Development?

Since I have been here, I have talked to many Ghanaians about my interest in development and I have realized that maybe this term means something different across cultures. In Ghana, I have found that most people are very content and happy in their daily lives. It is not to say they are not frustrated with certain inadequacies, but does it mean that I should hold out the vision of a new Ghana to be so convenient and developed as that of the US? Well, maybe not.

I spoke to a few Ghanaians about this and they reminded me that in the US many are in debt and live at a standard of living that is inflated due to credit lines that support vast sums of debt. In Ghana, this credit is difficult to come by and things are "pay as you go". Paul and Shadrack, Ghanaians, explained that although it would be nice for Ghana to have this purchasing power, it is not something they need for happiness.

As far as frustrations go, these two students at the university told me that though student voice is acknowledged when problems occur, it is not always addressed and is often neglected. This could be because of the high extend of demand for goods and services while a low supply exists; this creates a monopoly or imbalance of power in favor of producers. Thus, the system often doesn't change because Ghanaian consumers have little choice like we in the US.

But, both students were confident that Ghana will improve to fix the problems at hand. I really were inspired by their optimism and desire to hold fast to their nationality as Ghanaians.

I thought about their comments and considered that maybe its best to ensure that extreme poverty is eradicated and there is a comfortable health, food, education and housing standard through growth promotion. Beyond that, it might actually get ambiguous as to what more Ghanaians would need "developed". Maybe at that point it's best to allow their marketplace to determine that and restrain from imposing any outsider visions of development.

Some Cultural Exchange....

Yeah...this Ghanaian tried to get me to join his gym. After he lost the arm wrestling match, he didn't ask me to join any more. Hmmm, wonder why?

Two worlds...two perspectives?

I know this probably is not the case, but I am wondering of others' opinions on this. I would consider my living standards and life as fairly well off in the United States. For my family, friends, and provisions I am extremely thankful. Could my willingness to travel to and aid in development be due to my past provision?

For instance, citizens of developing countries may want to just improve their livlihoods to a level they have not yet seen. Perhaps that means moving to a higher status in their own country or moving to a more developed country. As I travel through Ghana, I mention that I am from the US and several would like to go there. I love the US as well, but they might want to see a better life for themselves there.

So, is it that those who have much to start will find it easier to give it up for something different? It seems to be a paradox but at least for me I feel I have been given many blessings and I want to help others with that. I am sure it could go the other way as well.

Cultural relevance: Can an outsider help?

I knew that by virtue of my interest in international development as a career it would obviously require that I interact with other cultures in order to understand them and help them any way I could. Now that I am actually in the developing country of Ghana I have found that although in Accra the cosmopolitan nature of the city waters down some cultural gaps, there is still a gap. In the rural areas it exists even more.

I started to wonder if an outsider should dedicate his life to international causes that require that the outsider or foreigner understand and work through the local culture. Would it be best for me to just stay at home (the US) and develop there?

Well, I asked a Ghanaian about this and he said that Ghana as well as other developing countries need help to a much greater extent than the US. He welcomed my efforts here.

So, I thought more and came to the conclusion that yes, an outsider should help if he or she has the heart. I have found that even domestic residents in Ghana don't have the heart to develop-- which is not bad, it's just that they have interests to better their own lives. In fact, cultural exchange is valued here and I am sure elsewhere too. New ideas are not rejected and you don't have to be the typical "insider" either to participate. My uniqueness is welcomed and as long as I take the time to understand the culture I can implement economic policy with that in mind. If you love people and lives, then culture is no barrier because love moves beyond all barriers and the human element never dissapoints.

Africa's Next Generation

These kids are from Wassa Domama, a small and poor village near Kakum National Park. They really love photos as you can tell. They also love to dance, sing, and learn new sports.

The First Challenges to Development

Throughout these last few weeks, some of the most pertinent problems of African development surfaced. These included a few general themes: the recent energy crisis, unemployment, and poverty. I spoke with Jimna, a second year student at the University of Ghana, about the recent energy crisis. He told me that because of repairs to the large dam in Ghana that supplies most of the electricity to the state, there are rolling blackouts affecting the whole country. He said that they could have made the repairs gradually before suffering as great a loss, but that this type of forward planning was not practiced and so it cost the state more. At the University, every five days the power will be cut for a 12 hour period. This is a similar schedule for the Accra region. Ghana, unlike other African countries, has accustomed itself to uninterrupted power over the last decade and so this is unusual for them as it slows their economy somewhat.

I spoke to Paul, a local Ghanaian and student of the University of Ghana, who said that he had been looking for an internship over the summer but could not find one. He said that most university students do not work while attending school—rather their parents cover all their expenses. Although tuition is subsidized by the state, this poses an access problem for the poor who cannot afford school if their parents are not wealthy. Paul said loans are hard to come by here which makes things more difficult because working while in school is a rare occurrence. Because parents pay for most of the expenses, they have more authority of their children’s actions and so Ghanaian children often are closer and more respectful of their parents than in the United States and other western nations.

I did travel to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, which is in the interior of Ghana at Kumasi. Here, I learned that about 80% of graduating seniors find jobs immediately. This is partly due to the national service requirement for all students of public higher education in Ghana. This service requirement is an 8 month internship for all graduates which they must complete prior to getting into their career. Supposedly this service defrays for subsidized tuition and gives the student practical job experience before looking for their own job. It seems pretty reliable and economically feasible.

