Monthly Archives: January 2011

Rose and her new oven

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Rose is a member of our Entrepreneur’s Club. She bakes pastries for us when we hold our Open Forums. This means she is baking at least 150 pastries to arrive by 9 a.m. These pastries are filled with a little meat, which was a surprise for me. I was expecting a fruit turnover. This trip I carried two cans of cherry pie filing and I gave both cans to Rose the day before the Open Forum. I asked her to try filling some of her pastries and slipping me a sweet one the day of the Forum.

Something tells me that her children shared the cherries because my pastry only had the cherry juice…no cherries! ☺

Rose lives in Kotoku a short drive from Mary Hogli. Matthew and I went for a walk to see Rose’s home and meet her family. What we found out was that when Rose baked the pastries, she had to borrow the oven of a neighbor who lives quite a distance.

I decided that to make the process easier for Rose and to support her baking business, we should look into purchasing the used oven. She needed her own oven close to home. Fortunately I met the woman who was kind enough to lend Rose the use of her oven. How much would you charge for this used oven? Two hundred GHC (about $150.00).

I don’t think I have seen Rose smile so much and so wide!

The next day we met with Martin, Rose’s husband who is a very kind man. He had cleared a special area for Rose to build her bakery. He assured me it was safe and we took many pictures to commemorate this important event! (see pictures)

We spent some time with Martin who is a pastor of the Christ Ministry Church. He provided us a blessing and prayed for our good health. (see pictures) This was especially meaningful to me since I was still suffering from my surgery. The throbbing actually stopped and I have not had any problems since my blessing.

It really wasn’t a lot of money but it will make all the difference for Rose. She will be able to grow her baking business.

Rose also has a shop to sell fabrics and clothes in her community. Matthew rode the train with Rose, Martin and her son to shop for fabrics in the Accra Markets. They will pick up the train at 6 A.M. to Accra for a shopping trip.

Christmas in Ghana

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Christmas is pretty sparse in rural Ghana, it Is truly the holiday that recognizes the birth of Christ, a holy day. In Ghana traditional Christmas observances revolve around large family gatherings, feasts, singing, and church services. Our women clients who sell produce and provisions are busy supplying customers with the ingredients for family meals. There is little of the commercialism that we experience in the U.S. Ghana celebrates Christmas for 8 days.
The majority of the population of Ghana is Christian, but of course there are other African religions such as Muslims. There is respect and free expression of all religions in Ghana.

I arrived with a red suitcase (I bought at a second hand store in the U.S. for $5) to carry presents to Ghana for our staff and close friends. I referred to Santa Clause but there was little recognition until I started to describe the red suit, the bag of goodies. “Ohhhh” you are talking about Father Christmas!”

As dinner was prepared at the Lodge, our friends and family arrived. Haruna, our taxi driver, translator, advisor and friend brought his family. Four beautiful children, the oldest is Emanuel, 9 then John 7, Lydia is 4 and baby Victoria. As you can see in our pictures, there was a Police Car for James who wants to be a policeman when he grows up (picture below) The buttons on top produce loud policy sirens! The look on his face as it came out of the suitcase was precious. I have never seen a child so surprised and happy!

Emanuel is the oldest and he received a police car with remote controls. He was very excited but the full experience of the remote ability to move the vehicle around was not realized until the next day.

Lydia received a teddy bear with a pink tutu. But then a pink dress with attached pink wings arrived. At first, Lydia did not realize the dress has special magic! I put the pink dress on over her clothes and suddenly Lydia transformed into Tinkerbell! Of course, Lydia did not recognize the Disney character…. she just thought she could FLY! Lydia wore the dress for the rest of the night! Her siblings kept a close eye on her to be sure she didn’t jump off the stairs or a ledge! (picture below)

Baby Victoria received a little black Cabbage Patch baby. When I told Haruna it came with adoption papers, he looked surprised! He didn’t realize that he was adopting another baby into the family.

Haruna’s children received a Leap Frog “first computer” to begin learning how to use computers. Emanuel already uses a computer at his private school but he could still see advantages in learning more. But James and Lydia will put this child’s computer to good use at home.



(Haruna told me that his children are now able to attend private school because he is J2W’s personal taxi when we are in Ghana. He is very proud that he is able to provide his children a good education.

Matthew received a book from Santa this year.(see picture)

One of the best visits to Ghana ! Akwaaba!

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This was an exceptional visit during January 2011. Why? Because we were able to sit and visit. Not too much work, but plenty of time to sit and visit with the women and hear more about how their businesses are growing.

To arrive at the Kotoko Airport after 20 hours of sitting and then be greeted by staff and friends is so heartwarming! Akwaaba! Akwaaba! Hugs and smiles erase the long flight. My bags are swooped up and placed in Haruna’s taxi and the familiar sights of highways and traffic are now part of the conversation. “Have they finished the highway yet?” “No Madam” and we all laugh.

The Chinese came and promised a super highway but that has been many years now (before 2007) and progress is very slow. Traffic is notoriously dense and the “dance” of taxis dodging and cutting through potholes and lines of stalled cars and trucks is not particularly heated. People here are fairly patient and in some cases friendly, letting some cut in and others to cross through. Horns are apparently a common language here; not necessarily a mean spirited message. Sometimes horns let others know you are still there, or signals to pedestrians that it is not wise to cross the highway because we are moving extremely fast and you probably won’t make it!. Pedestrians do not have the right of way and I am amazed at the courage of individuals who cross a main highway.

Hawkers used to be plentiful, so shopping for goods on your way home was one traffic problem. Instead of stopping at our “7-11 Store” or “Food Mart” in a gas station, Ghanaians walk past slow traffic selling everything from toilet paper, snacks, cold drinks, and some of the oddest things from packs of gum to fabrics, flags to magazines, sun glasses to cell phone minutes.

There are fewer hawkers these days as the construction on the new highway has torn up small businesses along the way and some roads leave little room for them to walk between the vehicles. There are still some. It is so dusty that it seems dangerous for drivers as well as the hawkers.