tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88263264942077769992024-03-06T20:02:42.634+00:00Ghana Guide And BlogTravel, work and volunteering in GhanaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-21677790587127661922017-11-29T00:00:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:36:54.485+00:00Must See Outer Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you come to the Upper East Region of Ghana for a couple of days, you may wish to visit <a href="http://www.swopa.org/">SWOPA: Sirigu Women's Organisation of Pottery and Art.</a> The village of Sirigu is similar to that of the villages <a href="http://glishfoundation.org/">where G-lish works</a>:<br />
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<i>'Sirigu’s story is typical of farming villages in Northern Ghana; several years of intensive farming and poor rainfall has degraded the land to the extent that even subsistence farming is threatened. This is where the similarities end though; Sirigu village is also well known for its traditional architecture, basketry, pottery and wall designing. Faced with declining yields from farming, it became not only important to revive the traditional arts of the women of Sirigu but also to leverage it as an important source of income for the women for the upkeep of their families. Many children owe their education and healthcare to income generated from the handicrafts and traditional arts produced by the women of Sirigu.' -- <a href="http://www.swopa.org/">SWOPA</a> website</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpSeNiik8sruP3d4tBDWejaXGCTdoFmb5HNeKf99manB5_UlnA3uWY-0D4dWjcwIw7hlx2MpIqLjNnvKNGYLO0ZAE7o-9ZeBXewhp0TM7f0bsI3vC72GVvLRkObQ5s-8LiZPQWtw_nDaV/s1600/IMG_9474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpSeNiik8sruP3d4tBDWejaXGCTdoFmb5HNeKf99manB5_UlnA3uWY-0D4dWjcwIw7hlx2MpIqLjNnvKNGYLO0ZAE7o-9ZeBXewhp0TM7f0bsI3vC72GVvLRkObQ5s-8LiZPQWtw_nDaV/s400/IMG_9474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A shot of design of external walls of hut in Sirigu. Image by<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DvpcLAW8HwHlhu44NQRW6w"> Familia Bonnardeaux</a></div>
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At SWOPA, you taste village life in the far northern Upper East Region and learn something of the culture, arts and crafts of the village and surrounding areas. And, for the budget-conscious, their prices are great. You can <a href="http://www.swopa.org/mainsite/visiting/accomodation.html">see the accommodation huts her</a>e. The Harmattan is in full swing here in the Upper East Region already so if you visit anytime from now until February you will appreciate the cool interior of the huts into which you can escape from the dust and heat during the day. <br />
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The peace and quiet at night is, well, a bit deafening; all you will hear is a chorus of electronic sounding insects and the odd lost goat. <br />
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We were accompanied by two foreign friends from overseas as well as three Ghanaians from the Eastern Region visiting this region for the first time on a big trip up north. They all said that the trip to Sirigu was the highlight of their entire trip, which is saying something! Something good, I believe. The Ghanaians were fascinated with the life of the village as well as how those of us living in this area can withstand the harsh, dry heat compared with the humid jungle climate of their region. Our Canadian friends echoed similar sentiments. Visiting Sirigu gives you a first-hand opportunity to feel that reality and know another Ghana altogether. <br />
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Costs: 15 GHC per night for a traditional, round hut painted in the SWOPA style with 2 single beds and inhouse bath and toilet. An entrance fee of 1.50 GHC is payable. If you tour the village, the price is 4.00 for non-Ghanaians and 2.00 for Ghanaians. There is a dorm with five single beds for 30 GHC total. The dorm is constructed in the traditional style of the area with steps leading up to a wide, flat, low-walled roof from which guests can gaze at the stars at night and sleep during the very hot season, if they like.<br />
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The major crafts produced in Sirigu for sale at very reasonable prices in the gallery at the centre include pottery, baskets and acrylics on canvas in traditional designs and style from the area.<br />
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A clay, glazed dish about the size of half a PC keyboard costs around 6 GHC. <a href="http://www.swopa.org/mainsite/products/pottery.html">A short piece about the pottery here</a>.<br />
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<i>The colours of the pots are black with a geometrical design. The colour is made by putting the hot pots in a mixture of millet grass. These pots have round or flat bottoms and some have lids. The colour of the pot is earthen red with geometrical designs in black.</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6Pl2Sc9uQeNR_4zrChIwYGBtY4UTgbISW3Uul8Zw5zpXwTJt4WIw_WqpYsUozGR8ynJzYWG6dbXMo6vEiZV8jTXia8IBM_u7FXV9An4DxBud194VZ-yg1jojETUiTyDPyuLmZ22Opzps/s1600/Sirigu+Village03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6Pl2Sc9uQeNR_4zrChIwYGBtY4UTgbISW3Uul8Zw5zpXwTJt4WIw_WqpYsUozGR8ynJzYWG6dbXMo6vEiZV8jTXia8IBM_u7FXV9An4DxBud194VZ-yg1jojETUiTyDPyuLmZ22Opzps/s400/Sirigu+Village03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A typical mud home with roof designed to be slept on in hot season. A basket maker holding a basket typical of that area. Image by<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qt9hHqlbs8DCUlI0ovy0Gg"> Baptiste Delbos.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmtAr34aSNx3n3XJ6pWdjmdlhzxP6biL-mdm2ZLhtraxuXkxZSGA155KzqcjW8xhHMeabelkwuZcpM0niJeBsu3IBMWA7rxo84kSMosIP_5yMMhonnJ6hRCSqmVGD8-jI0WLsJz1_HCIc/s1600/Sirigu+Village34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmtAr34aSNx3n3XJ6pWdjmdlhzxP6biL-mdm2ZLhtraxuXkxZSGA155KzqcjW8xhHMeabelkwuZcpM0niJeBsu3IBMWA7rxo84kSMosIP_5yMMhonnJ6hRCSqmVGD8-jI0WLsJz1_HCIc/s400/Sirigu+Village34.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Awesome chop bar. Image by<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qt9hHqlbs8DCUlI0ovy0Gg"> Baptiste Delbos.</a></div>
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SWOPA is located about 40 minutes drive north-east from Bolgatanga: turn right at the Kandiga junction when heading north to Burkina on the highway from Bolga, SWOPA is another 17 kms along the dirt road from the junction. A bit tricky in the wet season, but not impossible, and easy in the dry season. You could also hire motorbikes from Tanga Tours for 20 GHC a day in Bolgatanga. <br />
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Meals are huge, delicious and prepared that day and cost 5 GHC per person. Call ahead and be sure to order drinks in advance as they need to order them from the local market.<br />
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A 40 minute taxi ride there (and 40 minutes return, same day, same driver) will cost around 35 GHC from Bolgatanga. <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?as_q=sirigu+ghana&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1024&bih=551&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&imgtype=&imgsz=&imgw=&imgh=&imgar=&as_filetype=&imgc=&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images&as_st=y">Click here for a more extensive view of Sirigu-related images including the village, architecture, design and arts and crafts.</a><br />
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I also referenced another blogger's writing on Sirigu here in <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-excellent-ghana-blogs.html">Two Excellent Ghana Blogs</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-7847340466815829492017-11-28T15:45:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:00:21.418+00:00Ghana Highlights Part 2: Accra to Eastern Region and the Volta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I said in <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/2009/10/ghana-highlights-part-1-accra-to.html">Part 1</a>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Accra to Cape Coast and the Western Region</span>, every region has something to offer travelers in Ghana: culture, history, arts, crafts, drumming, dancing, beaches, monkeys and elephants—you can sample it all over, from the jungles and beaches of the south, mountains of the east, to the Savannah plains of the north.</div>
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In this part, we’ll cover the highlights from Accra to the Eastern Region and on to the Volta Region. Click here for <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/search/label/Ghana%20Highlights">all the Ghana Highlights on one page</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE</span>: There is a (somewhat oddly situated) immigration check point located between Ho/Hohoe and Akosombo (I remember the exact location). Currently there is no legal requirement to produce your passport so you do not have to if you're asked to produce it here. Be nice about it if you choose not to; there's no reason to be rude, especially with officials. If you do produce it, as long as you are legal there is no reason for anyone to withhold it from you. I never had trouble here, but some travelers have started arguments with officials, thereby holding up their vehicle and all the vehicles behind them. Be civil and all shall be well.<br />
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Indeed, the mountains and valleys, waterfalls, fresh air (which cools to a goose-bump chill at night and is so cold that you actually want to sit around a campfire at night), few tourists, clean villages, weaving and bead-making traditions, and excellent cuisine make this one of Ghana’s most rewarding areas through which to journey. It’s, hands-down, my favourite. I know, I’m not being very patriotic to my former or present homes (Cape, Kumasi or Bolga), but the Volta is gorgeous, especially between May—December. It’s hot and dusty (like most of Ghana) during Jan-April: dry and Harmattan season. <a href="http://images.google.com.gh/images?as_q=&imgtbs=r&as_rights=%28cc_publicdomain%7Ccc_attribute%7Ccc_sharealike%7Ccc_noncommercial%7Ccc_nonderived%29&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=volta+region&as_oq=&as_eq=&imgtype=&imgsz=&imgw=&imgh=&imgar=&as_filetype=&imgc=&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=off&as_st=y">This quick google search</a> returned a selection of photos from the Volta Region.<br />
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A note on language. The major language groups in this region are Krobo in the eastern part of the Eastern Region, bordering with the Volta. And in the Volta, from the coast to the northern Volta, it’s Ewe (pronounced both <span style="font-style: italic;">Ay-way</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Eh-veh, </span>depending on the speaker—also spoken in Togo and Benin). In this region, the ‘K’ that precedes many place names, such as ‘Kpando’, is silent, but the ‘p’ following is ‘aspirated’, similar to the first p when you pronounce ‘pop’. So Kpando (the port town from which you’ll cross Lake Volta if you want to take the road less traveled to get to Kumasi) is pronounced, phonetically: '<span style="font-style: italic;">Pahndoh</span>'.<br />
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Highlights we’ll cover. You can pick and choose your route by joining the dots.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Koforidua Bead Market</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Cedi Bead Factory</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Agomanya Market</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Atimpoku, Aylo's Bay, and the river at Akosombo Bridge</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Ho and Kpoetoe (Pehtweh) weaving village</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• </span><a href="http://www.mountainparadise-biakpa.com/themountainparadise.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Mountain Paradise Lodge</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and Biakpa</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">• Wli and the waterfall</span><br />
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There are several ways to cover this region. Many travel directly from Accra up to Hohoe on a tro (from Tudu station—near the Novotel Hotel), and then to Wli Waterfalls, and work their way south from there. Others work their way north, stopping and staying overnight at points along the way. Tudu, incidentally, is just as hectic as Kaneshie.<br />
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In this guide, we’ll work north, stopping at the highlights.<br />
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Important: If you do not want to take the bead-making tour through the Eastern Region, you can go straight to Atimpoku (the town on the Accra side of Akosombo Bridge) on a tro along the smooth Tema Highway from 37 station. <span style="font-style: italic;">Scroll straight down this post to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Akosombo Bridge/Atimpoku</span> to skip the bead making journey</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Accra to Atimpoku and Akosombo Bridge via Koforidua: Bead-making.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Intro</span>: If you do want to sample bead-making, then the main points are Accra-Koforidua-Cedi Bead Factory-Agomanya Market—Atimpoku. You can pick and choose whichever stops suit you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgVOm33IGIIT5-VkhHFD1E0AJ0jilUnJ9OxosuMC9ntojGvkAWptOp5Sz59ggzM5vtSb2C6SKALpzXeKQ9V2dhHVrsSUtenesgnN1oY0vhKa_BOWTGlmNZBQCIRMR3Cq_tDr30pTmEZTW/s1600-h/Koforidua+Beads+Danielgr+Picasa.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403996510790222802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgVOm33IGIIT5-VkhHFD1E0AJ0jilUnJ9OxosuMC9ntojGvkAWptOp5Sz59ggzM5vtSb2C6SKALpzXeKQ9V2dhHVrsSUtenesgnN1oY0vhKa_BOWTGlmNZBQCIRMR3Cq_tDr30pTmEZTW/s400/Koforidua+Beads+Danielgr+Picasa.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Beads on display at Koforidua Bead Market. Photo courtesy of Picasa attribution licence by Danielgr.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Koforidua</span>: Ghana’s largest bead market is held every Thursday morning until about mid-afternoon in the main town square—everyone knows it, so just ask around once you’re in town. You can purchase old trading beads (anywhere between 2-10 Cedis, depending on its size), chevrons, painted beads, recycled glass bottle beads, shell beads, coconut husk beads, brass molded beads, and pretty much every type of bead made in Ghana and West Africa. You can bargain a little—about 10-20% off the quoted price. There are usually quite a few tourists here for the market day. You can get a tro from 37 tro station to Koforidua, which is the capital of the Eastern Region at, say, 6 a.m. and arrive there by 9 or 10.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">From Koforidua heading to Atimpoku town/Akosombo Bridge</span>: If you don’t want to stop at the Cedi Bead factory, you can go straight to Atimpoku by heading first to Kpong on a tro (east) from K’dua’s main tro station. From Kpong, Atimpoku is a ten minute share taxi or tro ride north.<br />
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And, if you don’t want to stop at Atimpoku, you can go straight to Ho from Koforidua. If you’re not interested in Ho and weaving, you can go straight to Mt Paradise (more below). If you’re not interested in Mt Paradise, you can go straight to Hohoe and on to Wli and the waterfalls. You get the picture.<br />
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Choosing trotro and bus routes is like playing join the dots. All the dots of each town and village are connected, you simply decide if you want to stop, or bypass, and catch the tro from main town to main town, accordingly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKol726sXJ-6xOCWXKrYHJeYdJAobpz-jrbQkhlAlODuodVtBvI20MJ5EprX8FgCa8Y_4RbNoCyAGkbkR2TO9eZaV0SpyjFRirvhsUnHCJwQSp5Sts84aU57OYyha6v2T2k3pQF5VvXm_/s1600-h/Cedi+bead+sign+by+kalyan3+flickr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403995839987314130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKol726sXJ-6xOCWXKrYHJeYdJAobpz-jrbQkhlAlODuodVtBvI20MJ5EprX8FgCa8Y_4RbNoCyAGkbkR2TO9eZaV0SpyjFRirvhsUnHCJwQSp5Sts84aU57OYyha6v2T2k3pQF5VvXm_/s400/Cedi+bead+sign+by+kalyan3+flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Sign post for Cedi Beads. Courtesy of flickr attribution licence by kalyan</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cedi Beads</span>: A quick note on the word ‘<span style="font-style: italic;">Cedi</span>’. It’s derived from the Twi word for cowrie shell, or <span style="font-style: italic;">'cediee'</span>. These shells were used as currency in Ghana in times past, and Nkrumah adopted it as the name of the currency post independence.<br />
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Cedi Bead Factory’s specialty is recycled glass bottle beads made from melting recycled bottles. You can stop in and watch bead makers at work (reminding me somewhat of mosaic workshops in Italy). They sell beads at good prices and since there is no entry fee, it’s good form to purchase something from the shop. The prices are much better here, obviously, than almost anywhere else.<br />
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Cedi Bead Factory is located off a junction on the main road from Koforidua to Kpong, between the towns of Somanya and Odumase Krobo. Pass through Somanya town, then after 5-10 minutes you hit the junction on the right to Cedi Beads; from the junction walk 20 mins or catch taxi to the factory; return same way and catch any tro to Kpong which will pass through Krobo then hit Kpong in about 15 minutes.<br />
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Alternatively, if you’re coming the other way, head to Somanya from Kpong but hop off at the Cedi Bead junction after passing through Krobo. The junction will be 5-10 mins on the left past Krobo. After the factory, back on the main road, you can get tros going to Koforidua, Accra or back to Kpong.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Agomanya Market</span>: Another treasure for beads is the Agomanya Market which operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is also off the main road between Krobo and Kpong. It’s on the left heading from Kpong towards Krobo and right heading from Krobo to Kpong. The junction is a few minutes between the two towns.<br />
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Global Mamas has a bead-making arm in Krobo and you can read the women's stories and <a href="http://www.globalmamas.org/Category/85-necklaces.aspx">see some of their beaded products here.</a><br />
