If Sweat rolling down my face and it is only 7:30 am! How is this possible? Crowds of people at Circle so thick I can’t seem to get anywhere. I’m going to be late for class and I can’t find the Legon tro-tro (i.e. bus). I know all I have to do is ask but today I refuse. Foolish stubborn pride. I want to instinctually know. I want desperately to belong. I want to shed bright white skin. Abandon awkwardness for the grace of a market woman with water on head and baby on back. Move my lips and have Twi leap forth. Can I will this to be so? For a moment I lose myself in the crowd, close my eyes and I am like every other Ghanaian. But then I hear it. The friendly greeting a gentle reminder. "Obruni, ete sen?" or "White man, how are you?"
The privileges, challenges and rewards of being a Trent-In-Ghana participant are significant. In spending eight months in Ghana as a foreigner from the West, as my introduction suggests, there were implicit demands and dilemmas to be faced. Never had I, for instance, been made so aware of my whiteness and relative wealth. Moreover, I struggled with the fact that as a Canadian I was able to work and learn abroad while most Ghanaians I met would never have this opportunity – international travel remains glaringly one directional (North to South). Ultimately, I would hope these issues not be dismissed as the naïve hang-ups of an over sensitive Trent student or mere philosophical fodder. Rather, they represent serious concerns that speak to a globalizing world where contradictions and inequalities are increasingly apparent. By living and working in Ghana I had the chance to address and reflect upon these concerns on a daily basis – a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience.
Studying at the University of Accra for the first portion of the program provided an excellent overview and introduction to relevant political, economic, and social issues in both Ghana and West Africa. At the Institute of African Studies we were taught by a variety of professors who specialized in different subject matter. We also had the fortune of having four Ghanaian students participating in the program; resulting in more dynamic and varied classroom discussion. It was refreshing to gain perspectives on developmental barriers and potential solutions from Ghanaian profs, classmates and even people on the street. (Many residents are all too familiar with what it means to live in a "Heavily Indebted Poor Country".) Ultimately, as many of us lived in different parts of sprawling Accra, the university proved to be a great place to come together to both study and socialize. I especially appreciated the tranquility of the campus – an island of sorts in a bustling capital city.
After Christmas break – during which many of us had the chance to visit other parts of Ghana and neighboring countries – we dispersed throughout the country to our work placements. I had the good fortune of working at Radio Ada and the Ada Teacher’s Training College. Radio Ada is a development focused radio station which broadcasts solely in the local language of Dangme. Using the participatory Community Scorecard method, Radio Ada had gathered information from residents in surrounding villages on issues of political accountability. I helped transfer this information into a report to be presented to the Ghanaian government as part of a nation-wide initiative headed by the Institute for Policy Alternatives. As we learned in IDS 200 at Trent, development projects all too often try to solve complex issues with overly technical approaches. Hence, it was exciting to be a part of an initiative that dealt directly with politics, power, and accountability. At the Ada teacher’s college I taught an introductory computer class five times a week. Both placements taught me patience, humility and respect for cultural difference. Moreover, it was rewarding to work with committed Ghanaians and gain first hand experience in the "development industry".
While ultimately I do not see myself working abroad in any permanent or long term capacity, I consider the Trent-In-Ghana exchange to have been an integral part of my undergraduate education. My commitment to not-for-profit work and social justice issues continues with my present work at Habitat for Humanity and recent application to law schools. I would highly recommend Trent-In-Ghana to anyone considering applying.