Going Green In Ghana

Ghana is advancing socially, politically, economically and even culturally, every day. It has quickly risen as the most 'westernized' country in Africa, and one of the safest.

Foreigners know it as 'beginner's Africa' and everyone who visits the country falls in love with the people, landscape and culture.

But not everything is perfect. Though local politicians work to address the domestic and political issues, conflicts and disputes, homicide and rape, children's and women's rights – something is missing. Environmentalism seems to be placed on the backburner and the pot is now rapidly boiling over.

Ghana functions as a single-serve nation. Milo, coffee, laundry detergent, cell phone credit, Fan Ice, water sachets – they are all packaged for one-time use and in the case of water, it is projected that half of the Ghanaian population consumes (at least) one sachet of water a day. That is 10 million sachets a day, weighing 3.5 grams each.

10 million sachets a day means 35,000 kilos of waste per day. The accumulation is immense and obvious. It litters gutters and streets and piles up behind buildings.

Along the coast, it is scattered on the beach and in some towns, piled high like cliffs that threaten the sea. If the smell isn't repulsive enough, the impact on the planet is.

Ghana was rated in 2006 by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fourth most unsanitary country in Africa, out of 52 countries, and the second dirtiest in West Africa (out of 15 countries ranked).

Ghana may be the safest country in Africa but it is one of the filthiest! The green of the nation's flag was meant to represent the beauty of the land; the plush green palm trees and the vivid colors of rural masterpieces and national wonders like Kakum National Park.

But with each year, Ghanaians only consume more, and the problems mount. It seems that the removal of trash in Ghana has failed as an economical and cultural method.

The people have resorted to creating their own 'landfills' (or rather mountains) of garbage but more often than not, trash is simply burned.

Burning trash creates winding plumes of smog that attack the earth's atmosphere (comparable to one's own immune system) like a virus, releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.

These are corrosive to the ozone layer and can deteriorate it and expedite the greenhouse effect (aka global warming).

The same smog is remarkably harmful to the human body and despite common belief, inhalation is not the only method of exposure.

Scientifically, contamination of the body (by smog from burning trash) is evident in four ways: inhalation, ingestion, direct contact and absorption.

Everyone knows that inhaling the smoke is bad for you. Furthermore, 'direct contact' refers to handling the ash – and if you don't wash your hands prior to eating, you can ingest it.

A number of things can cause emphysema, asthma, cancer, and other chronic and possibly fatal conditions.

Smoke from the burning of artificial materials may contain carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, dioxins, and furans.

Substances such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can cause immediate health effects with enough exposure and poisoning, which include reoccurring headache, sleepiness, loss of consciousness and dizziness.

Enough carbon monoxide in a poorly-ventilated area can kill you in as little as an hour. Chemicals such as dioxin can settle on the ground and crops, among others, and surround the area where the trash has been burned. Dioxin can build up in foods and the body, which can cause cancer.

But, there are still things you can do to live a greener life and help reduce waste in general. Organic waste can be separated from processed or artificial materials.

Composting can create a rich and fertile substance that can be used for gardening and farming. Compost allows grass, plants, hay, coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit, vegetables and eggshells to decompose and create a soil that is rich in nutrients, which can then be used to the replenish the earth to expedite growth of other crops, and to aid dying plants.

To create a composting system, you can simply dig a ditch that is one foot deep, and you can pile your organic waste in it. You can change the dimensions of the ditch to accommodate your family's waste needs.

Make sure you do not dump all the waste at once; it must be piled methodically to allow for aeration, which promotes the decomposition of the waste.

Every week or so, the waste should be turned. Simply take a shovel and move everything around. This allows for more decomposition and finer compost. When everything has broken down into a top-soil-like substance, the compost is finished.

You can then remove it from the ditch and begin planting directly in the area.

Composting is beneficial to everyone involved and easy enough – but what do you do with all of the plastic and artificial trash?

You collect it for money. (Yes, really)
Though searching Google, you may find a few relevant links, there is no established or organized government-implemented or regimented recycling program for the major cities of the nation, but  there are still options.

The Blowplast group, which was established in 2005, encouraged Ghanaians to save and collect their old water sachets.

For every kilo of plastic collected, participants can expect to receive GHp35.There is no limit and a representative from Blowplast said that some participants spend their time collecting trash and rely on the incentive as employment.

The plastic collected is re-processed into plastic granules which are used to produce garbage bags that are manufactured by the company.

Creative Ghanaians may see a financial opportunity here, like the artisans who create coin-purses and handbags out of Fan Ice and Fan Yogo wrappers.

These are sold by Global Mamas on the Oxford Street, but anyone with a sewing machine and a basketful of wrappers could pursue the idea. (And what about those that craft the recycled glass beads out of old, broken and seemingly-useless glass?)

Reusing is an easy way to go green. This concept is basic but makes a big impact. There is no reason to go to the market and purchase 10 items and carry each in a separate black or plastic bag. It's not only wasteful but impractical.

Shoppers should consider carrying their own reusable bag, one made of cloth or plastic (or any substance) that can be used over and over again and are large enough to carry the majority of one's purchases.

There's also the option of using one black plastic bag. You can ask for a large bag with your first purchase of the day and as the day goes on, put your items in the same bag.

You can reduce your waste and make a difference.
Reusing can be applied to anything. Old clothes can become rags or handkerchiefs, old towels can be cut up for face towels or rags, wood can be used to create new structures, plastic water bottles can be refilled with sachet water (don't buy a new Voltic every time you want a drink that you can carry!).

Jars and cans from food can be used for storage, newspapers can be used to clean windows – the list is as expansive as one's imagination!

It may seem necessary to go a step out of your way to pursue a greener lifestyle, but the benefits clearly outweigh the losses, and really, are there any?

Collect trash for money and produce your own nutrient-rich soil, while saving yourself from the harmful effects of dioxin and other cancer-causing chemicals.

Not to mention that you will protect the planet's ozone layer and preserve the earth for all living creatures – yourself, family and future generations alike.

Note: If you must burn trash, remove as many of the artificial products as you can, starting with the plastic.

PVC materials have enough chlorine in them. Burning 5oz in an enclosed space can kill you within 10 minutes, so never burn PVC.

When you burn other substances, make the fire as hot as possible so that it will burn quickly to reduce the effects.

By Carson O'Keeffe Satterfield