| At Home in Ghana by F. Anderson |
Travel
I traveled from Austin, Texas. I flew Deltas new
non-stop service to Accra from JFK. The flight
was a smooth 9.5 hours and I was upgraded to
business class because it was already a full flight.
We arrived in Accra on a hazy morning
an hour late after departing JFK 2 hours late. The
airport is small. It took only half an hour from the
time I stepped off the plane to the time I left the
airport! A friend met us at the airport and the
drive to the La Palm hotel was 15-20 minutes.
Departing Accra was chaotic! The Delta Airline
staff did a great job processing the travelers
I traveled from Austin, Texas. I flew Deltas new
non-stop service to Accra from JFK. The flight
was a smooth 9.5 hours and I was upgraded to
business class because it was already a full flight.
We arrived in Accra on a hazy morning
an hour late after departing JFK 2 hours late. The
airport is small. It took only half an hour from the
time I stepped off the plane to the time I left the
airport! A friend met us at the airport and the
drive to the La Palm hotel was 15-20 minutes.
Departing Accra was chaotic! The Delta Airline
staff did a great job processing the travelers
I traveled to Ghana with a close personal friend who is Ghanaian, I but chose to stay at a hotel because two
weeks is too long for me to stay as a guest in anyone’s home. I need my space. I should also note that after
being in Ghana for a week I tried calling Delta to extend my stay.
weeks is too long for me to stay as a guest in anyone’s home. I need my space. I should also note that after
being in Ghana for a week I tried calling Delta to extend my stay.
considering this is such a new service. I applaud Delta for taking this step. When departing, expect delays
because the same plane that brings you to Accra will take you back to JFK. So if there is a delay at JFK or
any weather issues be patient. Since we were delayed 5 hours departing Accra, virtually everyone missed
their connecting flights at JFK. Because it was a weather delay the airline did not reimburse hotel
expenses. However, I’d purchased travel insurance. I was reimbursed for my hotel, meals, and
transportation that resulted from the travel delay. Please purchase travel insurance!
because the same plane that brings you to Accra will take you back to JFK. So if there is a delay at JFK or
any weather issues be patient. Since we were delayed 5 hours departing Accra, virtually everyone missed
their connecting flights at JFK. Because it was a weather delay the airline did not reimburse hotel
expenses. However, I’d purchased travel insurance. I was reimbursed for my hotel, meals, and
transportation that resulted from the travel delay. Please purchase travel insurance!
Hotel Accomodations
The La Palm hotel was my refuge at
the end of the day. I was quite
comfortable there. It was worth every
penny. The rate ($140) included full
breakfast buffet and taxes. The hotel
had everything on the premises except
the one thing I needed - an ATM.
There was a Shell station across the
highway from the hotel casino that had
an EcoBank ATM that accepted VISA
debit and credit cards. You could also
exchange currency at the hotel’s
reception desk. The hotel accepted
traveler’s checks as a form of payment
but not for exchange.
The La Palm hotel was my refuge at
the end of the day. I was quite
comfortable there. It was worth every
penny. The rate ($140) included full
breakfast buffet and taxes. The hotel
had everything on the premises except
the one thing I needed - an ATM.
There was a Shell station across the
highway from the hotel casino that had
an EcoBank ATM that accepted VISA
debit and credit cards. You could also
exchange currency at the hotel’s
reception desk. The hotel accepted
traveler’s checks as a form of payment
but not for exchange.
The hotel was oceanfront but sat elevated above the ocean, not directly on the beach and was enclosed so
there was no direct access to the beach. I was equally impressed with the round-the-clock security the hotel
maintained to ensure its guests are secure and people don’t wander in from the street soliciting hotel guests.
The rooms were clean and spacious. The only thing I did not like was the bedspread had soiled stains on it.
Although I sent it back to housekeeping for another (clean) the same bedspread was sent back. So I didn’t
use the bedspread. The floors are tiled and housekeeping did a great job cleaning. Each guest room gets a
can of Raid insect spray to ward off the mosquitoes that come into the room whenever the door is opened.
there was no direct access to the beach. I was equally impressed with the round-the-clock security the hotel
maintained to ensure its guests are secure and people don’t wander in from the street soliciting hotel guests.
The rooms were clean and spacious. The only thing I did not like was the bedspread had soiled stains on it.
Although I sent it back to housekeeping for another (clean) the same bedspread was sent back. So I didn’t
use the bedspread. The floors are tiled and housekeeping did a great job cleaning. Each guest room gets a
can of Raid insect spray to ward off the mosquitoes that come into the room whenever the door is opened.
Food prices at the hotel are much cheaper than the
US and other countries but have the typical hotel
mark-up. There are a variety of both local and
continental dishes available. So if you can’t acquire
the taste for Ghanaian dishes you will survive.
Weather
The weather was a perfect 75-78 degrees the
entire 2 weeks. No rain and virtually no humidity.
It was just a bit hazy some days. Except for one
or two coming into the room in the evening,
mosquitoes were not an issue. I did take the
precaution of using some Off spray and a lotion
containing Deet.
US and other countries but have the typical hotel
mark-up. There are a variety of both local and
continental dishes available. So if you can’t acquire
the taste for Ghanaian dishes you will survive.
Weather
The weather was a perfect 75-78 degrees the
entire 2 weeks. No rain and virtually no humidity.
It was just a bit hazy some days. Except for one
or two coming into the room in the evening,
mosquitoes were not an issue. I did take the
precaution of using some Off spray and a lotion
containing Deet.
I believe January was the perfect time to visit Ghana. During the summer may be a different story!
