Project # 2 - Building Permits

Our second project was a very challenging one.  We were asked to help the City of Accra to reduce the time it takes to issue a Building Permit.  Their goal is to release one in 90 days, but the world bank reports that it takes 218 days, and that they rank 156 out of 183 countries on this capability.

Accra has over 4M inhabitants, and is rapidly growing in population which imposes significant challenges in terms of services capacity.  People and cars are everywhere!!  Construction abounds, and apparently a large percentage of these projects have no Building Permit. With the recent heavy rains and flooding, radio reports talked about the impact this was having - buildings that did not meet regulations and could not stand up to the amount of water that came down, and buildings built on flood plains, contrary to the zoning plans.

The view from the car going into work...

Published in the press... quite devastating for some people :(

We met with the head of the Metro Works Department and the Town and Country Planning Department several times, to understand their processes and their challenges.  We also met with potential solution providers to determine what was the best fit, and what their timelines were.  
 
We developed a solution that included recommendations for improving the way they were organized, so that the process flow would improve and to decrease the number of steps applicants are required to execute, leveraging the AMA's website to facilitate communication of forms, processes and FAQs.  We made recommendations to shorten the approval process and we provided a roadmap for the implementation of an electronic building permit application.

Obviously there's a lot more detail in our report, but I'm going to leave it to the AMA to implement and tell their good news!

When we finished our presentation we had the honour of having our photographs taken with the mayor - I was very excited!  Here we are...

The mayor gave me a gift and a banner thanking us for coming to Accra

Our team with Mayor Vanderpuije

The whole Building Permits team!

It was an exciting opportunity for us!   Through the presentation, many very specific action items were developed, with identified owners and clear timelines for accomplishments.  With this kind of management plan, we felt satisfied that many of the recommendations will be realized in the near future.

I will be watching to see how they progress!
 

Quite a large group participated in the process, many of whom I will stay in touch with.  I would love to have the opportunity to work with them again, although logistically this is not simple.  But who knows... we will watch for an opportunity, some day some where! 

We take our rest seriously here...

Well of course some people work hard.  Our teams have been working a LOT!!  But the general attitude is that you rest whenever you need it.  It's okay to close your eyes in a meeting and take a nap.  I wanted to post some pictures here of meeting nappers but it's hard to discretely pull my camera out to take a picture of someone I'm meeting with who is sleeping... but I can share some other examples we found on our journeys.

Come back later when I'm awake!

She found a good bench...

Our driver has a much better place for a nap...

Team napping!

I need a job like this!

A bench hidden around the corner... it was gone when we finished lunch!

OK he's not sleeping, but it got my attention!  The gentleman on the right has no shoes on... and we were meeting with the Mayor!  I learned a lot about the Ghanaian culture, but I have a lot more to learn!!

Project # 1 - Education

Although there are 11 of us here, we are broken up into 4 teams, each dealing with a different client.  My team of Ken, Greg and I are working with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, which is basically the Mayor's office, providing essential services to the citizens of the capital city of Accra.  AMA Homepage

Here's a picture of the team that met at the Kickoff on Day 1.


In front - me, Samuel, Vivian, Mrs. Sackey
In back - Tony, Ken, Greg, Mr Akoto


Mrs Sackey, the Director of Budgets, is our key interface for both projects.  She's been our sounding board, has pushed the AMA participants to make change, and has been keeping the Mayor informed of our progress.

She's a lovely warm women, who is always telling stories and laughing.  We've quite enjoyed her leadership.

Our first project was focused on improving the way teachers in Accra leverage technology to improve their quality of teaching.   We started by visiting schools and the Ministry of Eduction to determine the current situation and upcoming plans.

We quickly realized that even in the "model" schools, there was an extreme lack of computer infrastructure.  Here's the view from our very first visit.

The teacher did an amazing job, considering the rows of students had 1 computer, 6 chairs and 8 or 9 students.  While we traveled around the country on weekends, we learned that even this was unusual - many students are learning a compulsory subject theoretically, and there are no computers for them to use at all!







