What is a development officer and how to become one

Before joining the African University College of Communications (AUCC) in Accra in 2007, I had always dreamed of becoming a journalist. But along the way in my studies, it got to the point where we were to decide on the majors we would study in; lo and behold, I chose development communications. I must say I have not regretted changing the course of my life to read development studies. I was itching for a new challenge. My national service posting came, and I was posted to teach in the rural area, particularly in the Ashanti region of Ghana, “Trede.” Upon reaching there, I learned that it was a village. Then, in 2011, there were bad roads, no portable water, and many more village settings. City life was fulfilling in many ways. This was one of the many reasons I wanted to have a more direct impact on community-level issues.

When an opportunity came up for a development officer position in the Bosomtwe district, a largely rural area in the Ashanti Region, I jumped at it. My work involves liaising between the district assembly, local leaders, and communities to implement initiatives focused on water and sanitation, agriculture, healthcare, and education. A big part of the job is conducting needs assessments, writing reports and action plans, and ensuring projects stay on track. I knew it would be an adjustment after city life, with fewer amenities and conveniences, but I was up for some adventure. Moving to the village was a real culture shock at first. The pace of life was much slower, and the living conditions were more basic. Communication with the outside world was also more difficult without reliable internet or cell service. I missed my friends and family back in Accra. Getting to know the community and gaining their trust also took time and effort. Different languages and customs meant many misunderstandings at the start. But I drew on my rural roots to find common ground. After eleven years on the job, I'm seeing real benefits from initiatives such as the completion of school block expansion, improving education access, and organizing capacity training programs for farmers, the disabled community, confectionaries, and many more; seeing smiles on community members' faces makes all the challenges worthwhile. I'm proud to play a role in bettering life in the district. The work is giving back to communities like the one I grew up in. Things are far from perfect, but we're making gradual livelihood improvements together. This is where real, lasti