Ghana: Global Gateway Summer 2026 (A Day in the Life 1)
Program: UW Global Gateway in Ghana, Summer
Luna G: Places – Routine & Favorite
When studying abroad in Ghana, everyday we bring different experiences and excursions. Our days follow a similar schedule: breakfast in the morning, followed by class, lunch, excursions then dinner. However, one thing that is consistent is our time spent on the bus. Our 19-seat bus takes us from excursion to excursion.
These bus rides vary in length, ranging from 20 minutes to class to as long as six hours. This first week alone, we’ve spent upwards of 15 hours on the bus. While it may sound exhausting, it creates countless opportunities to bond with the cohort. Bus rides are spent talking, resting, listening to music, or playing games of imposter. Each day is a chance to learn more about the regions we visit and about the people that we are on the trip with. The front of the bus is usually more quiet and serves as a place of rest, while the back of the bus is filled with giggles and lively conversation. The middle of the bus bridges the gap between both ends because that’s where Professor Seidman and Klug often chime in with their commentary about the landscapes and infrastructure we pass along the way. These memories formed on the bus will be treasured long after the duration of this study abroad.
My favorite place we’ve visited is the Assin Manso Slave River in Cape Coast, Ghana. Many were exhausted after our six-hour bus ride, but the gravity of the day quickly set in. The tour guide did a phenomenal job explaining the history and debunking the several common myths about slavery before the tour. After the history lesson, we walked through the ancestral river park in silence, as it was a very emotional experience. Before entering, we knocked on the wood to “ask the ancestors for permission,” according to our tour guide, Kwame Divine. We walked down to the river and touched the water. This experience was heavy and emotional, but very necessary. It provided an opportunity to reflect on a painful history and honor those who endured it.
Awa J: Public Transportation in Legon
When all the cohorts were heading towards the same destination, which was mostly for class, group activities, and group meals, we would ride in a mini van. The only exception was when my cohorts and I got to choose where we wanted to go on our own for dinner. In this case we would have to figure out transportation for ourselves.
When we weren’t traveling all together, taking an Uber was an option. They have similar transport apps called Yango and Bolt. Uber used to be the top transport app but it became expensive, Uber drivers became entitled and were boycotted. Yango and Bolt are now the most used transport apps.
The logo is displayed on the vehicles so it is easy to locate your ride. That is not always the case when using Uber.
There are also Taxis and they are easy to spot because they are multicolored. When my cohort and I were walking on the side of a road, oftentimes a Taxi would honk and slow down, signaling a ride was available. Being foreigners, we thought it best to use transportation apps like Uber.
There are also mini vans called Trotro that take a specific route to pick people up, similarly to how the metro buses transport people all around Madison. The Trotros are usually privately owned so it is not free. But there are big Trotros, the size of our Madison metro buses that are government owned and are free.
I saw a lot of tricycle looking vehicles on our way to Kumasi. They are known as Bragie (Bra-gee-ya). Bragie was a popular Indian movie in Ghana and when they saw the tricycle looking vehicle in the film they named it after it. I also learned that an organization called Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is a collective of private businesses that decide a route for drivers and they set prices. The government may intervene to negotiate a price.
Abdullah K: Food in Legon
It didn’t take me long to realize that in Ghana, food isn’t just something to eat, but rather, an experience. This was revealed to me through many interactions with the locals as well as local cuisine. During a dinner in Cape Coast, I witnessed a performance involving dances, drums, fire and the crowd. While my mouth was consuming amazing food, my eyes and ears were being fed by equally amazing sights and sounds at the same time. That’s when I had the epiphany about how food really was in Ghana. It was much more than a pathway to physical satiation, it was a pathway to satiation for the soul.
Then when I came to Kumasi, I finally had FuFu for the first time. My first mistake was going with my instinct and chewing the FuFu with the light soup. It was then revealed to me by a wise man named Mike that the purpose of FuFu is to swallow instead of chew then consume. Once I learned this, I started enjoying the food more even though it wasn’t the traditional way I was taught to eat food. However, not every meal was a head-turning moment, but rather an exquisite cultural experience or comfort meal that reminded me of home.
I will admit that when I go back to America, I will be missing the Palava sauce with chicken I had here in Ghana every now and then. Going on from that, I was happy to learn that in Ghana, whenever I missed cuisine from back in America like burgers or shawarma, I was able to get it with relative ease. The burgers and shawarma always tasted good and were never too far off from the American ones I’ve had, but yet always had a little bit of a Ghanaian twist in the form of ingredients or plating.
If there was only one word I could tell tourists or students visiting Ghana, it would be one that applies to the food and so much more, and that one word would be: explore! Because one last-minute decision could lead you to your new favorite experimental dish or unique twist on a classic meal.
Jada M: Daily Life in Legon
One thing I have noticed during this experience is how quickly certain parts of Ghana started to feel familiar to me. I travel to the Caribbean a lot, especially places like Jamaica, and Ghana reminds me of that in different ways. The warmth, the energy, the food, the music, and even the way people move through daily life all feel connected in a way I did not expect. Being in a place where Black people are the majority has also made me feel comfortable. It is different from Madison, where I am used to noticing my identity more. Here, I feel like I can relax in a different way while still learning every day.
My daily schedule has been busy, but I like that it gives me a routine. Most mornings, I wake up and eat breakfast at the hotel. After that, we usually take the bus to different sites for tours, class activities, or excursions. We stop for lunch during the day, continue with more learning, and then head back to the hotel later. Once we get back, I usually shower, rest, take a nap, or just take a little time to myself before dinner with the group.
I try to live more like a local by paying attention to small things, not just the big scheduled activities. I notice how people greet each other, how food is served, how people dress, and how daily life feels outside of the hotel. I know I am still here as a student in a program, but I am trying to stay open, respectful, and willing to learn from the people and places around me.