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If you wish to bypass the Koforidua market and go straight to the Atimpoku/Akosombo area and still visit a bead market, you could tro from Accra to Kpong, and change for a taxi for the fifteen minutes to the Agomanya market for half a day, and then go back to Kpong, and then travel another ten minutes to Atimpoku and continue the journey up through the Volta. Or, if you’re really into beads you could go Kpong, Agomanya Market, Cedi beads and then back to Kpong.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Now you’re at Kpong. </span>Bead tour finished or bypassed. Kpong to Atimpoku, the village on the Accra side of Akosombo bridge, is about 10 minutes ride north. When the bridge looms on your right, and you see the river, get ready to jump down at Atimpoku, if that’s where you want to stop. If you wish to go straight to Ho or Hohoe, you’ll cross the bridge and keep heading north.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFCOdO42f18psp_16BVR5Vmph9u4TF26p3j4wWQUVWovEp0-RRHAj-ia2TC1gF4Aaf2nnOHXt4wK87qH-filky6cF3RJIk5llytI90j5ia2xLso62qpw3aNClSNM46Sm1LYB25huOo1Nm/s1600-h/Aylo" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403993445894702018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFCOdO42f18psp_16BVR5Vmph9u4TF26p3j4wWQUVWovEp0-RRHAj-ia2TC1gF4Aaf2nnOHXt4wK87qH-filky6cF3RJIk5llytI90j5ia2xLso62qpw3aNClSNM46Sm1LYB25huOo1Nm/s400/Aylo's+by+jo+fleet+Flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 264px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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View from pontoon of chalets sitting on water at Aylo's Bay. Photo courtesy of flickr attribution licence by jofleet.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Akosombo Bridge/Atimpoku:</span> There is a guest lodge called Aylo’s Bay, operated by friendly Ghanaians, that is well worth one, if not two, night’s stop. A row of fancy, self-contained chalets sit on the river with their own verandah that leads down a ramp to a pontoon upon which sits a floating, shaded summer hut with table and chairs. Yes, you can have dinner floating on the Volta River as boats and canoes pass by. I dove from the pontoon and swam in the river. While it looks as if there is a strong current, it’s just surface deep; you hardly feel any pull in the water. There are less expensive rooms behind the three chalets but, if you have the budget, it’s worth splurging on the river-front chalets. Weedy islands float in the river and you can paddle around for about 5 Cedis in a hired canoe for an hour or so. You can read more about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akosombo_Dam">Akosombo Dam </a>here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvFimWqdj170ycGGPGkEcobLP_kU4Zkgkr5P9-iUHWNYT4ipJ0YE31JEPIzL9HIQJSukh9shwNgq7o-WSa4RaJ4c_y8YHErApcqjDt7PiB_bwbGFi7K3GALHTZ-op1VmAbHJ9OkQ-Sunf/s1600-h/Aylo" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403994464420771186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvFimWqdj170ycGGPGkEcobLP_kU4Zkgkr5P9-iUHWNYT4ipJ0YE31JEPIzL9HIQJSukh9shwNgq7o-WSa4RaJ4c_y8YHErApcqjDt7PiB_bwbGFi7K3GALHTZ-op1VmAbHJ9OkQ-Sunf/s400/Aylo's+2+by+jo+fleet+flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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View onto river and pontoon from chalet. Photo courtesy of flickr attribution licence by jofleet</div>
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If it were easy to get from Bolga, where I live, to the Volta, I’d be here all the time. (But the road from Bolga via Yendi and Bimbilla to the northern Volta is, sadly, almost unpassable.)<br />
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As I wrote earlier, you can go straight from Accra (37 Station) to Atimpoku in about an hour, bypassing the bead-making area. Simple. You jump off the tro before it crosses Akosombo Bridge. To get to Aylo’s Bay, don’t turn right and cross the bridge, just keep walking straight ahead along the highway. The river will be on your right. Aylo’s Bay is about a ten minute walk. The driveway to the lodge is well signposted and just happens to be past the (resortish-looking but bland) Akosombo Continental Hotel. Step right down the driveway into Aylo’s and find the reception in the bar/restaurant. Hang out. Relax. Dream of setting up your own Aylo’s. Everyone does.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvI6ABLs_a1lhNauOSNbOPoTBFcvBHq6ugzz2M4JHnTVBqXTvaa8-KV_f5uMaL_MkO7xcCc2LjCRUK5-689HaaWJp29kxmWt46pm0uCUsc_wOhIVfoebu_03AlOLL53JlpYD9sWavjfeX/s1600-h/Akosombo+Bridge+acameronhuff.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403995188313079106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvI6ABLs_a1lhNauOSNbOPoTBFcvBHq6ugzz2M4JHnTVBqXTvaa8-KV_f5uMaL_MkO7xcCc2LjCRUK5-689HaaWJp29kxmWt46pm0uCUsc_wOhIVfoebu_03AlOLL53JlpYD9sWavjfeX/s400/Akosombo+Bridge+acameronhuff.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Akosombo Bridge as viewed from Aylo's Bay. Photo courtesy of flickr attribution licence by acameronhuff</div>
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From Atimpoku it’s relatively easy to join a tro heading either to Ho, if you’re interested in weaving, or north to Hohoe, because passengers would drop at Atimpoku and you can take their place. If you do have trouble, it’s easy to backtrack to Kpong for 10 mins, then join a station car heading to those two destinations.<br />
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I should mention here that I didn’t include Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary as a highlight because I’ve not heard one positive review from the many, many volunteers and travelers I've spoken to who visited. I never visited myself because, well, the consensus was never good. Baobang Fiena, north of Kumasi is, apparently, the place to go (and ties in nicely with a highlight for the next section).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKbfif3WKx_S7Nata7-z_PAUyWbQZI0YEixFr5ZBXVsmFJ0f5QkYCsTIVhPXew_PKvcwzmBBq1MI877kWVsPTaXyAZNsdopmylSsF0sMEO-Sv-te5TPXrAq1GKx98vpqhwZKcY71lCfCw/s1600-h/Weaving+aripeskoe2+flickr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403991924264534130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKbfif3WKx_S7Nata7-z_PAUyWbQZI0YEixFr5ZBXVsmFJ0f5QkYCsTIVhPXew_PKvcwzmBBq1MI877kWVsPTaXyAZNsdopmylSsF0sMEO-Sv-te5TPXrAq1GKx98vpqhwZKcY71lCfCw/s400/Weaving+aripeskoe2+flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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A young man weaving a length of cloth--in Kpotoe it's mostly a man's job</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ho and Kpotoe Weavers</span>: Ho is home to one of Ghana’s best volunteer organisations, <a href="http://www.villageexchangeghana.org/">VEG </a>Ghana. I like Ho as a base from which to visit Kpotoe (‘Peh-tweh’) weaving village, which is a thirty minute’s tro ride through rolling plains, framed by low-lying mountains, from Ho’s central tro station. Making your way through the village where weavers work outside their mostly mud huts, and ten foot long threads held by stones peak from behind walls, is a joy. When you turn the corner, you’ll find a weaver on the other end of the threads diligently creating lengths of cloth. You can buy directly from the weavers for a fraction of the price you’ll pay elsewhere. A few entrepreneurial types have set up shop too. I bought a beautiful, multi-coloured throw of different pieces of cloth for about 40 Cedis. There is a weaving centre, but they charge a fee and it’s underwhelming.<br />
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(If you decide to head back to the coast, you could return to Accra from Ho via Aflao, the town on the border with Togo, by the ocean, an easy tro journey. Tros leave regularly from Ho’s central station. You can travel from Aflao back to Accra in about eight hours. From Aflao you tro through Keta, <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/search/label/Favourite%20Secret%20Food%20Spots%20in%20Ghana">the home of Eli the amazing cook I wrote about in Ghana’s secret food spots</a>. Keta, ocean on one side, lagoon on the other, will certainly be underwater in the not too distant future. This is the one part of the coast I haven’t traveled, but those I know who have highly recommend taking this journey.)<br />
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Otherwise, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ho to Mountain Paradise Lodge </span>or Atimpoku to Mountain Paradise Lodge. I loved this lodge, a former government rest house, which sits on a promontory among mountains near the Togo border. It has the feel of a family weekender with just the bare essentials. Perfect. There is no electricity, and water is stored in tanks, and that’s how I like it. Tony, the owner, is Ghanaian. There are guided walks throughout the valley to the Kulugu Waterfalls. My friend and I decided to go it alone, got terribly lost all up and down the mountains, and never did find any falls. We had a ball anyway, but I have heard it is well worth taking a guide and finding the falls. Cocoa is grown around here and you’ll find rotting pods and leaves along the trails.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBsYwCE4bpxqwZHnMkANACqSkBRlRwB6A0NNqiHUkqLT2o11ZH3CMWknbZWVKnykg6x5OzOB7qWX_WaYbgY88vE1vcuYjVhffnNesye7Tg4bB7Ku2sEjpVyAqOb4L4BRkn6IWsAJbuGB/s1600-h/Biakpa+raysto+flickr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403990224650743394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBsYwCE4bpxqwZHnMkANACqSkBRlRwB6A0NNqiHUkqLT2o11ZH3CMWknbZWVKnykg6x5OzOB7qWX_WaYbgY88vE1vcuYjVhffnNesye7Tg4bB7Ku2sEjpVyAqOb4L4BRkn6IWsAJbuGB/s400/Biakpa+raysto+flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Photo by raysto at flickr under attribution licence. Road through <span style="font-weight: bold;">Biakpa village</span>, just 20 minutes downhill from <a href="http://www.mountainparadise-biakpa.com/themountainparadise.html">Mountain Paradise Lodge.<br />
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The village of Biakpa is quite possibly the most tranquil spot in Ghana. Turn left out of the lodge’s driveway, keep walking downhill along the (unusually white) dirt road and you’ll end up in Biakpa in about 20 minutes. Plantain and banana trees shade the main dirt road. Take a stroll in the late afternoon. Virtually no tourists pass here so it’s hassle free and quiet.<br />
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But I digress--and I urge you to too. The easiest way to get to Mountain Paradise is by hopping off at Fume on the main road between Ho and Hohoe. It’s the same main road as if you’re traveling from Accra or from Atimpoku to Hohoe. Just tell the driver you’ll stop at Fume junction. They all know it. At Fume’s little junction you can brave the heart-pumping, 2 hour walk up bend after bend to the lodge. Or you could hire a taxi, and there are plenty waiting for you, for about 8 Cedis. Um, from personal experience, having walked up because the guide book said it took 45 minutes, I’d taxi up and walk down in future. The walk down takes an hour.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wli Waterfalls</span>: The waterfalls are reached from the village of Wli. You must stop at Hohoe and change for either a tro or a taxi to Wli, 30 minutes east, on the border of Togo.<br />
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If you start at Fume, wait at the junction and flag down a tro heading north to Hohoe—the next big stop. If you’re coming from the south, just catch any tro heading to Hohoe. At Hohoe station ask around for the Wli tro (pronounced variably “Vlih” or “Wlih” depending on who you speak to). There are two main lodges there, equally good. <a href="http://www.ghanacamping.com/eng/Startseite.htm">Waterfall Lodge</a> (please click the link for their email and phone--they have no network coverage so they visit town to get texts and emails) is owned by a German couple and Waterview Heights is owned by Ghanaians who, incidentally, worked in Cambodia for an intl org. The income saved there funded their establishment. They’ll happily chat with you on the verandah. Waterfall Lodge has the advantage of sitting in a lovely garden overlooking the upper falls in the distance. It’s just fifty metres down the dirt track to the guide centre that takes you into the park and the falls. Their German-cuisine-focused menu is delicious. Waterview Heights is a few roads behind and serves good Ghanaian and continental dishes. You can stay at one, eat at the other; it’s only a ten minute walk between them.<br />
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I adored Wli for its clean, quiet charm and the mountains that reminded me of bushranger territory in Australia. On one occasion I was there for Christmas and it was lovely to watch the town go about its quiet celebrations, singing hymns in church where palm fronds had been plaited, decorating the open church windows.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLLc2lbjDZdx1ODy3UaA1SA3LuKGr16PuFs3RUPXZuHoYVFhggMgaGu_RWaiFWW1CWAMp63C-yFwrgQYn8qPeRoZkZKvp7ckctpx7lP08uoBCq96UXpGvaCcWJxCJJxM3nbi4PxbC-psd/s1600-h/Uper+Falls+Stig+Nygaard+Flickr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403989195415692786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLLc2lbjDZdx1ODy3UaA1SA3LuKGr16PuFs3RUPXZuHoYVFhggMgaGu_RWaiFWW1CWAMp63C-yFwrgQYn8qPeRoZkZKvp7ckctpx7lP08uoBCq96UXpGvaCcWJxCJJxM3nbi4PxbC-psd/s400/Uper+Falls+Stig+Nygaard+Flickr.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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This photo was from Flickr's attribution licence: by Stig Nygaard</div>
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And then there are the waterfalls. We took a guide, which I strongly recommend, and hiked to the upper falls. It almost killed me. If you have average stamina and a strong will, you can do it. The falls are lovely and the air at the upper falls is, I would wager, the coldest in Ghana. It was freezing. I pulled my sarong around me. My friend found a fresh water crab way up there in the rock pools from the waterfall. The walk down is tough on your knees but you won’t pass out from exhaustion. You can venture into the lower falls pool and stand under the waterfall. My friend said it was at once frighteningly heavy, then surprisingly light, and he was surrounded by rainbows in every direction.<br />
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Now, from here you can either return to Hohoe (taxi from main road in centre of Wli to Hohoe) straight to Accra (4 hours). Or, you could do the reverse trip down, stopping along the way. Or, you could go to Kumasi and then head on north, traveling to Koforidua and along the highway to Kumasi. To Koforidua: 4 hours, and on to Kumasi: 5-6 hours. Or, you could do that route less traveled thing across Lake Volta. <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/2009/11/ghana-highlights-how-to-get-from-volta.html">I have created a separate post for that here.</a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">This is the view of Wli from the trail leading to the upper falls.<br />
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</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/Sv7SIHS87dI/AAAAAAAAAic/08D_2bbOwJc/s1600-h/View+of+Wli.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403987639730499026" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/Sv7SIHS87dI/AAAAAAAAAic/08D_2bbOwJc/s400/View+of+Wli.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-26133976057490587892017-11-21T15:12:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:26:16.329+00:00Ghana Highlights Part 4: Accra/north to the three northern regions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Welcome to what sometimes feels like ‘Far, Far Away Land’—the three northern regions of Ghana—which occupy about half of Ghana’s land mass. But they needn’t seem so far. I’ll give you a couple of tips (see *** below) about how to negotiate this region as easily as possible on public transport.<br />
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Since there is little by way of up-to-date information for these areas online, other than the standard guide books, I’ll attempt to pass on what I know from living up here for the last 10 months and traveling to Mole or the Upper East on four other occasions so you may travel more comfortably than I once did.<br />
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As I said in Parts 1, 2, and 3 (read all the <a href="http://gisforghana.blogspot.com/search/label/Ghana%20Highlights">Ghana Highlights by clicking this link</a>), every region has something to offer travelers, volunteers and workers in Ghana: culture, history, arts, crafts, drumming, dancing, pottery, weaving, monkeys and elephants—you can sample it all over, from the jungles and beaches of the south, mountains of the east, to the dry, savannah plains of the north.<br />
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Indeed, the plains and their massive baobabs, standing like fat scarecrow soldiers on guard, start appearing a couple of hours after you pass Kintampo heading to Tamale. The northern half of Ghana is all wide, open spaces, grasslands, termite mounds, desert palms, and baobab’s.<br />
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Because there are as many ways to get here as there are towns, and there is no definitive guide on how to do this, choosing the simplest route can be challenging.<br />
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I’ll address how to get here by focusing on the main tourist attractions and towns. I’ll outline the easiest ways to get between them (knowing what I know now)! This will be longer than usual, but it’s worth taking the time to read through if you’re planning on heading north on public transport. If you have your own transport (lucky you!), you won’t so much hassle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yVoujbrEOxDE_C5suk0wrdodWSKEtNuYlDICWLzsvRC89jB9GcJ-6lC0JWpxOvQpjPmPJLT8_qDDhzh45oBnXxVKr38Jrjc9QIg_EciQQJhWTPawdRj7GPonndN2vWUz9PatuArpgpG7/s1600/3+amigos+in+sunset+at+Mole.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406579869198059394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yVoujbrEOxDE_C5suk0wrdodWSKEtNuYlDICWLzsvRC89jB9GcJ-6lC0JWpxOvQpjPmPJLT8_qDDhzh45oBnXxVKr38Jrjc9QIg_EciQQJhWTPawdRj7GPonndN2vWUz9PatuArpgpG7/s400/3+amigos+in+sunset+at+Mole.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>Three amigos on the escarpment outside Mole Motel as sun sets </i></div>
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Let’s say Mole is what you’re aiming for. Here’s how most travelers do it. They leave somewhere in southern Ghana in the morning and arrive in Tamale in the evening. You have no option but to go to Tamale from where the public bus leaves to Mole.<br />
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Because the Mole bus is scheduled to leave Tamale station at 2 p.m. (although it’s often late), you will miss that day’s service. You must stay over night and buy tickets in the morning, wait around all day, sometimes until 6 p.m., then depart to Mole. It takes 4 hours to get to Mole. By the time you get there it will have been about 36 hours since you left the southern point. Essentially, most travelers on public transport from the south end up over-nighting in Tamale because they have no choice.<br />
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If you leave Accra by 6/7 a.m. you’ll get to Tamale around 7 p.m. if you’re very lucky. More likely by 10 p.m. You would leave from Accra STC (shortly before Lamptey Circle/Kaneshie area on the western side of Accra) at 5 or 6 a.m.—the timetables change regularly so check the day before—or Tema STC at 8 a.m. The Tema service actually goes on to Bolgatanga, arriving around midnight-2 a.m.<br />
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<b>To clarify:</b> STC stands for State Transport Company and is the name given to the green/white coloured coaches you’ll see zooming along highways all over Ghana.<br />
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You can also get tros from Nkrumah ‘Circle’ Station in Accra to Tamale. It’s hell, but you can do it.<br />
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<b>Takoradi (T’di):</b> There is a daily STC service to Kumasi in the morning. (Incidentally, T’di services to Accra leave daily, every hour, from 8 a.m.)<br />
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<b>Cape Coast:</b> STC option: If you're waiting for the Takoradi service via Cape, you could wait at Cape STC to see if there are seats for Kumasi after the service leaves T’di station—they pass through Cape. There may be seats left, but you have to wait until after the coach has left and then the Cape office will let you know (you have to hang about the ticket selling window) if there are seats. Keep in mind that services are often late. So if the service is supposed to leave T’di at 5, you should be waiting at Cape STC from 5 to get a ticket. But it might not leave until 7. So you’re waiting for 2 hours and you still don’t know if you get a ticket. I never did this. Instead I caught a tro to Kumasi from Tantre station in Cape. By the time you’ve waited to get a ticket for the STC, you could be half-way to or almost in Kumasi.<br />
