Ghanaian Woman to ski to the South Pole

The Commonwealth Women's Antarctic Expedition has selected two Ghanaian women to join an all-female team skiing to the South Pole next year. The women are Sheillah Boachie-Danquah, a 24 year old graduate from the University of Cape Coast, and Barbara Erefua, a 29 year old freelance writer. The two women will attend a final selection event to be held in Scandinavia in late February 2009.

The week will involve lectures and instruction from experienced polar travellers, as well as outdoor training exercises which will include skiing and camping in an Arctic environment.

At the end of the week the final team of 9 women selected to take part in the expedition (including team leader Felicity and one reserve) will be announced.

The team of 9 will stay on in Scandinavia for a further week of training and instruction.

The 8-woman team representing the Commonwealth countries of Ghana, Cyprus, India, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Jamaica and the United Kingdom will ski more than 500 miles across the icy wastes of Antarctica to reach the South Pole on New Years Day 2010.

The 30 to 40 day journey will involve sleeping in tents on the ice in temperatures down to –30°C, pulling sledges full of food, fuel and equipment weighing 80kg, battling through vicious snowstorms and avoiding treacherous crevasses hidden beneath the snow surface.

The Ghanaian woman selected to join the team will become the first representative of her nation (male or female) to ski to the South Pole.

Expedition Leader, Felicity Aston said, 'We are not necessarily looking for super-human athletes. What is really important is the determination to succeed and a passion for adventure. '

Expedition Website: www.commonwealthexpedition.com