Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Photo of the week February 27th, 2013
Water, power, aerodromes, roads and waterbodies. This image highlights the field evidence of items mentioned in the recent State of the Nation Address by President Mahama. Working from left to right, we can see the new water line from Kpong to Tema being installed, the essential main power lines to Tema from the Akosombo hydroelectric station, the Tema-Akosombo highway, Kpong Airfield (the busiest private airfield in West Africa) and the Volta River. Infrastructure is essential for development. Well maintained and functional infrastructure is the key to sustainable development. Photo Courtesy of WAASPS Ltd, operating Kpong Airfield, building light aircraft and teaching people to fly since 2005. www.waasps.com
Monday, February 25, 2013
February 25th, 2013
Fresh Air Matters... with Capt. Yaw
Last week’s trip into the Afram Plains was magnificent. Ok, so my back felt like a thousand knives were being driven into my spine; but the pain from many hours of travel on poor quality roads, albeit in a good quality vehicle, was more than worth it.
We were welcomed by the DCE and his team – a dynamic and enthusiastic group. They demonstrated clear dedication to the area, and all that it has to offer. They were conscious of their rural challenges. With over 200,000 people and just one, sporadically good, narrow tarmac conduit, the 700+ communities of the Afram Plains are hidden from view. Their need is great; their potential is great, yet the access to the area is amazingly poor. These appear to be ‘forgotten people’ in terms of access and development.
Volta Lake Transport Company, who sponsored the transport component of our trip, are looking earnestly at creating more ferry ports to facilitate growth in the area, but that will take a few years. Much as the ferry ports will change dynamics, without suitable road infrastructure, they will not solve the challenges of intra-Afram-Plains travel. The next 10 to 20 years may see that being solved, but the people have needs NOW.
Our team spoke about the abandoned airstrip at Donkorkrom. The strip is beyond sensible recovery with a house built on one threshold and power lines run across another part. The clear desire of the leadership in the area to open a simple dirt strip for humanitarian use, and to enable the budding business persons to gain easier access, was clearly stated. We are ready to help, but my concern is whether they will get the support they need from the authorities in this regard. The last time we tried to help a community the authorities took over and the project died. Putting in a simple airstrip is a matter of two or three days work for a dedicated team, especially with access to a grader. Maintenance is not beyond the skills of any community in Ghana. In the Amazon rain forest communities hand-clear, and establish, regularly used bush strips, and yet in Ghana it is not commonplace. The main reason seems to be regulatory and the ability to complicate what should be simple and logical.
I heard with great joy President John Dramani Mahama, in his ‘State of the Nation address’, speak about new aerodromes planned for Ghana. He mentioned Ho, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Bolgatanga... all of which already enjoy good road access, and thus are ‘low on my priority list’, but welcome to see them getting a Presidential mention – and we will certainly use them (especially Ho and Koforidua!). I openly invite all those concerned about our rural areas to come to Kpong Airfield to see how traditional, low-cost, high-impact, community led and maintained aviation infrastructures can be implemented within a matter of months, if only we are serious about enabling our rural communities. I would suggest that such rural facilities be put under the direct control of the District Assemblies, and that they are given all the support of the Administration, and the relevant Authorities.
I know for a fact that many of the civil servants have been positive about such developments, yet are stymied by the leviathan bureaucracy and lack of rural development inertia, that appears to be deeply rooted in the traditional system. It is time to change that - and now.
Several years ago there was a conference aimed at stimulating light aviation. It was led by the Ministry responsible for the sector. It happened once. It raised these matters, and how readily they could change the access to the rural areas, changing lives positively and sustainably. Sadly, it was, apparently, a flash in the pan.
Meanwhile, the private sector has done its bit. Continued training and sponsoring young people from the rural areas, developing aviation solutions that are locally built and maintained by local personnel. Based on what we witnessed in the Afram Plains, and coupled with the apparent new desire in the President’s speech to see aviation reach every corner of the nation, it is time for a change of pace, regulation and attitude.
