Monday, 9 June 2008
Saturday, 7 June 2008
My Work
Just in case you all think that I am here just having a jolly good time, I thought I should give a quick update on how I have been earning my crust (or more to the point spending your taxes). A lot of my time has been spent trying to sort out my role here working with the local District Assembly. The crux of this has been to draft a new job/project description and to present this to my boss Mr B. What I have done is to greatly broaden the role to make it more of an advisory and strategic role. It seems that very little time here is given over to taking a look at the bigger picture and linking all the micro developments to the larger macro perspective. One result of this is that a lot of work goes on in isolation and there is very little linking up to wider strategic goals. Consequently there is a lot of duplication and poor use of resources. Of course this means trying to bring together the many stakeholders, lead by the disabled peoples groups to agree on where they are trying to get to, which in itself is quite a challenge.
The next step is getting this across to Mr B and means endless waiting at his office (he never makes appointments) hoping to grab his attention long enough whilst trying to communicate my message across to him. Because I am not alone in this – there are four of us across the country trying to work with the local assemblies, VSO called a meeting in Accra to get us all together to try and work out some ways forward. Well – for the first time in almost three months I had a one to one with Mr B, lots of good intentions were expressed but back at the ranch I still do not have an office at the Assembly and still seem to be working in virtual isolation – walk on!
One successful project has been to learn how to use the movie maker programme on the computer (wow Mr P what is happening here!?) and to put together a short clip for the VOLPHIG AGM. This did in fact take me hours, being such a slow learner on this darned thing, but I was dead chuffed to put together a pictorial record of some of the consultation work that VOLPHIG carried out in the villages. I now go under the name of Yevu Abobo productions and am planning more ambitious works.
I also supported
a self help group of people with disabilities in a small community in Agatime Afegame to prepare a funding proposal to present to their local District Assembly in Kpetoe. I never thought that I would begin to learn about goat rearing and cassava harvesting at this time in my life but there you go. Once the proposal had been completed I went with the Chair of the group Mr K to see the District 
Coordinating Director (aka Big Man) – who was in fact a tiny man in a huge leather chair. His smart computer continuously showed a slideshow of luxury cars and their leather interiors, ending with a shot of him ensconced in his chair - had to stifle the giggles. So, having hopefully used all the yevu influence I could muster, we wait in anticipation for the money so that they can begin to buy their goats and plough their fields – ho hum.
Last week it was back in Accra. Wisely or perhaps unwisely I have volunteered my services as the Volta regional rep to plan the 50th VSO Ghana conference. We worked hard all week as a group to design a stimulating and challenging conference but are still unclear whether we can proceed as funding is tight and we still have a number of challenges to overcome. Have to say that I was glad to get back to Ho – not only to see Kiran but because it is a lovely place and Accra does my head in. One of my next projects will be to train a number of new counsellors for another NGO working in Ho, so that will keep me off the streets! So – there you go – all those of you out there who think I am on holiday – get real!
The next step is getting this across to Mr B and means endless waiting at his office (he never makes appointments) hoping to grab his attention long enough whilst trying to communicate my message across to him. Because I am not alone in this – there are four of us across the country trying to work with the local assemblies, VSO called a meeting in Accra to get us all together to try and work out some ways forward. Well – for the first time in almost three months I had a one to one with Mr B, lots of good intentions were expressed but back at the ranch I still do not have an office at the Assembly and still seem to be working in virtual isolation – walk on!
One successful project has been to learn how to use the movie maker programme on the computer (wow Mr P what is happening here!?) and to put together a short clip for the VOLPHIG AGM. This did in fact take me hours, being such a slow learner on this darned thing, but I was dead chuffed to put together a pictorial record of some of the consultation work that VOLPHIG carried out in the villages. I now go under the name of Yevu Abobo productions and am planning more ambitious works.
I also supported
a self help group of people with disabilities in a small community in Agatime Afegame to prepare a funding proposal to present to their local District Assembly in Kpetoe. I never thought that I would begin to learn about goat rearing and cassava harvesting at this time in my life but there you go. Once the proposal had been completed I went with the Chair of the group Mr K to see the District 
Coordinating Director (aka Big Man) – who was in fact a tiny man in a huge leather chair. His smart computer continuously showed a slideshow of luxury cars and their leather interiors, ending with a shot of him ensconced in his chair - had to stifle the giggles. So, having hopefully used all the yevu influence I could muster, we wait in anticipation for the money so that they can begin to buy their goats and plough their fields – ho hum.Last week it was back in Accra. Wisely or perhaps unwisely I have volunteered my services as the Volta regional rep to plan the 50th VSO Ghana conference. We worked hard all week as a group to design a stimulating and challenging conference but are still unclear whether we can proceed as funding is tight and we still have a number of challenges to overcome. Have to say that I was glad to get back to Ho – not only to see Kiran but because it is a lovely place and Accra does my head in. One of my next projects will be to train a number of new counsellors for another NGO working in Ho, so that will keep me off the streets! So – there you go – all those of you out there who think I am on holiday – get real!
