Accra Pictures by Day & Night

Just in case Ghanaian Politicians forget in Election Year 2012...

2012-01-18T15:52:00.001Z

Ghanaians do NOT "eat" roads!

This is a common refrain heard by Ghanaians of all walks of life. It is especially heard in years when elections take place, such is this Olympic year of 2012.

When politicians go campaigning, vox pop by media houses are likely to include a piece of an agitated voter stating categorically that "these politicans think they can come after three years of doing nothing and present only a road they did for us in this community. Do they not know we don't eat roads?"

If roads were designed for eating, I daresay there would not be enough for anyone in
this country!

Time for some Law and Order--Ghana-Style!

2012-01-17T15:34:00.001Z

Signs like these literally litter the capital. As to whether Ghanaians pay attention to them is, well, moot! I must say, though, that I pass this sign every day on my way home, and I have yet to see any litter since it was put here around three months ago. Maybe we can speculate that we're becoming more sensitive to the need of protecting the environment? (and pigs can fly, too!)

Even if we are some seventeen days into the New Year, I believe nothing stops me from wishing you all a FABULOUS New Year--replete with good luck and good cheer?

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

2011-12-20T16:36:00.000Z

To paraphrase the legendary Mark Twain, reports of my blog's death have been greatly exaggerated!

This blog--whether it is Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana; Accra Pictures by Day & Night; or Critiquing Regionalism; et al--are very much alive. The silence is attributed to the usual end-of-year pandemonium and cacophony.

No doubt, they shall all be back in full swing in 2012!

Suffice-to-say, as the sun sets on 2011, I sincerely hope however and whichever way you arrived at this blog entry, you'll be touched by the spirit of Christmas and goodness in the air and make sure you and your family HAVE YOURSELVES a great and scintillating Christmas break.

May it sound, peaceful and stress-free!

Have a supremely enjoyable and wonderful Christmas -- till we meet again in January 2012!;-D

Soul Food: Strange Cloud in the Ghanaian Sky

2011-11-23T15:49:00.001Z

I'm all for celestial bodies...that..erm...don't come down and hold us captive and all that. I took this picture of the sky from the office.

Indeed, quite beautiful, but strange...

A beautiful cloud no less?

Incidentally, I cannot promise to be "back" as such...as real life is happening very much with regard to finishing the year in a bang. So, bear with me. This blog has not been abandoned at all.

Thanks for your interest and understanding!

Though it's been Sunny, More Rain Predicted in Accra

2011-10-28T16:13:00.002Z

This was the shocking front page of yesterday's "Daily Graphic" newspaper. Sadly, the lives lost are increasing, but the paper reported that we had nine perish from the devastation.

Meanwhile, today's edition reports that apart from "more rains to come", Accra is likely to get "storm drains".

I understand this is not anything new in Accra as in May, another area -- Darkuman -- was going to receive 2 million ghana cedis for the construction of such storm drains. Here's the story:

http://ama.gov.gh/accra-investment-forum/news/general-news/govt-pumps-gh-2-million-into-darkuman-storm-drain/

Make your weekend safe -- wherever you may be!

PS. Take a look at the different kind of storm drains that exist on the web: http://www.google.com.gh/search?q=define+%22storm+drain%22&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1366&bih=529&sei=%20t9KqTr32AsKZOsLk9eIP

Torrential Rain Hits Accra... Today 26 Oct, 2011

2011-10-26T14:31:00.000Z

I woke up this morning around 5.30am to the news on one of Ghana's leading private, English radio stations -- CITI 97.3 fm -- that people coming from Central region into the capital Accra were stuck because water from a bridge around the area had caused significant damage, and made roads impassable. Then came more news that people were "missing". When I heard no less than the managing-director of CITI-fm Mr.Samuel Attah-Mensa giving updates, replacing the usual religious slot at that time, I knew this must be a serious matter. I want to first begin by saying "kudos" to CITI-fm's Richard Sky (apparently up at 1am monitoring the impacts of the rains), Bernard Avle, and the MD, and the collective effort for informing us on the rains so early.

Without a doubt, other radio stations have been doing a yeoman's job of reporting the floods.

I want to use today's entry to pay tribute to all those working hard, including Ghana's National Disaster Management Organisation, to ensure that lives are saved and a sense of normality is reached for citizens of Accra. In the meantime, let me leave you with pictures I culled from news websites in Ghana. I was unable to capture my own pictures as I am blessed to live, and have woken up in an area where the water drainage is considerably better-structured.

By-word for Accra Traffic...anyone? How about "Trafficitis"?

2011-10-18T16:09:00.000Z

Traffic has become so endemic that if we're not careful, it'll become a pandemic -- maybe trafficitis! Add a bit of occasional rainfall and you got yourself even more trafficitis.

Am unsure--as are many commentators--what the cause is. We keep blaming the never-finished roadworks and the numerous cars on the road.

Some of us are so tired of talking about it it's no longer funny...so we take pictures of traffic instead!;-)

One such picture is one I took on the famed Spintex Road--you will see "Oak Plaza Hotel" on the left there -- towards Accra. On that day, it looked like despite the rain, there would not be much traffic. Boy was I wrong! There was a bumper-to-bumper just waiting up ahead to get my finger a-clicking for a blog entry.

But I desisted. I was so bored.

Here's An Easy Case for CSI:Accra...

2011-10-14T14:23:00.000Z

...if it existed!

Sure, Accra has A Criminal Investigations Department(CID) at the Ghana Police Service. They have some rudimentary training on forensics, though not quite as sophisticated as those in the teams of the "CSI:" trilogy.

But let's have fun anyway.

Supposing there was CSI:Accra, this case would be an open-and-shut case with minimum use of epitheleals. We'd see a cotton swab dabbed into that "liquid" on the tyre, have the swab sprayed -- only to realise it does not come out red, meaning no sign of blood.

A quick smell of the tyre by police dogs would blow the case wide open...they would probably wag their tail -- like Brian, of Family Guy fame, does -- when he's excited, even while still being the intellectual he is.

While there might be no Grissom equivalent to deliver a witticism, there might be a collective groan that it's only dog pee!

Have yourself a great and humour-filled weekend!;-)

Ghanaians, Remain Disclipined on our Roads!

2011-09-20T15:26:00.001Z

I have deliberately used this picture both here and on my sister blog on this link here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-i-told-daily-graphic-about.html. This is because for the past few days, there have been too many road crashes and attendant deaths that are totally unnecessary. My fellow citizens often fail to adhere to road safety rules--especially the commercial drivers -- who are too quick anad too keen to make as much sales as possible in a day they flout all kinds of road laws for the bottom line.

