Facing forward in Ghana

"We face neither East nor West; we face Forward." Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the Republic of Ghana

Unfortunately, Ghana has a long way to go forward.

Also known as the Gold Coast, Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule in 1957, becoming the first Sub-Saharan African nation to do so. During the next 35 years, the military staged four coups. The political situation has been stable since 1992, but Ghana faces many economic and health problems. It has 24 million people of which 4 million live in Accra, the capital. There are 10 regions, 81 ethnic groups and with 65% of the population literate. Average life expectancy is 60 years, infant mortality is 51 per 1000 births, and the fertility rate is about 4 children per woman. (Families wait a week after birth before naming their children.) Attempts to improve the healthcare system are believed to be hampered by a high rate of corruption within Ghana’s Ministry of Health and other organizations. 

A global poll in 2012 found that Ghana was the most religious country in the world. 62% of the population is Christian (Pentecostal, Catholic and Mormon churches are plentiful in urban areas. Stickers on rear windows of cars declare “God is Good” “Jesus is Our Savior” etc.) 16% of the population are Muslim and live mostly in the northern parts of the country. The remainder are animists and have traditional tribal beliefs (eg the Ga tribe has a Fetish priest. There is a Shrine for a god of fertility and a shrine to put a curse on one's enemy.) Elders are highly respected and serve as priests or priestess.

The virgin coastline of Ghana is breathtakingly spectacular

Ghana is a beautiful tropical country with a long coastline. Among its natural wonders are Mole National Park, Paga crocodile pond, and Kakna national park. The country is rich in gold, cocoa and other agricultural goods. The government is allowing an American company to drill off shore for oil. Hopefully this will reduce the unemployment rate, which officially stands at 50%. 

We first stopped in Takoradi, a port used for exporting goods. This is where 12 million to 15 million slaves were transported to the New World (see Topy's impressions and photos). Tema, which is close to Accra, is a port for the import of goods. It is lined with thousands of containers that have to be transported on narrow and congested roads. Going 20 km took us 30 minutes in the morning but two hours on the return.

This is the residence of the president of the university 
which has a total enrollment of 34,000 in its three campuses

In Accra, we visited the final home and grave of American/African historian W.E.B. DuBois (more on him in another post). We drove through the huge and beautiful grounds of the University of Ghana and saw the museum and magnificent memorial to honor Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the Republic (a friend of DuBois). Later, we stopped at a market where we were swamped by anxious merchants eager to sell their handicrafts. 

The temperature reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity was at least 90%.  Even though our drive back took two hours, we were happy to be in an air-conditioned bus.

Walking into the Gulf of Guinea in Takoradi, Ghana, at the 

private beach at the Coconut Grove Resort where we had 

lunch: luxury in the middle of immense poverty