After our conversations with the DCE and his able team, we went on to speak to around 250 young women from the JHS schools in the area. What a wonderful moment. 500 eyes bright and forward looking. Smiles with giggles hiding behind them. These teenage girls representing the future of the Afram Plains. I enjoyed the ‘warm up session’ that we bring to a school visit. ‘Stand up’, is the first instruction. A shambles of chairs scraping, chatting and heads bobbing slowly to a common position ensues. ‘Sit down’, I bark, and the reverse happens. In my ‘Sergeant Major voice’, I roar that it should be done in unison, without noise. A few more ‘stand up: sit down’ calls and it is coming together. In a matter of minutes the young people are co-ordinated, moving as one, demonstrating that they can learn to be a disciplined group of one accord. Then we move to simple hand signals to generate the corporate movements. They are ready for their lessons.
Patricia Mawuli and her team went on to explain the four forces of flight and the functioning of the four stroke piston engine – the bright minds soaking up the technicalities like a Harmattan dried sponge the first rains of the rainy season. Then, as we always do, the talk went to health. Schistosomiasis, which is endemic in the Plains, was discussed and the ‘1,2,3 song’ (1. Do not bathe at the water’s edge, 2. Do not drink untreated water 3. Do not piss and crap around, use the toilet instead) was sung with gusto. A reverend sister from the catholic school looked a little shocked, but could still be seen to have a smile in the corner of her mouth, knowing that the message was hitting home – potentially saving lives.
Finally, we prepared the young people for our return by air. The Afram Plains is our target area for 2013. We plan to drop many health education packages to the schools in the coming months. Demonstrations of drop packages and explanations of what will happen were drilled into the vibrantly awake young minds. The message to be sent to all the communities in the Afram Plains that ‘you are cared for’ and ‘you are not isolated’. By air we can reach Donkorkrom, the capital of the Plains, in less than one hour. By road and ferry that is a minimum of ten hours. The Medicine on the Move team, in partnership with WAASPS and The AvTech Academy, will be doing all that they can to join hands, with the people and authorities of a similar mind-set, to shrink the gap that appears to be holding the Afram Plains back from reaching its potential.
If you have not visited Kpong Airfield, just 30km south of Akosombo, you should. See for yourself that rural aviation is not expensive, nor prohibitive – and that it can change lives sustainably. Kpong Airfield is open to the public most Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Capt. Yaw is Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Engineer at WAASPS, and lead Pilot with Medicine on the Move, Humanitarian Aviation Logistics (www.waasps.com www.medicineonthemove.org e-mail capt.yaw@gmail.com )
Last week’s trip into the Afram Plains was magnificent. Ok, so my back felt like a thousand knives were being driven into my spine; but the pain from many hours of travel on poor quality roads, albeit in a good quality vehicle, was more than worth it.
We were welcomed by the DCE and his team – a dynamic and enthusiastic group. They demonstrated clear dedication to the area, and all that it has to offer. They were conscious of their rural challenges. With over 200,000 people and just one, sporadically good, narrow tarmac conduit, the 700+ communities of the Afram Plains are hidden from view. Their need is great; their potential is great, yet the access to the area is amazingly poor. These appear to be ‘forgotten people’ in terms of access and development.
Volta Lake Transport Company, who sponsored the transport component of our trip, are looking earnestly at creating more ferry ports to facilitate growth in the area, but that will take a few years. Much as the ferry ports will change dynamics, without suitable road infrastructure, they will not solve the challenges of intra-Afram-Plains travel. The next 10 to 20 years may see that being solved, but the people have needs NOW.
Our team spoke about the abandoned airstrip at Donkorkrom. The strip is beyond sensible recovery with a house built on one threshold and power lines run across another part. The clear desire of the leadership in the area to open a simple dirt strip for humanitarian use, and to enable the budding business persons to gain easier access, was clearly stated. We are ready to help, but my concern is whether they will get the support they need from the authorities in this regard. The last time we tried to help a community the authorities took over and the project died. Putting in a simple airstrip is a matter of two or three days work for a dedicated team, especially with access to a grader. Maintenance is not beyond the skills of any community in Ghana. In the Amazon rain forest communities hand-clear, and establish, regularly used bush strips, and yet in Ghana it is not commonplace. The main reason seems to be regulatory and the ability to complicate what should be simple and logical.
