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Ghana
  • Kamila Müllerová
  • Yasmin Ernst
  • Marilyn Merkli
  • Kevin Vangehr

Ghana

Our trip around Ghana that we want to share with you
Kamila, Yasmin, Marilyn and Kevin Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 5, 2023
    Ghana
    Sunset somwhere over Sahara
    Accra International AirportThe reception, Garage, Hairdressed and propably much more!

    We are in Accra!

    February 5, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We arrived to Accra, finally! After getting up at 5 am to catch a flight from Zurich to Amsterdam and than a 4hr wait, we finally boarded pur flight to Accra. Now we are checking in our hotel and can‘t wait to see the city by daylight 👀🛫

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Will we ever fit in?
    Overloaded but on our wayAccra National AirportWe finally arrived to KumasiThe Kumasi Airport

    Transfer from Accra to Kumasi

    February 6, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We did not get the full Ghana experience yesterday, but boy did we today!
    It all started with us realizing (thanks to M. for noting that) that we booked a flight from Accra to Kumasi not on Feb 6th, but March 6th!
    We have told the hotel staff to get us a taxi at 7 so that we can get the flight rebooked and check in in time. While we have waited for the taxi for 20 mins, the staff brought us a powder coffee from Nestle (in Ghana, the country of coffee!) and listened to the military exercising just behind the walls.
    When the „taxi“ came, we quickly realized that the mini Toyota that barely fits one luggage in its back, should take us all. The staff had ordered another car, but that one never came…
    So, to make it to the airport in time, we decided to load all of the luggage on us in the and front seat as you can see in one of the pictures. The car was… well, overloaded would be an understatement. :)
    When we finally made our way to the airport, we hit every bump there was.
    Wait, did I mention the driver was a rasta and did blast Bob Marley songs like there was no tomorrow? 😎
    On our way, a policemen stopped us, probably wanting to make some quick cash, and went on to argue with the poor driver about how this would not happen in America or wherever we come from. Eventually resolved, the conflict made us feeling sorry for the driver as we came up with the idea to go all at once to catch the flight.
    When in Accra national airport, we headed straight for the ticketing office. Usually, airports are busy - not this one. We have explained our issue to the lady behind the desk, and she explained there are only 3 seats left on the next flight, and a few more on the flight at 14:00. As we are quite a flexible group, everyone started offering to take the later flight so that the other 3 can already go ahead. After approx. 30 mins of waiting and asking, the lady finally agreed that we can have two seats and two would wait on standby, if some passengers wouldn‘t show up. What an emotional journey that has been! Then we went to weigh our luggage, went through security and just 10 mins before the flight departure, we made it to the gate and got a bus just for us and some other passengers to take us to an airplane and still depart on time.
    The flight only took 30 mins and the Kumasi Airport is so tiny that you have only one belt to offload your luggage.
    Today morning has been the perfect entry to Ghana. We love it! 🤩

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Ariving at the Kumasi Market
    Choosing the textile to make some clothes fromThe Kumasi Market (outside)Our group (from left): Kevin, Kamila, Yasmin, Marilyn and our two driverKumasi MarketWaiting in the Tailors shop as it is raining heavily and we get to have our first blackoutDinner with FlashlightsThe popular way to carry stuff around hereKumasi MarketStorm

