Global Communities Marks Green Apple Day of Service in Ghana

Global Communities Marks Green Apple Day of Service in Ghana 
In partnership with the Center for Green Schools, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) set 28th September 2013 as the Green Apple Day of Service, which was marked in over 40 countries around the world. In Ghana, activities were conducted over a two-day period to observe the day in both the cities of Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi. Events were organized by Global Communities, a member of the USGBC. Member organizations of the USGBC strive to promote environmental sustainability and on the Green Apple Day of Service, volunteer to improve learning environments for children around the world.
In Accra, 60 pupils of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Basic School paid a visit to the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) compost facility and laboratory complex at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission at Kwabenya. Welcoming pupils to the centre, Mr. Samuel Nettey, the Coordinator of the compost facility and laboratory complex, stressed the importance of composting in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as keeping our environment free of disease-causing agents found in decaying waste. 
The students were taken through the preparation of organic compost from market waste, domestic waste and dewatered fecal sludge, a process which normally lasts for a period of ninety days. The matured compost, which is almost odorless, is made into pellets and bagged with using machines. The final product competes favorably with other synthetic fertilizers. Currently, BNARI is testing the compost pellets on gardens and other plants on a pilot basis.
The laboratory also tests the compost at various times to ensure it contains the desirable levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and to ensure it is devoid of disease causing agents. Staff of the centre assured the pupils that compost produced at the center is of the highest quality and safe to apply on any plant being cultivated. Plants grown using the pellets can compete with similar organic foodstuffs which are currently being imported for sale in Ghana.
At the end of the visit, pupils were challenged to start composting at their own school to produce compost for use in the school as fertilizer for plants to beautify the school environment.
On the second day, staff from Global Communities Ghana joined members of Arise Fitness Club (a community-based organization), local students, and government officials to clean the Ayawaso Central School library and the Kotobabi ‘4’ Junior high School. Clean up activities were made possible by a donation of cleaning tools to the library and will allow students and teachers to continue its upkeep and maintanence. 
In the Sekondi-Takoradi, tree planting was carried out at the Whindo Methodist Primary and Whindo-Assakae STMA Junior High schoosl. It was preceded by a cleanup of the school compound. Participants in the activities included staff of Global Communities, the Community and Land Development Foundation (COLANDEF) and pupils and teachers of the schools.