All photographs and slides are property of the author, Patricia M. Anduss. They may be used for educational purposes only when credit is given. Not for commercial use. 2005

Ghana: Images to Ponder PowerPoint presentation by Patricia M. Anduss All photographs by Patricia M. Anduss, unless otherwise noted.

Tafi Atome Village What do you notice in these pictures? What are these women doing? How are natural materials being used in these two scenes?

Tafi Atome My first stay in Tafi Atome took place in I went back in In those four years the villagers had made noticeable progress. *The number of “bore” wells rose from 2 to 3. *Tafi now has a junior secondary school in addition to their elementary school. *They have developed cottage industries, including corn grinding and Kente weaving. Tafi Atome now has electricity. Is this an advantage or disadvantage for village life?

JN This is downtown Cape Coast. Notice the children working, the open sewers, and the beauty salon sign.

Cape Coast Roof Tops

Unemployment rate: 20% (est.) Population below the poverty line: 31% GDP per capita: purchasing power parity $2,300 Ghanaians have found ways to make their homes with very little money. Why are there rocks on some of the roofs?

What does this image tell us about Ghana? JW

A tro tro English is Ghana’s official language. Christianity is the most popular religion, with 63% of the population. Ghana has 46,176 km (28,692 miles) of highways. 37,678km (23,412 miles) are unpaved.

AMN Ghanaian Women Life expectancy: 57 years The average Ghanaian woman has 3 children. 52 of every 1000 (or 1 out of 20) children born alive dies within the first year of life. It is estimated that 67% are literate. Most Ghanaian women are hard working and industrious.

What is this poster conveying? Is this a good way to encourage a safer lifestyle? Can you think of any unintended consequences this poster might have? JNJN

As a result of posters and images like this, many Ghanaians believe that they can only contract AIDS from someone who looks very ill. This poster was at the entrance of the Ashanti Gold Mine compound. JNJN

Ghana AIDS Facts 3.1 % of the adult population is HIV/AIDS positive 350,000 people living with HIV/AIDS 30,000 HIV/AIDS deaths Data from the CIA Fact book. Figures are estimates for Beach in Accra, the capital of Ghana ck

TOPP Palm Oil Factory Palm oil is a reddish vegetable oil from the oil palm tree. It is used in cooking, margarine, and processed foods. Palm oil originated in West Africa. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, palm oil has long been known to promote heart disease.

TOPP Palm Oil Factory Agriculture provided 34% of Ghana’s GPD. 60% of the labor force works in agriculture; 15% works in industry

The Republic of Ghana is a constitutional democracy. Everyone over 18 can vote. The current constitution was approved in Ghana is very proud of the fact that in 1957 it became the first sub-Saharan colony to gain independence.

Nakori Mosque 16% of Ghanaians are Muslim, the majority of Muslims live in the northern part of the country where it is hot and dry. Take a look at the youths outside the mosque. What do you notice?

Nakori Mosque Why are some kids in uniforms and some not? What might the image on this t-shirt mean to the boy wearing it? What does it mean to you?

Ghana has many proverbs. Hate has no medicine. Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle. One falsehood spoils a thousand truths. The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.