Attempted robbery and meeting my boss

Attempted robbery and visit from my boss!

Tamale is usually a peaceful and crime free town but it seems as if a criminal gang have recently moved in. There are thirteen VSO volunteers here and so far 3 of us have been targeted by thieves on motos. Tim and Will have had their lap tops stolen from their shoulders and last week it was my turn to be mugged.
On Sunday we visited Liz, (we came to Ghana together), at a local hotel. Unfortunately she has been very poorly and was passing through Tamale on her way home early with malaria, typhoid and anaemia!
We all ate supper together and I left with Tim at 8.00. As we didn’t manage to get a taxi straightaway we decided to walk. We walked side by side along the main road in the cycle lane that is bordered by a deep storm drain. With no noise, lights or warning a thief on a moto drove between me and the storm drain and grabbed the bag from my shoulder. Instinctively I hung on tight and….. ….the strap broke leaving me shaken but holding my bag!
A taxi picked us up and took us home safely but I spent a restless night. I have since reported it to the police who say we should stay home at night. Others including my work colleagues, locals and taxi drivers say we should have shouted and then the thieves would have been killed. I though this was just exaggeration but was assured by all that instant justice is very effective and a good deterrent! It does happen; so thieves take a big risk. It’s a real concern as there have also been 6 robberies among the Dutch volunteers, one with violence. In future I shall carry a ‘decoy’ shoulder bag with my valuables in a concealed money belt and avoid being out after dark; which means home before 6.30.

Visit from my boss
My programme officer, Patience, arrived from Accra for my assessment meeting last week. I asked Asma the Kanvilli head and the circuit supervisor to attend and we had a very productive meeting. I now have lots of thinking to do and forms to fill in before the meeting in Accra at the end of my placement.
VSO are trialling the use of short term headteacher volunteers and we had a useful discussion on what to do next time; ideas included heads having their own moto, training teachers during the holidays and providing the necessary funding for the training. At the moment all photocopying, refreshments and other training expenses are paid for by me.

(As I sit on the veranda this Sunday writing I can see the guinea fowl flock which have just arrived to graze our garden)
One of the delights of being here is just watching all the animals, the cows, goats, sheep, chicken and guinea fowl wandering though the villages and gardens while they search for food. They all seem to find their way home at night where they are given water and very few of them are run over when they amble across the busy road. I’m not quite so keen on the stray dogs that raid our rubbish pit.