December 30 2005
Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary
Ghana, Africa

Dear Supportors;

Year number two in Ghana is rapidly coming to an end, and I find myself wondering where the time has gone!  Judging by all of the new wrinkles on my face and arms, my body is taking stock of the passing tropical time, even if I am not.  And 2006 is shaping up to be another year rich in new experiences and positive conservation outreach happenings here in West Africa.

This month’s activities included a visit to Wechiau.  After three months away, there was much to talk about and sort through with the Sanctuary Management Board and staff.  It was great to be back ‘at home’ surrounded by people who I know and have worked with for the past couple of years.  There was a steady procession through my house as people came to greet me and hear of my news about Canada and Accra.  It was also great to enjoy my familiar, favourite northern foods as well as the dry climate.  Cool nights are a pleasure at this time of year in the Upper West Region.

I am used to the expectation that I am the provider of gifts from far away lands, but I was rather unprepared for the reverse phenomenon - that of recipient.  I was given guinea fowls and chickens, yams, beers, and clay pots.  The real prize was “Mr. Noisy”, a beautiful rooster from our Paramount Chief, the Wechiau-Naa.  Sir Noisy knew he was a beautiful bird and wanted to be sure that every other nearby male was aware of his potency.  Where did the urban legend come from that roosters only crow at sunrise?  When you own one – particularly a very vocal one – you know that the desire to crow really happens at any time…but it seems best to get the vocal cords in action by 3am at the latest!  Good morning!!

Calgary-supported projects are doing well at the Hippo Sanctuary and this last visit enabled me to observe progress, give a nudge here, and a push there, and to keep things on track.  Many educational projects were nurtured during this visit.  Among other things, the Heather Graham Primary School was appraised and appears ready for the roof to go on; materials from the School Twinning Initiative with the Stanley Jones School and Alice Jamieson Girls’ Academy were delivered to the twinned Sanctuary schools; and the first annual Friends of Wechiau Group senior secondary school scholarship was awarded.

 
It was wonderful to play a role in the awarding of the scholarship from the Friends of Wechiau Group.  The recipient was a compelling candidate for many reasons, and it was a joy to bring such hope to his struggling family.  Adams Yussif has lost his father to AIDS, and his mother is reportedly also infected.  He qualified for senior secondary school last year but was unable to attend because of financial constraints.  In a show of commitment and determination, Yussif repeated his last year in junior school with the hope that his family would find themselves in a better financial situation at the start of this school year.  With their ‘widow’s might’, the family raised enough money to pay for his uniform, his school fees, and one meal per day.  Using the scholarship funds, they have been refunded their expenses, and the balance of fees for Term 2 and 3 have also been cleared.  Remaining scholarship funds will be applied to dormitory housing and to make it possible for Yussif to eat more each day.

 

(Adams Yussif, centre,
with schoolmasters)



Also, the Wechiau Lighting Initiative has witnessed a re-invigoration including new team members and the establishment of an intensive schedule for community lighting meetings to be conducted in the next few months.  With the bounty from the recent farming harvest safely stowed in their houses, residents are in their best financial situation for the year.  Coupled with the fact that lighting systems have been on display long enough now for people to experience them first hand, household heads are beginning to come in their numbers to purchase light.  We are feeling positive about the upcoming months, anticipating that our patience is finally beginning to pay off.

Travel in Ghana always provides interesting stories, and this month was no different.  Construction works here seem to be never-ending – there are many stretches of roadway that have been under construction since the day I first came to West Africa.  It isn’t that work is not progressing on these streets and highways, but rather, that it just progresses extremely slowly.

On my pre-Christmas trip to the Hippo Sanctuary, we traveled north through the typical construction zones encountered en route.  Construction works are advancing gradually through small towns and, in these towns, you can be requested to stop at a single-lane-only section.  A white lady stopped in a vehicle like this can be high entertainment for the clusters of young children who don’t have many other things to hold their attention.  “Obruni” “Obruni” or ‘White Man’ chants are continuous and the bold-faced staring becomes a bit tedious after awhile.  Fortunately, in one small village, I got a bit of a break from all of the unwanted attention when something more interesting happened. 

The construction workers responsible for managing the stopped traffic began fighting with the men in the first lorry.  They started throwing rather large rocks at each other and brawling.  An enormous crowd of onlookers gathered including local children as well as waiting motorists.  Though I didn’t wish anyone injury, I was thankful for the 20-minute distraction!

Back in Accra, things are progressing well.  I have become more comfortable riding my bicycle in the hairy, chaotic streets and usually ride to and from work every day.  My favourite topic, however, is my house, which is an absolute pleasure for me!  I have not had so much privacy in Ghana thus far and I am relishing it.  Nothing is without its challenges of course and there are two main things affecting me: I have a daily battle with water collection and I suffer with a lack of kitchen space. 

The house is far from complete, and my kitchen area contains stacks of tiles, bags of cement, and a host of other construction materials.  A lack of finances is limiting the landlord from completing my suite.  I have a good feeling that this will all be sorted out in the early part of next year.

My second grievance is the water…or rather, lack of water.  The water supply to this area is not continuous.  In fact, we only get water out of the taps once a day (at most).  Wouldn’t you know it, that singular time of day typically falls between 1 and 4 in the morning; the very time when most people would like to find themselves tucked in bed!  Not me.  I am up playing with water as I fill drums and water jugs and all sorts of containers! 

Wishing you all the best for 2006.
Donna Sheppard
Conservation Outreach, Calgary Zoo
In Association with NCRC and the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary
Box 569, Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana, West Africa