West Africa or East Africa?

[Paul R]

I am just finishing up college in finance, economics, and entrepreneurship this next year, and I have been given the opportunity to help the school I am going to expand a small enterprise education and development program (SEED) to Africa over the summer! The school is currently working in Peru but recently decided to expand.

They will actually be opening 4 sites two in Ghana, and two in Uganda. I have spent a looking into the two sides, but I am wondering if anyone has experience with either country and could help me outline some pros and cons to each country. Where would you go and why?

Realistically I think either one would be great, but I have to chose one. I am currently leaning towards Uganda, but no real specific reasons. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[UK4X4]

they are both in Africa.......way diferent to Latin America

CIA fact files for both countries will give you a good idea.

Uganda has some other things to do , white water rafting on the Nile, canoeing classes , 4x4 motorcyce village safaris, this is in Jinja

Gorrilla tracking at three parks

and the biggest coffin making industry I've ever seen ! on the road into Kampala.

I enjoyed Uganda, but not visited Ghana

Ghana has beaches and tourists from the UK and Germany mostly older single women !

 

[DiploStrat]

Both are prosperous countries with growing economies. Both face tremendous challenges; especially on the political front, but will be easy places to live.

Climate in Uganda is nicer.

 

[geovalue]

Ghana or Uganda

Both are very interesting countries to visit. In Ghana you it is pretty safe to travel and live anywhere but no so in Uganda. Uganda has a few more political hotspots especially in the north where the LRA is still active and along the Congo border. So it depends on where you would be located in Uganda. We loved both countries although we had to make our way through a closed border getting out of Uganda. But in East Africa there is a lot more to see and do compared to west Africa if you like wildlife, white river rafting, gorilla hiking etc. Beaches in Ghana are beautiful but the wildlife has essentially been wiped out. It would be tough choice for me, although I think I would rather go to Uganda because it is located in East Africa with so much more to see and we found the Ugandans very friendly.
As for coffin making Ghana beats Uganda hand downs!!! You get to order what ever coffin you want attached are the photos of Coke shaped coffins

For my coffin perhaps I will order a Land Cruiser

 

[DiploStrat]

I wouldn't worry about the LRA in Uganda.

Kony's in the CAR.

 

[Paul R]

Thank you for all your responses!

I am definitely well aware that Africa is extremely different than So. America. However, I am very excited about the opportunity to go over there.

I am slightly hesitant in one way though that I would love to bring up for discussion. It seems like there are countless hosts of people who want to go to Africa to solve the continents problems and create world peace. Yet, I wonder if many of them naively do more harm than good or at the very best are not a catalyst for lasting change. I know I don't I have the answer to anything either, other than it seems to me there needs to be a larger push for African solutions to African problems rather than a push for Western ideals (though in areas they may align). The program I am going with is focused on finding the right person locally and helping them understand how to use opportunities and create change for themselves through monetary ventures. I am not naive enough to say that spending 3.5 months there will change the world or even the village my wife and I will live in. However, I sincerely hope to gain friends and come closer to understanding the world through another perspective. Can I make a positive difference or would I be hindering?

This may open a can of worms, but what is the way to go about all of this? Is US Aid and American Volunteers causing more harm than good?

I think I will continue to lean towards Uganda for the climate/wildlife, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything in Ghana. We will mostly be in the south of Uganda either Masaka (West of Kampala) or Iganga (East of Kampala). One of the things I would absolutely love to do while over there is get into Tanzania for the Serengeti National Park. What is the easiest way to get there? Ferry across Victoria or across Kenya and into Tanzania? Is it relatively easy to rent a 4x4 and cross borders there or should I plan on hiring a guided safari etc...?

 

[Christian P.]

Paul,

You are very lucky to be able to do that kind of work.
You will love your experience.

The question you raised is very pertinent but I am afraid you won't get an answer here today. Yes in many ways it looks like the West aid is not really helping and tend to create a strong dependency. But you will have a much better understanding of the complexity of the situation after you spend some time there.

From what you are saying I would also agree that Uganda is the best choice.

Yes you can take a ferry across Lake Victoria and then take a bus.
Renting a 4x4 is expensive.
You can also just fly from Kampala to Arusha.

 

[jham]

Paul, any update on where you are and what you're doing? I've got contacts in Uganda that can help you out with anything you need. I would also be more than willing to give you some educated opinions on how to properly aid a developing country. I'm no expert, but it's what my degree and the majority of my experience is in.

 

[Karamoja]

Uganda, most definitely.

I've lived in Africa for close to twenty years, both in West and East Africa, and when I had to pick where I'd move to settle for good it was a no-brainer.

Most wonderful weather you can imagine, beautiful country, generally friendly people, access to all sorts of different environments if you like the outdoors: lakes, rivers, mountains, tropical forests, savannahs, dry areas, wet areas, some of the last true wildernesses in Africa.

Weather in West Africa, especially on the coast Ghana-Togo-Benin-Nigeria, is hot, humid, damp, cloudy. And the general situation can't be compared.

As for security issues, you'd have more problems with Nigerian robbers in Ghana than with the now disbanded LRA (last they were heard of, they were heading deep into the CAR with hounds on their backside).

If you need more specific info, PM me.

Cheers