Day 4: Cuckoo for Cocoa (Puffs)!

I will put some of the Twi we have learned to use by saying Maakye, Maaha or Maadwo (Good morning, afternoon or evening)! I am Sophie, a junior from Edina, MN majoring in Finance with a double minor in Business Analytics and French.  

Bright and early, we hopped on the tro tro (our bus) to venture east of Accra and immerse ourselves in the beautiful nature Ghana has to offer. 

 

As we drove up the steep and windy hills away from Accra proper, there was an immediate shift in socioeconomic status. The disparity was evident by the number of mansions that sat atop the hills overlooking the crowded city. We joked that Chance the Rapper likely owned a home up in that area somewhere near the Presidential Suite. Despite the large homes, one of the most prominent features of Ghana – the small family shops alongside the road – remained relatively unchanged. 

Our first stop was Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm where our guide Michael took us on a tour of the 0.83 hectare farm. This farm was the first of its kind to exist in Ghana. It all began when Tettah Quarshie smuggled six whole cocoa pods in his tool kit while travelling back from Fernandopo, Guinea in 1879. Little did he know, Ghana would become the largest supplier of cocoa to the world and responsible for 70% of the world’s cocoa.  The farm is home to three different cocoa trees: the amenolado, Amazonian and hybrid. The amenolado cocoa tree takes the longest to mature and produces the highest quality product. As the saying goes, it “ages like fine wine.” Our visit to the cocoa farm provided us with a glimpse into Ghana’s sustainability as little goes to waste here. The cocoa shell is used to make black soap and of course the cocoa beans for chocolate, although we were surprised to learn only 1% of the world's chocolate is made in Ghana. If you're lucky, your daughter or son might bring some to share on their return to the states. As the majority of the cocoa bean harvest is exported, it was very interesting to hear that Ghanaian cocoa farms lack direct access to international markets. Rather, because of Cocobod, they are only permitted to sell their beans to LBCs (licensed buying companies) causing the profit for cocoa producers in Ghana to be significantly smaller than their big brand name seller counterparts. Thanks to Michael, it’s safe to say we left learning everything we could about the harvest, fermentation, and exportation of cocoa. 

From here, we headed to Aburi Botanical Gardens. The garden sits on 160 acres of land where diversity in horticulture is apparent with the ultimate purpose of maintaining natural reserves. In summary of our visit, I will say it was a tour around the world in 60 minutes. The garden consists of trees and plants from America all the way to Asia. Throughout our visit, our wonderful guide, Maxwell, showed us the beauty, danger, and application of nature. For example, leaves from the teakwood tree can be rubbed together producing a red pigment and used as a lipstick for women. Likewise, trees such as the African Konite tree can be used medicinally as an anti-malaria treatment or a treatment for COVID-19 by boiling the leaves and drinking the water. 

                                                                 

The cida tree was one of the most fascinating. Over time, it becomes engulfed in soka vines, as shown above. The tree eventually dies and the vines remain, forming a hallowed structure with holes that allow beams of light to pass through.  

We concluded our tour with a stroll through what I would call an "au natural" Bath & Body Works. We smelled various tree leaves including cinnamon, allspice and bay leaves. It was amazing to visualize where these common household ingredients come from. I surely had no idea cinnamon sticks came from the bark of a tree. Yet the fun’s not over!

On our way back, we stopped at a fabric store. As I stepped inside the door, I was overwhelmed. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns were very different from my usual monochrome wardrobe. One unique identifier of Ghanaian culture is their pop of color. From my short experience in Ghana, it is clear the colorful clothing contributes to the overall liveliness of the city. So, while it was a relatively small task of stepping out of my comfort zone, it was a step in the right direction, nonetheless. With many impactful visits and new experiences ahead, our group continues to seek inspiration and show an eagerness to learn and embrace Ghanaian culture. 

Sophie