“You will love it there”

September 17, 2012 by trialsofladyghana 3 Comments

When we told them that we would be moving to Ghana, most people were happy for us. We weren’t and I feel bad about it.

We had been looking for jobs anywhere but in Africa, but the doors seemed to remain closed. We dreamt of skiing in Switzerland, of cycling along the Potomac in Washington D.C. or learning how to cook in Vietnam. After five years of dealing with post-conflict countries, I felt we deserved it.

Settling for Ghana seemed like a compromise. Like I was being robbed of my chance of a more normal life.

But Ghana is different, or so everybody claimed. It is more developed, more stable. “You will love it there”, was the most common thing we heard when we told people of our decision.

I was very nervous when I stepped off the plane. As we were introduced to our new colleagues, everyone was friendly, positive and welcoming. I smiled a lot but felt like a fraud, quietly praying that no-one would sense my disappointment.

For all the good things you hear about Ghana, it is not that developed. Sure you can find a number of well-stocked grocery stores, South African wines, even a massive shopping mall, but it is far behind South Africa or Kenya in terms of infrastructure or service delivery. Accra is chaotic, ugly, and dusty, and it does not draw on its beaches, giving it zero tourist appeal.

What Ghana does have for itself is safety. It feels stable and Ghanaians make a point of saying that their country is not a mess like Nigeria. Here’s hoping that the upcoming presidential elections in December will prove them right. I have been walking on my own at day and evening time and some people look at me but nobody stares. Nobody shouts “Obruni!” (the Ghanaian equivalent of Mzungu-the foreigner). I almost feel normal here and it is SO nice.

And Ghanaians are really friendly. In fact, it is possibly the friendliest place in Africa I have so far been to. People are gentle, they greet you with a smile, they are spontaneous and offer you help when you look like you need it and they seem to generally trust each other.

Maybe the settling in will be easier than expected…

Accra’s main shopping street, Oxford street in Osu