Simply put: KEEP SAFE! DRIVE SAFELY!

Danpong Clinic -- A Testament of Ghana Sweat, Blood and Tears in Ghana's Health Industry

2011-09-06T15:30:00.002Z

Danpong Clinic is located on the infamous Spintex Road, and actually closer to Batsonaa.

It may not have a dedicated website for the clinic, but has one for detailing its parent group -- DANADAMS, which website can be found here: http://www.danadamsgh.com/?root=profile/

The interesting thing here is that DANADAMS in wholly Ghanaian. Here is what the corporate profile says on its website:

"Danadams Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited is a wholly-Ghanaian owned limited liability company incorporated in Ghana. Danadams was commissioned on 8th June, 2005 by His Excellency J.A. Kufour, with staff strength of fifty-two(52), which has now grown to over 200 employees.

The company is focusing on economically targeted areas in the pharmaceutical industry, which have much social implications in the country. Our core business is the production of Antiretroviral, Antimalarials, Anti-Tuberculosis and other quality generic pharmaceuticals used to fight opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients.

Danadams seeks to address the problem of scarcity of Anti-retroviral drugs in Ghana and the rest of West Africa, by increasing its production of quality generic Antiretroviral drugs locally. Danadams Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited is among other West African Pharmaceutical companies selected to collectively act as catalysts to spearhead the building of the local capacity for production and distribution of Antiretroviral drugs and working in partnership with governmental initiatives like the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Economic Regional Bodies such as West African Health Organization (WAHO) under ECOWAS, and international Organizations like United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and World Health Organization. (WHO)"

At a time when the WIKILEAKs cables reveal our Ghanaian elites and policymakers to be grossly out of touch with the Ghanaian, it bears reminding that things do and can work in Ghana, and for those that do work, they need encouragement to do better!!

Sneda or Melcom? CHINA** & INDIA's contribution to Ghana, or a Tale of How Ghanaians Love to Shop!

2011-09-02T13:41:00.002Z

To the left is Sneda shopping centre; to the right is Melcom. Both are perhaps a by-word for retail shopping in Ghana. That they have been around for many years only adds up to the credibility they have built in Ghana as one place "to-shop".

Sneda's website is a non-starter; it's just a page, which you can find here: http://www.localyte.com/attraction/20656--sneda-shopping-centre--Ghana--Greater%2BAccra--Accra. Conversely, Melcom's site promises to be big, but has not gone to be big yet. Here is the link: http://www.melcomgroup.com/melcom/html/index.html

These stores can be found all over the country, but, interestingly, never have I found the two so closely to each other. Sneda came first, but probably did not anticipate MELCOM's. Still the famed Spintex Road, from where I took this picture, offers significant potential for custom.

Four months after I took this picture, you should come and take a look at how they both have changed: SNEDA now has a clean, beige, minimalist look and feel at its entrance, whereas MELCOM is offering more competition by adding "MELCOM PLUS" to its regular store.

If you're ever in Ghana, or the capital--Accra--pass by and compare prices. If you don't like the quality, you know what you can do, don't you? Blog about it!!

Make your weekend nice and safe!

**correction: SNEDA is, in fact, Chinese. A facebook friend pointed it out to me. Don't get me started on the BRICs!;-)

The (Mobile Phone) Cameras behind AccraDailyPhoto.Com

2011-09-01T15:42:00.000Z

Yesterday was a holiday in Ghana to celebrate the end of fasting of Moslems.

I thought I would follow suit and add a "light" post today by pointing you to one of the cameras that has brought me great pictures over the past couple of posts.

Since I created this blog in 2006, I have gone through a Canon, Polaroid and, now, Kodak camera.

All the while, though, I have interspersed it with my mobile phone camera, with the latest being the trusted NOKIA E63. While the shots could be a bit sharper, I want to today thank Nokia for creating such a snazzy phone that makes pictures that much different from a classic stand-alone camera of 10/12/14 megapixels!;-)

Never Mind Arsenal, Here's What Football Can Do in Ghana...

2011-08-30T14:08:00.000Z

Given the debate going around among football enthusiasts worldwide and in Ghana about whether Arsene Wenger should be kicked out of his job at Arsenal or not, I thought a football post to be more than appropriate!

If you knew of the paucity of my football knowledge, then you would know this issue must be quite big, given the manner in which I seem to explain it away like I know the issues with a fine tooth-comb!

Coming back to the picture, I can safely say that the magic associated with football means that any "Tetteh, David or Harrison" can stand in the street--or at least is "permitted" to do so (at the risk of their own lives)--so as to catch a football game!

Such is Ghana, and some of the laxity thereof!

I took this picture of a crowd of fellow Ghanaians who on 8 May this year had surrounded the premises of a popular eaterie--Eden Tree--located on the famed Spintex Road.

At the best of times, Eden Tree regularly has a television on. Shame their food is not always so great; if it were, I would be plugging it here -- big time. Still, if you're in Ghana, and heading that way, give their jollof rice a try!

Waiting for Godot / Glo Mobile

2011-08-29T15:03:00.000Z

Kindly check out that green structure with "Glo" emblazoned on it to the left of this caption. Seen it?

I don't quite think Ghanaians will resort to hara-kari--as per the characters in the classic "Waiting for Godot". You might remember Ghanaians are a happier bunch than the dyspeptic duo of Estragon and Vladimir.

But, like in this post in 2007, where we are wont to wait endlessly for tro-tros, we are also likely to get tired of waiting.

It's a good thing Ghana's Ministry of Communications--in its wisdom--has chosen 15 September for Glo Mobile, our putative sixth operator, to shape up or ship out.

That they will do the latter is a prospect close to zero. Hoping for the former is what we all hope for. As for hope, it springs eternal in this land!

Exeter Corned Beef Getting More Expensive in Ghana...

2011-08-24T17:28:00.000Z

So there's a global recession -- but does it stretch to corned beef as well? I know for the past five years, sardines in this country have gone from under equivalent of $US0.50 to 1 solid US dollar now. In some retail stores in this country, it's just a little over 1USD.

But corned beef, too? This one is being retailed at GHS7.70, or USD5.13!

Is corned beef really retailing for that outside Ghana? Does anyone know?

Welcome to Koffee Lounge, East Legon, Where Your Fried Rice tastes Chinese!

2011-08-12T17:23:00.001Z

This is uncharacteristic on my part to frequent a place for many months, and not feature it here! Wow...I believe this post is seeking to rectify that;-)

Koffee Lounge, located at A&C Plaza, serves some of the nicest Chinese food this side of Accra(being East Legon/Tetteh-Quarshie/airport area), and so far, the price is fairly decent, with egg fried rice going for something like 3GHC (US$1.5).

