Small job and bigger outcomes: Community advocacy and sensitization for better development. Jedidiah Koomson

Background: This paper indicates the outcome of a social inclusion initiative to promote sustainable environment, health and development in a rural district in Ghana, for it has been known that on a smaller individualistic... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
This paper indicates the outcome of a social inclusion initiative to promote sustainable environment, health and development in a rural district in Ghana, for it has been known that on a smaller individualistic scale, sustainable development is not as costly to enact as it is for larger companies. In southern Ghana, in 2012, drinking water sources were becoming polluted by the activities of farmers and unlicensed small scaled miners. The water company in charge of making portable water available to the people had to fight a running battle with the miners to stop their illegal activities. Fishermen were polluting the ocean. Bush burning as a traditional farming practice had been making the land infertile for far too long.
Methods:
Through the use of open learning, social advocacy, community mobilization, and scientific information dissemination, 550 farmers and 303 fishermen were organized to use sustainable environmental practices for health development and economic support. Lecture, discussion, brainstorming methods, and case-studies from different countries were used to facility learning and effective decision making.
Results:
After one year, 525/550 of the farmers were identified to have consistently used acceptable ecological farming practices. The use of pesticides had vanished. All the fishermen (303/303) had stopped the use of the harmful chemicals in the sea. Those who tried at first to continue the harmful and unacceptable practices had their produce banned from the market. The chiefs and opinion leaders agreed to summon the recalcitrant, and publicly shamed them as elements of social and environmental destroyers.
Conclusion:
Sustainable development is not a task accomplished by just one person, however, it starts with one person; by making small changes in our daily lifestyle, the benefit to future generations is inevitable.