How to Volunteer Abroad in Ghana You’ll learn that Ghana (and most of Africa for that matter) is misrepresented in the media with its focus on famine, wars, and ethnic cleansings, among other negative press. All too often, the media highlights only the difficult aspects of African countries and never make note of the positive peoples, the vibrant cultures, and their thirst for life and betterment.
Volunteering In Ghana. This country offers many opportunities to make a positive difference. In the North, the population is rural, mired in poverty, and predominantly Muslim — here the projects include bringing the people access to basic healthcare and clean water. In the South of the country with its bustling cities, diverse socio-economic statuses, and Christian society, you can focus your efforts on educating street kids or educating young women on basic business practices.
Other popular volunteer placements include teaching in public schools, working at an orphanage, environmental and health education, HIV/AIDS awareness and health care, agriculture training, environmental sustainability, and engineering.
Akwaaba! Ghana is one of the safest, most stable, and most friendly of all African countries and is bordered by the French-speaking countries of Burkina Faso, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Gulf of Guinea. This country of approximately 20 million people has been a stable democracy since it became the first African nation to earn its independence in 1957 under President Kwame Nkrumah. Ghana’s official language is English but it has over 70 local languages. A few words in a local dialect will ensure a life-long Ghanaian friend!
Out And About In Ghana. This is a country full of life and activity. Upon landing in Accra, a traveler can experience the bustling life of the capital city — from the lively Makola Market in central Accra to the coastal fishing markets and finally to Oxford Street, a flurry of shops, restaurants, and hotels. Throughout all of Accra, tro-tro mates can be heard crying out their various destinations. Tro-tros are mini-vans designed to hold 12 people but somehow cram in 16 or more in as they zip throughout and between the cities.
From ‘circ’ (Kwame Nkrumah Circle), the rest of the country awaits! Experience the coastal life of Cape Coast, Elmina, and Takoradi-Sekondi, or head to the laid-back, rural, and predominately Muslim life that dominates the northern half of the country. Kumasi, in the center of Ghana, provides a nice respite from travel. Persistent travelers might even get to see the Asantehene, the king of the Asante—the most dominant/powerful ethnic group in the country.
All travelers to Ghana should have an encounter with the jam-snatching baboons and elephants that tower above the trees at Mole National Park, a few hours outside of Tamale. From North to South, travelers can experience a variety of sights, lifestyles, languages, and peoples. When ready to head back to Accra, be sure to hop in the tro-tro with the mate yelling “A-CraCraCra!” Seeing the people and sights of Ghana via tro-tro is a ride unlike any other!
Banku, Fufu, And Kenkey. Throughout the country, travelers have access to international cuisine, but can also experience the interesting culinary delights of Ghana. The backbone of the cuisine are three staple items: banku, fufu, and kenkey. These three items are normally found in ‘chop bars’ throughout the country. Banku and kenkey are made from fermented maize and served with either soup or fish, while fufu is a gelatinous ball of mashed cassava or yam served with soup. (Travelers to Ghana should know that fufu takes many hours to make, and not to finish it would be an insult!)
Other options include the wonderful fresh fruit precariously balanced on the heads of street hawkers, the delicious roadside roasted corn, or tilapia and guinea fowl. Adventurous drinkers should watch out for the “Akpeteshie,” a popular Ghanaian drink that is almost 100 percent pure alcohol.