Day Five: Visits to four communities, a farm and a beach, all in the Central Region
We apologise for the lateness of this blog. This can be put down to the following:
- Day five, the longest and most exhausing day
- We arrived back to our accomodation at 10:00pm having survived a journey which can only be likened to ‘The Wacky Races’
Our mission was to travel to the ‘Central Region’ which is central in terms of East to West, but actually very near the south coast. David Piper had spent the previous 12 months researching the needs of four villages. These villages have commercial links with Blue Skies and one of the needs for some of the villages was a new school.
We met up with Issac who had done much of the research with David Piper. He was to prove a fundamental and invaluable ambassador for the day.
In the village of Abro we were invited to have an audience with the chief in his ‘Palace’ as it is customary to gain the chiefs permission to have access to the village.
This was a ceremonial event as we were not allowed to speak directly to the chief but through our ambassador Issac. The chief responded by speaking to his aide who then relayed this information to Issac and then Issac to us.
Once we were allowed access to the village, the chief then communicated directly to us all. He showed us around his village pointing out the various areas of specific needs.
Question: What do you think these may be?
Upon departure the chief explained that he “liked my hat” and “would like it”. I explained to him “I will not survive until monday without it” but he could have it then. “Thank you” he replied (I had been well and truly ‘taxed’.)
Our second village was Ekumfi and here we met the chief and his entourage in the ‘Community Centre’. (This was an open structure which resembled a park band stand.)
Issac once again talked for us, we were then shown to the proposed site for a new school. (A Junior Secondary School) We felt quite uncomfortable as there was an air of expectation in the sense that we would deliver exactly what they wanted. This expectation appeared to be embedded in all age ranges as small children asked “Where is my gift?” and “Give me money”. Our response to these requests were simply “I have no money to give you.”
Village 3, Budukwa, was the smallest village of 300 inhabitants. The chief and village elders had waited for 3 hours for our arrival. Issac apologised for our lateness explaining that we had had much to see and take in. The elders accepted our apology and made us welcome.
They told us of their plans which included:
- A drainage system
- A community centre
- A two classroom kindergarten
- Latrines
May 24th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Glad to hear you had such an eventful day in the Central Region. I hope the last few days of your visit goes well and that you don’t have too much trouble with those bats!
We’ll look out for Derek’s hat when we’re next in Ghana!
Stay in touch, love from Doris and Denzil xxx
May 24th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
What a day!….can’t wait for the next installment of Morag and her bat!
May 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
It sounds like you have a full schedule! your descriptions paint contrasting pictures.
The more I hear the more I think this is so worthwhile.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I have been following your ‘journey’ with interest and having spent a lot of my childhood in Nigeria am fully aware of the contrasts cultural diversity of Ghana and it’s neighbouring countries. Your project sounds brilliant and a credit to everyone involved. I think Derek has missed his true vocation as a travel writer though!