Next week I have the privilege of travelling to Ghana with Fox News host Martha MacCallum and Malaria No More President and CEO David Bowen to see the country’s successful anti-malaria programs in action.

In global health terms, Ghana is a “PMI Country,” which means that it has received support and assistance for its efforts from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative.  Ghana’s National Malaria Control Plan has made strong progress in dramatically reducing the incidence of the killer disease and improving maternal and child health.

Ghana has long been seen by international observers as one of West Africa’s most promising success stories.  Not only does Ghana have a strong record of peaceful democratic governance, but its recent economic growth and private sector expansion create strong opportunities for closer commercial ties with the U.S.

President Obama visited Ghana in July 2009, and in his speech in Accra, he said, “Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or a need for charity.  The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections.”

Ghana recently completed a 5-year compact with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation that served to strengthen the country’s infrastructure, both transportation and clean water.  Green serves on the Board of Directors of the MCC, and plans to visit MCC-supported projects while in the country.

I look forward to sending you updates from the trip next week!

Malaria No More, a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to the mission of ending deaths from malaria. Despite the remarkable progress of recent years, the disease remains the number one killer of children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa.