Accra, Ghana

It. Is. Hot. It feels like the high 90s most days and is humid. We were supposed to have two rooms at a guest house but the a/c only worked in one room so we ended up staying together with two of us sleeping on the floor. The parents are too old for this. 

Johanna visited Ghana 25 years ago with her friend Chloë and was excited to be back. We did the classic tour of the city to see the important monuments and museums, and learn about Kwame Nkrumah (the beloved first president, and an influential pan-Africanist), but we also went to the mall to see a movie (Sonic the Hedgehog, a classic) and to get some new clothes for the kids. 

We tried to do a street food tour at the famous Makola Market but the tour guide didn’t show up so we braved the market on our own. It was intense, especially because it was the middle of the day at peak heat. Still, it was a truly amazing experience. One highlight from the market was when someone recognized us from earlier in the week and yelled out for “Dennis and the family!” We are famous!

We also got out of the city one day and went to see the Shai Hills Nature Reserve (baboons everywhere!) and took a boat tour on the Volta river to see the Akosombo Dam.  The hydroelectric dam created Volta lake which covers 3.6% of the surface of Ghana, which is big! On the way we stopped by the Cedi Bead factory to see how glass is recycled to make handmade beads and were amazed about how much work it takes for each bead.

The kids and Dennis also took a short drum lesson – and considered buying a drum to go with the one that Johanna already owns from 25 years ago. 

After a week here, we discovered that Dev likes jollof rice, Johanna was happy to have red-red again, everybody still loves plantains, and Mira is happy the food here is spicy. Mira and Dev have also both been inspired by the strength and skill of (mostly) women carrying things on their heads and have been practicing the same. Though most everyone speaks English, Dennis has been studying Twi and practices whenever he can. 

Next we are heading west to Cape Coast.