-- Increased rainfall in the Eastern area caused the Weija Dam to rise above 47 feet. An employee of the Dam explained that 4 of its 5 spillways had to be opened to release the pressure as a precaution, and said that's the only thing they can do with that excess water. They noted the irony of this water being wasted while other parts of Ghana are experiencing drought.
-- Hawking on the streets of Accra is one of the results of people flocking to the city looking for work and not finding any other opportunities. However, hawking has caused such traffic jams that they have imposed a ban over the past year to help traffic flow. Unfortunately, hawkers cannot afford the high price of renting a stall in the market and still end up on the streets.
-- Many of the main streets in Accra are now in the dark due to people stealing the street light cables and breakdowns due to weather, dust, and unreported crashes. Authorities lack funds to repair and address these issues for many reasons, including delays in their grant proposals and denials, and the thieves/hawkers trying to sell them back their stolen, stripped down cables.
Neuroplasticity: changes that occur in the brain as the result of experience
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Ghana day 5
I think I lost a bit of weight in Kenya due to that small bout of food poisoning, and now am gaining the weight back (and them some!) in Ghana because my skirts are getting tight! Children are literally starving from malnutrition in Africa, and this American gains weight. Who'd've thunk it? The food I'm being served so far is delicious; initially too spicy for me but now they've adjusted for me :)
Ghana is clearly more "developed" than Kenya. Most roads are paved and smooth. Most areas have electricity and they are not solar powered. Most places seem to have access to clean water. The city of Accra has a developed traffic system with lane lines and traffic lights. That's about as far as my comparison can go re: development. Otherwise, they also make homes with mud and use a thatched roof, or tin. They also carry enormous weights on their heads hands-free. They also cook using stones, charcoal, and/or firewood. They also have regular police checkpoints along the roads where they try to get money from drivers for things like not using a proper case to hold their license.
My host boasted that "Ghana is the most peaceful country in Africa", "Ghanaians are friendly", and that while corruption does exist around here, it is not as rampant as Kenya. In fact, he said I can reliably mail something from the USA and expect them to receive it on this end!! For mail to get to our recipients in Kenya, we usually mail the package domestically to the next American volunteer to fly out and give it to them directly. Hah!
I spent Thursday through Saturday night in a village called Adaklu, Sunday night in Tokor, and tonight I am not sure the name of the next village. By Tuesday I'll be going to Kpando where I'll spend the rest of my time in Ghana, May 3-17. At Adaklu, I profiled a couple people with disabilities and had 2 meetings with local leaders and committee members. I even met with the surrounding community's chief of chiefs, who said they place their hopes on me and my organization (to help their members with disabilities and their caregivers)... but I was bold and turned it around to express our hope to assist them to help themselves... He wasn't so intimidating as his title may sound... we came across him sitting on a wooden bench under a thatched shade cover wearing a polo shirt and black pants with sandals. This is the modern day African even in the rural parts :-)
Yesterday in Tokor I met the "Queen's spokesperson" for the community. Apparently the Queen is in Accra on business, and in her absence is an older lady named Comfort. Oh yes, other Ghanaian names I liked are: Mission, Precious, and Mercy.
All day Saturday and most of the day on Sunday, hundreds from around the village of Adaklu gathered in and around my host's compound to celebrate what they told me was a rare occasion, which they see as miraculous and worth all this loud music, singing and dancing... One man survived a car accident (he stood up and showed his right collar bone, which he said broke and "they tied [his] arm back") and a woman gave birth to two healthy daughters despite medical and financial problems.
Puts life into perspective, doesn't it?
Ghana is clearly more "developed" than Kenya. Most roads are paved and smooth. Most areas have electricity and they are not solar powered. Most places seem to have access to clean water. The city of Accra has a developed traffic system with lane lines and traffic lights. That's about as far as my comparison can go re: development. Otherwise, they also make homes with mud and use a thatched roof, or tin. They also carry enormous weights on their heads hands-free. They also cook using stones, charcoal, and/or firewood. They also have regular police checkpoints along the roads where they try to get money from drivers for things like not using a proper case to hold their license.
My host boasted that "Ghana is the most peaceful country in Africa", "Ghanaians are friendly", and that while corruption does exist around here, it is not as rampant as Kenya. In fact, he said I can reliably mail something from the USA and expect them to receive it on this end!! For mail to get to our recipients in Kenya, we usually mail the package domestically to the next American volunteer to fly out and give it to them directly. Hah!
I spent Thursday through Saturday night in a village called Adaklu, Sunday night in Tokor, and tonight I am not sure the name of the next village. By Tuesday I'll be going to Kpando where I'll spend the rest of my time in Ghana, May 3-17. At Adaklu, I profiled a couple people with disabilities and had 2 meetings with local leaders and committee members. I even met with the surrounding community's chief of chiefs, who said they place their hopes on me and my organization (to help their members with disabilities and their caregivers)... but I was bold and turned it around to express our hope to assist them to help themselves... He wasn't so intimidating as his title may sound... we came across him sitting on a wooden bench under a thatched shade cover wearing a polo shirt and black pants with sandals. This is the modern day African even in the rural parts :-)
Yesterday in Tokor I met the "Queen's spokesperson" for the community. Apparently the Queen is in Accra on business, and in her absence is an older lady named Comfort. Oh yes, other Ghanaian names I liked are: Mission, Precious, and Mercy.
All day Saturday and most of the day on Sunday, hundreds from around the village of Adaklu gathered in and around my host's compound to celebrate what they told me was a rare occasion, which they see as miraculous and worth all this loud music, singing and dancing... One man survived a car accident (he stood up and showed his right collar bone, which he said broke and "they tied [his] arm back") and a woman gave birth to two healthy daughters despite medical and financial problems.
Puts life into perspective, doesn't it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)