Ghana: Day 9
Are you sick of me yet? :P
Day 9: Many Meetings
Today we started with a tour of the University of Ghana. It was founded by the British in 1948. For some reason, they brought in Japanese planners and architects to design the campu, and darned if I didn't think I was in Kyoto as I looked at the buildings. The university boasts a multitude of study areas, including African history as researched by African scholars rather than by Europeans. The campus is lively, as was the university book store. Fortunately, they didn't take credit cards. Heh.
Our next two tour stops in Aburi were both botanical in nature. First we visited the first cocoa farm in Ghana. It was founded by Tetteh Quashie. He was taken to Equatorial Guinea as a plantation worker and while there, he was introduced to the cocoa plant. After learning of its myriad used, he smuggled some seeds back to Ghana and started the farm. Cocoa pods are amazing as they'll grow from any part of the plant. Break or a stem, a pod will start growing in its place. They even grow on the bark. We also got to see how they prepare the beans for processing. The cocoa industry is government owned, so farmers sell their harvest directly to the state.
Next were the Botanical Gardens in Aburi. The grounds used to be a zoo where the animals roamed free, including the lions. Umm, yeah, no. The trees were gorgeous, though I can't recall half of what we saw. Enjoy the pictures!
With our tour day finished, we headed to Accra Mall to meet my coworker's cousin's husband. The drove us to his and his wife's home for a home-cooked meal. The food was delicious and the company was wonderful. I presented Akosua with a hostess gift - a scarf I had made - and she gave me something in return! Having an opportunity to see how real (if well off) Ghanaians live was an invaluable opportunity.
Mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27102801@N05/sets/72157627389462728/
Dad's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27102801@N05/sets/72157627264221525/
Day 9: Many Meetings
Today we started with a tour of the University of Ghana. It was founded by the British in 1948. For some reason, they brought in Japanese planners and architects to design the campu, and darned if I didn't think I was in Kyoto as I looked at the buildings. The university boasts a multitude of study areas, including African history as researched by African scholars rather than by Europeans. The campus is lively, as was the university book store. Fortunately, they didn't take credit cards. Heh.
Our next two tour stops in Aburi were both botanical in nature. First we visited the first cocoa farm in Ghana. It was founded by Tetteh Quashie. He was taken to Equatorial Guinea as a plantation worker and while there, he was introduced to the cocoa plant. After learning of its myriad used, he smuggled some seeds back to Ghana and started the farm. Cocoa pods are amazing as they'll grow from any part of the plant. Break or a stem, a pod will start growing in its place. They even grow on the bark. We also got to see how they prepare the beans for processing. The cocoa industry is government owned, so farmers sell their harvest directly to the state.
Next were the Botanical Gardens in Aburi. The grounds used to be a zoo where the animals roamed free, including the lions. Umm, yeah, no. The trees were gorgeous, though I can't recall half of what we saw. Enjoy the pictures!
With our tour day finished, we headed to Accra Mall to meet my coworker's cousin's husband. The drove us to his and his wife's home for a home-cooked meal. The food was delicious and the company was wonderful. I presented Akosua with a hostess gift - a scarf I had made - and she gave me something in return! Having an opportunity to see how real (if well off) Ghanaians live was an invaluable opportunity.
Mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27102801@N05/sets/72157627389462728/
Dad's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27102801@N05/sets/72157627264221525/