SAS Ghana

 

Ghana was a scheduled port for our 2015 Semester at Sea voyage, but it was cancelled soon before departure because of an expanding SARS epidemic in West Africa. Namibia was a fun replacement. 

Ghana next entered our scene when Joel received his mission call to the Ghana Cape Coast mission. He loved Ghana and we loved experiencing the country vicariously through his COVID interrupted mission.

I loved finally being able to visit this amazing country.

Prior to our arrival in Tema we had over a week of classes and special lectures about Ghana. One global studies class for the whole ship community focused on the Atlantic slave trade. It was a powerful presentation about the horrors of the slave trade, made very real by the fact that we were traversing along one side of the triangle trade. I was especially touched by the reminder that many slaves never survived the voyage and that in itself may have been a blessing given what was to come. 

Pilot boat for the port of Tema to the east of Accra.

For day one in Ghana I participated in a SAS field program that explored Accra. I was fascinated with all the Christian related billboards on some very long drives around the country. 

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Also interesting to observe a very visible presence of China in Ghana. They are helping with infrastructure and mining. 

We drove through the beautiful and spacious campus of the University of Ghana. 

Library

Presidental palace

Delicious lunch.

A spicy spinach, mushroom, fish soup eaten with boiled yams.

At a random ATM, I met a French instructor (from Ghana who served her mission in Sierra Leone) at the LDS Mission Training Center that was located just behind the bank. Joel trained there as used it as a gathering point prior to being evacuated from Ghana.

I enjoyed the small National Museum. Indonesia's motto is Unity in Diversity. I have noticed many similarities between Indonesia and Ghana. The cities and landscapes look very similar. Both are batik makers. Both had charismatic post colonialist leaders (Sukarno and Nkrumah) who sought to build national identity from diverse ethnicities and religions. Both riled the west when they embraced the non-aligned movement which allowed for ties with leaders and countries at odds with the West. And both may have been ousted with CIA help.

We also visited the Nkrumah memorial.

Our guide explaining how Nkrumah was ousted, died in exiled and was then re-interred in Accra and this memorial after he once again gain respect for what he did for Ghana. I liked the guide's batik shirt. 

Two statues of Nkrumah that were destroyed when he was overthrown.