I heard with great joy President John Dramani Mahama, in his ‘State of the Nation address’, speak about new aerodromes planned for Ghana. He mentioned Ho, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Bolgatanga... all of which already enjoy good road access, and thus are ‘low on my priority list’, but welcome to see them getting a Presidential mention – and we will certainly use them (especially Ho and Koforidua!). I openly invite all those concerned about our rural areas to come to Kpong Airfield to see how traditional, low-cost, high-impact, community led and maintained aviation infrastructures can be implemented within a matter of months, if only we are serious about enabling our rural communities. I would suggest that such rural facilities be put under the direct control of the District Assemblies, and that they are given all the support of the Administration, and the relevant Authorities.
I know for a fact that many of the civil servants have been positive about such developments, yet are stymied by the leviathan bureaucracy and lack of rural development inertia, that appears to be deeply rooted in the traditional system. It is time to change that - and now.
Several years ago there was a conference aimed at stimulating light aviation. It was led by the Ministry responsible for the sector. It happened once. It raised these matters, and how readily they could change the access to the rural areas, changing lives positively and sustainably. Sadly, it was, apparently, a flash in the pan.
Meanwhile, the private sector has done its bit. Continued training and sponsoring young people from the rural areas, developing aviation solutions that are locally built and maintained by local personnel. Based on what we witnessed in the Afram Plains, and coupled with the apparent new desire in the President’s speech to see aviation reach every corner of the nation, it is time for a change of pace, regulation and attitude.
After our conversations with the DCE and his able team, we went on to speak to around 250 young women from the JHS schools in the area. What a wonderful moment. 500 eyes bright and forward looking. Smiles with giggles hiding behind them. These teenage girls representing the future of the Afram Plains. I enjoyed the ‘warm up session’ that we bring to a school visit. ‘Stand up’, is the first instruction. A shambles of chairs scraping, chatting and heads bobbing slowly to a common position ensues. ‘Sit down’, I bark, and the reverse happens. In my ‘Sergeant Major voice’, I roar that it should be done in unison, without noise. A few more ‘stand up: sit down’ calls and it is coming together. In a matter of minutes the young people are co-ordinated, moving as one, demonstrating that they can learn to be a disciplined group of one accord. Then we move to simple hand signals to generate the corporate movements. They are ready for their lessons.
Patricia Mawuli and her team went on to explain the four forces of flight and the functioning of the four stroke piston engine – the bright minds soaking up the technicalities like a Harmattan dried sponge the first rains of the rainy season. Then, as we always do, the talk went to health. Schistosomiasis, which is endemic in the Plains, was discussed and the ‘1,2,3 song’ (1. Do not bathe at the water’s edge, 2. Do not drink untreated water 3. Do not piss and crap around, use the toilet instead) was sung with gusto. A reverend sister from the catholic school looked a little shocked, but could still be seen to have a smile in the corner of her mouth, knowing that the message was hitting home – potentially saving lives.
Finally, we prepared the young people for our return by air. The Afram Plains is our target area for 2013. We plan to drop many health education packages to the schools in the coming months. Demonstrations of drop packages and explanations of what will happen were drilled into the vibrantly awake young minds. The message to be sent to all the communities in the Afram Plains that ‘you are cared for’ and ‘you are not isolated’. By air we can reach Donkorkrom, the capital of the Plains, in less than one hour. By road and ferry that is a minimum of ten hours. The Medicine on the Move team, in partnership with WAASPS and The AvTech Academy, will be doing all that they can to join hands, with the people and authorities of a similar mind-set, to shrink the gap that appears to be holding the Afram Plains back from reaching its potential.
