Volunteering in West Africa

I read a lot on here (TP) about people who are dissatisfied with so called volunteer agencies offering volunteer opportunities abroad, considering the price they are charging and promises they make. I took a different route; I went to Ghana in early 2001 and came to volunteering naturally. I helped out a local organisation and still volunteer with them until this day although in the UK. I was slowly integrated and I am now the secretary in London.

If anyone needs some first hand information about Ghana, volunteering in Ghana or some further info about volunteering with us please feel free to contact me. We do not charge but expect any interested individual to sort out their travel arrangements, food and accomodation although we might be able with low cost accomodation.

Hi! Do you know maybe, would be possible there to volunteer as a midwife? I don't have any practice, but I will study midwifery so I would be very glad to help somebody in Ghana if they need that..

Hi!

I'm a Canadian student taking a gap year and I was looking at volunteering opportubnities in Sierra Leone for March-May 2011 (the end of my backpacking year) before I fly home. I am really interested in SL but what is it like in Ghana? Or would I be able to just 'stumble across' volunteer work in SL instead of having to set it up before hand?

Also what should I be aware of taking on a challenge like this, are volunteering organizations really that bad?

Thanks!
-Cass