Blogs from Volta, Ghana, Africa - page 7

The day following our river trek, Paul took us to another river spot, a short drive from Kpeve town. No rice farming in this spot, just the peaceful, quiet beauty of the river, fishermen, boats, and fisher family activity in open huts on the shore. Looking across the river at this place is an island (or what looks to be an island) on which Paul dreams of having an ecotourist resort for all income levels, Ghanaians and international visitors. We had a fun day, unlike no other. In addition to enjoying the river, scenery, boats, and fishermen and family activities, we enjoyed some transportation on Paul’s motorbike. Celia and I travelled to Kpeve (a few short minutes) by trotro, and Paul met us there on his motorbike. He then took each of us, in turn, down ... read more

Knowing the Dayi River was somewhere west and not far from Have, I asked two of Florence’s (our cook) nephews, Richard and Samson, to escort Celia and I to the river. They confirmed that we could hire a fisherman there to take us out in a boat (hand hewn from one log). The 1.5 hour trek from Have-Etoe town to the Dayi River took us past town residents’ farms growing mostly cassava, yam, maize, and okra. Nearing the river, I was surprised by an old village, the original village of Have, where villagers, far from town, make a quiet living fishing and rice farming. Tilapia is the premier fish catch. After meeting the young fisherman and his family, we trekked further to the river, where a new life opened before our eyes. Life on the river ... read more

Well, I made it to Ghana! My first experience traveling from the airport to my town, Hohoe, was very difficult. On our way, we arrived at a large bridge. Unfortunately, part of the bridge was beginning to collapse. ( A piece of the bridge had fallen into the water below earlier that day.) The police wouldn't let any cars go over it. Our leader pulled some strings and settled on an agreement with the police. Our van was not allowed to drive over it with all of the people in it, bc it would be too heavy. Our driver asked us to get out of the van with our luggage and walk over the bridge. He said he would drive the van over himself and to be careful walking bc the bridge could collapse at any ... read more

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 Ghana. Both talked about how Ghanaians regularly cross the border to buy cheaper goods, and the ease of border crossing. This information would not have been quite so interesting if Celia’s boyfriend had not done a research ... read more

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 travel this region. The town center of Have (Hav, as in lava; the e as in eh) is the most picturesque and tidy of any I have seen, either in Kenya or Ghana. The road ... read more