Road trip in African style

After only a few days, with many impressions in Togo, the travel group continued their tour on Thursday. By minibus they crossed the border into Ghana and drove through the streets in the direction of Accra. In Accra, the most important agenda item awaited the delegation: the signing of the MOU between the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University.

But before the big signing could take place, there were still about 200 kilometers of Ghanaian roads ahead of the visitors from Germany. The first hurdle was unexpectedly the entry into Ghana. Already half an hour after departure, the visitors had to show their passports and vaccination cards. Despite good preparations, in the end the license for the Togolese car, which should bring the group to Accra, was missing. At this point only “wait and see” helped. The border policemen were very friendly and gave a regular update. After about two hours the journey could be continued.

Speedbreaker all the way – A bumpy ride
Traveling on Ghanaian roads is something completely different than on German roads. In order to avoid speeding and the associated traffic fatalities, the roads in Ghana were equipped with speed breakers some time ago. Accordingly, fast progress is not so easy. But the “discovery of slowness” also has something beautiful.

The group’s route led through numerous small towns and villages. Right along the streets were stalls and houses offering a wide variety of products and services. Perhaps a little disturbing at first were the many coffin merchants offering their goods. But death is simply part of life. The landscape of Ghana offered an additional variety on the journey through the three West African countries. A drive across the country should, therefore, if possible, be part of a trip to a foreign country.

“Go to jail! Don’t pass Go and don’t collect 4,000 DM!”
In the end, it became apparent that Google route guidance should only be trusted to a limited extent all over the world. Because one wrong turn and the delegation would have spent the night not in the comfortable hotel, but in the prison of Accra.

More articles on this topic:

Imparting knowledge, getting closer to people, discovering foreign countries: https://blogs.fz-juelich.de/impactandchange/2022/10/28/imparting-knowledge-getting-closer-to-people-discovering-foreign-countries/?lang=en

Active queuing or: other countries, other traditions: https://blogs.fz-juelich.de/impactandchange/2022/10/31/active-queuing-or-other-countries-other-traditions/?lang=en

International cooperation as a carrier of hope: https://blogs.fz-juelich.de/impactandchange/2022/11/01/international-cooperation-as-a-carrier-of-hope/?lang=en

Internationality at it’s best or achieving great goals together: https://blogs.fz-juelich.de/impactandchange/2022/11/03/internationality-at-its-best-or-achieving-great-goals-together/?lang=en