Farmer's Day Surprise!

On my first journey from Accra to Bechem we made a stop at a cocoa farm in Nhyese (Nchezee) where Mr. Mensah asked the farmer if we could have a cocoa pod for me. He proudly plucked a pod from the tree and offered me “Akwaaba.” The cocoa pod was put in the van with everything else of mine. A week or so later we opened the pod and I saw the white seeds. They were soft and slippery and sweet to the taste. That sweet outer coating I have since learned helps in the fermentation process. I did not realize it at the time, but Clement took the seeds and planted some. December 1st is Farmer’s Day in Ghana where agriculture is celebrated and farmers are given awards and prizes by President Kufuor and the whole event is televised nationally. After the celebration was over and the prizes were awarded Clement called me out front to the plantain trees on the farm where he presented me with 6 cocoa seedlings I have plans to plant at least 2 by the Resource Centre before the end of the year since the World Cocoa Foundation has been so generous to us here and to commemorate by first Ghanain gift.
I can’t help but make an analogy to my growing into Ghana. The seedlings are currently in little plastic bags resting on the ground, soon they’ll be planted and their roots will reach deep into the red African soil. I continue to nurture young teachers, their teachers and district teachers who in turn will nourish their seedlings in the form of students. Though my roots are resting on this soil and feeling more and more grounded every day my hope is that my work will take root as I find my way home at the end of my volunteer tenure.