Income differences and navigating friendships in Ghana

Valentino Attanasio is an energy engineer from Palermo in Italy. He is passionate about nature and caring for the environment. For 4 months, he stayed in Ghana on an EUAid Volunteer Project. His task included raising awareness in schools and empowering the climate generation to take climate action. He has achieved good results and had positive feedback from the schools and their colleagues. Valentino describes his stay as truly enriching and “worth it all”.

Thanks Ghana, I`d love to come back someday

Some differences

Being his first time in Sub-Saharan Africa, Valentino expected some differences in culture, climatic conditions and the economy. Some major differences he experienced included

The time factor

There is a difference in punctuality. Valentino came to believe, after 4 months, that a Ghanaian who shows up one hour late to an appointment may not be because they are disinterested. It is because the system is positively relaxed. The general level of commitment and response to work in Ghana is completely different from the case in Italy. For instance his work place enjoyment in Italy could mean a pre-scheduled break or party after work. It could also just be about bringing food to work to share with others.

However in Ghana, enjoyment could mean not showing up to work at 9am. You could go for lunch at 10am because you are hungry. “Sometimes, the whole team pauses to laugh about someone screaming or joking on the street”. He finds Ghana to be more relaxed in many ways. “I prefer the view of work here to the western perception of strict 8hours”.

He suggests a good mix of what he is used to and how we live here. More buses, intercity and interregional trains, drinkable tap water alongside the relaxation and enthusiasm would be great. “Surely, I’d miss that! There is dancing everywhere as if everybody seems to be looking forward to dancing”

Work and fun

He recounts an experience at a restaurant which was practically empty yet the waitresses were dancing and having fun. “This would not happen in Europe! I love that! We should see life and work this way”

“In Europe, at least in my observation, women are often the first to dance and often the best. In Ghana, it is the contrary. I feel like a terrible dancer here although in Europe people perceive me as a good dancer”

He admits, however, that he would not miss Ghanaian food because he thinks Italian cuisine is the best. He has not been able to adapt to another cuisine. “I struggled in Morocco too but maybe because I am picky”. ” He however loves avocados and pineapples here because they cost so much in Italy. “I liked red red and yam chips though. And of course, peanuts!”

The money factor

His biggest shock is that people in Ghana can live on much less than they think in Italy. For instance, people selling on the street. He explains that someone selling on a table in Italy would be considered as a homeless person trying to survive. Yet here, many of them feel they are living their lives, working and making a living. “I am aware though, that it is because of the references I have in relation to Europe”.

He also spoke on salaries. “I would say that salaries in Ghana are too low yet the prices of goods and services are too high”. He noticed that the income earned compared to the purchasing power of Ghanaians are completely different. He lamented the effect this has on friendships. “This sometimes makes friendships with Ghanaians difficult. It is often clear, especially when we want to travel or go out. For instance, going to Mole Park seemed normal, based on European wages, for me and my European friends but completely out of scale for my Ghanaian friends. I could eat in restaurants for a whole week if I felt lazy to cook but it might be impossible for some of my Ghanaian friends”.

Also, inviting friends to visit your country, “often is impossible” due to how much the ordinary Ghanaian earns. The consulates ask for a certain amount of money in your bank account before granting a visa.

The dilemma?

“’Helping’ a friend out sometimes, is difficult as it may seem that you have “white saviour complex “. He feels the western world view about such ‘assistance’ and the interpretations given to it may hurt the relationship. So, I prefer to give my knowledge or use my networks to assist a Ghanaian friend than giving money.  I could help search for a scholarship, a place to live in Italy, a job or something else.

Then of course, there is this notion that all white people are rich. But that is not true at all. I came as a volunteer. I receive very little. So, I could say it is a two-way misconception. On the one hand they think you are rich so people always expect. On the the other hand when you give, they see you as a “white saviour” or they feel you can save the world”

Fond memories of Ghana

Another image he would carry with him is children playing barefoot close to a gutter with chicks and goats. “In Europe, a mother would go crazy. I don’t know if it is okay for the children to go so close to the animals. Fun together with some caution would be great”.

Although he has not visited many places, he would recommend Wli Waterfalls because he loves the landscape there. Mole National Park “is my best experience in nature so far – the sounds of the forest, and the antelopes. I recommend Busua Beach for surfing and Accra just for having fun despite the traffic.

It is time to leave Ghana now but he feels accomplished because his mission here was very successful.

“Thanks Ghana! I’d love to come back someday. I don’t know how I can live the rest of my life without Afrikiko!!”

Valentino enjoyed Ghana although he was conscious of the differences, both good and bad. Something I am definitely taking away is the need to be aware of our own biases and the coloured lenses with which we may approach issues outside our normal way of life. 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Valentino!

Mate, Bus Stop!