Naturally, Ghanaian foods are served there, and it also has free wireless.

Coincidentally, my fellow bloggers from the ghanablogging.com community will be in an adjacent coffee shop that overlooks this coffee shop on Saturday 13 August for a meeting.

If you're in town and happen to pass by, give them a big shout!

Make your weekend safe!

When 'Accra by Day&Night' Was Airborne

2011-08-08T15:58:00.000Z

Back when we were in Belgium, I always looked forward to coming home to Accra. I always also knew when we were almost home.

After connecting to Amsterdam with KLM from Zaventem in Brussels, the contrast was magnificent. Whereas Zaventem by day was orderly from the air, six/seven hours from Amsterdam to Accra was met with darkness...and serious patches of light throughout the capital.

Never mind that a gush of hot/humid Accra air would meet us every blessed time, what increasingly amused me many a time was just the above. And despite all that, I would not trade it for any other country.

This is a shot I took landing in to Accra back in March. It is of no less than the Tema motorway. From up high and during the day, one gets to appreciate the beauty a bit more.

Nothing Like Graphic Road Traffic in Accra!

2011-07-29T16:20:00.000Z

Traffic anytime, anywhere, is bad enough, but in Accra, it has a singular distinction of being more than headache-inducing -- on account of the rising tempers and the foolish antics of taxi-drivers.

Graphic Road is so named because of the nation's 'premier' newspaper "Daily Graphic" located on that road.

If you're travelling this weekend, keep it safe--and temper-free!;-)

Thirteen Curves on the Accra-Cape Coast Highway

2011-07-05T16:52:00.000Z

Every 1 July is Ghana's Republic Day. As such, it is celebrated as a holiday, affording many Ghanaians working in Accra to trek back to the village/town to see family.

Whatever the motive might be, the travel bug is always alive around this time--and this time it hit my family, prompting us to go to the lush, verdant Central Region--some two hours away from the capital--to attend to family matters.

Getting back--never mind going there--was hair-raising, on account of the so-called "13 curves" on the Accra Cape-Coast Highway. Never mind that many drivers driving like bats out of hell may be oblivious to the inconspicuous signboard of "13 curves", the notice is there!

In between hilly and undulating roads that can beat what I have seen of San Fransisco in TV shows anyday, these 13 curves are not to be sneezed at.

As to whether police are ensuring that drivers slow down before and after these curves is a moot point. They are stationed on the highway alright, but there are clearly not enough to stop thirteen curves from leading to reckless driving which will lead to "thirteen ghosts"!

So, Ghana Has a Maintenance Culture After All?!

2011-06-24T17:10:00.000Z

Offlate, the airwaves have made serious effort to reduce reporting of politics, focusing instead--as CITI97.3 fm did last week -- on discussion of bad roads, and how Ghana's Road Fund.

Needless-to-say that a pot-hole-free Accra is a reflection of a maintenance culture that has reached near-perfection.

It is therefore very encouraging to see--as I saw this afternoon while at A&C Plaza in East Legon -- that workmen were fixing the streetlight there.

Long may it continue!

Ghana's Precarious Record on Road Safety Needs Revision...Now!

2011-06-06T15:35:00.000Z

The call is more of an appeal than anything. Lets face it: Ghanaians can sometimes be an indiscplined bunch--as exemplified by this picture here, where a "heavy duty" truck is parked on the first lane of a motorway...without hazard lights.

Apart from the fact that the Ghana police is nowhere to be found, other things are found wanting:

1. a number--preferrably toll-free--to call to report cases like these;

2. a number--perhaps a twitter account of a news outlet, or the National Road Safety Commission--to report such cases;

I don't have the statistics, but simply put: too many Ghanaians die on the road every year--and this can be avoided if we put some small steps into place.

Anyone for "Pure" Water? Maybe some "Standard Water"?

2011-05-26T16:52:00.000Z

"Pure Water" is a typical name given to water that is not bottled in Ghana. They usually come in sachets, and are patronised by people from all walks of life.

"Standard Water" is but one of many of the Food and Drugs Board-approved producers of sachet water.

Happy Africa Liberation Day to all AU Citizens...on 25 May!

2011-05-24T17:44:00.000Z

Every 25 May, Ghana, along with many African Union(AU) member states, celebrates what has now come to be known as Africa Liberation Day(ALD). It is erroneously celebrated as African Union day, which is actually celebrated on 9 September, when the Sirte Declaration was conceived to transform the-then Organisation of African Unity into the African Union.

In Ghana, Chelsea's Michael Essien (a Ghanaian) in his capacity as AU Peace Ambassador will lead a team of other international Chelsea superstars to play in a "Peace for Africa" match. This poster is merely to reflect this reality.

Wherever you may be on 25 May, have a fabulous Happy Africa Liberation Day!

Second-Hand Tyres? Almost Second Nature to Ghanaian drivers!

2011-05-18T16:33:00.000Z

Offlate, there's been quite a bit of discussion about road safety in Ghana. Beyond driver error, the patronage of second-hand car tyres remains a serious bane to ensuring road safety.

Apart from the fact that the World Health Organisation has declared 2011 as the beginning of the "Road Safety decade" (and used 11 May to launch it), Ghana's National Road Safety Commission has launched its third National Road Safety Strategy (NRSSIII) in Accra.

Interestingly, the NRSC has caught up with Facebook, and can be found at this link here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Road-Safety-Commission-NRSC-Ghana/312888131523?sk=wall#!/pages/National-Road-Safety-Commission-NRSC-Ghana/312888131523?sk=info.

Safe driving...wherever you may be!

Accra Gears up its Urban Transport with Bus Rapid Transit system

2011-05-12T16:38:00.000Z

In September 2010, I wrote a fairly lengthy piece about the impending Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT), which you can read here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/ghanas-experimentation-with-bus-rapid.html.

Seeking not to repeat myself, I would also like to add that the picture I have here speaks volumes about what motives of the BRT. Just to add, finally, that I took this in the Central region of Kasoa, ...which is very close to the capital!

Vanity Plates of Nigerian Cars in Ghana!

2011-05-11T16:47:00.000Z

I used to call vanity plates "personalised" plates -- till I was corrected a few years ago. I could not think of a more apt description for these number plates.

Needless to say that they're a common feature in Ghana--I have featured it on this blog before--but this picture just takes the West African solidarity of supporting and hating everything-Nigerian contemporaneously to ridiculous proportions...

Honestly, this is a Nigerian vanity plate. A Ghanaian who has watched enough of Nigerian films would know, because the IGBOs are reported to be from south-eastern Nigeria.

