First Impressions From Ghana: At CDD-Ghana in Accra

In the morning I awoke to clear skies and a radiant sun following my late night arrival into Accra, Ghana. It was the first time I had seen the African sun cast a golden blanket across the city; a beautiful collage of deep green trees and coloured rooftops glistening across the community where I have the pleasure of staying. After only a few weeks of living in Accra, the only culture shock I have experienced is the incredible welcoming spirit of the people. It would be an understatement to say that not a day has gone by where I am not in awe of the sights of this country or the lives of the people I meet on a daily basis; from the mother on the street who sells water from a bin resting on her head and her child strapped to her back, to the program directors at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) that have an unparalleled insight into Ghanaian democracy and African development.
 

Overlooking the Village in Butre from an old Fort used as a trade post by the Dutch in the 18th Century
 

CDD-Ghana’s central mission is to promote democracy, good governance, the rule of law, and economic openness in Ghana and the rest of Africa. A major theme in several of the projects being pursued this summer is accountability and transparency. One such project focuses on the transparency and openness of African parliaments, and the role of parliamentary monitoring organizations (PMOs) in advocating for greater openness. I am working on a consolidated report that is based on the progress and challenges of PMOs within four regions in sub-Saharan Africa. This and other projects which I have so far had the benefit of working on are remarkable not only because of their content but because the issues being explored are alive and apparent in the street corners and government buildings which I pass by each day. The enthusiasm for freedom and democracy continues to ring through the body politic, though the political sentiment seems to be one of cautious optimism.
 

At Butre, Ghana, a small village on the Coast about 5 hours west of Accra. This is a small lagoon opposite the ocean with an old canoe.
 

I also had the incredible opportunity to participate in a conference called “Youth Unemployment: Bridging the Gap between Education/Training and Industry.” The conference was comprised of scholars, civil society representatives and politicians, including the keynote speaker, the Minister of Education. The participants collectively expressed their confidence in the potential of the nation’s youth and proposed a number of solutions. They also criticized the government for its lack of political willpower to address the issue. The Honourable Minister assured the participants that a strong educational system is already in place, but that it needs to be made stronger. She further added that education must come with a purpose, and that collaboration between educational institutions, government, and industries, are needed to grow a skills-based economy. Lastly, the Honourable Minister noted the importance of including the voice of students in such discussions to ensure that their opinions are given weight.
 

At Cacum National Park just outside of Cape Coast, Ghana. This is the Canopy walk, which was in fact built by two Canadians!
 

What has been most interesting so far is the perception of government amongst average citizens. For some individuals who are content with their lives in the village, the locus of political power seems to play no role in their daily lives and aspirations. Alternatively, there are people in the city who maintain sharp opinions about their government’s political shortcomings. I recall a taxi driver who proclaimed that “here in Ghana we have freedom,” but that this freedom has not flourished in a meaningful sense. This might especially be the case for 80 percent of the population who work in an informal economy with little to no job security or social protection. Nevertheless, the hope for a consolidated liberal democracy appears to reign quite strongly in the hearts and minds of the people I have spoken to.
 

At Accra Stadium watching the Black Stars play the local All-Star team.
 

From what I have been able to contribute as a first year law student I have received tenfold in return from the people and resources here at CDD-Ghana. The beauty of CLA-ACE internships is that they grant a dynamic learning experience to students who are eager to apply the skills we have thus far been equipped with in our years as law students. Furthermore, those skills are being applied to exceptionally unique projects, which adds a new dimension to, and perspective on, the use and application of legal research and writing.
 

At Bojo Beach, just outside of Accra. The beach is set in between a lagoon on one side, and the ocean on the other.
 

Perhaps the most astounding aspect of my internship thus far is that I have 6 more weeks to go. I could not be any more grateful and thankful for this opportunity and am so excited to continue for the rest of the summer. I look forward to the new experiences and people I will meet, and to be able to share those stories with friends, family and colleagues back home!