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SavingGhana (27 unread)

March 08, 2010
7:49
CONSTANT gas shortage in this age of RE techs (BIOGAS)? What a load of crap!
» ‎ SavingGhana

... and I wish we had so much more of that crap!
In my search for gas these past 2 weeks, I kept thinking, everytime I joined a queue in hopes of me making it to the supply point before they ran out (never happened) - if all these people in these endless queues (myself and my family included) donated their daily crap and that of their households, we'd have enough gas to take us for a few more days, mehn.
Like, who wouldn't thank us? Here, you want the crap? Ooooo, you got it! Here you go. Want some more? .... cus buddy, we got a lot of the stuff where that came from, and it ain't going nowhere!! (wink).
Sh*t, God designed us real well, don't you think? In-built sources of energy, that when well combusted, is pumped enough to knock you out flat! And we still go around searching for (LP) gas ... and getting none!
Now, add all our household pets' crap, and that of livestock on farms and ranches, PLUS all the organic rot we leave to putrify for the Zoomlion Waste Collection guys ... and we got ourselves a piping hot commodity! Natural, green gas ... free and beautiful!
Mr. President ... Honourable E. Boamah (Dep. Min. for Env., Science & Technology) ... other stakeholders ... let's think about this. Seriously.
At a recent open forum in Accra, organised by Akunu Dake's Clean Climate Heritage (CCH), with presence from the EPA, Min. of E,S &T, Ecobank, Wildlife, several other crucial CSOs and organisations, the possible future of Sustainable Ghana was discussed. Being one of the 3 interventors partaking in the programme, I made my point on the grassroots being involved in the change process for optimum success; and also the need to start investing in the inventions and engineering designs of our young GH engineers and informally trained inventors.
Honourable Boamah thereafter, promised me that he would take up all these requests for help, support, assistance, guidance, employment, etc. that filled up my inbox - from young engineers still jobless, illiterate but skilled inventors, and other youth who need academic and SME support.
We have been in communication since, and in spite of my well-placed doubts that he would REALLY do something beneficial about the situation; something that would actually reflect directly in the lives of these people, I think he may (50-50%) be proving me wrong.
Our last communication stated that he was really working on funding and investors for these innovations and inventions. And I always follow-through ... even if it will end in a no-go, I follow through to effectively conclude that it is a no-go. I hope he is truly the difference I see at the governmental level.
On that note, if anyone has any innovation or technology they'd like to have taken up, should funding really come through (or if you know any Ghanaian who does/can), let the person forward their contacts to my foundation (esfghana@gmail.com), and we'll let them know when funding gets in, or if an investor shows interest.
I believe we ought to be manufacturing our own R. Energy techs, and not importing them in at (of course, higher costs).
We have several possible solutions to the global problems of filth, disease, over-population, poverty, conflict ... at our fingertips. Only laziness and low self-worth keeps us from trying them all out.
Global warming and Climate Change ... it really is happening. Look around you, read a little, and say global disasters, epidemics, and geographical changes are not really happening.If you don't know where to start, let me point you in a few directions :
Lake Chad ... now a mud bed. (yes, seriously) Google it up, and you'll even get images.The Sahara desert ... anyone still measuring the borderlines of these shifting sands? Coming soon to a garden near you!Green tree covers as opposed to more earth exposure ... less or more and which? Google again! (You gotta love Google!)I could go on ad nauseum ....
But one thing you should always remember ... when you invest in a future, make sure that future's really gonna be there when you get there. Think about it.
January 25, 2010
17:53
Between Good and Evil is only a fine line ... you can trip over anytime.
» ‎ SavingGhana

I recently met the devil. Wily fox, he was.I took a fall into a depression so deep, it gave me dark thoughts that came right out of Hades.
Took some friends' sharp words and prayers; some supreme grace ... goodwill and encouragement to get me out of it, and those dark thoughts out of my mind.
If you ask me how I am right now, I'll say "stable ... and still fighting towards the light."
One of my really good friends and a source of encouragement, shared with me her lifelong battle against Polycystic Ovaries (PCOs), only to discover that I fought the same too. Mine is much milder now, but was terrible some 6 years ago. I still have the occasional nausea, weight swings, and a bit of the other symptoms associated, but it's more of a benign ovarian cyst now than a PCO.
It was my refusal to dwell on it, and what became one of the fights of my life to get as far away from it as possible that helped me. I am off all treatments now, and barely suffer from it. I sympathise with my friend all the way - it's a terrible disease!
My point?When you don't take the first step in reaching out to another, consistently, humbly, and in honesty and truth, understanding and sincerity ... you never know what COULD BE or what COULD HAVE BEEN.
We lack, as a generation, the positive principles that ought to make us more humane.
It's killing us.
On my way to church this Sunday with my father and my son, I saw again, the kind of poverty and medical depression that has made criminals, liars, manipulators, and murderers out of seemingly upright men and women of this country.
People HAVE TO BE bad to survive. HAVE TO. Period!What kind of life is this?!
A little boy of 10 years walks the street, in poor clothes, schoolbag on his back, packed to bursting with stuff (on a Sunday morning), talking to himself. As our car passes him by, his mouth starts wobbling, and he drops his head to hide the gush of tears.Probably thrown out by one parernt/relative and ordered back over to another parent/relative. Shuffling in between guardians and home already at this age.
Barely 100 yards away, we take a turn, and there is this full grown woman, sitting on the floor in front of a wooden kiosk, eyes bright with unshed tears, looking into the distant nothingness, moth open, and shoulders slumped in defeat.
Earlier on, an old woman, who was so frail, she couldn't have weighed more than 40kg, was begging me for money at the First Light traffic light, at Kaneshie. "My granddaughter ... give your old mother a pesewa for thirst, won't you?" she asks.
I shake my head, unable to look her in the face ... I had nothing on me, my own last GH10 cedi spent the day before on Pampers for my son.
Surprised?I live on faith. That's why at times, I get into the darkness. Because what sustains my son and I is nothing tangible or concrete; nothing you can touch or hold. It's all a faith in a power bigger and more potent than anything my baby and I have ever known.And yes, I still believe that I did right in spending my savings on a society who threw it back in my face.
I have NEVER gone to bed hungry, nor have I ever been unable to see to Ayaan's needs.Everytime it gets to that point, something comes up : a short-term contract, a rare order for my bakery/cuisine business, etc. to sustain me even while I work on the foundation, and work on growing the bakery business.These 2 are my sworn foci, in addition to my writing, which I never leave out! Hopefully, one day I shall self-publish all my fiction and non-fiction writings. After studying under the Anyidohos and Awoonors, I owe it!!
And I refuse all fulltime job employemtn, only working on contracts. For once I take up the comfort of salaries and offices, I am sure my dreams will die.
One of my reasons for throwing my all into renewable energy was because we live in the midst of plenty - all these natural resources, and so much poverty and hardship!We are a hospitable people, with more goodwill than most, hardworking and loving. We love life.
But we are too afraid and too lazy when it comes to grabbing life by the horns. Unfortunately, this is one situation that demands it; the only means to catapult ourselves out of this poverty into wealth.
We can do much, invest more in our skills, create more, and live better!! We can unite, and actually work together in honesty and sincerity!!
ENERGY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.
We need energy to power more facilities and infrastructure. These will then grow our urban areas and attract more business and development. Then will there be more jobs, which will mean less idleness, less crime, and better lifestyles.
But to get there, we must suffer a little. There are no shortcuts, and time is running out.
I HAVE STEPPED FORWARD. Will you?Let's form a new rank of Ghanaians with the willpower to change our circumstances for the better. Because better is for all - the hardworking person as well as the hazed druggist or the hardened criminal.
And on that note, if ever a thief comes breaking into your home, or attacks you somewhere; or you see a mad person or a dazed drug addict, ask "Bruv, what happened to make you this way?"And if they would answer you, they might probably share a tale that would prove, the only difference between you and him/her is a slightly stronger will power, or better living circumstances, or more opportunities growing up, or even just the blessing of someone to listen to your problems.
And at times, the only difference is that they have made one choice, and you are straddling the fence, hiding evil underneath your good facade. Shame on you.
Take a stand now. Save a brother, sister, child. Save Ghana.
Power to the people!
January 07, 2010
9:00
Carbon emissions not cause of Global Warming. (?) Dude ... Global Warming ain't even happening! (?)
» ‎ SavingGhana

Where in the world are we?!
Literally and literarily.This is the question I have been asking myself since reading about some new findings that leaked out about the time of Copenhagen. The new debate, backed by scientific proof (which is yet to be proven) insists that CO2 did not cause the rise in temperatures, nor have tests shown a continuous rise in global temperatures. It says, rather, temperatures are dropping.
Well, Dr. David Evans says so ... and this was as far back as 2007. What does the world have to say or think about this? Why has it not been debated and researched upon earlier? What implications come with this ... ? 192 stupid countries meeting in a wasteful talk-shop on a highly intricate and expensive summit based on a FLAW?! Does everyone just go back to their normal lives, not bothered anymore about GHGs and taking good care of the earth? Are the carbon trading businesses now trying to hide into cracks What is really, truly happening? What is really truly, the cause of our globe falling out of sorts? Is it really falling out of sorts?
Does Sustainability just continue its journey WITHOUT worrying about Global Warming and if it's really happening?Cause if it is, the real cause must be verified. I will bring you more as we go along, and will love to have your questions, feedbacks, arguments, and thoughts on this startling "new" revelation.
Now ... I haven't blogged for a month!
I have been working on my foundation and a few really intense stuff. I have been very lucky to get 2 lady friends, both Ghanaians, who are just as driven as I am ... to start a sub-initiative with.One lady is an engineer and the one is an architect. Maybe you can guess what we are working on so quietly, but this is just to let you know that I haven't run away from my passion of RE!!
At the last Barcamp here in Ghana, I held a session on Green Concept in Ghana, and I was glad to know that gradually, people are getting interested in what I have to say. As usual, I emphasized that I provide free information, free data, and free marketing for all experts and suppliers of the RETs ... and tried to explain how one may start utilising the technologies in units.
I will bring you some more of this later, in as fun a way as possible.In the meantime ... uuuuuuuuuuuu ... what a confused terrain GREEN is now!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Your favourite Green Pest!(I love you too.)
December 03, 2009
11:36
GET A LIFE!! Yes, I'm talking to you ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

Today, I'd like to link you to this article (coming up ...).
Most of you might be wealthy enough to afford to ignore the worsening energy crisis here in Ghana, have friends in well-positioned places, or just not give a damn.
That's fine. I can't ask you to drop dead!
But at this rate, sooner or later, this energy crisis WILL catch up with all of us, and someone ... somewhere, WILL drop dead ... at a blacked-out clinic, a dark street, an unlit highway, or a laid-off parent from a low-performing company experiencing energy frustrations. Feel free to keep listing the other trillion similar cases ...
You may be snuggled up in Arizona, US or baking in California, or shivering in England ... cycling in India, hamburging in Germany, making it in Italy, or just living your sweet life here in Ghana ... I don't give a damn. Sooner or later, someone linked to you, will suffer the consequences, if not you yourself.
I have been talking about this for several months, and all I get are quite sniggers, and stuck-up noses ... and a few enthusiasts. But not a single PROACTIVE person to step in and say "I'll join you up there on Mt. Crazy" or "I'll help you spread the word" ... or I'll help you get a sponsor/investor".
Ghana is about to hit its own energy Doomsday ... unless we start taking up our own green alternatives small-small NOW! And paint me insane if it makes you happy. Ignore me all you like, if it tosses your salad.
But make sure, if it turns out I AM right ... you come back to this blog, and put an anonymous comment that says just so.
Visit : [teamsaveghana.wordpress.com] ... read any other blog piece there if you like.
And if you decide you want to 'bite', give me a call on 0244 82 83 22 ... I will give you free information on any RE technology you want to know about, and help you start off on a small note, IF YOU WANT.
Till then,Pissed-off-Energy-Doom-monger
November 16, 2009
12:06
Voluntary Programs E-site
» ‎ SavingGhana

As part of ESF's communal RE initiatives, we have officially launched a Voluntary Programs Site, to serve as a source of information, a point of contact, as well as a means of applying to .... ESF's voluntary programme.

We are now in the middle of one wind energy project, and about to start a strategic partnership with a large, multinational RE business.

Our wind energy project is located in a a residential community in Dzorwulu, which, happily enough, is right in the path of one of Ghana's windbelts.

Basically, a kilowatt of wind energy will cost you about GH1800 or $1200. This is for the wind turbine, the back-up battery (to store power for when wind drops), the pole,cost of labour, transport .... EVERYTHING.
A kilowatt of energy will power your television, radio, refridgerator, PCs, ironing, and ceiling fans (and a few petty gadgets) 24hours - 7 days. Meaning that you pay no electricity on these after your installation.

Pretty neat, don't you think?

