Busy Ghanaian Traffic Warden...

...directs traffic at the Accra Mall. Is he not a determined bee?

Welcome to Kwame Nkrumah Circle Footbridge...

...which is also known as "Circle" bridge.

As you might see from the picture, against the clear, blue sky, the footbridge makes for a beautiful scene in a city that is very busy and very populous. There has been a never-ending battle by authorities of the city to ensure that the bridge is as salubrious as possible. Often-times, those causing infractions against the order for cleanliness win out--despite the conspicuous presence of the police, which you can see in the picture here.

Suffice-to-say, it is a picture of colour--just like West Africa ought to be!:-))

Snaking through Spintex Road on a Sunny Morning

If you have never experienced traffic of this magnitude on a morning, try this kind for size. Traffic is further compounded by the fact that Christmas is near, and so more cars on the road, including those of Ghanaians in the diaspora who have come home early to celebrate with families. More people inevitably means more cars!


Snaking to the East Legon tunnel. The cars look like they are moving -- they are not! The will be this stationary for a few minutes before we move!









I cannot for the life of me understand how despite the presence of a traffic warden, three to four lanes are created by magic to get through the East Legon tunnel through to the Spintex Road!



FREEDOM!!!

Accra Train Through the City!

Last weekend, I was in the heart of the capital, where the trains do ply. Evidently, I couldn't help but capture the train passing through the community.

It's been a while since I took the train!

What about you?

When a Paean to Ghanaian Films Turns into an Encomium of Accra Mall

I have always thought that it was exercise in laziness to regularly refer to the Accra Mall for my photoblogging, till a kind word from one of the regular visitors convinced me that if it is a part of my life, then why not?

So, far from a treatise on the ghanaian movie industry, which is seeing a renaissance thanks to the likes of the dynamic Shirley Frimpong-Manso and her movies (one of which I referred to in the last post), I am offering you a teaser of her upcoming latest movie "Sting in a Tale"...by showing you the movie poster--as advertised in Accra Mall!

long live Accra Mall? The jury's out on that one!

When East Legon Becomes a Bonfire of Acting Vanities

There I was last night, minding my small business ready to go home, when suddenly across the street, over at Eastgate Hotel, I see what looks like pandemonium. A colleague who is just about to leave the work compound shouts that they're making a movie!

Out of curiosity, I walk briskly to see what the noise is all about--only to be part to the three scenes, which I snapped for, well, posterity?





The car in the background is driven by one Majid Michel of latest Ghanaian movie Sting in a Tale fame, and the tall lady with the handbag looks like she's an actress, because I later see her firing a blank pistol towards the jeep to the left of the second picture.






If you look carefully at picture number three, you will find that a group has kind of congregated round one person--that person is Majid Michel himself--I believe ready to drive the car I referred to earlier. In fact, I am about to leave when I suddenly see a car drive full-speed down the untarred road, managing to dramatically negotiate a turn to the right. Meanwhile all this is captured on the camera to the cynosure of a quasi-mesmerized crowd that seems half-anxious to be privy to the unknown dramatis personae.

All this. In East Legon. In Accra.

21st Century Ghana is a country...

...where modern cars compete for space on tarred roads with dirty goats alongside open drains...all against the backdrop of multinational telco companies like MTN, vying for our attention to buy credits for our sophisticated mobile phones!

Macintosh Computers to Capture Ghanaian Hearts?

I know very few people who own Mac laptops--at least one is a ghanablogging.com member and she has waxed quite a bit at times about how great the Mac laptop is. I have checked out Mac prices and looked at my pocket and seen that the pocket lost out--big time!

I cannot ever be a fair representative of the average Ghanaian, but I can say that the average Ghanaian with sufficient disposable income might want a more conventional laptop, that comes with WINDOWS etc. Am not too sure that they would gravitate to the Mac that easily.

In that respect, it strikes me more odd and even more non-discerning for Mac to think that setting up shop in Accra Mall could endear it to making a killing in this unpredictable Ghanaian market.

Salaries might be getting higher--but I do not believe for a second that so much so that Ghanaians would shake from their technological conservatism to consider buying Mac Laptops!

Still, it might interest you to know that when I checked this I-shop in October, the store was spotless and had some six or seven macs running internet, for a cool 2.5 GHC and hour. Technology is powered by the beleaguered Vodafone Ghana, which the UK's Serious Fraud Office is investigating for financial irregularities in the purchase of 70% of Ghana Telecom shares in August 2008.

Already, I do not see a winning team!

Anyone for Ghanaian Shoes?

One of the supreme distinctions about Accra and its markets deep inside the capital is its penchant to be very colourful. So much so that the indigenes become so used to them. It is occasionally being the rare observer to a sight-so-common that you begin to be so discerning to see the small elements...and perhaps appreciate them all the more.

Shoes, onions. Ghanaian markets clearly have them all. Usually also against the backdrop of a huge edifice like the building in this picture, which I took a picture of in May around the very-busy Lapaz-Tetteh-Quarshie road.

Welcome to University Botanical Gardens

Not to be confused with ABURI Botanical Gardens, the University Botanical Gardens is an equally noteworthy place to visit, when travelling in Accra.

It is located halfway between the famed Atomic Junction and Atomic Down. I have only been there not for nature, but for a private reason, so was unable to take in the beauty of the place. Entrance is around 2GHC, which is a budget way of enjoying sights outside Accra.

You might want to check their website to obtain a better insight into what is for offer.