a report on caritas ghana at the world’s largest …
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A REPORT ON CARITAS GHANA AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST DIGITAL FAIR - RE: PUBLICA ACCRA 2018
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF RE: PUBLICA
Re: publica stems from a Latin phrase, “Res
Publica” which translates to “Public matter”.
It is a three-day conference held annually in
Europe (Berlin) which deals with social
network platforms aimed at tackling topics
ranging from media and culture, politics and
technology to entertainment. This event or
digital festival is organized by the operators
of the German blogs Spreeblick and
netzpolitik.org and it is said to be Europe’s
largest internet and digital society conference. The first Re: publica was held on 11th to 13th April,
2007 and attracted about 700 visitors. Over the years, it grew to over 7000 participants and 450
speakers in May, 2017 and individual years had a targeted focus topic such as Data Protection in
2008 and Intellectual Property Rights and Political Aspects of Internet Usage in 2009.
On August 10, 2018, it was announced that for the first time in a decade’s history of Re: publica,
the digital festival was to be launched on African soil and in Ghana (specifically in Accra) in
cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) as its
main partner and organized by Impact Hub Accra on 14th and 15th December, 2018. The aim of
this stepping stone was to strengthen dialogue, share ideas of digital technologies in social and
economic challenges and also to utilize digitization and development work between Africa and
Germany. In May of 2018, the BMZ provided an agenda item with the motto “the Next Level” as
a way of bridging the digital gap between continents. (Kuuire, 2018)
During Re: publica Accra, about 32 countries represented, 274 speakers and over 2,000
international participants came together in Accra International Trade Fair Center (the Round
Pavilion) to discuss pertaining digital and societal issues including access to adequate social
amenities, waste management, future technology, women in tech, tech for good and Data
security and answering questions such as net neutrality, data protection and civil rights with a
global livestream. Also, the Federal Minister of BMZ announced the extension of the regional
program “Make-IT” in Ghana in order to open up opportunities for potential entrepreneurs in
the digital sector of the partnered countries. (Ayitey, 2018)
1.2 CARITAS GHANA E-WASTE PROJECT
In accordance with the second encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’
Conference (GCBC) assigned Caritas Ghana to develop structures for sustainable E-waste
management. As such, the Caritas Ghana E-waste project, “Care for our common home” was
launched in October 2017. The main aim of this project is to ensure environmentally safe
methods of collecting, dismantling and transporting e-waste. Activities of the project are guided
by Act 917 and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Furthermore, as a social
non-profit organization, Caritas Ghana mobilizes and trains the unemployed youth of Ghana in
order to develop new prospects for their future.
2.0 CARITAS GHANA AT RE: PUBLICA 2018
This section presents the preparations and the installation of the
stand of the Caritas Ghana e-waste campaign. These are mainly
Details of mobilization
Additional items
Partner’s contribution
Public Education and Sensitization
2.1 DETAILS OF MOBILIZATION
Staff Representation and visitors: There were seven (7) Caritas Ghana Staff on regular shifts
since the program lasted for twelve (12) hours on both days. They included Ladje Vonde,
Samuel Zan Akologo, Emmanuel Obodai Sodza, Georg Kerkloh, Joshua Opoku, Priscilla Zan
and Shadrack Armah. The team was appreciated and supported by the visit of Rev. Fr. Lazarus
Anondee, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat. In addition to the Caritas
Ghana staff, two representatives of the City Waste Recycling Limited, Jürgen Meinel and
Vivian Ahiayibor, participated during the exhibition. GIZ’s E-Waste team supported Caritas
Ghana’s participation and their key staff including Markus Spitzbart, Alexander Batteiger and
Veronika Johannes were regular visitors at our stand. Some staff of Government, Ministries,
Departments and Agencies also visited the Caritas Ghana stand.
Mobilizing a collection center to the venue: In order to simulate a real collection point,
Emmanuel Obodai Sodza (Caritas Ghana) ensured a safe transportation of the collection
container from the National Catholic Secretariat to the Round Pavilion of the Accra
International Trade Fair center on 9th December, 2018 and transported it after the Re: publica
festival to its final destination; St. Ignatius Loyola Parish (Spintex Road) on 16th December,
2018.
Public Relations Materials: PR materials and souvenirs branded with the Caritas Ghana E-
waste Campaign were organized and distributed to staff and the public as a way of promoting
the Caritas Ghana E-Waste Campaign brand to a wider audience. These included t-shirts,
caps, stickers, complementary cards, roll up banners, a banner, calendars, pens, handouts,
concept notes and key holders.
Exhibited products: At the Caritas Ghana stand, some basic e-waste products were
showcased. These included system unit, computer parts, extension sockets, laptops, just to
name a few.
2.2 PARTNER’S ADDITIONAL ITEMS AND PRODUCTS
City Waste Recycling Ltd as a partner showcased some dismantled and recycled E-waste products
at the Caritas Ghana exhibition stand. Some recycled and reused products included, processed
copper chippings obtained from copper wires, a salad bowl from a washing machine, key holders
and ornaments made from a CPU, necklaces made with wires etc. They also made available some
handouts and a few PR materials for publicity.
2.3 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SENSITIZATION
Apart from the one on one discussions
with participants of the exhibition, Mr.
Samuel Zan Akologo; the Executive
Secretary of Caritas Ghana was given a
makerspace platform of Re: Publica to
educate the public about the concept and
way forward of the project on 15th
December, 2018 from 15:00 to 17:00 pm.
Interviews were granted and recorded by
international pressmen. Internally, the sum up of the event, particularly the Caritas Ghana stand
with support of Joshua Opoku was streamed online on the various Caritas Ghana social media
platforms which also opened avenues for potential foreign partnerships. These are still available
online at https://www.caritas-ghana.org
3.0 PUBLIC REMARKS
A visitors’ book was provided for participants to indicate their names, addresses, institutions
and their remarks about the e-waste project. On the basis of this data, it was concluded that
the public supports the project and encourages Caritas Ghana to go further with the project in
order to reduce the environmental threat and health risks posed by pollution from e-waste and
improper handling of the scrap.
4.0 KEY OUTCOMES
Participating in Re: publica Accra 2018, created an avenue for greater recognition not only
for the E-Waste campaign, but also Caritas Ghana to the general public
The online streaming of the event by the Caritas Ghana social media team created an
international platform for potential partnership contacts
The Team had an exposure and some interactions with government officials representing
their institutions during the fair
5.0 KEY LESSONS
The organizers' specifications regarding set up of the Caritas Ghana stand were very
unspecific and varied occasionally several times within a short term.
The assembling of the Caritas Ghana E-Waste stand was quiet basic and unattractive. There
is room for improvement. On the other hand, the stand was very exposed and the high
banner was an eye catcher.
The Team had a great exposure to learn more and also had some interactions with
government officials representing their institutions and other NGOs during the fair.
6.0 CONCLUSION
The event was a success for the e-waste campaign and for the brand “Caritas Ghana”. The team
looks forward to more subsequent international exhibitions.
Report by: Priscilla Zan (Caritas Ghana E-waste Project Consultant) and Georg Kerkloh (GIZ
Technical Adviser on Caritas Ghana E-waste project).
References Ayitey, C. (2018). Re:Publica Accra: a Successful Premiere. Accra: :gharage.
Kuuire, J.-A. (2018). Re:publica is heading to Ghana for the first time on December 14-15 in a partnership
with BMZ. Accra: TECH NOVA.