Leading environmental NGO Green Cross International (GCI) has granted full national organisation status to its Ghana subsidiary: Green Cross Ghana. The GCI Board of Directors gave approval at an annual meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on 17 September.
“It is a great milestone for us today to be officially confirmed as the national representatives of GCI in Ghana and part of a growing initiative. With GCI’s focus on water we have worked to provide safe water to the most vulnerable communities and tailor-made sanitation and water education for schoolchildren,” said Mubarick Masawudu, President of Green Cross Ghana.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Green Cross Ghana as a full member of Green Cross International. This approval is a result of their outstanding work on the flagship Smart Water for Green Schools project – making a difference to individuals and communities by providing access to safe drinking water” said Alexander Likhotal, President of GCI.
Green Cross Ghana was set up as a preparatory committee and began a probationary period in May 2009. It quickly established a set of initial projects including Smart Water for Green Schools.
Smart Water for Green Schools was launched in February 2010 in the Volta Region. As a result 1,200 school children from three schools, Al-Iman School, L.A. No.2 School in Brong-Ahafo region and Makango School in the Northern region now have access to clean water and sanitation. The Lake-side and Asukwakwa Schools are close to completion. In addition, 50 community members have received construction and maintenance training. Upon completion it is expected that the project will benefit more then 10,000 people in the five communities.
The project builds reliable and long-lasting rainwater harvesting systems and ecological latrines in schools. It is a cost effective and efficient means to secure water supplies and improve water sanitation for entire school communities. The project also ensures hygiene and sanitation education, as well as construction and maintenance of the rainwater harvesting systems and latrines. By encouraging exchanges between schools in the same river basins, the project promotes smart water systems and water conservation at the local, national and international levels. Providing water and sanitation services to schools is an important step to engage children and communities in improving their water security and maintaining their roles as guardians of healthy and vital river ecosystems.
Green Cross Ghana is headed by Mubarick Masawudu. It addresses the inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty eradication and environmental degradation in Ghana. Masawudu is available to comment on a variety of areas that GCI addresses, including:
* Smart Water for Green Schools: 4,000 children die daily from water related diseases. Green Cross Ghana can provide an overview of a project that promotes rainwater harvesting and sanitation and water education programmes and is set to expand across river basins and communities.
* Right and access to water: GCI advocates for the human right to water and sanitation and has been a pioneer in the global movement to recognize and fulfill this right. Green Cross Ghana can provide an overview on its commitment to the cause with the upcoming vote at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
* UN Watercourses Convention: Green Cross Ghana works to increase cooperation between states and stakeholders by promoting peaceful and fair use of trans-boundary river basins. With Ghana yet to ratify the UN Watercourses Convention, Green Cross Ghana is focusing on advocacy around the ratification. Joint management of resources is the solution to sustainable and safe access to water for all. The Convention aims to establish basic standards and rules for cooperation on the use, management and protection of the international watercourses. It is an important step towards establishing an international law governing trans-boundary water resources. Green Cross Ghana can give an overview on the importance of this convention and its work to ensure that Ghana ratifies this convention.
* Green Cross Ghana: As the inaugural President of Green Cross Ghana, Masawudu can share experiences and perspectives on the vision and key projects underway at an advocacy and on-the ground level, areas of commitment and future moving forward.
About Green Cross Ghana
Green Cross Ghana is a leading environmental organization in Ghana and is a member of Green Cross International (GCI). Green Cross Ghana was founded by Mubarick Masawudu in 2009 and has seven employees. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that promotes a combination of high level advocacy with key international stakeholders, runs campaigns and manages local projects to address the inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty eradication and environmental degradation. Its flagship project is Smart Water for Green Schools in the Volta River Basin, ensuring access to safe freshwater for students, teachers and community members through rainwater harvesting systems, sanitation and water education. Green Cross Ghana has five board members that meet regularly to advise on the progress of the organization. For more information about Green Cross Ghana, follow on twitter @GreenCrossInt and visit www.gci.ch <http://www.gci.ch>
About Green Cross International
Green Cross International (GCI) is a leading environmental organization. Founded by President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, this non-profit and non-governmental organization promotes a combination of high level advocacy with key international stakeholders, runs campaigns and manages local projects to address t