Friday morning the Cape Coast crew spent our last day in the Central Region. We visited the Elmina Castle, the oldest European building south of the Sahara and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although originally constructed by the Portuguese to facilitate the trade of goods, it became a major port for the Atlantic Slave Trade, similar to the Cape Coast Castle.
After touring the castle, the museum, the female and male dungeons and the Governor's quarters, we emerged onto the upper level of the castle. The view of the Gulf of Guinea and the town of Elmina was breathtaking - sunshine, crashing waves, colorful fishing boats, a lively fish market, and a boisterous political rally. The New Patriotic Party candidate for the December 2012 Presidential election arrived in a motorcade of large SUVs to deliver a campaign speech. In Ghana, this is no somber affair. In fact, almost nothing is a somber affair! A parade, music, dancing, flags, t-shirts and a party. Emerging from the castle to this view struck me as incredibly ironic. Ghanaians free, independent, preparing for their sixth democratic election.
We're now back in Accra, preparing to check out and spend our last day at the Centre For National Culture and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. We fly out tonight around 9 p.m. It will be a long journey - first to Frankfurt, Germany, then Chicago, and finally back to Minneapolis. Although looking forward to reuniting with our friends and families, I know we are all reluctant to leave behind the spirit of Ghana and our many new Ghanaian friends.