If you have not visited Kpong Airfield, just 30km south of Akosombo, you should. See for yourself that rural aviation is not expensive, nor prohibitive – and that it can change lives sustainably. Kpong Airfield is open to the public most Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Capt. Yaw is Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Engineer at WAASPS, and lead Pilot with Medicine on the Move, Humanitarian Aviation Logistics (www.waasps.com www.medicineonthemove.org e-mail capt.yaw@gmail.com )
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Photo of the week February 20th, 2013
Fish farming is clearly on the increase. Here we see a set of fish farm nets being set up on the shores of a small village along the Afram Leg of the Lake Volta. As the nets increase, apparently exponentially, around the lake we must consider the effects on rural communities. Fish farming is expensive, and failure to provide sufficient, appropriate food and care for the fish may result in a negative return on investment. Is there sufficient education about fish farming, and the relevant approvals for such activities, to make it a sensible investment, especially for those who appear to be putting their entire life's savings and efforts into such activities? Photo courtesy Marcel Stieber and Medicine on the Move www.medicineonthemove.org
Monday, February 18, 2013
February 18th, 2013
Fresh Air Matters... with Capt. Yaw
As I write this week, I am sitting on a Volta Lake Transport Company bus, heading towards the Afram Plains. Our destination is Donkorkrom. We left Kpong yesterday at 2pm, and spent the night in Kwahu. This morning we heading out for the first ferry crossing at Adawso, and will then drive the last couple of hours to our destination. In a little under 24 hours, we will arrive at the point which is less than 100km from where we started – less than one hours flight in the smallest aircraft.
There is no other way. The Afram Plains is as isolated as an island. I fly over it regularly, enjoying the magnificent views of this fertile, readily irrigated, land segment in Ghana. The relatively flat land mass is demarcated to the South by the Afram leg of the Lake Volta and to the East by the large of the water body. The North is bound by the Digya National Park and then to the East the isolation from the Ashanti Region is broken by a smattering of relatively inaccessible roads and tracks. The Afram Plains is as remote as it is magnificent. Well, unless you go by air! By air the Plains are easily accessible, and more magnificent than you can imagine. Sadly, the airstrip at Donkorkrom is no longer useable, as I witnessed five years ago when I first visited the area. Power lines and constructions have rendered the landing area, which should have been a lifeline to the area, too dangerous to use.
So, why this trip now? There are many reasons. The most important one is the people of the area. Even those living in the ‘capital’ of Donkorkrom have challenges reaching the many communities scattered, like maize seed sown by the gods, across the area. We hope to establish a regular air supply of health education, and related materials, to these people in the coming months. This in itself is not enough for the team from Medicine on the Move. As part of the trip to establish an agreement to begin the support, we will also be talking to the school children, sensitising them to aviation and making them aware of the potential aircraft movements over their communities. Patricia Mawuli, assisted by the student pilot/engineers from the AvTech Academy, will make presentations to the schools, enlightening them to the proposed activities, making them a part of the growth of their own communities and lives.
The AvTech girls will teach them some basics about how aircraft fly, as well as using the opportunity to sensitise the group to the issues of Schistosomiasis, Ghana’s second most socio-economically devastating parasitic disease. An estimated six million children are at risk in Ghana, and the lake communities are clearly at the highest exposure risk.
Personally, I detest road trips. I do not like to drive. I can fly for 10 hours straight, but can’t stand more than a couple of hours in a coach or car. For the people of the Afram Plains, access to the ‘outside’ world is forcibly a land and water vehicle trip that will take at least a day. They embark upon such trips without complaint. My aversion to road trips is to the advantage of the Afram Plains, because it means that we will be looking for a potential location for an airstrip whilst we are there. We hope that this initiative will be supported by the community, and the authorities. We hope to find a way to co-locate a new airstrip with the development of a VLTC ferry port at Agordeky. The need for airstrips in ‘access friction’ areas should be a high priority, and should be supported by the authorities. That does not mean that the authorities should DO everything, but rather that they should create the enabling environment for development. The last time we assisted a community with its airstrip development, the authorities effectively killed the project with charges, bureaucracy, and then by taking over and apparently abandoning it, despite the enormous effort by the people of the community.
