Sod Cutting

A roller coaster week on site started with discontent and the threat of worker strikes and ended with a fantastic ground breaking ceremony.

It had been brewing for a few weeks now, since the dozer had been in to level the site. Unfortunately it was not able to level the pitch at the same time, partly because it did not have time and partly because it was not the right machine for the job. A grader is to be brought in to provide a professional standard size flat pitch of which the school and community will be proud. However, a grader costs a fair bit, and whilst the project continues to await funding, we are not able to complete the task just yet. In the meantime we are trying to scrape together enough small funds for materials to keep the construction going. The Muslim community are in the minority and generally feel ostracised. However, the pitch at their school was the biggest in the area and attracted all of the top local sporting events and the respect and kudos with it. The community now see it in tatters whilst the construction continues. This finally boiled over when the headmaster was away, which was unfortunate as he is the community liaison and a highly respected man. The workforce, the chief and I were all caught in the middle of something that none of us could resolve, but after lots of strong language and emotion we managed to calm it down and keep people working (although not so hard!). It wasn’t until the morning of the ceremony that the headmaster returned, met with Mike from Sabre, and took control of the situation. The timing was perfect as the ceremony had been in danger too. It turned out to be a few local footballers (from the Tuesday work gang) making a loud noise, and really it is up to the headmaster what happens to the school pitch, so his word is taken as final. He understands the long term perspective and is fully supportive of the project. As soon as the money arrives, the pitch is a priority.

This resolution together with the ceremony that followed breathed a fresh excitement into the project. The school prepared the chairs and tents, a few huge distorted loud speakers were wheeled in which is a must for any public event. TV3 and a local radio station provided coverage and conducted interviews with us. Representatives of the Ghana Education Service, the local MP, Tullow Oil (major funder), Davis Langdon UK, Arup UK (me!) as well as all Sabre staff, the chief and elders, school and community all took part. Mathematics teacher Joseph compered the event which included rousing speeches from key representatives enforcing the significance of the success of this project in developing future similar projects. The school provided an interlude of cultural dancing, drumming, and singing. Then the major event as the dignitaries took the first spades of soil from the second classroom foundation. The newly erected site signboard provided a focus of interest into the details of the project with the media and the major funder particularly impressed with the use of local materials and community engagement.

With a refreshed sense of vigour and appreciation for the project on their doorstep, the chief, headmaster and various elders all expressed their regret at the preceding difficulties which they assured me are firmly under control now. Onward and upward.... now where did I see that money.....!?

In terms of construction, we had our first concrete pour, started the steel bending and the foundation formwork, erected the site fence, site shelter, site notice board, site bell. The steel bender who we are employing on a 3 month salary is Biladi (previously Friday gang), one of the 6 hardworking boys on the job from the Moro family (whose father is a respected elder seen boogeying with the shades in the photo link below). His brothers Ademu (lead mason), Awudu (Thursday gang leader), Awudu junior (Thursday gang), Sullei (Thursday gang), Salu (Tuesday gang) are all strong workers and fine men. They will be proud to send their children and grandchildren to the kindergarten school which is built with their hard graft.

Here are some photos from this week.