AFRICAN visitors were fascinated to see the exciting opportunities created for young people in Widnes.

They were staying with local families as part of an international commonwealth youth exchange.

A group of young people from Ghana were in Widnes for a week to widen their cultural experience and develop links.

They had already spent three weeks in other parts of the country.

Young people from Cheshire, including Widnes student Martin Lorimer, 17, will be visiting Ghana in December.

Ernest Yankson, a marketing student in Ghana, is one of the co-ordinators.

He said: "Most of these young people are waiting to enter university. This is a chance for them to learn education and social ideas to take back to our country."

They were taken on a tour of Halton College and visited Spike Island.

We have been very impressed by how advanced you are technically," said Ernest. "Even nurseries have computers. In a large school in Ghana, there may be only one computer for all the pupils to share. Here, you seem to have one in every classroom."

Barbara Aggrey-Fynn of the Institute of Professional Studies, said she was fascinated by British fashion.

She said:"Women wear such lovely clothes but what we can't understand is that they then cover it up with a coat!"

The Ghanians said they were also intrigued by various English dishes being served on one plate and the weather being so cool.

"We were expecting to be in Britain for summer," said Ernest. "But we have found it very cold. We are also surprised at how long your evenings are. In Ghana, it gets dark at 6.30pm."

St John's parishioners held a special party to bid farewell to the African visitors.

Youth exchange: Young people from Ghana visit Spike Island

Tour

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