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Busua, Ghana
the Story behind
A CHAT WITH JUSTICE
HOW DID IT COME THAT YOU LEARNED HOW TO SURF?
Since 2013, a surfer from United Kingdom decided also to teach the local people. That was the moment my friends and I wanted to learn how to do surfing and we approach him to teach us!
The biggest problem, however, was that although we lived right by the sea, we couldn't swim. That didn't stop us from learning to surf in the shallow water with the white waves. We were thrilled right away and it was so much fun. Unfortunately, all my friends quit again and I kept practicing with Ben from UK.
My name is Justice Kwofie.
I am from the fishermen village Busua in Ahanta West District, Western Region and I am the founder of the surf shop.
WHAT'S THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME JUSTICE'S BROTHERS?
My brothers got better and better and also started to like surfing and teaching. That's how I ended up giving the surf school that name. Most Ghanaians live in extended families, which on the one hand provide support for relatives and help with problems. That way me and my brothers found work which we really love to do.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BUSUA BESIDES THE SURF THERE?
There is quite a lot of things to see. If you relax at Busua beach and thinking, how to learn more about history in Ghana, go to Dixcove! Dixcove is a small, lively fishing village.
Its natural harbor is deep enough for small ships to enter one of the reasons why the British settled here and built Fort Metal Cross in 1696. Another hike away you will reach a low lying palm-fringed beach, which is called Butre, where there are not many people along, so it will feels like an escape from everything! The small village contains the old slave trading post Fort Batenstein situated on a hill, with its magnificent views of the surrounding village, coast, lagoon, rock formations, forest, fields and hills.
DO YOU DO MORE THAN TEACHING HOW TO SURF?
I love to coordinate your active holidays through Western Africa according to your wishes!
Day trips, hiking, boat trips to the island, jungle runs, yoga and more... Find all the info in the surf school section.
Besides that my heart project is the Obibini Girls Surf Club.
Busua offers waves for all surf levels.
If you are looking for a challenge and already an advanced surfer we show you around, especially the spot Black Mamba.
WAS IT DIRECTLY YOUR DREAM TO START YOUR OWN SURF SCHOOL?
No, first I didn’t think about working in this profession. One thing led to another. After some time he taught me how to bring in customers when he was not in Ghana. That way I worked for five years for his surf school without having received any payment.
However, I realized that I really enjoy teaching. During this time I have been able to teach some customers over and over again and so I got to know Petra from Switzerland. When the surfer from UK decided to move back, the Petra was excited about my idea to set up my own surf school and she decided to support me in my plan.
WHAT WERE THE FIRST STEPS TO YOUR OWN SCHOOL?
I actually started with only two boards! Petra helped me to buy two surfboard for my own business. I am still so grateful for that. When I had my first two surfboards, I knew I couldn't do it alone and taught my cousins and brothers how to surf.
The girls of
the Obibini Girls Surf Club want to seize the opportunity, make a different choice and thus defy West African
norms.
Since the beginning I often asked myself, where are the Ghanaian girls surfing? Why do I always see only black guys and men on the beach but where are the girls and women?
... READ MORE ABOUT THE GIRLS CLUB HISTORY UNDER "GIRLS PROGRAM" here
For girls in Ghana, the path is often clear: help their parents in the household, marry, have children and more household chores. That's the way tradition dictates. With that, I and my team decided to create the initiative of the Obibini Girls Surf Club.
