In a remarkable fusion of innovation and environmental stewardship, students of Gowrie Senior High Technical School (GSHTS) have commissioned a greywater treatment plant aimed at protecting the Vea Dam from years of harmful wastewater pollution.
The locally constructed system—built over two and a half years using simple materials like sand, plastic bottles, and minimal cement—is designed to treat wastewater before it flows into the dam, a critical water source for Bolgatanga and nearby communities.
“This achievement proves that our students are not only thinking critically but are also taking action to address real-world environmental issues,” said Mr. Roland Awine Adabre, a technical instructor at the school.
The four-chambered plant, which features sedimentation, filtration, advanced treatment, and clean water collection, emerged as the winning solution from an innovation contest organized by Blue Deal Ghana under the Water Resources Commission, in partnership with Dutch Water Authorities.
Dr. Justice Aduko, Project Manager of Blue Deal Ghana, said the initiative is now a model for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and could inspire a national competition around technical problem-solving.
The project is also set to serve as a training hub for water reuse technologies, particularly for students in the school’s agriculture department.
The commissioning drew support from community leaders and stakeholders, including the Paramount Chief of Bongo, Bonaba Salifu, who urged students to value technical education, and Dominic Anarigide, Managing Director of ICOUR, who pledged to scale the model to more schools.
The GSHTS greywater initiative stands as a testament to the power of student-led innovation in tackling pressing environmental challenges—one recycled drop at a time.
