Thursday, August 29, 2013

In Ghana for nearly three weeks....

We have been here now for three weeks, working and studying, playing and soaking up the new culture.  This group of students is full of adventure and vivacity, seeking out new experiences at every turn.  I will write here about the 2013 experience and post some photos every week.

To begin, I would like to thank God for this beautiful country where the people are so peaceful.

Today is the day that the Ghanaian Supreme Court rules on the country's 2012 election, which was contested by the NPP party.  It has taken months of deliberations to reach this moment.  Thousands of police have been deployed and the streets are empty this morning as people lay low awaiting the decision.

The hope is that there will be peace, no violence, and that this situation will be a learning experience for Ghana about the need for election reform and policy change.

I just spoke with a Ghanaian friend on the phone and he says it is all "a big fuss about nothing."

This morning, the gentleman who cleans my flat, Osman, said that "we share blood so we shall not shed blood."

And yesterday a refugee from Nigeria stopped me on my walk back to campus and questioned me about the situation in Ghana, claiming that he came here to find peace and hoped, indeed prayed, that it would last.  And by God's grace, it will.

So, I thought I would share a Ghanaian proverb that is close to me and speaks in to this situation:

"Only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout. "

No explanation necessary, for we all know that treachery is necessary to cross a milestone.  My prayer is that the treachery of this election ordeal in Ghana will teach them to recognize those problems that must be brought to the forefront for change.

And this Ashanti image of the Crocodile with two heads should be the symbol of the moment as Ghana's two party system finds itself pulling in opposing directions and yet shares all of its vital organs.

Let's go forth in peace, with two heads, one body, and seek for peace.