And I usually advise that people start off on such small notes, cause then .. they get to appreciate and understand the technology, so by the time they want to upgrade, they'll be speaking the jargons themselves!

Our recent project is the Communal Facilities Initiative, to build certain infrastructure in carefully selected deprived communities (in both rural and urban Ghana) ... and these will be powered on Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs).

It is in these initiatives that all prospective volunteers will have the opportunity to make their own piece of history.

Find below, the links to this site. Enjoy, and do feedback!

http://teamsaveghana.wordpress.com/thinking-of-volunteering-2/
http://energysolutionsghana.webs.com/apps/links/

And spread the word, wherever you can! So long as you live in Ghana, you can't escape the energy crisis. It is in sharing our burdens, that we both walk straighter.

xoxo,
Golda

P.S : Today, 25th December, I add this rejoinder : 1 kilowatt wind turbine can power anything(s) that consumes less than 1 kilowatt. This means it can power all the things mentioned, one or two at a time ... so long as they consume less than 1000 watts. This, I learnt recently, does not include ironing ...an iron consumes 1200 + watts (damn!).Thank you, Nana Bonsu of Busua ...
November 05, 2009
11:10
Adopting villages ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

I need some help in making a few choices.
Adaklu-Tokor?Mampong-Akuapem?Akyem-Abuakwa?Aowin-Suaman?Akwatia?
Though this might seem awfully like 5 Degrees of Separation, it's really not. Think Renewable Energy ... if you want to know what ought to bind them together.
Help me out here if you are interested ... If ESF is about to 'adopt' a village, where we can best learn how to implement effective Green Energy initiatives, which of these communities should we go for?
If you had this choice to make ... which one would YOU go for?And if none feels right to you ... which community in Ghana, outside of the city, would you encourage us to adopt?
Now, here we are, sitting in a computer-age of serious technological advancements and child-genuises.We have a country full of hills and mountains in places ... valleys and plains ... savannahs and forest zones in others.
We could have done better with tourism ... but not as much as we OUGHT to have done much more with them, in terms of producing Green Energy for the people living there.If the excuse was that it was too expensive back then, well ... it isn't anymore. 'Too expensive' that is.
Neither does one always need to start on a large extensive scale first ... nor does it only have to be the most expensive technology that gets promoted.
On Phase 2 of the Greenfoot Campaign ... we bring you the practical, affordable aspects of acquiring alternative and green energy FOR YOURSELF, BY YOURSELF.
You'll be surprised. Then you'll wonder why people aren't being made aware of this. And maybe ... you'll help us do something to avert this energy crisis that looms over Ghana and Africa now.
So ... which one?
October 31, 2009
13:19
Dream under Construction ... a time of healing.
» ‎ SavingGhana

Hey there, everyone!
A period of rest and silence ... and I am taking a brief return to let you know that the dream is till under construction.
It has been a journey of a lifetime, so far! I have met people, made friends, been shocked with hostility or bowled over with deceit and pretence! LOL!
Laughter, because I have also seen kindness I never knew existed ... in people I never thought could show such emotions, and in places I least expected ... it has helped me over much.
I take the opportunity to thank the friends who stood by me through the thick and the nasty ... unashamed to share in my struggle and humiliation. I don't know how to thank you, but I will spend my life trying.
I still owe a lot, and still receive a lot of calls from my debtors ... but I have managed to put a few measures in place to help both of us cope with the walkt to financial freedom (debt free state) ... :-)
I am happy to inform you that there are a few surprising rays of light already swirling around in my Greenfoot Campaign, in what recently was bleak darkness ... and these I will share with you sooner or later, bu defintely share it with you.
I daresay it will stun you as much as it does me now, and I hope, then ... you will all feel a LITTLE of the fire that burns in me, within you.
So, now that you are all sure I am alive and kicking, and still on road ... I shall return to my drawing board, happy!
xoxo,
Golda Addo.
P.S: Please visit this site, and lend your support!!
http://ghanahype. blogspot. com/2009/ 11/how-adidas- stole-from- africa.html- -
October 23, 2009
16:40
CANCELLATION of Charity Ball .... my apologies.
» ‎ SavingGhana

Unfortunately, Coconut Grove insists on a paid dinner event as a criterion for facilitating their sponsorship offer of free venue for the event.
Once I made it free, due to lack of purchasing of the ticket, they informed me that the sponsorship was cancelled.
Unfortunately, in trying to recoup from the earlier unpatronised fair, i am still paying debts, and cannot afford any other location demanding payment.
I apologise for the inconvenience!!!
October 21, 2009
15:37
FREE CHARITY BALL!!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Dear Members! Free Charity Cocktail Ball!

Pull dem dresses and suits out now!!!

After some strategizing and testing the waters ... I realised that the Charity Ball patronage will be low.

I had earlier decided to make a fiery presentation to the 4 Speakers and an empty room ... seeing as patronage would be so low for a paid event!

And also because, with an empty room, and the initial shock they would go through ... they would be aware that so much needs to be done here in Ghana.
And it is the first lesson we should have - the truth of the situation.

I intended to make this presentation on feasible, practical aspects of our Sustainable Waste Management initiative - which seeks to turn our terrible landfill sites into organized, compartmentalized sites where Sorting, Recycling, and Methane Gas (for communal cooking and elcetrical use) goes on.
Not only is this practical, but it is a direct source of Employment, a Curative Solution to our Health care system, and the best way to start educating the masses about non-littering ... with this practical example of community effort.

This was what i planned to present as part of my solo performance this Saturday, with the hope that after their anger dies down, these Speakers will agree that there is a valid point to this, and offer some of their influence and status to get things growing.

BUT I then thought ... if the room will be empty, why not make it free them, and still get some people to come?

Free?
I don't lose!!
So ... if you are in Accra, and have this dress or suit that you've been dying to wear ... take it out!!!

Be with me at 6:30 pm on Saturday at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, North Ridge ... and have a wonderful 2 hours meeting new people, collaborating, and talking about how we can also help CHANGE GHANA!

It's a cocktail event, with the hotel's bar serving drinks to those who want to buy!

What better than to do this with 4 prominent Ghanaians with the influence to make our suggestions happen?!!

If you are thinking yes ... I need to know! ... reply YES to this message, with your name now!!! I need you on this.

Programme is this very Saturday.

xxx, Golda Addo.
October 18, 2009
8:41
The Greenfoot Campaign Funfair with Reggie Rockstone - how it all went!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

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THE GREENFOOT funfair with Reggie Rockstone!!

So 17^th October finally arrived, amidst serious countdowns, as much advertising as we could afford, distribution of fliers all over Accra, trips to Kumasi, etc to spread the word, hundreds of text messages, hundreds of calls, and a lot of work.

So not all our fair participants made it. Most of them cancelled at the last minute.

So Reggie came to the fair, with autographed copies of his new album “Reggiestration”. He came with Eddie Blay, Kwaku-T, D-Black, his wife, his son, and was expecting Abodam …. Asem as well, but he had a gig in Kumasi. He got in at 4.30 pm. Hoping for a good crowd to do his interactive programme with, backed by his entourage.

I will post the video recording and the photographs when they are paid for and delivered.

The Mail, Ghana News Agency, and Metro TV made it, and did some interviews and coverage. The Daily Graphic and Joy FM did not make it. Zenith marketer Abraham Yeboah came around to support us. It was just him. UBA had called to collaborate, and promised a representation there. I didn’t see them.

Of the huge number of calls, emails, and messages we had, pledging support to be there with us yesterday, we had a total of …………… 60 fair visitors.

Of this number, only Chris Adjei, Kwaku Osei Tutu and Araba Asare-Kumi. Gyasiwa Gyasi and Tweikuwa Stanhope-Essamuah. Pearl Antwi, and her sister, Belinda Antwi. Michael Kottoh, Hawa and Fali Amuzu, Clarence Parker-Allotey, Biantey Agah, Jack Delaney, Tobias, Andreas, Dr. Joseph Kwao, Musyani, Mercy’s auntie, cousin, and 2 friends were the direct friends who made it there. These people, out of the at least 300 direct friends who we had contacted, made it.

Akunu Dake, Tiger Okyne made their excuses before the event, and were very encouraging. Some did not acknowledge receipt of messages received, nor of the event.

EXPENDITURE (part):Lincoln Community School rent - GH 620 cedis (day)

Cost of organization of fair (final week)- GH 250 cedis (transport, communication, etc.)

Bouncy Castle and kid’s balloons - GH 155 cedis

PA system and DJ services - GH 400 cedis

Volunteer tags, t-shirts, welfare - GH 270 cedis

Tickets for fair, various events - GH 120 cedis

Media costs - GH 50 cedis

Food (estimate for 500 people) - GH 800 cedis

Canopies, Tables, Chairs, T&T - GH100 cedis

Miscellanous - GH 80 cedis

Photography & video coverage - GH 850 cedis

TOTAL - GH3695 cedis

This is just the accumulated cost for the fair itself in the last week of organization. If I start calculating from beginning of this campaign, I might get grey hairs, so I won’t go there.

I am grateful to Mercy Anane-Frempong

our faithful Volunteers (who made this thing theirs, and were on the phone calling people the whole day! You guys are my team from now forever!!! These people sent me consoling messages the whole night yesterday!)

Kwaku Osei Tutu and Araba Asare-Kumi (Osei was darn broke, but sent me GH 7.50 credit when I was at my lowest!!)

Chris Adjei

Gyasiwa Gyasi and Tweetie (who at 9 am came and stayed for hours, before going to a wedding in the afternoon)

my cousin Clarence Parker-Allotey (held my heart together for me)

Michael Kottoh

my sister, Gloria Aryitey

Biantey Agah (who went to Cape Coast and hurried back to Accra just to make it to the fair, then stayed late to help pack and send some of the team members home!)

They stayed the whole day, through the insults, angry participants demanding a refund, and battery of accusing glares that came our way till Reggie and his friends came.

Also:

Efuwa Quansah (UK)

Fred Anani-Frimpong (dotFAF) (UK)

Yram Foli (US)

Geraldine Shole Gerber (UK)

Priscilla Owusu-Ansah (Sweden)

Grace Apiagyei (UK)

MAXINE MOSLEY TOTOE (US)

These people called me from where they are, and kept up with ESF’s progress 100%!

I thank EVERYBODY outside the country who sent messages of encouragement one way or the other as well.

I thank Reggie, his team, and his wife – they have offered Gh 500 cedis to lessen my financial debt, and have promised to keep having my back through the years …. And insist on doing it again till it succeeds.

Reggie refused to charge anything for his support and involvement, right down to his transportation, pulling in his musician friends, etc! And has promised to do this free with us all through!!

I am grateful to you all, and I shall keep you abreast of how things go.

With the strong shoulders of Clarence Parker-Allotey, Michael Kottoh and Chris Adjei …. Who refuse to let me give up, I am progressing ahead with the Charity Ball this very Saturday. These guys have already started working on getting the necessary publicity and marketing up for Monday, to help me get my 200 charity ball participants.

THANK YOU ALL.
October 15, 2009
8:06
GHANA GOING GREEN: Riding that Cliche into the ground! (Part One)
» ‎ SavingGhana

Today's post is purely dedicated to the 2009 Blog Action Day, which topic for the year happens to be Climate Change. Readers must have seen this post already. But I think it makes for good reading time and time again, don't you?!! lol.

GHANA GOING GREEN: Riding that cliché into the ground!

“Going Green.”
Poor phrase is out and about like trash on a Monday morning – here, there and everywhere.
‘Greening Ghana’/‘Going Green’ /‘Ghana Goes Green’.
The perfect cliché to get the attention of people these days, what with the recent UN Summit focusing on Climate Change, The Road to Copenhagen prepping to talk about Climate Change with world leaders, and the Blog Action Day 2009 (15th Oct.) topic, which all bloggers around the globe voted to blog about … you got it … Climate Change!

Whilst we’re still saying ‘Go Green’ to look cool in Ghana, other countries are dishing out penalties to defaulters.
The world, when left undisturbed, is naturally green for a reason; and the innate longings of man always makes him/her gravitate towards natural points of life sustenance – beaches, lakes, forests, parks, waterfalls, hills, mountains, etc. How would I know? Simply list the locations most Ghanaians troop to on holidays, and you’ll be fine.

The Indians have a saying:
‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’
Think about it.
The population statistics at the time of the Baby Boomers (generation), and those of today (current Generation Y) shows that we have one last shot at putting firm policies and regulations in place to manage our natural resources and eco-friendly initiatives. Hence, land, air, water, atmosphere, environment, population growth or dearth of it – all must now be protected and sustained at all cost.

Population and energy are just one of the coupled offshoots of the energy industry. It is very difficult these days to find a community with the perfect population size in most countries, Ghana included. Communities are either over-crowded or under-populated, and any research to identify the causes comes up with the lack of/abundance of facilities, as determinants.