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Unless you’re leaving T’di or Cape on Friday morning (best option, see *** below), it’s easier to start the journey from Cape on a tro and work out the next leg from Kumasi on either a tro or the STC. Alternatively, you could travel to Accra and buy an STC ticket direct to Tamale or Bolga from there. It’s just that the Accra-Kumasi leg is painful. If you’re already in Cape, Cape-Kumasi (while a bit bumpy in parts) is better than Accra-Kumasi. (Careful readers will have noted by now that I do everything to avoid the Accra-Kumasi highway). Contrary to what you might imagine, that highway, and the bit of highway directly north out of Kumasi are slow and unfinished—still. The major roads in the three northern regions (except to and from Wa), even to Bawku, are quite good.<br />
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***Alternatively, you could leave Cape the afternoon before, overnight in Kumasi at the Presby around the corner from the STC (see Part 3), and leave on the 7 a.m. STC service in the morning. This is a lot less stressful and less expensive than going to Accra since over-nighting in Kumasi is about 12-14 C and over-nighting in Accra (unless you know someone) is at least 20, plus taxis.<br />
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<b>Kumasi:</b> Kumasi’s 7 a.m. If it leaves on time and doesn’t break down, the STC service to Tamale can get you in just before the official 2 p.m. Mole bus leaves. The Kumasi-Tamale service is a major service in Ghana so try to buy a ticket from the STC the afternoon before, if not go very early (5 a.m.), to buy a seat that morning. If you’re lucky (which I was once), you might arrive in Tamale in time to get a ticket for that day’s bus to Mole. Since the Mole bus is usually late, this will probably work.<br />
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<b>Techiman/Kintampo:</b> If you’re in Techiman or Kintampo, you’d catch a tro to Tamale around 6/7 a.m. in the morning and you’re likely to get to Tamale in time (11/12) to buy a ticket for that day’s service.<br />
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The orange metro mass buses also leave from Kumasi to Tamale and Bolga but the Kumasi station is my idea of hell: There are no queues and no communication about when buses will arrive or depart. Go there if you have no options. The station is on the northern side of the city, about 10 minutes or 2 Cedis dropping out of town. Just ask for Metro Mass bus station.<br />
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Remember, you could break up the leg to Tamale by, instead, traveling 3 hours north to Techiman from Kumasi, staying at Operation Hand in Hand in Nkoranza (15 mins from Techiman) for a day or two, and then heading to Tamale in the morning from there and still get to Mole that night.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWFbyDuXTF3Vcz-YwUNAQ5MFYdQ7B-Q4KH7piWOyxfPFIo13aEeIUDaNiC7HPyq-eCqlQnKiyst3aBhY1kNcxHzSWCeTUPgskpQ4rb6JEv5RXzpWHwa5_nmWpAqKM5kmB65IQYZA8n_-B/s1600/Sunset+Mole+2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406580363569863394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWFbyDuXTF3Vcz-YwUNAQ5MFYdQ7B-Q4KH7piWOyxfPFIo13aEeIUDaNiC7HPyq-eCqlQnKiyst3aBhY1kNcxHzSWCeTUPgskpQ4rb6JEv5RXzpWHwa5_nmWpAqKM5kmB65IQYZA8n_-B/s400/Sunset+Mole+2.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>Sunset over the plains below looking from the escarpment out front of Mole Motel</i> </div>
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There is a trotro to Tamale from a small station in Kumasi called “Dr Mensah” on the opposite side of Kejetia station from Adom, a little outside the station. Taxis know “Dr Mensah”. Try to be there by 9, but we once got one as late as 2 p.m.<br />
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*** This is my make-life-easier tip: Like ripping off a Band-aid/plaster in one go, if you’re coming from Accra or the coast, go directly to Bolga on an STC service. The stress of the public transport to Mole could be reduced by going directly to Bolga, spending time here, and then heading to Tamale (2.5-3 hours south by tro) on the morning you intend to go to Mole, and then you can stop at the major points heading south.<br />
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*** Alternatively, you could slowly work your way north—Accra/Cape/Kumasi/Techiman—Nkoranza/Tamale/Bolga—and then STC back from Bolga or Tamale south. Anyway, I’ll cover route options in Part 5.<br />
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I mentioned the STCs from Accra and Tema.<br />
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***But, an STC service for Bolga departs from Takoradi at 7 a.m. on Fridays. It passes through Cape, departing at 9 a.m. It arrives in Tamale between 10-midnight and Bolga around midnight-2 a.m. If you’re in Cape, you cannot buy a ticket until the bus has departed T’di and the sellers know how many seats are left. So you wait at Cape STC from 7 a.m.—be really friendly with the ticket sellers. Both times I tried this, I got tickets. Other passengers will be waiting and hoping too. These people are most likely from Bolga and, rather than competing with them for tickets, work together in Cape (it’s obvious who they are as they’ll be hanging about the window asking about the Bolga service and you just strike up a chat—which is what I did), they’ll help you out when you get to Bolga. You’ll stop for half an hour in K’si, and again in Techiman, Kintampo and Tamale. More on arriving in Bolga at midnight below.<br />
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A note on languages. In a nutshell, Hausa is most widely spoken across the three northern regions and, irrespective of ethnicity, almost all Ghanaians who grew up here can speak a few words of Hausa, if not be conversationally fluent. It’s a pretty simple language. Dagbane is spoken by the Dagombas who live across the entire breadth of the Northern Region (which is what you’ll hear around Mole). In the Upper East Region, Frafra is spoken by Frafras who live mostly in Bolgatanga and Bongo (I find this language difficult). Kasim and Nankani is spoken in Navrongo. In Bawku, Mampruli is spoken by the Mamprusis and Kusa by the Kusasis. Moshis speak Moshi and Bisas speak Bisa. In the Upper West Region, Wale is spoken in Wa and Lawra/Nandon.<br />
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English is less widely spoken outside the main towns in the north. You’ll notice this in markets, but you can always get by (speak clearly-no slang) and find someone to help.<br />
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<b>Northern Region:</b> capital Tamale; <b>Upper East:</b> capital Bolgatanga; <b>Upper West:</b> capital Wa.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgEt-EB8xI/AAAAAAAAAlM/25rHNT2gOEU/s1600/liz_copy+068.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406576540458808082" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgEt-EB8xI/AAAAAAAAAlM/25rHNT2gOEU/s400/liz_copy+068.jpg" style="display: block; height: 241px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><i><br />
Elephants grazing at Mole in late December.<br />
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<b>Highlights we’ll cover:</b><br />
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• <b>Northern</b>: <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Mole_National_Park">Mole National Park</a> (Link to a good Wiki.)<br />
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Buy the ticket to Mole in the morning at Tamale’s main bus station. It’s right next to the STC and the seller is towards the rear of the station. It’s 2.5-3 Cedis for a ticket to Mole. Warning: the bus trip is pandemonium in motion. My Italian mate got ‘seasick’—in his words.<br />
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Mole’s attractions are well-documented elsewhere. What most people rave about is getting up close to elephants in the wild. We were able to sit by the lake/dam and watch them frolicking for hours. The baboons around the motel are more than naughty and will steal your food right from your hands if you’re not careful. Give them a wide berth. There are plenty of monkeys too. I love the trotty wart hogs that may cross your path around the motel or out on the walk.<br />
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Service-wise, Mole Motel made Fawlty Towers look five star. It still is my worst experience, service-wise, in Ghana. The motel is expensive and food is way overpriced. You can eat more cheaply at the park rangers’ quarters. Just ask. Book your room in advance and try to say your name clearly as they may well mess it up or just lose your booking full stop. Order your main meals at the meal time before—eg. Order dinner at lunch time so they can prepare it in time for dinner. This is a good system and ensures you’ll get meals during meal times.<br />
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You do have to pay an entry fee to the park—that’s not a scam. If you’re a student, you need a valid student ID to get a discount. Likewise, volunteers. You also have to pay for the tour in addition to the room cost.<br />
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Many choose to stay at Larabanga, where the mud mosque is, at the Salia Brothers because it’s way less expensive and they (according to all accounts) are excellent hosts. If so, email them ahead www.larabanga.netfirms.com and they’ll meet you on arrival. It’s 5 kms before Mole. The hassle factor in Larabanga is apparently extremely high. Some love it, some hate it. Those who stay at Larabanga get up early and go for the 7 a.m. walk in Mole, hang out all day by the pool (yes Mole Motel has an inground pool from which one friend watched a thirsty elephant once drink), and return in the evening to their lodgings. You can bike between. You could get a car for 2 Cedis each way. The road is known for robberies so be careful if walking alone or in pairs.<br />
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<b>NOTE:</b> I know two groups who hopped off the main highway junction to Tamale from Kumasi that branches left to Mole, hoping to get a tro (or any lift) to Mole from there instead of going to Tamale and doubling back on the bus the next day. It didn’t work. They got stuck there and ended up having to go to Tamale anyway. By the time any vehicle gets to that point it’s usually full. It is possible to negotiate an empty tro for hire around Tamale station to Mole but it will obviously cost more.<br />
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Likewise, it’s almost impossible getting out of Mole on anything but the public bus. The bus out of Mole still leaves at 4-5 a.m. getting you into Tamale around 8. On the upside, it’s easy to continue a journey from Tamale to anywhere in Ghana that day.<br />
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<b>NOTE TO ENTREPRENEURS:</b> The person who starts a bus service between Accra/Cape and Mole, direct, will surely reap rewards. Travelers to and from Mole are aching for this: Arrive while it’s still light and leave at a decent hour like 10 or 11 a.m.<br />
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<b>• Tamale Central Market </b><br />
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If you do overnight in Tamale and have the morning to fill while waiting to go to Mole later that day, there are plenty of good internet cafes close to the bus stations on the main road—just ask. The Tamale Central Market, adjacent to the STC (2 minutes from the bus station), sells a variety of northern-style and Malian cloths and crafts. If you have no chance to visit any other market in the north, then see this market.<br />
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Where to stay in Tamale. Bradt Guide listings are OK, but the Hamdallah Hotel, Kukou area, is a gem. It’s a few kms out of town (not its sister branch on the main road which is more expensive). The Kukou branch is a 5 minute dropping (2 Cedis)—drivers will know it. You can get a huge double bed room that looks like a modern Sydney apartment, sparkling clean tiles, DSTV, air-con, and a shower with a bath tub for 18-20 C per night. Omelette/toast/tea breakfast is included. It’s mostly patronized by in-the-know Ghanaians. Ask the security people to find a taxi heading back to town from there. We easily picked one up on the road around the hotel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gu3_lUHG7mGuccHku6GSxRyn-oMG_cPBe11CicdHnqAobFVPAazCUzG812vuyTa0peSbYnM8mXjAcWhFenXnUrQ_ENWO6RnoBvxYVn5uooAp1KPKxr1UIy4nv_znXJJpSyaE-G36ATPL/s1600/bolga+baskets.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406594601416073170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gu3_lUHG7mGuccHku6GSxRyn-oMG_cPBe11CicdHnqAobFVPAazCUzG812vuyTa0peSbYnM8mXjAcWhFenXnUrQ_ENWO6RnoBvxYVn5uooAp1KPKxr1UIy4nv_znXJJpSyaE-G36ATPL/s400/bolga+baskets.JPG" style="display: block; height: 291px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<i>Photo of "Bolga baskets" courtesy of </i><a href="http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/pages/4221071"><i>Oxfam Australia's Summer 2009 Catalogue</i></a><br />
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<b>• Upper East:<br />
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When I first came to Bolga last year, after having been to Tamale/Mole twice and never making the journey further north, I thought: I missed out! It is like being in another country (and 30 minutes to Burkina, it almost is). It’s very laid-back, like a large Australian country town, frontier-ish, and has a happy vibe. I’ve been getting emails from readers about it too. Marie, who was once in Peace Corps Togo and recently journeyed around Ghana, wrote: “Even though my stop in Bolga was ever so brief, I liked the ambience of the place. Hope I get a chance to return some day and spend more time there.”<br />
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It’s subjective, of course, but I feel Bolga has more to offer than Tamale, the hassle factor is virtually nil since few tourists pass through—although I see some virtually every time I go to town now, people are friendly, and it’s easy to get around. Pottery, cloth weaving and basket-making traditions flourish in this area. You can find balls of shea butter in the market for 10-30 pesewas—the same market that sells the cloth below (just ask someone and they’ll direct you). Navrongo’s mud cathedral and Sirigu pottery and arts are easier to get to than Kakum is to Cape. You could easily spend 3-5 days here, but you can see some highlights in 1-2 days. Of many volunteers and travelers I spoke to, quite a few said they would have given up Mole for Bolga (especially if they’d been on safari elsewhere), so there you are.<br />
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Arriving at midnight-2 a.m. Trusted taxis that work with the STC are waiting for the service to arrive late at night. Also, those who arrive on the STC are almost always locals and, if you ask nicely, they’ll help you out. At night, whatever you do, DO NOT try to get a taxi outside the STC on the highway (everyone will warn you against this) because they are waiting for naïve travelers to do just this and then rob them. The ones inside the STC are there for a good reason—they’re known and trusted. You’ll pay about 2.5-3 Cedis for a dropping into town (about 5 minutes). Once you know it, it’s very easy to walk back to the STC. If you arrive during the day, it’s quite safe to get a taxi from the road, just not at night.<br />
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Best places to stay. In town proper, and walking distance to the market, tros and main road, is St Joseph’s Hotel, 072-23214, next to the stadium. It’s 17/22 Cedis a night for double room (fan/air-con) and it’s a clean, airy place. Otherwise, the inexpensive Catholic Social Centre which sits behind the SSNIT building (in which there is a decent internet café) is 10 GC a double. While in a nice space, Sand Gardens is over-rated at 30 GC for a plain double—their food is also over-rated. For a similar price, SWAD food (near SSNIT) is best: curries (6 GC), pizzas (10 GC) and really good red-red and banku (4-5 GC). See Best secret food spots in Ghana post for more details.<br />
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There are 3 internet cafes along Commercial Street, the main road of Bolga, which runs south from SSNIT or north from the Zuarangu Road (one road in and parallel to the Bolga-Navrongo road).<br />
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NOTE: Bolga Crafts Village only sells crafts. There is no demonstration of craftsmen or women at work here, a missed opportunity, really. For craftspeople in action head to…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3hLzRT-6I60x0C2FDhdXrcxiPJW8QQcunemunNX7PLzkSdyegfrRatsYtifkRJ9FlZpXX5sTdOmm2LNYMHrIoPEjARkAiGY-x4c4iv7aVdS_e9bKaVO034le9swFMuifrLycArgtdY1h/s1600/bolgatanga-smocks-ghana-picture-352.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406590487217670130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3hLzRT-6I60x0C2FDhdXrcxiPJW8QQcunemunNX7PLzkSdyegfrRatsYtifkRJ9FlZpXX5sTdOmm2LNYMHrIoPEjARkAiGY-x4c4iv7aVdS_e9bKaVO034le9swFMuifrLycArgtdY1h/s400/bolgatanga-smocks-ghana-picture-352.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>Photo courtesy of Marie McC at <a href="http://ghanatravels.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/sirigu-womens-organization-of-pottery-and-art/">Travels in Ghana</a> which is an excellent source of photos and recent information about Sirigu, Tamale, and Bolga--and an excellent photo of Elmina Castle across the page header.</i><br />
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• Bolga market for smocks hand-woven cloth. <a href="http://ghanatravels.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/bolga-smock-tailors/">Read Marie's excellent post on that here. </a><br />
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The weaving part of the Bolga market is in action every day, although sparse on Fridays and Sundays—religious days. Get into that part of the market simply from the Zuarangu Road. If you’re in Commercial Road (the main road) you turn left at its southern end at the T-junction into Zuarangu Road. Or, you might know it as being main road heading to Bawku. Either way, as soon as you turn left out of it, you pass the police station on your right and Goil/Shell further ahead on your left. About then, ask for the market and weaving. It’s just ahead on the left behind a two-storey salmon-coloured building. You can wander around between dozens of stalls where men are weaving and selling cloth. You can buy a waist-length men’s woven top for 30-40 GCs in a complex mix of colours. It takes one person two weeks to weave the cloth for this and a taylor then to sew it. For one or two colours, the price will be a little cheaper.<br />
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I took this place for granted (because I have to pass through it every time I go to buy food) but when Marie sent an email I realised it should be shared too. She said,“You may not know that this is the type of thing that tourists might like to know about. As a tourist, I loved my visit there, and as a photographer it was a fantastic photo opportunity.” CHECK OUT HER NORTHERN PHOTOS HERE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiuK4iBVxLctPFUZJZTrKJaV1cBZNB5__xfHiilunORNeOnwq4oY8ieCev9Rf-9Jt7eHuincmi-VRYRt5Bn6lMIgCrLv4Lbs-xvHf5c2Mxz0gCniaPZUeyD66msodfU0ginkY2NG_ajC_/s1600/DSC06787.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406579130078872562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiuK4iBVxLctPFUZJZTrKJaV1cBZNB5__xfHiilunORNeOnwq4oY8ieCev9Rf-9Jt7eHuincmi-VRYRt5Bn6lMIgCrLv4Lbs-xvHf5c2Mxz0gCniaPZUeyD66msodfU0ginkY2NG_ajC_/s400/DSC06787.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><i><br />
Shea Butter producers on the side of one of Bolga's main roads </i></div>