At first sight, seeing "I G80" would not make anything sense, but I guess seeing it from this "perspective" makes the reality of vanity plates of Nigerians in Ghana a more acceptable...reality?

Welcome to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle!

2011-05-05T12:47:00.000Z

If you have ever heard what sounds like "sec-sec-sec!...sec-sec-sec!" around Accra, I can assure you it is nothing mysterious, but the call by tro-tro mates for passengers to board the mini-bus (known as tro-tros) down to Accra's "Kwame Nkrumah Circle".

In other words: this place in the picture I took. This is the major roundabout, with a fairly new sign that exhorts Accra residents to keep the city "clean".

Now, with a number of illiterates among the informal sector, I continue to ask myself how they can understand the note--let alone live up to the principle!!

West African Corporates Leading the Way in Ghana?

2011-04-29T16:49:00.000Z

When I took this random picture on Ghana's Ring Road, it was more of a serendipitous one, hoping to capture a snapshot of life there.

Instead, I unwittingly and fortuitously caught the logos of no less than two West-African-based corporate brands.

GLO, clad in green, is a 100% Nigerian mobile telecommunications company, which recently launched its broadband service--Glo 1--a few weeks ago in Ghana.

"ECOBANK"--a brand that is no stranger to this blog--is based in Togo, just next door to Ghana. Thankfully, this minimalist description belies its reach: it is represented in no less than 30 countries, and started off as a bank for West Africa, with support from the West African Chamber of Commerce. These days, it has expanded astronomically, diversifying into brokerage services; investments, etc.

It recently opened a China desk to take care of increasing Chinese investments in the country. It has an office in Dubai, and France!

Simply put: it's only a matter of time before the West African private sector goes global...watch this space!

"CNN Gets Ghana Wrong"--and Here's a Picture to Prove Why!

2011-04-21T15:24:00.000Z

Last week the Ghanablogging.com communitywas agog--screaming blue murder--over foolish pronouncements by no less than a group associated with the CNN who claimed that most Ghanaians are able to cater for themselves through a Ghanaian variation of advanced-free fraud, or SAKAWA.

Fellow ghanablogger Mac-Jordan--also a member of the Global Voices Online community -- captured it in his summary here: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/04/15/bloggers-react-to-demeaning-article-about-ghana/. The reason why I refer to the article again is to ask you to read the link above and get a sense of the complaints.

Secondly, the title is a nudge-and-wink to Kobby Graham, who's title I wittingly borrowed to draw attention to the simple fact that CNN got it wrong--whether by association or otherwise, they should never have posted an article by a source who had not done the necessary checks on a story.

As the picture I took last May at the airport shows, Ghana's NACOB (Narcotic Board) has increasingly been reminding Ghanaians about the need to be vigilant in how they handle luggage--never mind the risks of carrying narcotic drugs.

I don't know about you--but if this is not an effort by a government agency trying to remind Ghanaians about keeping the country free from such vices, I do not know what is!!

Beaches by the City of Accra

2011-04-15T16:14:00.000Z

Okay. So I exaggerate. There are not that many beaches by the city of Accra, but there certainly are one or two: KOKROBITE and LABADI beach.

That alone is sufficient to warrant any visitor to want to come to Accra. It certainly has challenges with sanitation in particular parts of the city, but the Accra mayor assures Ghanaians that in keeping with Accra as a Millenium city, it will become a city for all Ghanaians to be the best they can be.

The picture is that of Elmina, in the central region of Ghana, but is very reminiscent, nonetheless, of the beaches dotted along the coastline of this beautiful country!

Five Years of Providing Vignettes of Accra Life to You!

2011-04-14T16:01:00.001Z

This blog was born on 25 April, 2006. It's very first post was profoundly minimalist. You can read it here.In that respect, I consider April to be its birth month--and appropriately so, as 26 April is my own birthday. To say that there is some existentialist connection with this blog would probably not be far from the truth.

At the time I created it, I knew nothing of the citydailyphoto blogs, mooted by Frenchman Eric Tenin, who created Paris Daily Photo.

Back in 2006, there were few indigenous bloggers blogging about their home country--let alone indigenous bloggers blogging about their city, so inevitably, I became a kind of pioneer in that genre. My entries have waxed and waned. There have been times I have had blogger's block, but I always returned, trying to ensure that I portray not necessarily the best parts of Accra--but the parts that made the whole experience real.

To be honest, I am surprised that in less than a month, this blog has been nominated for two awards. First, the tripbase; now this "Go Overseas Top Blog", which you can find here: http://www.gooverseas.com/ghana-blogs.

In this category, I came 6th of out 10 blogs. The criteria for the selection is listed below :

GO! Overseas editorial staff evaluates blogs with the following criteria:

New content is posted at a minimum of once a week.
A writing style which is both clear and interesting.
A website which is constructed in a manner that provides a user-friendly interface and is maintained regularly.
A target audience which goes beyond providing friends and family with updates. Our editorial staff is looking for content which appeals to a wider audience.
Content that is relatively error free and grammatically correct.
A blog site which engages users on the website and is responsive to regular contact.

from: http://www.gooverseas.com/featured-blogger-badge.

Back in 2007, academic Rebekah Hurt wrote what was in essence a biography of me through my blogs, which she mysteriously pulled down. Before she did, though, I had managed to copy her work, which I reproduced on my website here: http://www.ekbensah.net/pb/wp_fccca1c0/wp_fccca1c0.html. I copy below what she wrote about Accra Daily Photo at the time it was using a pink interface:

Accra by Day & Night is designed in pink tones and is headed by an elaborate banner where different photos rotate within a fixed screen, overlain by moving star characters and blue spots which contain occasional captions. Beneath this very advanced blog feature is the following short description, “Accra is the capital of the small, West African country of Ghana, which achieved its independence in 1957 from its colonial master, the United Kingdom. It celebrates 50 years in 2007, and is projecting itself fast and furiously as ‘gateway to West Africa’. It’s an exciting city, with its unique problems, but with it close to the Atlantic ocean, and many beaches, who can resist not [sic] coming here? Come along...” Along with this header, there is another unique and advanced inclusion of a background song that can be turned on and off with the click of a speaker icon and that, when on, plays on repeat the theme-appropriate song, “Ocean Sized Love” by Leigh Nash[2]. At the top of the page there is a link to the Ghana at 50 website, and then down the right hand margin of the page appears Bensah’s profile, a selection of his favorite videos with embedded media, followed by an extensive list of links to other city photoblogs across the world, a Zooomclouds cluster box which highlights the words most frequently appearing in the blog, and a list of previous posts. The governing order of this blog is that Bensah posts a new photo or photos from daily scenes around Ghana (primarily Accra and Legon) with short captions, comments, and observations...