Facilities thrive in the absence/presence of energy, and due to the fact that the entire nation depends on Akosombo (Aboadze thermal plant constantly facing problems and maintainance issues, and Bui still a political issue and far from completion), majority of Ghana’s population still lacks access to electricity. The minority who are lucky to be plugged on the grid still face unpredictable, inefficient, and unreliable power supply.

If there is one thing that can stop the rural-urban drift (along with its consequent ghost villages back home, slums and shanty towns in the cities, uncontrollable crime waves, unemployment, rapidly spiraling waste management inabilities in the urban areas, health issues, lower life expectancy, illiteracy and uneducation of the masses, frustrated and unambitious citizens riding high on corruptive and deceptive means of income), it will be access to efficient, reliable energy, as well as clean, healthy environments and sustainability-conscious industries and businesses.

The rural areas are often so lush, green, cool, and serene; abundant with food and undisturbed by vehicular and human traffic, that as soon as they are given energy, and hence, facilities and employment opportunities, their run-away inhabitants will flee back home and stay there. With a large number of city-dwellers close on their heels as well!

Our natural resources worldwide were so taken for granted and un-sustained that, within the last 200 years, every generation has had to pay back for this negligence, the compensation to Mother Earth increasing more and more with each half-century.

Our horizons are now bare, or laden with sky-scrapers (what an apt name!); Lake Chad has frighteningly been reduced to a mud bowl, and as for the Sahara Desert : coming soon to a garden near you!
You do not have to stare far off into the distance, or into Burkina Faso any more to see desert traits. With a glance, its right here in our Northern and Upper regions, steadily crawling southwards each year.

It’s time to run that cliché into the ground and grow a fresh approach to Green initiatives, a new attitude, and a new speech:
Making Green Energy a Culture in Ghana!
No more focusing on ‘Why solar/wind Technology is not Profitable’ or ‘Banks declare Renewable Energy as long-term, and hence, not Viable Investments’ or ‘Those on solar, biogas, wind are doing so to feel good with themselves, because there is no benefit/profit’.

Let us talk about ‘Renewable Energy forever = Fossil Fuels Shortage palaver’ and ‘What will you do if Akosombo should grind to a halt one day out of the blue?’ and ‘One gadget per household to start, is better than an entire facelift per Ghanaian’ and ‘College of Engineering and Renewable Energy grads of KNUST – the way forward for their skills and inventions?’ and ‘The Youth & RE-Sustainability – catching them young!’

It is only by education and awareness creation that Ghanaians will come to understand why we need to diversify our energy sources, and how it can be done relatively affordably; then they can appreciate the technology, which increases demand for the technology. This increase in demand means a wider consumer base for the technologies, which is really what is needed to nurture, grow, and make the industry profitable.

Who should educate the people for you to sell? You do it for yourself!
When it comes to employment and development on the industry, there’s a pretty penny to be made there as well. As far as I know, our students need the investment to make their ideas and inventions real, and we can all do that for them. Investing in these young engineers and illiterate inventors will help our Renewable energy remain in-country, and grow our economy, as opposed to sending it all to foreign manufacturers and suppliers.

Ghanaians can go on domestic renewable energy schemes on loans smaller than the car and personal loans that banks keep pushing on workers and businesspeople. Unfortunately, the banks refuse to do any research to come up with these investment possibilities, and are likely not to, until someone makes the industry a hot business success in the country!

We have been lazy in our efforts to switch to sustainability, waiting on others to take the responsibility of ensuring our quality of life, and that of our descendants. We continue to lie in the lazy chairs, but in the meantime, our fuel shortages keep getting more constant every weekend, our air keeps getting more polluted, out landfill sites can no more contain the levels of waste and rot we discard daily, we keep dropping dead of unfamiliar ailments, our life expectancy keeps decreasing, and Akosombo grows a little older each day, as more and more people tap into the grid on a daily basis.
In the meantime, do note that the meantime never lasts indefinitely …

Golda Addo
Founder, MD
Energy Solutions Foundation
esfghana@gmail.com
October 06, 2009
22:27
Kumasi booster ... 11 days to go!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Day is almost here!

Having sorted out the fair participants, I am now breathing SLIGHTLY easier now.

The latest rave update is that Reggie Rockstone will be autographing his new album on the fair grounds that day, and also mingling and bonding with the crowd before he goes on to start his "Take a Mic" programme.
So even if you feel too old for Reggie (I doubt any one days ... guy still rocks at 40, more than when he started!), at least, bring the kids around to share the day with him!

Was also in Kumasi (the univ of science and technology - KNUST) last friday to attend an in-house seminar at the Energy Centre, KNUST. This however turned into an invitation for me to present the Greenfoot Campaign to the audience. It went phenomenally, and we now have our special support base on campus there now!

Thanks to Prof. Abeeku Brew-Hammond for hooking me up so nice! He is the Chair for the Energy Commission of Ghana, as well as the Chair for the Energy Centre, KNUST. He will be giving a presentation at the charity ball on the 24th as well.

You can see him in the picture above.

I hope you have been spreading the news of the fair ... cus there's going to be grills, drinks, snacks, food, African fashion, beauty products, art, and of course, Renewable Energy experts and financiers ... not forgetting our host and icon, Regginald Ossei (aka Reggie Rockstone!)

Now, let me share this article with you ... makes for long reading, so enjooooooooyyy!

GOING GREEN: Riding that cliche into the ground!

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“Going Green.”

Poor phrase is out and about like trash on a Monday morning – here, there and everywhere.

‘Greening Ghana’/‘Going Green’ /‘Ghana Goes Green’.

The perfect cliché to get the attention of people these days, what with the recent UN Summit focusing on Climate Change, The Road to Copenhagen prepping to talk about Climate Change with world leaders, and the Blog Action Day 2009 (15^th Oct.) topic, which all bloggers around the globe voted to blog about … you got it … Climate Change!

Whilst we’re still saying ‘Go Green’ to look cool in Ghana, other countries are dishing out penalties to defaulters.

The world, when left undisturbed, is naturally green for a reason; and the innate longings of man always makes him/her gravitate towards natural points of life sustenance – beaches, lakes, forests, parks, waterfalls, hills, mountains, etc. How would I know? Simply list the locations most Ghanaians troop to on holidays, and you’ll be fine.

The Indians have a saying:

‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’

Think about it.

The population statistics at the time of the Baby Boomers (generation), and those of today (current Generation Y) shows that we have one last shot at putting firm policies and regulations in place to manage our natural resources and eco-friendly initiatives. Hence, land, air, water, atmosphere, environment, population growth or dearth of it – all must now be protected and sustained at all cost.

Population and energy are just one of the coupled offshoots of the energy industry. It is very difficult these days to find a community with the perfect population size in most countries, Ghana included. Communities are either over-crowded or under-populated, and any research to identify the causes comes up with the lack of/abundance of facilities, as determinants.

Facilities thrive in the absence/presence of energy, and due to the fact that the entire nation depends on Akosombo (Aboadze thermal plant constantly facing problems and maintainance issues, and Bui still a political issue and far from completion), majority of Ghana’s population still lacks access to electricity. The minority who are lucky to be plugged on the grid still face unpredictable, inefficient, and unreliable power supply.

If there is one thing that can stop the rural-urban drift (along with its consequent ghost villages back home, slums and shanty towns in the cities, uncontrollable crime waves, unemployment, rapidly spiraling waste management inabilities in the urban areas, health issues, lower life expectancy, illiteracy and uneducation of the masses, frustrated and unambitious citizens riding high on corruptive and deceptive means of income), it will be access to efficient, reliable energy, as well as clean, healthy environments and sustainability-conscious industries and businesses.

The rural areas are often so lush, green, cool, and serene; abundant with food and undisturbed by vehicular and human traffic, that as soon as they are given energy, and hence, facilities and employment opportunities, their run-away inhabitants will flee back home and stay there. With a large number of city-dwellers close on their heels as well!

Our natural resources worldwide were so taken for granted and un-sustained that, within the last 200 years, every generation has had to pay back for this negligence, the compensation to Mother Earth increasing more and more with each half-century.

Our horizons are now bare, or laden with sky-scrapers (what an apt name!); Lake Chad has frighteningly been reduced to a mud bowl, and as for the Sahara Desert : coming soon to a garden near you!

You do not have to stare far off into the distance, or into Burkina Faso any more to see desert traits. With a glance, its right here in our Northern and Upper regions, steadily crawling southwards each year.

It’s time to run that cliché into the ground and grow a fresh approach to Green initiatives, a new attitude, and a new speech:

Making Green Energy a Culture in Ghana!

No more focusing on ‘Why solar/wind Technology is not Profitable’ or ‘Banks declare Renewable Energy as long-term, and hence, not Viable Investments’ or ‘Those on solar, biogas, wind are doing so to feel good with themselves, because there is no benefit/profit’.

Let us talk about ‘Renewable Energy forever = Fossil Fuels Shortage palaver’ and ‘What will you do if Akosombo should grind to a halt one day out of the blue?’ and ‘One gadget per household to start, is better than an entire facelift per Ghanaian’ and ‘College of Engineering and Renewable Energy grads of KNUST – the way forward for their skills and inventions?’ and ‘The Youth & RE-Sustainability – catching them young!’

It is only by education and awareness creation that Ghanaians will come to understand why we need to diversify our energy sources, and how it can be done relatively affordably; then they can appreciate the technology, which increases demand for the technology. This increase in demand means a wider consumer base for the technologies, which is really what is needed to nurture, grow, and make the industry profitable.

Who should educate the people for you to sell? You do it for yourself!

When it comes to employment and development on the industry, there’s a pretty penny to be made there as well. As far as I know, our students need the investment to make their ideas and inventions real, and we can all do that for them. Investing in these young engineers and illiterate inventors will help our Renewable energy remain in-country, and grow our economy, as opposed to sending it all to foreign manufacturers and suppliers.

Ghanaians can go on domestic renewable energy schemes on loans smaller than the car and personal loans that banks keep pushing on workers and businesspeople. Unfortunately, the banks refuse to do any research to come up with these investment possibilities, and are likely not to, until someone makes the industry a hot business success in the country!

We have been lazy in our efforts to switch to sustainability, waiting on others to take the responsibility of ensuring our quality of life, and that of our descendants. We continue to lie in the lazy chairs, but in the meantime, our fuel shortages keep getting more constant every weekend, our air keeps getting more polluted, out landfill sites can no more contain the levels of waste and rot we discard daily, we keep dropping dead of unfamiliar ailments, our life expectancy keeps decreasing, and Akosombo grows a little older each day, as more and more people tap into the grid on a daily basis.

In the meantime, do note that the meantime never lasts indefinitely …
September 27, 2009
12:22
3 weeks to go! Crazy weeks ahead!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Modern technology
Owes ecology
An apology (Alan M. Eddison)

Ain't that true!

Heard Japan has pledged to cut down on their carbon emissions 25% by 2020! Should all other countries follow, we are in for the greenest, lushest, most fantastic half-decade ever! A time-frame which is sure to see us enjoying the fruits of our labour.

15th October, 2009 is Action Blogging Day, and the topic chosen for this year is Climate Change. Furthermore, the Copenhagen international climate conference will be happening in December. Seems like this year is for the Green-ies!

It's a dream. A wonderful dream. Painstakingly achievable, but highly feasible.

So ....!

Have you told your friends and family about the 17th October yet?
Marked it on your calendar already?
Called up your 4-man posse members on prepping for it?
Have you asked your company to attend as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities ... yet?

If you didn't know ... entry fee is only GH 2.00 cedis.
You come as a 4-member group, its only GH 6.00 cedis.

Reggie's "Take the Mic" ticket will be out soon, and can be bought ahead of time, or at the gate.
That one is going at GH 20.00 cedis for 150 people. So book your ticket ahead of time if you can help it!

The Charity Ball tickets are also out already, and will be available for purchase at the fair grounds on the 17th October as well. I have delivered a few to friends and corporates already, so if you need any, just let me know! It's for 200 people. It will have presentations and short talks from select lead experts, specialists, ground-breaking companies, foreign investors, and financiers - on the evening's programme.

It will have celebrities, famous personalities, achievers in the corporate world, and amazing mavericks who have done the once-thought-of impossible! If you can afford it, DON'T MISS OUT on this ball! I assure you! The networking, financial, investment possibilities are endless.

3 WEEKS TO GO!
I was in Elmina on Founder's Day ... met with the Project Manager for Cyclus Elmina Plastic Waste Recycling Plant in Aburansa-Komenda in Elmina.
Very personable man, and passionate about Sustainable efforts ... a man who had spent 9 years in Cameroon working on wind power projects and water engineering.

I went to see what Cyclus Elmina was all about, and how our fundraising efforts for a Plastic Waste Recycler in Accra could fit into their agenda - for better synergy. Also to learn as much about the process and its inputs as possible.