    First footprints in Kumasi

    February 6, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 24 °C

    We have arrived to Kumasi!
    Amazing Flo (friend from Marilyn from her time in Ghana) picked us up at the airport and we have arrived at the beautiful new home of Sunshine Volunteering Organization.
    We have spent the day exploring Kumasi and started our journey at the local orphanage. Lots of the kids are either left behind as the parents can’t or do not want to keep them for different reasons (poverty, disabeled child…) or the kids truly become orphans. The youngest baby was two weeks old and oh my we all did our best to hug as many as we could and not cry.
    Afterwards we continued our journey to the Kumasi market, one of the biggest markets in the country to explore, buy some textiles to make some clothes from later and also buy some school supplies for the schools that Sunshine volunteering org. works with.
    As busy as the place was, it is a place where so many people meet to sell everything you can imagine and we quickly learned the most important lesson: DO NOT STOP. 😁
    Even tho we are in a city, we spent half of the day in cars commuting or being stuck in traffic. Our driver is a passionate dj so the rides were always very loud and funky. (To Yasmins pleasure)
    We finished the day at the semastres to put down our orders for some clothes we wozld like to have made, just when a tropical storm hit. Usually, the rain season here stars in around March, but with the climate change, nothing is certain. Therefore we got to experience our first blackout - the wind was so strong the power was cut to prevent fires. We got to have dinner with Flashlights and have quite the memorable first day!

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Kids excited about the "obruni" in their school
    Kids shouting "obruni" (=white people)One of the classes we have donated some supplies toPutting up a poster with some english phrases and wordsYasmin handing out books to the "seniors"Of course: a selfie with the "seniors"!!!Again: Kevin is popularWe spent some time asking the students about their favourite subjects, hobbies and career plansYasmin & Yasmin: both are very excited about this coincidence 🎉Another class in one of the private schoolsStudents of a private schoolThe only kid we did not impress today 😎Travelling again in a tiny toyotta. 1 too many passengers? No problem, transfer between schools ✔️An amazing coconut water from this lovely single mumOne of the public schoolsEveryone wants to take a picture with the bruni. We felt like celebrities... weird!Walking around Kumasi - we are getting pros!Very interesting cows - much smaller than we are used toInteractions with the studentsKevin was very popularPublic school students

    Kumasi children

    February 7, 2023 in Ghana

    Today we finally got a good night's sleep - we are so lucky to be staying with Flo, Marilyn's friend from the Sunshine Volunteers organisation. She also made us better French toast than they have in France, leaving us ready for many school visits where we dropped off school supplies such as books and pencils. The kids were absolutely precious - their energy, smiles and curiosity are so contagious (despite the +30°C heat). They did also always call us "obruni" meaning white people which took some getting used to at first. As it would be impossible to be mad at these adorable little creatures we decided to just go with it and call them "bibini" (dark person) as well, which gets them all shy and laughing. They also asked if our blue eyes were real, and the ones who weren't actually already called Kevin suddenly decided they were now gonna have the same name, too. However, too much text if images speak louder than words would be a shame so this is where we tell you to just look at our photos :)

    (Y.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Red red being served next to rice and plantane
    The stand where we got the Sobolo drink from🎶When the man is actually cooking and the woman just helplessly pretends to be supporting 😂

    A taste of Ghana 🍛🧋🎶

    February 7, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 33 °C

    After experiencing all the welcoming laughters from the school children in the various public and privat schools, we received an amazing refreshment drink called “Sobolo” from Flo’s godmother.

    With new strength from the ginger in the Sobolo, we made our way back to the house, after stopping quickly at the market again to buy essential medical supplies for the local hospitals.

    Once we were back home, it was time for a cooking lesson from Flo: We prepared the local dish “Redred”. It is a spicy (🥵🌶️) dish with ginger, garlic, onion, red pepper, black eyed peas and most importantly fried plantane. It is served with rice from the north of Ghana. For dessert we had amazing local papaya.

    We finished the day with listening and dancing to popular songs, such as “it’s plenty” from Burna Boy and “45” from Black Sherif. We had a blast! 🇬🇭🤩🙌🏾

    (Kev.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    The junior high school in the villageWhether we are actually saying something interesting or not, we leave up to your judgement ;)Group picture with the overly grateful primary school teachersHard to say goodbye to this joyful group of kids 👋🏽

    Village school visit

    February 8, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 34 °C

    We started our Wednesday really early and got up at 6am to travel to a school in the outskirts. The jorney consisted of a taxi to the “Barrier”, from there by public transport to the big Kumasi market, from there again by public transport (2 hours) to a town in the outskirts, then by taxi to a village and then with a “YellowYellow” (version of a Tuk Tuk) to the senior high school.