Poverty is another aspect I had not yet experienced first hand until we traveled to the first rural village near Lake Bosomtwe. I met a child in primary school named Paul who struggled to pay school fees because his father was a local fisherman who had not been having the best catches lately. His father would catch fish early in the morning and try to sell the fish locally to make enough money to send his children to school. Paul said the fee was about 1 Ghana Cedi per day (equivalent of about $1 per day). Also, the dry season in Ghana kills the crops which makes harvests lower and sales lower. Traveling to several craft villages, children approached who begged for pens, bottles, and money. Although it didn’t seem like all were impoverished, they had certainly been conditioned to beg from foreigners in a certain way.

Ghana's cultural strength: Music, religion and family

This week was spent in a bunch of orientation lectures ranging from a variety of topics: archaeology, sociology, political economy, gender studies, music, religion, literature, language, and even environmental science. Some common themes ran throughout all these lectures. One of them was that music is a significant part of everyday life for the Ghanaians. One can participate in musical performances even by simply placing a coin on top of your head! Music is performed at funerals, festivals, and other events. African dance goes along with this, and we learned several traditional dances which were used also as religious honors.

On the subject of religion, this was also an important theme of the lectures. Religion is also key to Ghanaian society. Traditional, Muslim, and Christian religions coexist in this country, surprisingly in complete tolerance and peace. Talking to a Christian Ghanaian, I learned that some Christians will actually believe some of the traditional practices and vice versa. I also learned that sometimes Ghanaians in general are more accepting of other religions than they are of those who claim they are atheist. As I said before, Christianity is so open here. You will find catch phrases on all sorts of shops and markets. Some others I have discovered are: “Trust in God Car Repair”, “Have Faith Restaurant”, and “God’s Grace shop”. I met a Muslim Ghanaian student who was very happy to find that I was a committed Christian and explained that he was a committed liberal Muslim. Several sects of Islam exist in Ghana: Tijaniyya (traditional), Qadiriyy, Sunni Wahabbi, and Shiite. Before colonialism, Islam was the most important religion to West Africa. In the last 100 years, African Christians have adapted the religion to their society in order to solve African problems.

Lastly, the theme of extended family is the norm here. Rather than simply saying your family includes mom, dad, kids, and the dog, Ghanaians believe that family can include all extended relatives including tribal members. Family can be all those in a local village. Children are typically considered as such until they marry and parents generally have authority over their children until they pass away. Children are usually more respectful to the older generation in general as they always respectfully greet and obey adults.

Gender roles are changing in Ghana as well. According to a professor of gender studies, Christianity has improved opportunities for women to enter into the workplace and gain more liberty to choose their futures. Drinking and social vices in general are more shunned here. I have heard that only 10% at most at the University will drink and usually they don't want to be found publically repeating this same activity. Women especially are not to drink in public unless they want to be labeled something very disrespected.

An African language professor explained how some English phrases are used in Ghana, but mean something different. It’s actually pretty funny. If you say “stop flirting” you actually mean stop having an affair! “Sorry” actually means “I sympathize” and is not always used when you do someone harm. Also, never eat with your left hand or exchange with it as it is considered rude. Thank God I am right handed!

"Obruni!!"

Being a foreigner in Ghana has had it’s ups and downs. In the city and at the University of Ghana, it is more common to see foreigners (“obrunis”) so you will not get those fixated stares and surprised looks that you get in the rural areas. Children typically wave to us and in rural areas they run after us shouting “Obruni!!” The term is not derogatory, but is merely of curiosity and tradition—it means foreigner in Twi. I have learned to accept it and never really became frustrated because I came here expecting it. I enjoy giving attention to children who run up and touch my hairy skin for minutes and pick at my freckles wondering if they are mosquito bites! I haven’t gotten many people begging money from me as I had thought I would. Overall, Ghanaians are truly welcoming and helpful to foreigners as they go out of their way to please and direct us.

Beach and Church: Nice Combo

It’s been a few weeks since I had last written for the blog, but they have been filled with tons of orientation activities and events to get us acquainted with Ghana. Since I had last written, I have had the opportunity to meet with several Ghanaians and discuss perspectives with them. From this I have learned of more problems and struggles facing the Ghanaian people as they continue their path of development. I will post in sections that are related.

On Sunday, July 29 we visited a nearby Christian church. The church seemed very traditional to me (similar to a Lutheran or Methodist church). They had a bible study prior to the service and then had about a two and a half hour service thereafter. I got the opportunity to speak in front of the church and introduce our Education Abroad Program group of about 25 that was there. The congregation was very welcoming. I had perceptions of the church beforehand as one of the African American Baptist variety with tons of singing and dancing, but found quickly that this was not always the case in Africa as this service was very solemn and traditional.

Later that day we went to the LA Pleasure Beach and swam in the Ocean. I couldn’t believe I was swimming in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Africa. Things stopped for me there as I looked out over the water picturing myself on a map half way across the world from what I was used to. Yet, things seemed so familiar as I jumped and rode waves with the other Africans. I even met some Africans from Ivory Coast and Niger.