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If you want to buy shea butter (<i>kamengbbo</i> in Frafra), ask anyone around here and they’ll take you to a seller. A fist-sized ball is anything between 10-40 pesewas.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgGQ3WvaNI/AAAAAAAAAlc/sUnETIKsCuI/s1600/DSC06840.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406578239465285842" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgGQ3WvaNI/AAAAAAAAAlc/sUnETIKsCuI/s400/DSC06840.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><i><br />
Weaving baskets in a village just outside Bolgatanga </i></div>
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<b>• Market day</b> <b>and Bolga baskets.</b><br />
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Every third day is market day. If you’re planning a trip to coincide with it, call any hotel in Bolga and ask them when the next day is (or when the last one was); they’ll be able to tell you.<br />
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Learning to weave baskets is like Sydney-siders learning to swim; it’s more or less a given. And basket making is virtually unique to Bolga. You can find women, boys and girls weaving in many of the villages around the outskirts of town. I visited several and learnt that it takes one woman three days to make the large, traditional basket. Most middle-men pay the producer 5 Cedis a basket at a central warehouse point where you’ll see hundreds of sellers congregating on market day to sell their baskets. Note: The minimum wage is 2.65 C/day so, by rights, the middle-men should be paying at least 7.95 GC a large basket and perhaps about 5 for a small one. But, this is the poorest region in Ghana, people are desperate for income, supply is high, demand is relatively low, and it’s the informal sector so producers just manage to survive.<br />
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In case you should wish to buy directly from the producer on market day, the warehouse is located on the main road: Commercial Road (one road in from the highway—Navrongo Road) at the southern, STC end. When you turn into Comm. Road from this end, there is a grey-painted, enclosed canteen soon on the right called International Traveler’s Inn which serves great omelette and tea for 1.5 Cedis. Behind here (and you can’t miss it) is a block of warehouse buildings where producers sell to middle-men. If you come on a non-market day, you can haggle with the middle-men in the warehouse, probably from 15 down to 10-12 for a large basket. You’ll pay US$32-35 (GHC45-50) LINK for the same basket online. Somewhere, someone’s making money, but it isn’t the producer so if you get a chance to buy directly from them (and a fair price is around 8 GC for a large basket), it will make a difference to them.<br />
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You’ll know it’s market day by seeing people toting baskets (and chickens and goats and guinea fowl) along main streets everywhere from early morning.<br />
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<b>• Navrongo’s mud cathedral</b><br />
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If you do stop in Navrongo, it’s worth checking out this striking, enormous mud cathedral on the southern end of town dating from 1920. Inside its walls are painted in old fresco style but it’s rarely open now. Seeing it from the outside alone was an experience but if you’re there on a Sunday you may get a peek inside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbJEr_1InlDIkxMJfuVFW6OKijriJFyHGC-nNj2sHrWWXVwChToS7WN8AZNPv6j35_3wjKqPildvaKALS0IXVooYiTrHRT3vT5AknAKdPShW1_XMX2rqcLv7dkkMjvrmlAMCWuarT8ES3/s1600/Crocos.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406587927208187618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbJEr_1InlDIkxMJfuVFW6OKijriJFyHGC-nNj2sHrWWXVwChToS7WN8AZNPv6j35_3wjKqPildvaKALS0IXVooYiTrHRT3vT5AknAKdPShW1_XMX2rqcLv7dkkMjvrmlAMCWuarT8ES3/s400/Crocos.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<i>Photo courtesy of flickr attribution licence by </i><a class="currentContextLink" data-ywa-name="Context Title" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamcnelson/" id="contextLink_stream64903924@N00">super.heavy </a></div>
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<b>• Paga crocodile pond</b><br />
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About an hour and a half from Bolga or 20 minutes from Navrongo. Paga is where most cross the border to Burkina. ***By the way, you cannot get a visa at the border; you must have obtained it already at an embassy (in Accra or another country). It’s about 10 kms past Navrongo. You could go Bolga-Nav-Paga-Sirigu-Bolga in a day. Or any or all of those, depending on your interest.<br />
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I’ve seen a lot of crocs at home (Oz) so I’ve given this a miss, but you can sit on the croc and have your photo taken at the ecotourism project here. I’ve heard varied reports about the service. In Paga itself apparently you get similar hassle as Larabanga in terms of being pushed around for exhorbitant fees. To avoid this, get dropped before getting in to Paga central taxi station. Instead, drop at the visitor’s centre on the main road before town. One pond is right there at the visitor’s centre. A new building is now being constructed to improve the centre.<br />
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<b>• Pikworo slave camp<br />
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During the slave trade West Africans from all over were brought here before the long march south to the coast and the castles. Like visiting the castles, according to all accounts it’s an emotional experience for those with ancestral connections. From Paga, get a dropping taxi directly to the visitor’s centre. Pay about 2-4 Cedis. Check in at the centre. Then you get taken on a tour which costs about 3 Cedis. Tip those who demonstrate the drumming where the slaves drummed on the rocks as they don’t get paid otherwise. Godwin visited here and said it’s fascinating and worth the tour. I hope to go soon.<br />
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<b>• Sirigu arts and pottery</b><br />
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I’ve been planning this trip all year but Marie’s photo’s inspired me so maybe I’ll visit Pikworo and Sirigu together. Godwin has been here and has also been pushing me to go. Characterised by striking, geometrical designs in earthy-colours (reminiscent of Aboriginal Australian art), the Sirigu artists and potters are unique in Ghana. Whole houses are painted in this fashion and you can buy artwork and pottery too. It’s an hour from Bolga by tro from town—western side of the market area or just down the road from St Joseph’s hotel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdrhDsUfRW-plqbvKiRbK7sRBBXg5MNkAC9qUoLGwfBUCodeR-iSm-wZWhjNytyaCRrN-3pqLgCS-R9u4k3tTVyQ2l4ocZoUEI4NoMS__Bs1ghMjHKUwq3hH5qDykhR1Z83IYmganb502/s1600/swopa-sirigu-ghana-picture-265.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406588856352798642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdrhDsUfRW-plqbvKiRbK7sRBBXg5MNkAC9qUoLGwfBUCodeR-iSm-wZWhjNytyaCRrN-3pqLgCS-R9u4k3tTVyQ2l4ocZoUEI4NoMS__Bs1ghMjHKUwq3hH5qDykhR1Z83IYmganb502/s400/swopa-sirigu-ghana-picture-265.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>SWOPA guest lodging. Photo courtesy of Marie McC at </i><a href="http://ghanatravels.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/sirigu-womens-organization-of-pottery-and-art/"><i>Travels in Ghana</i></a><i> which is an excellent source of photos and recent information about Sirigu, Tamale, and Bolga.</i><br />
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As a one or two day trip, you might want to go Bolga-Sirigu-Navrongo-Paga-Bolga and easily return the same day to Bolga. Or, Bolga to Paga-Navrongo-Sirigu. You can overnight at the SWOPA guesthouse in Sirigu and return to Bolga in the morning—half an hour away (and head on to Tamale to go to Mole!). SWOPA stands for Sirigu Woman’s Organisation for Pottery and Arts. Kofi Annan even paid a visit some years ago. Drop at SWPOA guesthouse. You can stay in a hut at SWOPA and do a guided tour for a small fee (3 GC).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgQkvW3CBI/AAAAAAAAAmU/L_-puPVlICE/s1600/swopa-sirigu-ghana-picture-org.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406589576031963154" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgQkvW3CBI/AAAAAAAAAmU/L_-puPVlICE/s400/swopa-sirigu-ghana-picture-org.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>Sirigu Women's Association of Pottery and Art. Photo courtesy of Marie McC at </i><a href="http://ghanatravels.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/sirigu-womens-organization-of-pottery-and-art/"><i>Travels in Ghana</i></a><i>.</i><br />
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<b>• Upper West:</b> Wechiau Hippo sanctuary on border with Ivory Coast.<br />
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I haven’t been here yet, but Godwin has. Having said that, it was during the wet season and he didn’t see any hippos which is also what the Bradt guide warns. A friend who went during the dry season did see them.<br />
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Getting to Wa from Bolga is very difficult now. The road is reputedly terrible and it takes about 8 hours by metro mass transit, leaving in the morning. During the rainy season it’s impossible to get to Wa from Bolga as the bridge is down. Wa is cut off during this time. You can get there from Kumasi/Sunyani/Techiman on a tro. Apparently it’s easier to get a tro there from Techiman than it is from Tamale. Now this is a big but. But, highway robbery on those roads is increasing so please don’t take anything valuable if you do.<br />
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From Wa to Wechiau: you get a tro on market days, but non-market days you have to stay in town. It’s about an hour so you could negotiate a dropping taxi probably for 40-60 Cedis. Then at the visitor’s centre in Wechiau you pay a fee of about 15 per night inclusive of guide and accommodation which is another 25 kms from there. So, you hire a car to go to the sanctuary (about 45 minutes): at least 20 Cedis for a dropping. Same price coming back. When Godwin talks of this he says, ‘We suffered!’ The guide apparently ate their food after cooking it and not telling them it was done. Their roof leaked and they got soaked. They had no water to drink (were forced to drink beer and he doesn’t drink alcohol) and didn’t see any hippos. They ran out of money and had to hitch back to Wa on a truck—and pay for it! Then get money from an ATM in Wa and tro back to Cape!<br />
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The lodge in the sanctuary is a locally built mud hut with student mattresses. You can sleep on top of the mud houses at night if it’s too hot. They have a platform/watchtower where you can sit at night to watch the animals come out to graze. Food-wise, you have to buy and bring your own food and water for the duration. The guide you are allocated at the tourist centre will cook your meals on a coal pot for you (and maybe eat them) and he’ll come with you in the taxi to the lodge and stay the entire time. You’re unlikely to see hippos during the rainy season (May-Sep). From now (Nov) onwards until about May is the best time to visit. If you approach it as an adventure and don’t set a time limit, it could be worth the effort.<br />
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When to visit the three northern regions: It’s alright to visit any time of year but be warned: it’s insanely hot between February and May. To give you an idea: Kingsbite chocolate becomes soft and runny. The Harmattan has hit now and while fairly light, it will become thick in late December and throughout January, reducing visibility and making breathing difficult—not good for photographers or asthmatics. The photography thing applies to all of Ghana between December and February.<br />
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My favourite time of travel throughout the northern regions is June—mid-December. June—September is the rainy season. The temperature is cooler and the air is still relatively dry. One potential downside of the rainy season, however, is that vegetation will be high, possibly making it difficult to see the elephants at Mole.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgFZMspCGI/AAAAAAAAAlU/ENrSyEo4wS0/s1600/Elephants+waterhole.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406577283121612898" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SwgFZMspCGI/AAAAAAAAAlU/ENrSyEo4wS0/s400/Elephants+waterhole.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<i>Elephants swimming in the lake at Mole</i></div>
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Still, I went during this time on my first trip (August) and we not only found the elephants, but we sat on the edge of the rainy season lake and watched them playing in the water, about thirty metres away, for a good 2 hours. I also went in early January once and, while the lake had shrunk, we did get up close to the elephants. We saw other animals like antelope more clearly and, later, you could spot the elephants on the plains below, far into the distance. October—December see plants drying out and wide-spread burning begins; you can smell smoke hanging in the air. The temperature fluctuates between hot and mild days, but it will become cold at night from mid November (I need two sheets to keep warm now—yay!) to January.<br />
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***There is an immigration check point between Bolga and Tamale, just before you enter Tamale (for those coming from Burkina). If you happen to go/come from Bawku, there is also an immigration check point on the western side of Bawku (coming from Togo). You’ll be asked for your passport here like you would in that funny spot in the Volta (see Part 2). Again, there is no legal requirement to show it (just say you left it in Accra/wherever) but there’s no need to create a fuss about it. They’re just doing their job and Ghana immigration (aside from holding my passport for 8 months once) have never been unfairly difficult.<br />
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So this ends the highlights. Woohoo. Part 5 will cover sample itineraries.</div>
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<i>Painted traditional house in the Upper East Region</i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-66430436292371008342017-11-18T13:27:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:02:35.289+00:00Ghana Tour including Wa, Upper West Region<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Continuing on the Ghana tour theme, this next tour of Ghana is what could be called “All Over Ghana to the Upper West: Wa and Hippos”. 14 Days minimum. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>A Rough Outline of a Ghana Tour that Includes the Far North-Western Upper West Region</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra— Cape Coast (Central Region)—one of the beaches past Takoradi—Kumasi (Ashanti Region)—Techiman—Wa—Mole National Park—Tamale—Lake Volta Ferry to Akosombo—Akosombo back to Accra.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is basically a circuit that can be traveled in either direction. But, travelers may want to start out easy by heading first to Cape Coast rather than the other way around, and that’s how we’ve outlined it here: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. Depart Accra and head to Cape Coast, about 3 hours by public transport, depending on traffic. Enjoy Cape Coast for a couple of days. See Cape Coast Castle, take a tour of town, visit other historical monuments, travel to Elmina. Elmina is about 20 minutes from Cape Coast (15 kilometres), west. Visitors are divided about the Castle visits. My preference is Elmina, but Cape Coast Castle has an excellent exhibit. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Travel from Cape Coast to any of the beaches along the coast like Green Turtle or Axim for a day or two. This takes about 3-4 hours on public transport, depending on the traffic, in each direction. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. Return to Cape and travel north to Kumasi—which is crazy so be prepared. However, there is a lot to see, particularly from an Ashanti history point of view. Visit the Cultural Centre and the museum. Perhaps visit the Kejetia Market in the centre of town for a truly shocking market experience.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. From Kumasi travel to Techiman, 3 hours north, and stay at Operation Hand in Hand in Nkoranza for a day. It’s one of the most inspiring places in Ghana—an orphanage on sprawling, Eden-like grounds for mentally handicapped children who produce some of the most beautiful beaded products I’ve seen in Ghana. You can interact or just hang out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5. From Techiman you can travel directly to Wa, which is the capital of the Upper West Region and the jumping off point to visit the Hippo Sanctuary. However, right now, during the rainy season, is not the best time to visit as hippos are hidden by vegetation and extremely hard to see. If you want to see them specifically, wait until October or later when everything dries out and they are more visible. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6. From Wa travel via bus to Mole National Park where you can spend a couple of days looking at elepehants, wart hogs, monkeys, baboons, and other animals and birds. I have read of a few people unable to see elephants at this time, but most report seeing them—as I also did during an August, rainy season visit—it was awesome. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7. Head to Tamale from Mole and then catch a tro to Makongo from where you can catch the Lake Volta Ferry all the way down the lake to Akosombo in the Eastern Region. This can take a day or two, depending on various issues like lake water levels and how many stops the captain makes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8. Stay at Akosombo on the River Volta—Aylo’s Bay is my fave—and then head back to Accra, an hour away by trotro. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This tour of Ghana was based on one of the maps in our Ghana guide which shows this route around Ghana. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let us know if you have any experience traveling these routes and what you’d suggest others to look out for. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-78657468536953195812017-11-09T11:59:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:20:27.580+00:0021 Day Tour of Ghana Route Plan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwLG1i0gbXWwk1bBkaeSxDZg4QNgvvVTqeGhpjhxHfgAkTJtTEve553LUbpdFN1tbwGsUPEWYs67-gMB7bfG_s6knfARMkFmDbGQDFNBdFF1Xg_w3hb9uCxuD1bbVfhF3k5VMXOIbKure/s1600/Fishing+boats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is a suggested route for an all-over tour around </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> that would take about 21 days at an average pace. This allows you to cover some of the major highlights of </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">—(Eastern Region) Akosombo—(Volta) Fume, Wli, Kpando—Ferry across </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volta</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to Afram Plains, Donkorkrom—Nkawkaw, </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Ashanti Region)—Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo)—Tamale (Northern)—Mole—Bolgatanga (Upper East Region)—</span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Central Region)—Green Turtle or </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Axim</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beach</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Western Region)—</span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nzulezo</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stilt</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Village</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Western Region)—back to </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H_FK6-RWN3xbVgg4f8AVcVPXr_zWGg10C7P9Ju15FWp1BOY-1mFjAgZsivCOfBqNO0q1AqT8Z3G-3h6WjoqgbBMeNpoC4FsHA2-7qIWmAO-aiPDv9RjbnhIcSWIwqwU6HXcaNtWs77F6/s1600/Axim+village.