The most vibrant light aviation facility in West Africa is private, it is well maintained and sees four to five thousand movements per year – more than most of the regional aerodromes in West Africa. The authorities have not contributed financially to the development; it has grown on its own merit. In the same vein, encouragement of community led and maintained facilities could lead to a safe, exciting, life changing, livelihood empowering solution, at one of the lowest costs for improved accessibility available.
The cost of putting in one kilometre of tarred road is far more than the cost of creating a simple airstrip for light aviation. The Afram Plains, like many other areas, has been isolated way too long. The work of the Volta Lake Expansion Project, coupled with improved air access and aerial supply of key health, education and other materials, should mark the beginning of new opportunities.
There is one other purpose for our trip into this fantastic part of our nation. The AvTech Academy is launching a new training programme, for a Diploma in Aviation and Technology, but delivered through a four year Vocademic Apprenticeship. What is most interesting about this new programme is the delivery method and non-payment method. The Vocademic Apprentice is not charged for their training programme, and is actually paid to learn, provided they complete their weekly assignments and tasks. This training programme is aimed principally at those from the rural areas with low income, providing access that would otherwise not be possible. If you consider the people in places like the Afram Plains, they are not only physically isolated, they are also often financially isolated, making access to education and opportunities limited for their wards.
The 46 week per year learning and working schedule includes accommodation, food, safety equipment and international travel for the most successful – regardless of their families’ ability to pay. It is earned by the young person’s ability to work, academically, vocationally and as an apprentice in real life, live projects. Aviation, engineering, robotics, computing as well as the provision of relevant training in English and Mathematics is integrated, and each Vocademic Apprentice will be given the opportunity to excel in their own way. Some may go on to fly, others to build aircraft, some may tend towards radio communications, and others to manufacturing and programming of robotic devices.
Of course, taking on a challenge of accessibility to education such as this is even harder for the young women. Therefore, the programme is exclusively for young women (those who have completed JHS, 16-19 with family support and encouragement to enter the programme).
I must admit that I feel privileged to be part of the team that is going in today to speak to the young people, to provide solutions to their challenges and opportunities for those young people with ability, but without the opportunity or resources to realise that ability through education – taking on some major challenges, all lead by the dynamic young Ghanaian women who are dominating the light aviation developments in West Africa.
Capt. Yaw is Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Engineer at WAASPS, and lead Pilot with Medicine on the Move, Humanitarian Aviation Logistics (www.waasps.com www.medicineonthemove.org e-mail capt.yaw@gmail.com )
As I write this week, I am sitting on a Volta Lake Transport Company bus, heading towards the Afram Plains. Our destination is Donkorkrom. We left Kpong yesterday at 2pm, and spent the night in Kwahu. This morning we heading out for the first ferry crossing at Adawso, and will then drive the last couple of hours to our destination. In a little under 24 hours, we will arrive at the point which is less than 100km from where we started – less than one hours flight in the smallest aircraft.
There is no other way. The Afram Plains is as isolated as an island. I fly over it regularly, enjoying the magnificent views of this fertile, readily irrigated, land segment in Ghana. The relatively flat land mass is demarcated to the South by the Afram leg of the Lake Volta and to the East by the large of the water body. The North is bound by the Digya National Park and then to the East the isolation from the Ashanti Region is broken by a smattering of relatively inaccessible roads and tracks. The Afram Plains is as remote as it is magnificent. Well, unless you go by air! By air the Plains are easily accessible, and more magnificent than you can imagine. Sadly, the airstrip at Donkorkrom is no longer useable, as I witnessed five years ago when I first visited the area. Power lines and constructions have rendered the landing area, which should have been a lifeline to the area, too dangerous to use.
So, why this trip now? There are many reasons. The most important one is the people of the area. Even those living in the ‘capital’ of Donkorkrom have challenges reaching the many communities scattered, like maize seed sown by the gods, across the area. We hope to establish a regular air supply of health education, and related materials, to these people in the coming months. This in itself is not enough for the team from Medicine on the Move. As part of the trip to establish an agreement to begin the support, we will also be talking to the school children, sensitising them to aviation and making them aware of the potential aircraft movements over their communities. Patricia Mawuli, assisted by the student pilot/engineers from the AvTech Academy, will make presentations to the schools, enlightening them to the proposed activities, making them a part of the growth of their own communities and lives.
