Ghana`s credit unions - the Canadian connection

Credit unions in Ghana - the Canadian connection

The Ghanadians - the lessons learned

An African Chief from small-town Saskatchewan

While increasing numbers of newcomers are arriving in Canada from Africa, Rod McLaren's journey has taken him the other direction. In 1971, Saskatchewan native Rod McLaren took a two-year contract with CUSO (then Canadian University Service Overseas) to teach in Ghana's western region. He left Ghana with mixed feelings after his contract ended and returned several years later to marry a woman with whom he had a relationship, Comfort Yaa Sewaa Amaoako. The couple then moved to Canada and raised three children in small-town Saskatchewan, on Canada's prairies. They made regular visits to Ghana and during one visit in the mid-90s, Rod and Comfort each noticed that the economic fortunes of the country were improving and they started talking about spending more time in Comfort's homeland. In 1999, they purchased land in the beach resort community of Busua, west of the city of Takoradi.

Saving Ghana's rainforest?

Since its construction in 1996, the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park has become Ghana’s single biggest tourist attraction. But as Frank Rackow reports, that walkway has a Canadian connection.

Ghana's Crusading Chameleon

Anas Aremeyaw Anas can't afford the luxury of having his picture being taken. As an undercover investigative journalist, Anas has used disguises ranging from a priest's garb to posing as a mental patient. He has exposed corruption in the cocoa exporting trade, maltreatment of children at an orphanage in Accra and he has cracked a human smuggling ring. His work has earned Anas plenty of awards both in Ghana and internationally. When US president Barack Obama visited Ghana in 2009, he acknowledged Anas as a crusading reporter who is "risking his life to report the truth."

The Ghanadians

Becky Mensah and Karen Skelton call themselves the Ghanadians. Becky was born in Ghana and has made her home in Canada for 32 years. She and Karen have known one another for 15 years in Calgary. Frank Rackow brings us the story of their journey to Ghana to set up a library in Cape Coast.