This week’s Blog Focus on Around the World L sparked our desire to explore Ghana as a possible gap year. The blog’s author, Lillie, really connected with the students she taught there. Ghana has a lot to offer – explore the details of this African country with us…

While Ghana may not be on the tip of your tongue has a “must-visit” destination, let alone the location of your upcoming gap year, it’s unique culture and gorgeous wildlife have a lot to offer the foreign visitor. Want more details? Read our quick facts below:

• Overview – Ghana is located in West Africa – bordering Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. Ghana is a friendly country and is perfect for the first-time visitor to Africa. The country’s attitude is very laid-back, which may be an annoying cultural adjustment at first but is truly one delight of the country. Tourism is growing in Ghana and the country is rich in gold, making the country very stable with ample room for growth.
• How can I pay for things? Ghana’s currency is confusing to say the least. It is called the “cedi” and it was re-denominated in July of 2007. The new “Ghana cedi” (GH₵) is equal to about 10,000 old cedis. Complicating this further is the fact that most Ghanians still think in the old currency. Always do the math in your head to double-check that the quoted price makes sense before committing.
• Cultural Highlights – Ghanians were colonized by the British, making their official language English, so you’ll have no trouble communicating with people, especially in Ghana’s urban centers. Additionally, there are over 40 distinct languages spoken in Ghana, and you’ll also encounter a lot of Pidgin English, with phrases like “my head de bash” meaning “I have a headache.”
• What can I expect to eat there? Great news! Food in Ghana is cheap. The most widely served food is literally called “fufu” and consists of pounded balls of yams, plantain, or cassava, served with soup and a side of goat meat or fish. Rice dishes are common, but not really considered real meals by Ghanians. Plantains, yams, and sweet potatoes are common snacks, and, when in season, you’ll have a wide array of fresh fruits to choose from. You can buy small packs of pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, oranges, or bananas for as little as 10 cents!
• What is there to do in my free time? While in Ghana, you can participate in a variety of cultural events and Ghanian festivals. Go to a musical show, dance, or play at Accra’s National Theatre. Head to the beach or spot some wildlife on a safari. Also, if you’re outdoorsy, you’ll have endless opportunities to go diving, mountaineering, canoeing, fishing, or hiking.

Hooked on the idea of a Ghanian gap year? There’s a ton of different options. Here’s some specific programs to look into:

• Community Building Projects – You’ll be in a local Ghanian community (either Kwamoso or Cape Coast) helping to build simple buildings.

• Volunteer English Teaching – Ghanian schools are often understaffed and underfunded. By volunteering to teach English, you can help children receive an education that may be otherwise hard to come by. Most of the placements through Projects Abroad are in the Akuapem Hills area, about an hour north of the city of Accra, but rural placements are also available if you’re looking to do something in an area a little bit more remote.

• Human Rights Internship - Based in Accra, you might be asked to give presentations to schools or grass-roots human rights institutions, or be asked to publicly present a proposal targeting a specific human-rights issue to a particular audience.

• Web Design Work Placement – You’ll be joining a relatively new (yet well-known) multi-media firms in Ghana where you’ll be working in teams on a variety of graphic design or programming-related projects.

• Volunteer on a community farm – As a volunteer, you’ll host local students as they pay a visit to the farm and give them instructions as to how to grow a sustainable farm as well as raising the importance of vital conservation issues.

If you’re looking to make an immediate impact in Ghana, why not help Ghanian students get to Britain this summer! Also, if you’re serious about a Ghanian gap year (don’t you just love that alliteration?) check out this reference, leave a comment here, or ask us more questions via twitter (@iwishgapyear).