Sometimes things need to fall apart to be put properly back together.

… or so I keep telling myself.

So things kind of fell apart. I partially blame myself. After things were working well, I left for about two weeks. We had a conference at an uber nice hotel (air condition, hot water, meat with every meal, swimming pool, hot water) to reconnect with other volunteers and learn more about HIV activities and things that we can do in our towns to educate people about it. It was nice to be with volunteers, hearing their stories and talking about future events to collaborate on.

And well, when I came back I found the visitor centre closed. I heard that it was maybe open for three days and then after that they just put a sign on the door. Its hard to be mad, I mean the people that are working on this project are volunteering their time. So they have other jobs, jobs that earn them an income, to attend to and can’t make this their first priority, but there are at least five of them where they could have worked something out. They could have talked to one of their nieces or nephews who are probably out roaming the streets because they have nothing better to do. Maybe even talked to the men and women who just sit at their house all day long. But instead, it was just closed. With a sign saying to call a guide. No good. At all.

On top of that, the Ministry of Tourism is just causing more problems than solving or helping. We have been fighting with them since November for the right to manage the facility. Sending them letters, seeing them in person, calling them on the phone, fighting, fighting, and fighting. But no deuce. They say they’ll call us back in a week after their meeting. No call. I visit them in Accra to see whats up and voice what I think needs to be done to make this project work successfully for Ntonso and you. They say they’ll talk it over and call me. I wait. No call. I call them. They are still discussing it. They say they’ll call me. Still no call. UGH. You build this beautiful building for what?!

Then out of nowhere this company, Ghana Tourism Development Company Ltd comes to Ntonso. They say that the MOT has requested that they manage the facility in Ntonso so they’ve come to introduce themselves and talk with the main stakeholders. Although I’m not happy about the idea that another company will come to manage the facility, I am hopeful. I think the members of the TMT can take the experience that they have had with FM24 and use it as guidance for their interactions with GTDC.

So I am hopeful. I feel that GTDC has the money to help finance things that would be beneficial for Ntonso to improve as a tourist destination. I am hopeful that they will work out a better deal for the people who will work for the project. I feel that if this doesn’t work out, then the tourism project will never work.

I guess now we will just wait and see. Either it blows up and everyone loses. Or they work out a good deal and Ntonso won’t know what to do with all the damn tourist and all that damn money.


Oh yea, on a side and happy note.
I finally, after 22 months, have gotten… wait for it… electricity. And its so so so amazing. As I am walking towards my house I find myself smiling like a little girl in a candy shop. I will miss my candle lit dinners and bucket baths in the dark, but I think it won’t be hard for me to adjust.


I love my life so much that another year here wouldn’t be so bad.

twi word of the day: awradE (oh god!)