We’re on travel again. This time to the Volta region. Our first stop was Cedi Beads, a central point for the bead culture in Ghana. Cedi, himself, was our guide. He is an international expert on African beads, travelling the globe to demonstrate and teach.
We learned that the raw material for Cedi’s beads is recycled glass. Cedi discussed the five types of beads as students watched intently. It took less than five minutes to make a design in a shot glass so we could see.
When the preparation is complete, beads are sent to the kiln in which firewood is consumed. After the firing, beads are polished.
After the tour, students had the opportunity to make their own beads (which they will pick up on Sunday) using glass chips and powders. Both Mark and Catherine made some beads, too.
Our next stop was the Akosombo Dam. This ~1 GW hydro power station was constructed shortly after Ghana’s independence was achieved, so it is now over 50 years old. Water from the Volta River reservoir flows through the headrace to the intake. Thereafter, it rushes downward through the orange penstocks (one for each turbine) and the turbines into the downstream river. When first commissioned, Ghana needed only 10 % of the electricity it provides. The rest was sold internationally. Because of Ghana’s economic growth, there is no excess capacity today. Which is part of the reason for persistent rolling blackouts (dumsor).
Tracy and the students went to Gyamini for a tour, but Mark, Catherine, and I went to the Sky Plus Hotel near Ho. Catherine and I enjoyed the pool before rains and darkness ended the swimming.
—Matt