I didn't regret the trip. All my studies, readings, and research on possible end-products of plastic recycling, both occurring in other parts of Africa, and yet to happen ... were already being tested by Wim and his team in Elmina.
By the end of the meeting, I had had more than enough knowledge on how such a plant worked, and gotten a signed agreement from Cyclus Elmina to support in Accra, in terms of Plastic Waste collection (as totally as possible),education and training (of local inhabitants).

We were worried that they were not getting enough plastic waste to meet the plant's quota in Elmina ... whereas those who claimed to be collecting it in Accra seemed blind to those scattered all over the streets, and every other available space in the capital city! Apparently, deals are struck with hotels, schools, and institutions, and they collect directly from selected sources.

Here at ESF, we intend to give the money-less, homeless teens the opportunity to make 100% of the money paid by Cyclus for this plastic waste .... by hiring them on to actually collect those littering our neighbourhoods, as well as talk to the households living in those communities, so that they pick up directly from them.

Whatever cash is paid by Cyclus Elmina, we pay back 100% to them after weighing. Our focus is to clean up the plastic litter, and make sure Cyclus's plant is being utilised to the max! Cyclus also issues cheques weekly to pay, so is sorta better than most other plastic-using manufacturers in the country, who are less regular (or less reliable about paying).

You can see some of the pictures from my Elmina trip to Cyclus, and also at the guest house, where i stayed overnight.

With 3 weeks to go, I am still working on getting as many sustainable businesses and ideas involved in the Fair and the Ball, as is possible.

Here's to THE GREENFOOT CAMPAIGN!! Hip hip hooorah!

Lol. What a silly goose! I just love it! lol!

See you all soon, guys! Mwah!!
September 20, 2009
13:48
The journey of a 1000 miles, begins with ....?
» ‎ SavingGhana

Friends ... my friends.

Hope y'all are good.
This week and half has been the Mother of crazies for me. Topsy-turvy, emotional, trying, fulfilling ... exhausting.

I went to Odumase-Krobo this Friday. Went to Cedi Beads ... y'all heard of him? Just Google him, and you'll land him in a nanosecond! like, really ... guy is so popular, and his family is legendary.

I went to ask him in board the Greenfoot Campaign ... not only does he do great beads, but he recycles glass ... intentionally uses un-needed glass bottles and such for his beads.
It's a notion we will dearly enjoy partnering him in ... and also to work on getting more of his beads into daily use and fashionale accessories ... so it goes everywhere, faster.
Recycle the glass, darn it! Keep the line moving ... yep, that's it! lol!!!!

We have another date with him next weekend. Can't wait to go ... cus this trip in particular, I did in a hurry, and I didn't really get to feel the entire experience well.
This time around, I'm going prepared.

I took the pictures of him, and his bead-makers at work myself oooo! Not from internet, so copyright first, joh! lol.

And oh! What lushness! What fresh green-ness! What coolness! I am definitely going to move out of Accra when I can afford it! Beautiful and idyllic ... blow your mind, it does!!

So Cedi Beads will be repping at the Fair on the 17th October! Mark that down.

Now we are still in several talks with sooooo many companies, but if these ones, we have confirmed SUPPORT of varying forms and levels ... and with some, we have a working understanding. You are likely to see them or their reps on the field on the fair day as well (both officially, incognito, or just there to have fun!):

USAID
CEDI BEADS
NKYEA Twi Primer TEAM
E + CO
SOLAR LIGHT
NET 2, CAMPUS FILE team
TRASHY BAGS
WELLNEZ CENTRE
MIM & LEA
CREATIVE WRITERS WITHOUT BORDERS
ENCOL GH. Ltd
WILKINS ENGINEERING
ZENITH BANK ENERGY DESK reps

We are still in talks with interested groups, but we will only confirm them when they confirm.
So watch out for the next blog update for these support and participatory groups!

We met with part of our volunteer group on Saturday (yesterday) as well. This was at Legon with the legon reps, and a few wonderful reps from Ashesi (although theirs will be held soon on their campus, they still came over!).

As you can see from the pictures, I went along with my son a.k.a Tasmanian Devil! He is never still, so all you see is the blur, yurp! What? How old is he? Will be 2 in December ... rather on the tall side, eh?! Boy can only babble baby talk, yet he is already up in there!

Mercy is the one at the far left in the group picture ... she's a trim 5 ' 1 feet.
I am at the far right in the group picture with the blur of a son ... i'm a round 5 ' 6 feet.
We are like: Santa and one of his elves!

We had a wonderful hour and half chat with them, wherein we spoke about ESF, why ... like food and drink, energy was also important, and had to be diversified and made efficient for the future, why the power lay in their hands to take up this opportunity. We spoke about what responsibilities they would be given on the day, we emphasized the need for a learning and fun-loving spirit for this event, and the measures we had in place to take care of them throughout their voluntary assignments.

Most of them were very happy to have gotten frequent emails from us, before the meeting. They shared a wish to spend their vacations attached to our outfit ... especially in terms of training, travelling, assignments,jobs, etc.

They wanted to know how we started, our founding members, and our long-term dreams for the outfit.

At the end of it all, we also asked them why, deep down, they offered to volunteer.

Astoundingly, most of them responded that the energy situation was a disturbing aspect for them as well, and they agreed with the point we made about the rural areas being paradise ... BUT FOR LACK of electricity, hence their wish to also join a pioneering movement such as ESF.
They also stated that they were taking the opportunity to upgrade their CVs, as well as build up on a marketable and career-enhanced future.

We ended it up with a group picture, distribution of directions to Lincoln C. School, as well as a reminder of a final volunteer meeting before the D-Day.

After this came a fast flow of discussions, meetings, and deliberations with our media supporters and publicity aides. Then, of course, a meeting between myself and Mercy.

We have one last set of ads to place on paper and radio-TV, andafter that, we raise our faces to Mawu, the Most High God.
Money issues be tight, mehn! REAL tight! But we believe it will be well.

I have left out so many petty details, cus my heart is full to bursting with them, and I know not which to talk about, but when we meet, I shall spill all to you! ;-0

Before I go, though, share this good news with us:

WE have gotten our first CONSULTATION! And we have already started working on it. It is so perfectly in line with our objectives ... nothing could be more perfect. When the revenue pulls through, hola! to our raise funds for rural-renewable energy-grid campaign! We just got hold of the Energy Bill draft from government as well. Probably should update you on that soon as I can. Hmmmmmmm!

2 other jobs also popped up just 2 days ago as well, and we hope to put pen to paper on these as well!

So share the good news. Tell people ESF is still growing ... we value our standards, and we keep them!

Share our countdown with us on FACEBOOK (we have a Greenfoot Campaign funpage, specially for the Fair and the Charity Ball, then an ESF fan page ... join us on there if you can. 70 members and counting so far!!)

Buy a Charity ball ticket!
Or a Reggie Rockstone and Friends "Take the Mic" ticket.
Buy for you and a friend. A partner. Family.
Share this with us!!!
More updates of support groups for fair next update!

People.
We have seen the future ... and it belongs to us.

Don't let nobody tell you different!
September 15, 2009
8:06
Lighting Africa ... over to you!
» ‎ SavingGhana
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What goes around, comes around … is a saying I high-five a lot! You can’t escape those five words, like it or nay. Today, I dedicate it to the Lighting Africa managers we met on that fateful Thursday morning, last month … they know themselves.

Of the two, the one AE was the sore point. NOT because of his bluntness – a trait both Mercy and I bear in generous doses! – but because I found out that his condescending tone and glares were not well-placed, as I was tempted to think they were.

His condescending attitude and icy looks, I thought came, from the fact that we had made the wrong research of their mandate and objectives, and had therefore, brought the wrong profile to the right people … not the right profile to the wrong people. I appreciated his bluntness, but sadly, in this situation, it has been his hubris.

Friendly advice: the time for under-estimating both YOUTH and FEMALES in the competitive corporate/political/social system … that time, is O-V-E-R. Read my lips. Next time you are grinning from ear to ear, thinking you are hoodswinking a female, think again. If you really succeed, then she is naturally, the biggest bumbling idiot this side of the pole, and is beyond help. A woman with her wits about her … if she keeps quiet about it for a long time, START SQUIRMING. The bomb will explode under your backside when you ARE NOT expecting (the most dangerous of them).

Now me … I’m nice, so I let the shizz hit the fan a li’l earlier. But don’t step in it again … cus I have the tendency of being mean when pushed as well. Just a friendly warning to all Lighting Africa types.

SO …

We get to the meeting with Lighting Africa, and I give a detailed profile of our work … and what we hope to request from LA.

Basically, we are about diversifying Ghana’s energy alternatives, a diversification which focuses on renewable energy – ie, green energy forms. We are also about bridging the gap between the Ghanaian and the financial institutions …. What with all the types of loans being offered to individuals, not a single loan is going for solar/renewable energy projects (small or large scale) for Ghanaians. Further to these, we are creating awareness that alternatives need not be large and expensive, but can be for 1 or 2 petty systems to start with, or to power solely certain gadgets in the household … awareness on the number of RE companies within Ghana and how best to take opportunity of them. And we are creating the market as well, for RE gadgets, systems … and thereby, creating a wider consumer base for RE technologies retailers (which means more jobs). There are about a 100 more things we are doing along these major lines … note, I said “DOING”, not talking!

So what exactly do you want from us, LA asked. I told AE and NA-M … we are new and young, and we are looking to get partners, supporters, and assistance of any form to grow the Greenfoot Campaign; and even if it means Energy Solutions Foundation coming over to your side, we will do so, long as our focus is still maintained in there.

AE glares and asks permission to be blunt.

Well, he says: what exactly defines “partnership”, “support” and “assistance” as I mentioned? For all he knows, they might be different from what he understands. I say, it is anything at all you can grant us … we cannot be choosy at this point, no! He says: and you say you are bridging the gap … creating awareness … ARE YOU AN ADVERTISING AGENCY that you should do these? (Mercy’s mouth was open at this point, and her eyes turning black).

We say, we have told you that we are advocating in the financial institutions to provide loans and support to these RE projects, or these household RE spending. The fair is to let people know that going solar or other … is not as expensive or large-scale as we ALL thought. Etc etc

He says : you don’t seem to understand my point. But further to that, how do you fit into our objectives, and what are your capabilities (his own emphasis on capabilities) that I should pick you, small ESF out of several others (emphasis his own) with better pedigrees than you?

First of all, how does he determine our pedigree and capabilities off the bat like that, when he keeps tossing everything we say outta the window?!

And “small ESF”? How polite? Just the thing we need on our minds everytime we meet you, innit?

And other people have turned us down before, but they didn’t need to be half this rude, especially without provocation!

Now, can you tell me your mandate? Cus I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know that your ultimate objective is to provide light to about 250 million Africans before a stipulated year … and we ESF are also working to provide energy to as many Ghanaians as possible, as well as put the culture of RE into the Ghanaian … starting with our kids, and starting with one solar gadget per home, TO START with!

Well, give me your capabilities, statistics, figures … then we can talk business. Besides, we are a private enterprise, we don’t do not-for-profit stuff, so all we do must yield some benefit. Also, you say Plastic Waste Recycling … is that not far removed? And are you not re-generating waste by making more plastic wares, or selling it back as raw material to Duraplast, Interplast, etc? Why not use it to produce lighting bulb parts, and other green initiative plastic wares … then we know you are not putting back more waste into the system (from NA-M)

I said, we will go back and customize a proposal just for you. But in the meantime, I simply cannot walk out of here without saying something to these queries: firstly, what we are doing is yielding revenue as well as results, and we have the progress reports to prove it, everywhere you care to look!

2ndly, our plastic waste recycling project is 100% sustainable, and Sustainability is the mother of Renewable Energy … so we definitely have not gone far off the beaten path here. It's ok to declare that it's not in line with your objectives currently … and uuuuuuuhhh … using our recycled plastic to create plastic fittings for green initiative stuff stops it from getting tossed out again? Man, you’re brilliant. Its recycled, on a light bulb … oh! Lemme keep it in my cellar or the basement … kids, never throw this out, ever! Ya hear! And so it never gets trashed or wasted, right?

Duh! Smart move, Mr. Manager!

This went on and on till NA-M, the nicer one of the duo, stepped into his colleague’s nice bluntness, and asked us to go and work on the customized proposal like we had said earlier … and not keep answering questions off the cuff!

They both sent us off with: NA-M … you are young yet (they were not more than 30 and a day as well), and this is such a huge focus. Perhaps you should just stick to Energy and try to do something in there first. You still have a lot of years ahead of you, and you will make something work, but take a little bite at a time.

Ae: And even AMA and co could not make a dent in the waste management situation, so how can you small ESF (this seemed to be his favourite pet name for us)? I admire that you want to do something about the horrible conditions in these landfills, but …. Anyway, send me you capabilities, your statistics, and figures (researched … maybe he was making sure we didn’t show up for another decade), and all other pedigrees … and I will know what to think of you then.

