Accra accommodation, culture & volunteering in Ghana
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
In 2001, Ghana was classified internationally as a ‘Highly Indebted Poor Country’ HIPC. Consequently, as one of the poorest developing nations, initiatives that put the environment first are still in their infancy; and relevant information, services and products are not generally available.
Nevertheless, in what we do, we aim to protect and to minimize any negative impact on our environment. We place an ‘Akwaaba’ information sheet in each apartment and continue to ask guests to be energy efficient.
DIY recycling is essential in a developing nation like Ghana, and we compost all our raw peelings, which we then use seasonally to fertilize and replant. This enables us to continue to grow some of our own food, while buying the rest from nearby farmers, through the community markets.
Also, in keeping, we actively discourage air-conditioning and have instead used basic, naturally cooling building techniques, including super-sized windows and vaulted ceilings. Outside, in the compound garden, in place of heat-absorbing concrete, we have mostly grass, many trees, and an array of different species of local flowers.
We also harvest and use as much rain water as possible, and use only energy saving light bulbs throughout the compound. We ensure that our visitors support our efforts by providing them with simple information sheets explaining how to conserve our water and use electricity with care. In 2005 we connected a solar lighting system for the compound, which we hope to use as a backup to the electricity mains. We gladly welcome any information and technical advice on how to maintain and maximize its use. We collect rain water during the rainy seasons, for household and garden use, in two large water tanks. We are not connected to the Government mains water system, and are particularly careful with our use of water.
Community
We are known in our community for promoting a healthy, sustainable lifestyle through our ‘ital’ vegetarian café, which offers mostly vegan foods and fresh juices, partly sourced from local small businesses, and retailed at locally affordable prices.
Supporting the local economy, by working exclusively with local crafts and trades people, as well as cultural artistes, has enabled us to furnish and fit our apartments to reflect the natural beauty of Ghanaian culture.
Our visitors are able to enjoy a more realistic experience of Ghana due to both our location and size. You can find us on the border between the rural outskirts and the bustling town-life of Accra, and away from the distortions of culture offered by more tourist-focused areas. We are surrounded by local villages, farming communities, and the small towns that make up ordinary every-day life in Ghana. Although our compound is large, our enterprise is relatively small and allows only a handful of visitors at a time, who can easily blend into neighbourhood life.
We encourage our visitors to ‘get into the mix’ and travel with local people, taking the public transport of the train or ‘trotro’ buses into central Accra, particularly as we are close to a train station for one of the few train lines now operating in the country. For those visitors interested in learning more from the culture, we arrange lessons in one of the local languages, organic farming or tie n dye workshops, amongst other activities; as well as arranging for local ‘escorts’ when requested.
To protect and promote local economic development, we do not encourage visitors to bring unwanted clothing or any other waste items when they visit, but instead to support community businesses by using local tailors, and crafts or trades people. If they wish to make helpful donations, then we urge them to assist us in supporting our local schools to improve sanitation and recreation facilities.
We have also developed a relationship with a local orphanage in our area, at Ayawaso– Village of Hope, which cares for orphans and street children; providing vocational training for the teenagers, as well as feeding programs in Accra. We donate basic items, such as soap and sheets, when we can; and support their vocational training program by purchasing their craft work. We can arrange volunteering opportunities for interested guests at the Ayawaso orphanage in a range of activities including teaching, farming and construction.
1of2
