My friends Elke and Fridolin have been writing the blog wildes-afrika.de since 2016! It is a travel and lifestyle blog about southern Africa. Here I was allowed to write a guest report about Ghana and the Midnight Sun International School.

Akwaaba in Ghana – My name is Sabine Valentin.

The Africa virus caught me over twenty years ago. I have traveled in southern Africa, East Africa, and North Africa. In 2011 I was in West Africa for the first time, more precisely in Ghana, to work as a volunteer in an outpatient clinic and to educate people about HIV. This is my third time here and it will certainly not be my last visit. I have now founded a support association for the Midnight Sun School Langbinsi e.V. in Langbinsi in northern Ghana. You can find information about us here. You are welcome to teach at this school as a volunteer or help build more classrooms. This is the best way to get to know the country and its people.

Lots of children’s hands wanting to touch you.

I was one of the first white people to come to the village in 2011. So you shouldn’t be afraid to touch them. All day long they call out “white woman: how are you?” In general, the greetings are rather exuberant by our standards and praise and compliments are not sparingly used.

Strangers become friends

In Ghana there is a saying: “If you meet a stranger – don’t let them feel like a stranger for long. Remember, you too can be the stranger one day!” You can feel this attitude all over the country and this is probably what makes it so pleasant to travel here. The friendly, amiable and cheerful nature spreads a pleasant atmosphere and always warms my heart. The strong faith and hope for a better future give the people here strength and even if not everything is perfect, they make the best of it. This has fascinated me time and time again during my time in the outpatient clinic and also at the Midnight Sun International School in the village of Langbinsi. In Ghana, it is the people who keep me coming back.

46 languages ​​and just as many tribes

There are 46 languages ​​and just as many tribes, there are more Christians in the south, more Muslims in the north – the common thread is that everyone is very proud of their country and lives together openly and peacefully. I have already been invited to Muslim festivals in the mosque, and Christians also bring food to their Muslim neighbors at Christmas.

Traveling alone as a woman in Ghana

Ghana is often cited as a best practice example in Africa because it is economically and politically stable – as a woman you can travel alone during the day without any problems. My tip – definitely use public transport like Trotros – you can quickly get into conversation here! 🙂 A challenge in a big city like Accra is often that there are no posted timetables, street names or stop names. I will probably never get used to the black plastic bags and other rubbish lying around everywhere. For many activities you need a little more patience. The trotro (a minibus), for example, only sets off when all the seats are full – in the countryside it can take a little longer. I have to admit, however, that after a few weeks in Ghana I am more relaxed in my everyday life and can slow down a bit.