New Book About Ghana

"My First Coup D'Etat" by John Dramani Mahama

"Sensitive, honest autobiographical essays… A wonderfully intimate look at the convulsive changes, and deep scarring, in post-colonial Africa."—Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus liked this book and this review magazine hardly ever gives a rave review. "My First Coup d'Etat" by John Dramani Mahama, the current Vice President of Ghana, tells of his coming of age while the new democracy of Ghana is also coming of age. If you want to know more about the first African country to gain it's independence you couldn't find a better book to read. 

Listen to an interview on Morning Edition - African Politics, And Afros, In 'My First Coup D'Etat'.

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Full Moon

Join me sitting outside on an African night with a full moon.

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Ghanaian Women

Women in Ghana work hard. They get up early in the morning to start the fire. They cook on coal pots and grind their sauces and vegetables by hand. Most of the small businesses are run by women. My friend Perpetua had a bakery. She baked bread for 4 traders in town and two schools. She also ran a small provision store which is like a convenience store. She cooked three meals a day. Washed her clothes by hand in two large metal basins. When I was first at Sandema she had a small girl, Madua, who did the cooking, the wash and she sometimes watched the store but Madua left.

It's often the woman's income that clothes the children and sends them to school. They  In "Half the Sky Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn say that men tend to spend their money to show off. They might throw a large party, or lavish robes but women usually reinvest their money in their families, businesses or communities. The book tells stories of women in Africa and Asia who have received aid and the good work they did with that help. Many of the stories in the book resonated with what I saw in Ghana. 

Green Leaves

Sometimes the flora was overwhelming. This plant was on the back path from my house to the administration building at the school in Sandema.One day the sun lit it up and I just had to snap it. 

Gigantic!

These plants were used as ornamental plants in Sandema. They greeted me at the door of my house in Sandema. They lined the foundation of the administration building. These plants were one of the few decorative touches in the harsh Upper East. 

These berries grew on a bush that my landlord used to mark the boundary of his yard. 

I was walking out in "the bush" one afternoon and found an almost dried up pond. This plant was growing all over the dried up area.

Okro (Okra) flower. 

Before I went to Ghana I hated okra-the only time I would eat it is in Gumbo. Well there are very few green veggies in Ghana so I learned to eat okro, their name for okra.  I learned to love Tee Zed and okro stew. 

The first time I saw an okra flower I was enchanted. It was so delicate and rose like. Something so beautiful on something that for so long I disliked!

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5 Stars (out of 5)

Mike Dreyfuss, Sonya Dugal and Julie Nguyen were Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana. They came in 2009. Sonya was one of my trainees. If you want to see the REAL Ghana then Peace Corps volunteers will show it to you. They know the best places to get local food and not get sick. They have traveled all over Ghana and know how to navigate the transportation system from goat carts to air conditioned buses. Pick up  The Ghana (Other Places Travel Guide) if you are planning a trip to Ghana.

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All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes

Travel back to when Ghana gained it independence. Ghana was the first African nation to earn its independence after colonization. On 6 March, 1957 Kwame Nkruma became the first president of Ghana.  He then called for the African Diaspora to come home.  Maya Angelou heeded the call. She and her college age son went to Ghana where he attended Legon-The University of Ghana.

It was very interesting to read her reactions to the new African democracy and the reactions of the Ghanaians to Maya Angelou.



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March Pass on 6th March

Sandema Senior High Technical School girls marching on 6th March. 6th March is Ghana's Independence Day. Ghana was the first African nation to gain their independence, on 6th March 1957. Like Independence day it is celebrated every year. The schools send teams of boys and girls to the regional capitol to March pass the dignitaries of the region. Unlike our independence Ghana never fired a shot to become independent of their British colonizers. Kwame Nkruma was the architect of this independence and Ghana's first elected President. 

For two weeks before the March pass teachers train students to march. The best students then are chosen to go the the regional capitol, where all other schools from Primary to Senior High School send their teams to march as well.  Kids love to do it because after waiting for hours in the hot sun and marching they are given a  Kalipo fruit drink, like Juicy Juice boxed juices in USA, and some biscuits, cookies!

Some schools,the girls,  will wave handkerchiefs as they walk past the dignitary stand. Boys will often do an elaborate salute and turn to face the dignitaries. 

Field Marshall at the Sandema, Upper East Region, Ghana - 6th March, 2009, celebration. .

Chief from a nearby village attending the Sandema, Upper East Region, Ghana - 6th March, 2009, celebration.

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