by Rahul Kitchlu, MBA '09
So we are here. After a long flight in from Boston and the airport adventures – this is it. The first sight, the first smell, the first taste of the motherland. Africa we are here. Accra is more than a political capital of Ghana. Its been at the forefront of an ideological and cultural movement of the country and of the large West African region. Ever since Kwame Nkrumah awakened the Pan-African consciousness, Accra has taken a unique place in the history of this varied counry.
We checked into our hotel – Novotel Accra at about noon and followed on to our first on the grounds debrief as a group. After that, the first order of business was food. And what better way to divulge into the African adventure with a hearty mean of chicken fufu! Novotel was a gracious host for our travel ravaged appetites.
Some of us proceeded to our rooms for some much needed R and R and others, the few, the brave could not wait to get out and meet the masses. What better way to get into the understanding of the country with a trip to the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum in the center of the city. We walked around the monument erected in the memory of the great leader and also saw many hidden links of this city’s historic past. A mango tree planted by Kofi Annan and some other trees planted by French premier.
We also toured the Accra Art Center by the beach to get a quick lesson in the colors of this land and not to mention a lesson or two in bargaining. A quick drink of freshly picked and diced-in-front-of-you coconut fruit was a fulfilling treat for the heat of the afternoon. Once we got back to the hotel it was time for the real introduction to Ghana with a home cooked meal at Aunty Adjei’s place.
|
