The Ebola outbreak and my trip to Ghana

So one news item that I have been following while travelling, is the current crisis in West Africa.  Ebola has killed thousands and has been called the modern day plague.  WHO doesn’t think it’s slowing down, and they have predicted scary numbers before it runs its course.

Ghana has not reported anyone testing positive for Ebola yet.  Although, neighbouring countries have.  There are people fleeing to Ghana through the mountains though and there are no checks at the airport.  With everything that is going on in that part of Africa I have decided to cancel my trip to Ghana.

It’s the smart thing to do, but I’m still disappointed.  I was really looking forward to seeing that part of the world, especially the library and the university where my grandfather worked.    Accra Ghana was one of the cities where my father lived while growing up.  My grandfather helped build a library there and they spent a few years in West Africa.  Off the coast of Accra is one of the locations that my father wanted his ashes spread, and I had plans to do just that.  This spring I went through the lengthy process of securing a Ghanian Tourist Visa so that I could travel there.  Paid $95 CAD and went through a lot of paperwork, including getting a yellow fever shot.  All for not, as I have a three month Visa that expires on October 3rd and I won’t be using it.  

My father actually had two very serious bouts with malaria while in Ghana and finally a doctor told my grandparents he had to leave because another round with malaria could be his last.  So they sent him to Switzerland for boarding school, and that’s where I’m headed right now!  I’m currently in Larochette, Luxemberg on my way South to Villars-Sur-Ollons where my dad attended Ecole Beau Soleil!