Mensah's knowledge of Ghana's history, it's place in the history of the continent, and reading of historians like Van Sertima, Franklin and Quarles among others and the manner in which he has syntheized the information into a tightly woven story for his clients is impressive.
A we leave Assin Mansa on our way to Cape Coast, Mensah directs our attention to a sign which will guide you to his former school. He speaks proudly of the rigorous education provided at the Polytechnic intitute where he studied tourism and communication. He jokes that students dreaded when instructors went on strike or were otherwise away from class, because assignments were then doubled or sometimes tripled!
Mensah doesn't only passionately share solid historical and cultural information with us, his keen sense of humor keeps us laughing when he shares folktale, fables and especially when he is fending off merchants who regularly crowd around our bus to sell their wares. He astutely advised us on the quality of items--recommending the sturdiness of one wood over the other; testing thumb pianos for proper tuning; refusing to buy snacks from a vendor whose goods were not fresh enough: and even strictly forbidding Didi from looking at the wares of one mudcloth dealer who,according to Mensah, did not bargain in good faith!
We bonded quickly. He became our adopted son to whom much advice was given, questions asked, and teasing was done. We were respectfully referred to a 'Auntie' even though he learned the hard way not to refer to us as older women! He had an ally in Barry of course, who became known as 'Big Daddy'. Big Daddy counseled Mensah to "plead the fifth" when difficult peronal quetion were asked.
Quite the politician/diplomat, he handled himself well even on the occasion when we were pulled over or stopped at a checkpoint by the police. (more about that later)
Though strong of character and very intelligent, I was most struck by Menah's determined nature and his compassion. At different times in our journey, he spoke sadly of a recent family tradegy and of the taunting that he sometime still receives today because of his lighter complexion. It was in a conversation with the Director of the Center at Assin Mansa that I learned he had been called George (many African have 'European' names in addition to their given name). It was the name he preferred, he said, until he learned more about his history.
Sent from my HTC Tilt™ 2, a Windows® phone from AT&T
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