So last week at work, I knew I had a meeting to go to on a Thursday, which is nothing unusual at all.......but what my work forgot to tell me until Wednesday morning was that the meeting was not actually in Accra, and was at one fo the mining towns, and so we would be flying to Kumasi and going from there, leaving on Wednesday afternoon, so I had 5mins to pack as I was about to head out to another meeting, luckily right by the airport so wouldn't have to deal with traffic!
But apart from the lack of communication, I am very glad I got to travel there. First flying between cities in Ghana means you can fly in the daylight so get a view over the city, all European international flights leave after 6pm so you only see darkness and lights when leaving, so I got a chance to try take some aerial photos.
And also I got the chance to see the mines, instead of just having passed through the outside of the towns as I have before when travelling through that area.
We flew to Kumasi, which is the big city to the north west of Accra, about a 45min flight, and then its an hour drive south to Obuasi, which is a town practically there for the existence of one big mining company, its a gold mine, and all the affliate companies which need to be there to support it.
Then the next day we went on to another mining down further down south. I had driven this road before with my parents when going from Busua to Kumasi, and it was one of the longest journeys take in Ghana for the relatively small amount of distance to be covered. Luckily this time less torrential rain, but the road is still terrible, you're bumping the whole way even in a big 4x4.
But we eventually made it to Tarkwa, which is the other big sized mining town, this one has a lot more companies present, and doesn't have just gold. We were there to work with a managanese company.
And after our work, we got to tour through the mine, which pretty much just means getting in car, driving for a little bit and looking down over a giant hole in the ground which they blow up every so often and take away ore from. Probably more technical than that.....but they just crush the ore to smaller sized pieces and ship it away like that, no chemicals or any treatment actually in Ghana itself.
So after that, was the drive back to Accra, and I even made it in time to go to the dinner reservation I had made before leaving, unaware that I may not be back in time!
But got my nice Japanese stirfry, at one of the nice restaurants in Accra, which thankfully also due to being away and getting extra allowance pay I could easily afford!
But apart from the lack of communication, I am very glad I got to travel there. First flying between cities in Ghana means you can fly in the daylight so get a view over the city, all European international flights leave after 6pm so you only see darkness and lights when leaving, so I got a chance to try take some aerial photos.
And also I got the chance to see the mines, instead of just having passed through the outside of the towns as I have before when travelling through that area.
We flew to Kumasi, which is the big city to the north west of Accra, about a 45min flight, and then its an hour drive south to Obuasi, which is a town practically there for the existence of one big mining company, its a gold mine, and all the affliate companies which need to be there to support it.
Then the next day we went on to another mining down further down south. I had driven this road before with my parents when going from Busua to Kumasi, and it was one of the longest journeys take in Ghana for the relatively small amount of distance to be covered. Luckily this time less torrential rain, but the road is still terrible, you're bumping the whole way even in a big 4x4.
But we eventually made it to Tarkwa, which is the other big sized mining town, this one has a lot more companies present, and doesn't have just gold. We were there to work with a managanese company.
And after our work, we got to tour through the mine, which pretty much just means getting in car, driving for a little bit and looking down over a giant hole in the ground which they blow up every so often and take away ore from. Probably more technical than that.....but they just crush the ore to smaller sized pieces and ship it away like that, no chemicals or any treatment actually in Ghana itself.
So after that, was the drive back to Accra, and I even made it in time to go to the dinner reservation I had made before leaving, unaware that I may not be back in time!
But got my nice Japanese stirfry, at one of the nice restaurants in Accra, which thankfully also due to being away and getting extra allowance pay I could easily afford!
The above photos are from the mine site, its a plant that closes its leaves up when you touch it, so top photo is before, and bottom photo is the after, of the same plant.
The mine pit, one fo the many they are currently working in.
In our protective gear
View from above Accra, showing the coast, unfortunately on the wrong side of town to view my house clearly
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