Fellowship of Friends of African Descent Journey to

Transcription

1 Fellowship of Friends of African Descent Journey to

2 Fellowship of Friends of African Descent August 2017 Trip to GHANA Contents Planning your trip... 3 Visas... 3 Travel immunizations... 3 Practical Preparation... 3 Planning What to Bring... 3 Travel... 4 Flights... 4 In Ghana... 5 Emergency Contact information... 5 Hotels... 5 Telephones, Power & Electronics... 6 Money... 6 General Safety... 7 Local Information... 7 Weather... 7 About Hill House Friends Meeting... 7 Useful Websites... 9 Travel Checklist... 9 Itinerary Notes

3 Planning your trip Visas You will need to purchase a visa. Please visit Ghana's embassy website for more information. A single entry visa costs $60. You ll need to submit your application and passport for a visa one month to two weeks before departure. Travel immunizations Visit the CDC Travel site for information on what vaccines are needed. In general, visit your doctor 4-6 weeks before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. In addition you will need Yellow Fever vaccine Typhoid vaccine Hepatitus A vaccine Malaria medication before, during, and after your trip Practical Preparation Planning What to Bring See below for suggestions on items to pack. Insect repellant Medications o Your own prescriptions o Imodium o Your preferred pain reliever o Malaria medication Light, breathable, modest clothing, including o Shorts (not too short) o Capris o Light blouses and t-shirts o A light long-sleeved jacket or cardigan for the evenings o A bathing suit o A rain slicker Sunscreen and chapstick Good walking shoes/sandals Daypack Adapter Tablet/e-reader/books Camera Laundry (bar soap or detergent packets) Yellow Fever vaccination certification Toiletries (can be expensive in Ghana) Wide-brimmed hat Flashlight (in case of power outages) Back up battery charger for your devices (solar if possible) 3

4 Travel For those traveling on the group flight, the itinerary is below. Flights Date Flight Number Depature/Arrival Times Fri., Aug. 4 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0203 Depart: 06:55 AM From: New York (JFK) Arrive: 06:45 PM In: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Sat., Aug. 5 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0515 Depart: 12:50 AM From: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Arrive: 04:20 AM In: Accra, Ghana (ACC) 5-Day Return Flights Wed., Aug. 9 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0514 Depart: 05:30 AM From: Accra, Ghana (ACC) Arrive: 11:00 AM In: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Thu., Aug. 10 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0202 Depart: 10:30 PM From: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Arrive: 01:20 AM New York (JFK) 10-Day Return Flights Mon., Aug. 14 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0514 Depart: 05:30 AM From: Accra, Ghana (ACC) Arrive: 11:00 AM In: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Tue., Aug. 15 Royal Air Maroc, Flight # 0202 Depart: 10:30 PM From: Casablanca, Morocco (CMN) Arrive: 01:20 AM New York (JFK) The tour facilitator will organize ground transportation to and from the airport in Accra for those on the group flight. Those traveling separately should send their flight information to us at

5 so the hotel can arrange to pick you up from the airport. Public transportation is not recommended. In Ghana Emergency Contact information For emergency calls from family members from outside Ghana, contact the tour operator Gifty Lomo-Mainoo TEL For others calling locally it s U.S. Embassy: +233-(0) ext Hotels ACCRA Coconut Grove Regency Hotel P. O. Box CT 3998, Cantonments Accra - Ghana Phone: ELMINA Coconut Grove Beach Resort P. O. Box 175, Elmina Elmina - Ghana Phone: KUMASI Golden Bean Hotel #19 Harper Road Nhyiaeso Kumasi Phone: Laundry All the hotels operate laundry service (both wet and dry cleaning) 5

6 Telephones, Power & Electronics Check with your cellular carrier to see if you can roam while in Ghana. Alternatively, you can get a cheap cell phone there and SIM card for under $5 and you can buy scratch-off phone cards for air-time credit from $1-20. Phone cards are sold pretty much everywhere, including gas station shops, chemists, and at kiosks on the roadside. Ghana suffers from occasional power outages but it is getting better and many places have back-up generators. However, the power surges can damage electronics, so consider using a surge protector. Airline Electronics Ban It appears that the recent rules have been relaxed and/or delayed. The rule required personal devices larger than a smartphone to be placed in checked baggage for U.S.-bound flights departing from 10 major airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa. This includes Morocco and the airline Royal Air Maroc. Cellphones and medical devices would not be affected by the U.S. ban. We ll keep an eye on the rules and will keep you posted. Voltage Ghana uses 220V power, so if you are bringing a blow dryer, electric shaver, laptop or any other electrical appliance, you may need to purchase a step down transformer. Some appliances have a 110/220 switch, which will work fine, all you need then is a small plug-in adapter that will accept your plug type. A step-down transformer can be purchased locally for about $10-12USD; and a plug in adapter will cost about $1USD. Money The currency is the Ghanaian cedi. The exchange rate (as of this writing) is 1 USD = 4.41 GHS. Be sure to check the exchange rate before you leave. Most of the big banks have ATMs which give only local currency. Before you leave home, contact your bank or credit card company, regarding your ATM card to be sure it will work overseas and in case you need a special PIN number. Credit Cards Don t use them. Sad to say, credit card fraud abounds in Ghana. Not even in the big hotels should you consider using your credit card. Convert traveler s checks or use the ATMs, as cash is the best way to pay for your purchases. Only use your credit card at an ATM or a POS terminal, which are few and far between, anyway. Cash, Traveler s Checks and Foreign Exchange Bring only cash or traveler s checks to exchange into Ghana cedis. Major stores prefer cash, not traveler s checks. There are Forex bureaus everywhere, and many of the big hotels have forex bureaus as well. Don t allow an individual on the street to exchange money for you, even if he quotes you good rates there s a strong likelihood the money is counterfeit. 6

