Ghana - Post 2

Sustainability is becoming an ever-growing issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Ghana. Because of this issue in Ghana and around the rest of the world, I do believe that the people of Earth have a moral obligation in order to keep the planet self-sustainable as soon as possible. I am doubtful that just depending on finding further ways to sustain the human population on Mars is a more inexpensive and reliable method as opposed to trying to "reduce, reuse, and recycle" what we have currently on the earth. Obviously, what we have here on Earth is finite, but that does not mean we cannot try to find multiple ways to use or recycle materials on Earth, even if it is at the cost of the corporations or others who are benefiting from our negligence to support the earth.

A video of possible water on Mars, via NASA

However, not all hope is lost in around the world as sustainability groups work in Ghana. Notably, water.org is working to improve water quality in the central African country. 

Water.org is working in two rural areas in Ghana: Volta Region around Lake Volta and Upper East Region, which borders Burkina Faso and Togo. Both districts are remote and poor, with less than half of the population unable to access safe water and very few families with access to improved sanitation. The rural areas suffer from many waterborne diseases, including diarrhea. Water.org and partner organizations work with communities to construct wells, latrines and biosand filters in Ghana as well as to provide health and hygiene education.

More than 80 percent of people in Ghana have access to safe water, but only 13 percent of people have access to improved sanitation. Dependency on unsafe water sources is higher in rural areas. Due to drinking contaminated water, diarrheal disease is the third most commonly reported illness at health centers across the country and 25 percent of all deaths in children under the age of five are attributed to diarrhea. In addition to lack of sanitation infrastructure, some cultural beliefs and views encourage people in rural areas not to use latrines. With our local partners, Water.org is educating and encouraging people to use latrines through community-led sanitation initiatives.

350.org also reports that a local group called G-ROC, short for "Ghana - Reducing Our Carbon," is attempting to politically shift the country in order to depend on more sustainable forms of energy.

G-ROC is a grassroots movement formed with the aim of mobilizing and empowering young people in partnership with key stakeholders to actively champion the need to reduce our carbon emissions as a key effort in combating climate change.

While the Facebook page only has 572 likes, approximately only 1.6 million people in the country use Facebook. There are more than 25 million people in the country, the per capita is only over $1,500, making it unviable for many of its citizens able to purchase a computer with Internet access or a home near a public place such as a library that is able to provide computers for its people.

Nonetheless, I think that Ghana is a country that is slowly but surely making its way towards further and greater attempts at keeping the world sustainable. Even if it is just within small communities, everything has to start somewhere. In the long run, I believe these efforts will make a difference globally.