We had breakfast on Wednesday, November 10 at Busua, then said goodbye to George and his helpful staff. (His only request of us was to leave Books of Mormon with him.) Our plan was to visit the Nzulezu stilt village prior to picking up President Tetteh, counselor in the District Presidency, then travel to Axim to meet with the YSA. The timing had to be exact to make everything work. Our plan seemed to be going well until we were stopped by the police for some trumped up charges. This officer was not impressed with our white skin or church name badges. When we tried “Christlike” reasoning with him he became indignant. Time was ticking so we called the Area emergency number for Sylvanus. Sylvanus talked with the officer for at least 20 minutes, explaining why we were in the country and why we had international drivers’ licenses not Ghanaian. In exasperation, Sylvanus told us to pay 200 Ghana cedi (About $35) and “get out of there.” Close to 50 minutes had passed so we missed our carefully planned window to see Nzulezu. We learned that the police have no problem asking for bribes. This officer not only wanted money, but openly asked Dale to give him his phone twice. TIA!
Unfortunately, after this police issue, Dale had to turn the truck around and head to Axim to meet President Tetteh who lives outside the district boundaries and was traveling over an hour by tro-tro to be with us. The sights we saw as we waited at the Axim village corner were so entertaining that we didn’t mind in the least! (Note the lady drawing water with a green bucket from the well. Family getting in a tro-tro. I love the two traditionally dressed men chatting on the corner. Second-floor sign reads “Tribeck Homes and Décor.” If there isn’t a lane you make your own.)
Our hour ride from the village center to the small, rented Axim building was pleasant. The church had rended a facility, then built a small open-air chapel. (cement all around with portable baptismal font out back) We enjoyed President Tetteh and his commitment to the gospel and his family. He told the YSA who gathered that the Munk’s visit marked the reset for YSA. They have since started a fairly active WhatsApp to communicate with one another.
On our drive back to the village center we were again stopped by the police. Once again Dale took out his international driver’s license and answered a long set of questions about why and who and what. The difference this time was that President Tettah, an African, was in the front seat. He very calmly and softly persuaded the officer that we were his friends and were in the country to do good. His kindness prevailed and we were permitted to drive on. Blessings.
After dropping him off we drove 35 miles, two hours, to Tarkwa, a mining town in the mountains. This was a busy town with huge, heavy trucks driving from the mines constantly rumbling through the streets. We smiled at the hotel’s posted advertisement, “A Three Star Hotel of Choice.” Maybe it was only three stars, but we were happy it had hot running water and a working air conditioner. That night we met with the district president, his counselor, and six ward representatives. The lights went off during our meeting which must have been a very common occurrence. Those with phones turned on their flashlights, placed them on the table and with the light shining upward, then put their water bottle on the light to create a lamp of sorts. We went on without missing a beat.
The coast of Ghana was once referred to as the Gold Coast. Gold is still mined today in the surrounding mountains of Tarkwa. The only obvious signs of mining were the ever-present trucks carrying mined gold, palms, cocoa, or rubber from plantations that went on for miles and miles and miles.
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