Adaklu Mountain
Last Sunday we climbed our local mountain, Mount Adaklu – a steep, rocky volcanic slab covered in sub tropical forest. Some locals refer to it as their “Table Mountain”. It is about fifteen kilometres from Ho on a muddy red road and this time there were no road blocks (it is common here for people to fill in holes in the road and then stop any traffic for “donations” – or dash). When we arrived in Helakpe, we registered at the visitor centre and paid our entrance fees for the “Mountain Tour”. This is one of many eco projects in the region that have been set up in recent years, mainly by Peace Corps volunteers, to stimulate local tourism. Profits from the projects go to fund local community developments. Sadly there are probably just a few tourists visiting each week.
Two young men were then dispatched to guide us to the next village of Kordiabe. This involved a gentle climb through small farms and forest but already we were both dripping with sweat. No mountain guide was to be found here – it seems that he had probably gone to church in Helakpe – so we were taken to the village chief’s house. Plastic chairs were brought out and after the usual courtesies, Togbe Adjeye the Fourth decided that his eldest son, Wonder could guide us together with one of his younger brothers Kodzo. Wonder is sixteen and next in line to the chieftancy – Kodzo just six years old, full of beans and as bright as a button. 
Two young men were then dispatched to guide us to the next village of Kordiabe. This involved a gentle climb through small farms and forest but already we were both dripping with sweat. No mountain guide was to be found here – it seems that he had probably gone to church in Helakpe – so we were taken to the village chief’s house. Plastic chairs were brought out and after the usual courtesies, Togbe Adjeye the Fourth decided that his eldest son, Wonder could guide us together with one of his younger brothers Kodzo. Wonder is sixteen and next in line to the chieftancy – Kodzo just six years old, full of beans and as bright as a button. 
They both skip cheerfully up the mountain in their flip flops, singing and whistling – Kodzo slashing at the undergrowth with a cutlass almost as big as himself. For us it is a different story – it is gruelling despite the early hour and relative coolness. The humidity is a killer and Wonder is soon carrying Kiran’s pack. It takes a good hour to reach the half way point – a great overhanging rock that forms a natural cave overlooking the village below. A brief rest, some dextrose and it is onwards and upwards. The rocks are slippery and there are several stretches where we have to use ropes. Finally after a short hike through the jungle at the top plateau we reach the summit.
We were rewarded with a magnificent view over Helakpe and the Kolor game reserve. By now Wonder had developed a keen interest in photography and after some experimentation had soon mastered the main functions of my camera. The way down is, if anything, more difficult (I guess that is always generally true) and we made our way carefully down the steep rocks, mostly on our bottoms! Back down in the village we join the Togbe who is now entertaining Mawuli (God exists) Dabi – a local boy made good. He is the Chief Executive of the local District Assembly (a political appointment) and is now standing in the forthcoming elections as local MP for the ruling “elephant” party.
He has lived as a child in Uganda and has been to Jinja – small world! We drink schnapps and exchange stories surrounded by the Togbe’s wives and children. Mawuli then takes us on a quick impromptu visit to the house he has built in the village that he says can be used by tourists to generate money for the community. He proudly announces that you can watch satellite tv in the village – it is almost surreal. All the time he is mobbed by the local villagers anxious to pay their respects and shake the hand of the “Big Man”. He then gives us a lift back to Helakpe in his huge, luxurious, shiny 4X4, stopping frequently to give out posters for his election campaign and to greet his supporters. Wonder, meanwhile, who has come along for the ride continues to snap away – much to the delight of all.
We were rewarded with a magnificent view over Helakpe and the Kolor game reserve. By now Wonder had developed a keen interest in photography and after some experimentation had soon mastered the main functions of my camera. The way down is, if anything, more difficult (I guess that is always generally true) and we made our way carefully down the steep rocks, mostly on our bottoms! Back down in the village we join the Togbe who is now entertaining Mawuli (God exists) Dabi – a local boy made good. He is the Chief Executive of the local District Assembly (a political appointment) and is now standing in the forthcoming elections as local MP for the ruling “elephant” party.He has lived as a child in Uganda and has been to Jinja – small world! We drink schnapps and exchange stories surrounded by the Togbe’s wives and children. Mawuli then takes us on a quick impromptu visit to the house he has built in the village that he says can be used by tourists to generate money for the community. He proudly announces that you can watch satellite tv in the village – it is almost surreal. All the time he is mobbed by the local villagers anxious to pay their respects and shake the hand of the “Big Man”. He then gives us a lift back to Helakpe in his huge, luxurious, shiny 4X4, stopping frequently to give out posters for his election campaign and to greet his supporters. Wonder, meanwhile, who has come along for the ride continues to snap away – much to the delight of all.
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