Madina Market in Accra - by Claire Mooney

I doubt anything could have fully prepared us for Madina Market. To compare Madina to U.S. American markets, one envisions a combination of Chinatown and a carnival, except louder and faster paced, on red dirt roads, tropical temperatures, and 2 foot trenches on either side of the road. There’s also less electricity and a lack of traffic regulations. To top it all off, Ghanaians are the friendliest people imaginable.

The market visit was both exciting and overwhelming. From afar, the market appeared to consist of a group of colorful tents on dusty roads. Once in the market, you realize that you could walk around all day and not see every vendor. There were secondhand clothes from the U.S., cages of animals, cheap electronics, energetic children, and men who insist that they would like to marry you.

Many vendors sold local foods, which smelled great. Upon seeing our group and realizing that we were from the U.S., vendors would yell “Akwaaba!” (welcome!) and showed us their goods. Responding in one of the local languages – we had studied “survival level Twi” before visiting the market – always drew big smiles.

At one stage, we walked through an area with many parked cars and buses. We quickly realized that this was a transport hub as many taxi drivers rushed to us asking if we needed a ride. We explained that we still had more shopping to do and that we didn’t need any rides just yet.

Two of the items we wished to purchase were Ghanaian fabric (which the country is famous for) and some bracelets. At first we had difficulty locating these items, but when we asked a woman selling vegetables where we might look for fabric and bracelets, she jumped up and led us through a maze of vendors for twenty minutes until we reached our destination. We found (and later learned in class) that Ghanaians are happy to assist passersby with directions, often leading and delivering visitors to their exact destination. The fabric we bought was beautiful, and we were amaze at the compassionate nature of Ghanaians willing and eager to direct in the market to the items we wished to purchase.

Later, a vendor speaking French introduced himself as coming from the Ivory Coast (Ghana’s neighbor to the West). This man was happy to share his language with us as well as a few laughs. He took us to the center of the market where we could find some bracelets. We bargained as best we could, and went home with some nice bracelets and great stories.

For those willing to navigate the Madina market, the rewards are plenty!