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H_FK6-RWN3xbVgg4f8AVcVPXr_zWGg10C7P9Ju15FWp1BOY-1mFjAgZsivCOfBqNO0q1AqT8Z3G-3h6WjoqgbBMeNpoC4FsHA2-7qIWmAO-aiPDv9RjbnhIcSWIwqwU6HXcaNtWs77F6/s1600/Axim+village.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elmina, Central Region</td></tr>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, head north to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Akosombo</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bridge</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Visit the bead makers at Agomanya market and hang out by the </span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volta</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> river in Akosombo. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Head on to Fume, half way along the highway from Akosombo heading towards Hohoe. Stay at Mountain Paradise Lodge for a few nights and enjoy complete peace and quiet. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Head on to Wli via Hohoe from Fume. Wli is where </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">’s largest waterfalls are located and one of most visitor’s favourite stops. You can climb to the upper falls which is on the border with </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Togo</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. In fact, there is a border crossing at the end of the main road in Wli where you could cross to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Togo</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> if that’s your plan. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take the adventurous route and cross </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volta</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> from the eastern shore at Kpando, about twenty minutes from Hohoe, after you leave Wli.</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cross </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volta</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> on a ferry to Agordeke and Donkorkrom in the centre of the Afram Plains. Stay over night. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next day head towards </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> by crossing the south-west arm of </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volta</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> at Ekye in a motorized canoe, and land at Adowso on the other side. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From Adowso, catch a trotro that will be waiting over the hills to Nkawkaw, a major stop between </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, then travel on to </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">—about 2 hours from there. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hang out in </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for a few days. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Head on up to Techiman, about 3 hours away, and stay at Operation Hand in Hand in Nkoranza, a Dutch-run orphanage and gorgeous grounds in which to spend a day or two. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or, go straight to Tamale, the capital of the northern region. To get to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mole</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">National Park</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> without your own vehicle it’s almost compulsory to go to Tamale first. From there you catch a Metro Mass Bus departing at 2 pm (though virtually never on time) to Mole and arrive late that night—it takes about 4 hours. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hang out at Mole for a couple of days and watch the elephants splashing around and baby warthogs snorting away. (By the way, did anyone notice that Hogwarts (Wizards) is Warthogs switched?)</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Return to Tamale the same way as arriving, but on a 4 am Metro Mass (you get the feeling the hotel doesn’t want you to warm your bed for too long). </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From Tamale, take a trip to Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region, and visit the basket makers, smock makers, Sirigu Arts and Pottery, about 30 minutes out of town. You could also head up to Navrongo and Paga—crocodiles—easily for a day from Bolga.</span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you really want to be adventurous, you could head to Wa from Bolga, but via Tamale, unfortunately, especially now as the rainy season has begun and the roads are worse than ever. However, hippos are notoriously hard to spot in the rainy season so it’s probably best heading to Wa when the rains finish, sometime from October onwards. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Scoot back down to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> from Bolga directly on the STC—takes about 18 hours (25 Cedis)—or from Tamale on the STC (22.50 Cedis). Hang out in </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> or Elmina for a few days. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Head west from Cape Coast, stopping at any of the sites or beaches along the way like Green Turtle Resort, Axim Beach Hotel, and on to Nzulezo where the village on stilts is located in the Amansuri Wetlands, in Ghana’s far west bordering The Ivory Coast. </span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKauRHtCTyHzWR0B0ktZpKKnzh5SlddoaKJYFxd-l0_coSfIvfSDQTflhYSfmd875xjCYFxZQ7SvSj2i_EznGownAo6dGv3EkcdzoQOBZ0AZi1pve5nWWk-Hj5Jx6XZop5qJAFQShDyQ9R/s1600/Copy+of+StiltVillage-Nzulezo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKauRHtCTyHzWR0B0ktZpKKnzh5SlddoaKJYFxd-l0_coSfIvfSDQTflhYSfmd875xjCYFxZQ7SvSj2i_EznGownAo6dGv3EkcdzoQOBZ0AZi1pve5nWWk-Hj5Jx6XZop5qJAFQShDyQ9R/s1600/Copy+of+StiltVillage-Nzulezo.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nzulezo Stilt Village, Western Region</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let us know if you have any experience traveling these routes and what you’d suggest others to look out for. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-91497536413272629692017-11-01T20:03:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:20:51.190+00:00Online Resources for Visiting Ghana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple of excellent online forums to find out about travel in Ghana, or life in Ghana, are:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.internations.org/">Internations.org<br />
</a><br />
Internations works on trust and they verify your credentials before being allowed to access the site fully. You can meet plenty of expats and get up-to-date details about living in Ghana, particularly Accra. They have an active expat community that attends regular meet-ups too. A good way to meet people when you first arrive in Ghana.<br />
<blockquote>
"InterNations is a community of trust and confidence, present in 230 cities worldwide. Data security and privacy are of major importance. Therefore membership is invitation-only:<br />
You need to be invited to become a member"</blockquote>
and <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa">Lonely Planet's "Thorntree" forum</a>.<br />
This is geared towards short-term travelers and is essentially a place to find the most difficult to get information that may not be available anywhere else online. Many current and former travelers lurk around the forums and are ready to offer advice and answer questions from fellow travelers. When visiting Italy I developed my entire itinerary around the feedback on the forums. It was brilliant. I've read loads relating to Ghana there and the advice is helpful and mostly accurate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwx1wv3eXHTbQfAIHk-CdQ2db9yTWtag0iGQcj2C0ZYQ9LIvf_rKv3mZl1pKQnJS-sQblTKh-x7QqYYug7H-PIBkUKcFQHpCRo_-0yBSOes7fBM6O_gcp6N6V2BEci8juM62ySC5w8H-P/s1600/Axim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwx1wv3eXHTbQfAIHk-CdQ2db9yTWtag0iGQcj2C0ZYQ9LIvf_rKv3mZl1pKQnJS-sQblTKh-x7QqYYug7H-PIBkUKcFQHpCRo_-0yBSOes7fBM6O_gcp6N6V2BEci8juM62ySC5w8H-P/s400/Axim.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This image was taken at Axim Beach Hotel, Axim, one of the best beaches and hotels in Ghana--with prices for all budgets. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-49799892945920225812017-11-01T17:23:00.000+00:002017-11-28T23:43:14.063+00:00Ghana Currency Explained<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQmUWsUFyFOgFIpjJ2153GjLzjogMqferLkP7HBp9rpQ1IeBovvZZo5t3SDbFYCaoeWVN84UKBm59sg4laVYObA1_PL1eUqYMY1HQPfpczmJoqaEOEYbcEbKwO6fikJ1HULxXW8qz1ZX/s1600/1_Ghana_Cedi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQmUWsUFyFOgFIpjJ2153GjLzjogMqferLkP7HBp9rpQ1IeBovvZZo5t3SDbFYCaoeWVN84UKBm59sg4laVYObA1_PL1eUqYMY1HQPfpczmJoqaEOEYbcEbKwO6fikJ1HULxXW8qz1ZX/s320/1_Ghana_Cedi.png" /></a></div>
If you're traveling in Ghana, this will help prevent serious nervous breakdown as you straddle the old and new Ghana Cedi divide still alive at street-side vendors and markets across Ghana.<br />
<br />
One new Ghana Cedi is equivalent to ten thousand old Ghana Cedis. So, 1=10,000. And just as 100 cents makes one dollar, 100 pesewas makes one new Ghana Cedi.<br />
<br />
However, prior to July 2007, pesewas were not in circulation. Any value less than 10,000 Cedis (1 new Ghana Cedi) was expressed in “thousands” of Cedis.<br />
<br />
Today’s 10 pesewas was 1000 Ghana Cedis and 'thousand' is still quoted on the streets for items of this value, such as sachets of purified water sold in plastic bags. It is quite common to hear items still quoted as 'five thousand' instead of today’s 50 pesewas, or 'ten thousand' instead of today’s 1 new Ghana Cedi" <br />
<br />
Image from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1_Ghana_Cedi.png">Wikipedia</a>. </div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-48127705471136478472017-06-13T22:05:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:04:12.543+00:00Coastal Highlights Tour of Ghana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coastal Highlights Tour of Ghana </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Minimum 9 days</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Continuing on the Ghana tour theme (we did the All Over Ghana 21 day tour and 7 Day Essential Ghana tours already), this next tour of Ghana is what could be called “Coastal Highlights” of Ghana. If you want to feel the crunch of sand between your toes for 9 days, then this is the tour for you. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the tour that takes you west from Accra to Cape Coast, then past the best beaches in the Central and Western Regions, and then back to Accra again. You can mix and match this tour with any of the other Ghana tours mentioned. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you just want to chill on beaches, then this is it. </span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra— Cape Coast (Central Region)—Elmina—Kosa/Brenu—Green Turtle/Busua/Butre—Axim—Nzulezo/Beyin—Accra </span></b><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. Drive west from Accra to Cape Coast which takes about 3 hours, depending on traffic. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Hang out in Cape Coast for a day and visit the Cape Coast Castle. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. Head on to Elmina where you can visit Elmina Castle or tour around town, and then onto either Brenu Beach or Ko-sa Beach Resort, situated off the same junction, 20 minutes past Elmina.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. From there, head on past Takoradi to Agona Junction, and then decide whether you want Green Turtle Beach Resort (eco), Busua Beach (variety of lodges including Alaska for backpackers and African Rainbow—classy) or Butre Beach (Ellis Hideout).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5. From here, head on to Axim Beach Hotel, in Axim. There you can laze on one of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches and enjoy the truly stunning atmosphere and perhaps walk into town and visit Fort San Antonio. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6. Head to Nzulezo Stilt Village, the village in the Amansuri wetlands, accessible only by canoe, about an hour from Axim. You can even stay at Beyin Beach Resort, a grass-roots eco-lodge right by Nzulezo stilt village. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7. If that’s too exhausting, just stay put at your favourite beach for a week!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This tour of Ghana was based on one of the maps in our Ghana guide which shows this route around Ghana.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let us know if you have any experience traveling these routes and what you’d suggest others to look out for. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-50939717791117809772017-06-11T12:55:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:05:19.027+00:00Essential Ghana Tour: 7 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you only have seven days in </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, this will cover the essentials. </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Where does this </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> adventure take you?</span></b></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">— </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Central Region)—</span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (</span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ashanti</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Region)—</span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bosumtwi</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (</span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ashanti</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Region)—</span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:place></st1:city></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is basically a circuit that can be traveled in either direction. The trip to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bosumtwi</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is optional, time allowing. </span></div>
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<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Depart </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and head to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, about 3 hours by public transport, depending on traffic. Enjoy </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for a couple of days. </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">See</span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, take a tour of town, visit other historical monuments, travel to Elmina. Elmina is about 20 minutes from </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (15 kilometres), west. Visitors are divided about the Castle visits. My preference is Elmina, but </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> has an excellent exhibit. </span></li>
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<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Travel from </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cape</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coast</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. This takes about 3-4 hours on public transport, depending on the traffic. </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is crazy so be prepared. Crazy, chaotic, hectic, dirty. However, there is a lot to see, particularly from an </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ashanti</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> history point of view. Visit the Cultural Centre and the museum there, hang out in the sprawling grounds. Perhaps visit the Kejetia Market in the centre of town for a truly shocking market experience. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Travel to </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bosumtwi</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for a day or overnight. It is the other extreme of </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">: tranquil, clean and relaxing. Walk around </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bosumtwi</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> or paddle on the lake. It’s definitely worth the one hour trip to the lake if time permits. </span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Travel from </span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kumasi</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Accra</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. It takes about 4-6 hours depending on the traffic. </span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This tour of </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> was based on one of the maps in our </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> guide which shows this route around </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ghana</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let us know if you have any experience traveling these routes and what you’d suggest others to look out for. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-49486775032388086202017-05-03T10:59:00.000+00:002017-11-28T23:42:59.007+00:00Fufu for Beginners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fufu transcends regional boundaries in Ghana. Fufu consists of a sticky ball of pounded vegetables in a bowl of one of three main soups.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the south of Ghana, the fufu tends to be made from boiled and pounded cassava and plantain, whereas in Tamale and further north, fufu is made from pounded yam*. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After boiling, the vegetables are pounded in a large wooden mortar with a four foot long wooden pole as a pestle. One or two people hold the pole and pound, while one person sits by the bowl and turns the sticky ball. It's a somewhat dangerous and highly skilled ritual that takes place every day across Ghana.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check out this YouTube video to learn about pounding fufu in Ghana. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would you be brave enough to flip the fufu in the bowl with your hand?</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wwPSVdWgztg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwPSVdWgztg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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* Unlike the small, orange or purplish vegetable known by most North Americans as yam, Ghanaian yams are white on the inside and brown and woody on the outside. They are approximately 16 to 20 inches long and weigh more than three pounds, on average."</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-84167867061117442092017-04-17T19:05:00.000+00:002017-11-29T00:07:25.891+00:00Location Independent: Live and Work Anywhere You Choose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDyjLxvnb6wDWE7mw4wXGHuW6b89IoRQJdRYSuu3aEhprXl-6QZCUYpXMxFD-16t1Pdu763Yzsf7Cd9VyVJ1zsnXdmAnT0gW7AdtZ_WH9-LIYgeSuj2Txjfz_5mRlavFQg4XOUrVbouQc/s1600/3afedb7967b94a01e4db689cc7c0454b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDyjLxvnb6wDWE7mw4wXGHuW6b89IoRQJdRYSuu3aEhprXl-6QZCUYpXMxFD-16t1Pdu763Yzsf7Cd9VyVJ1zsnXdmAnT0gW7AdtZ_WH9-LIYgeSuj2Txjfz_5mRlavFQg4XOUrVbouQc/s320/3afedb7967b94a01e4db689cc7c0454b.jpg" /></a></div>
I wrote a story for a blog which doesn't exist anymore, 7 years ago, on living in Ghana.<br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is an excerpt: </span><br />
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<i><b>Looking at your blog, it sounds like location independence in Ghana can be somewhat challenging! How do you overcome some of these challenges? What kind of impact does it have on your life and your business? </b></i></blockquote>
