The metal bars that adorned the windows of the Anani Memorial school in the Nima neighborhood of Accra, Ghana, reminded me of old American jails—black, rusted, perfectly spaced for confinement. Except for this time, it was those on the outside of the building who were left looking almost like prisoners, gripping the bars and staring Read More …
Accra is a city defined by its dizzying contradictions, lively atmosphere, and friendly people. The chaos of Accra can be qualified by its honking tro tros, enthusiastic vendors, never-ending traffic, bumping music and huge markets. There are slums and mansions on the same street, goats and chickens walking on busy highways and even the people Read More …
This week Carlos, one of my Media in Ghana classmates who has an internship at Radio Univers, hosted the debut episode of his radio show called Abroad in Accra. The show is meant to give listeners a look at life in Accra from a variety of different perspectives. For his first episode, he had a Read More …
Before piling four people into the back of a tiny taxi, I turned around to take a final look at Accra’s National Theatre, shaped like the stern of a large boat, atop a stone foundation. We had just seen a play by the Ghanaian playwright Ebo Whyte, called “I Want Your Wife,” supposedly based on Read More …
Recently, the beloved Ghanaian playwright Ebo Whyte brought laugher to the National Theater while addressing the issue of false prophesies in his latest play I Want Your Wife. Five Americans all the way from Oregon were among the Ghanaians laughing along with every joke. We watched as Ben and Abena struggled with the prophecy which Read More …
Last night, I hosted my first radio show. It’s called “Abroad in Accra,” and it was broadcast live on 105.7 FM from the Radio Univers studio located on the campus of the University of Ghana. It’s a show I pitched to the station director that focuses on the international student’s experience living and studying abroad Read More …
I reached the Ghanaian parliament building at 9:45 and was supposed to meet my coworker, Patrick, at 10. I began walking down the extended road that led to the entrance and was stopped by a security guard with an Ak-47 on his back. He checked my bag and let me continue. The parliament building itself Read More …
On July 19, 2019, the two best national soccer teams in Africa will go head-to-head in Egypt’s Cairo International Stadium in the final match in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Last week, on July 8, I got to see firsthand the importance of soccer to the Ghanaians I work with and in the surrounding Read More …
Last Monday morning, in the middle of the first monsoon since we arrived, I got dropped off at my internship for the summer. Another girl from the program and I walked through the front door of Innova DDB, one of the 5 marketing organizations within the Ninnani group. She would be working for their PR Read More …
There should be a special word for that feeling you have when you walk into a situation with no expectations. It’s a mix of thrill and excitement with anxiousness on the side– and lots of contemplation of different scenarios in an effort to prepare for what’s to come. Whatever that word is, it is Read More …
While on a trip out of Accra to Cape Coast we had the wonderful opportunity to eat at a non-profit, NGO-run, vegetarian restaurant which used only organic and locally sourced food. The Baobab School for Trades and Traditional Arts was founded in 2001 and focuses on implementing development projects in Ghana. The Moringa Restaurant, where Read More …
“The past Is but the cinders Of the present; The future The smoke That escaped Into the cloud-bound sky.” – Kwesi Brew When French explorer and slave trader Jean Barbot visited Elmina Castle in 1682, he described the high stone walls as strong, beautiful and cannon-proof. He detailed the surrounding warehouses as being “stately and Read More …
As I stepped out of the air-conditioned Kotoka International Airport, the first thing that hit me was the overwhelming heat and humidity of Accra. I searched anxiously for the bus that would take me to my new home for the summer, noticing that everybody had a friendly smile on their faces. The positive attitude of 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 …