My perception of Africa was extremely skewed by the media in America. For a while, I thought there was nothing but safaris and deserts. A typical American view of Africa. I have to blame myself for thinking that way. It wasn’t until my roommate, Duane Harris, came to Ghana in 2017 that I learned Accra, Read More …
We started the day off by traveling twenty miles north of Cape Coast to Kakum National Park, a rainforest that spans 145 square miles and is home to various wildlife. To most people, having the opportunity to walk through a rainforest and explore its natural habitat is a coveted bucket list item. Thus, one would Read More …
Earlier this week we visited two of the slave “castles” on the coast of Ghana. Before arriving I did not think much of it. I had been to old prisons before and I felt aware of the ramifications of slavery, having grown up in the south. However, this trip, especially the visit to Elimina Castle Read More …
I don’t know exactly where to begin with this post. On Friday, we drove slightly more than three hours to Cape Coast. We made several stops along the way, but one was memorable. It was called Mid-Way Rest Stop. It consisted of restrooms, restaurant and store. What was unique about this rest stop was the Read More …
I can’t believe it’s been a week since I landed in Accra. From the humidity to the bustling traffic, these last few days have been a whirlwind. The greenery that surrounds the city has been a source of comfort, reminding me of the pine trees that decorate the Pacific Northwest. While the scenery of the Read More …
Hello, all! My name is Francis O’Leary. This September I’ll be beginning my second year at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon. This summer, though, I’m participating in the UO’s Media in Ghana program in Accra, Ghana along with 19 of my fellow SOJC students. After a week of orientation Read More …
As we approach the end of our first official week settling in Ghana, it has been one of the most eye-opening and humbling experiences that I have ever been a part of. I am utterly amazed by how friendly everyone is here. From arriving on that first Saturday night after a full day of travel, Read More …
While I have been in Ghana for the last couple of weeks, I was given the opportunity to have clothing hand made for me from cloth with traditional prints. Many years ago, the cloth was hand printed and unique, but because of the spread of globalization cloth is being mass-produced and shipped to Ghana to Read More …
Today we had the amazing opportunity to visit the Anani Memorial International School in Nima, a town that is known to be a little bit poorer compared to other towns and cities in Ghana. Nima is also famous for its huge market, Nima Market, where I hope to visit again to purchase crafts and goods Read More …
We touched down in Accra just five sweaty days ago and this sprawling city is beginning to feel familiar. On our ride over to the Nima Internation School today I was already recognizing streets and starting to understand how the neighborhoods connect. What I wasn’t expecting was the enchanting energy of the school kids. We Read More …
Today we went to a primary school in Nima, which is one of the more impoverished neighborhoods in Accra. Since being in Ghana I’ve heard on multiple occasions that Nima is a rough neighborhood. It’s a place that you don’t want to find yourself at night, and those who grow up in Nima are said Read More …
Ever since finding out about my internship placement with Joy Sports, I’ve been trying to figure out exactly which sports and leagues the people of Ghana follow and root for. Shortly after arriving in Accra, I found my answer. I looked up Joy Sports on Twitter and noticed that #AFCON, or Africa Cup of Nations Read More …
Well, we’re here. This first week has been a whirlwind of experiences and emotions. It’s been amazing so far, truly. The people in this group and the people of Accra have made this period of getting settled enjoyable, to say the least. Accra is unlike any city I have experienced before. The food is amazing, Read More …
A small group from the cohort and I went to the neighborhood known as Madina to watch the Ghana Black Stars take on Guinea-Bissau during the Africa Cup on July 3. The broadcast station Net-2 TV had set up a large outdoor screen for their live broadcast of the football match which was played in Read More …
1 Cancelled flight. 2 Missed connections. 3 Nights in a hotel. 4 Days Late. My journey to Ghana was anything but easy. Everything I imagined could go wrong seemed to go wrong. Ever since I was accepted into this incredible program, I have been extremely nervous about the trip. As one of the younger Read More …