SO … I now put right below (in italics) cut-and-paste portions from their website www.lightingafrica.org that provides the proof that the 2 of them, especially the Ghana manager, AE …. Wanted us out of the office premise fast! Before any body heard what we were saying, and found out that 2 “small” girls were already doing their job … and more! And before their fat wallets were taken away from them.

Cus if I were your boss and I were not a corrupt, deceiving gentleman like you were, I would have done exactly so!

So after telling us off, and cancelling everything we said, I found out from their site, they LIED:
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Lighting Africa works closely with a range of key stakeholders along the supply chain and beyond, necessary for successful market formation, including:
- Manufacturers
- Component Suppliers
- Importers
- Distributors
- Retailers
- Governments
- Donors
- Financiers
- NGOs/ Academia
It is the aim of Lighting Africa to leverage global expenditures on fuel-based lighting to develop, accelerate, and sustain the market for modern off-grid lighting alternatives that offer African consumers considerably more value for their money.

A program entirely formulated and implemented based on stakeholder engagement and participation, Lighting Africa acts as an instrument of the industry, creating a level playing field rather than picking winners or specific technologies to endorse, supporting all who are willing to commit to market development.

Lighting Africa's consultations with hundreds of companies and other stakeholder groups have informed the development of a defined set of program of activities through which Lighting Africa seeks to mitigate specific market barriers.

Examples of environmental sustainability issues Lighting Africa seeks to address:
- Component Lifecycle Analysis-Minimizing the negative environmental impact of off-grid lighting components (batteries, light fixtures, housings, etc.) on the environment, from manufacture of raw materials, through assembly, distribution, use, and disposal.
- Component Disposal, for example waste management/ recycling of batteries and hazardous materials such as waste recycling the hazardous materials contained within
Currently, the following types of services are provided by the program:

Market information. Lighting Africa is conducting research in order to share critical business intelligence with companies and organizations interested in entering the Africa off-grid lighting market. Such information includes data on consumer needs, lighting uses and preferences, current expenditures on off-grid lighting, potential distribution channels, prevailing policy and regulatory frameworks, sources of finance, and more.

Quality Assurance. In close consultation with other stakeholders, Lighting Africa is developing a multi-pronged quality assurance program aimed at helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions while also aiding manufacturers in improving product quality to best meet consumer needs and expectations.

Business linkages. Strengthening ties between the global lighting industry and local service providers to design, develop, and deliver lighting products to off-grid communities in Africa. For example, Lighting Africa facilitates business linkages through its interactive business to business (B2B) website, a social networking tool which convenes the industry around topical areas, provides them the chance to post and receive business opportunities and other exchanges, and through a number of international and domestic conferences, trade fairs and workshops.

Consumer awareness. In order to inform consumers about modern off-grid alternatives to fuel-based lighting such as kerosene lamps and empower them to make educated purchasing decisions, Lighting Africa is planning to conduct consumer awareness and information campaigns in a number of African countries.

Program Areas

Policy & Regulation

In order to address the numerous regulatory and policy barriers that are stifling the development of off-grid lighting markets in Africa, Lighting Africa is launching a multi-country policy program. The program is designed to map and analyze policy and regulatory barriers such as import tariffs, taxes and subsidies for fossil fuels. On the basis of this, a policy dialogue with respective governments will be conducted to mitigate such barriers and improve business environments.

Market Intelligence

Description: Market Intelligence

In response to the industry call to provide greater comprehension to the scope of this emergent market opportunity, Lighting Africa is supporting the industry by leading a Market Intelligence Program to collect and disseminate critical market information to the industry.

Financing

Access to finance is often cited by companies and consumers through the supply chain as one of the biggest barriers to entering the off-grid lighting market in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lighting Africa recognizes the importance finance plays and is working on identifying the financing needs of stakeholders in order to inform the development of solutions and financial products appropriate for the market.

What goes around .... comes around.
September 11, 2009
14:56
On your marks ... 4 weeks to go!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Hi dearies!

So far we've gotten 15 volunteers who have signed up to work with us on the 17th.
Did I hear some clapping? Go on, standing ovation won't hurt! lol ... but I think I'll go ahead for 15 more and stop (or keep taking!). The vols are from Ashesi and Legon so far ... whatsup Central, Winsonsin, Valley View, UCC, KNUST, Zenith, all dem dems?!!!! Represent.

You oughta know, we've got a promotion running as well : for the youth and students who need the extra cash ... every person they sign up into any of our sports competitions (Marathon, Swimming, Cycling) gets them GH 1 cash ... so you sign up 50 people, you get GH 50 instantly!

For those who have already signed up with us, we have promised to refund their registration fee of GH 10 when they get 5 others to sign up! Word ... we will.

So far, so good!

We did a lot of trudging around with fliers from Friday and all through this week.

Most people were excited to hear that the gate fee is going to be GH 2, and if you come in a group of 4, its going to be GH 6 ! Are we crazy?!!! No ... just chilling! lol

Reggie's ticket is going for GH 20 and is for only 150 people. Charity ball tickets are going for GH 50 and for 200 people. We are busy like mad ... and its just 4 weeks away, crikey!

From the pictures above, you can see that we have been around town this week ... We went to Legon to put up fliers and posters, went to Ashesi (whose ITC level allowed us to utilise the digital spreading of fliers ...which has been marvellous), sent some to Central, and sent SMS to all the students we knew personally, so they spread the word. We are putting up campus TV and radio adverts, so that a max of students can be reached. We need their generation primed and ready to go green when they take over the reins of control.

Also, we dedicated one day to taxi drivers, shops and businesses, and other services ... who needed to know about the fair stands.
We will be putting up one last advert in the Graphic in a short while ... to round up final interested people for the fair stands.

Now,I called Zoomlion up to track our letter, and it couldn't be found. Not unusual, if you're wondering ... we face it in most places.
However, the peculiar aspect for Zoomlion's head office is that the employees themselves couldn't seem to tell me which department I could send concerns and invitations to .... There is such a profusion of departments in there, even when they sent me in, i was sent from block to block - receptionist to receptionist ... and finally ended up in a PR office ... where it seemed like the letter would be laid to a decade's rest.

When i tried to fish for a name or a definite person ... people got confused ... The security man told me at the gate ..."it gets in there to the wrong person, and it's lost forever. So you gotta be very precise, lady." Na wa ooo!

How can you have so many departments, such a huge expanse of work area ... and no coordination of data, information, and communication????!!!!

Well, we met Mr. Agyenim Boateng of Wilkins, North Kaneshie (they assemble solar lanterns, and do some solar engineering as well) on Thursday. He had requested the meeting, and was insistent on knowing us, and what the driving force for ESF was ...
Passion, we told him. Passion, and a dream. A big dream.
If there is someone we need to have on board, its him. He is a young success himself ... and we were excited that he was excited about the Greenfoot Campaign. Nice to have you on board, A-B!

Next agenda: Trashy Bags, Dzorwulu.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out from the sign at their gate, that they also advocate against Carbon Emissions and burning plastics (toxic fumes).
I didnt know thaaaaat! lol.

So i went in and met Elvis and Samuel ... two pleasant administrators. Unfortunately, Mr. Gold was not yet in ... apparently just back from a trip abroad.Stewaret Gold is the CEO for TB.

So I took the time to explain what we were doing, and why Trashy Bags would fit in tremendously in partnership of some sort ... and also why they simply ought to be at the fair on the 17th!

We had a good conversation, and I left the letters and promised to be back the following Monday, to try and meet Stewart Gold himself.

But of course, I couldn't very well leave without feasting meself to their goodies, could i?!

So i splurged on a "pure water"sling bag, and a cutsie "tampico" wallet of refreshing greens and oranges! Then I rounded it all up with a couple of pictures, as you can very well see.

Now, at the end of each day, my only problem is that our clients don't understand why we need to close off registration early enough to plan the fair well ... some of them call and postpone payments ... got me going red and black keeping my worries locked up, you guys have!!

I will like to thank Fred Anani-Frimpong ... for interviewing me and publicising ESF's work on his dotFAF.com. Every booster helps, and I was surprised to learn from comments on the interview, that we have some silent followers on our work as well. I thank all the commentators ... and appreciate the support. We need your help to make it whole, people!

On to next stop.
Next day or two ... I'm gonna stir up trouble.
I'm gonna talk about Lighting Africa, and what I think was behind what they did ... and somebody better call the police! It's going to be smoky in here ... cus you see, I consider abrasiveness as an occupational hazard for ESF, being young females as we are; and a start-up; and an NGO.

So when it comes up, it doesn't tickle me ... but I usually like to understand which angle the abrasiveness is from, cus it might be caused by something we genuinely did wrong, which we have to stop or alter ... and if i didnt search for the cause, i could overlook this and keep on doing it.

But when i don't see the cause, and abrasiveness comes ... especially in a hostile manner ... and i keep searching and searching and still don't see the cause .... I go PI. Yes ... so i went PI on Lighting Africa ... and I am going to share what I think happened ... in as nice a way as possible (unless they declare war first). Some of the 'advice' and 'positions' they took at our meeting ... and only for me to find out ... hmmmmm!!

People, we gotta stop the division now. Stop tamping down your fellow country (wo) man! .... Now. Stop it.
September 07, 2009
15:54
Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Orgasmic happiness! The type that is hard-earned and touches down on the runway of your soul after the long, painful trials and tribulations.

Yes!

Thursday continued the Blessings ... I met with our advisor, Mr. Adu-Asare at my father's office premises (Abba Scientific Promotions - Janssen-Cilag) in the morning, to discuss ways of getting more Ghanaian energy institutions to get onto our platform. Being one of the pioneers in Ghana to go into RETs (Renewable Energy Technologies) as well as Sustainable Development (Waste & Recycling), we have no predecessors that i know off ... so we are having to prove ourselves SERIOUSLY to these Solar and Energy institutions before they agree to partner with us on this campaign.

Out of sheer irritation, I sometimes mumble how I'll just plod along without them ... but for the sake of the Ghanaian I am trying to save and give a better life to ... I simply must get these insitutions on board - be they ready or not! Now ... we have started making them deals they cannot refuse; deals that demand a lot of ground-breaking work from us, but that will ensure that the partnership does pull through ... and it will!

You know I don't give up!

So Adu-Asare gave me some pointers on how to approach these institutions and the best angle from which they could partner us (as in what they do best within the RETs industry).

By the end of the meeting, he had led us to the leading Biogas expert in Africa (yep! a Ghanaian), a lady with a PhD in Impact Assessment, the Chairman of one of our Energy 'giants" in Ghana, and the Managers of Lighting Africa Project (International Finance Corporation, Ghana).

After this, I sped off for Mercy's office. We had a meeting with Reggie Rockstone at 7 pm, and I needed to touch base with Mercy before we got there.

Things went well, and Reggie got us all over the ground with laughter with his witty "waste" rap statements. He was a natural ... and we had a fabulous hour going over the way the day would go.

Basically, he said he loved the Greenfoot Campaign so much he would host the entire Fair. Since he does everything with people at heart, he went further to insist that he would enjoy things much better if he were to get on the grounds early enough to mingle with the crowd before starting his music programme.

Now, what we both felt was phenomenal about Reggie accepting to be Ghana's Green Energy Icon (courtesy ESF of course! lol) was that he instantly brought up the need for an INTERACTIVE music show that had the audience coming on stage to do their own thing ... under the topic of Ghana going GREEN! And also to make as much use of him as they had the opportunity to ... (what could be this fantastic?)

Hence the tagline we now use : Reggie's 'Take the Mic' interactive music programme.

We left LOL-ing all the way home ... tired and wilted like old cabbage, but happy.

Friday morning, I leapt out of bed, and hit the ground running. Practically had to tie my son on my back to get through the chores as quickly as possible .... why?

We had a meeting with Lighting Africa (IFC) at 11 am, and being so far out of Accra, I needed to rush out of the house. Finally got out in time, with seconds to spare ... and made it just in time.

Sitting back now, I feel like ... girl, if you knew, you wouldnt have bothered so much. lol You see ... we met with a dismissive attitude that came with these themes:

start-ups like yourselves ought not raise yourselves above certain stations
you are too young to have the kind of capabilities that impress me/us
you are giving a good fight in this debate, but i will keep dismissing all of them. Perhaps that will frustrate you enough to get you gone
are you an advertising agency - that you should be creating awareness and bridging the gap between needy groups and supplier, etc?
how the .... do you and us fit? or exist on the same level? How come you see us as sharing similarities?
blah blah blah ... we can't hear you! (can't these girls just give up and go away before our semi-polite hints of "Get out of here" get really rude?)

Of the one hour presentation-debate-self defense we had at Lighting Africa(IFC), these were the distinct semi-verbalised come-backs from the gentlemen we so kindly met.

