Info Section

Accommodation & Food

In Accra we have a large spacious house with a big surrounding garden in the centre of town. Our office is located at the back of the garden in what used to be the staff quarters. The house has a spacious communal living area, dining area and kitchen. Upstairs there is a large balcony where our guests sit out in the evening, a study area and bedrooms with two bathrooms. All of the upstairs bedrooms have access to balconies.

We have 24 hour security and two live-in staff who will take care of your every need. Volunteers & interns have to be aware that electricity and water supplies in Ghana can be sporadic.

The accommodation in Buduburam is much more basic as it is near a refugee settlement. It is a spacious house in its own compound on the outskirts of the Refugee Settlement. The house has a spacious communal living area, a well furnished dining area and kitchen. There are three bedrooms which are are shared between two people. There is a front terrace where volunteers & interns can sit out. There are two bathrooms in the house. We have a security guard at post 12 hours from 6pm to 6am and also, a housekeeper who will take care of your every need.

You need to think about what it will be like to work and live alongside refugees. Please read the information we send you thoroughly and take your time to think about the environment in which you will be living and operating. It may be hot, it may be noisy, it may be smelly, you may not have electricity or water for a period of time…if any of these things bother you, you may want to reconsider a placement on a refugee settlement. We have plenty of other volunteer opportunities available in Accra.

The Food

Ghanaian food is excellent, with staples including fresh fruit such as pineapple, mango, fresh fish, chicken, soups and stews and a variety of maize meal foods. If you like spice, Ghana is the place to be.

Thick soups are the mainstay of Ghanaian cuisine and are usually eaten with potatoes or rice. Another staple meal is Fufu, which consists of cassava, yam, or plantain that has been cooked, pureed, and mashed into a ball. Fufu is a ubiquitous and much-loved staple throughout most of West Africa. It can be topped with a fiery sauce or served as the bland accompaniment to a main dish. Fufu is traditionally made with cassava, but it can be prepared with everything from rice or yams, to instant mashed potatoes.

On street stalls you can find plenty of foods to stave off your hunger pangs. A popular dessert is fried plantains seasoned with chili pepper and ginger. This is usually washed down with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink made of corn called askenkee.

We strongly suggest interns do not drink water from the taps and are careful when eating out (try to avoid salads!)

Traditional Western foods can be bought in Accra, but as these are generally imported volunteers should be aware that they are expensive. A member of staff will point you in the right direction as to where to do your food shopping.

Click here to read a NY Times article on the delights of the Ghanaian Cuisine.