Ghana Village Tours, September, 2007

Mission: sensitization to the social and economic conditions of Ghanaian cocoa farmers while providing farmers with tools and hope.

Situation: the Ghanaian cocoa farmer is, like farmers all over the world, subject to events far beyond the village: the price of cocoa in London which varies daily and actions by the government’s COCOABOD. Compared to farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, the Ghanaian cocoa farmer earns five times as much for a Kg of fermented, dried beans. On this tour, we will explore similarities and differences between these two groups of farmers and compare how cocoa price is reflected in sustainability.

Brief Description: an 8-day exploration of the southern cocoa belt of Ghana. We will take a truck or van full of supplies for the cocoa farmers. Our trip will include some or all of the following experiences:

Visit to cultural museum in Accra to understand aspects of village life.
Visit to Akosombo Dam; observations of fishermen on the Volta
Meet with an official of Cadbury or Nestle; hear about their efforts to develop the quality of the Ghanaian cocoa bean.
Visit Cape Coast and Elmina castles: learn about the history of slavery
Witness the Fetu Afahye festival of Cape Coast. Includes a processing of chiefs, drumming, dancing and firing of musketry and uniquely traditional attire of the various chiefs and warriors and the slaughtering of a cow in public for the 77 gods of Oguaa (Cape Coast).
Donate tools to five village chiefs: learn about village government and interview cocoa farmers
Stay overnight in a village: spend the night in a village. Learn how to sleep on a mat on the mud floor, take a village shower, and use the “restroom” facilities.
Witness a mask dance and enjoy traditional West African music on traditional instruments.
Visit Kuapa Kokoo in Kumasi. Learn first-hand about the principles of Fair Trade and interview an official about how it benefits the cocoa farmer
Visit Lake Bosumtwi; watch children use half logs for boats and fish for tilapia.
Tour Takoradi’s deep-water port. See the containers of cocoa on their way to Europe and the Far East.
House-building: learn how walls and roofs are constructed.
Palm wine: watch the village expert make palm wine. Sit around and drink some.
Schnapps: sip distilled palm wine.
Cocoa: taste fully ripe cocoa; learn how to germinate and plant; study evidence of various diseased states such as ants, mammals, termites, mirids, and black pod.

Foods You Will Eat:

Chicken Kedjenou: : a delicious stew made of totally free-range chickens. Cooked with tomato and onion.
Snapper or Beef with Palaver Sauce. Palaver sauce is highly nutritious, made with palm oil and cassava or taro leaves.
Red-red: a popular Ghanaian dish made with cowpeas (black-eyed peas), palm oil, and fried plantains.
Grasscutter with fufu: a relative of the porcupine highly prized for its rich flavor. Fufu is pounded cassava and/or plantain to make a gluey paste.
Banku with Hot Pepper Sauce: fermented corn paste heated with a sauce of tomatoes and chilies.
Spicy Grilled Kebabs: liver, beef or chicken flavored with tankora, or chichinga powder containing cayenne, peanut powder, ginger, and roasted cornmeal.
Breakfast: Each day will begin with a comfortably western café au lait and sliced sandwich bread with an omelet.

Budget:

As a volunteer for Project Hope & Fairness, all of your reasonable travel expenses, and any other in-kind or cash contributions you may make during the trip, are tax-deductible.

$2,000 (Per diem $250 per person per day times 8)
$ 500 (individual’s contribution to purchase of tools)
$2,200 (airplane ticket)
--------
$4,700

Per diem: takes into account transportation, hotels, restaurants, and special services.
Tools: each tourist contributes some gift to the villages.
Airplane ticket: this cost varies, depending on departure point and carrier.

Who Should Come?
Individuals who are looking to understand the situation of the cocoa farmer as an example of disparities between First and Third Worlds, who are looking to increase their understanding of issues of International Development, and who are endowed with superior levels of patience and understanding should come on this tour. For best results, participants should have already traveled in the Third World and have interacted with people in the direst of circumstances without disintegrating into hysteria. Such individuals should be able to transcend crushing poverty and focus on the sheer joy written on the faces of people who have so little material wealth.