A STEM-based partnership between a public university and the private

sector in Ghana

Daniel A. WubahUniversity of

Florida/Virginia TechFebruary 13 2009

Outline

Background

Examples of public-private partnerships in Ghana

Densu delta restoration project

Lessons learned

Ghana

Overview of Ghana

Former British protectorate called Gold Coast; first democratic sub-Saharan country to become independent (March 6 1957); named after ancient African empire.

Approximately 92,000 sq miles (about the size of Oregon); Accra (capital city) is located at lat. 5°33′and long. N 0°15′W.

Approximately 23 million people (2007).

For 2008, GDP was $18 billion and nominal per capita income was $800.

Private-public partnerships (PPP)

Advocacy: Private sector often initiate efforts to tackle local problems before national guidelines are developed.

Groups: Private sector includes traditional units, non-governmental investors and ‘private not for profit’ institutions.

Impact: Public sector provides access to capacity building to move the projects beyond local communities.

Major sectors of PPP in Ghana

Agriculture

Health care

Education

Information technology

Environmental

Agriculture

Partners: University of Science and Technology, Ghana government and private farmers

Focuses on helping local people to improve practices and yield

Better results when partnership is built on the traditional system

Outcome: Oil palm, pineapple, livestock and poultry and salt

Health care

Partners: Private clinics, Ghana government, University of Ghana Medical School

Provide screening and increase awareness about HIV/AIDS

Filled a gap that existed due to lack of adequate government support while providing timely hands-on experiences for medical students

Odorna Clinic

Education

Partners: Selected secondary schools, NGOs and University of Cape Coast

Involves a full semester teaching practice

Provides learning experiences for pre-service science teachers in real-life situations

Outcome: Grades of students improve and they outperform peers on national exams e.g. Wesley Girls High School

Information technology

Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT

Partners: Governments of Ghana and India, and local universities

First advanced information technology institute

Has first supercomputer in West Africa and serves hub for ICT in the sub-region

Environmental situation

More than fifty lagoons and estuaries along the coast of Ghana.

Lack of adequate management and protection plan; none in the National Park System.

Over 80% of the migratory waterfowls in Ghana stop at these sites; about 76 species of birds per sq. mile.

Environmental challenge

Protected under Ramsar Convention because they harbor more than 10% of Atlantic Flyway populations.

Serves as only nesting sites for endangered species of sea turtles in West Africa.

Ghana Environmental Action Plan was established to protect five wetland protected areas.

Lagoons

Densu River delta

Muni lagoon

Sakumo lagoon

Anlo-Keta lagoon

Songor lagoon

Ghana

Keta Lagoon

Partners

World Bank: Environmental Resource Management program

Ghana: Department of Game and Wildlife

University of Cape Coast: School of Science (NSF REU host site)

Local community

Goals

Restore wetland ecosystem

Safeguard wildlife habitat

Enhance sustainable productivity in the local community

Establish a management plan

Coastal wetlands management project

Created a local site management committee made up of traditional community leaders, local government representatives, and university representatives.

Established a research station/laboratory to undertake research and baseline studies to determine the state of aquatic ecosystems.

Coastal wetlands management project

Developed a facility that supported environmental education and provided resources to work with schoolchildren.

Monitored key hydrological, limnological, and biological indicators throughout the project. REU student participation

Outcomes

Protected crucial riparian and coastal areas and important habitat for migratory waterfowl.

Involving local stakeholders in planning and improving resource management and economic activities was critical.

Raised general public awareness of environmental issues in the local community.

Challenges

Initial resistance by local communities

Sensitivity to local customs

Delineating role of each partner

Clear plan to sustain outcome

Lessons learned

Choice of partners can shape the outcome

Key to explain the operational aspects and define the the critical factors for success

Role of university differ based on partnership type and funding source

Summary

The PPP was an excellent vehicle to address a local problem with global implications

Increased the environmental awareness and improved economic standard of the local people

US students had life changing opportunities where service learning expanded classroom learning

Project serves as a model for other STEM-based PPP in Ghana

Thank you