Suffice-to-say, I am very humbled by the accolades. If anything, it has given me more vim to continue this blog. As I am human, there will be times when there will be hiatus, but I hope to continue offering aspects of Accra life in the quintessential ways in which I have delivered them.

Thank you to all those who have commented and helped encourage me to get this far. Five years is no mean feat! Thank you!!

The Tale of The Nutty West African History Professor Comes to an End

2011-04-13T14:56:00.001Z

I deliberately chose to use this photo-capture from the front page of Ghana's Daily Graphic today. Given that the ex-President of Cote d'Ivoire Gbagbo was captured Monday, I was confident that the following day, New Media outlets would be replete with the story. While many outlets probably have better pictures, this picture still does not take away the gravitas surrounding Gbagbo's capture by what many believe to be "special" French forces.

Given the proximity of Ghana to that country (we share a border to the West of the country), Ghana was always going to be intimately drawn to any news around him.

West Africa will now focus on how to ensure that its collective effort, through the sub-regional body of ECOWAS, can be brought to bear on bringing the country back to a degree of normalcy.

Accra Daily Photo is in Top Ten of "Tripbase" Awards for Best Travel Blog in Ghana

2011-04-08T14:01:00.000Z

On the last day of March, I saw a tweet from a fellow tweep who had included me in their felicitations of a so-called "honour." Later, a fellow blogger clarified what the big fuss might really have been about--me to link my blog to TRIPBASE's blog. Still, the honour is to be enjoyed--so here it is!;-)

www.Tripbase.com

Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:53:37 +0800
Message-ID:
Subject: =?windows-1252?Q?Accra_Daily_Photo_=96_Listed_in_the_Tripbase_2011_Aw?=
=?windows-1252?Q?ards?=
From: Claire Tucker
To: comments@accradailyphoto.com
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=0016e64bd074967523049fc5f118

Hello there,

Tripbase Awards 2011

I am pleased to inform you that your site has been chosen to receive a Tripbase 2011 Blog Award.

This year our panel of judges reviewed hundreds of sites from across the Internet before hand-selecting the best ten for each travel category. Your site is among these elite ranks, and can be seen here:

http://www.tripbase.com/d/awards/2011/categories/winners/ghana.htm

I would like to congratulate you on your continued hard work and achievement in winning a Tripbase Award - this year, the awards have been featured in CNBC, CBS and AOL News. We have created small and large badges for you to show off your achievement to your readers, so please feel free to grab the code and upload it onto your site.

Well done once again, and keep up the great work.

Kind Regards,

Claire Tucker

~ Tripbase Inc ~

The Blogging Passion's Still Burning...But Like That, He was Gone!

2011-02-28T16:28:00.000Z

I thought I'd eschew any vestige of melodrama by being as incisive about my point as possible.

But knowing me, it was always going to be difficult!

It is not so much that I have goofed or erred -- just that I've become more of a human being, both pretending to be, and actually being busier than I ever expected.

Undoubtedly, this has affected my blogging. I cannot tell you the number of entries I have started only for them to be lost somewhere in my written diary/journal.

Somewhere.

Like the fire burning in this picture, the passion of blogging remains -- as does my passion of all things Ghanaian and all pictures Ghanaian.

I also love my area of expertise: comparative global regional integration, which is simply how the emerging regions in the world -- the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, ASEAN -- compare with each other in their respective sectors. Closer to home, there's been a lot of talk about ECOWAS, because of the still-unresolved Ivorian Crisis, which has seen Laurent Gbagbo still in power.

My take is that the African Union meddled too much, leaving egg on the face of the West African bloc of ECOWAS.

I am glad, though, to have seen the ARAB LEAGUE get proactive about Libya; and the AU's powerful Peace and Security Council finally issue a communique about Libya (considering Libya's sponsoring of the Pan-African body to the tune of 15% of the AU's budget!)

I guess life's like that: we're all shades of gray, and a LOT of work-in-progress.

Suffice-to-say, I have more bombastic claims when I get back to regular blogging in April.

I shall be away from blogging proper for a good one month. I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms...

Just like the smoke in the picture, I've been lingering for a while, while the passion burns.

The only difference between me and the picture is that my passion won't ever ebb away -- just gone on hiatus.

Till then!

See you first week of April...

Non-Visible License Plates on Taxi--Only in Ghana!!

2011-02-01T16:11:00.000Z

Erm. What exactly do I write now? Does my title not explain it all?

I love my country, honestly I do, but sometimes the exhibition of eccentricities is too much.

How on earth is it possible for a commercial vehicle, like this taxi, to entertain the idea of putting the duster he has used to clean his car on his bumper...in a way that hides his number plate?

Either the doode forgot he had done this, or he was deliberately being stubborn.

In this country, one is not sure which is more de rigeur!

Welcome to Latest Entry of Taxis in Accra...TOP CAB!

2011-01-26T17:24:00.001Z

It was bound to happen sooner rather than later: a new taxi service that would rival Gold Cab, which I have been patronising since 2006, when it broke out on the Ghanaian market.

Interesting thing, though, is that this taxi service has most of its employees coming directly from...Gold Cab!

The downs: No uniform; some 3GHC more expensive than Gold Cab; not all the drivers speak good English; they don't charge per half-hour, meaning ten minutes after an hour, you pay for TWO hours!; very little publicity yet

The upsides: you can ride discreetly in a car with private number plates (white), like GOLD CAB. Only thing is a passing glance might make others feel you're in a limousine BMW 5-series!!; the 15GHC, or roughly US$10.5 for a drop, and an hour, they charge is almost akin to regular yellow-plated taxis; the car is spacious and more discreet than GOLD CAB's UK Cab, which is too conspicuous; you can pay at the end of the month when you patronise their services

So far, so very Chinese for a car! The Chinese are not coming; they're already here!

These guys at TOP CAB have a fleet of some 16 cars--all black-like "BRILLIANCE" cars.

Happy New Year 2011! Happy New Change of Name...for A&C Mall?

2011-01-11T16:45:00.000Z

The absence is unforgivable if you're into moral theorizing and whatnot, but if you're carefree, sue me!;-)

Life needed to be lived outside the computer, so I lived it;-) The festive season called--as always--for intimate times spent together, so I did that, too!

It's not just kind of great to be back--it's truly to be back.

I will not make any promises for 2011--save to say that it promises--in theory--to be a great one for all! As for this blog, I will do the very best to bring you more unique insights into the capital of Accra.

Over the next couple of days, I will bring you sights from the festive season...as a way of warming one up for the year--especially February when I pretend to bring you sharper and more distinctive entries;-)

On the specific case of the erstwhile A&C Shopping Mall, the name-change has not come as a surprise. Bye-bye A&C Mall, welcome A&C, erm, Square!

