Off in the car, listening to the country and western music, of which we've had a steady diet, particularly "You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me, Lucille," a touching ballad with operatic possibilities, which has become the trip theme song. We are an hour and a quarter drive from viewing the first development in the pineapple venture that Dick has invested in, and which is run and partly-owned by Joe Kwarteng.
Started less than a year ago, with the first crop planted only in April, the progress is most impressive. Fields with rows of pineapple plants, neatly laid out, are sprouting.
Young women, marching in a row with bowls of pineapple sprouts awaiting planting on their heads, sing as they walk to the rows where the pineapples will be planted.
Pineapples take 14-16 months to grow, each plant producing a pineapple and four sprouts, which will be planted to grow more pineapples. These sprouts must be purchased for the first planting and the fields laboriously plowed and prepared; future crops will be easier. The pineapple plants sit in plastic, which holds moisture. They are planted by hand, with people crouching, punching holes and planting the pineapples, under a blazing-hot sun that is uncomfortable just to walk around, let alone work in.
Planting must be done in a way that meets the very strict standards imposed by the European market for which they are attended. Pineapples that are too small--or too big--will not be accepted. The color and taste must be right.
Dick and Joe both think that the project can be an extremely profitable venture. One of their primary motivations, though, is to provide employment for Ghanaians, and they plan to plough profits back into the enterprise to employ more people. Among those currently employed are six graduates of the Cape Coast School for the Deaf, which Joe and Ida are heavily involved in, and which the Kipharts have supported. The meeting of everyone held in the field is signed by somebody for the deaf planters. This meeting ends with a spirited prayer offered by one of the planters. Virtually every meeting and meal we have attended begins and ends with prayer.
From this initial several hundred acre project, we stop by at two nearby family homes as a courtesy and to show interest in the few hundred additional acres these families have optioned to Greenfields and Food (the name of the business). An additional 4000 acres will soon be under contract to be developed when the initial field is completed.
This all is a most impressive and interesting operation.
We stop for a quick, very light lunch at Joe and Ida's office, before a short 45-minute stop at the hotel, which I use for blogging. We then set out for the School for the Deaf, which Carol and I had seen last year, as well. The highlight is an amazing performance of four different dances done by deaf children to loud drumming, from which they can sense the vibrations from the floor. This is a truly moving and joyful experience. In between the dances are several short speeches by school officials, Ida and Dick.
After, we walk around the school farm that Joe and Ida have established through their NGO. The children, starved for human contact, shove to grab our hands as we walk around, and plead to have their pictures taken.
After viewing the farm, we all drive to a peaceful restaurant on a beach that Joe and Ida love. There we have a delicious meal, cooled by ocean breezes. Carol, Valerie and I lead Hebrew blessings over the food and in thankfulness for having reached this day, explaining to the others the meaning of the prayers. Carol presents Ida and Joe with a challah cover, and explains the meaning.
We're back at the hotel by eight, in time to blog, shower and go to bed early, another truly amazing day behind us.
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