Life in Tamale, Ghana

Fast Facts: Slightly smaller than Oregon. 70+ languages spoken, democratic government, 16 regions, Accra is the capital city.

Video transcript

I lived in Accra for 11 years serving with churches. I decided and felt led to move to Tamale, 385 miles north, to work with the Dagbon people.

Though in the same country Accra and Tamale are different:

  • Accra 3-4 million people. Tamale 300,000 people

  • Accra more humid 80-90 degrees. Tamale more dry 90-100+ degrees.

  • Accra near the ocean. Tamale is the middle of a Savannah.

  • Accra 60% Christian. Tamale 90% Islam, the dominant religion.

  • Accra many people speak Twi. Tamale is home to the Dagomba people who speak Dagbani.

  • Accra I lived in a compound. Tamale I rent a house with a missionary colleague.

I live on the south side of Tamale in an area called Kapagyili. I rent a house with Damary, who is a missionary with SIM from NE India. There are other teammates in this region that I work with. My area has nice neighbors and I feel safe. Almost all my neighbors are Dagomba and follow the dominant religion. I have 2 dogs that love morning walks and are good watchdogs.

Twice a week Amama, my house helper, comes over to wash clothes by hand, sweep, mop and dust. I am so thankful for her. In the mornings, I study and review my Dagbani from the day before. I listen to recordings from my language helper to learn how to get my pronunciation correct. There is no school to learn at. Learning takes place out in the community. And some mornings I will go out to practice what I have learned.

For lunch I cook normal, American food but usually all from scratch. After lunch I will go out again to practice speaking, practicing a story I have learned or words I just learned. Sometimes I sit with friends to learn about them and how they see things. One friend sews and she has taught me some things and in the middle of trying to get a straight line, we try and have a conversation. I try and build relationships with people. I walk and greet people as I pass—a very polite thing to do, and just try to soak in understanding people and the culture and how I can learn. Some days people understand me, someday not so much. Towards later afternoon, I head to my language helper’s place for a lesson. From that, I will have more help in understanding what was not clear to me in the community and teaching me something new.

The evenings we are usually exhausted and cook to eat, pray and crash. The sun is usually quite hot and it wears one out.

Another version of the day: Maybe we need to go to town…come with me to town. There is a post office where my mail goes. We have a couple shops to buy food stuffs. Sometimes the shelves are full…sometimes not. Get it while you can! The market is always lively and there are many fresh vegetables and fruits, maybe not a wide variety but what we have is fresh and the meat too! Parking is not always available so many times we will take a yellow yellow and ride home.

Another version of the day: maybe the power goes out. Call the electrician to come over or maybe water is not coming, call the plumber pic of water tanks to get water in my tanks.

There is never a dull moment. Whatever way my day goes God is good and faithful. You are always welcome to visit!