Easter Monday Snapshot(s)

So, the Church do in the village square finally comes to an end after 4 days of amplified singing and dancing from 6am to, well, sometime after I've gone to bed. The speakers are packed away and the 30% of the village people who chose to attend have slipped back into their flip-flops and gone back to carrying things on their heads.

Snapshot 1 –

There's meant to be an Easter Beach party at the Brenu Beach Resort and it's been advertised along the coast. Apparently there are 2 chiefs of Brenu village which is a fairly poor fishing village that adjoins the beach resort. There's an incoming chief and an outgoing one. One is in favour of the party and one is not. Trouble is predicted so the 2 volunteers who are lodging at the resort whilst helping out at the Brenu school have been told that the resort kitchen and bar is closing and they should leave in case there is trouble. I arrive at 1030hrs with a view to the 3 of us walking towards Elmina. Indeed there are people dancing about in masks and frilly colourful
outfits. There's also 15 armed police. After a while there's a group of people shouting, "go away" at the dancing people and a bit of pushing and shoving. Police join in and there's a bit of hitting with battens and the pointing of guns. The 3 of us make a semi-casual exit along the beach. Palm trees and peaceful sandy beaches for about 3 miles.

Snapshot 2 –

Pass by the Coconut Grove Beach resort which is pretty posh with bars, dozens of staff, swimming pool, red brick lodges, etc. Obviously this is to be scoffed at as it's mainly for Brunis and rich Ghanaians. They do however have toilets that flush and soap and towels so closer
examination is warranted. Passing along the beach there's a strange sign that says that the resort ends in 300m and that we should enjoy our walk – somehow it suggests that it won't be enjoyable after the first 300m. After 300m the beach turns into the launching place for
fishing boats from the village but also unfortunately into a bit of a human toilet. We turn back after 1km or so and are passing by the Coconut Grove as the sky darkens in a 10 mile radius and there arespits of rain. A reintroduction to decadence is called for as we sit to order sandwiches and chips whilst we await the passing of the rain. 5 mins later the rain and wind is horizontal and everyone is in the corner of the semi-indoor restaurant. Staff are helping shepherd the elderly parents from one family group to the dry. The scene outside is one I've only seen on TV those scenes where one normally sees a hanging traffic light swinging to horizontal in the hurricane force wind. Luckily no one has told the kitchen about the mayhem outside so
our food duly arrives.

Snapshot 3 –

We hear that the party at Brenu was given the permission by the police to proceed so it's decided to go to a different resort as it'll be too noisy at Brenu to spend the evening there. Our regular driver, Osmanu (who picked us up from Mole in North Ghana a few weeks ago) picks us up and on the main road there's an awful lorry/truck accident in the rain and the dark. Reportedly, 15 people have died but it later appears that the number dead is 4. Osmanu – whose accent I'm understanding better now – explains all about Brenu riots and their
causes, the carelessness of the long distance lorry driver, the value of the rain to farmers, the number of women village chiefs (quite a few but no Muslim ones). Osmanu is a Muslim and was surprised to hear that there are Muslims in Britain.

Snapshot 4 -

In the courtyard to the Besease village guest house where we stay, there's a courtyard where I can spend some time, when not working, playing ball with JJ who is Ama's 4 year old brother. JJ is short for Joey Justice and he's the one who's a great drummer. He listens to Itunes on my Laptop if I'm working sometimes (it stops him trying to learn the AutoCAD programme that I'm normally using). He likes to drum along on the table – currently favourites of his are Jungle Boogie and also a Rush track. His brother's name is Rockman. He speaks in short sentences. He's pleased I'm not leaving this weekend.