KNUST Reception Booklet

Your Journey is About To Begin!!

It's a great pleasure to welcome you to our warm country and we are glad to present our city to help you prepare yourself to many

exiting life-changing experiences!

What can you expect of a country and its people?

What do you definitely need to do or see when you are in GHANA?

And what do you need to prepare for your impending journey?

If any of those questions went through your mind, then we will answer them in this booklet. It's filled with tips and aspects

about GHANA. It also can help you to know how to make the most out off your stay in our country.

We prepared this booklet to help you in your first step off your exciting stay in GHANA. We are more than glad to show you our

country and hope to learn more about yours.

KNUST

CONTENT Country Information.............................................4

Map of GHANA......................................................5

Vital Statistics......................................................6

About KNUST & Kumasi.......................................7

Climate & Clothes...................................................8

Money Matters.......................................................9

Ghanaian Food.........................................................11

Languages................................................................13

Transportation.......................................................14

What to pack..........................................................15

What to expect from the LC House..................16

What to expect from your internship..............17

Medical information...............................................18

Internet & ATM facilities...................................19

Security...................................................................20

Former KNUST Interns.......................................21

When you arrive.....................................................23

Important Contacts...............................................24 KNUST

COUNTRY INFORMATION

MAP OF

GHANA

IN A

GENERAL

LOOK

KNUST

Vital Statistics Official Name: Republic of Ghana

Founder: Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Capital: Accra

Area:

Total area: 238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles) Time zone: +0:00 GMT Internet domain: .gh

Climate:

Dry season: Hot Wet season: Humid

Economy:

Currency: Cedi Per capita: $1,230 Education: 30%

Politics:

1 term of 4 years parliament President: Hon. John Dramani Mahama

Population:

Total Population: 25 million

Religion: Christian: 63% Muslim: 16%

Indigenous Belief: 21%

KNUST

About Knust & Kumasi

KNUST stands for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science &

Technology, one of the highest rated universities in West

Africa. It is based on a campus just to the east of central

Kumasi, close to where you'll be living.

Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana, with a

population of about 4 million. It's the capital of the Ashanti

Region and therefore home to many interesting historical

sites related to the Asante Empire. It's 5 hours by bus from

Ghana's capital, Accra, although this time will be reduced

on completion of the new highway between the two cities.

The bus service runs 24/7, is air-conditioned and you'll

probably find it more comfortable and spacious than those

in your own country.

CLIMATE & CLOTHES Ghana's climate is tropical, meaning temperatures

range from about 25-35˚ Celsius every day.

Throughout the year, Kumasi experiences two Rainy

(Wet) Seasons - from March-July and from September-

October. This involves warm, humid weather

punctuated by frequent and heavy showers. From

October-March, the Dry Season brings hot, dry

weather and 'Harmattan' Winds from the Sahara

Desert, reducing both visibility and humidity.

Clothes vary from African wear to European styles, feel

free to wear anything of your choice but also learn to

keep it modest.

KNUST

MONEY

MATTERS Payphone ...................Price : mini 1 dollar

Beer....................................Price : 2 dollar Newspaper............................Price: 1 dollar Club entrance ..................Price : 10 dollar Packet of cigarettes............Price; 50 cents Fast food meal.....................Price : 2 dollar Bus ................................Price: 25 cents - 1 dollar Refreshments ......................Price: 1 dollar Water ( 300ml) ...................Price: 10 cents Dinner in a restaurant........Price: 10 dollar

Souvenir ......................Price: 5 – 15 dollar

These above costs have been approximately calculated considering today’s prices. These are the

average expenditure of Ghanaian students. Yes, they also regard a “normal” not luxurious

lifestyle but quite comfortable. The general costs involve entertainment, trips and other

activities. As at today’s prices, you can travel around the country in 9 day organized tour for 400$.

We will try to make it as low as possible for you to enjoy your stay.