We left with a promise to forward a proposal to them for a clearer picture, and with the assurance that we have gotten to know them better ... but not at all disappointed that their concluding 'encouragement' to us was "You are young girls ... focus on one thing, and AMA and Government has not even made an impression on this situation, so don't take huge bites ... you are still young...)".

I was mostly indifferent to this experience, though I made it a point to learn as much from their argument as possible ... who blames them, we ARE young! And that is the joy of it ... taking opportunity of the now!

After this, we spent the next 6 hours making photocpies of the fliers we had designed, flirting with the cutter-guy to get him to cut most of them (200 papers) up for us very quickly, and happily distributing them around.

So from Tudon (where we did the photopcoies - Circle Overhead), we strolled up towards SG-SSB. We had fliers for the Sports Competitions and fliers for acquiring fair stands or setting up ads on the field for the day.

We met a nicely dressed young man from Ecobank, shaking his buns in his spiffy trousers (:-)) and gave him some. He was nice about it. We went up to the Challenge bookshop (gave some to the attendant inside, and went in to hand some over to the General Manager. He was also nice about it). Then we went to ATTC, but unfortunately they had not yet re-opened school, so we gave the lady there a flier for the fair stands.

We then went on to the shops and businesses along that road - one Health Products shop, 2 bespoke fashion wear shops, Bayport Financial Institution (since it was Friday and the payday of the month, the SEVERAL fit, young Bayport men hanging out in front of the office were their flirty best) where we got a lot of happy young men to take our fliers .... promising to come only because our chests looked promising, and they wanted to get the names that went along with those juicy melons (we insisted we would only divulge our names on the day of the fair)!

We went on for about another half kilometre, towards Joy FM premises, where we finally gave up on our tired legs, and I jumped into a ride and headed on home, while Mercy strolled on home (just 5 minutes away, lucky her!)

Got home at 7.30 pm ... another day hard at it ... when Mercy called with unpleasant news: Joy Fm had confirmed they wouldnt sponsor us on the publicity ... the best they could do was let us pay 50%.

But for services of which the least (of a meaningful publicity package) cost about GH 3000 cedis ... neither myself nor Mercy were in the position to pay 50% of such a cost ... we have already sunk in GH3500 of our personal monies so far ... we have no more.

So today ... I sit and keep the faith. More things came up on a positive note, and I will share that on the next post.For now, at least, we know that the day will be packed ... we just need to make sure it goes well, and all sides are satisfied : Fair stand owners get a crowd to patronise them ... and crowd gets enough activity and services to make the trip worthwhile ...

Love y'all!!
September 03, 2009
9:12
When God has His eye on you ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

What a week!
I know that this whole thing was pre-destined for me ... but there are days when it shocks me all over again. And also days when Mercy and I realise that, much as we are naughty and un-formatted ... we are VERY blessed.

This is the whole story:

Monday saw us in town again, trying to beat as many self-given deadlines as possible. We all know how our dreams never approximate or equate the realities, hence a lot of frustrations and trying moments ... lol.

We always set out with targets and unrealistic, severely short deadlines (which is why i say we are unformatted!) ... but at the last moments, we get smack into the perfect precipitator, and next we know ... task accomplished!

On Monday, the ad came out with much fewer calls than we expected and hoped for ... however, Mi called to tell me that WELLNEZ CENTRE had called her in response to the ad ... and they wanted to provide a 4th prize for the competitions.

So we booked a time and went over to them. We then met T and A and had a lively short chat about self-made success and how its not easy, but all very worth it. On the way, I called Mr. KO of Joy FM to confirm a tentative meeting he had agreed to earlier.

Turned out that it was perfect timing, and he asked us to pass through. Relieved that another hurdle had been chalked, we presented ourselves at Joy FM and met with KO.

He was pleasant and straightforward about their current priorities and status of sponsorship, and led us to MF, for a more confirmed position on our partnership-sponsorship proposal. This was concluded on a request that we call him back in 2 days for a response to the issue. Which means, this morning should get us Joy FM's position (final/tentative) on either sponsoring something of the Greenfoot Campaign, or partnering with us on the entire thing. (Fingers crossed).

From there, we called Reggie Rockstone, who had a very lively Ashanti Twi conversation with Mi on the fine details of what he wanted to do for the Campaign (Mercy's gift or forte is communication and campaign strategizing, so I am very happy to have her on my side).

At the end of their conversation, she giddily informed me that Reggie had stated that he was going to host the funfair event ... and was also going to have an intimate interactive "Take the Mic" show with the audience of the music show later on that day. We were to call him back in a few days to confirm a meet to finalise the details.
Another hurdle chalked!!

We went our separate ways after this, weary but fulfilled.

On Tuesday, we had a meeting with TN of Lincoln C School ... to go over the contract and also view the facilities as they are.

She is a very lovely lady, merged professionalism very well with amiability ... but what i will always remember about our meeting with her is the recommendations she made on the preparations for the fun fair.

She made very good suggestions about the publicity and funding strategies we could us, as well as a cool, funky poolside theme for Reggies interactive "Take the Mic" music programme ... where we use their swimming pool area with its bleachers, standing spaces, etc.

Yes, of course, its more business to her, but her perspective was most helpful, considering that she was thinking as a potential visitor to the fair and what would appeal to her most - it helped us see clearer. I found her attitude very memorable.

From here, we walked around, then out of the school, and down to the main junction, to get a feel of the locations and timings and possible happenings on the D-day itself ... and therefore the backup plans and counter-strategies we should have in place for the day.

Wednesday came, and from morning till 2:00pm, it was blue and uneventful. I had all but shut down my brain, when I met up with Mi and she suggested that we go down to Unibank physically ... again.

She had called them earlier, and tried tracking the letter I had sent earlier ... I had told her they informed me it would go to Corporate Affairs, and much as she tried, they simply would nt connect her to, or give her the numbers to Corporate Affairs.

So we went there again (the administrative side at Kokomlemle), and met same receptionist.
She would not call them. She insisted "THEY WILL CALL YOU IF THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY" and asked us to pick brochures. When Mi asked her for what purpose, she stated that for the bank's contact numbers. And that was all the help she could give us. By this time, it was nearing 4:00pm and I was cussing her in my head and calculating traffic hours till i got to New Gbawe again ...

Now God being so fantastic and mysterious ... who shld be walking behind us, but a lady who knew Mercy very well ... and who was a Unibank employee!!!!!

So here comes the hugs and 'hey you' s!! And Mi asked her if she knew anyone in Coporate Affairs we could speak to ... she immediately asked us to proceed back to the building and wait for her ... she was going to the banking side. I asked Mi to follow up for me whilst i went home.

We started conversing about keeping the chin up ... with Mi doing the cheerleading dance (lol!) when her friend suddenly came back (amazing!) and asked us to follow her inside.

After a quarter hour wait, we finally met the Manager for Corporate Affairs, Unibank ... where Mi showed her commmunication prowess once again ... he he he!

We could tell the guy was taken with her narrative, and he declared so after our meeting. He also gave us more pointers on what to fix into our proposal to them, and with a promise to e-mail him the proposal ASAP, we left him with smiles.

Not because they had promised anything ... but because what an eventful hour it had been all of a sudden!

As if that wasn't all, Mrs JA of a certain Waste Management company here in Accra, with whom we had been trying to meet for a while, called us and asked if we were in town, and if we could meet?

I informed her that we were at Unibank in Kokomlmle ... and what do you know? She said she was turning right into the park then ... she was just THERE at that moment!!!!!!!!

So we went down, met her and had another superb talk and made decisions - she also agreed to assist us any way she could, and asked to be e-mailed the proposal ... oh my my!

When God has His eye on you, and a finger to your name .... you better be ready to call for all your blessings!!

Lord Bless us with every blessing conceivable! And give us the cloth to pad our head for the load!!!

If you don't join us now ... when again?!
August 28, 2009
20:28
Riding the wish-horse down!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Seeing an opportunity? Seeing it? Still staring at it?

What the h.ll are you sitting staring at it for?! Grab the d.mn thing and dig in! It might never show up again ... opportunity comes but bloody once!

People!!!!!!!! Things are good ... met a few good men (unfortunately, the romance wasn't there ... sigh.), a handful of superb ladies, and a lot of walking-around maties this week!

I'm on my wish horse ... and I'm a love activist, but I'm running that poor horse "deh-wn"! Forgive me, but I can't help it. Too many things I've been praying for, wishing for, working for ... time is now!

So we finally got the DAY confirmed, and everything is going great ... a few semi-confirmed issues here and there, but nothing scary ... nothing He can't put aright.

As the advert states, it's the 17th of October ... and please make it if you're in town. It's revolutionary ... women in energy! Ghana going Green officially ... pitch in and help if you want to ... or just sit back and enjoy the events! Just BE THERE!! lol

Mi and I went round to about 25 locations from 23rd Aug till today ... spoke to over 50 companies and experienced individuals by phonecalls and e-mails through same duration.

We sent letters physically to the following:

Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Accra (gave us FREE use of their venue for our Charity Ball - 24/25 Oct)
Joy FM (promised us normal coverage, but yet to confirm partnership/sponsorship)
Solar Light Com. (we felt it would be great to partner with them because we will have to refer our clients to them in case of solar energy gadgets or set-up ... no word so far; directors unavailable)
Milani Food Processing Ltd. (nothing yet)
Nestle Ghana Ltd. (I think the letter is still at the reception area ... they get so many job applications I think they don't bother much with letters anymore ... still checking on them)
Tigo (Millicom Gh. Ltd) (nice numbers ... no-one is picking up my calls ... receptionist herself gave them to me!)
Unibank (nothing yet)
DENG ltd (said I should call back next Tuesday on partnership/sponsorship qn) However, we will try to sell some of their solar lanterns ...
Zoomlion Waste Experts - my goodness, their offices are SO far out! (Haven't spoken to them yet on the issue, but we also have to promote them)
Standard Chartered (still working on the right people)
Stanbic Bank - they promote their support of renewable energy a lot, so we felt ... (still trying to get word/direction)
Koala Supermarket
Sunshine Salads
Frankie's
Papaye (they said they have a fixed policy ... never participate in such fairs)
Smoothy's

The last 5 most especially to supply food and drink services, but yet to confirm all of them.

As you can imagine, it was a crazy week, and a crazy situation of encounters ... I still intend to distribute 20 more letters throughout next week.

We have a Graphic ad coming out this Monday, 31st, so all in Ghana ... please look out for it (it's same as the insert above).
We are setting up an i-kobo account for all those who wish to donate something little.
We also have our numbers up for any one who can assist us spread the word, and wants to make more enquiries.

We have gotten a phenomenal group of foreign volunteers who are helping us run and monitor everything on the D-day ...

The Cycling competition starts first - at 6:00 am. This will be followed by the marathon at 6:15 am. The swimming competition will start at 6.15 am as well. They will all be 2 - 2.5 hr long events, so by 9:00am, all the competitions will be over. Winners will be awarded, and certificates given to all participants on same day.

In the meantime, the stand-owners would have been setting up, and getting ready for the first few visitors starting 8:00 am.

Music show commencement will be 12 pm or as Reggie himself confirms (updates will be given of specific time).

It will be music, business promotions, fun, socialising, and fun!!

In the meantime, we are still welcoming all support, spread-of-word, assistance, counsel, funds, and anything that can make us better!

Thanks to all of you who have been encouraging and following so far ... it means much!

I love you all! And will keep you updated.
August 23, 2009
12:59
What the Stars say about Fate ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

I love my friend Mercy very much. She has been a great source of encouragement, and a pillar of reality whenever i get into a haze of pain or the mist of dreams.

But like all people who are close, we bite each other a lot. Thank God, we are both so realistic that after the spit and venom ... we shake our hairs back and hug each other close. We're crazy that way, but it has sealed our friendship in ways that we could never have imagined.

THe other day, i told her, "Mi ... when I'm down, you gotta be up. When you are down, i gotta pull you up. We have to be understanding and considerate to whichever one of us is playing stupid or lost at that material moment ... or all that we have invested into this business will be down the shit-bowl. We are all we got ..."

And God. I am the believer ... Mercy is the realist! She is also heart and soul, and times like yesterday and this morning, I start wishing she didnt have so much of it sometimes! She has grown into ESF's Green Campaign so much, she's running with it like Muntari in midfield, zooming for the goal-post ... and she is left me far behind struggling to catch up to understand.

I am talking so much about Mercy because she has brought a lot of openings into ESF's progress lately ... a lot of experts, sponsors, and brilliant concepts to grow our NGO. She woke up last week and called me up 'screaming' "We need to finish our letter-rounds before August is up! September isn't good for us, according to the Horoscope, and we cant be caught in September!!!!!