The AvTech girls will teach them some basics about how aircraft fly, as well as using the opportunity to sensitise the group to the issues of Schistosomiasis, Ghana’s second most socio-economically devastating parasitic disease. An estimated six million children are at risk in Ghana, and the lake communities are clearly at the highest exposure risk.
Personally, I detest road trips. I do not like to drive. I can fly for 10 hours straight, but can’t stand more than a couple of hours in a coach or car. For the people of the Afram Plains, access to the ‘outside’ world is forcibly a land and water vehicle trip that will take at least a day. They embark upon such trips without complaint. My aversion to road trips is to the advantage of the Afram Plains, because it means that we will be looking for a potential location for an airstrip whilst we are there. We hope that this initiative will be supported by the community, and the authorities. We hope to find a way to co-locate a new airstrip with the development of a VLTC ferry port at Agordeky. The need for airstrips in ‘access friction’ areas should be a high priority, and should be supported by the authorities. That does not mean that the authorities should DO everything, but rather that they should create the enabling environment for development. The last time we assisted a community with its airstrip development, the authorities effectively killed the project with charges, bureaucracy, and then by taking over and apparently abandoning it, despite the enormous effort by the people of the community.
The most vibrant light aviation facility in West Africa is private, it is well maintained and sees four to five thousand movements per year – more than most of the regional aerodromes in West Africa. The authorities have not contributed financially to the development; it has grown on its own merit. In the same vein, encouragement of community led and maintained facilities could lead to a safe, exciting, life changing, livelihood empowering solution, at one of the lowest costs for improved accessibility available.
The cost of putting in one kilometre of tarred road is far more than the cost of creating a simple airstrip for light aviation. The Afram Plains, like many other areas, has been isolated way too long. The work of the Volta Lake Expansion Project, coupled with improved air access and aerial supply of key health, education and other materials, should mark the beginning of new opportunities.
There is one other purpose for our trip into this fantastic part of our nation. The AvTech Academy is launching a new training programme, for a Diploma in Aviation and Technology, but delivered through a four year Vocademic Apprenticeship. What is most interesting about this new programme is the delivery method and non-payment method. The Vocademic Apprentice is not charged for their training programme, and is actually paid to learn, provided they complete their weekly assignments and tasks. This training programme is aimed principally at those from the rural areas with low income, providing access that would otherwise not be possible. If you consider the people in places like the Afram Plains, they are not only physically isolated, they are also often financially isolated, making access to education and opportunities limited for their wards.
The 46 week per year learning and working schedule includes accommodation, food, safety equipment and international travel for the most successful – regardless of their families’ ability to pay. It is earned by the young person’s ability to work, academically, vocationally and as an apprentice in real life, live projects. Aviation, engineering, robotics, computing as well as the provision of relevant training in English and Mathematics is integrated, and each Vocademic Apprentice will be given the opportunity to excel in their own way. Some may go on to fly, others to build aircraft, some may tend towards radio communications, and others to manufacturing and programming of robotic devices.
Of course, taking on a challenge of accessibility to education such as this is even harder for the young women. Therefore, the programme is exclusively for young women (those who have completed JHS, 16-19 with family support and encouragement to enter the programme).
I must admit that I feel privileged to be part of the team that is going in today to speak to the young people, to provide solutions to their challenges and opportunities for those young people with ability, but without the opportunity or resources to realise that ability through education – taking on some major challenges, all lead by the dynamic young Ghanaian women who are dominating the light aviation developments in West Africa.
Capt. Yaw is Chief Flying Instructor and Chief Engineer at WAASPS, and lead Pilot with Medicine on the Move, Humanitarian Aviation Logistics (www.waasps.com www.medicineonthemove.org e-mail capt.yaw@gmail.com )
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