How much a map can help

In our effort to determine the demand or need for clean drinking water, some time was spent with the Ghana Water Company billing agent and meter reader. From their records of customers, we are able to determine the amount of use by domestic, commercial, government and stand pipe use. One would think, great, our task is done! However, "domestic" in their terms could be a compound of several families and "standpipe" could involve 100's of people. Alas, the job is more challenging as there is no map that shows the locations of these uses. We went around town by a combination of car and walking and located the majority of the standpipes on the map that we brought. As for usage, they have "attendants" that collect money for people's use, but they do not keep track about the number of people. Probably the most exciting part of the field trip was the discovery that much of the area we thought needed additional distribution actually has a system. Unfortunately, however, many people use the shallow wells even when the public water is there because they don't have to pay for it. Ah, I guess if the solution was easy, we wouldn't be here....

A day at the water treatment plant

Today the first group of civil engineering students from the Takoradi Polytechnic Institute arrived. Gary gave a well spoken introduction of the Engineers Without Borders organization along with who we are and what our goals are for this project. The students and a few faculty members spent the day with Gary, Rod, Mike, and the plant supervisor “Robert” walking along the entire water treatment process from the pump intake at the Crocodile River dam through the aeration/sedimentation, filtration, pH control and disinfection, and initial storage facilities and getting an overview of the entire Axim water system and how it operates. Robert has been an invaluable asset in helping us understand how Axim’s water supply, treatment, and distribution system operates, and he was very gracious to take his time to describe the processes and facilities to the students. After all, the first he heard of his involvement as an instructor was when a van of 15 students and faculty pulled up in front of his office at 10:AM this morning. Rod had a few students helping him begin the survey from the treatment plant to town while Gary had the rest of the students perform field take-offs of the treatment facilities. We thoroughly enjoyed working with the engineering students and staff and know the feeling was mutual. I will sign off now because there is a strange insect sneaking up on me and I am not sure what it’s intentions are. –Mike

Ask...and you shall receive

9/15/09
Monday we were "presented" to the Municipal Chief Executive (the equivalent of our County Executive) so that he knew we were in town and so that he could offer his "protection." In addition, we requested a letter from him enlisting support from the Ghana Water Company offices in Takoradi (Regional) and Accra (National). Afterward we met with representatives from the Takoradi Polytechnic Institute to formalize the plans for the students. They have a class of 60 second year students that are taking a water resources class that they would like to send to Axim to help with our field work. At first, they wanted to send all 60 students for the week. We "negotiated" to 15 students per day for four days. Afterward, they want us (or a portion thereof) to do a "lecture" to the remaining 1000 students in their engineering program. They are also very interested in meeting with the EWB-Ghana folks from Accra to possibly establish a Takoradi Chapter. The details of this are yet to be finalized.... Meanwhile, other members of the team broke off and started their work on as-builting the existing treatment plant and determining the exact schematic of the full system, which is much more elaborate than originally thought.

Today we met with the manager of the regional office for the Ghana Water Company. With the letter from the MCE in hand, he has offered his support for existing maps, survey information, expansion plans, and water quality testing needed for our analysis. We are hopeful that we will retrieve this information before we leave Axim. It was also our first day with the students. More on that in a later post. In addition, we have set the date for our Town Hall meeting on water and sanitation for next Tuesday. Tuesday is the day the fishermen are off work, so we are hopeful the meeting will be well attended. Depending on the level of follow up needed after the meeting, we may extend our stay in Axim by one day (shortening our return stay in Accra).

Three members of our team have been suffering with stomach ailments, and we have been shifting plans as necessary, and enlisting our partners here for follow up work as needed after we depart.

More Introductions

Sunday we met with John Abugri, a health educator at the local nursing school. He has helped us in the past in meeting with the community and conducting individual health assessments. We also met with Wilson, the District manager of Ghana Water Company, as well as the operator of the Axim system, Robert (who will be a huge asset to our progress). We rode on the back of their operations truck through town, and to all of the different parts of the existing water system (which is actually quite extensive). We felt a bit as if we were in a parade as we drove through town - children were shouting greetings, and waving along the way, "Abruni, how are you?!". It sounds almost like they are singing. Everyone has been very friendly here. We got a chance to walk through the neighborhood in lower part of town where most of the fishermen and their families live - the area we intend to serve. It was a very humbling experience, and reminded us all of exactly why we are here. Many of the residents came out to greet us as we walked by, and offered to accompany us along the path to town. Again, everyone has been extremely kind. Another busy day today, better get going...

Kundum Festival!

James picked us up from the hotel and drove us into town. After stopping to talk with everyone we passed we went on to tour the Castle.....very sad place. There is a tunnel that leads from the castle to an offshore island that was used to "trick" the slaves onto the waiting ships. After about 400 hundred years of colonial rule (Portuguese, Dutch, British) the Ghanaians finally have an independent country. After the tour we were off to take our seats as guests at the Kundum festival. The festival is a festival of forgiveness and it travels from Accra, along the coast as far as the Ivory Coast. The festival lasts for about a week in each place and is full of fun and excitement. The King arrived in a canoe carried above every one's head. He and his council are in traditional dress, and quite colorful. Most of the people are wearing their finest. There were many speeches which we did not understand as it was in enzima, the local language, but we were honoured by the MC, the Ambassador to Germany, and the local MP(Member of Parliament).....then finally, after all the speeches were over we were off to a local place for some fun and dancing. All, in all, a very special day.

We made it to see the King of Axim (Lower)

It was a day of driving through Accra and then along the coast to Axim. We spent the first portion of the day looking for safety cones and paint for Rod's surveying. After dodging thousands of people along side the road not to mention all of the cars that looked like they wanted to t bone us we made it to the open road. We stopped in at the Poly Tech School in Takradi to see about a joint venture with Students so they can get some practical experience. At each place we stop there is a formal initial meeting with introductions as you sit neatly in a row of chairs, and then down to the subject at hand. At the Poly tech we were greeted by all of the deans of the engineering departments as well as the Director of the school of 8,000 students. Rather than a couple to help with the surveying they will be coming in a mini bus of 10 per day to observe our activities - essentially we will be giving classes as well as gathering information, but it is a great association to have. Then on to Axim where we are driven straight to the King's palace and await his calling us to a formal meeting in the grounds by the palace and we are introduced. Afterward, in an informal setting, he jokes and laughs about the constant meetings he has to make during the festival, this was just the warm up for tomorrow when we will be introduced to the entire town on the closing day of the festival. We have done some serious meeting and talking and traveling all in the aim to develop relationships - but come Sunday we start the field trip in earnest, tape measures and survey rods and all.

Meeting Day...

9/10/09- Today was a very productive and informative day! We were fortunate enough to have 3 meetings today. The first was a representative of USAID who gave us some great insight into the water and sanitation challenges in Ghana. The second group were members of EWB-Ghana, who were excited and eager to partner with us in our project. They made connections for us with the Ghana Water Company in Accra, and were able to obtain the Axim Master Water Plan (which we have been asking for for 3 years!!). Our third meeting was with a hydrogeologist who works for the national water resource agency. He gave us some great information about the history of Ghana water systems, and invaluable information about water supply. All were very friendly, and we are VERY lucky to have their help. James, a partner with Western Heritage Home, arrived today to stay the night, and take us to Axim in the morning. He provided us with many laughs, and shared a few delicious meals with us (ok, and a few more glasses of Star). Now it's time for bed to get ready for an early rise to hit the road to Axim. We made some very helpful and crucial partnerships today, and we feel lucky to have met them all! Good night, and we'll post again when we have a chance.