I said "OK, Mama Horo." LOL

But I took that warning and ran with it ... you see, I had this NGO on my heart for a long while and ignored it. Finally, after May, it grew so much on me that I was in and out of the Reg-General's before i realised i had just registered an NGO on Renewable Energy! After that, so many doors begun opening to us so naturally, and the initiatives so clear ... there was no way i could deny that this was part of my Fate.

And so I realsied that i had to listen and follow this thread (never in a million years did i envisage myself in something like this!), and through it, i realsied that certain 'voices' were there for my guidance, one of which happened to be Mercy's.

So i ran with her!

And now, we have jumped yet another hurdle ... and have come closer to the 'MAKING GREEN ENERGY A CULTURE IN GHANA' Campaign ...................... a reality!!!

Green Energy is ESF's term for Green Power (check out this link: [www.renewableenergyworld.com] )

ESF wants to use this campaign to so ingrain in us Ghanaians, the need to create a sustainable energy culture, that by the time of the next generation, Green Energy will be a natural part of each Ghanaian. That the culture of maintaining the natural resources of our nation for our children, and their children in turn will be as natural to us as breathing.

And to premiere it to Ghanaians, we have put together the Making Green Energy a Culture in Ghana CAMPAIGN.

It is to provide a better understanding, appreciation, and utilisation of Renewable Energy technologies and everyday systems to Ghanaians, and to raise funds for the NGO as well. These funds will be going into a Plastic Waste Recycler - one of our biggest concerns in the country lately. It might not be under RETs, as Mercy points out, but it IS our version of Corporate Social Responsibility,if i can put it that way!

Therefore, with Mercy's assistance, we got Reggie Rockstone to say yes to a performance at the event .

To digress a bit, Rockstone blew us away with his humility and generosity that day! He accepted right away, due to the philantropic nature of the event, and left us speechless!

So Reggie Rockstone will be supporting us on that day with a music show to remember!

We are also having some competitive sports on that morning (from 6 am to 9 am) and then the rest of the day is dedicated to the Music show-FunFair.

This is all coming on at Lincoln Commnity School this October, and we are looking at 10,000 - 20,000 visitors and participants! It's going to be an all day event.

I recently dedicated a page to the details of this event on our website [www.energysolutionsghana.webs.com] titled Lates Project!

Under it are details of the event, how to sponsor something under it, or buy into it ... or for those who simply want to get stands and mount adverts on the field that day ... how to do so. Just check it out too!!

So far, Coconut Grove has also given us a package for our Charity Ball, which will be held on the 24th/25th of October 2009, and we are still finalising details of support with 2 other companies.

We welcome all support, sponsorship, partnership deals from all people, bodies, organisations .... and we welcome a call anytime at all.

Starting tomorrow, I am sending about 60 letters round to possible sponsors and corporate partners, and it leaves us with 6 weeks to the D-Day!

I am excited already! And with all this flurry of activity, I will be uploading more pictures, recordings, events and progress reports in this week or 2 alone!

Stay tuned .... it's gonna be the ride of a lifetime, Making Green Energy a Culture in Ghana!

It's in our Stars!!!
August 14, 2009
11:43
Partnership Alliance ... ssssswwweeeet!!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Heya!
Yea, thanks ... I'm good! And yourself? Great!

Laugh ... stuff that!

I am not as happy as i want to be ... things are picking up very quickly, and I oughta be happy, but one thing bugs me slightly right now ... and that is permanent office location.

So many people will like to meet with us, or just pass through un-announced, so they can ascertain that we are genuine ... but snag! No office. Yes, yes ... we had to register an office during the registration process, but at the time I was sharing my father's office - at Kokomlemle ... but with the kind of growth we are going through right now ... we have to get our own place ASAP!

But its a vicious cycle ... no money to rent an office, and without an office, few people will work with us now, and without the work, no money .... aaaand back to square one again! Go figure.

Now the GOOD NEWS!

So I went to El-Wak and Lincoln Community School, right? And i had a good look about those 2 locations, and finally decided to place my best efforts into LCS... thats Lincoln.

Thing is, they already have a community with the right mindset to propel this Green theme forward, they have a huge field that can comfortably host the 10,000 people we expect to attend the fundraiser event in October, and a swimming pool, and performing theatre to boot.
Now, I'm not saying they have confirmed the dates or confirmed usage of all these ... but i am a firm believer in negotiation and making offers that people can't refuse ... and I believe we can come to a very pleasant mutual agreement with LCS on hosting this event on their premises and utilising thier sports faciliies, as well as promoting the initiative through their staff and students and parents ... after all, i did tell them ... "Renting the field & Alliance possibilities".

So, most likely confirmation will be in 2 weeks, after the school has re-opened, and the school calender confirmed by the Superintendent and Principals of the school.

To be fair, they have been very supportive of such initiatives before, and their staff are well-trained and hospitable ... if anyone will partner us closely on this, I feel they should have the first go.

After this, we had another booster. One of our advisors, John Aqua (not his real name, but due to sensitive politics, he prefers to use this misnomer) connected us to his colleague Dutch country rep here in Ghana, with a very prestigious Dutch company which deals with Environmental Issues - water, engineering, consultancy, and investment ... in all its broad themes. We were slighlt hesitant at first about the positive effect of it, since most people write us of because of our youth.

We went to the meeting, Mercy and I, intent on learning everything from JK (as we will call him) ... even if he felt we were his latest amusement!
Thankfully, he took it all very seriously, even more so when he realised that we DID know our stuff! Hell, if we didnt! Sinking our own funds into something we don't know jack about? Not likely! lol

So we had an hour-and half meet of intensive information sharing, and in the end, not only did we acquire a pledge for expert advise, assistance to design a Plastic Waste Recycler, some man-hours from the company in our future projects, training of our staff, and support .... but JK also scheduled a trip to Komenda in Elmina, Central Region of Ghana ... where he and a partner company had set up a Plastic Waste Recycler. Further trips with him also included going to the Kwabenya lanfill, Waste Management offices, and any other crucial project he could sign us on to.

We were ecstatic that he could assist us design a Plastic WR, because it is our latest assignment ... we need to know what design to go in for, so that we can acquire the cost estimates for it ... BEFORE we would be able to set a clear target for the year on how much fund we aim to raise for it. Also needed to know all this before we could visit the local chief to grant us land on the outskirts of Accra for the location of the PWR, and the extra funds needed to build a structure to house the plant.

It was beautiful, seeing this phase also fall into place. He informed us on with Dutch cities had 'twinned' with which Ghanaian cities, in terms of funding and development, and how we could talk to those cities for assistance ...!!!!!

I am happy about things on so far ...

I don't know if i told you that on 10th or 17th October, this year, we will hold a walkathon-marathon-funfair at the LCS to raise $ 150,000 USD as part of the funds needed to set up the Plastic WR, its housing, as well as an administrative budget for Energy Solutions. I didnt? Oh well, in the next post, I should have acquired more confirmation and partners, and i can ttell you more about it.

Basically, we are bringing in solar lamps, lanterns, and mini-gadgets, and selling alongside the walk-funfair, and in alliance with Trashy Bags and co. We want to encourage the banks to give more solar loans, and Ghanaians to invest in solar gadgets or systems one step at a time ... and also raise funds for the PWR alongside.

Its a big affair of race competitions, marathons, swimming competitions, famous musicians performing to raise more money, and food and drink stands, people selling stuff, and all the fun possible! Of course, every part of it will be saturated with Sustainable Energy tit-bits .... !

I'll tell you all about it in a few days! Till then, keep supporting us, keep telling your friends about us ... we need funding, support, counsel ... everything!

Love!
August 06, 2009
13:51
Green Revolution ... Go! Road trips, bank appeals, and bank accounts ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

Enclosure: [download]

I went round on Monday like I promised:

- uniBank Ghana Limited Head office
- Solar Light Co.
- Masalachi, Mallam landfill site

Rundown:
I went to uniBank Ghana Ltd.'s head office at Kokomlemle - y'all know the one, right? I had to deliver our 'Greenfoot" campaign letter to them ... we are reaching out to a lot of businesses and entities to join in on this campaign, and as you all know from all my previous posts ... we need the banks to include Solar loans within their Executive and Personal Loan categories ... to start with. Of course, there is the Walk-athon FunFair as well, another brilliant concept they could sign up on.

Now you also know that our banking institutions are the most stuck-up businesses ever! Only a small percentage say what they mean and do what they say ... and even if they dont, only a tiny number of them, are ACTUALLY pleasant and accommodating ... TTB takes the award for me so far ... charle ... the Kwashieman branch is just smoking! lol

So I was prepared to be told I couldnt see anyone of 'importance' when I got there ... and my only frustration was that I would not meet a bitter Front Office Manager who would pass my letter through the shredder as soon as my back was turned!

True-true, I got there, and was pleasantly informed that 'if I don't mind leaving the letter ... it will surely get to its location" ... Pressing further as to if there was anyone at all I could speak with ... "oh ... you know, there's a new branch opening in Takoradi, and they are all gone there ... so you can leave the letter, then call back later to see if they are around yet." That was my favourite part ... like they might never be in when you call, love. lol

What could I do? I sighed and sighed and sighed ... and left the letter ... with the explanation that its contents are very definitive, and that it was a matter of interest or non-interest ... and therefore they could contact me on a very easy decision of "Yes ... we will like to hear more." Deep down, I knew I would still call a week later, just to be sure I didnt lose an opportunity ... but I wont be surprised if 1 month goes by, and they are still 'unavailable'

Apparently, the banks only 'know' you after you have acquired money, and they chase you up to bank it for you. lol ... that will be some day, huh?

So I left, grabbed a taxi for Solar Light, and changed my high heels for my outing flats. Relief ... Lord, those shoes kill after a mile!

At Solar Light, the technicians were all out, so Ben (the receptionist), took my contacts, and promised to let them call me when they return. I was there to find out about the wattage of their solar panels, as well as the kinds of batteries and inverters they had.

Basically, the wattage varied, depending on what they had at the moment ... so you could have one panel type for 50 watts ... which means less panels on your propery ... and at another time, you could have a panel type of 10 watts ... you calculate what that means! Their invertors were also either solar-charged, or electricity charged ... options available ... but for more details, I would have to talk to the experts, she said.

Later in the day, whilst taking a nap ... I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call back from their office ... sadly, I couldnt pick cus I was very sleepy. But I was 'moved; ... I like that ... keeping the promise. Anyway, I had promised her that I would return with a letter (to invite them join the campaign) ... so I will surely bring you more news on that!

After that, I headed home, but not without passing through the Masalachi landfill ... the one I was talking scary for in the earlier post ...

Abeiku, the taxi-driver with the ancient Mazda ... happily drove me to "Borla Last Stop" and explained to me that at the time the roads were blocked, it was because the site had become full, and the dumpster truck-drivers kept on leaving their 'loads' on the road and in front of people's homes ... but now, he explained, the tractors had come in to re-organise the entire place.

I took a picture of the tractors at work ... and it did look better organised.

Problem, is ... why do people live right across the road from the place? What is being done about the fluids seeping from the site into the drains by the road side? I took a video of this whilst we were driving back, and if I am able to load it, you will realise how serious it is ... all down the street to the maind road.

I still think more can be done about it ... and I will be updating you further.

Next post ... I go in search of a confirmed venue for the Walk-athon - Fun fair.

Oh ... and yea ...! We got some openers for a current account for the NGO ... and we get to choose which bank to go to now ... yaayyy! lol

Stay tuned, and enjoy the picture and video.
August 04, 2009
6:47
Yes ... Lord!! He he heee ....!
» ‎ SavingGhana

Ola!! We got our logos and letterheads!

Isn't that 'sumfin'? Holda on ... I know you don't get why I am so excited about this, but think about it ...

You dream of a baby, conceive it, nurture it till you deliver it, then after that last push ... its beautifully wrapped up and handed over to you ... now you see its face, the 10 tinny fingers and toes ... and you see a human being.
A tiny human being with IDENTITY ... its very own identity ... that LOOKS UP TO YOU for EVERYTHING ...and you see it all falling into place!!

People, that is the range of visions I went through when I received those logos and letterheads, and I'm not kidding! Tee heee heee ...

Now watch out, cus I'm coming to you, and I got a name and an ID to prove who I am! Whhhhhoooooooo-hooooo!

Ha ha ha ...

You know, yesterday, I spoke with the lady selling 'na-chiri' just around the junction to the OVERFLOWING Mallam landfill site ... and she said she's waiting for me to come and do my 'somtin' that will bring an end to the horror they live with everyday.

Now I am saying this beforehand for anyone linked to any government official for the Mallam-Gbawe community ... I am saying ... please tell them to go do 'somtin' before I get there with my accoutrements! Because the bru-ha-ha and furore we will raise out of this event will put a lot of pressure on you ... and you just don't want to have to sort the place out under tight deadlines ... believe me ... you don't. All that trash?

Oh what? You haven't seen it? Don't know what I'm talking about?

