crash course in Ghana

Here is a map of Ghana, I am currently in Accra, the largest city, in the South right by the coast. I will be spending most of the summer in the Northern region, based in Tamale and traveling around to villages. It is the only region which extends from the East to West sides of the country. It is very different culturally than the rest of Ghana because it is Muslim. It is not extremist Muslim as in other Islamic countries, but does have cultural similarities to Northern Africa. 

Martina gave me some valuable information about Ghana upon my arrival; lets see what I remember.

1) Use the right hand for everything interactive, giving, receiving, even gesticulating. Using the left hand is considered offensive.

2) dont eat anything you didn't make yourself or see it being made; avoid: first and foremost: WATER. Drink only bottled water (sealed) or bagged water (with a company logo on it) 

vegetables, fruit thats not peeled, the national dish FuFu (because it is touched after it is cooked and sometimes the dough is softened with water)

Preferably eat anything: you made yourself, anything unpeeled or cooked should be soaked in Milton salt first for 30 minutes to sanitize it. Preferably anything HOT, straight out of the fire or the pot. Always ask for a freshly made batch instead of one that has been sitting around.

Fortunately, being vegetarian has limited my exposure to a lot of risky food while traveling abroad but, since getting sick is basically inevitable:

 It is customarily required if someone is eating to Offer you to join them, but it is may be just a formality, politely decline food made in the villages unless it was just cooked and low risk.

3)stock up on various antibiotics which can be bought over the counter here, seeing a doctor is not easy or reliable so best to self diagnose and medicate. I brought everything from a local drugstore to combat usual illnesses...hopefully I will not get too sick.

4)Carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer at all times.

5) Ghanian men respect other men, violence against women is minimal and rare but advances will be made unless you convince them that you are "property" of another man aka a husband, who they respect and will stop bothering you. 

6) when asking people for directions be very clear and specific, ignore polite jargon such as "could you possibly assist me to find" and just say "bank, where is it?", many people do not understand much English, especially the American accent. Should I speak with a British accent? could be fun ;-)

7) Walk as if you know where you are going, looking lost or scared makes you a target for thieves, pickpocketing is common. I will wear my money belt and purposefully walk in circles if need be lol