Visitors and volunteers are always welcome.
Why visit?
It is a perfect opportunity to visit a successful small-scale project in Africa while being enthusiastically met by a family of very sociable lovable special residents who will welcome you with open arms!
It is an ideal central base from where to meet Ghana with its rich and hospitable culture and explore the surroundings, among which Kintampo waterfalls, Boabeng Fiema Monkey Wildlife Sanctuary or the further away Mole Reserve with an overnight in the game reserve.
It is also nice to just rest, visit the local market or offer a helping hand alternated by excursions in the surroundings. The nice part of a daytrip is to return home to Clear Mind and be enthusiastically pampered by Kwame, Charles, Adjoa, Kojo and all the others who love to have visitors! They may turn out to be the biggest contribution to making your visit to Ghana a success!
The residents are more isolated than the average Ghanaian because of their disability. In order to get in touch with others they are therefore more dependent on whoever ‘approaches them and talks to them’. If visitors react positively to the residents, this contributes to their well-being and further development.
Clear Mind offers two self-contained guest houses, each with two beds, running water and a toilet. The two guesthouses are situated in the vegetable garden and therefore a bit secluded from the daily sometimes rather noisy hustle and bustle at the car wash.
A morning breakfast is prepared by Adjoa at the roadside café (or at your doorstep) and other meals can be enjoyed with the special family or arranged upon request. The dishes served are local. In town you can find other restaurants or sidewalk street-food-shops to buy your food.
Staying overnight at Clear Mind is affordable for everyone. Although we have a recommended price for accommodation (50 Ghana Cedi), guests with a limited budget, such as students, can decide how much they want to donate, which does not necessarily have to take the form of a financial contribution.
Volunteers and visitors are expected to adhere to a code of conduct that benefits our residents. No loud music after 21.00 and because we discourage the use of alcohol among our residents we generally recommend that visitors consume alcohol elsewhere than at their ‘summerhut’.
Volunteers and students on work placement are welcome. For volunteering and work placement opportunities, contact us by email at info@clearmindghana.com or willehardi1@hotmail.com. Any specific research opportunities and tasks will be discussed beforehand. Beyond that, at Clear Mind, volunteering involves being sociable with the workers, playing football or joining their work at carwash or farm or with certain small maintenance jobs such as cleaning and painting where needed. Together playing games, live music, helping to cook or joining them to church is always appreciated, with being appreciative and creating happiness being the greatest contribution of all.
Practical information:
You can draw cash from the ATM in Techiman, an hour’s drive by taxi from Nkoranza, provided your banking card has worldwide coverage.
Ghana has a tropical climate and is situated near the equator, meaning that the sun rises and sets at six o’clock every day, with perhaps a few minutes’ difference between summer and winter. The temperature seems higher than the thermometer may indicate because of the high humidity levels. (Except in the dry months of December and January). The lighter the clothing, the better; cotton is preferable over synthetic materials. Mosquito nets are not only pleasant to sleep under but are also crucial in helping prevent malaria. For more details on the climate, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Ghana
Location and accessibility:
Nkoranza is a mid-sized Ghanaian city in East Bono province, formerly Brong Ahafo. It is centrally situated in Ghana, a day’s travel from the country’s capital, Accra. The distance between Accra and Nkoranza is about 500 km and can be travelled by car or bus. The journey (with a private vehicle) takes on average seven hours because of poor roads and traffic jams in the larger cities.
Also without the use of a car you can eventually get to anywhere in Ghana with buses and local transportation, but you must be patient!
Clear Mind can arrange to have visitors picked up by car. The driver collects visitors from the airport, brings them to a pre-arranged hotel in Accra, and drives them the next day to Nkoranza. The costs for this service are between 150 and 200 euros, not including the accommodation costs. This journey can also be spread over several days to visit more attractions, such as the coastal areas and beach, on the way.
You can also fly into Kumasi or Sunyani, followed by a four-hour drive. Flying is more expensive, but it is a viable option.
