Well, We had a good meeting with the manager and board of Npando Credit Union. It was soon time to head for Techiman. This was on Tuesday the 13th. The view on our way continued to be beautiful and lush with mountains all around and the occasional stream. We travelled up, and up some more to go through one village quite high in the mountains and then travelled quite steep going down in a zig zag pattern like the switchbacks in BC. At times we were traveling quite fast and my stomach did the "roller coaster" flip as we went up and down the hills.
As night neared, we received a call from the regional manager of the Kumansi area credit unions. He told us that because of a breakdown in security, it would not be wise for us to travel at night through the Kumansi area. Because he was a native to the area, we took his warning seriously and found a hotel in the next available city.
I felt very pampered at the plush hotel we found and had my first hot shower since the 4th of February, not that I'm keeping track or anything! We had our supper beside the pool and watched the bats swoop down and catch bugs for their supper.
The next day we planned to have breakfast in Kumansi. Because of road construction and the busy highway, this turned out to be lunch. Our vehicle was air conditioned so we were cool for the bumpy ride. Along the road, we looked out our window to see two white people travelling up the highway in the opposite direction and on bicycles!!!! It was very hot, even at 9:30 a.m., and with the big trucks with their heavy loads racing along the road both Larry and I mentioned that they would be in a very dangerous spot. Pedestrians and bicycles do not hold priority when it comes to those big trucks.
Once we arrived in Techiman, we were reunited with Gene (my Ghana partner from last year) and Barry who had been coaching credit unions in the Eastern Region. Their driver, Sammy, was with them as well. Sammy had been teaching Gene and Barry many words and phrases in Twi, the local language of the area. Gene was up to 18 words and could manage quite well. I will have to practice to keep up. We want to practice Twi, and of course the Ghanaians want to practice English. It is a lot of fun to try!
Ebenezer Credit Union manager Michael was there to meet us as well as board members, including the board chairman who put off his trip to Accra to spend time with us. It was such a happy reunion. I feel very much a part of the Happy Family that is the credit union system in Ghana. After having a lovely refreshment in the Dymn's Hotel Garden restaurant, we got to have a tour of the new location for the Ebenezer CU. When we were in Techiman, in 2006, the site consisted of a plot of land and a pile of bricks. They have come along way as they are probably 1/3 of the way to completion. We also went to the office of Ebenezer CU beside the market. The office has been renovated and it is now twice as large, has a television for members to watch while they wait, a separate office cubicle for the manager and another staff member to help with the increase in traffic. The staff at Ebenezer CU is so focused on their members it was such a pleasure to see. This will be why Ebenezer CU is well known in the area for being excellent!
Next we were on to see the new premises of Abosomenkatere Credit Union. Abosomenkatere means cameleon because they adapt to suit the environment, and they sure do. Their new premises was open for business on the 14th of November,2006 and since then they have had 300 new members. They still operate their office out of the hospital grounds but that will eventually come to an end. My next blog entry will have pictures, I promise!!!!!
The best development I have seen in the last year is the addition to Prosper Aforbu's (Abosomenkatere CU Manager) family. His first born daughter arrived on January 7,2007. She is named Nana (queen mother) after her grandmother who is the queen mother of her village. We were told by Prosper that in Ghana when a woman gives birth, she moves back to her parents home for a few months so she is able to be looked after well by her family. Prosper asked Gene and me if we would like to go to his wife's family's home to see his new baby girl. It was such a privilege to be given the opportunity and, as I said, I promise pictures next time.
On Wednesday, we were able to go back to Ebenezer CU and Abosomankatere CU to have meetings with each of the managers. Gene and I took taxis everywhere we went and it was like when we were there last year. The big difference I found was that Michael, Prosper and Sammy (the assistant manager of Abosomanketer CU) were so much more than colleagues, they were friends and family now. It was much harder to leave this time as I do not know when I will return to Ghana. I do know I will return, I have so much love for this country and its people.
Once all our visits were through it was time once again to hit the road! Our driver Sammy is very good at his job and we travelled at times very fast and at times very slow due either to traffic jams in Sunyani and Kumansi, or road construction at various times throughout the journey. We all thought that Busia Beach Resort (our destination) was in Takoradi so when we got there we were surprised to find out that we still had a way to go! We finally arrived in the darkness around 10:00 pm. The restaurant stayed open for us and we walked on the fine sand and in the ocean a bit. We let the waves hit our ankles and a big one got our knees wet. Our rooms are fabulous and the service is second to none. One of the waiters, whose name is Wellington, has a wise phrase for every occasion. "When God posts a letter to you, no postman will delay it!" I will try to keep track for future use!
On our way to Takoradi this morning, we came through many little market stalls very close to the hotel. We did not see them last night as they would have been closed and it was very, very dark. We will go back to the hotel and await the arrival of all the other coaches. I am starting to get sad at the thought of leaving this beautiful country and its wonderful people. But, I must set those feelings aside and enjoy all the experiences the next 4 days will bring. And, like I said previously, I PROMISE pictures next time.......................................................................Marcia