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Questions
9. Living Conditions.
- What kind of accommodation should I expect during my placement?
- What will the food be like?
- Is food included in the fees?
- How much do things cost?
- Can I access the Internet whilst in Ghana?
- What’s the accommodation like at the Refugee Settlement?
- What’s the accommodation like in Accra?
- What's the climate like?
- Will I have to share a room?
What kind of accommodation should I expect during my placement?
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.
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What will the food be like?
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.
Is food included in the fees?
Unless otherwise stated food is not included in our fees as from experience interns prefer feeding themselves. In Accra we have a fully furnished kitchen with appliances and our staff will show you how and where to do your food shopping.
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How much do things cost?
It all really depends on what you buy and where you do so. Western products are generally expensive as they have been imported. On the other hand with a little give you can easily budget $10-$20 per day. If you would like to travel around Ghana you may need to budget more.
Can I access the Internet whilst in Ghana?
Yes you can. Just around the corner from our Accra accommodation in walking distance is Busy Internet which has a reasonable broadband connection.
Internet access will be available close by to most placements, apart from very rural locations. Every town and most small villages have Internet cafés. Most Internet connections are made through dial-up, this can be really annoying and will take some getting used to.
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What’s the accommodation like at the Refugee Settlement?
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 volunteering on a refugee settlement. We have plenty of other placements available in Accra.
What’s the accommodation like in Accra?
In Accra we have a large 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 volunteers & interns sit out in the evening, a study area and bedrooms with two bathrooms. All of the upstairs bedrooms have access to balconies.
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What's the climate like?
Ghana has a typically tropical climate. Daytime temperatures are high, approaching or topping 30oC on most days but fall at night. Temperatures are reasonably consistent throughout the year. The main seasonal factor is rain, which falls almost exclusively between April-September, peaking in May and June. Another phenomenon in Ghana is the arrival of the Harmattan winds that blow from the northeast during the dry season. They bring dust from the Sahara and reduce visibility to as little as 1km. They generally come in late November or early December and continue until March.
Will I have to share a room?
Yes you most probably will have to share a room with other volunteers & interns. In Accra we have two 2-person rooms and two 4-person rooms. We have two bathrooms and three toilets. In Buduburam we have three 2-person rooms. In both accommodations volunteers & interns sleep in bunkbeds.
Rooms are allocated in the week before arrival and as such we can not tell you how many people you will be sharing the room with, but usually its two per room.
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