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Humbling lessons from Ghana |
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Ghana was once in terrible shape, so terrible that its citizens deserted their country en masse. But less than three decades after, Nigeria, the supposed ‘giant’ of the sub-region, has a few lessons to learn from that country, lessons that are humbling enough to draw tears. Our reporter, KUNLE OWOLABI, visited the country two weeks ago, spent five days there and reported that life in Ghana is such a marvellous study in discipline, orderliness and infrastructural efficiency that are all in short supply back home. His report:
Nigeria and Nigerians pride themselves as the Goliath of Africa. But like the biblical David, there are smaller countries in West Africa sub-region that have one or two things to teach the self-acclaimed African Goliath.
A visit to Ghana will disprove the claims - except perhaps political -
that Nigeria may hold as regards her giant status. A first-time visitor
to Ghana will notice a pervading atmosphere of orderliness in all
spheres of the nation’s life, an almost absolute security system,
uninterrupted power supply, free flow of vehicular and human traffic as
well as constant road maintenance.
A work around the capital city of Ghana reveals so many things to a man
coming with the background or orientation of Lagos and some other major
cities in Nigeria, with the exception of perhaps, Abuja, Nigeria. One
first comes to grasp with the yearning gulf between the serene and
clean ambiance of Accra, the Ghanaian capital and the dirty and
stifling milieu of Lagos.
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Visit to Ghana a memorable experience |
Having a daughter serving as a Young Adult Volunteer through the Presbyterian Church USA provided a unique opportunity to visit Ghana.
My younger daughter, Leigh, is spending a year teaching music and French at the Ridge Church School in Ghana's capital city of Accra. She is living with a host family in the Labadi District, which allowed us to experience the country in a way not afforded to most tourists.
Taking Leigh's advice, my older daughter, Lauren, and I left the United States without expectations about how we would eat, sleep, bathe or travel. We knew that she would want us to experience the culture in the way she had. We were not disappointed.
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I've been quite passive with updating my travel stories. Here i come, starting again. Im in Swakopmund, Namibia already, but this story is still from colourful country Ghana. After long and tiring journey through Burkina Faso and entire Ghana i was ready to rest my bones in the capital called Accra. It's third world country, but the capital is full of contrasts: few storey highways with speed freaky modern cars shoulder shabby carton houses, banks and fancy restaurants wall to wall with food stalls and endless noisy markets full of any imaganable things.
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Before heading to Ghana i have heard the rumours it's a great country. Yet, the gossip was true! Somehow it reminded me Philippines, foreign country i love the most. With christian and muslim communities living side by side (muedzin cries his mighty Quaran harmonies over loudspeakers as charismatic priest gives convincable and emotional speech in Catholic Cathedral) and nightclubs roar aloud with western music.
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Christmas and New Year in Ghana |
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Christmas and NY in Ghana After the fiasco on trying to climb Mt. Adaklu in eastern Ghana i decided to have less frustrating Christmas. December 23rd i was back again to Accra and walking the places already familiar to me. Here i met two Stevens. One of them was my host in Accra, another was my guide to 'oh - so - special' church service on Christmas day and organized not less exciting stay in Liberian refugee camp near Accra.
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Travellers' 
