West African women, men, locals and obroni alike adorn themselves with necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry made of beautifully coloured glass beads. Bracelets made in Ghana of recycled glass This jewelry is typically inexpensive and one can own quite a few pieces and match your clothing with something different each day. Many people purchase loose beads and make their own…

“You are welcome.” Three words that I hear several times a day. It is a form of greeting that encompasses Ghanaian hospitality. When I enter a store or visit a Ghanaian’s house, their first words are “You are welcome”. If I walk into a room where people are eating, they invite me to join – “You are welcome”. I have…

Whenever I complain about driving in Accra, someone tells me how much worse it is in other African countries. I cannot imagine how much worse it could be. The first rule of driving in Accra is that you must start with the premise that everyone else on the road is crazy. That way you won’t be surprised at whatever happens…

I pride myself as someone who is difficult to surprise, but two things came as a shock to me as I began to learn the art of shopping in Ghana. The first was that most of the brands in the grocery were unfamiliar. I know, this was pretty naive of me, but in our part of the world it is…

Each time I told someone I was moving to Ghana, the response would be the same. “You’re moving where?” “I’m going to Ghana.” “Guyana?” “No, Ghana …. in Africa.” “How do you feel about THAT?”