Local Favorites

Ghanaians love a lot of things (as do we all).

But four things stood out to me in particular…

1.) Their banku. We have absolutely no equivalent to banku in the U.S. but it happens to be one of Ghana’s most popular food dishes. The best way I can describe what it’s like to eat banku is to say that it’s a little bit like eating raw pizza dough, except that it’s corn-based not flour, and it’s also fermented. It’s typically served in a big bowl of runny chili sauce with some pieces of chicken or fish. And you just dig in with your fingers. Those of you with texture issues, banku would not be your friend.

2.) Their religion. Ghana is a very religious society. It comes out in the most creative and hilarious of ways, my favorite being the names of shops and businesses along the side of the road. Blessed Assurance Motor Inc., God Is Able Wholesale Plywood Retailers, and (for my personal favorite) God’s Time Is The Best Hair Salon were just a few highlights I jotted down from the bus window.

3.) Their soccer. Along with the rest of the world (minus, curiously, the U.S.), Ghanaians are crazy for this sport! Not that I’ve ever watched the World Cup, but I promised our tour guide today (who told us his name was Tony Montana….these are the moments when you smile widely and nod) that I would follow the next one and root proudly for Ghana (who was one of the only African nations to qualify in 2008).

4.) Our president. Oh my, how they love him! Obama-love has been in the air at every port of call, but Ghana in particular has adopted him as their own. The President and First Lady paid a visit to Ghana this July, and it meant so incredibly much to the people. There was signage and billboards all over the place with our President’s picture on it. You can also buy anything from soccer jerseys to purses to bolts of textile fabric with Obama’s face on it. (I did think of buying you matching Obama PJ sets, Mom and Dad, but they didn’t come in your colors.)

These are the types of small eccentricities about each country that we all end up talking about at meals and chuckling about for days, until the time comes to carefully tuck them away as memories of places past.

Love. Anna