There will be a record amount of volunteers in Ghana this summer taking part in a wide variety of projects across the country. Most have heard of Accra, the capital, or read about Kumasi in a guidebook. But the Akuapem Hills? Where is that?

Of the four regions our volunteers work in the least well known would probably be the Akuapem Hills, a rural area an hour and a half outside of Accra. But once they are there they fall in love with it! Since having a visual helps with going to any new place, I have posted two videos that will give volunteers headed there this summer a sense of the area and will hopefully bring back some memories for alumni. Enjoy!

The drive from the Projects Abroad office in Accra to the Akuapem Hills. Every volunteer in the Hills will make this drive after they first arrive in the country.

A great video of an assembly at the Holy Hills school in Kwamoso, Akuapem Hills. I just love all the smiles and energy of the kids!

Jessye with kids in Kwamoso, Ghana

By Jessye Crowe-Rothstein, Program Advisor

Over the past weeks I have been privileged to visit Accra, Cape Coast and the Akuapem Hills. I have met many volunteers and spent time visiting placements and getting to know our wonderful staff members in all of these regions. There are vast differences between the three regions I have visited, and volunteers thinking of coming to Ghana will find they have opportunities to visit a large range of environments. I spent my first week here in Accra, which is the very busy capital city of Ghana. Although many volunteers live within the city center we also have placements up to an hour away in many directions, so many volunteers find themselves in smaller towns yet with access to the big city. There are tons of volunteers in the Accra area this summer and it is a very social place, with opportunities to get together with other volunteers most evenings. I also went to a lively quiz night, which Tom hosts at our central office every Tuesday night. Volunteers tested their knowledge about Ghana, geography and many other various subjects.

Cape Coast made for a lovely weekend destination, and we were able to visit the famous slave castle as well as spend some time relaxing on the gorgeous beaches in the area. The past week in the Hills has been really fantastic, and quite a contrast from Accra. The Akuapem Hills region includes many small towns where our volunteers participate in a huge variety of placements. The landscape here is absolutely beautiful and the volunteers who are living here really can become a part of the communities in which they are based. For those who are looking for a slower pace of life, the Hills would be a great place to come and volunteer.

Tonight we are heading back to Accra for the end of the month party, a huge gathering in Accra which volunteers from all four regions will be attending! It has been a real pleasure to have the opportunity to visit Ghana and to begin to understand why it is our most popular destination!

Since we have a large number of medical volunteers going away with us this summer to placements all over the world, I asked Anna Koh who was a Medical volunteer that recently returned from Ghana to lend some advice to the new medical volunteers who are just departing. Take it away Anna!

By Anna Koh,

My medical experience in Ghana has been the most memorable. Before my departure, I had so many expectations- as well as unexpectations- from my placement in Cape Coast. Questions that ran through my mind were “Will I benefit from this?” “What will I learn just from observing and following the physicians around the hospital?” and even “Will I fit in??” After 2 weeks, the hospital was my second home; I felt comfortable enough to roam around the hospital and join any department I wished to see. Doctors, including nurses and administrative workers, were incredibly friendly and helpful. That was an unexpected considering the large number of patients each doctor must see in a day. My expectations were to form strong relationships with the doctors and to see as much as I could were met within the three months of work. I spent one to two weeks in each department-obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, radiology, orthopedics, and finally surgery.

In Ghana, it is tradition and respected to have large families and therefore majority of women have more than 5 children in their families. Family planning was one of the major issues in the department of OBGYN especially when a woman was at high risk of hemorrhaging and, as a result, death. Statistically, it has been known that infant and maternal mortality has been quite high in Ghana. For these complications between culture and medicine, there is a high demand for doctors in OBGYN. Everyday, there was just so much to see, in the wards and in the surgical theater, for it was such a large department. This is a one of the places I would encourage all volunteers to see in Ghana.

More photos and advice after the jump

At Pediatrics, I began to learn that children were more prone of being infected with Malaria, Gastroenteritis, and Typhoid because of their suppressed immune system and ongoing biological development. It was amazing to see these children with such high fevers so strong and happy.

Anna in Radiology

At the small department of Radiology, we had the luxury of an air-conditioned room but an old yet useful ultrasound machine that helped diagnose over 40 patients a day. We were dealing with a wide range of different cases from obstetric scan, for fetus age and condition, to abdominal scans, for gallbladder stones and jaundice, to pelvic scans, for fibroids in the uterus and prostate complications. There were endless complications that were to be seen in this department.

It was most difficult to join the surgical theater as the surgical team required strict sanitation practice to prevent transmission in and out of the theater. Not only was that a major issue, they were always lacking surgical wear! (I would highly recommend volunteers to bring their own scrubs). Luckily, I was still able to watch over 15 different surgical operations. In the end I learned that it was effort that got me to where I was (more than anything). From that, I was pleased to notice that doctors felt more encouraged to teach me and show me more. That was more than I expected. Also, when in doubt, always ask questions even if you think they are stupid ones…it’ll only show that you actually want to learn.

Anna with the Surgical team of Dr. Chernev, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Toboh

Aside from my medical experience, my host family was so lovely. I will always feel nostalgic for food-spring rolls, fanice (frozen vanilla yogurt), and homemade fried yam balls- Ghanian music, tros-tros, and the feeling of a celebrity. I hope, one day, I may come back with a medical degree to contribute even more.

We all at Projects Abroad would like to send a belated birthday shout out to the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s Independence!

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan nation to attain independence from colonial rule in 1957 and Independence Day on March 6th, 2007 kicked off twelve months of celebrations to mark the 50th year of independence. Since then Ghana has been heralded as a beacon of stability and sustainable development on a continent plagued by corrupt governance, economic stagnation and civil strife. The Golden Jubilee is certainly a momentous occasion and a great moment not only for Ghana but also for Africa. In the words of Tom Davis, our Country Director in Ghana, “Ghana has been the star of Africa, in championing the campaign for freedom.”

Having read accounts of the celebration of Ghana’s golden jubilee it sounds like it was a rocking good time! For our volunteers, staff members or anyone who was in Ghana, how did you celebrate? How were the festivities? Feel free to comment on your experiences!

Photo from Ghana’s Independence Day Parade