The Impact of Tour de Ghana

In October 2025, nearly a dozen Americans departed on a three-wheeled motorbike ride across Ghana. Along the way, Tour de Ghana participants had the opportunity to see first-hand Self-Help International’s programs to improve agriculture, fight malnutrition, and empower women and girls.

At the conclusion of the ride, the motorbikes (also known as tricycles) were distributed to Self-Help International microcredit clients, who will repay the loans over the next year.

Here are the stories of the Tour de Ghana 2025 tricycle recipients:

Regina joined Self-Help International’s Microcredit Program as a business client in 2023. A grain trader and mother of six from Tampoe, she buys grains in season and resells them across different markets.

Despite her determination, unreliable and costly transportation made market days difficult, often forcing her to choose between her business and caring for her children.

Regina recalls one market day when she was caught in the rain because the tricycle hired to transport her goods had to carry three other traders’ items before hers. She returned home very late, exhausted and worried about her children’s safety and wellbeing. These challenges pushed her to find a lasting solution.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Regina acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Bill Graham. It has transformed both her business and daily life.

She now saves the money she once spent on expensive transport and has reliable mobility whenever she needs it. With early access to markets, her sales are expected to increase, and the tricycle will also be invaluable during the farming season.

“I see a bright future,” Regina says. “This will help me grow my business, enable me to build a store to keep my grains, and one day improve my family’s housing.”

Justine is a committed shareholder who actively supports all Self-Help International activities in Jirapa. However, traveling between communities to attend meetings was often a challenge due to unreliable transportation.

When Justine began building his house in Dantie, he had to pay exorbitant fees to transport construction materials to the site. On his farm, the lack of readily available transport meant he sometimes lost harvested crops to animals before he could move them home.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Justine acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Bob Metcalf, which has significantly eased these challenges.

He now uses it to transport building materials, support his electrical work business, and move farm produce safely and on time. The tricycle has also become a shared resource, available to support SHI office activities when needed.

“This tricycle is a blessing to my family,” Justine says. “I will save a lot of money this year, protect my harvest, and manage my work and responsibilities more efficiently.”

Ayor is a petty trader and a mother of six from Tuopare who has been part of Self-Help International since 2023. Before acquiring her tricycle, unreliable transportation often disrupted her market days. She recalls being fully prepared to go to the market, only to wait for hours because no transport was available.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Ayor acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Ricky Denesik.

“I danced and screamed with happiness when I received my tricycle,” Ayor shared.

Today, she has a reliable means of transporting her goods to the market on time. She can trade freely from one market to another, reduce her financial burden, and strengthen her household income.

Beyond supporting her trading activities, Ayor also earns extra income by transporting people between markets and across neighboring communities.

“This has brought peace to my home,” she says, “because we now have an additional source of income and fewer daily worries.”

Justina is a northern kente weaver and petty trader from Dantie who sells sachet water, ice blocks, and soft drinks. On market days, she used to carry most of her goods on her head from home to the market, making several exhausting trips before she could transport her table and ice chest. When she hired a tricycle, she often arrived late because of delays—despite paying high transport fees.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Justina acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Meredith Parrish, easing her burden significantly.

Justina no longer has to struggle with carrying heavy goods or worry about unreliable transport.

For her weaving business, Justina was previously limited and had to send others to purchase materials on her behalf. Now, she can travel to the market herself, select the exact thread colors she needs, and transport her finished kente cloth to the market with ease.

“This tricycle will help my business grow,” Justina says. “I will save a lot of money on transport, work more efficiently, and sell more without stress.”

Anthanasius is a farmer and father of three from Gozu.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Anthanasius acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Terri Metcalf.

The tricycle has reduced the burden and challenges of transportation in his community. It enables him to convey farm produce between his home and farm, transport his children to school, help in his irrigation farming and the rearing of animals, support his heavily pregnant wife, and increase his income by eliminating the high costs previously incurred in hiring a tricycle.

“Life will be easy now,” says Anthanasius.

Francisca, from Tuopare, is a trained caterer and trader, and a mother of three who joined Self-Help International in 2023. The high cost of hiring transport to move goods to the market significantly reduced her income.

Owning a tricycle had long been a dream for Francisca—and that dream has now become a reality.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Francisca acquired the tricycle that was assigned to be driven by Nick Taiber.

With reliable transport, her business operations have become easier and more profitable. Her husband also uses the tricycle on market days to transport people and their goods between Han and Kani markets, creating an additional source of household income.

“This year, the savings and income from the tricycle will help me support my children’s education,” Francisca says. “I also hope to use it to build my own shop.”

Forster, from Baazu, joined SHI Microcredit in 2024. As a mother of five, she juggles many responsibilities to support her family but faces limitations due to transportation challenges.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Forster acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Michele Taiber, which has helped her save money previously spent hiring expensive tricycles.

Forster now uses it to travel to markets and sell her grains, her husband uses it to fetch firewood, and her son transports charcoal for extra income.

This farming season, the tricycle will also make it easier to transport all her farm produce, reducing household stress and opening up new opportunities.

Christopher is a 30-year-old maize and sorghum farmer from Kogri-Central.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Christopher acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Jeff Manno.

The tricycle now enables him to transport water to his building site and convey farm inputs such as seed and labor without physical strain.

By eliminating the cost of paying others to fetch water, he can save money, improve efficiency, and expand his farming activities.

Christopher is optimistic that the 2026 farming season will be productive, as a major burden has been lifted.

Elizabeth is a widow with two children who works as both a farmer and a trader in Ul-Kpong.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Elizabeth acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Keith Swanson.

With the tricycle, she can freely travel to markets of her choice to trade, transport her farm produce from the farm to her home without difficulty, reduce losses from theft by promptly conveying her harvest, and ultimately improve her household income.

Barikisu, a 44-year-old trader and mother of five from Kontomire, deals in a variety of grains. Transporting her goods to the market used to be difficult and stressful.

At the conclusion of Tour de Ghana 2025, Barikisu acquired the tricycle that had been driven by Will Erken.

The tricycle has allowed her to save money previously spent hiring transport. With her own tricycle, Barikisu can quickly deliver goods to customers, avoid losing sales, and also use it on the farm.

This has reduced her stress and created more peace, while opening opportunities for her business to grow.

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