A Week Out West: Unlearning and learning anew in Ghana

Feb 27 2024

by Rebecca Gillman, ICS Addis Teacher

As the Global Issues Service Summit (GISS) coincided with our High School Week Without Walls trips this year, we took the opportunity to take six students to Ghana ahead of the summit, We landed in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, before the summit, hosted by Al Rayan International School, started on Thursday. And we are so glad we made this decision!

Our two-day tour with expert local guides was packed with unlearning and powerful new learnings. The stories that stretched back to Ancient African Kingdoms of the Ashanti, right up to stories from across all regions in Ghana, left our heads spinning, our minds wide open, and our hearts full.

Here are some reflections from the six Grade 11 students on the team:

Before this trip I had known about slavery and colonization but I hadn’t vizualised it and thought about how that would look like before America when people were still in Ghana and West Africa (at the castles). I also had a preconceived idea that all African countries are riddled with corruption and in-fighting within the country, but I unlearned that here as Nathan, our guide, explained that there is no resentment in Ghana between the regions and even in the government people feel represented and their system is inclusive of all types of people. I also had never thought about modern-day colonialism when Justice, another expert guide, explained how and why Ghana is struggling to grow economically today. It was very eye-opening to recognize how much power the ‘Western world’ still has over Africa today. So what I’m taking away from this trip is the message of unity, that is what I think is most important for the continent. (Yanet, Grade 11)

One takeaway from the trip is the need to view historical events from different perspectives instead of just the dominant perspective, and to recognize that the history that is commonly taught is warped to fit the agenda of powerful individuals and countries. Another key takeaway is to understand the historical processes and events that have led to the establishment of modern day systems, because it helps us recognize that the norms and traditions we view as the natural order of things are actually culturally and historically formed, and, as such, can and sometimes should be changed. For example, learning that insurance and most of our financial institutions were established during the time of slavery was very interesting and something I had not previously considered. (Bitania, Grade 11)

My takeaway from this trip is the history, different cultures, and the people that I have met. Before this trip, I had never thought about how slavery started. I learned about the transatlantic slave trafficking and what they went through during the time of colonization. It opened my eyes to the horrors the European countries brought upon Africa. I also learned the origins of why they came to Ghana and how it happened. In addition, exploring the castles and taking walking tours helps in visualizing what it was like and how the people of Elmina and Cape Coast in Ghana lived. Talking with guides also gave me another perspective of religion and culture in West Africa. The talk about spirits and how God is man made (a construct of our minds) was interesting and something I have never considered before. The people of Ghana don’t hold grudges, and it is peaceful among its regions. They are all one, and it brought about peace and a sense of togetherness. Therefore, my takeaway from this trip is that it is important to learn about the past and to look at it as reference but be able to move on afterwards through the door of return. (Sumeya, Grade 11)

"From the door of no return to the door of return… From the endless ocean beach to the houses on the streets. Ghana is a mix of the past and present. It was interesting to explore the variety of opinions and the ability of museums to capture the interest of the tourist."

When it came to the history, the Elmina Castle and the Cape Coast Castle both showcased the gruesome conditions endured by the slaves during the transatlantic slave trade. It held the countries responsible for the conditions that slaves during the transatlantic slave trade accountable. Yet more than that, it was the heat and humidity that got under my skin. As I stood in the cell with a fraction of people that were once there, I could feel the sweat dripping. The low ventilation would have made conditions worse, especially when there would be no room for mobility. To stand where people in pain once stood... one could almost hear the echo of what once was. (Anon, Grade 11)

Two of our amazing guides, Justice and Felix, transformed my bias towards slave trades and West African culture with their knowledge and open-mindedness to other perspectives in this world. They brought me into their world and explained how it evolved. I really opened myself up to the talks of religion, which never really interested me in the past. (Sophia, Grade 11)

We went to Ghana this week, and it was a very transformative experience. One key takeaway was from the Cape Coast and Elmina Castle visits where I learned about slavery from the African perspective, rather than the European and American perspectives. (Malaika, Grade 11)

Want to see what we got up to at the summit itself? Check out the videos below: