Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena

The realities of being a public servant include not only lower job security and lower salaries, but also heated budget debates and rhetoric about the size, function, and effectiveness of the public sector. This has generated criticism of public servants, who are often under-appreciated. Despite these drawbacks, public service is fulfilling to me and I am committed to advancing well-being and becoming a public servant.

Africa faces numerous problems including poverty, hunger, a broken health care system, and a poor education system. There are also many environmental challenges, including landfills, air and water pollution, flooding, deforestation, and over fishing. In addition, the mining industry has displaced thousands of people leading to loss of livelihoods. This exploitation of natural resources was intended to advance countries' development goals, yet living standards continue to deteriorate.

Africa can’t address these complex challenges without new kinds of leaders, ones that are thoughtful, committed to the public good, and broadly educated on issues of sustainable development. Africa also needs leaders who can harness both the power of federal governance and grass-roots efforts, because advances and involvement at all levels will be necessary to overcome the considerable challenges facing the country. With my interdisciplinary training in the ecology, economics, and ethics of the environment, and my dedication to community service, I intend to be one of those leaders.

In 2008, I was part of the Poverty-Environment Initiative in Ghana, a joint project by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. I saw the impact as I worked withfishing communities toplan and implement educational programming to control chemical fishing and thereby increase fish stocks.I also volunteered for two years withPassionate Youth Volunteer Organization in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. As the youth coordinator, I motivated parents to become more involved in their child’s education, and I helped provide unemployed youth and school dropouts alternative training and career pathways to training that helped them reconnect to meaningful life opportunities. However, I realized the incremental impact of my efforts or any one organization could not solve the deeply rooted, heavily complex challenges that overwhelm Africa. For that, transformational change is needed.I hoped to gain the needed skills to mobilize and engage cross-sector stake