Cape Coast Castle
During the WTIG trip and program, we visited one of the three standing and important castles built on the shores of Ghana. The Cape Coast Castle originally served as a market where profitable transactions took place. The large quantity of gold found in Ghana was what primarily attracted Europeans to Cape Coast .
In exchange for gold mahogany, other locally produced goods and enslaved captives, local Africans received clothing, blankets, spices, sugar, silk and many other items. These humans changed the face of trade.
I entered the male dungeon where hundreds of slaves were held in cramped conditions before being transferred to boats bound for the Western world . The underground dungeon was a space of terror, death, and darkness.
The tour guide explained that the governor’s soldiers treated the enslaved Africans the way they did because they believed Africans did not have souls and were like animals. Despite the harsh treatment enslaved Africans were a valuable commodity in Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.
Swimming
Swimming is a great morning exercise because it puts less pressure on the muscles and it’s good for everyone. I do not know how to swim because I was never taught. But I entered the pool.
I spotted this shallow end of the pool and thought it was a good place to learn to swim by yourself.
I then stood at the edge of the pool and felt the temperature of the water with my hand. Standing and shivering and unable to control my internal muscles, I heard my “instructor” walk up and I dived in without hesitation. Merrill, a member of my WTIG cohort, had volunteered to teach me how to swim this morning and I am standing there hesitating and shivering.
She then said to me, ‘ Kwasi, just enter and everything will stop’.
Thinking for while , I entered the water first with my left leg followed by the right and played there before proceeding to step deeper. “Swimming involves breathing, kicking with your legs and stroking with your arms” she said. “You will not realize how difficult or easy it is until you get in the water” .
It seemed easy but now it did not seem easy with me in the water. It was difficult but I challenged myself to do it. WTIG made it possible for me to meet good swimmers like Auntie Elizabeth and Merrill who took me through the swimming lessons on the trip. I thank them.
Just a day’s lesson in swimming was like a whole month’s lesson.
Not only does swimming teach people about water safety skills, but also we know that there are health benefits to swimming- it improves heart and lung health, and also increases out stamina and overall strength.
While I have enjoyed new skills through new friends I have become confident that I can swim.
Kwasi Daniel Agyei
Kpohe D/A Basic
Accra - Ghana