Torwoli

Passing Through Amsterdam . . . Europe » Netherlands » Amsterdam By Torwoli July 2nd 2007 Torwoli S. Dzuali On my way back to Canada I passed through Amsterdam. Here are a few random photos . . . Torwoli S. Dzuali © 2007... read more

While in Accra, I visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. This year is Ghana's Golden Jubilee. Fifty years ago Kwame Nkrumah led the struggle for independence. On March 06, 1957 Ghana was declared independent, making it the first African nation, below the Sahara to "shake off the chains of colonial rule." Nkrumah was hailed as "Osagyefo" - which means "the victorious one" in the Akan language. On the night of independence he declared : "We are going to see that we create our own African personality and identity. We again rededicate ourselves in the struggle to emancipate other countries in Africa; for our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent". Nkrumah was also at the forefront of the Pan-African movement. Pan-Africanism literally means 'all Africanism'. It ... read more

In Ghana age is not “just a number”, it is a measure of one’s place within his/her family and community. Age is associated with having knowledge, experience and wisdom; hence the older a person is the more respect he/she is given. There are strict mores dictating how one should behave towards his/her elders and these are very closely adhered to. In many western societies, for example, there is this “call me by my first name” custom whereby people tend to prefer for others (including young children) to address them by their first names. So you have young children calling adults directly by their first names, just as they would call their friends. Because of such practices, the line between adult and peer becomes blurred (to the child). In Ghana this would not be acceptable - ... read more

I left Ghana at the age of four, till then I had lived in the small coastal town of Keta, located in the Volta Region. Keta lies along Ghana’s southern shores, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is known for its beautiful beaches and lagoon, (Keta lagoon the largest in Ghana). Since leaving Ghana, I have visited Keta on two other occasions (last in 1998); this weekend I returned for the third time. This visit, however, was not at all like the rest where I would spend several weeks of my vacation in Keta; this time I only spent a night. I still have many relatives living there (it is impossible not to as in some way or another you are related to just about the entire town), but no-one of my immediate extended family (i.e. ... read more

Driving in Ghana can be a nightmare. Each time I sit in a car, I feel I must pause to say a prayer. . Already in my short time here we have had many close calls. The drivers can be reckless and it appears that little regard is given to traffic regulations - people just seem to drive however they want. Even choosing to walk does not guarantee one’s safety; there are few sidewalks (but many roadside gutters) so you must very tightly maneuver your way along the side of the road with cars dashing by you. I find this very frightening and often try to keep as close to the edge of the road as possible. However you must also be careful not to get too close to the edge or else you run ... read more