were established in
East Africa and North Africa. Prior to my involvement, the only project fair was in Central America. Currently, project fairs have been established in eight geographical areas and countries and the programme has finally been recognized by Rotary International and it is promoted in various ways, including a free booth at the International Conventions.
Q: What is the essence of the project fair?
Project fair is directed to sellers and buyers with the sellers being the Rotary Clubs in West Africa. Their products are their service projects. International partners, the buyers, visit the project fair at their own expense, consider, select and take the proposals away, to provide funding by their clubs and or Districts, either alone, or through Global Grants. The week-long programme provides for a top-quality seminar on the Rotary Foundation, resourced by high level persons including staff members of the Rotary Foundation and past and present District Rotary Foundation Chairs. International partners get the opportunity to sample the foods of host countries, see the tourist sites, visit projects and experience the culture.
The process leads to development of international partnerships that result in funding and implementation of humanitarian projects in West Africa, along with the establishment of long lasting relationships and promotion of international understanding, goodwill and peace.
Q: Any Recommendation to Clubs within the District who are yet to participate in a Project Fair?
The purpose of the project fair is to seek partnerships which are a pre-requisite to Global Grants, a major source of funding for our service projects. Thus, if a club wants to carry out major service projects it must seek international partners. The Project fair offers an opportunity to find that kind of partnership. But clubs can only attract partners with viable project proposals. My counsel to clubs is to first identify your projects, document them;
it is only then that you can take them to the project fair to sell to our partners. Part of the problem with many clubs is that they lack viable projects, and that
is the reason why they are reluctant to participate in Project Fairs. The needs of our communities are all around us; open your eyes, you can see them. Follow the guidelines, do needs assessments, write project proposals, get your quotations and all other information to complete your proposals, and at the Project Fair, market your proposals in a businesslike and professional manner.
Q: It is known that you introduced the circulation of the District Newsletter by electronic soft format. What inspired you to do this?
I found out that the hard copies of the Governor’s Newsletter were not getting to every Rotarian. The packages were so bulky that they could not be sent by post. Sometimes they had to be sent via airlines who delivered them late or not at all. Additionally the cost of delivery was high.
I found out at that time that the internet could be used as a platform to send out the newsletters by digital means. I took advantage of the new technology and we were partially successful; I say so because at that time, 2002, the use of the internet was not widespread. Many Club Presidents and Rotarians in the District did not have access to the internet or were not internet savvy. I know that the publications did not get to some Rotarians but I felt that we had to take the first steps. Today, almost everything is circulated through the internet.
Q: I know you are also passionate about Service Projects in District 9102. Do you please want to leave a few words with Rotarians?
Polio plus brought all the clubs together to carry out projects like the NIDs. All the clubs and many Rotarians were involved, and it was always a jolly good exercise, there was fun. Then there is the Rotary Family Health days, as well as the Rotary International USAID Water & Sanitation Project. These helped us create a positive image of Rotary and we made an impact on the community.
These are worthy, large countrywide projects that have their roots from International Partners. They were not home developed. Due to the level of Polio eradication, we hardly carry out NIDs. There will be no RFHD this year due to lack of funding. So how do we continue to make countrywide impact with continuous and sustainable projects?
Rotarians have to come together; we should think together and come out with large service projects in which all of us can participate in order to make
a difference. Perhaps we should look at a project to improve reading in our countries.
One of the greatest joys I have had in Rotary is when the first phase of the USAID Water & Sanitation project was inaugurated at Nyive in the Volta Region of Ghana. After the formal launch, we trooped to the borehole site and when the water was pumped out, all I could see were the smiles on the faces of everybody. These are the kinds of images we would like to see from time to time. We have to work together.
Q: Another of your passions is Membership Development. As the Chair the District and Ghana Extension Committees, can you share some thoughts with us?
Through the District Extension Committee and the Ghana Extension Committee along with the other
three National Extension Committees, established in 2011/2012, sponsor clubs have been supported in organizing new clubs in all parts of the District. The number of clubs have more than doubled, membership has also grown by 70%.
But the potential for even greater membership growth is there. The problem is that we do not ask our friends and colleagues to join Rotary. The number one reason given by non-Rotarians for not being Rotarians is they are not asked. Out of the 1.2 million current members and the approximately 1.2m former Rotarians, only one person was not asked to join Rotary, Paul Harris. If Rotary is good, share the goodness with others. Open up and ask others to join Rotary, not one time but throughout your Rotary life.
ROTARY SERVICE
Robert Franklin Atta was admitted to membership of the Rotary Club of Accra, Ghana on the 15th of December 1973. Since then he has served Rotary in numerous capacities. In recognition of his service to Rotary, he received the following awards:
- Rotary Foundation Regional Service – Award for a Polio Free World – 1999.
- RI District 9100 Polio-Plus Award – 1999.
- RI Service Above Self Award – 2009.
- He is a Major Donor, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a member of the Bequest Society.
Interview by: Rotarian Beatrice Baiden