Hmmmmm ... hold on ... I will post up some pictures soon.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on the logo ... it is the new Face of Hope ... the Burst of Light spreading over the Horizon ... te he heeee!!
August 03, 2009
10:40
When I got to China ... and plastic recycle machinery
» ‎ SavingGhana

When I got to China ...

... and I am not talking about actually getting on a plane and flying over there ... or being there physically ... lol

You see, I was browsing online for the best locations to make enquiries for a customised waste plastic recycling set of machinery ... that can also produce plastic tiles for different uses ... therefore in different shapes and sizes.
I browsed and browsed and browsed ... and kept coming back round to Chinese and Taiwanese sites ...

Finally, I settled on a site called B2B or so ... and it promised to be the best, most reliable directory of Chinese machine-manufacturers.

Why was i in China at all ... I was starting a process which I hoped would ultimately lead me to a maufacturer who could specially design a waste plastic machinery of the specs stated just earlier, and also make me aware of the costs involved, as well as any particularly essential preparations that ought to go along with it ... such as the area needed to house the entire spread, the noise levels, the left-over materials likely ... and so on.

Now, China has a lot of stuff that impressed me ... from the machinery to solar table-lamps to solar lawn lights, and solar invertors, solar chargers, and anything you could dream of ... all possible to have in your own design ... AT HIGH (or low) COST ... depends on your choice (or common sense).

So I am now left with filtering everything down to specific machinery types and costs. Its a headache, it is.

So, so far ... these are on the iterinary:
Solar light Co. for specific specs on their solar panels and invertors
Search out any other suppliers, importers, experts in solar
Acquire firm idea of our support base - partners
Seek the police service's position on street events organised for specific campaigns
.............................................

Thats 5% ... and I can still see much to list.
I think I will hit my blackboard again and come back to you with specifics and results ...
... maybe even a voice recording or 2!

For now, however, check out our website: [www.energysolutionsghana.webs.com]

Will be back in a shake!
July 28, 2009
8:49
Stomping the turf ...
» ‎ SavingGhana

So I went traipsing.

Walking around in my sneakers, jeans, and backpack ... topped by a comfy cap to keep the burn off my face.

My agenda?
To find out the various solar energy rates available per solar company here in Accra and/or Ghana. This was for 3 reasons:

1. It was part of my campaign to get the banks to offer more solar energy loans as opposed to car loans and personal loans ... part of our NGO initiative.
2. A good friend called 'Aqua' had been taking me through all the angles of this initiative, and had stated that in Europe, solar was expensive ... then had enquired about available rates here in Ghana. I had no idea at the time, so I set to verify.
3. My father had gone to DENG a year ago to invite them over to our home for an assessment on how much it would cost to go solar ... father felt it was about time he attempted going solar. DENG took several hours of his time, promised to show up ... and NEVER DID!! He was very annoyed, I can tell you!!

So quite a number of pertinent issues needed clearing that relied on getting these solar rates, and I was gonna get 'em!!

Checking online, I noted Solar Light Co. first ... then DENG.

Solar Light co. offered more of the type of information that the ordinary Ghanaian would yearn to know ... so naturally, they drew my attention, and theirs was the first location I went to.

The receptionist/secretary called Ben ... short for Benedicta ... was very professional, confident, and pleasant at the same time. She gave me a brochure that had 4 various categories of solar packages ... all very practical ... and which showed that they TRULY knew what the ordinary Ghanaian needed ... as well as other options.

What I first noted ... happily ... was that the rates were NOT outrageous.

Solar is expensive, and most people tend to over-inflate intentionally ... but the rates I saw at Solar Light Co. was practical ... not cheap ... but you could tell that they were probably the most honest, realistic rates in town ... I heaved a tremendous sigh of relief.

That solved Phase One of the Solar Light/Loan Campaign for me ... rates. location, availability, and contacts of/from supplier(s).

Aqua had further asked me to do one thing for him ... publicise/campaign that people, employers, and institutions ensure that their airconditioning is pegged at 25 degrees Celscius instead of freezing points ... which is usually the norm.

If you are wondering why, it saves a huge amount of energy, just by adjusting a few practical degrees ... so I appeal to everyone ... at home or at work ... won't you please please please please try to keep the temperature at 25deg Cel? You would not only save Ghana a lot of energy in total, but save YOURSELF something on the electricity/energy bills as well!

For now, below is an idea of the various packages offered by Solar Light co. and their rates ... and they are located around Joy FM, Kokomlemle ...

STANDARD HOME LIGHTING SYSTEM for 2-3 bedroom house on FULL solar lighting (and about 70 watts, 7 days a week) ... GH2,500 cedis

SMALL HOME BACKUP SYSTEM for 3 bedroom house on BACKUP power (and about 180 watts, 3 days a week) ...
GH 3,300 cedis (or GH 2,100 Inverter/Battery option)

DELUXE BACKUP SYSTEM for 4-5 bedroom house on BACKUP power (and about 385 watts, 3 days a week) ...
GH 6,800 (or GH4,700 Inverter/Battery Option)

HYBRID SYSTEM for a COMBINATION of backup and full power in your home (about 265 watts, 7 days a week) ...
GH 8,000 cedis

They also have Rural Lighting systems, Backup systems accustomized to each home specially, Hybrid systems packaged to each home specially, Remote Stations solar systems, Telecommunications solar systems, Hospitals and Clinics theatre areas, vaccine regrigerators, passage ways, etc., and Agriculture ...

Man, these people look good and i havent even tried em!!

They have so much details, so I suggest you go there or call them, but check out their website ...
... am I advertising for them? I just realised I am ...

Couldnt help sharing the good news, and when I do try them and they REALLY are this good ... I think I will advertise them for free! It is time for Ghana to start going solar.

Change your refridgerator power to solar ... or your airconditioning ... or your outside night lights ... or you television and fans ... you dont need to change your ENTIRE household to solar if you can't afford to ... by changing SOME ... you are contributing a lot along with others doing same. Invite someone else to do the same ... but gradually, we are changing our nation for the better ... and our environment as well ...

Peace!
July 23, 2009
7:47
The light bulb overhead ... more than an idea
» ‎ SavingGhana

span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"People! /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"We don't like money here in Ghana ... you know that? We think we do ... but we don't really. /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"The things that will give us the bales of money people dream about are usually the dirtiest and sweatiest ... but in terms of pay-off ... the quickest. /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"I have a lot of projects to tackle:/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Approach the banks and find out how many of them will give SOLARloans ... yep! They give car loans ... why not?? /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Its the same thing ... the people will be vetted to ensure that they can pay the banks back, but instead of the banks ALWAYS chasing people to COME for CAR LOANS, this time, they will chase them to come for loans to change to solar. There are companies in Ghana who are experts in PV solar fittings ... they could also give discounts to people who really need to go solar ... /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Why are our major hospitals not being equipped to gradually go solar? /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Secondly, use the plastic waste around to manufacture platic tiles, amongst a myriad of other possibilities. Thing with plastic is smelting will produce toxic fumes, and a gooey mess ... so for these local people, they have to make it soft and malleable, not melt, and tamp it into moulds. Moulds to produce plastic tiles. All they need is human resource to teach them how to collect the plastic waste, coordinate and categorize into colour and texture, prepare them for warming; teach them how to make the moulds and tamps, etc. /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"In the Phillipines and in Cameroon, 2 companies are already making elegant, high-quality, durable, and CHEAPER tiles out of plastic, styrofoam. Just google something along the lines of "plastic tiles in Cameroon" and you'll see how beautiful they are!/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Ghana! Y'er late!! But we dont care about that, do we? /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"I don't know why government, business-people, investors, and civil society organisations are not investing their energy into initiatives that show care, advancement, and change on the ground, ie ... in the lives of the common people. We here of scattered cases now and then ... and even then ... we do not get to follow progress and see if there really was a transformation ... or how long the initiative lasts ... nobody is sure of anything./spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Individuals have gotten sick and fed up of this attitude and once in a while someone gets up and makes their own personal fight for a particular cause ... for eg. the lady Umul Hatia (hope i spelt her name right) who rode a bicycle from Accra to the North and RECORDED EVERYTHING ON CAMERA, and went on radio, so that she could raise funds and support to build a school block for children in a particular village in the North ... commendable. /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"If i ever do meet her, I will ask her if any governmental arm, civil society organisation, or NGO, etc helped her in this ambition, and to what extent. I really will. /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"And I am still appealing to everyone out there to help us out with resources and any little funds they can ... /spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"I will be going to the banks and solar companies next week ... and I will share everything that happens on this journey with you! It should be exciting!! I just hope they dont string me along too much ... it simple gives me time to write more blog stories .../spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"Please e-mail us at a href="mailto:goldaaddo@gmail.com"goldaaddo@gmail.com/a if you can help us out with any knowledge, expertise, donations ... etc./spanbr /span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"/spandiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3319227669742254710-771573289101033226?l=savingghana.blogspot.com' alt='' //div
July 22, 2009
9:13
And ... Halt!!!
» ‎ SavingGhana

span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"Ghana got waste! Ghana got it good ... waste! We got the trash, y'all!/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"And it's the most unpleasant stink ... shish! But the government's loving it ... oooo yah! /span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"They have to be loving it, because we dont see them doing much about it. /span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"Not even when communities fight with the rubbish-dumpster truck-drivers and people get killed in cold blood. Not even when the people in the community block the roads leading to the landfill sites because they never authorised anybody to make that place a dumpsite, and yet the Metropolitan authorities have made it so ... by force! /span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"The people live WITH the trash ... its like the are living on an island surrounded by millions of cubic metres of trash.The stench is so unbearable ... they have nowhere else to live ... and by right ... it is their home. They say their families are dying, getting odd coughs and respiratory problems all the time ... they killed one person just last month at Masalachi, Mallam in Accra ... no worries ... the dumptrucks kept coming!/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"How do I know? I live just 2 kilometres shy of the place ... and I can smell the "shizz"! I can see it, and we all suffer for it, one way or the other. It is replicated all over Ghana, and horrible diseases keep coming up!/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"Government hasnt said a word. The MP for the area hasn't said anything. The NGOs and Civil Societys are oddly absent on the issue./span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" br /Whatever happened to creating biogas plants? Whatever happened to the Kumasi biogas pilot plant? br / br /Why is the government allowing precious 100s of 1000s of hectares of agricultural land in the North and Volta regions to be used to cultivate jatropha for biodiesel ... when it is toxic to humans and animals ... when we dont have enough food in Ghana ... when we are generating 18,480,000 cubic metres of waste DAILY in Ghana and 90% of it has nowhere to go!!!!!!!!!!!!Why is the government not saving us? br / br /SO I RECEIVED MY NGO CERTIFICATION from the Registrar-Generals last week. I was elated, at the same time ... stymied.I knew that funding would come due to who I knew, and that it would be a long hard struggle ... I want to focus on the local communities drowning under the waste ... to teach them how to take the waste and turn it into treasure and sources of income ... and therby reduce the volumes coming in as well as make some money of it. br / br /I checked online for UNEP offices in Ghana. There is none. Closest are Kenya and ... I forget. I check UNDP. We do have one here, and they do have Energy and Environment on their agenda, and they are very busy with attaining the Millenium Devt Goals ... I really have to make it a point to go there ... I put them a little lower on my list because of bureacratic issues.I checked on AREED, and they said they funded entrepreneurs ... we are not-for-profit. br / br /They however led me to KITE, and they are also not-for-profit and cannot sponsor another NGO. They have a lot of high-falutin reports on their website on RETs, past present and future research reports - done and ongoing - since 1999/2000 - br / br /But why dont i see this evident in our communities? Where did all the research go? We are still drowning in waste, and they are talking "biomethanation" ... and cutting carbon emissions" ....I am so sad ... br /How does Energy Solutions acquire the necessary funding to assist the very people who are dying of the trash? br /No sooner had i gotten certified, than I see the barriers ... and I'm gonna go through them!!/span br //spanspan style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"Please check out these links:/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /a href="http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/agrofuels/Biofuel_Northern_Ghana.pdf"span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/agrofuels/Biofuel_Northern_Ghana.pdf/span/a br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /a href="http://www.actionaidusa.org/news/related/food_rights/women_lose_farms_to_biofuel_production/"span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"http://www.actionaidusa.org/news/related/food_rights/women_lose_farms_to_biofuel_production//span/a br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"And you're gonna help us .../span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"/span br /span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"Please help ENERGY SOLUTIONS any way you can ... material donations, human resources with knowledge in waste engineering, funding ... 50 pesewas ... 1 dollar ... 2 pounds ... 3 GH cedis ... Ghanaians in the country and out of it ... all nationalities who believe in us ... people living in neighbourhoods affected by this problem ... we have a few people helping us with little cash donations so that their communities can enjoy transformation ... please join this march!!/span br /div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3319227669742254710-4268238532289494674?l=savingghana.blogspot.com' alt='' //div