Reflection

Reflection

As an individual living in Accra, I experienced many instances that filled my heart with sorrow and pain as I witnessed the immense amount of pollution and waste here. I regularly visited the local markets, and the pollution there was unbearable. The market men and women complain, as they are unable to sell their second hand clothing due to the current nature of fast fashion, whereby clothing can only be worn a handful of times. It is inevitable to acquire some form of hopelessness after witnessing such a sight, but that feeling was now packed away in a box as I learned about Portia Adu-Mensah, a Ghanaian activist and CEO of Dream Hunt. Portia aims to raise awareness about climate change and encourages an eco-friendly lifestyle in Ghana. Not only does she conduct and lead official meetings with major official departments and other activists with a vision, but she also is an on the ground warrior, who curates workshops for the locals and youth. The piece depicts the market women, locals and children raising awareness, empowered to make a difference in their environment, in what seems to be a typical local Ghanaian market. The text “BEWARE WAHALA DEY #NOTTOOLATE” adds a sense of cultural association to represent Ghanaian culture, by using words such as “WAHALA” meaning problem, conflict or issue and “DEY” meaning here, in the Ghanaian language. Portia Adu-Mensah is a warrior for the earth that strives to make the world a better place, by strategically getting to the hearts of people, locals and students, to enlighten and plant a beacon of hope in their hearts.