In July and August 2011, Operation Aquarius took place in Northern Ghana, West Africa. It was planned as a Voluntary Service Overseas project with an Expedition phase and a cultural phase on the Cape coast in Southern Ghana.
The origins of the expedition go back to early 2009, when the Squadron Staff met Capt David Stuttard MBE RE(V)Retd from St Dunstan’s and learned about his other charitable work with the My Ubique foundation which he had set up.
WATSAN was a Water and Sanitation project in the village of Fahini to provide fresh clean drinking water and clean sanitation to the Village.
Everyone participated in the Watsan project and was thanked for their work. We were told about the impact that our simple work will have on the life expectancy of the villagers and particularly the children. We all left with a feeling of extreme pride in a job well done and the cadets have certainly ventured into adventure on this expedition.
Kings Village School The assistance given to the Kings Village School was most welcome and we were very warmly welcomed and looked after during our visit to this school.
MEDICAL CENTRE We had planned to have a greater involvement at the Kings Village Medical centre. On Cpl Tippings advice, this was scaled back due the nature of this small hospital. The staff are swamped with work and patients with a great many ailments and conditions, so a large cadet presence would have been a hindrance on the smooth running of this facility and probably far too harrowing an experience on top of the poverty that the cadets had already witnessed.
We did have three senior cadets accepted for work experience at the hospital: all were over 18 and all have aspirations of joining the medical profession. They did have an amazing experience and this will certainly benefit them in the future.
WATER HARVESTING at Kings Village Medical Facility We managed to get the foundations laid for a new water butt and put the water butt into position. We did manage to obtain the metal guttering for the building but decided not fit it as the ladders did not look all that safe and the metal work was extremely rough with sharp edges and finishing.
WALKING EXPEDITION This part of the expedition was curtailed the most. We were at the beginning of the rainy season in Northern Ghana and although this did not impact our normal working day much, there were very heavy downpours and power outages at night. After a heavy rainfall, fields and pot holes in the roads were flooded.
We did have permission to sleep in the local villages but when viewing the health, hygiene and living space available, we considered it best to politely decline; both for the health and wellbeing of our cadets but also so as not to be seen flaunting any overt wealth in the presence of the village residents.
We did have a walking expedition but this took place during the normal working day by detailing off sections of cadets who took it in turns to walk the routes used by the local populace when they walk for water. This was perhaps a much better decision as it made the cadets more aware of the harshness of life in the region and how difficult it was to actually provide fresh and clean water for a family.
When the cadets returned from their water walk they did set about the other work with a rejuvenated vigour and enthusiasm.
The British High Commission in Accra and particularly the Deputy Defence Advisor, Staff Sergeant Christian Kaighin AGC, were a great help.
Everyone has come away with thoughts, memories and experiences that will last a lifetime; no one has come away from Ghana without being moved emotionally. I believe the image of the Air Training Corps and 177 Blackpool Airport Squadron has been greatly improved by our time in Ghana.
The Staff and Cadets worked tirelessly throughout every stage and I could not be more proud of them. We would like to thank the Ulysses Trust and the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust for their generous support in helping us take part in such an interesting and challenging expedition.
Flt Lt Andrew Nickson