The Old and the New Parts of Accra and Big Milly's Backyard

On day three in the bustling city of Accra, we had the opportunity to experience the rainy season. Our breakfast was interrupted by a down pour of torrential rain. Although the rain only lasted for an hour or two, it still prevented us from walking around the English Jamestown and the Dutch Usshertown. The poverty in both towns was extreme; however, the sense of community is thriving. As visitors, driving through both towns was a cultural awakening because of the difference in values. While Americans are concerned with the progression of one’s self, Ghanaians make family and community their priority.

We drove through the city of Accra and ended up on a major road that was underdeveloped. Storefronts were sporadically placed along the road and sanitation appeared to be a major problem. While stuck in traffic, we had time to reflect and discuss how we (Americans) at times take public services such as sanitation and trash collection for granted. While there is a lot of underdevelopment, there is also a lot of investment and signs of progress. We found that the main source of traffic was from the construction sites for new commercial and residential buildings.

After we got off the main road, we made our way towards the coast and drove through a rural area of Accra. We drove past a few gorgeous beach resorts as well as some underdeveloped villages. The stark contrast between the hotels and the villages reveals how poverty is intermingled with the riches of the city. We arrived at Big Milly’s Backyard and immediately got a taste of how many locals live. There was a lack of running water in the bathrooms and the sidewalks at the resort were not paved. Despite this lack of development, organic and sustainable living is critical to their daily way of life. In this town, the juices were all grown and squeezed right in their own backyard. Other vegetables, fruits and foods were grown locally as well. In America, often we do not eat and/or drink local products, so this was a pleasant treat.

After our lunch which consisted of the local GA cuisine, we were taught how to drum by a man who worked on the beach. We learned to play multiple rhythms, such as the alphabet. His enthusiasm for teaching us to play this instrument was inspiring. The location on the beach was also beautiful and we hope that in the near future, this hidden gem could become a large tourist venue that could produce large revenues for the local community.