Soon after graduating from North Carolina State with degrees in nuclear engineering and applied math, Paul David Peterson travelled to Ghana with the Peace Corps from 1962 to 1964 as a member of the second group of volunteers. Before departing, Peterson attended orientation and preparation at The University of California, Berkeley. He delayed beginning his subsequent career with Bethlehem Steel in order to participate in the corps. A handbook from the parochial school to which Peterson was assigned entitled The Voice of Aquinas 1962-63 contains the following information on page 10: "Mr. P. D. Peterson, an American from Leaksville, N.C., U.S.A. teaches mathematics and history. We consider ourselves lucky in having this member of the peace corps who has proved to be another 'Stuff-man'." He also taught physics and often saw students studying under the street lights in the evenings since many homes in Accra did not have electricity at the time. Peterson would have remained in Ghana with the Peace Corps beyond the two year commitment, but the organization did not have a policy for extending a stay at the time. He loved the food, the culture, and the people.

Ghana became an independent country on March 6, 1957. In 1960, Kwame Nkrumah transformed Ghana into a republic, with himself as president for life. His administration was overthrown in 1966.

President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961. The first group of Peace Corps volunteers to go out from the United States arrived in Ghana on August 30, 1961. The Peace Corps exists to support world peace and friendship.