Development Action Association (DAA) emerged out of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign / Action for Development FFHC/AD programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The programme supported community groups with the objective of reducing poverty and empowering group members to be self-reliant and to participate fully in their own development. The FAO/FFHC initiative introduced improved fish smoking and storage technology, vegetable production and cassava processing in 13 villages in the Region.

As a result of these positive developments and their growing self-confidence and organisational maturity the groups decided to form a loose federation of grassroot associations called the Development Action Association (DAA) or Noyaa Kpee in the Ga language. In 1998, the DAA was registered as a farmer based non-profit organization, which seeks to promote self-reliance, participatory and sustainable development.

DAA is now operating in 74 communities in Greater Accra, Central, Eastern Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana and 98% of the beneficiaries are rural women with low education. Its main areas of operation are

food security i.e. Fish processing, cassava production, micro – credit, vegetable production fish production and small animals raising ( Grasscutter, rabbits, snails, fowls, pigs etc).

DAA is a member of Farmers Organisations Network in Ghana (FONG) which is a member of formerly International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the Network of Farmers Organizations and Agricultural Producers in West Africa (ROPPA). Every quarter the executive members meet. Every year, members invite chiefs, assembly members, District chief executives and ministers of state witness their AGMs. This is indicative of the strong governance of the association and its influence.

DAA has implemented several developments projects including construction of a nursery and primary school, place of convenience, capacity building in financial management, rural women empowerment, initiated celebration of World Rural Women’s Day, collaborates with the District Assemblies, Ministry of food and Agriculture, FAO, FARA, JICA, IVA and others. One young woman presented a paper at Kenya Nairobi on Climate change in support of women activity on climate change in August 2009.
YARA has been supporting Rural Women’s Day since 2008. This had created awareness and education to rural women in the use of YARA products.
In 2009, Ghana National Farmers Day, a woman from DAA was elected as the Best National 2nd Best farmer in Ghana.
DAA is a member of Slow food /Terra Madre
Development Action Association recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at Chokomey in the Ga- South District in January 2010.
The Executive Director participated in Beijing + 15 in New York USA with the support of Global Fund for Women and presented a case study on farmers organisation collaboration with WiLDAF/ROPPA.
DAA is in partnership with Women Thrive Worldwide in USA , Action Aid and WhyHunger.
DAA played a leading role and advocate/ lobbied the fisheries commission for the enforcement /implementation of the fisheries Law to prevent unapproved methods in fishing and women representation in the commission. DAA further promoted translation of fisheries law into five local languages.
DAA participated in Africa Lead programme in Ghana which is creating awareness in changing the farming procedure to be able to feed our self by using improved methods and agro-chemicals in farming and is implementing it.
The Executive Director of DAA won an award for Women’s Creativity in Rural life 2011 from Women’s World Summit Foundation.

The Executive Director presented a paper as first response to the Minister of Women and Children Affairs at the Ghana side event of 2012, CSW 56th in New York. She also presented a paper at Women World Summit Foundation on rural women empowerment in Ghana.
DAA Advocate to Promote Standard Weights and Measurements in the Sales of Agricultural Produce with support from BUSAC FUND.
Global Fund for women supported DAA in Advocacy training.
DAA in collaboration with UN Women with support from other organisations, celebrated the World Rural Women’s Day in Ghana with 1,000 rural women, 15th October 2012
DAA participated in FARA 6th Africa Agricultural Science Week and FARA AGM and the executive Director was invited to speak and share experiences.
In 2013 DAA is promoted nutrition education in the rural farming communities with rural women especially with support from WhyHunger.
DAA benefited from AGRA training in Gender and agricultural Value chain workshop.
DAA benefited from FARA gender training.
The Executive Director / women, leader was invited to you to a consultation meeting of Grow Africa and World Economic Forum in Abuja on the 8th May 2014 which she represented and responded to women farmers’ issues.
In 2015 DAA signed a five year contract to be part of USAID Sustainable Fisheries Management (SFMP) with the main objective is to “Rebuild targeted fish stocks through adoption of sustainable practices and exploitation levels.” DAA became one of the eight partners of the project.

In 2015 the executive Director won FAO 40th celebration Award.

DAA benefitted from BUSAC project in 2015 -16 on Advocacy on post-harvest fisheries extension.
In 2016 DAA benefitted from SFMP support for Interim Training centre at Tsokomey

In 2016 women in fish processing in Winneba, Apam and Ga- south won best fish processors award.

In 2017 a fish processor in Tsokomey won the 2nd hygienic fish processor award

In 2017 DAA identify Oysters as part of the SFMP project. PRA was conducted January to kick start for oyster pickers / processors.

In June 2018 Development Action Association benefitted a training centre from USAID ,Coastal Resources Centre URI, MOFAD, and the Fisheries Commission to support the sustainable Development to Ghana’s fishing industry
In 2020 October
The Executive Director received Woman of Courage Award from USAID Ghana.

In 2025 a woman fish processor and a woman farmer in Ga South District received the best farmer and fish processor awards on the farmers Day.

The objectives of the association’s work are:

• To initiate a process of development which is based on the transfer of skills and competencies as well as financial resources to grassroot communities in order to create a facilitating environment for socio-economic development?

 

• To contribute to the creation of a favourable and conducive environment for the development of viable grassroot associations.

 

• To provide support and services, assist and reinforce member associations.

 

• To propose and implement sustainable development programmes within Ghana.

 

• To advocate and promote, as well as lobby for development programmes that are based on sustainability, empowerment of local community based and grassroot association.

Vision

• Our vision is of a nation where grassroots development is committed to the eradication of poverty and all social and economic injustice and the promotion of rural enterprises.  In our vision grassroots movements are empowered and self-reliant and participate fully in their development.

Mission

• Promote and advocate for a participatory and self-reliant grassroot movement that is empowered to take charge of its development needs
• Promote and advocate for cooperation among member associations so as to create a self-reliant grassroots movement
• Mobilize and make available to members, resources needed to implement programs to attain holistic and sustainable development