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<i>It depends where you live in Ghana. If you’re in Accra or Kumasi, the largest cities, you have access to more reliable internet and amenities, although they do experience water and power shortages at times.</i></div>
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<i>But I live in the far north where sometimes you feel like the service providers have forgotten you exist. We had terrible internet between January and March this year, such that I had to travel to other cities to do serious online work. Basically, everything slows down.</i></div>
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<i>What I could normally achieve in 5 days might take 10 due to external variables like not having power or internet connectivity when you need them. I’m quite efficient and productive with consistent power and internet, so I find it quite frustrating that my output is sometimes half what it could be.</i></div>
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<i>Sometimes I’m tempted to move to Accra, but we’ve committed to a project here; it’s the poorest area of the country and needs the most help and we’re in a perfect position to do that.</i><br />
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<i>Read more about our project at http://glishfoundation.org </i></div>
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Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14785777@N07/1919532650/" target="_blank">zug55</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is of Cape Coast Castle, looking east! I used to work a few minutes walk from there...aaah!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-10033100368575881992017-01-04T14:06:00.000+00:002017-11-28T23:45:13.910+00:00Testimonials: Insider's Guide to Ghana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Here are some testimonials from readers of our Ghana travel guide: Insider's Guide to Ghana, in case you're wondering if it's any good or not. </b><br />
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Your guide has been a great help finding my way around the country so far. I love the little details that you write about, I recognise so much of it when I'm out and about! I have been recommending it to my friends here, and I have been hearing good things from them also. Really, I consider it a must-have if you really want to get to know Ghana in a fun and easy way!</div>
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<b>Céline, the Netherlands Wed, Jun 2, 2010 </b></div>
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Preparing for my first visit to Ghana, I found the Insider's Guide very useful and I kept it with me during my visit. It helped me to have a wonderful time and since I came back I have recommended it to several friends. i hope to be returning to Ghana in November and will certainly be taking it with me.</div>
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<b>Peter Halliday from the UK. Sat, May 29, 2010 </b></div>
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A fresh and original guidebook that entertains as well as informs. The conversational style makes you feel that you're sitting down with Godwin and Gayle as a welcome guest in their home while they pass on all the travel tips and information you could possibly need. Their passion for Ghana and their enthusiasm for opening its vibrant and colourful culture to other travellers is infectious and they share inside knowledge which only someone who lives in a country can provide. Best of all the personal touch extends to free updates and an invitation to contact them with any questions or suggestions you might have. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot more out of my trip to Ghana as a result of reading it.</div>
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<b>Catherine, Spain. Sat, May 29, 2010</b></div>
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I was thrilled to hear this guide was available and it has lived up to my expectations. It is current and relevant to my needs and interests. It covers everythign your average guide does, as well as including useful information such as the currency conversions and personal tips from the authors, recommending where to eat, visit, etc.Although the authors worked together, their ideas are listed separately and this helps me to see an idea from the Ghanaian point of view as well as from a visitor's.</div>
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It is the best guide book I have ever read and I will refer to it each and everytime I return to Ghana. Thank you Godwin and Gayle! </div>
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<b>Sarah from England Fri, May 28, 2010</b></div>
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Hi Godwin and Gayle,</div>
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We had a very good time with your guide. It helped</div>
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a lot with timely information while I was in Ghana</div>
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with Ghanian friends in Feb. and Mar. 2010. They</div>
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also found it useful.</div>
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Thanks again,</div>
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<b>Don Majors USA Fri, May 28, 201 </b><br />
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-26257024522718833452014-11-15T00:28:00.000+00:002014-11-15T04:31:54.756+00:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have just released the Fair Market report on prices paid in the straw Bolgatanga basket industry in <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ghana">#Ghana</a>. Click the secure link to the <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0356/5021/files/Fair_Market_Report_G-lish_Foundation_07b24e30-a09d-46db-9faa-08c57cae20a0.pdf?1004" target="_blank">Fair Market Report on Bolga Baskets</a> and it will open up in PDF directly.<br />
<br />
We look forward to working together to bring about chang<span class="text_exposed_show">e in this industry so that the thousands of people involved in making baskets will earn at least the minimum wage in #Ghana from weaving #baskets and other products sold through the central market.</span><br />
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Our research found that NONE of the 120 weavers we interviewed ever received anywhere near a price that met the minimum wage in Ghana when they sold a large market basket in the central market to traders.<br />
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<em>The images in this post show scenes from a typical market day in Bolgatanga central market. Here, a woman is attempting to sell 5 baskets. A trader is amassing baskets purchased off the street and around the market. </em><br />
<img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0356/5021/files/First_grande.JPG?1000" /><br />
<h1>
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc403808491"></a>The problem</h1>
Over several years living in Bolgatanga, basket weavers often commented to us, the authors of this report, that a weaver could not profit from making baskets. We wondered why this was so. What was impeding their profit-making ability?<br />
<br />
In our own work in villages we observed that many weavers were illiterate and not in a position to negotiate prices or selling conditions with traders. We wondered what weavers themselves, across the region, would tell us if we gave them a chance to express themselves about these issues.<br />
We wondered what buyers would do if they knew the conditions around the central market in Bolgatanga.<br />
<br />
Would buyers be motivated to find a way to ensure the weaver received a fair price?<br />
We wondered if having a clear picture might bring about change for everyone in the supply chain.<br />
<h1>
Outcome (see p. 89, Conclusion).</h1>
After completing this research it is difficult to conclude that selling straw baskets in the central Bolgatanga straw basket market serves straw basket weavers’ interests in any form whatsoever.<br />
If any interests are served, they are those of the middlemen traders, exporters and others in the supply chain who profit.<br />
<br />
One thing that is clear from this research is that it is <strong>not the straw basket weavers</strong> who profit from their work.<br />
<br />
Far from helping weavers profit, the prices paid for straw baskets sold <strong>in the central Bolgatanga basket</strong> <strong>market</strong> do not cover the cost of a weaver’s time and, thus, do not meet the minimum wage in Ghana.<br />
<br />
The middlemen traders, the exporters, the shipping companies, and international buyers profit on the back of the humble basket weaver’s time and skill.<br />
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However everyone, including the weavers themselves, could benefit if the straw basket weavers were remunerated for <strong>their</strong> <strong>costs <em>and</em> time</strong>.<br />
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Whilst this research benchmarked one basket—the round market basket – those who work with baskets and observe prices paid for other styles of baskets in the <strong>central market</strong> will know that no baskets are fairly remunerated.<br />
<h1>
Thanks and Gratitude</h1>
G-lish Foundation is grateful to the Australian High Commission in Ghana and the Australian Government’s <a href="http://www.ghana.highcommission.gov.au/acra/AusAidinWestAfrica.html%20">Direct Aid Program</a> for the grant that enabled this work to be undertaken between 2012 and 2013 in the Upper East Region of Ghana. We thank everyone at the Australian High Commission for their faith and support which enabled us to carry out unprecedented work which has the potential to transform many lives in Ghana’s second poorest region.<br />
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This work is about a simple basket. The injustice we observed that became this project and now this report is about the people who make it, the end consumer, the people who trade them, and all the people in between.<br />
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Ultimately, it’s about choices: how you choose to spend your money. We hope that this work can be broadened to other crafts and communities so that buyers may take action wherever they make a choice about prices paid to artisans.<br />
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We would like to thank the 120 weavers from six weaving villages we visited: Dulugu, Tongo-Beu, Gambigigo, Sirigu, Sumburungu and Nyariga. They shared their experiences in great detail. We have over 2400 minutes of recorded interviews in <em>Frafra</em> (translated into English) with the 120 weavers across these six communities. The interviews form part of this report.<br />
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We would also like to thank the community leaders of these six communities who allowed us to undertake this work in their communities.<br />
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We would like to thank the international buyers who participated in the online survey and provided valuable written information about their experiences buying baskets via the survey and in emails. We would like to thank the few basket producing businesses in Bolgatanga who opened up about their processes, prices and experiences working with weavers and international buyers, and agreed to show us all documentation and systems information.<br />
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<img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0356/5021/files/PA220818_grande.JPG?1001" /><br />
We would like to thank our colleagues in G-lish Foundation, past and present, whose courage and hard work were crucial in making this happen. We intend to continue to undertake advocacy for the weavers of Bolgatanga to ensure they receive fair remuneration for their work. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Contact details are at the end of this report if you wish to stay involved in helping bring about economically <em>empowering</em> change for basket weavers in Ghana. <br />
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Hashtag: <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/basketgood">#BasketGood</a> to comment on this in social media.<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Twitter: @gaylepescud @godwinyidana1 @G_lishGhana.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GlishFoundationGhana</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Message us here with any questions or comment below. In the next two days we will be inviting buyers to a private, locked, online forum in which we'll discuss the issues here in more detail and share experiences in order to better understand and find solutions to the issues.</span><br />
<img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0356/5021/files/PA220822_-_Copy_grande.JPG?1002" /><br />
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<img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0356/5021/files/PA220824_grande.JPG?1003" /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-39283468801234645002013-05-29T14:15:00.000+00:002016-06-05T04:10:43.703+00:00Peace One Day 2008<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What we did for <a href="http://www.peaceoneday.org/en/welcome">Peace One Day</a> 2008. I was inspired by Peace One Day UK to hold an event between the two fighting sides of a decades long conflict in Bawku, Ghana. Talking about this out loud led me to Godwin Yidana. We met. We discussed my idea. We visited Bawku together (I met his family) in the months leading up to the date.<br />
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Ultimately, we held an event in Bawku on September 20, 2008, to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and Ceasefire. Although the official date is the 21st, we chose the 20th as it was a Saturday--this would allow both Muslims and Christians alike to take part. This year the theme was: One Day, One Goal. What could be better?<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256630125618059154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJlMGKH_Y2lnORXt4-dFn4QXQfWBNgwv_x7NpVUi_pP3gPA8iC6RqjAqsqKyfyAxH2q7mijQ7qNMkdUhGdnzzQ1pqnSplyHXsYCsCv-R_gzOkLoEIw0EZ-IOqekMJ7kVhSC4aBT_KkU9I/s320/Bawku+Match+1+-+mid-play.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> Peace One Day founder, Jeremy Gilley, a self-confessed failed actor but successful documentary film-maker, made the film Peace One Day about his struggle to have the UN recognize one day of peace and ceasefire. It was that film which spurred me to do something to mark the day in Ghana this year. <br />
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The question of why Ghana is peaceful has been plaguing me for the three years since I first came here. Because of the negative portrayal of African countries in the international media, I had the impression that poverty and peace were mutually exclusive, especially in Africa. That’s not so here, except for Bawku and a few other pockets of conflict.<br />
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After watching the film in May and deciding that I could do something to celebrate peace in the most peaceful country in Africa, I couldn’t help but wonder about Bawku in the Upper East Region; it made the news again in April for clashes between two warring ethnic groups, the Mamprusis and Kusasis. The conflict has flared intermittently throughout the past fifty years since independence. I felt as if celebrating peace in Ghana was not right if we didn’t acknowledge Bawku. And then I wondered, during a weekend bout of Malaria (during which the best ideas are conceived), whether we could hold an event in Bawku itself.<br />
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I asked a friend if he knew anyone from Bawku. He introduced me to the director of programs for YPWC who happened to have grown up in Bawku. I explained my idea and told him he could call me mad if he so wished - afterall, why celebrate peace in the middle of a conflict zone? He agreed that we should do it.<br />
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We devised an action plan that included meeting politicians at Parliament House in Accra, students from the warring ethnic groups studying at Cape Coast University to seek their opinion about the planned activities, and many more individuals besides.<br />
Everyone, without exception, that we spoke to was supportive.<br />
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Our aim was to hold a game of football in keeping with Peace One Day’s theme for this year: One Day, One Goal. We envisaged the two sides comprising all ethnic groups playing together. The ball would be inscribed ‘conflict’ and the goals would be labeled ‘peace’.<br />
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Against all odds and efforts to shut us down, right up until the morning of the day itself, we made it happen.<br />
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This is how it went.<br />
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20th of September. Despite the ominous storm clouds rolling overhead, students, local residents and keen spectators started arriving at Winamzua Park at 7.00 am in central Bawku in anticipation of an event that many said could not happen: a game of football between two sides comprising all the tribes of the Bawku Municipality. A few glitches aside – have you ever tried to get a PA system the night before an event an hour before curfew kicks in at 10 pm in a military patrolled town because the guy who promised to deliver pulled out due to political pressure? – by the time kick-off came at 10.00 am, the field was teeming with children, students and adults.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256634032751986882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYF0JuQbqD8jiPldW92Oy1ClmhSRbvPF614chCyY4CO0U9xr9d5Oy8qQI6VXSUwyDuGzFDmirLFXvMN4p4ZmITXDz6RxAyLnuJKDroQ0pXHIBPidsPjzoXwRPmfGcDaPdhVW4CgSmB6rk/s320/POD+Spectators.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
‘We are here to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and Ceasefire,’ announced Mr Godwin Yidana, Programs Director of Young People We Care. Directing his words towards the two teams, he cautioned, ‘The game is an opportunity for you to come together as brothers. We’re playing fifteen minutes a side. The football represents “conflict” and the goals are “peace”. You are not in the pitch to compete against each other. It doesn’t matter who scores a goal or who wins; in this game everyone is a winner.’ <br />
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Indeed, the ethnic diversity of Bawku was represented in the two teams of this symbolic match. The majority of the Daduri Catholic Park team, sparkling in their green and red jerseys, were Kusasis, supported by Mamprusis, Bisas, Moshis and Hausas. The majority of the Winamzua Park team were Mamprusis with Kusasis and other ethnic groups making up the balance, sporting the blue and red jerseys of the Barcelona Unicef Football Team.<br />
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The referee tossed for the goal and the teams took their respective positions on the field for the kick-off. Contrary to most expectations, the game proceeded for fifteen minutes with both teams putting in a valiant effort, and spectators crowding both goals and the sidelines, cheering on whichever team looked like scoring a goal. The first half ended as a draw, no goals scored.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256631217650162418" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SPNOPdtEWvI/AAAAAAAAABo/X6t1sTTKjrQ/s320/Game+in+full+play.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> Both teams scored one goal a piece in the second half, children streaming onto the field in celebration. The game proceeded without a hint of violence or even a cross word. <br />
