We are about half way through our time in Ghana, and we have already seen so much, met so many people, and feel acquainted with our surroundings. Our first week was spent exploring different areas of Ghana, as we knew that once we started class we would be focused on prepping our cases and have less time for excursions.
Our first adventure was to visit Biokpa, in the Volta Region of Ghana. We went to stay at Mountain Paradise Lodge, a place recommended by the Ivey group from last year. Mountain Paradise Lodge is perched on the side of a mountain, which makes for a beautiful view. While staying there, we did a hike in the area, which ended at a waterfall. We all swam and relaxed by the water before heading back to the lodge. Our walk back was through a farmer’s crop, where we saw pineapples, cocoa beans and palm nut crops and got to taste raw cocoa bean, which tasted a lot like fruit.
Later that day, we visited the Tafi Monkey Sanctuary. We saw a few different families of monkeys and fed them bananas and mangoes. While most of them would snatch the fruit and dart away, a few of us were lucky enough to get the monkey to perch on our arm.
A few days later, we took a day trip into Accra, the countries capital. We started at the Accra mall, then visited the memorial for Kuame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, and ended the day at the beach in Accra. Accra is much more urban than the town we are staying in, Koforidua, which was interesting to see. The spread of wealth was also more apparent as we drove by the governments house, which was very over-the-top, but also experienced more begging, and were hassled for money more often than in Koforidua.
So far, the class sessions have been amazing. The students are actively engaged and have enjoyed debating against their classmate’s multiple times. We have encouraged them to be opinionated and to make a decision and support it, which was difficult for some of them in the beginning but becoming increasingly easier. At this point, everyone in the class has contributed and is getting comfortable with this new case classroom environment. They have also already reflected during key takeaways about how case classes have contributed to their learning and motivated them to continue with this method.
A lot of the cases we teach are familiar with the students, which has allowed for great insights into the class and taught us a lot more about the Ghanian business landscape. Most lessons plans have been hard to stick to, as the students have drawn implications and brought up issues we had not initially thought of. We have learned a lot from our students, which will contribute the well-rounded international business perspective we will return to Canada with.
Already I can see that the case method, and active contribution, is something that makes the students very excited and engaged. Yesterday, even after we had finished the class, there were students in the room still debating their decision for the day’s case. This passion and interest in what they are learning is incredible to see and supports why using real-life business cases is so effective.
Our surroundings are becoming more and more familiar, as we are acquainted with the area and the faces we are seeing everyday. We have all experienced the “pole-pole” tendency in Ghana, and have had to put our “type A” tendencies aside and understand that it is not out of lack of care or respect, but just part of the laid-back lifestyle. I am slowly adjusting to the heat and the lifestyle in Ghana and can’t wait for two more weeks of adventures!