This student was at the edge of his seat - literally!!

We met with teachers. 

We talked to teachers in the classrooms.

I love this picture of all the happy faces!

We spoke to the teachers about what they needed.  Many told us they didn't know how to turn on a computer, never mind having basic skills to manage documents, use tools, send email or access the internet.  We realized we had to take baby steps...





This classroom didn't have any wiring - the cables had been stolen as the copper is valuable!  So no fans, no lights...

Rarely did we see an electrical outlet at floor level - a requirement for powering up computers and projectors which teachers would need before we can expect them to use ICT to teach non-ICT subjects.   And of course, there is no security - the few computers that were there were exposed to theft.




However the children didn't care!  They were so sweet and welcoming...

The children were charming and loved having their picture taken!

 Ah the children are distracting me... Back to the project. 

We investigated many options to provide the tools for teachers to be able to gain needed skills and to leverage the tools and content available to improve their ability to use technology to teach.  The results included: 

• Coordination of a number of disparate programs already underway to deliver computers to the schools, and a strategy to ensure that no teacher is left behind in the development of ICT skills
• Development of a teacher portal with a taxonomy of web based teaching sites, e-learning and teacher productivity tools
• Tools to enable teachers to leverage their new skills by practicing with mark calculation spreadsheets, report cards and lesson plan development - all of which is done manually today! 
• Roadmaps for rewards and recognition, certification programs, integration with their measurement system, and communication programs to drive participation and excitement
• The development of the CKO (Chief Knowledge Office) position to ensure ongoing development of content and governance of the teacher participation and measurements
• Other long long term recommendations once workstations and basic IT skills abound and reliable high speed internet reaches all schools - there is so much more they could do! 

Yiri Lodge

The entrance gate & guard house

Our home away from home for the last 3 weeks  has been Yiri Lodge, owned by the Institute for  African Studies on the University of Ghana  campus.

Welcome!

Heading out with our Police escort.

It's at the north end of Accra, about an hour and a half drive from down town in rush hour, or 30 minutes if you have a police escort! 

We were going in the wrong direction up the highway!  Yikes!

The hotel is quite new and clean, with about 28 rooms, a lounge, restaurant and meeting rooms.

The front door.  Our drivers are always waiting in the lot for us at 6am :(

My balcony - although it's on the ground floor, so not very useful except as a place to store my smelly runners!

Ralph always has a big smile to great us at the front desk!

The entrance to my room #101 - the first one on the first floor.  Made it handy to run to the restaurant for my morning cup of coffee (or 2) before I was quite ready to sit down for breakfast.

The hotel restaurant.  Although technically open at 6, that was when they arrived at the hotel!  Food might be served by 6:45GMT (Ghana Maybe Time)

There doesn't seem to be any brewed coffee in Ghana... It's Nescafe!  But it's served with real cream, so I quite like it!!

Inside my room - simple but clean :)   Only once did I see a lizard in my room! 

I brought my own pillow - it's been so nice to have!

Students walking home from Sunday services - They are all dressed very nicely!

The pool is right next door to Yiri Lodge.

And nearby, is the university.  We are on the south end of campus, away from the classroom buildings, but close to residences and food services. 

You'll notice the red sand on all the paths.  It's everywhere!  My running shoes are quite covered with it, and are going to need a serious wash when I get home.


Some of my teammates were excited about having the pool so close, as they planned to use it to keep up their exercise routines.  But alas, it has not transpired for two reasons.  First of all, we are leaving so early in the morning (by 7am) and it gets dark so early (by 6pm) that there isn't much time in the day.  Secondly, after Jeremy swam there on day 2, he got quite sick, and suspected that it was the result of swallowing pool water.  We'll never know, as he hasn't been back again. 

The residences

I have been running several times, although half of what I normally do.  I often run by the residences, since there's always lots of people walking around, which makes me feel quite safe.   The last time I ran by, I noticed a lot of booming noise down by the last building and determined it was coming from the gutters.  What was it?  Turns out that a few dozen bullfrogs live in the cement tubes, and their loud resonant bass sounds were reverberating to make the sounds explosive!