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Players on both sides pleaded with the referee to play thirty minutes in the second half; no one wanted the dream, the momentary freedom provided by the game, to end. <br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256630631186897330" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SPNNtU9VGbI/AAAAAAAAABY/Gnz1ePX_2Pc/s320/Bawku+Match+3+-+Kids+post-goal+score.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
The referee finally blew his whistle on a one-all draw and gathered the players together around the goal posts for the penalty shoot-out. Ten-deep, the crowd jostled for position as the two teams lined up, children standing on bicycle seats to get a better view. <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256630783519265090" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/SPNN2McMkUI/AAAAAAAAABg/vqmEHVKLVvc/s320/Daduri+Player+Penalty!.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
The Daduri Park team took their first kick at a goal, the ball flying between the posts. Four ‘peace’ goals later, they were in the running to win. It was hard to tell who the spectators were following since they cheered all four goals and the save. The Winamzua team took up their position for the second round of penalty shoot-outs. One after the other, their players scored. Five goals later, the Winamzua team were declared the winners and both sides came together with handshakes and friendly pats on the back.<br />
We called both teams and the audience together to award prizes and certificates to the winners of the game and an essay competition which we celebrated peace in Ghana, the idea being to include the children of Bawku in finding an inclusive and sustainable solution to peace. The themes were: 1. Why is Ghana Peaceful and 2. How can we, as Ghanaians, achieve sustainable peace in Bawku? We awarded prizes to the winning students of Bawku Senior High School, Mother Teresa Educational Centre, and Bawku Senior High Technical School while their parents and other children looked on. <br />
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We also awarded prizes of new footballs to the two football teams for their participation in the day, thanking them for their efforts and spirit of goodwill and explaining that games of football were being held in 182 countries around the world to mark the day and the theme of “One day, One goal,” using football to unite communities in conflict.<br />
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Finally, we handed over a cloth to the Bawku Literary Society made of pieces of fabric that the women of southern Ghana had contributed to symbolize peace for the people of Bawku. The cloth included an especially batiked piece -- “Live in Peace” -- and a patchwork piece representing the diversity of Bawku’s ethnic groups.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256636185242656402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SGkqU2GLJO0JpK8KOiGDEjDZ7tqlBvIV-nyaZ7jvA4fwvbauisKqf1tmOUo_YaVKdzOPGv2JO_AewT2vdOZEOBFglxyxUA9ztqHECQPQhxTx3ITd0RbdqKwfV4kDquHw8BQnxldBF8ou/s320/Peace+Quilt.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
Afterwards Godwin Yidana, a founding member of the Bawku Literary Society and current Program Director of Young People We Care, explained, “This was a personal initiative of my partner who thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could hold a day of peaceful activities in Bawku to mark the UN’s day of Peace and Ceasefire?’ As someone who grew up here and experienced the conflict, and lost friends in the conflict, I knew it was the right thing to do, and we could do it, and that’s how this came about.”<br />
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“We wanted to show that the people of Bawku are good, especially that the youth of Bawku are united and see each other as brothers and sisters and as young people ready to solve their own problems.”<br />
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We received word from some of the BLS members that opinion leaders had quietly come to observe the proceedings and that they spoke favorably on the smooth flow of the program, although they declined, understandably, to comment officially given that relations between communities are still on a path to normalizing.<br />
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I managed to speak with Reverand Isaiah Joel, a Board Member of the Bawku Literary Society, about how he felt about the match during play. “I want to commend the organizers for bringing the two sides together to climax the peace we’re yearning for. Without peace there is nothing we can achieve. Only a few of our JSS students passed their exams as a result of the conflict. At Kpalwega school only eleven of forty students passed. That shows that conflict has a negative impact and, for us, this occasion will send signals to feuding factions that there is heat to bring peace and that without peace there can be no success.”<br />
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He continued to explain that Bawku can achieve sustainable peace, “if all the feuding factions, if all the ethnic groups in Bawku work together to ensure it, especially in election times and not allow politicians to divide us again. Elections will come and go but we, the people of Bawku, will always be here. Another thing is to bring employment to the people as people don’t have anything to sustain their lives. The lack of livelihood makes conflict spring every now and again, but conflict does not profit.”<br />
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I also interviewed Mr Muhammed Umarfarouk of the winning Winamzua side after the game about how it felt to have been part of this event. He paused for thought and then carefully explained: “The game was very interesting; it brought competing factions together for the first time and we played as the rules of the gamed demands. I hope that next time we can come together and play as the same people in one town. We never thought this could happen this way. I would describe this as a dream come true. I hope that we can all live together as one people so that development will come to our municipality.”<br />
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This seems to be a sentiment shared by many in Bawku.<br />
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“We have shown that, when given a chance and a little push, young people can do things that politicians can not do,” said Abubarkar Yussif Maako of the Bawku Literary Society. “That game was like a dream come true. It was everything we planned and we got all factions to play. Our plan was that we organize two teams comprising all tribes so that the winners will equally share that gift (of playing together) among themselves. And they played successfully. We are grateful to Allah that our dream became reality and to young people for the peace process. This will symbolize peace from today and beyond. We pray that this hullabaloo in Bawku will come to an end.”<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256631378659228626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnxaoMfzB98vhWFlqvdUa2QP-cQxV1kdTquCIXp7EtrZVzC8ep534A2pYPZphPJ0EelMfy4wXQP8kWpKyscUY8cMpLkUA1-F2TUKPhmT9eLCVLVkRLEPG7kXc1nsN3aGfYRfR0cJQBIJd/s320/Organisers+-+Yidana+left+and+members+of+BLS..JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> I was most excited when a young girl grinned, gave us the ‘thumbs up’ and shouted ‘Organizer!’ as we flew past on a motorbike a few hours later; it's the first time I've been called anything other than obruni, solomia or yevu since I've lived in Ghana. Then, I knew we’d made a good impact. I know it won’t change the world overnight, but the youth, the leaders of tomorrow, will remember that they made this happen, and they can do it again in future.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256631689433508914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZVmS-GnXNKNv41crkeSrUDLboFFzKOg-NzqTDdYEiI8pwxujE7L0UnbWLAnAFXseWpmj7iSU5_vn_RRexEJ2nqWRczOb6fsIWr-5M-3I6V9Zs9m9No__AuAyM9doFNqTd2JWv2JOrtYA/s320/Organisers&GP.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
The success of the day compels the rest of Ghana to sit up and take notice. And in this election year, that the community and politicians should keep in mind that “peace, not politics” is the order of the day.<br />
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No one believed that Mamprusis and Kusasis would come together and play without any violence. No one believed that the spectators would refrain from some kind of scuffle, if not something more serious. Everyone asked whether security would be present. We checked, double-checked, consulted, visited security forces, served letters and received countless assurances that they would, indeed, be present to ensure a smooth program.<br />
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We showed that the human spirit can soar when you believe it can.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256633772021552146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOp-SzMLx_AxRm4ge_eUruUWi6GCgUzTqohCCZi9dQteCct5RayThogxoza9FGWN89g6n6kLOn4ZofE-kIdzg0ltM1ypnxud3lwBRZYMfvL_wpy5_R8Z_Pb0Vpk26yeMuSRxsqyD4MheM/s320/POD+Kids+post+game.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.peaceoneday.org/">What are you doing for Peace One Day in 2010?</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=35991&u=427277&m=7879&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/gxonlinestorelogo160x40.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-33661038130333820362012-01-04T21:04:00.003+00:002012-01-04T21:04:46.451+00:00Help Fundraise for Quadriplegic in Ghana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear friends, visitors, readers,<br />
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We know many of you support worthy causes, especially if you are connected with Ghana already. However, we're hoping you may be able to help out supporting our brother (literally). <br />
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Our younger brother, Joshua, became quadriplegic—paralysed from the neck
down—after sustaining severe spinal cord injuries when he fell from a
tree he was climbing in September, something that could have happened to any one of us. Your donation will help cover Jo’s
ongoing medical costs and purchase devices to help prevent pressure
sores and improve mobility.<br />
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Thank you in advance. If you would like to share this with other supporters, we would appreciate it. <br />
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A 1 minute film showing the story</div>
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Link to our simple fundraising site: <br />
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<a href="http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/f314906b8db147d7a0a180e9940d5853?ref=nf" target="_blank">Help our Brother Joshua in Ghana</a></div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-23170554504322099222011-02-18T10:24:00.002+00:002011-06-17T09:15:34.115+00:00Income Generation Video from Bolga by G-lish Foundation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's not all TZ and smock making in Bolgatanga. Press play to see the lifecycle of a recycled Bolga basket and get inspired! Let us know what you think.You can also see the organisation's new site at <a href="http://g-lishfoundation.org/">http://g-lishfoundation.org</a>. <br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-83649047516117245032010-11-04T11:08:00.001+00:002010-11-04T11:20:03.641+00:00Seed Initiative Winners from Ghana<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's with much surprise and delight to post that <a href="http://glishfoundation.wordpress.com/">G-lish Foundation</a>, the organisation founded by my inspiring partner, Godwin Yidana, is one of the winners of this year's <a href="http://www.seedinit.org/">SEED Initiative Awards.</a></span></div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"The SEED Awards recognise inspiring social and environmental entrepreneurs whose businesses can help meet sustainable development challenges. By helping entrepreneurs to scale-up their activities, the SEED Initiative, which is hosted by UNEP, aims to boost local economies and tackle poverty, while promoting the sustainable use of resources and ecosystems."</i></span></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://hqweb.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=651&ArticleID=6814&l=en&t=long">UNEP's full press release</a> can be read here. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the press release explains, the award seeks to recognise and support young organisations that focus on sustainable development. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The winners receive support in the form of tailored workshop training in-country and via distance (remotely) to help them develop their business plans and find solutions to barriers to growth so that the orgs can break through whatever problems they're facing and continue their good work. </span></div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"The prize they will receive from SEED is a package of individually-tailored support for their business. This includes access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, meeting new partners and building networks, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance. SEED will furthermore contribute towards meeting each winner's most immediate needs by contributing to a jointly developed support plan."</i></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: small;">You can visit the G-lish facebook page and read more about their activities by clicking the link on the right of this page. </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The winners from Ghana are truly inspiring. The other winners are: </span></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/ghana-bamboo-bikes-initiative.html">Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/high-value-syrup-from-prekese-fruits-for-community-livelihood-empowerment.html">High Value Syrup from Prekese Fruits</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/biofuel-production-in-promoting-sustainable-land-management.html">Biofuel Production in Promoting Sustainable Land Management</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/deco-decentralized-composting-for-sustainable-farming-and-development.html">DeCo! Decentralised Composting for Sustainable Farming</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/the-shea-economic-empowerment-program-seep.html">The Shea Economic Empowerment Program (SEEP)</a></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of the winners from African and further afield that caught my eye are:</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/ecopost-fencing-posts-from-recycled-post-consumer-waste-plastic.html">Kenya: EcoPost - Fencing Posts from Recycled Post-Consumer Waste Plastic</a></span></h1><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Burkina Faso: <a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/manufacture-and-popularization-of-biomass-briquettes.html">Manufacture and Popularization of Biomass Briquettes (when you see how many trees are cut down for charcoal for cooking fires you understand why an alternative source of fuel is so important).</a></span></h1><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/micro-power-economy-for-rural-electrification.html">Senegal: Micro Power Economy for Rural Electrification</a><span class="quote"> </span></span></h1><blockquote><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="quote">"The goal of this enterprise involving local partners from the private and microfinance sector is to set up a profitable rural power provider based on off-grid power system operation and the utilisation of renewable energy sources, such as wind-solar-diesel hybrid power systems."</span></span></i></h1></blockquote><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="quote">China: </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards/solsource.html">SolSource</a></span></h1><h1 class="componentheading" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="quote"> You can check out all the winners at the <a href="http://www.seedinit.org/en/awards/winners-database/2010-awards.html">2010 Awards </a>link.</span></span></h1><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fgisforghana.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=400&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: medium none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 400px;"></iframe></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-77991949341042409852010-10-21T15:57:00.000+00:002010-10-21T15:57:34.093+00:00The Amazing Race Ghana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNeoTDRuQvDNtUwoL0QDg3mRyPj3rVYxqEtwzGXH7-qTa4PNoT_YId4PDBz_rPh-yvimbPks6IXfZ5EueFbtfuQ_ENHuWk7Vd7jbCs5pQhh_2KN8VerK60tgJ4_Q01ZxEG3Z77vWq0y6V/s1600/Coffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNeoTDRuQvDNtUwoL0QDg3mRyPj3rVYxqEtwzGXH7-qTa4PNoT_YId4PDBz_rPh-yvimbPks6IXfZ5EueFbtfuQ_ENHuWk7Vd7jbCs5pQhh_2KN8VerK60tgJ4_Q01ZxEG3Z77vWq0y6V/s640/Coffins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
For those planning to travel to Ghana for the first time, you may like to check out clips from a recent episode of the Amazing Race when it hit Accra, the capital of Ghana. I've just had a chance to see the clips for the first time myself and can vouch that there is nothing unusual in the experiences that the contestants had in Ghana.<br />
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That is, this is the Ghana I know and that you will encounter when you arrive. Some Ghanaians are annoyed by a "dirty" representation of Accra but, frankly, that's how Accra is.But we all have to deal with it. As did the racers.<br />
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You'll see inside a real market and also check out the famous coffin makers. Of course, you don't need to visit these places when you come to Ghana but you'd be missing out. We do cover how you can visit the coffin makers and markets in our <a href="http://www.g-lish.org/ghanaguide">Ghana Guide</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=194682">Ghanaweb is hosting the clips here.</a><br />
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The photo of the coffins at Teshie is by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltjabsco/">Walt Jabsco.</a> A little explanation on the coffins. They're mostly "patronised" by the Ga people of Greater Accra. I say Ga, but I'm sure someone will disagree with me. The deceased may have expressed a desire to be buried in a coffin that represented their occupation in life, but also their vices or hobbies. You will see coffins shaped as cigarettes, bottles of beer, Coca Cola, pens, rockets, lobsters, and the lovely cow you can see in the photo above. Personally, I'd like to be buried in an Egyptian mummy with a bellydance coin motif coffin as well as some Adinkra symbols, kente designs, mud cloth prints and ancient Japanese text. Surely that's not too much to ask?<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fgisforghana.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=400&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: medium none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 400px;"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-18225384579084960852010-09-28T10:47:00.000+00:002010-09-28T10:47:47.833+00:00Excellent Photos of Ghana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/TKHFJluEuDI/AAAAAAAABRA/-A6q5HGhmOY/s1600/Elmina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/TKHFJluEuDI/AAAAAAAABRA/-A6q5HGhmOY/s640/Elmina.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ghana Photos</span></b></div><br />
If you are traveling to Ghana, I am sure you will enjoy this simple and quick way to find great photos of Ghana. Basically, head to Google Images and begin a search. <br />
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A search of "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1016&bih=496&q=Ghana&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Ghana</a>" brings back a colourful array of images. <br />
