Department of Politics and International Relations
Ghana Blog 2024
In April and May 2024, a group of BA Global Development students from the University of York, led by Dr Ellie Jew and Dr Gideon Baffoe, travelled to Ghana to learn first-hand insights into the country’s past, present and future. The students worked on diverse research projects in collaboration with students and faculty from the University of Ghana and encountered many different local organisations. The work was supported by funding from the Simon Bryceson Fund.
Here, some of our students share some reflections on what they learnt:
Alice:
The preparation for our research trip was a significant part of the learning experience. Together with my course mates, we engaged in various fundraising activities, including a raffle and a bake sale, to support our trip. These efforts not only helped us raise the necessary funds but also brought our group closer together. In the months leading up to our departure, we worked closely with students from the University of Ghana via Zoom. These collaborative sessions were crucial for refining our research questions and methodologies.
Our research primarily focused on the impact of ghost nets—abandoned or lost fishing nets that drift in the ocean—on the environment and local communities. We collected primary data by interviewing local fishermen, including chief fishermen and shallow divers. These interviews were essential for understanding how they disposed of their nets and the broader impacts of ghost nets on their livelihoods.
Working alongside students from the University of Ghana, we uncovered some fascinating insights. Despite the environmental challenges posed by ghost nets, the local communities were implementing a form of circular economy by recycling these nets into useful items like sponges, loofahs, and fencing materials. This practice, while not without its issues, represents a positive step towards sustainability.
This trip was more than just an academic exercise; it was a profound personal journey. Seeing firsthand the environmental challenges and the innovative solutions being developed by local communities was incredibly inspiring. It reaffirmed my decision to study global development and has fuelled my passion to continue in this field.
One of the key takeaways from our research is the sense of hope and resilience within these communities. Despite the significant challenges posed by plastic pollution, overfishing, and ghost nets, the local fishermen are actively seeking sustainable solutions. This positive outlook, coupled with the traditional knowledge and practices, offers a glimmer of hope for the future.
As I look back on my research trip to Ghana, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned. This journey has not only enriched my academic knowledge but has also deepened my appreciation for the strength and resilience of communities facing environmental challenges.
Georgia:
After arriving in Ghana, over the first few days we stayed in Accra, where we visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which taught us about Ghana’s political history and Nkrumah's important leadership and how he helped lead Ghana to independence in 1957. We also visited Jamestown, a coastal town which emerged during the 17th century due to the British James fort. Today, Jamestown is one of the poorer areas in Accra with most of the community relying on the ocean to sustain their livelihoods.
During the trip we also visited Agbogbloshie, the world's largest e-waste dump located in Accra.
Walking through Agbogbloshie was a very eye-opening experience. Nothing that we had read or studied prior to the trip could have prepared us for what we witnessed. Immediately when we entered, many of us struggled to breathe from the thick fumes and smoke created from cars and the burning of items. In the site, Ghanaians were selling a vast array of items including tyres, kettles, air conditioning machines. Other people were arriving at the site to purchase pieces of metal or refurbished items. As we walked further into the site there were many families living inside the site including small children. It was incredibly shocking to see their way of life in comparison to the privileged lives we have in the UK. While walking around I felt incredibly guilty about the fact that I had a full water bottle, clean clothes, and a place to sleep that evening. When walking through the e-waste site, I saw a loyalty card from a UK supermarket lying on the floor amongst the rubbish. Before my eyes I could see something clearly from the UK, which had travelled all the way to Ghana. I also saw many other British brands of clothing, shoes and kitchen appliances scattered around the site, it was clear that lots of the waste was European. The people in the site were clearly suffering as they were living and working in horrific conditions.The trip to Agbogbloshie has made me even more determined to make a difference in the field of sustainable development.
Grace:
We visited Cape Coast Castle, a significant and sombre site offering insight into the country's colonial past and the transatlantic slave trade. Hearing about the castle's origins and its transition from a trading post to a centre for human trafficking was both enlightening and heart-wrenching.
