My name’s Alan Partridge-Knowing me, knowing you- A HA

Accra, the capital city of Ghana is pronounced AccRA- ( as in a HA), not ACCra- as in “sacre (bleue)”.

And so began  my first lesson of the week of In Country Training- or ICT- run by VSO for all new volunteers. The week’s emphasis was on learning and preparation, not sightseeing.  I am one of six arrivals, and coupled with four seasoned volunteers who hosted the week and ran some of the workshops, the collective team ‘s impressive range of skills and experiences in public, private and “third”/charity and voluntary sectors, plus previous volunteering roles made for a bracing mix of optimism and idealism blended with down to earth realism and plenty of good humour.

Staff from VSO Ghana and additional tutors ran other sessions, on the country’s history and politics, cultures and religions and VSO practices for working in development.

Although English is the official and widely used language, at least 46 African languages and 76 dialects are spoken.  Four tutors appeared for our language sessions.  Nicole and I, who are placed in Zebilla, near Bolgatanga in the Upper East region, were coached in Kusaal to engage in basic phrases of greeting and introduction.  Up to now I have managed to remember “Fu be be” which translates as “Good Morning”, responding “La fu be,” and “Mam yuri a Janice.”

 

 

Fellow volunteer, Nicole and me with our language tutor, Osman,

Down-town Accra was mostly seen through windows of taxis or the much cheaper “tro-tro” minibuses.  The vehicle would speed, or crawl, depending on traffic volume, down a three line carriageway carrying the main ring road over markets and settlements, then suddenly turn off onto an unmade red dirt track. An impression of smart offices, shops and occasional hotels  would be succeeded by small wooden trading booths, tended open fires roasting ground nuts, sweet corn, meat and other tasty snacks, and road-way traders,  walking along the carriageway whenever  traffic halted, elegantly balancing all manner of food, soft drinks, clothing and household items on heads and across arms.