"I prayed to reach the shore alive" – Teacher’s terrifying journey to Avokope

A teacher posted to Avokope in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region has recounted a terrifying two-hour boat journey to the community, where strong winds, rough waters and screaming passengers left him praying to reach the shore alive.

The experience was shared by Yaw Eghan in a Facebook post detailing the teacher’s first journey to his new posting, where travelling to the community by boat presents significant challenges.

According to Eghan, the teacher said the journey became frightening when strong winds hit the boat and the water grew rough.

“When he saw the river rising and rolling around them, all he could do was pray quietly that they would reach the shore alive,” Eghan wrote.

The teacher’s fear intensified when some of the experienced travellers, who were familiar with the route, also began screaming.

“When even people who were used to the journey started screaming, fear entered him completely,” Eghan recounted.

The teacher reportedly knew that boats could capsize in difficult conditions, making every strong wave a source of anxiety as they navigated the water.

The experience, Eghan said, made the teacher realise that some postings come with risks many people may never imagine.

Yet, despite the difficult journey, the community has some arrangements to support teachers posted there. According to Eghan, teachers are transported free of charge on the boat, and life jackets are provided.

“Fish is abundant in the area, and teachers are sometimes given fish freely,” he added.

Eghan also recounted another aspect of life along the route, explaining that some communities hold local beliefs that women who are menstruating should not board boats because their presence could bring danger to the journey.

“Because of this belief, announcements are sometimes made for such women to stay off the boat,” he wrote.

While the belief reflects local cultural practices, Eghan said it illustrates how different life can be in some communities where teachers are posted.

“Imagine this being your first posting. You leave home with your appointment letter, ready to teach. But before you even see your classroom, you must first sit in a boat for hours, face strong winds, watch the water rise around you, hear people scream, and pray to reach the shore safely,” he wrote.

“And after all that, you are expected to settle down, enter the classroom, and teach.”

Reflecting on the experience, Eghan called attention to the difficult conditions under which some teachers serve, particularly those assigned to remote communities with limited access by road.

“We often talk about teacher commitment from the comfort of places with roads, taxis, electricity and easy access,” he noted.

“But there are teachers whose daily reality begins with water, distance, uncertainty and courage.”

He concluded: “Before some teachers reach the classroom, they must first survive the journey.”

EA