Aburi Botanical Gardens: My visit

May 25, 2024May 25, 2024

Aburi Botanical Gardens: My visit

Aburi was already high on my goto list for its cooler temperature as compared to Accra. As a mountain lover, I liked Aburi’s elevated location in the mountains, just 45 mins north east of Accra.

And, as a nature lover, the famous Aburi Botanical Gardens was a magnet for me. If I were to relocate to Ghana, Aburi could be a cool, beautiful place to live with easy access to the capital city of Accra.

When I went to Aburi, I discovered that my taste was the same as Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who built the Presidential summer house (“Peduase Lodge”) just outside Aburi. It is currently used as a Presidential accommodation for the state of Ghana guests.

The Aburi Botanical Gardens is over 120 acres of Mother Nature showing off her Divine beauty and genius.

The main walkway

In the midst of beauty

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Mother and child palm trees

The Shea Nut Tree

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The Strangler Tree

The Silk Cotton Tree

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Tree carvings

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May 25, 2024May 25, 2024

A Golden child shining in Africa

Yes, her name is Golden and she’s 11 months old. She met me at the airport with her mom and uncle when I arrived to Ghana. She wasn’t supposed to be there, as her mom and I had agreed earlier that I would meet Golden later. But, the Universe conspired for a different timing.

In addition to meeting her mother for the first time, I was almost equally curious whether a baby could live up to a name like “Golden”.

I have a decent vocablulary, but I would need Maya Angelou or Amanda Gorman to help me describe how amazing and magical it was to meet and spend time with Golden. So, for now I will let the photos below speak for me. And, yeah, I’m reminded of Jill Scott’s lyrics, “Livin’ my life like it’s golden”.

Golden met me at the airport (taxi to AirBnB)

Day 2: We celebrate mom's bday at Labadi Beach

Wait, this baby can swim

Ride or Die

This American Boy is alright

I like Mother's Day

Uhh, can we eat before pics?

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We look good in Kumasi

This is not the shotgun seat

Yeah, I already did my first Christmas

May 25, 2024May 25, 2024

Isaac – From driver to brother to business associate

Meet Isaac, a taxi driver in Accra, Ghana. I met him my first night in Ghana and we became brothers instantly.

For 3 weeks, Isaac was vital to many aspects of my trip. He not only drove me around Accra, but he helped tremendously with the following:

Coordinated another driver and larger car for a trip to Akim Oda.
Drove us rountrip from Accra to Kumasi for an overnight trip and tour of the king’s palace.
Provided a local perspective on Ghana’s business and political landscape (especially given the upcoming presidential election in Dec 2024).
Found contacts in the Registrar General Dept (RGD) to facilitate reserving my business name.
Looking for commercial/warehouse space for my water production venture.
Helping with basysitter transport.

At Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

At Aburi Botanical Gardens

At Independence Square

At the Registrar General Department

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024

Kevin and Alimatu: Her family approved our courtship

Meet Alimatu (ah LEE mah TOO) and her baby daughter Golden.

It was a 3-hr drive from Accra to Alimatu’s hometown of Akim Oda. There, I would meet her father, siblings and family elders, and ask their approval to court Alimatu. During the drive, I learned and practiced two phrases in the Akan tribe language of Twi (most of the family members do not speak English):

TWI: Me ani agyesi me ne mo w)ha.
PRONOUNCE: meh-NIH AH-jeh-seh me ne mo WAH-hah.
ENGLISH: I am happy to be with you.

TWI: Me honam firi USA nanso me mojya firi Africa.
PRONOUNCE: meh HO-nam frih USA NANso me MOH-Jah frih Africa.
ENGLISH: My body is from the USA, but my blood is from Africa.

When we arrived, it was a jubilant and formal setting. Ten family members were seated in a circle in a large living room. I delivered the requisite gift of 2 bottles of schnapps to the father, which I had to formally ask if he would accept. Alimatu’s two brothers, with whom I had been communicating weeks before my arrival to Ghana, served as translators.

Then came formal introductions to each family member followed by friendly but pointed questions from the family: why did I come to Ghana, what was the purpose of my visit with their family. I spoke slowly to the translators (kinda reminded me of the UN meetings I’d seen on TV).

After carefully clearing up some confusion about whether I was there to ask for marriage (not the case), they accepted my gift, my answers and even gave me permission to return to the capital city of Accra with Alimatu. Clearly, this meeting was unlike any dating situation I’d ever experienced in the US or Costa Rica. Something mystical was happening. And, I can honestly say that it all felt and continues to feel good.

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024

In Ghana, Kevin and new crew prepare and deliver 50 hot meals to orphanage

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Before travelling to Ghana, Kevin made a promise to himself that he would deliver meals to kids in Ghana like he’s doing in Costa Rica. But he didn’t really know anyone nor had any knowledge about the situation in Ghana. In his mind, he had come this far in life by faith, so what’s another faith experiment. The result: 7 days after landing in Ghana for the first time, Kevin and his new crew (a miracle in itself) prepared and delivered 50 hot meals to the Osu Children’s Home (a government-based orphanage with 133 children). The meal (called jollof rice) included white rice, a tomato-based stew with corn-beef and carrots, along with cookies and juice.