    There we were greeted in the usual Ghanian welcoming manner by the principal of the senior high school. We distributed books and pencils to the students and shared a few words on the importance of education, as advocated by Flo and her inspiring organisation Guide Educational Foundation (find out more here: https://www.guide-educational-foundation.com).

    The students were obviously curious and had many questions. Nevertheless, they were also really shy which prevented them from interacting with us. Afterwards, we had some interesting conversations with the teachers and their requirements to teach the students effectively.

    After visiting the senior high school, we walked to the neighbouring primary school to distirbute some more school supplies. The teachers were overwhelmed and really excited. The children were shy at first, but after the first high five, everyone wanted to participate and touch the “obroni”.

    After playing a bit with the school children, we started our way back to Kumasi. Exhausted from the long journey, the many interactions and impressions, a nap on the bus was inevitable.

    (M. & Kev.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    View of the beatiful lake
    Reading and listening to the sounds of the jungle

    Visit to lake Bosumtwi

    February 8, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 34 °C

    We needed a break from the buzz of Kumasi an decided to pay a visit to the nearby (2hr ride) lake Bosumtwi, where Marilyn has already been while volunteering here in 2021.
    The lake is a 2hr ride with the taxi away from Kumasi and is in the middle of Ghanian jungle. Altho the ride has been very bumpy, we have finally made it (with way too many flights over speed-bumbs) to the serene nature around lake Bosumtwi. The lake with its hills reminded all of us of Switzerland, altho the fauna and flora was obviously very different!
    We spent our time playing board games and reading books at the terasse, while enjoying the sounds of the jungle.
    At night, Yasmin and Kamila even had some jungle visitors including a mouse, a spider and a lizzard. Altho Kamila has been a bit nervous about the fauna, Yasmin slept through. 👀
    The next day, we have borrowed a kayak to explore the lake, but the water and all the warnings we got before our departure have left us leaving the lake pretty soon after we got in. Also: our paddling skills definitely could use some training… 😅
    All in all, we were very happy to get a break from the city and enjoy the nature.

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Interactions with the students
    We are ready for the dayDancing with the studentsHoolahoops were a big hit!Kamila explaining how to play darts and practice calculusYasmin assimilated very well, but you can still spot her anywhereWe leave the results to speak for themselves... 😜

    Visit at Kids Masters Comunity School

    February 10, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 35 °C

    Today was a busy day!
    We have visited the Kids Masters Community School near to where we live and have spent some time there talking to the kids, giving out our donations and playing sports with the kids. Because we have done much more afterward, we will separate the day into 4 parts - this is part nr. 1.

    The private school in a poor neighborhood has been kind to welcome us and let us spend some time with the kids. We have started off the day with a dancing session with some of the younger pupils and have loved the joy that everyone carries. Later we have visited all of the classes to donate some supplies and books to. The students particularly enjoyed the darts that will help them practice calculus in a fun way.
    We have never been so blessed as every kid told us “thank you and god bless you” after reaching the books and supplies to them.

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    Yasmin did not shy away from giving her 100% despite the outfit and missing sneakersGo girls!Kevin did win some respect by playing almost like a localThe price you pay for playing footbal in the noon heat

    Footbal match

    February 10, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C

    Shortly before 12, the teachers organized a football game for us with some of the students. We do not know why but we always get to do the most intensive activities right at noon here! As you will see in the pictures and videos, we all suffered as you can imagine. 😁
    The youngest students were all shouting “obruni” eventho we were playing against each other. We loved the support, because we all visibly struggled with the heat. Yasmin and Kevin did strike and Marilyn and Kamila were holding the base. We had lots of fun but were fully soaked when the game was over. Little did we know that the day will be still very long, but somehow, by now we got used to being sweaty ALL THE TIME. 🫣😂
    Enjoy 😎

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    All of the donations that will help the staff and the patients
    The doctors were very happy about the new gadgets and toolsStaging of the main picture (behind the scenes 👀)A book that the hospital director wroteCommute to the hospitalMaaaany titles!