The currency follows the American monetary system. 1 cedi - 100 pesewas like 1$ - 100 cents.

Exchange Rate (Varies frequently)………. 1$ - 2.10 Cedi.

For Europeans it is advisable to bring Euros instead of US Dollars, since the rate is more stable for

Euros.

Monthly Cost From To

Nutrition Cost 45 days x 5$ 225$

45 days x 20$ 900$

Transportation 45 days x 1$ 45$

45 days x 4$ 180$

Accommodation 200$ 200$

General Costs It depends on you

KNUST

GHANAIAN FOODS

Food & Drink

There are countless stalls selling food everywhere you go - despite appearances food

from these stalls is always tasty and healthy to eat. There are also plenty of places to

find smaller snacks, such as biscuits and donuts. Drinkable water, in bottles or plastic

pouches, is available everywhere and is incredibly cheap.

Most interns will find Ghanaian food very spicy, but you'll either get used to it pretty

quickly or you'll have to ask for no pepper when ordering. Our advice is to try

everything and see what you like, even eating dishes such as fufu with your hands.

Vegetarian food is fairly easy to find, as you can simply ask for most dishes without

meat. Vegans and more pernickety vegetarians may find things more difficult, although

soya milk and plain rice or fresh fruits are readily available everywhere.

For those who have strict religious diets, Ghanaians eat mainly chicken, goat, beef and

fish and occasionally pork. Shellfish are also available in some places, although it's

pretty obvious. Strict Muslims should check before eating meat to see if it is halal - in

all likelihood it will not be.

KNUST

Languages

Ghana is home to a number of local languages depending on the region, but the

most widely spoken is Twi - especially in Kumasi and the wider Ashanti Region.

English is the official language of Ghana, but you'll find that people's proficiency in

English varies from fluent to pidgin to none at all.

English is also the official language of AIESEC. As an AIESEC intern you are expected

to be able to speak English to a basic level - and this will be vital throughout your

stay as you will be living with people who come from all over the world and speak

many different languages. It is a rule of the LC House that everyone speaks English

with each other so that we can all understand everything that is said. Hopefully

you'll find that after your stay your English will have improved significantly.

KNUST

Most of the time in Ghana people

use tro-tros to get around - they're

minibuses often bought second-

hand from Europe and Asia, run

frequently and are very cheap to

use. Don't be intimidated if it's a bit

of a squeeze or the conductor

doesn't give you your change

straightaway - the people are

always honest and very friendly! All

you have to know is where you're

going and the driver will do the rest.

Transportation

KNUST

KNUST

To travel to Ghana you need a

tourist visa. In order to obtain a

Ghanaian visa you need to get an

invitation letter from our LC.

The tourist cost between $50 to

$200 depending on your country.

Some countries can also do their

visa processing at the airport in

Ghana.

Visa Information

KNUST

ELECTRICITY Voltage in Ghana is 220/240 volts like in Europe (it is

120 volts in North America). Most laptop power adapters (and camera battery chargers) do convert

voltage from 110-240 volts to power your computer. Any other electrical equipment should be dual

voltage, have a 110/220 switch or you will need

a “step down” voltage converter.

Plugs in Ghana are the same as used in Great Britain (large 3 pin) so you will probably need an adapter to

plug your laptop into the power outlet. They are widely available from large and small shops but

ensure you are buying the best quaility.

The power grid is unreliable in many developing countries: there are instances in Accra where a serious voltage surge has blown up all equipments

at once (fan, fridge, etc). A surge protector is

therefore a must to save both your power adapter and your computer in case of a power surge. You

may buy single protectors but a solution can solve three problems at once – power surges and plug

issues – by buying an extension cord that accept

different types of plugs and include voltage surge protection. You can easily buy one in Kumasi.

AIESEC KNUST

What To Pack

The Local Committee House, known as the 'LC House', is found at Kwamo, a short ride by tro-tro from

central Kumasi. Kwamo is a village to the east of Kumasi found on the main road to Accra. There's no

supermarket here, but there are a few stores selling everyday goods, as well as a couple bars and lots of

street stalls selling food.

