It is somewhat interesting that we had Internet access in the village despite the generally primitive conditions.

Electricity just arrived in Zaremtenga and Namassam a few months ago.  Many other villages still do not have electricity.  Water is hauled by women and girls with 10-gallon buckets balanced on their head coming from boreholes throughout the village – most of which were provided by USAID, OPEC, Rotary International and other organizations.

Mud huts remain the almost exclusive construction method.  Most have thatch roofs although some now have rolled tin roofing.

Malaria remains a major problem and along with nutrition issues creates a high mortality rate especially among infants.

Living conditions are harsh and existence is meager.  But, pretty much throughout the East Mamprusi region, 3.5G network was available.  I could check headlines from my local newspaper, respond to emails from clients, and keep track of most things just as if I was sitting at my desk in Clarksville.

Most people see this as a question of priorities for the Ghanaian people.  I don’t know.  I don’t have enough information to make value judgments about decisions that led to providing Internet but not running water.

I do know that we make enough bad priority decisions on our own that we can’t cast aspersions at others’ decisions.

Either on a personal or national level, we probably make decisions that don’t make any more sense than developing 3.5G Internet before running water.

How about you?  Do your priorities make sense?

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