    Visit to one of Kumasi Hospitals

    February 10, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 35 °C

    In the afternoon, we visited the Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi. We wanted to hear how the healthcare works in Ghana and to donate some medical supplies that the hospital desparately needs. We were lucky to be welcomed by the director of the hospital, mr. Agyarko-Poku, who has so many titels that they barely fit on one page (of which he is - of course - very proud, just like he is about the 7 books he wrote and the many countries he has visited).

    The hospital is state-funded but as we understood, the hospitals operate on their own and are only getting funds if they can prove some of the patients cannot afford the bill. Not only is the hospital lacking funds, but it was also not built for the number of patients it is currently handling (1000 patients per day). The biggest problems are sexually transmitted and respiratory diseases (malaria, HIV, dengue, covid).

    When it comes to doctors, the profession is liked and well paid but there are not enough doctors. Nevertheless, the gender gap is picking up as now up to 57% of medical students are female. Out of the 27 doctors at the hospital, 13 are female. Nurses are still majorly females as the profession is done by 91% females. We also learned that being a doctor is helpful when stopped by the police as this is the only way the police will treat you with respect.

    All in all, it was a really interesting conversation and we learned a lot about the healthcare system and mr. Agyarko-Poku. Let‘s put it this way: we all hope we won‘t need it while we are here and appreciate the swiss healthcare more now. 🙃

    (K.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    The family hosting us for Fufu
    Interesting hair 😏Curls, but different curls 😳Professional Fufu makersTrying to implement what previously looked so easy2Watch this one closely if you want to feel the struggle 🤭

    Traditional Ghanian Dinner

    February 10, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 29 °C

    After the hospital visit we struggled through over an hour of traffic with hungry stomachs to visit friends in the outskirts of Kumasi. They had invited us to make the traditional Ghanian dish called Fufu. After a quick introduction to the Fufu preparation process, they allowed us to try and make it ourselves with a small ‘trial’ portion. After miserably failing, it became clear that they weren’t expecting much else and we were kindly served the portions they had already prepared for us. While for some of us it was easier to eat up, others struggled more, but we all went strong as we wanted to show our appreciation to the family and for the traditional local food.
    After dinner, the girls were very interested in the texture of our ‘weird’ hair und the exploration from their side felt like a good head massage on our side. When talking about school, they proudly presented their report cards and drawings and left us really impressed - what a great and kind hearted family ♥️

    (M.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    In the red skirt you'll see Lidia, our seamstress, whose fathers fineral we visited
    We were being filmed from everyoneWe tried out bestOur dance next to the memorial of the deceased - he was a beloved teacher

    Traditional Ghanian Funeral

    February 11, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 36 °C

    Yes, you are reading it right - we visited a traditional Ghanaian funeral and no, we do not know the deceased. 👀
    In Ghana, the funerals are big social events where up to a few hundreds people can attend. It is enough to know someone from the family and friends and then you can invite your friends as well. This time, we knew the daughter of the deceased who is our seamstress. We did not really blend in, as we never do here, but we tried to be as respectful as possible. Little did we know that this would include going around the whole place, waving and eventually dancing in the middle of the huge „stage“. Watch some of the videos to see how it looked like - approximately 200 people attended and watched as we tried to follow the dance of the natives. We sure were able to make the crowd laugh, which was highly appreciated. In Ghana, you show your sorrow and respect for the family with a dance. So we just went with it 😎
    All in all, it was a very impressive event - the sad part is in the morning where people can go to see the body and take part in the burial. That part is there to express your sadness with tears and cries. In the afternoon, it feels much more like a party. Everyone is dressed in black, those who know the family closely wear a special textile that is orange-red with black print and the close family wears red.

    Enjoy the video for a feel of what we were lucky enough to witness from within.

