Accra @ midnight

28/07/07

I Arrived in Accra at midnight. Accra looks dark and scary at night. I took a taxi after being met at the airport by Godfrey. The roads are in need of some work as the potholes feel 6 foot deep. I woke up in a nice hotel room & from there we took a taxi into town. It is so different at day, So many people and the buildings are so colourful. All the people’s faces re filled with life and all look happy going about their business. But whoever told me that English was their first language was lying as everyone speaks Fante (the dialect of this part of Ghana).



Godfrey & I took a mini bus, called a tro-tro, to Takorradi about 4 hours away. Takoradi is closest town to where I will be working. In to town centre people point, stare & smile at me, I must look different to them or something!!! I have not seen a white person since the airport but I feel really safe and welcome. We make our way to Aboadze, where I will be working. I arrive at the orphanage and meet the adults living there & they all hug me. Then I turned round to pick up my bags and there was about 20 children looking over at me, shyly. I waved at them and they all came running over nearly knocking me off my feet, all of them fighting to hold my hands. I felt a bit strange with all the attention but they are just welcoming me.




I was shown my room - no worse than a English bedsit - and the rest of the complex. Its like a village inside a town. I was told the orphanage rent a few rooms and the rest of the rooms are rented to families. We walk into town to look around and get some food. I went into the local shop (a small wooden room with a few shelves). I bought a few things & after I finished paying the guy unplugged his kettle and gave it to me. I said I could not take his kettle, but Samuel (the orphanage boss) told me if someone offers you a gift I have to accept it. I find out that most Ghanaians think the British still drink tea all day long, so this was the reason behind the gift.

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