Our homeschool group was fortunate to
visit the “laboratory” of Ghana’s premier engineer, scientist and inventor in
the Central Region. Asafo Kwadwo Safo is famous for his ingenious creations. Suffice
it to say that it was one of the greatest places to visit in Ghana. The
children had a chance to witness excellence at work and personified. They found
minds at work on different ways to make our world safer and better. It was one
great example of how passion meets science meets creativity.
This laboratory was 125 acres. It
included an animal and plant research center and a slew of different animals on
the compound. The children saw zebras, ostriches, camels, porcupines, huge
pigeons, horses, geese, ducks, lambs, tortoises and so much more. They had
greater variety in their collection than Accra Zoo.
And while the place gets visitors on a
regular basis, no provision was made for a clean and comfortable toilet. We had
to squat inside a wooden fixture. No water. No toilet paper, just a tiled floor
used for urination only. Why is that?
It is because not much attention is paid
to the customer in Ghana. This notion that customers don’t matter is a national
problem. It affects the way information is presented and liaisons are formed between
the communities and the private space. The theme that “they will come if they
need to” dominate the mindset, from business class to entrepreneurs. No one
seems to break free of this hold.
Asafo Safo’s laboratory is not alone. The
day after, we attended the Cocoa Festival. This was held at the State House in
Osu, where Parliament meets. And yet, we couldn’t find a toilet to save my
potty trainer from wetting herself. We finally had to squat, near a 4x4 in the parking
lot. We were finally told where to find a toilet, too bad it was too far away
for any toddler to actually make it without soiling him/herself.
It’s not a surprise that few people
attend such festivals or visit private/public spaces in Ghana. Toilet is always
a problem. Ghana Education’s latest research states that girls’ absenteeism highest
because of lack of toilets, especially during times of menstruation. Children
have to use the bush and girls stand being raped while doing so. To top this
all off, there are no hand washing facilities to promote good self care. Most
houses in Accra, built in the 1980s, do not have toilets. Tenants have to
create “buckets” which are taken out at night by latrine carriers.
I wish those in the media would discuss
such matters. Not sure what drives this media…oh yes, I know. Do you?
