By: Stephen Ssenkaaba
The doors to the 3rd Floor, East Slip apartment in East Legon are now closed to us. Our rooms are empty, the desolate furniture, now stairs up the pristine white walls at both the “girls” and “boys” side- perhaps wondering, just like we did a few weeks ago, how everything happened so quickly. As we reminisce on our recently concluded internship experience in Ghana, it is not too early to think about the next cohort- the SOJC students that will participate in the Media in Ghana study program next year. This reflection is dedicated to Media in Ghana Cohort 2023.
When the call comes embrace it.
Apply to this program with more gusto than ambivalence. And when selected to participate, jump for joy. There will be trepidation about traveling to a new country on a new continent. There will be the temptation to believe what you have heard other people speak about Ghana and Africa in the news. Nothing will beat the personal experience of visiting this country in person to see and experience everything for yourself. Once you are there, you realize that a lot of what you heard is not true. And every story you have heard about this place before is a nuanced untold backstory. Pay attention to the untold story. You will learn and enjoy a lot more than anyone will have told you before. You will be glad you came on this trip.
Preparation is everything.
Read and research Ghana and Africa. Talk to people who have visited or lived in the country. As you prepare for the trip, heed Prof. Leslie Steeves’s advice on what to carry, where to look for materials, and how to go about situations. All information that you get about Ghana will come in handy. You will enjoy your stay more with better preparation.
Make the most of the Spring prep class
As part of the preparation for this program, you will be required to take a Media in Ghana class during the Spring term before your travel date. The requirement is that every student enrolled in the program take the class for at least one credit. This calls for attendance, a co-presentation, and posting a weekly blog on https://ghana.uoregon.edu/, the program’s online platform once the internship starts in Ghana. This class is helpful as it motivates you to read and find out a lot more about Ghana. It also helps to clear up so many uncertainties. The class material is fun, and compelling and keeps your interest and curiosity growing too. It sets the stage for a life-changing experience.
Learn one or two phrases in Twi.
You will go through Twi language classes to acquaint yourself with the most widely spoken local language in Ghana. It is an interesting language with phrases that will require you to remember and do some minor practice. No one will expect you to be an expert at the language and there is no pressure to master and use the language while in Accra. But if you can remember a few Twi words while in Ghana and use them appropriately, they can help serve as a conversation starter with the local people. Ghanaians also smile when visitors try to speak to
them in one of their local languages. Such things help to maintain warmth and a friendly atmosphere during your stay in Ghana.
Jump on that Tro Tro
Accra, the Ghanaian capital is a traffic-heavy city. All kinds of cars dot the streets and the countryside roads. As you settle in, you will find it necessary to navigate transport to work. There is Uber, Bolt, and Yango. Convenient, private albeit slightly pricy transport options for tourists and visitors like you. And then the Tro Tro. This is the ordinary person’s means of transport. Cheap- anywhere 5-10 Cedis to Accra. Somewhat simple, might take longer to get you to town than a private taxi and is often not as comfortable as Uber or Bolt. And yet, the Tro Tro is easily the most interesting means to experience Accra for in it you will meet a diverse group of people: the hustlers, the corporate class, the students, parents, elders, and the youth. In the Tro Tro, you will likely discover a new dialect, listen to random conversations, and devise a creative way to communicate with the driver’s assistant without trying to fake a Twi accent. The best way to get around Accra is by Tro Tro. Try it.
Go slow on the Okada.
Those motorbikes you see zooming around the city are called “Okada”. They are an alternative means of transport, usually for those that are in a hurry to get to their destinations. The temptation to jump to one might creep in when you find yourself running late for something. Do not feed the urge to get on an Okada. They are fast, but often times prone to accidents. You do not want to risk a life-changing experience with the Okada.
Enjoy Ghana while Ghana lasts
The Media in Ghana internship program is meant to teach you- not just about the academic stuff- like the media dynamics in an African context, politics in an emerging economy, or any other such things. It is also an opportunity to learn from nearly all aspects of life- cultural, social, and many other ways. You will attend seminars, work in a real newsroom, PR or advertising company, go visiting fun places, dance, eat, cry and even play. Don’t think about this program in only academic terms. Think about it as a fun way to experience another culture while learning. Make the most of it. And remember that it will be over before you realize it.
Akwaaba Cohort 2023