    (K. & Y.)

    FAQ:

    Who died?
    -> The father of our seamstress, we do not know him and we met her just two times. We were invited even before we got to Ghana.

    Does everyone get a funeral like this?
    -> Yes, virtually everyone get‘s this funeral. Of course it is even bigger the more famous or important you are.

    How do you dress?
    -> If you do not know the family closely, you just dress black. If you know the family, you dress in red with black print and if you are directly related, you wear red.

    Can anyone come?
    -> No, you have to be invited by the family or by someone who is invited. Another option is if you knew the deceased directly, you can come to pay your respect.    Read more

  • Ghana
    Please enjoy with full volume ;)

    Sunday Church Service

    February 12, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 35 °C

    After our dancing lessons at the funeral, we were ready to show off our new skills at the Sunday church service. As we arrived, everyone was already fully participating in the dancing on the front stage. This was followed with a long hour of preaching (or mostly shouting) in Twi - the local language. Their stereo system seemed to be on full volume and us being jumpy from their shouting through the microphone, we were ready to leave the church service to go home and pack. As we of course were not able to visit in-cognito, we were given a big goodbye by the priest 👋🏽

    (M.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    British cannons
    View from our airbnbView from Cape Coast Castle:)Harbour of Cape CoastOffice of the Governor of the castleThe door of no return.The church was right above the dungeons. Praying and preaching above the dying and suffering slaves.

    Learning about slave trade in Ghana

    February 13, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After a 5 hr journey by bus, we have arrived to Cape Coast yesterday evening. Today we visited the Cape Coast Castle, which is known for being one of the biggest slave trading spots in west Africa.

    We feel like pictures cannot make the history justice, just as our words. Please read about the place and the horrifying slave trade history here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Coast_Castle

    „Make humanity never again perpetrate such injustice against humanity. We, the living, vow to uphold this.“    Read more

  • Ghana
    1Our way to Busua on a local "bus" (a van)Kevin did not have the most comfy seat, but we all made it! Like locals 😎What a view!Cheers 🌴

    We are offline - beach & surf time!

    February 13, 2023 in Ghana ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C

    We arrived to Busua, a surfer village in the middle of nowhere. We are spending our days surfing, reading at the beach and playing beach volleyball.
    After the turbulent week we had in Kumasi, we are really enjoying the stay here where time stands still. We will be here until Friday and will make one more post about our surfing progress tomorrow or Thursday.

    For now, we are offline and go enjoy the sun. Peace & surf 🌴🏄🏻‍♀️🌊🏄‍♂️

    (K., Y., M. & Kev.)    Read more

  • Ghana
    2

    Surf time in Busua

    February 17, 2023 in Ghana

    We have spent amazing 3,5 days in Busua, a surfer village at the coast of Ghana. It is a tiny place where life stands still, the beach is the place to be and the waves call you to catch them. Our days in Busua were simple but amazing: surfing lessons in the morning, chilling at the beach afterwards and practicing some more surfing in the afternoon. From time to time we enjoyed a freshly made juice from the local juice maker Frank.

    We ended our days at the beach with a beach volleyball game or two where we tried to blend in with the locals (our skills were good but our skin color and having no idea what was being argued after every point made us stand out anyway 😅).

    We all fell in love with the place and just when we started getting used to the beach lifestyle, it was time to say goodbye.

    A big thanks goes to the Justice’s Brothers Surf School and Kelly and Peter in particular, who helped us improve our surfing skills and to Henry who took us in and helped us blend in. 🤙

    Now we are spending the last day in Accra before taking our flight back home in the evening.

    This holiday was an amazing experience for all of us and another eye opener we will happily take back home. Hopefully we will be able to share some of the Ghanian vibes with you all in person! ❤️💛💚

    We will be back to this amazing country - sooner or later… 🌊🇬🇭

    K. & Y. & K. & M.    Read more

    Trip end
    February 18, 2023
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