Shine’s Article: Watching Planes at Accra, Ghana Airport

Article #4 in the YCC Kids Club Ghana Student Life Stories Project
My First Day Visiting Accra Airport
By Shine Doe, Age 13

That day was the first day I had ever seen a traffic light. I watched, amazed, as it showed direction to the many cars by its changing colors.

I was about ten years old, on an educational excursion to Accra Airport with my classmates and teachers. There are no traffic lights in my hometown of Sogakope, but as we came closer to Ghana’s capital, they appeared!

When our bus arrived at the airport after the two hour journey, we stepped out onto the ground, excited. My friend, Prince, spotted one of the aircrafts. Prince asked, ‘’Is here the airport?” and I answered him, “Yes.”

We were taken on a tour to see two planes, and they were so large! For three hours, we took turns taking pictures of ourselves with the planes and listening to speeches about the airport.

Then our teacher called us and said, “Take care of yourselves. I will be back here within a minute.’’ After the teacher had left, Prince and I walked to the security guard and he asked us if we wanted to use the washroom (which Americans call “bathroom”). He showed us the place to go and it was so very nice to the senses that if you don’t be careful, you would like to sleep there.

When we came back, our teacher and one of the men who worked there were talking to us about the airport. After the man had finished, most of the pupils wanted to snap more pictures.

“The plane looks so nice!” said my classmate, Louis.

From Accra, we went to Tema Harbor, which is an industrial suburb outside of Accra, but that place was the place I come from originally, so I knew more about there.

On the way home I saw many things: buildings, people selling goods from baskets on the tops of their heads, and more traffic lights. I also bought gifts for my parents for them to see that I really went to Accra: plantain chips and apples.

When I arrived home, my parents said, “Abpe!” which means, in Ewe, “Thank you!” I told them that our trip was great.

That night, I remembered how the guide had told us: “A plane has to move forward, small, small, before it can fly.” I realized that we students, too, must learn and experience our world bit by bit, traffic light by traffic light, before we, too, can fly up high.

Lillie’s Note: We hope you enjoyed this article! Please do leave encouraging comments, reactions, constructive critiques, or questions for Shine!