One of the most harrowing parts of the tour was visiting the dungeons where slaves were held before being shipped. These dark, damp, and confined spaces held hundreds of people in inhumane conditions. The oppressive atmosphere was a stark reminder of the suffering endured by millions.
Later in the trip, we participated in a cooking class organised by Global Mamas, an NGO that empowers women through fair trade and entrepreneurship. We learned to cook traditional Ghanaian dishes such as Red Red (a spicy bean stew) and yam with palava sauce. The food we prepared was delicious.
Jonah:
I was a part of a group investigating urban agriculture in Accra. In particular, I was researching how farms are learning about new farming methods. The level of mechanisation in Accra is very low; almost all farm activities are completed by hand. Farmers often do not own the land which they cultivate on, causing many issues around land encroachment leading to smaller and smaller farm sizes. Most farms are learning about new methods by using their phones to access social media platforms.
Conducting the research was not as straightforward as I thought it would be. Many farmers have had negative experiences with prior researchers making them reluctant to talk to us. If we managed to resolve this problem, we then often ran into language barriers. A lot of credit must be given to our Ghanaian colleagues who helped to both smooth over any issues and interpret for us.
Ruby:
My project was focused on the secondhand clothing trade in Ghana. The current system of offshoring waste to Ghana is resulting in extensive amounts of textile waste, which is sent to landfills, burnt, or dumped, and often washes up along Accra’s coast.
We participated in a beach clean up on Jamestown beach, and it was difficult to digest that despite two truckloads of waste leaving that day, the beach still looked much the same afterwards. What’s more, the clean ups happen every week, and the volume of waste is always the same.
My project aimed to determine how this level of waste could be reduced, and my data was collected through interviews with market sellers and clothes tailors. I found that sellers struggle to sell second hand clothes due to the economy, coupled with the poor quality of the items. Although some solutions were posed, it is clear that the issue is rooted in overconsumption in the Global North, and we therefore need to look to the Global North for answers.
Joe:
We took part in a beach cleanup organised by the Or Foundation. We joined a large group of around 100 people in clearing a stretch of beach from all the plastic, fabric, and rubbish there. Despite the amount of people there, and the time invested, and the removal of two truckloads of rubbish, it was sad to see that the beach section we had cleared looked little better than other parts, and there was still an immense amount of rubbish remaining.
After this, we visited Trashy Bags, a local charity which upcycled fabric offcuts, vinyl from billboards, and plastic water sachets (a very common form of waste as tap water is not potable). They made pencil cases, wallets, bags, and picnic blankets - it was reassuring to see that at least some of the waste being generated was dealt with in a productive way. Following on from this, we concluded our research in Ghana by analysing the data we had collected, and then presenting our findings to our peers, and getting ready to write up full reports once we returned to the UK. On our last day visiting a local school was an immensely valuable experience, as it showed us some of the topics we had discussed with educational NGO GNECC. This school did not have electricity, and faced many other issues like overcrowding, a lack of furniture, a lack of funding, poor facilities and many more.
Discussions with members of charity Renel Ghana reinforced some of the structural issues Ghana faces to good education, and how so many separate issues stem from poverty.
Throughout this trip, the locals were all extremely warm and friendly. We were made to feel welcome everywhere we went, and people were happy to share with us - whether that was customs, knowledge, food or language. Even in less than ideal circumstances, there seemed to be optimism and hope emanating - everyone believed that things could get better. The sense of community was very strong, and it seemed that everyone looked out for each other, maybe in part because nobody believed that the government or institutions would. There is hope for the future, and a belief in education as a place to start - the students all have ambitions, and try to make the most of every opportunity. Despite the visible inequality, the desperation, the colonial legacy, the poverty and the broken systems, the Ghanaian spirit remains unbroken, defiant and vibrant.
I would like to thank everyone involved to make the trip happen, and everyone who contributed to this amazing experience. A special thanks goes to The Simon Bryceson Fund, the York Futures scholarship, and the Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust for the support to make this trip accessible.