We must stress that Ghana is an African country, and interns cannot expect First World standards of

living. The LC House has electricity and running water, but there is no hot water. There are three toilet/

shower rooms, but toilets must be flushed by filling up a bucket of water and tipping it down. Toilet paper

and anything else cannot be put in the toilet bowl as it causes blockages. It may sound strange now, but

you'll get used to it very quickly!!

There is a kitchen in the house with a fridge which can keep food fresh for a few days, and a small gas

stove. All interns are expected to do their own plate washing up.

There are five bedrooms in the house, some of which are single-sex and others which are mixed. Due to

the fact that there are always people coming and going, you may find you move bed or move room a few

times during your stay. Couples must be patient if they're looking for a private space!

Laundry is done by hand in a bucket of cold water and soap/ washing powder; it is dried outside on a line.

A cleaning lady comes to the clean house, which helps keep the place tidy. The house cleaner can wash

some of your clothes for you, if you pay her a few more Cedi.

What to expect from the LC House

Your internship should benefit both yourself and the local community. Many projects involve close work with schools, corporate organizations, hospitals and NGOs, so you are sure to gain experience of having business meetings and arranging deals with people in and around Kumasi. However, thus far all of the internships in Kumasi are Global Community Development Programmes; this means that your internship will be focused on improving certain aspects of local

life, and you should be fully committed to this as well as self-improvement.

Many interns coming to Ghana find the local way of doing business to be different to what they are used to at home. The same thing that

makes the Ghanaian people so friendly also means that life works at a much slower and more relaxed pace - in other words, don't expect

everyone to turn up on time for meetings, and don't expect all promises to be kept. Patience is most certainly a virtue in Ghana!

Despite this, AIESEC expects that all interns adopt a professional attitude at work - emphasizing punctuality, commitment and

smartness.

What to expect from your internship

KNUST

MEDICAL INFORMATION

Malaria - Malaria is a disease carried by mosquitoes that is potentially fatal. However, hospitals in Ghana are very well equipped to deal with the disease and it is easily cured with anti-malarial

medication, rest and eating. However, you should bring along a mosquito proof net. You can also buy it here.

GHANA IS A MALARIA ZONE

Diarrhoea - It is likely that you will experience some form of diarrhoea during your stay. You should be aware that this is a

normal part of travelling, and usually occurs because your body is not immune to the local bacteria. While it is uncomfortable and irritating, it shouldn't get in the way of you having fun and

enjoying your Ghanaian experience! Treatment for sustained diarrhoea is best found in Ghana - most interns agree that local medication is better than that

from their own country for treating a local problem! Sun-safety - Ghana is in the tropics, and obviously the Sun is far stronger here than it is in other parts of the world. Those prone to sun burn and sun stroke should come prepared - as a general rule, the whiter your skin, the higher factor of sunscreen you'll

need! So you bring along sun creams.

It is essential that all interns visit their doctor before coming to Ghana. Interns

must bring some form of anti-malarial pill (doxycycline, lariam & malarone are

common drugs) with them - again, ask your doctor before coming. These drugs

significantly reduce the chance of you becoming infected with malaria.

To prevent being bitten by mosquitoes, mosquito nets, insect repellent and simply

wearing long-sleeved tops and long trousers all help - especially at dawn and dusk when

mosquitoes are most active.

The internet has not taken off in Ghana as it has in the rest of the

world - thus, you are likely to find internet on iPhones, Blackberrys

etc. to be the best you'll get in most places. However, there is an

internet cafe (Vodafone Cafe) located on the KNUST campus

which provides high-speed broadband at least as good as what

you'll expect from your service at home. We are working on

getting internet in the house.

