In 2007 two members EWB-UWP traveled to several villages in Ghana to determine possible projects for EWB-UWP to implement over the next few years. An area approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Accra, Ghana and just south of the city of Nsawam, Ghana was identified as the a possible location to implement several community improvement projects. The overall goal of the project was to improve the quality of life in the identified communities through specific engineering solutions. Innumerable potential projects were identified. Most dealing with basic human needs involving waste management, sanitation, and access to drinking water. Seven villages were identified as locations for possible projects with three initial projects being identified.
Repair of existing Concrete Culvert in Nsumea – The project will repair the existing erosion around the concrete culvert under the main road in the village and prevent further erosion maintaining the two lane status of the roadway. The project will include aligning the two sections of culvert, patching the existing gap between the sections, packing rip-rap purchased from a nearby quarry around the upper and lower portions of the culvert, and improving the existing inadequate gutter system adjacent to the lower portion of the culvert. The two portions of the culvert are of differing diameters, the upper portion is 2.9 feet in diameter, and the lower diameter is 2.4 feet. Further reducing volume by approximately 50 percent is miss-alignment of the two portions. Part of this project will consist of reducing the flow, which is to be handled by the proposed gutter system at the lower portion of the culvert. An area has been identified above the current gutter where storm water may be diverted.
Repair of Driveway Entrance to Papase School – The project will create a maintained entrance to the Papase School from the existing maintained road approximately 300 feet distant. The first portion of the project will be the diversion of runoff from the existing driveway location to a large grassy are at one side. This project will also include repairing erosion damage and providing a gravel surface for the drive.
Another portion of the project will be the donation of schoolbooks for the school, particularly the library. Members of the Education Department at the University of Wisconsin Platteville will be requested to guide the texts for appropriateness. A partnership with the Social Science Department is currently being pursued to in part solicit these texts. Book donations are something that is accomplishable before the next trip by the Chapter to the area. This non-engineering project is viewed by the Chapter as potentially extremely important to long-term improvement of the area. Books will be solicited from area schools and libraries and shipped to a contact in Accra, Mr. Sam Eshun, who will ensure delivery to the school.
Construction of Public Toilet Facilities in Gidi – The project will create safe and effective public toilet facilities for all of the less than 500 residents in the Village of Gidi. The facility must be of a composting design to reduce volume and require no maintenance. A pumping truck will be unlikely to find access to the area, so the facility will require adaptability; it may be that relocation of the facility at regular intervals will be necessary. A preliminary design includes a movable upper portion to be located on top of an underground cavity. Once full, the cavity may be capped and the facility towed to a new location. Once a workable design is successfully tested, the project can be expanded to all communities.