Busing out of Accra

Sunday, January 22, 2012

We enjoy an informal breakfast with Philo, Alan and the young couple Tafume and Mellisa. Then it’s time to depart for parts west. The cab driver was instructed to take us to the VIP bus, but somehow took us to the tro-tro park instead. The fare is 7 cedis to Cape Coast and the ride is air conditioned. The seats are made for Kindergarten children but are full of adults. We are crammed between Ghanaians in the back bench. The small bus waits until all tickets are sold and we take off. The back bench is great for coolness because our heads hit the A/C vents and it is good for viewing the on-board movies. We laugh with the others at the “Kidnappers Union.” Our legs may be permanently damaged, however.

The main road to Takoradi is under construction so the bus driver takes us on a tour of a residential area with potholes, wash-outs, goats, chickens and small children to watch for. The potholes rival those described by David Letterman, the ones with a burro ride down and a gift shop at the bottom. We finally inch back on the paved road and the travel is very easy… except for the 347 rumble strips between Accra and Cape Coast.

Francis Abaidoo meets us at Mankessim and leads us to his home not too far off the main highway. He has completed two storage rooms as promised and has installed a security wall and steel door to keep intruders out. These rooms will store E-quip Africa’s materials until delivery to the final destination can be made. Eventually Francis will use a room in his home to do computer repair and refurbishing and/or an internet café.

It is obvious Francis is the bread-winner for a large extended family. Mary Lou should be very proud of how she has helped this dedicated group of people! Doug holds two year old Douglas Lou Werner Abaidoo on his lap and a photo is taken. Hopefully this internet connection will allow him to upload it to the photo section on the website so you can view it here.

Francis and his older sister Leticia take us to a guest house they have found for $40.00 USD. It won’t work for us so we head to Manna Heights where important obroni stay for only 90 cedis per night, but it includes a hot breakfast. This one works and we settle in for the night.

Tomorrow on the way to Takoradi and Msgr. Francis Tawiah, we will visit Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Park so that Greg can experience one of Ghana’s greatest tourist attractions and walk the rope bridges 125 feet above the forrest floor in the canopy of the rain forest. The castle tour will leave us with a heavy heart because we will hear the horrible tale of the slave trade carried out for 200 years or so.