ATMs aren't as available in Ghana as they might be elsewhere in

the world; however there are plenty of ATMs that accept Visa

(Electron and credit/debit card), Mastercard, Diners, American

Express etc. to be found at the KNUST campus and at other

central locations or banks.

Internet & ATM Facilities

KNUST

In general, Ghana is an incredibly safe country to live, work and travel in. The

people are very honest and helpful, and generally don't try to take tourists 'for a

ride'.

Nonetheless, to avoid trouble you must use your common sense and take necessary

precautions - don't flash expensive technology or huge wads of cash around; guard

your pockets in busy markets; don't walk around late at night on your own.

These guidelines apply especially to girls - even during broad daylight you may find

many men keen just to touch your arm, in particular if you are white or Asian. Try

to ignore it as best you can.

It must be said that Ghanaians are not used to the sight of non-African people.

Children become very excited at Caucasians or Asians walking past, and they and

some adults will shout 'obruni' at you as pass. This means 'foreigner' and is usually

meant inoffensively - often they are simply curious to see humans that look

differently to themselves. Even so, looking different cannot help but attract

attention, and non-African people are perceived as wealthy - so be aware thieves

may think you're a target simply based on how you look.

Security

I start this journey like a book without text at first sight might seem a pretext to imagine a

story, a book that you could write yourself day after day. Some days, I write a lot, some others

I just write some white pages to fill with my thoughts. In the end, you will wonder; what is it really? But the thing is there is no end. Here

in Ghana you will find a really good start.

SARA GARCIA / PORTUAL

Our Interns

KNUST

50 words cannot describe what I got and what I experienced in that 50 days, for sure. If you ask the best choice you ever made in your life, I will tell you it must be the journey to Ghana in my college time. Honestly, I could not tell you how much I have helped the situation there, but the enthusiastic country, the enthusiastic people and enthusiastic “AZONTO” have changed my life. I miss you all there, my friend.

Ghana was the first African country I visited and the one I fell in love with but nothing would

have been the same without AIESEC and the amazing people that this organization join

together. A really open-minding and far out experience that I will never forget, along with the opportunity of watching the sunset on the ocean in Accra or walking around the central

market in Kumasi. Thank you Ghana!

BARBARA ROGERRO / ITALY

DANIEL STIFFLER / CHINA

KNUST

When You Arrive

Most interns arrive into Ghana via Accra Kotoka International Airport. From here, you should be picked up by an

AIESEC member. From here, interns will be taken to the VIP Bus Station, where you'll take a bus from Accra to

Kumasi. You'll get off the bus at Jachie Junction, and here you'll be met by another AIESEC member and be

shown to the LC House. Occasionally you will stay the night in Accra before continuing to Kumasi, but you'll be

informed of this by whomever picks you up at the airport.

Those arriving by land will most likely come by bus through Accra or straight to Kumasi - you'll still be met by an

AIESECer on your arrival.

and finally..........

Much of this information may look very serious and it may look like your time in Ghana will be difficult and

uncomfortable - we assure you that most people have an amazing experience here! With most of travelling, you

get out what you put in - make an effort to try local things, get involve and keep a positive attitude, and you'll

find the fun and enjoyment will come to you.

In our experience, people who come underprepared mentally are those who then don't enjoy fitting in to a new

culture. This guide is here to help you prepare mentally for your internship - we wish you the best of luck and are

looking forward to welcoming you to AIESEC KNUST. Akwaaba!

Daniel Ansah Tackie Local Committee President E-mail: daniel.tackie@aiesec.net Office: +233501287062 Whatsapp: +233540695401 Skype: nii.taki17 Anthony Nyaanyaa Naalon Local Committee Vice President iGCDP. E-mail: anthony.nyaaanyaaa@aiesec.net Office/Whatsapp: +233200225552 Yaw Anogyei Dapaa Local Vice President Marketing & Communications E-mail: dapaa.yaw@aiesec.net Office/Whatsapp: +233277802163

Important Contacts

KNUST