One of the questions I’m often asked is, “Who owns the land.” Like many questions about Ghana, it’s difficult to answer.
Continue reading It’s a Family Affair →

We get out of the tros-tros in Nsawkaw and I point out the pineapple for sale to my friend. “I want to get one,” I tell her, and we cross the street.
Continue reading A Visit to Bui →

At first we were going to leave early in the morning. Then Stephen said he wanted to leave after church. It wasn’t my first choice, but the guy is giving up almost an entire week to go to this thing, during harvest season, and that’s not a small sacrifice by him and his family.
Continue reading Simple Twists of Fate →

There’s a dilemma that many volunteers here face. That’s whether or not to go to church. Like many, I didn’t like the idea. I understood that it could be useful for integrating into the community, but it’s uncomfortable…I didn’t like the idea of participating in what I see as the eradication of the indigenous spiritual culture.
Continue reading Make a Joyful Noise →

A wise woman once told me that if you dug deep enough into any of the seven deadly sins, you’d probably find pride at the kernel.
Continue reading Bodily Fluid →

Earlier in the week, they told me that the farmers’ cooperative would have a meeting today at 7 am, and I was eager to go.
Continue reading Co-op Meeting →

I had big plans for the weekend.
Continue reading Pancakes, Cops and Robbers, and Popcorn Riots →

“There is no story that is not true,” said Uchendu. “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
— from Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Monday is market day in Sampa; I usually wake when I hear Esther stirring and leaving early to sell yams. But today, my 5am alarm went off and I hadn’t yet heard her. I’m usually up well before five myself, but set the alarm anyway out of habit.
Continue reading One Day →