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Volta Travel Blogs

Background: Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him.

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By Emmalindsey
July 15th 2008

I am really bad at blogging....

Africa » Ghana » Volta

So I am really bad at blogging so that is why the previous entries have been by Emily. :) The time in Ghana is flying by it is crazy. I am can't believe that it is already the 15th! We took a trip this weekend and got to see a little bit more of the country. It was really great! Emily, Marisa (our favorite australian), Lucy(England), Me, and Susanne (from Switzerland) all headed out of Aflao and we traveled to Cape Coast and we stopped in Accra (the capital), Kakum National Park, and Hans Botel Cottage. Accra is really a neat [View Full Entry]

By Denise Ward
July 14th 2008

Naked Man in Lomé, Togo

Africa » Ghana » Volta » Ho

Beach in Lome
From "Naked Man in Lome, Togo" by Denise Ward

A day at an outreach clinic + Celia’s boyfriend’s research project = spontaneous weekend trip across border to Togo capital city of Lomé. Hadn’t planned on visiting Ghana neighbors, though heard border crossing was easy. Well, it is…if you are Ghanaian! But, still, relatively simple for a visitor. During down time at an outreach clinic in a small village called Ando No. 2 (outlying village of Have), I pulled out my Ghana map and tourist guide. Joyce and Louisa, clinic nurses, showed us their homes on the map, one of which is very near the Togo border in southeast [View Full Entry]

By Emmalindsey
July 7th 2008

The Balance of Life?

Africa » Ghana » Volta

So I heard that everyone who leaves their country gets sick... It makes sense, but since I had never been out of the country I had no idea it would be like this... Last Saturday night I was not feeling too well, which I took as my body getting used to the food, the atmosphere etc. Sunday morning I woke up sick to my stomach. No big, that is also a part of new foods. Then I checked my temperature. 99.7. I checked it shortly later and it had gone up to 100.5. Lindsey said "We are going to the hospital [View Full Entry]

By Denise Ward
July 3rd 2008

Last stop - Have, Volta Region, Ghana

Africa » Ghana » Volta » Lake Volta

Denise & Celia with Florence
Dinner at Florence's

After six months in Kenya and two months in Ghana, I am now at the final post of my first African journey. My new roommate, Celia, and I arrived from Accra on July 11. Celia, from Rome, Italy, studies anthropology at Brunel University in London. She is 21 years old and has traveled extensively, including trips to several other African countries, and fluently speaks Italian, French, German, Spanish, and English. I feel quite deficient, only speaking English. This last assignment is by no means my most enjoyable or satisfying, but the town and region are beautiful, and I am excited to [View Full Entry]

By itcha
July 3rd 2008

From PTA meetings to Hot Dogs in Accra to a little place called Wli Waterfall

Africa » Ghana » Volta

Bloody yanks
No no, I like my Americans... Emily on the right, Lyndsey in the middle. And I am sure I spellt Lyndseys name wrong...

So, it's been a little bit of a busy week... well, I think so because I am extremely exhausted. We have 3 new people in Aflao now. So after Lucy, Anna and I, there is now Lyndsey and Emily from America and Susanne from Switzerland. Unfortunately, Emily has been in hospital for the past few days. She got sick less than a week after arriving here and her sister, Lyndsey is also sick but not to the extent that Emily is. At first, the doctors thought that it was malaria and we were shown this via test results. But we were [View Full Entry]

By pnltravels
June 28th 2008

Goodbye Ghana! Goodbye West Africa!

Africa » Ghana » Volta » Lake Volta

Akosombo Dam

Our last week in Ghana has been very good. We ran into Joanie and Phil again in Hohoe (pronounced Ho-hway). A wonderful small town in the Eastern Volta region of Ghana. We enjoyed a couple of evenings of food and conversation with them, and they very generously let us borrow their cell phone so we could make phone calls home. Surprisingly Ghana has been the hardest country for us to call home from. There are no working pay phones, the phones in the street (basically a phone on a table) are few and far between for long distance calls and they [View Full Entry]

By Emmalindsey
June 27th 2008

Culture Shock 101

Africa » Ghana » Volta

We began teaching at a school yesterday. I am teaching 3rd grade English and Lindsey is teaching 2nd. The school is roughly a thirty minute walk from the house and it is called Christ is King. Religion is huge here. The school has open classrooms with only a blackboard separating them. In my class of 24, none of the children have textbooks. The books that I am teaching from are from 2001 and 1984! It is like a completely different world... There are two other volunteers at the school right now. One is from Australia and one is from England. They [View Full Entry]

By Liz123
June 26th 2008

My Placement!

Africa » Ghana » Volta » Ho

I received my placement today! Here's some info about the Suzzy Mother Care School...It's a perfect fit! Mission and Needs of the Partner Program: Suzzy Mother Care School was established in 1996 to provide quality and affordable home care and basic education to kids in and around Hohoe in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region. It was founded by Suzzy Millicent Deh. The school currently has about fifty pupils. They have a crèche and primaries one through to five. Subjects taught include English, Reading, Environmental Studies, Social Studies, Agric Science, English and Mathematics. The [View Full Entry]

By Emmalindsey
June 25th 2008

Home

Africa » Ghana » Volta

Sooo...we flew standby because it was saving each of us about two grand each. This means that if all the seats on a plane were purchased that we would be booted to the next flight. We arrived at the Atlanta airport at 5 am on Saturday and got booted off of three flights before we finally got in the air and made it to New York City. By this time, we had missed the one flight to Accra, Ghana...we spent the night on the outskirts of the city, ordered some beautiful New York pizza and cheesecake and then we slept...for a [View Full Entry]

By itcha
June 23rd 2008

Grr... One day, God will punish them...

Africa » Ghana » Volta

MSA Donation Sorting
Sorting out the crayolas and clothes for donation

So... it's been a tough weekend in my world. Not a whole lot to tell you about since my last entry, but gee whiz. This weekend SUCKED HUGE BALLS. Apologies to my family, I don't mean that sentence in too rude a way. You know when things just keep getting worse and worse. Well, that was me this weekend. For this weekend, Lucy and I decided to go travel to Ho again, the capital of the Volta Region so that we could venture to Kalpaka Resource Reserve where you can see water buffalo, monkeys, many a bird a some other creatures. [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Ghana » Volta