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A search of "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Wli&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Wli</a>", which is in the Volta Region and a popular traveler's stop, brings back lots of waterfall pics as well as some from the hike to the Upper Falls.<br />
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"<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Kumasi&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Kumasi</a>" gives you both a view of downtown--especially crazy Kejetia trotro and market area--as well as traditional ceremonies. <br />
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A quick click on "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Accra&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Accra</a>" gives you a strong sense of the capital.<br />
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The photos of "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Bolgatanga&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Bolgatanga</a>" are actually very representative and give a strong sense of how the area feels. <br />
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Shoot me if the photos of "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Cape+Coast&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Cape Coast</a>" don't make you want to visit! And it's sister, <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/images?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Elmina&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Elmina</a>, is just a 15 minute drive away.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ghana Videos!</b></span></div><br />
You can do the same thing with Google Videos. Here is the link to view videos relating to "<a href="http://www.google.com.gh/search?q=Elmina&hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&tbs=vid:1&source=lnms&ei=csShTLP3OoiHnQeCudjcAw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CBoQ_AU&prmdo=1">Elmina</a>". And videos for <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/search?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&prmdo=1&tbs=vid%3A1&q=Accra&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Accra</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/search?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&prmdo=1&tbs=vid%3A1&q=Cape+Coast&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Cape Coast </a>(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gmDoon_yC0">President Obama in Cape Coast</a>) and <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/search?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&prmdo=1&tbs=vid%3A1&q=Kumasi&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Kumasi</a>. There are even some for <a href="http://www.google.com.gh/search?hl=en&biw=1016&bih=496&gbv=2&prmdo=1&tbs=vid%3A1&q=Bolgatanga&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Bolgatanga</a>!<br />
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So, you get the idea. Hit Google images search and type in the name of the place you're coming to visit in Ghana. You will get a sense of the place before you even leave home. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/TKHHS56xlrI/AAAAAAAABRI/b7UcZQuq284/s1600/3421224086_aa65f0086c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PBQZHqzyzy8/TKHHS56xlrI/AAAAAAAABRI/b7UcZQuq284/s640/3421224086_aa65f0086c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Elmina Castle and fishing photo at top by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_wilson/">chris_wilson</a>.Black and White fishermen in Cape Coast photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seewah/">See Wah</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fgisforghana.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=400&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: medium none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 400px;"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-32835735059098277282010-09-20T16:42:00.001+00:002010-09-20T16:53:43.935+00:00Ghana Bloggers MatureThe blogosphere in Ghana has been growing steadily. You can read a lot of the regular bloggers at www.ghanablogging.com.<br />
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I was checking out some of my favourites and found some fun and thought-provoking stuff going on. <br />
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Accra Conscious Forever posted a brilliant poster of Adinkra symbols. If you visit Ghana, especially along the coast from Accra to the Ivory Coast and inland to Kumasi, and everywhere in between, you'll see Adinkra symbols on pretty much everything that's not moving, and much that is moving too--especially vehicles. You will certainly see a lot of batiked cloth printed with the more popular symbols. If you want to know what they mean, check out <a href="http://accraconsciousforever.blogspot.com/2010/09/photo-of-week-adinkra-cloth-symbols.html">Adinkra Cloth Symbols</a>. <br />
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Interestingly, here in the far north of Ghana most people have no idea what Adinkra is. It's simply not part of the culture as it's unique to the Akan culture, those areas described above.<br />
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Accra Conscious Forever also did an awesome post on music called <a href="http://accraconsciousforever.blogspot.com/2010/09/blending-visuals-into-music-m3nsa.html">Blending Visuals into Music - M3NSA</a><br />
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<i>"No.1 Mango Street – the international debut album by MC, singer and producer M3NSA. The single is a cocktail of eclectic Afro sounds infused with Nu-jazz and High-Life delicately underscored with sweet harmonies of rhythm and blues."</i><br />
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Holli at Holli's Ramblings wrote a thought-proviking post about the issue of witches in Ghana. Both the post and the comments are worth reading. This is one of the things you're unlikely to notice while traveling through Ghana for a short time, but if you happen to pick up a newspaper on most days you'll find a story about witches. I live in the far north and hear about these problems often. It's hard to listen to and accept.<br />
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I was teaching a young girl how to use a computer and using a Harry Potter excerpt that was nicely formatted to show how the Indexing works in Word and "document map" button and she happened to flash across the mention of witches. I had to explain the history of witches in western culture and the Harry Potter phenomenon. She couldn't believe people wanted to "be" witches. One word, totally different connotations.<br />
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Here is a small excerpt from <a href="http://hollisramblings.blogspot.com/2010/09/child-witches-plague-ghana.html">Holli's story</a>:<br />
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<i>"Northern Ghana is home to over 10 massive witch camps – each housing up to 1000 people – the majority of these are young children. Soak that in. THERE ARE STILL WITCHES CAMPS IN GHANA IN 2010. All of these people have been banished from their villages for all sorts of crimes, including allegedly killing people who died from ‘mysterious illnesses’."</i><br />
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And Betumi wrote about <a href="http://betumiblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/culinary-entreprenurship-in-ghana-food.html">culinary entrepreneurship in Ghana</a>. Betumi, by the way, is the BEST place to read about food in Ghana online. I was intrigued by this post detailing Fran's recent trip around Ghana collecting more data and researching food prep in Ghana in all its forms. I'm interested to see if she finds the 17th Century translation!<br />
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<i>"Over lunch I challenged a couple of the English faculty to begin looking at the portrayal and symbolism of food in African literature, a shockingly neglected area, and especially to examine any gender differences between men and women writers. My sense is that women are more intimately connected to food preparation and socializing around the cooking pot and hence their memories (especially when exiled from their homelands) may be different. I'm curious to see if Helen and Kari take up the challenge. I also have the exciting promise of receiving a 17th century translation (from German) of a document describing the preparation of </i><i>kenkey. I'm still trying to track down dokono's origins and history. Suggestions made at the luncheon were that, unlike "dokono," "kenkey" is a Malay word, that Northerners have always fermented millet, so they just used the same technique on corn when it arrived in Ghana. I welcome anyone's comments on his subject."</i><br />
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</i><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-86081613923348352992010-09-06T10:16:00.004+00:002010-09-06T11:56:48.716+00:00The Interview with Expatify for Ghana Expats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpa4z5CPlT6q3smCUL6aHhYbgRy1HhXuqH9p7B_JB8c-zin_E8VCVilH-cywnTJ0rj6JsoVG5AOm-yFstooughcq0EoMYCSrrEdzJIUEnvmASqEUUsB4fBm3Zjo0wvS0TsksW4FxVmU-y/s1600/Pulling+in+fishing+net.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpa4z5CPlT6q3smCUL6aHhYbgRy1HhXuqH9p7B_JB8c-zin_E8VCVilH-cywnTJ0rj6JsoVG5AOm-yFstooughcq0EoMYCSrrEdzJIUEnvmASqEUUsB4fBm3Zjo0wvS0TsksW4FxVmU-y/s400/Pulling+in+fishing+net.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I completely forgot about </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.expatify.com/expat-interviews/gayle-pescud-in-ghana-expat-spotlight.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this interview I did with Expatify</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> ages ago. They wrote to tell me it was online in July. We've had so many problems with terrible internet connections here in Bolga that I completely forgot about it. </span></span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The interview is helpful for those planning to move to Ghana for an extended period of time, like expats, workers, volunteers, and so on. If you're planning to visit Ghana for a short stay, you may also get something from it. I added a few tips that will help anyone planning to travel or work in a developing country too.</span></span></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short excerpt:</span></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Unless you’re in Accra or Kumasi, there are no luxuries like coffee shops, cinemas, or large supermarkets. However internet cafes are improving dramatically everywhere. Water supply and electricity are notoriously unreliable, but you learn to cope."</span></i></span></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">* The Kosa I refer to in the interview is owned by Dutch, not Germans. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I took that photo in Cape Coast some years ago. It's the fishermen pulling in nets together. It's awesome to watch them work like that in rows all along the beaches, hand over fist, a kind of dance and song to ease the drudgery, I guess.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-61293588444223956362010-08-31T17:54:00.002+00:002010-09-03T11:26:17.357+00:00Win Recycled Bolga BasketsWe’ll be holding recycled Basket <a href="http://www.g-lish.org/">giveaways over at G-lish too</a>. If you want a chance to win one of these be-you-T-full baskets, wherever you are in the world, subscribe to G-lish! Winners will be announced at the end of the month. <br />
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Meanwhile, if you can’t wait that long, and you’re in Ghana, you can find the baskets at <a href="http://www.trashybags.com/">Trashy Bags</a> in Accra. Check out Trashy Bags videos for more info on their brilliant work in the capital of Ghana. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbIkn_FwkPNEXLmBo8seW62Gf1jfZ1uz0RNSks4alRBC0KTFqtxe_au1EtFxiD11AftENroB0S8Xge5jtpBd678Sg93u15_bZ3HhkyH7HtxQWtfWlENMGFgWMNkgHFCtqAy7873Jw3goZ/s1600/Picture+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbIkn_FwkPNEXLmBo8seW62Gf1jfZ1uz0RNSks4alRBC0KTFqtxe_au1EtFxiD11AftENroB0S8Xge5jtpBd678Sg93u15_bZ3HhkyH7HtxQWtfWlENMGFgWMNkgHFCtqAy7873Jw3goZ/s400/Picture+123.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><br />
We’ll also be holding competitions along those lines here so look out and be sure to enter this one if you want to win. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpB1bIHG5cNJOdJDs3BMslXc9H8Sr74_iCdi-kFqWj7Hvg3d1xNkFvonc2Jkp-H7K5dUmi3AHl4DaBv1qlhTj-w_dVBsLUWx4hU3_4c_13B8LoyzwVckuoSYN08o1Fi1DHCxqGdbfkgvI/s1600/Picture+153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpB1bIHG5cNJOdJDs3BMslXc9H8Sr74_iCdi-kFqWj7Hvg3d1xNkFvonc2Jkp-H7K5dUmi3AHl4DaBv1qlhTj-w_dVBsLUWx4hU3_4c_13B8LoyzwVckuoSYN08o1Fi1DHCxqGdbfkgvI/s400/Picture+153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-18697968541233386242010-08-30T09:33:00.004+00:002010-08-30T09:33:00.044+00:00Warning: Recycled Baskets Contain LoveWARNING: As a Recycled Bolga Basket I should mention that I’m created from 230 “pure water” plastic bags, and over 2 yards of scrap cloth. Yes—I was once waste, but I’m now rather striking don’t you think? It’s all thanks to the brilliant, basket-weaving communities of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana who will be able to buy medicine and pay school fees when you buy me. That’s because they get paid fairly for creating me. Oh, and for every basket you buy, G-lish plants a tree in Bolgatanga, regenerating the deforested, northern-most region of Ghana—and creating sources of food, shade and shelter in the community. <br />
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G-lish’s vision: Thousands of us baskets will find homes across the globe and thousands of trees blossom across the Upper East. <br />
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G-lish: solving environmental problems, preserving an age-old handicraft tradition, and providing sustainable incomes for impoverished, rural, Ghanaian craftswomen and men. (They’re not basket cases in Bolga, I can tell you!)<br />
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Look out for more at G-lish: www.g-lish.org. Contact: baskets@g-lish.org <br />
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The basket-makers asked me to tell you…<br />
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“We thank you! Teppohzoe!”<br />
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Find the baskets at Trashy Bags in Accra. Click the image at the top of the pagwe for directions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQAVRPRUXUANA_Sm2jn1wBuEWDHR55n5keqTnOJfVppxxot_WxXJY_1nVoXkdp1WqKa7Y18NTzeEVWnGwR9Giagbx6n5qCp4RZyUwDa7OmQkHuWOaHuGbBMeGfosGwIWLrjLS6NJXyLB-/s1600/Picture+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQAVRPRUXUANA_Sm2jn1wBuEWDHR55n5keqTnOJfVppxxot_WxXJY_1nVoXkdp1WqKa7Y18NTzeEVWnGwR9Giagbx6n5qCp4RZyUwDa7OmQkHuWOaHuGbBMeGfosGwIWLrjLS6NJXyLB-/s400/Picture+145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>That's what's on the lable of the baskets!</em> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-6864864797095629112010-08-29T09:00:00.004+00:002010-08-29T09:00:00.878+00:00One Basket = One TreeAnother positive aspect of the recycled Bolga basket project is that for every basket sold the producers plant a tree in the community. Currently they are planting mango trees, the most popularly requested, since mangos provide excellent shade during the extremely hot season and have a natural cooling effect. They are the coolest places to be when outdoors during the hot season. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRvEkQsC9V9ZzFvw8DtdxTcFtC9mehkIPN-nafMll7tdGiCe8wG8_YV0vO5GIh5n2hzltzn-ShjJVFbt5IZsB33YDtXagzuGuUXhjVJcbBamatASNhY7DdShy8kWLBOD5hroH6FkwVLF/s1600/Copy+of+Picture+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRvEkQsC9V9ZzFvw8DtdxTcFtC9mehkIPN-nafMll7tdGiCe8wG8_YV0vO5GIh5n2hzltzn-ShjJVFbt5IZsB33YDtXagzuGuUXhjVJcbBamatASNhY7DdShy8kWLBOD5hroH6FkwVLF/s400/Copy+of+Picture+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A basket maker in the cool of dusk. You can see how barren the Upper East is. We need trees!</em> </div><br />
Of course, they also provide fruit and nutrition which are much needed in the Upper East where the average diet consists of cornmeal porridge and soup—not at all meeting daily nutrition requirements. <br />
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For the record, the price of the Ghana guide will increase as we also have a campaign to plant one tree for every guide sold—increasing the tree-planting scope so that thousands of trees will begin to grow across deforested parts of Ghana where they are badly needed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-V3cdP0rzatG6W8CUb6k7zFlx7gwaprFz7gZzKDciDfi8mg0imRSfREFyLJCaG8i5069pObD2D_HVUiVL26ZWY9K3TXwb501gR-XIUPdT7UzWiGPZMrq6nXvHkCtQofe1JI4oMAqup8e/s1600/Picture+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-V3cdP0rzatG6W8CUb6k7zFlx7gwaprFz7gZzKDciDfi8mg0imRSfREFyLJCaG8i5069pObD2D_HVUiVL26ZWY9K3TXwb501gR-XIUPdT7UzWiGPZMrq6nXvHkCtQofe1JI4oMAqup8e/s400/Picture+218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Trees are valued and precious in Bolga because of the need for shade and wish for fruit to supplement the very bland diet. The basket makers and producers are very excited about this. <br />
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This is a long term vision, inspired by Wangari Maathai’s Greenbelt movement. <br />
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So, when you buy a recycled Bolga basket, you’re not only providing livelihoods to Ghana’s poorest men, women and youth, but also providing shade, shelter and sources of food for many years to come and greening Ghana too.<div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826326494207776999.post-41981507474924918932010-08-28T09:00:00.001+00:002010-08-28T09:00:02.235+00:00Saving 7000 Pure Water BagsPart of the objective of making recycled Bolga baskets is to clean up the environment by directly using materials that would otherwise be discarded; in particular “pure water” plastic bags and scrap cloth. Not only are they discarded, but they’re often burnt, emitting harmful gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qgAGPwTyrpL5WLdKhE9FlXB4WnYSBSt1Z-9ddgI_b-uzturjZxgjyM4wuicE_fb8Nce8c0dO3Xsr_bMh6IToM5YdX-KitqEkEkkD8ZROrbtLNaHicXodKXlzLxFDv70ynm19mSQv8phe/s1600/Recycled+Bolga+Baskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qgAGPwTyrpL5WLdKhE9FlXB4WnYSBSt1Z-9ddgI_b-uzturjZxgjyM4wuicE_fb8Nce8c0dO3Xsr_bMh6IToM5YdX-KitqEkEkkD8ZROrbtLNaHicXodKXlzLxFDv70ynm19mSQv8phe/s400/Recycled+Bolga+Baskets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Recently produced baskets sitting on a sea of pure water plastic bags. Each basket uses about 230 pure water bags on average!</em></div><br />
In the month of August alone basket makers have used over 6000 plastic bags to produce their baskets—the very ones selling in Trashy Bags now! They envisage using over 7000 by the 31st. Each basket uses an average of 230 plastic bags each, some more, some less, depending on the final size. <br />
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While we recognize that the volume of rubbish is small on a global scale, every bit makes a difference. And it’s not just about the relativity of the global impact, but small changes in behaviour that may lead to widespread changes. And beautiful baskets. <br />
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By the way, we'll be givi ng away baskets as prizes over at G-lish to one subscriber a month. If you want a chance to win, go over and subscribe to G-lish: <a href="http://www.g-lish.org/">http://www.g-lish.org/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=35991&u=427277&m=7879&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">We work at G-lish Foundation, a registered NGO in Ghana</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17446120725232042631noreply@blogger.com0