starter: 1. water security is --------------------------------------------------------------------...

STARTER:

1. Water security is --------------------------------------------------------------------• drought, climate change, urbanisation, pollution and--------------------------------------------------------------------• over-utilisation of groundwater. Water security is--------------------------------------------------------------------• and food production. It is an increasing--------------------------------------------------------------------9. rapidly declining in many parts of the world--------------------------------------------------------------------• the reliable availability of--------------------------------------------------------------------• quality of water for health, livelihoods--------------------------------------------------------------------• concern arising from population growth,--------------------------------------------------------------------• an acceptable quantity and--------------------------------------------------------------------

TASK: Write each statement onto a new line in the correct order. Start with 1 and finish with 9.

EXTENSION: What do you think Water Scarcity means?

1. Water security is --------------------------------------------------------------------• the reliable availability of --------------------------------------------------------------------• an acceptable quantity and --------------------------------------------------------------------• quality of water for health, livelihoods --------------------------------------------------------------------• and food production. It is an increasing--------------------------------------------------------------------• concern arising from population growth,--------------------------------------------------------------------• drought, climate change, urbanisation, pollution and--------------------------------------------------------------------• over-utilisation of groundwater. Water security is--------------------------------------------------------------------9. rapidly declining in many parts of the world--------------------------------------------------------------------

AIMS

MUST – Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the dam for the people of Ghana. Decide whether you think the dam was a good idea.

SHOULD – Explain the impacts of the dam. Identify how the reality of the dam was different to the promises made by the stakeholders involved.

COULD – Prioritise development criteria. Analyse why Valco chose Ghana as a country to set up a factory in. Explain whether the stakeholders involved acted in an ethical way.

Ghana – The Akosombo Dam

TASKS: 1. Create a sketch to show how dams

work.2. Why do you think the dam was built

and who might have paid for it?EXTENSION: What impact would the

dam have on the country of Ghana?

http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/HydroelectricDam.html

MUST – Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the dam for the people of Ghana. Decide whether you think the dam was a good idea.SHOULD – Explain the impacts of the dam. Identify how the reality of the dam was different to the promises made by the stakeholders involved.COULD – Prioritise development criteria. Analyse why Valco chose Ghana as a country to set up a factory in. Explain whether the stakeholders involved acted in an ethical way.







The Akosombo Dam Deal or No Deal

You are President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana. The USA have offered a deal to pay for a dam to be built in your country.

8 boxes will be opened during the course of the game. As each box is opened, you need to decide whether to say deal or no deal!


Ready?...


Box 1: The USA will pay for your new dam.


The USA will pay for your new dam.


Box 2: You will get a reliable supply of cheap electricity and clean water for drinking and growing crops.


Reliable supply of cheap electricity and clean water.



Box 3: Thousands of people will be displaced.



Thousands of people will be displaced.



Box 4: The American company Valco make aluminium using Bauxite. They will set up a factory at the side of your dam. Your country sells Bauxite!




Valco will make Aluminium beside your dam.



Box 5: You will be able to fish in the new lake that is made.





You will get a new lake to fish in.



Box 6: Valco will buy their Bauxite from Jamaica because it’s cheaper than yours!






Valco will buy their Bauxite from Jamaica not from you.



Box 7: Valco will use so much electricity that there will be none left for your people.






Valco will buy their Bauxite from Jamaica not from you.Valco will use all of the electricity so there is none left for your people.



Box 8: The water levels are so low that there is not enough in the lake to irrigate the fields or provide clean drinking water.






Valco will buy their Bauxite from Jamaica not from you.Valco will use all of the electricity so there is none left for your people.


Water levels in the lake are low so there is not enough water.


Who has gained from the Akosombo dam?When Ghana gained independence in 1957, it wanted to develop. Building things for your country needs energy and Ghana had the answer – it would build a dam on the river Volta to give Hydro-Electric Power (HEP).

Dams are expensive and Ghana was poor. It got loans from the World Bank and the UK and the USA. As part of this deal, an American Company called Valco, were allowed to produce Aluminium in Ghana, using electricity from the dam.

Ghana was happy as it has lots of bauxite. It promised Valco cheap electricity for 50 years.

Bauxite Alumina


Who has gained from the Akosombo dam?Ghana hoped it would have:

1. Hydroelectricity – 2. Water – 3. Bauxite sales –

TASK: Write out each of the above. Explain how each of the above would help the people of Ghana.

EXTENSION: Which of the things from the list above are the most important in helping Ghana to develop?


Who has gained from the Akosombo dam?In reality, many Ghanaians feel cheated:

1. Lake levels often fall, leading to…2. Sometimes Valco use all of the electricity, which means…3. People were displaced (moved away) to make space for the dam, meaning…4. Valco imports Alumina (made from Bauxite) from Jamaica because…

TASK: Finish each sentence above.

EXTENSION: Suggest why Valco doesn’t just produce the aluminium in Jamaica.


The Akosombo dam

• advantages • disadvantages

Using the information you have just seen and anything else that you can think of, create two lists to show the advantages and disadvantages of the dam.

EXTENSION: Who were the decision-makers and did they act responsibly?


Plenary - Should Ghana have done the deal? Explain your answer.


starter: 1. water security is --------------------------------------------------------------------...

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