For more than 130 years, Gold Coast was the name used by British colonists to designate Ghana. Steeped in violence and tragedy, it is no surprise that once the country gained its independence in 1957, the name was quickly discarded. However, more than 65 years later and while I was preparing for a trip there, I found myself wondering: could I find gold along Ghana’s coast? It quickly became evident that the response should be metaphorical: the region’s wealth lies in its inhabitants and their relation to the sea rather than in its minerals.

With this realization in mind, the traveler’s wandering from one fishing village to the next takes on a different flavor. On his way from Ada Foah to Axim, he finally is able to imbue himself in Ghana’s coastal life, culture and traditions, while contemplating the water. Not far removed from when it was synonymous with sorrow and death, the Gulf of Guinea is now the thread that organizes and connects local lives together.

This story has been featured in LOST magazine: http://lostmagazine.org/new-gold/

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