7 General Safety Pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and financial scams are the most common forms of crime visitors encounter. Basic common-sense safety tips: Travel in groups Avoid travel at night Don t use shared taxis or communal mini-buses (locally called tro-tro ) Limit your display of jewelry Handle cash discreetly Pay close attention to those around you or following you Carry limited amounts of cash and only photocopies of key documents. U.S. Embassy at +233-(0) ext Local Information Weather Average high in August: 75 to 80 The climate of Ghana is tropical. While the eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, it can be VERY humid! About Hill House Friends Meeting Hill House Meeting originated from a group of British Quakers recruited as staff for Achimota College and School from They established a meeting for themselves and other members of staff. In 1934, these Friends built Hill House Meeting garden shelter on the School property. Due to changes in postings and exigencies of career, between 1925 early 1940s, the meeting remained small, predominantly expatriate with a few Ghanaians. It appears that the meetings lapsed in the middle 40s. There was a flurry of activity from by Mrs Iona Acquah and by 1953 there was a real revival, led by the Acquahs, and sustained by staff of the University. From then onwards the meeting has continued. In the 1970s, there were three meetings in Ghana Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi. Easter Gatherings started 1974 and have continued. Members of the Meeting and the Meeting itself have played active roles in social work and causes in Ghana and in the Christian Council, making the existence of the Quakers well known. 7

8 Easter Gathering By 1954, Friends had identified their need for a gathering of all Friends resident in Ghana, as well as any who are working in neighbouring countries and might wish to share fellowship. With their Ghanaian counterparts, the first Easter Gathering of Friends came off that year and has become an annual event in the calendar. Christian Council In the mid-1960s, Friends in Ghana became anxious to relate even more closely to the Christian Community in Ghana. Accordingly, it sought and was admitted into the Membership of the Christian Council of Ghana as a constituent member. 8

9 Useful Websites U.S. Embassy in Ghana Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) Travel insurance (compare policies) Travel Checklist Passport Visa Vaccinations and Malaria medication Flight Passport number and expiration date sent to FoFAD Purchase travelers checks and/or notify bank of travel plans 9

10 Itinerary This is a brief overview. The full itinerary can be found on the Fellowship website. Saturday 5 th August Arrive Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Accra; transfer to Hotel Poolside AKWAABA (Welcome) FIESTA Buffet dinner, cultural performance and mini contemporary fashion exhibition. Meet with exhibitors for clothes choice and orders Overnight at Hotel, Accra Sunday 6 th August Meeting for Worship at Hill House Ghanaian cuisine cooking session for lunch Batik, tie-dye cloth making and wearing for men and women, head wrapping etc Dinner at own expense at hotel Monday 7 th August Tour of Accra, Ghana s capital. The W.E.B du BOIS Centre for Pan African Culture The George Padmore Library and Residence The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Park, final resting place of Ghana s first president Shopping: Centre for National Culture Traditional Textile. Good buys on African goods. Enjoy bargaining and haggling! Dinner at own expense at hotel Tuesday 8 th August Historical & Ecological Trails. Central Region. Early departure after breakfast from Accra to the Central Region Arrive Cape Coast and continue to the Kakum National Park and Rain Forest Nature trail Lunch Depart Kakum to visit the World Heritage Sites which played very significant roles in the era of the trans-atlantic slave trade o The Elmina castle o The Cape Coast Castle the palaver hall (slave auction room) the underground tunnels leading from the dungeons to the last slave exit point the door of no return, etc. 5-Day Tour Participants: Depart Cape Coast for Accra. Arrive Accra for NANTI YIE (farewell) dinner at 8pm and overnight at Regency Wednesday 9 th August Departure 10

11 Wednesday 9 th August Central-Ashanti Region Depart Elmina after breakfast for Ashanti Region Arrive Kumasi the capital Dinner and overnight Thursday 10 th August Asante Culture Centre for National Culture, Kumasi. o Cultural workshops and do-it-yourself sessions on the African talking drums and traditional dances. o Visit the studios of indigenous craftsmen and observe them at work in carving, kente weaving and adinkra cloth printing. Royal museum of the Manhyia Palace, official residence of Asantehene s (Asante Kings) since Friday 11th August Craft Villages Tour Visit the indigenous craft villages o Bonwire (Kente hand weaving o Ntonso ( adinkra hand stamped cloth Return to Kumasi for overnight Dinner at own expense Day 8 :Saturday 12th August Kumasi-Accra After breakfast mid-morning departure from Kumasi to Accra Arrive Accra for overnight at hotel Dinner at own expense Sunday 13th August Fellowship & Leisure Day at Hill House for morning meeting. Rest of day at leisure to follow up on clothes orders etc NANTI YIE (farewell) dinner at Hotel Poolside Day 10 Monday 14 th August Departure Last minute shopping Depart 11

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