Activities
I visited the Dubois Museum, the Nkrumah Museum, the Arts and Crafts Center, Makola Market, The
Cape Coast, the Elmina Slave Castles, Kokrobite Village, Kokrobite Village school and clinic, the village
Chief at Kokrobite, a local nightspot called Mojo Lounge, Asphalt Street, and of course the homes of a few
friends and their families.
Activities
I visited the Dubois Museum, the Nkrumah Museum, the Arts and Crafts Center, Makola Market, The
Cape Coast, the Elmina Slave Castles, Kokrobite Village, Kokrobite Village school and clinic, the village
Chief at Kokrobite, a local nightspot called Mojo Lounge, Asphalt Street, and of course the homes of a few
friends and their families.
Good things to know
1. Forget traveler’s checks! Use debit or
credit card at ATMs to get Cedis (Ghana’
s currency). Having traveler’s checks
was the worst inconvenience. Barclays
bank cashes traveler’s checks, but I
could never get to the bank during
business hours.
2. Do yourself a favor and exchange
cash for three million Cedis instead of
being preoccupied with finding an ATM.
You go through more Cedis than you
realize. Three million Cedis should last
about a week.
3. Immigration and customs questioned
1. Forget traveler’s checks! Use debit or
credit card at ATMs to get Cedis (Ghana’
s currency). Having traveler’s checks
was the worst inconvenience. Barclays
bank cashes traveler’s checks, but I
could never get to the bank during
business hours.
2. Do yourself a favor and exchange
cash for three million Cedis instead of
being preoccupied with finding an ATM.
You go through more Cedis than you
realize. Three million Cedis should last
about a week.
3. Immigration and customs questioned
My Observations
Shame on the Ghanaian “powers-that-be” for
not doing a better job at promoting travel to
Ghana. I found that internet information is very
limited when researching Ghana. While I
understand that Ghana does not wish to become
over-commercialized, but African Americans
should know about this jewel of a country. The
50th Anniversary shouldn’t be the main focal
point of promoting tourism.
Ghana the country is economically poor. The
people however are rich in spirit, culture, and
history.
Shame on the Ghanaian “powers-that-be” for
not doing a better job at promoting travel to
Ghana. I found that internet information is very
limited when researching Ghana. While I
understand that Ghana does not wish to become
over-commercialized, but African Americans
should know about this jewel of a country. The
50th Anniversary shouldn’t be the main focal
point of promoting tourism.
Ghana the country is economically poor. The
people however are rich in spirit, culture, and
history.
the contents of the heavy box. I answered school and supplies for the village clinic and school. I was not
searched or asked to open the box.
4. When taking a taxi negotiate! If you’re traveling during the summer you may opt for a hotel taxi with air
conditioning.
5. Hotel tours are expensive. Hire a personal driver to Elmina and don’t get stuck on a tour bus where you
can’t see in front of you. It’s a 3 hour drive, but a personal taxi/driver is half the cost and stops anywhere
you wish. Again, negotiate!
searched or asked to open the box.
4. When taking a taxi negotiate! If you’re traveling during the summer you may opt for a hotel taxi with air
conditioning.
5. Hotel tours are expensive. Hire a personal driver to Elmina and don’t get stuck on a tour bus where you
can’t see in front of you. It’s a 3 hour drive, but a personal taxi/driver is half the cost and stops anywhere
you wish. Again, negotiate!
| The Cape Coast Fisherman |
Make the effort to immerse yourself. Bring something from home: a box of schools supplies, digital scales
for a village school or clinic, etc are very much appreciated. I packed and brought a 62 lb. (excess weight,
limit to 50lbs) box of schools supplies full of notebooks, pens, pencils, bond paper, crayons, markers, and
rulers. The level of appreciation from the village school principals went beyond words. Don’t just hand
out used western pop culture items like designer tennis shoes or hip-hop CDs. (I know people who actually
did this.) Also, over the counter children’s medicine goes a long way in a remote village. Most importantly,
don’t subscribe to the common, stereotypical stories heard here in the US. I didn’t experience any harsh
begging, or people or children constantly begging and clinging. Although this is a reality, I did not
experience it.
for a village school or clinic, etc are very much appreciated. I packed and brought a 62 lb. (excess weight,
limit to 50lbs) box of schools supplies full of notebooks, pens, pencils, bond paper, crayons, markers, and
rulers. The level of appreciation from the village school principals went beyond words. Don’t just hand
out used western pop culture items like designer tennis shoes or hip-hop CDs. (I know people who actually
did this.) Also, over the counter children’s medicine goes a long way in a remote village. Most importantly,
don’t subscribe to the common, stereotypical stories heard here in the US. I didn’t experience any harsh
begging, or people or children constantly begging and clinging. Although this is a reality, I did not
experience it.
The Ghanaian People
Ghanaians are the main reason I’ll return to
Ghana. I love them! They are hospitable,
nurturing, genuinely pleasant, eternally grateful
for their blessings, easy-going, positive, and
smart people. Of all my world travels I’ve never
felt as much “at home” as I did in Ghana.
Ghanaians want to entertain you in their home.
They want you to have a good time. They want
to feed you and know you as a person. They
want us to know our history. Ghanaians want
you to know they love their Black American
brother, but not necessarily the ways of the
American government. I felt loved and
welcomed. Ghana was FANTASTIC!
Ghanaians are the main reason I’ll return to
Ghana. I love them! They are hospitable,
nurturing, genuinely pleasant, eternally grateful
for their blessings, easy-going, positive, and
smart people. Of all my world travels I’ve never
felt as much “at home” as I did in Ghana.
Ghanaians want to entertain you in their home.
They want you to have a good time. They want
to feed you and know you as a person. They
want us to know our history. Ghanaians want
you to know they love their Black American
brother, but not necessarily the ways of the
American government. I felt loved and
welcomed. Ghana was FANTASTIC!