Inequities in infrastructure investment models

Image source - https://corporateaccountability.org/

Today’s discussion took us to Ghana to discuss the issues with inequitable infrastructure models. Specifically, we were made aware of the Ghanaian government’s decision to pursue water privatization, in an attempt to improve efficiency and clean water access. However, we came to understand that this led to increased water tariffs, which were often unaffordable for low-income households.

Our JEDI moments never end with answers. Today, the questions we were left with were challenging ones. We began to question where money makes the most impact in infrastructural decisions. We came to the understanding that investors cannot always prioritize interest, rather, where the investor can “help” the greatest amount of people, someone is always going to be on the losing end. We ended the session with possibly the greatest question we face as environmental engineers - how do we keep these systems sustainable, while prioritizing the most marginalized?