Country Day’s First Trip to Ghana Brings Lasting Memories

Over Spring Break, 10 Upper School students, along with faculty trip leaders David Lynn, Tianna Butler, and Peinda Diop, visited peer schools in Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi, Ghana, and learned more about the region’s history.

By Tianna Butler and David Lynn

STEPPING OFF THE PLANE into 94-degree heat in the beginning of March was both a welcoming and shocking experience. We knew it was going to be warm in the heart of Ghana, but the thick, hot breeze reminded us that back home in Charlotte our peers were still bundled up in jackets. After numerous hours of travel across land and water, our Country Day crew— composed of 10 students and three adult trip leaders—arrived in Accra, Ghana, for a 10-day experience and learning journey during Spring Break in March.

In fact, the Ghana People-to-People Experience began well before we stepped foot on Ghanian soil. The inspiration for one of our first international travel experiences post-COVID was inspired by Emmanuel Omari ’22. Now studying at Queens University of Charlotte, Omari made a tremendous impact at Country Day as a senior exchange student during the 2021-22 academic year.

In September 2022, Samuel Pyne—the current mayor of Kumasi, Ghana—visited Country Day and spoke with a group of Upper School students. After great conversation, the students vowed to visit Mayor Pyne and the second-largest city in Ghana when they ventured to the continent of Africa later in the school year. In preparation for the trip, we organized the group for a traditional Ghanian meal at Country Day hosted by the amazing Chef Awo Amenumey, owner of Eh’vivi Ghanaian Cuisine in Charlotte. The delicious meal consisted of jollof with honey suya chicken, fried yam with egg stew and shito, kelewele, waakye with beef and fish stew, gari, cocoyam chips, sobolobo, and more. The gathering was a time for students and families to partake in the wonderful meal, learn more about Ghana, and hear about the multiple visits students would make along their journey through Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi.

Connecting with new and familiar friends

Upper School students Liza Bray, Bryce Vanfield, Bryce Moore, Livia Reuter, Kya Newell, Zach Lu, Benjamin Farnham, Alexandra Connors, Calliope Workinger and Nile Collins-Friedland, along with faculty trip leaders spent time visiting four peer schools in Ghana across all three cities. Senior Liza Bray shares, “While we were in Kumasi, we had the opportunity to visit many elementary schools and one high school. This activity was my favorite as I loved hearing about what school looks like for different people around the globe. I found it interesting to compare how similar our days were and how we all learn the same things, just in different ways.”

While in Ghana, Country Day students enjoyed an evening of food and cultural activities with Omari’s family and visited Omari’s former school, Ghana National College.

Students also visited and learned about the devastating history of the slave dungeons at Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle. Other visits included a meeting with US Ambassador Virginia Palmer at the US Embassy in Accra, walking the treetop canopy at Kakum National Park, exploring the fish market of Elmina, taking in the history of the Ashanti people at Manhyia Palace, and receiving a warm welcome at City Hall in Kumasi.

This was Country Day’s first visit to Ghana and will help open the door to future possibilities and global friendships. Liza summarized the powerful experience by sharing, “Ghana was a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity, and I would 100 percent recommend it to any student who is thinking about going on the trip.”