It's a bitter sweet symphony...

Today is my last day in Ghana. I woke up at 5:15am and ran up commonwealth hill one last time to watch the sun rise. it was beautiful.

The next 13 hours will be spent running last minute errands and saying "yebeshia bios" (we will meet again soon), to friends and family.

My flight leaves from Accra tonight at 11:30pm and arrives in London about 7 hours later. The last week in Ghana has been full of adventures which im excited to post about during my layover at Heathrow airport.

Thank you for all of your love and support during the last 7 months of travel.

Just wanted to say one last time...

Love from Accra!

Elections in Ghana

I can't believe i haven't written about the election yet...

The 2008 Presidential election took place in Ghana on Sunday Dec. 11. The weeks up until voting day were filled with political rallies all over the country, including rallies at the University of Ghana campus. It was (and still is) the topic of discussion on trotros, at chop bars, and in Taxis.

Everyone wants to know "Are you moving forward (NPP) or do you want change (NDC)?"

While there was some incidents of violence during voter registration, the election on the 11th has been declared by both Ghanaians and outside observers as peaceful and fair.

Ghana's Electoral Commission has announced the presidential polls will go into a run-off on December 28 between Nana Akuffo-Addo and John Atta Mills .

The certified results from 229 constituencies announced by the EC credits the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akuffo-Addo 4,159,439 polls representing 49.13 % of votes cast,

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) contender John Atta Mills is behind him with 4056634, representing 47.13%

The run off vote on the 28th was met with both excitement and disappointment. Tension is still running high and it is expected to increase over the coming weeks leading up to the vote.

BBC World Service - Ghana Elections 2008 reports on Ghana's election and the upcoming vote on the 28th of December 28th.

Will be watching from the U.S. :)

Much to be thankful for

Cooking thanksgiving dinner in Volta Hall's main cafeteria...
We call it Ghanaian/ American fusion

"Ehh!? You are cooking green beans? Oburoni Why?? All the nutrients will leave them!!?

"but Auntie Ester, that's the whole point of thanksgiving - to cook the nutrients out of everything!"
...

The Cooks

"Ugh! Dabbi! Dabbi! (No! No!)"

"What's wrong Auntie Joyce?"

Auntie Joyce sticks her finger in the canned cream of mushroom soup. She makes a face.

"Ugh! Daabi! Daabi! I cannot eat this!"

"It's okay Auntie Joyce. This is Oburoni cooking. It's supposed to taste like that."
...

Six of us volunteered to help cook thanksgiving dinner. Elizabeth, one of our EAP coordinators, dumped about 10 loafs of bread in front of us. "You can make the stuffing". Anita and i looked at each other and then back at Elizabeth. "I don't suppose you have a recipe do you?" Right. Didn't think so.

We used our imaginations, tried to remember what we've seen in our own kitchens, and well... we faked it. At one point i asked for a measuring cup. "Measuring? What do you need a cup for? Use your hands".

Despite missing family at home, it was an awesome thanksgiving. Great food (i think we ate the only four turkeys in Ghana), Great music - drumming and lots of dancing. Great friends.
...

We found out about the Mumbai attacks on thanksgiving morning.

"Crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think." ~ Jawaharlal Nehru

Thinking about friends and their families in India.

Love from Accra.

Photos from Benin

Stilt Village

Canoe to the stilt village. Love the snoopy bed sheet sail :)

Love from Accra!