Meet Ian Utley, United Planet’s Country Coordinator in Ghana
Posted July 27th, 2009Categories: Africa, international volunteering, Team Stories, United Planet
Tags: Ghana, United Planet, Volunteering
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Written by United Planet Country Coordinator Ian Utley
Mekyia mo!
Born in 1972, I am originally from the farmlands of Lincolnshire in England (similar to rural Idaho), where I played a lot of rugby and trained as an elementary school teacher. I have one brother and two nieces in New York, and 22 million brothers and sisters in Ghana.
I have been in love with Ghana since 1998, when I worked as a teacher trainer with the charity Voluntary Service Overseas. I am fluent in the country’s main language, Twi, and occasionally entertain Ghanaians by appearing in Twi language TV and radio shows. I am also the author of Culture Smart! Ghana- The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture.
I left the classroom in 2007 to concentrate on travel writing, language teaching and ecotourism in Ghana. Working with United Planet is a natural extension of this, and I look forward to welcoming many United Planet volunteers to this wonderful country.
I like to relax with scrabble, walking in the rain forest and reggae music, and I make awesome jollof rice.
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July 30th, 2009 at 7:14 am
I did not know that UP has a representative in Ghana and it is strong on the ground. I have remained a friend of UP – receiving iinfo updates – ever since I met Mr. David Santulli in Berlin, through ICYE Director- General – Mr. Salvatore Romagna.
Ian, I wish you well in Ghana and I hope to link up one day for jollof.
Twum Ohene-Obeng
October 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hi Brian
I am incredibly impressed with how ‘Ghanaian’ you are – saw you on Ghanaian TV and have posted the link on my facebook page.
keep up the good work!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:13 am
Please, I am called Edmond Bukari from Ghana and wish to be a partner or a worker to you. I have worked with a similar International Organization called ActionAid before and have what it is to move Planet. We worked with children and women to alleviate their poverty. Please, give me your contacts to enable me have a chat with you. my email address is bukarieb@yahoo.com
Thank you
January 9th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Thanks Iam for writing Culture Smart! Ghana. It is the best book I’ve found for someone traveling to Ghana. It doesn’t go super in depth, but that’s fine for me because that means its shorter to read. I’ll be traveling there for an engineering internship through my university from the U.S. in the summer of ’10. Thanks for all of your jokes you threw in the book. They highlight the culture in a positive light. I really enjoyed it, thanks again.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:13 am
Dear Ian,
I have just read your article on Throwing Stones at Lizards: Tourism in Ghana, and found it an interesting read. I am the founder of West Africa Discovery, a web portal to increase awareness towards the rich local heritage of West Africa and to promote sustainable and responsible tourism projects based in the region.
I would very much like to have a chat with you about the possibilities of working together, please email me.
Regards,
Thomas