Waiting for Kelewele (fried, ripe plantain with ginger)...in Accra

2010-12-01T15:57:00.001Z

I know it's been a while, so you really will have to forgive me. The winding-down of the year is accompanied with a litany of things to be done, including preparing to end the year in style, and getting over-and-done with other work-related issues.

Back to this scene, which is a typical scene all across the country among itinerant vendors. Though this lady is more a non-itinerant one (in the sense that she can re-locate her stuff, rather than walking up and down the streets of Accra and through traffic), she continues to serve the purpose of offering food...even at the taxi rank of Accra Mall!!

In this specific case, kelewele (pronounced kay-lay-way-lay), which is, in essence, fried, ripe plantain (generally sweet), with ginger. You can occasionally take it with peanuts as a meal. Sometimes, people take it as dessert!

Either way, it's a very tasty snack, heavy on the oily side, but nonetheless, to-die-for!

labels: fried plantain, plantain, kelewele, Ghana food, Ghana snacks

Re: Waiting for Kelewele (fried, ripe plantain with ginger)...in Accra

2010-12-01T15:54:00.001Z

I know it's been a while, so you really will have to forgive me. The winding-down of the year is accompanied with a litany of things to be done, including preparing to end the year in style, and getting over-and-done with other work-related issues.

Back to this scene, which is a typical scene all across the country among itinerant vendors. Though this lady is more a non-itinerant one (in the sense that she can re-locate her stuff, rather than walking up and down the streets of Accra and through traffic), she continues to serve the purpose of offering food...even at the taxi rank of Accra Mall!!

In this specific case, kelewele (pronounced kay-lay-way-lay), which is, in essence, fried, ripe plantain (generally sweet), with ginger. You can occasionally take it with peanuts as a meal. Sometimes, people take it as dessert!

Either way, it's a very tasty snack, heavy on the oily side, but nonetheless, to-die-for!

labels: fried plantain, plantain, kelewele, Ghana food, Ghana snacks

Masters of Timber in Accra?

2010-11-09T17:04:00.001Z

Well, not quite. Just that the further you get out of Accra, the more
you're likely to see creativity manifested in this way.

Even if rudimentary, it provides shelter when it's raining; and is
most often a good starting structure for what one might ordinarily
call "a workshop".

labels: ghana timber, ghana wood, ghana creativity

Rain forces Roadworks in Accra?

2010-11-02T13:19:00.000Z

To tell you the truth, it is generally hard to establish a logical link between rain and roadworks in this country.

Usually, there has to be some kind of untimely death or an upcry before much is done during the rainy season. But since we live in hope, we can only hope that these kind of roadworks that have multiplied across the capital are being done to help contain flooding in the capital.

I do so hope that it is being replicated in the other nine regional capitals as well, including in the outskirts.
If so, then I hope it will become more de rigeur and less of an ad-hoc initiative by the government.

Either way, more grease to these elbows!

The Mendacity of MTN

2010-10-29T17:23:00.000Z

I am beginning to think that if this country is going to go anywhere, then we must begin to mummify mendacity of the likes of Ghana's telco (with the highest number of subscribers) so that we can all stop hiding behind its corporate sponsorship. For too long, we have danced with the devil over tariffs because of such sponsorship.

Time to tell MTN that it can be everywhere you go, but enough of being Numbed by Terrible Mendacity!

------------------Sent from...
*twitter.com/ekbensah
*www.ekbensah.net
*Contact me: +233.268.891.841

Heard of Ghana's "Rex Cinema"?

2010-10-26T17:21:00.001Z

Asking that question is like contemporaneously saying "Ghana does not have many cinemas!"

And you would be right.

I saw a tweep (a Ghanaian "twitterer") wondering why after so many years since independence, why is it that Ghana boasts of only ONE major cinema -- read SILVERBIRD at Accra Mall, which rates are rather prohibitive to boot!

I understand from my parents that this place used to be the "it"-thing some four-decades ago.

Of course, that was before the blasted CIA-sponsored coup that removed Ghana's first president Dr.Kwame Nkrumah from power took place in 1966.

Coming back to this cinema, it is now ensconced between some non-descript building and the Electricity Company of Ghana office at Makola.

I am confident the cinema no longer receives custom, and am even more confident there are unknown squatters mulling around. I like that it's enjoyed a lick of paint rather recently;-)

labels: ghana cinema, rex cinema

RAIN!

2010-10-22T17:38:00.001Z

The skies opened two days ago and poured in most parts of the country in a fairly ferocious manner. I believe this picture captures the ferocity!

Good to be back, and praying for wisdom by our leaders to take measures to contain the impending rain;-)

Make your weekend safe!

The Unbearable Lightness of Blogging -- Back the week of 18 October!

2010-09-30T17:22:00.001Z

As a blogger, there's definitely one thing you cannot escape -- your
private life. When you're blogging, the assumption is that a lot of
much of your life is put up for public scrutiny.

We all now know that this is rarely the case. The smarter blogger is
the one who is consistent with the themes he writes about. I have
fallen short on consistency at times, but the passion is clearly there
to continue blogging.

Some important and personal issues need to be attended to as I take a
break from full-throttle blogging.

It's only a hiatus...and one that will certainly recharge the batteries!

So here's to when I come back the week of 18 October!

Like British actor Daniel Hoffman-Gill, who I both follow on twitter
and his blog (http://danielhg.blogspot.com), I will also be available
on twitter.

I would be happy to receive and follow your tweets as well. I'm on
http://www.twitter.com/ekbensah.

See you!

Ghana's Experimentation with Bus Rapid Transit Shapes Up...

2010-09-27T16:40:00.000Z

Ghana's experimentation with Bus Rapid Transit is a misnomer; it's fully on course, with ads on radio on some stations in full swing. Wikipedia describes it thus:

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling. The goal of these systems is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings and flexibility of bus transit.^[1] The expression BRT is mainly used in North America; in Europe and Australia, it is often called a busway, while elsewhere, it may be called a quality bus.

The definition is all well and good--except that it excludes Africa. For all the chaos associated with Nigeria (celebrating its 50 years), it is one of the first African countries to have implemented BRT. A couple of months ago, Ghanaian policy-makers in the transport system had to go down to Lagos to take notes! Check out the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (http://www.lamata-ng.com/publictransport.htm) to see what I mean.

I took this picture of Mallam junction, en route to the Accra-Cape Coast highway. The above picture shows the beginning of the BRT. I write beginning specifically because there was a signboard on the road where you see the buses indicating that it is only for "dropping". Sadly, I saw private cars (including a diplomatic-licensed car) using that route--most likely to avoid traffic. Once it is in shape, this part of Accra is likely to reduce traffic considerably.

