Out and about with my camera

And again it was time for travelling. But this time it was all about work. For my movie-project I visited the Volta-Region and it´s prestige object, the Akosombo dam. This Hydrological plant is in charge of one third of the ghanaian electricity system. Above that the dam and a smaller one down the river, supply power to the neighboring countries Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Ivory Cost. Especially the supply to Burkina Faso is seen as a compensation, that the state north from Ghana, where the Volta River has it´s origin, not build it´s own hydrological plant, which would reduce the power of the akosombo dam heavily. The name Volta revers to a portuguese word and describes the many curves the river does, on it´s way to the sea. Portuguese gold traders gave the river it´s name in the 15th century. Through the dam a big reservoir formed, being the largest man made lake in earth, in terms of its area. The dam itself is a restricted area. Permission to visit was only given with a guided tour. Also only a few photos were granted within this tour. Filming shots were prohibited. The same came by an interview with someone official from the Volta River Authority, which is the company in charge of the Akosombo dam. Permission could only be granted by the main office in Accra. So Francis and me decided to go there. In the center of Accra the Head office lies within the range of vision to the Independence Arch and -Square. On a first view, the inside of the building showed no difference to german office blocks. the climatized rooms were full of People in office suits. Documents stacked up on the tables. Everything seemed highly official. To a severe seeming Woman, we explained our concern. And it did favour the bold. Through our friendly persistence we got an interview with a men, who gave us a long deep explanation about the akosombo dam, its history and significance.

Two weeks later we went on to the metropol-region of Sekondi-Takoradi for the documentation. Takoradi is here also known as the „oil city“. Not far away from this place, big oil fields are lying in the ocean. The big harbour of Takoradi function as a landing stage for oil tankers heading to the offshore plaforms, which are producing over 200.000 barrels per day. Since 2007, when the big Jubilee-Field developed, west of Takroadi, richness came into the city. On a stroll through the southern coast of city, big villages, wealthy hotels and golf courses can be seen. But richness doesn’t come to every inhabitant of the region. Quite opposite, rising prices for food and accommodation, brings many people in misery, how Solomon Kusi Ampofo described us. An employee of friends of the nation (FoN), a civil service organisation (CSO), working in Sekondi. This CSO works manly for people who are suffering from the oil exploitation. Especially for the fishermen in Sekondi. In Sekondi many people are living from animals by the sea, and FoN got us in contact with one of the fisherman and entrance to the fisherharbour of the city. Hundrets of fisherboats lying in the harbour basin looked like on a beautiful postcard. But the situation is far away from an idyll how the fisherman and Chairman George explained us. The big oil platforms, pipelines und perennial leaks, deprive the fishes their livelihood, and by that many people from Sekondi their basis of existence.
With abundant filming material, I was able to finish editing my documentation. With the end of my voluntary service, I showed the documentation to friends on a big screen in Ayensudo. This marked the end of my stay in Komenda. See you again Sugar City!