The local shop supplies water & snacks - very basic stuff :(

Here's the local shop where we can go for water or other small snacks, but there isn't too much there.  We have to make a trip to "The Mall" for better choices.  We take a taxi there for about $4, although you have to negotiate each ride, there are no meters and no fixed prices.  Going downtown might cost you $4 or it might cost you $12, depending on your negotiating skills, the time of day and the traffic.

But the competition across the street closes the gap!

The university shop has plenty of competition though.  There are booths selling supplies everywhere!!  I buy bananas here regularly - the little mini bananas come in bunches of a dozen or so.   But people eat them in that quantity, with nuts, for a snack.  Yummy!

The IBM Team

It's about time I introduce you to the team of IBMers I'm living with here in Accra.

We had been meeting by phone for 3 months before we arrived, and started to feel an affinity based on our common excitement about coming on this adventure together.  We all felt lucky to be part of this small group of 11 people from all over the world, who were going to be together for 4 weeks with a common purpose.   There was this amazing instant synergy!

The team on Friday night after a long first week.

Sun Sik from Korea

Petr from Czech Republic

Jeremy from Canada

We are by no means an obvious group of friends.  All very different personalities, with different interests, different motivations for being here, and very different lives back home.

However, we are living, eating and traveling together every day, and all keen to make the very best of this wonderful opportunity we've been given!

Let me introduce them:

Greg from United States

Bala from India

Els from The Netherlands

Ken from United States

Chee from Brazil

Heleen from The Netherlands

Giovanni from Italy

I've now got 10 good friends from all around the world that I hope to visit in their home countries someday!

Kakum National Park

On Sunday we went to Kakum National Park, with an area of 375 square km in the central part of Ghana.  The park was first established in 1960 and is covered with tropical rainforest. Many rare animals live there including several endangered species that even the guides haven't seen!

It is famous for a series of 7 hanging bridges, 330 meters in length that hang 40 meters above the forest canopy that let you view the forest without disturbing the nature below. This Canopy Walkway was built by two Canadians from Vancouver!

It was quite a thrill for me!

A very narrow and long walkway!

We crossed 7 rope bridges with wood blank "floors" less than a foot wide.

Anyone who is afraid of heights (especially while traversing a narrow shaky rope bridge) will find the activity quite terrifying, but I loved it.  They are actually listed as one of the 7 scariest bridges in the world!  Giovanni was clever enough to take a shortcut that let him do the circuit twice!!  I unfortunately got caught as I headed down the same route. 

Bala making his way slowly but surely!

Bala got the prize today for overcoming his fear of heights and crossing all 7 bridges with a huge smile on his face at the end!  Good for you Bala!

That's one big tree! WOW.

The guide told us he made soccer balls from latex sap when he was young.  Notice the white drops?

This tree comes with it's own protection from wild animals.

In the park, the gamekeepers are specially trained in the medical and cultural significance of the trees and foliage, and our guide made the hike fascinating by telling us stories as we walked along the narrow paths in the rainforest.  We learned about latex trees, elephant's brush, Sugar plum trees, and saw a tree so big that 19 people were needed to hold hands in a circle to encompass it. 






So it was a great visit - we had an adventure on the bridges, we learned about the forest on the hike and we got some exercise too! 

Once again, Ghana has astounded us with it's unique and natural beauty.  :)























And the day wasn't over yet!  We went from there to lunch, where some of the team were brave enough to pet the crocodiles.   I couldn't do it, but now I'm regretting it.  Lesson learned Emily!

Jeremy wasn't going to let the chance pass him by.

Gorgeous!

We had a bit more time, so agreed quickly to stop at a beach to relax and enjoy.  In most of the world, this beach would be dotted with hotels and full of tourists, but here it is completely natural, peaceful and beautiful.

I hope it stays that way...