To be sure of Ghana's intentions on BRT, check out the Mass Metro Transit(MMT) website here: http://metromass.com/transit_system.htm.

All I have left to say is: bye-bye traffic!!!

Not Quite Ghana's Ambulance Service!

2010-09-20T16:53:00.000Z

Ghana does have a National Ambulance Service (check here: http://www.grsproadsafety.org/page-ghana-21.html.) However, unlike our Nigerian counterparts that have a comparative service with a website (http://www.crinigeria.com/), Ghana has paid scant attention to obtaining a site that will proffer useful info about emergency medical services.

I am not particularly enthused that this second-hand ambulance (that looks like one from a US medical show) has landed on the shores of Ghana, and is being paraded with a view to being sold. For what, exactly??

At Long Last, Ghana's Census Has a Fixed Date!

2010-09-17T17:06:00.000Z

Oh yes. We are all going to be counted the night of 26th September. Quite why it will be at night--and not daytime--is beyond me, but, hey, let us all rejoice and merry-make in the knowledge that we shall be counted. Last time Ghanaians were counted was in 2000. Given that it is done every ten years, can we say we are fully on track?

I'm not too au fait with the technicalities associated with Ghana's census, but what I do know is that it will help Ghanaian ministries, departments and agencies(MDAs) obtain a better sense of the "state of the nation". You might also not know this, but there is a countdown on the Ghana Statistical Website, which can be found here: http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/.

Here's a snapshot of the website (see below):

Have yourself a good weekend, and keep it safe!

Who's Afraid of China? Ghana Certainly Isn't...

2010-09-16T15:53:00.000Z

...as exemplified by this "celebration" here. China has been instrumental in building many of our roads--not just yesterday, but for no good than 5 decades.

It would seem common-sense to continue to nurture the relationship!

Accra Mall Telefonika, Edit your English, Please!

2010-09-09T17:18:00.000Z

This is the kind of English you get when you mix grammar-challenged Ghanaians with a Lebanese owner of a shop too keen to make a profit at the expense of everything else!

Tomorrow, Ghanaians celebrate a public holiday in honour of our Moslem friends and brothers who have just completed their fast.

Baraka de Sala?

(looks like I'm not the only one grammatically-challenged!)

Welcome to CEDI House, Just Opposite British Council Ghana

2010-09-08T17:27:00.000Z

It really is a delicious irony to see this rather-gargantuan building (ofcourse, not quite a skyscraper) towering over the British Council. If you're not quite sure of the link, I am referring to the fact that it is the British that colonized Ghana till 1957, when we obtained our independence.

The irony resides in the fact that this is the building that houses Ghana's only (indigenous) Agricultural Development Bank, Ghana's Stock Exchange, and a slew of other companies. I would like to think that it's a reflection of Ghana's rising status not just in West Africa, but the continent.

Ofcourse, the British can take comfort in the fact that they continue to offer substantial donor support to the country! I am still trying to work out why Ghana's stock exchange (http://www.gse.com.gh/), reputed many times to be one of the more buoyant on the continent, has a website, when CEDI House does not!!

Penguins and Hawkers in Accra--an Unearthly Combination?

2010-09-06T16:12:00.000Z

No worries.

Nothing unearthly about plastic/rubber penguins being handled by our very own itinerant vendors! The hawkers are only plying their trade. I can assure you that no animals were harmed in the taking of this picture, and the creation of this scene!;-)

Welcome to Accra's Changing Landscape!

2010-09-02T17:28:00.000Z

From left to right: Holiday Inn, which prices are not just downright hostile to the Ghanaian (what do you say about over 250 US$/night in Accra?!?!) pocket; a flashy-looking building that houses some financial institutions; and more glitzy-looking buildings that are bound to house more institutions that are close to the financial sector.

This trio is located in what will be known as "AIRPORT CITY". In fact, it is AIRPORT CITY. More buildings, including a mall, which will be known as "Marina Mall".

When Cometh Our 6th Mobile Operator, Globacom?

2010-09-01T17:27:00.000Z

Ghanaians are waiting with baited breath! It's been a good two and a half years!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered by Accra's X-Men

2010-08-20T15:48:00.000Z

Disappointed by the fact that my usual haunt--Allure SPA--at A&C Shopping Mall had closed down, I decided to find the next best place.

I honestly didn't know "best" was going to mean "expensive", but I must confess: it really was worth it!

Arriving to the place some couple of hundred metres from the said-mall, I walked inside to have the door opened for me.

"Uh-oh!" I thought. That itself must already be 1ghC! I was quickly ushered to a small, albeit snazzy, counter in the corner, with a lovely, young and personable lady explaining almost-everything about what the X-men outfit was going to do to revolutionize the typical barbering experience.

I'm sure you can see:

Barbering
Manicure
Pedicure
Massage
Lounge bar!
Pool table!
[FREE wireless] Internet!

The exclamation points are certainly my emphasis as that was the last thing I expected. So let us quickly go through my experience:

1. I got a haircut...
2....followed by a clean shave(!) [there was a little stubble...] and after-shave...
3. ...followed by a wash of my hair with shampoo...

4. ...followed by a wash of my face with some sweet-smelling herbs
5....followed by a mini-neck massage...
6...followed by...a clean-cut and clean-shaven me!

I was asked to write my name, and was handed a receipt with my name...and a complimentary sweet!

Paying 12ghc (circa US$8.27 ) might have been comparatively more expensive than the erstwhile 7ghc I used to pay with ALLURE SPA, but in a typically-L'Oreal moment...(pre-2000):

I'm worth it! ;-))

Town Traffic in Accra, but Where's the Solution?

2010-08-17T17:24:00.000Z

With the great number of cars on the road, is this phenomenon really that inevitable?

What is curious, however, is the number of roadworthy cars that make it on the road and which go on the road in disproportionate fashion to the number of good roads that are built.

Ghana has seen an increase in well-constructed roads all round the country, but the capital seems to suffer the most when these roads are completed. This is because good roads invite more people with cars to use them, especially because they get to their destination in a hassle-free manner.

What's the science for ridding Accra of a considerable degree of traffic other than...more flyovers??

The Bats of "37", The Sequel: "37 Military Hospital"

2010-08-12T14:14:00.000Z

Remember the Bats of 37?. They're those mammals that don't come out at night, but late evening.

Well, in a rather circuitous manner, I am finally getting to the point of this post--it's about the ever-elusive "37" I keep banging on about. The above post should help clear up matters, but in the meantime, you will find on your left the "Emergency Trauma and Surgical Ward" of the 37 Military hospital. They're still actually building more to this part of the hospital.

