Going behind the scenes with Adjoa Andoh in Ghana
12th March 2024
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From playing Lady Danbury in Netflix’s Bridgerton to Francine Jones in Doctor Who, Adjoa Andoh spends a lot of her time on stage or appearing on our TVs. But have you ever wondered what she gets up to in between those captivating performances? Earlier this year, Adjoa generously shared a glimpse into her off-stage moments as she visited a Tree Aid project in Yendi in northern Ghana to see our work in action.
Inspired by the work we are doing Adjoa has recorded our BBC Radio 4 Appeal telling the story of Paulina, a mother of two dealing with the effects of the climate crisis in northern Ghana.
Join us as we go behind the scenes of Adjoa’s trip and explore her passion for Tree Aid’s work.
Adjoa visits our projects in Ghana
Adjoa has a deep love for trees and a profound connection to one of our program countries—Ghana. Her father is Ghanaian, and she has many happy memories of her time spent with family in this vibrant country.
In northern Ghana, the Daka river is a lifeline for local communities. It provides a means for drinking, washing, cooking, and farming. But with the increasing loss of trees, degrading soil fertility and impacts of the climate crisis, the water level can easily run low, and the river dries out for months on end, leaving communities without vital resources. In partnership with Ecosia, we are working with these communities to grow millions of trees to provide food and income and restore the river and the land.
It's not just about the trees though
From making grass briquettes to turning shea nuts into shea butter and learning about climate-smart farming, Adjoa saw much more than just trees growing. She saw how these new approaches to restoration, and ways of generating sustainable incomes from tree produce has transformed the lives of people here, particularly some of the women she met on her visit.
Adjoa reflected how Tree Aid “is supporting women into growing trees as a way of earning a living. Trees hold the land together and in times of climate crisis when soil is so badly eroded, we need more trees.”
“We have to think about new ways which we can support people who live off the land at this time of great climate crisis, and Tree Aid is doing amazing work in this area”
Paulina's story
Discover how Paulina’s life has changed and the impact it has had for her, her family, and her community so far. With your support, we can continue to join forces with more women like Paulina, to support communities to grow nutritious food and incomes.
The stories that we tell can enact real change
Adjoa has expressed her belief that the arts can help address both poverty and the climate crisis, particularly through storytelling. “When we are told stories, we are given a window into a world which isn’t the one we are preoccupied with day to day; it changes our worldview,” she said. “That’s what stories are for.”
Adjoa is using her passion and talent to share Paulina’s story with listeners across the world in Tree Aid’s appeal. Paulina is a mother of two living in Northern Ghana and dealing with the increasing effects of the climate crisis.
Tree Aid’s BBC Radio 4 appeal aired on Sunday 3 March. You can listen back to it on the BBC Sounds website.