This is a close-up of the same department. The first gives you a better panoramic view, and I must say: it's fairly neat.

At a time when the debate over private versus public health care seems to occasionally dominate the news, I want ti emphatically state that 37 military health care is very-much public, but a darn side less expensive and of higher quality than one would expect!

Highly recommended anyday!!

Anyone up for Ghanaian Ironing Boards?

2010-08-09T15:08:00.000Z

Come on now, let's face it: we all iron, don't we? Or at least we have someone do them for us, right?

Whatever views you hold about it,.it a cardinal activity of almost-every household world-wide is this oft-mundane activity.

At a time when it seems like almost every other product Ghanaians have at their disposal is imported, it is refreshing to know that even these boards can be produced by Ghanaians themselves.

I didn't stop to ask how much one is, but I do know that your bargaining skills have to be this side of acute!;-)

Welcome to the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre Site...

2010-08-06T16:50:00.000Z

...even if it is in a flash!;-)

Remember you first saw it here on this blog!;-)

Keep your weekend safe!

"Energy Beach Resort"--Mobile Advertising in Ghana?

2010-08-05T17:20:00.000Z

It's not as if advertising on a car is anything novel even in Ghana.

It's just the manner in which it's been done, and the fact that the car looks a little worse for wear, but the person thought "hey, who cares?"

Only in Ghana indeed!!

Ghana's "Gold Cab" Service Gets a Face-Lift, UK-Style!

2010-07-30T13:18:00.005Z

On February 26, I wrote on my ghana blog "Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen" of the entrance of British Black Cabs landing on the shores of Ghana to be used by the "Gold Cab" taxi service I have been patronising for 4 years now. You can see how it first started--as a white car in 2006. In any event, this is what I wrote in February:

For the past almost-four years, I have been patronising the services of "Gold Cab", located in the centre of town (Kokomlemle). Though I have never been to their head offices, they have always been a phone call away. They are useful because they can go where commercial vehicles are unable to go, because they have WHITE number plates, which are the preserve of private cars (unlike yellow ones that dominate the taxi landscape).

Only this week, their fares per hour went up from GHC10.00 to GHC12.00, which is, respectively, US$6.66 to US$8.00. Not bad per hour, considering normal taxis have now gravitated towards that amount.

What makes them even more special is the fact that the cars are all new, or fairly new (roughly 1-2 years old) and are all air-conditioned. They first started with this fiat in the captured picture in this post, went to TOYOTA YARIS (no funny thoughts, pls!!) some 12 months ago...and will now go to...the Black Cabs of the UK.

Two GOLD CAB drivers have confirmed independently that the British Black Cabs will not be as big as in the UK, and will be converted from right hand- to left-hand drive. Another driver told me yesterday that they are currently at the ports.

I seriously look forward to seeing a slice of British cabbies here in Ghana very soon! If you're ever tempted to patronise Gold Cab's services, let me know and I'll pass you the info. Frankly, their communication strategies are poor. Despite the fact that they have a fleet of some 25 cars (painted in inimitable GOLD), they do NOT have a website!

I am pleased to say that on Tuesday, I was able to finally get to use the British Black Cab-Turned-Gold Cab Ghana! Here are two shots of it. The first picture shows the front, and the second the side.

I found out today that Gold Cab does have a website; I look forward to knowing what it is!

If you're driving this weekend, keep safe--wherever you are!

Busy Baatsona Market!

2010-07-26T16:38:00.003Z

Baatsona follows after the famed Spintex Road, and also has a reputable market (pictured), where you're likely to see--every weekend--much of Ghana's (upper) middle class that lives on the Spintex flock to for relatively-bargain prices of quintessentially-Ghanaian foods!

When Ghana Walks for the Gambia on its "Freedom Day"

2010-07-23T16:20:00.007Z

In a nod and a wink to the story of Ghana's "Media Foundation for West Africa", I am posting some pictures of the demonstration that took place.

I was representing my organisation at the press conference organised by Media Foundation for West Africa yesterday. The objective was primarily to draw attention to the fact that the celebration of "Freedom Day" in fellow West African country of The Gambia was not just ironic, but a misnomer. Not forgetting the fact that 44 Ghanaians had been killed in that country in 2005 (sadly, the Government of Ghana accepted only 6! a few weeks ago), The Gambia has been ruled by a dictator since 1994. The executive and judiciary is in chaos and freedom is under threat. Ghana is priviledged, frankly, to still be considered an "island of peace", developmental challenges notwithstanding...Please find below some pictures I took yesterday that offer a snapshot of the demo.

Demonstrators who sat in at a press conference to mark Gambia's "Freedom Day" get ready to march to Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to dispatch a petition to the Ministry for them to do more about The Gambia's abuse of human rights.

Demonstrators from the press conference walk with the Ghana Police who have to walk behind to ensure all goes smoothly!;-)

Demonstrators march towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration...

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, demonstrators listen to what a Deputy Minister has to say about The Gambia.

Ghana's Police--Serving and Protecting?

2010-07-20T16:46:00.003Z

Ghana's police cars are blessed--their license plates are all preceded by "GP";-)

They're also sometimes blue vehicles. Other times, they're pick-ups--like this one.

As to whether they're serving and protecting, one likes to think they're doing great, thankyou!

That they have a website, which can be reached at http://www.ghanapolice.info/main.htm can only go to confirm that they're well-ensconced in the 21st century.

They're not yet on Facebook neither are they on twitter.

How about it, Ghana Police??

Accradailyphoto.com Returns on 19 July

2010-06-30T17:13:00.004Z

You may have noticed that my blogging has been this side of sporadic. You will definitely notice that for the next two weeks, it will be even more so.

A concatenation of private matters, exigencies, and imperatives have compelled me to be driven to distraction away from this blog for a while.

I will certainly return with a spring in my step the week of 19 July!

In the meantime, you can catch up on Ghanaian celebrations (hopefully we will be URUGUAY!!) during FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 on my ghana blog: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com

There's Only One Place Ghanaians Will be Watching this Evening!

2010-06-23T16:48:00.003Z

Do you really need to ask why?

Accra Markets Have Potatoes, Onions...you Name it!

2010-06-22T16:54:00.004Z

Markets are commonplace for Ghanaians, but increasingly, too, there a good number of these more "sanitised" markets springing up--as the one here off the Spintex Road (towards Baatsona) "Sanitised" because they are rarely located in areas that might pose challenges to the average nose, and as you can see from the picture, the arrangement of market goods are a bit more orderly.

See those potatoes and onions in the picture? They don't come cheap these days! Not quite sure whether it's because of the rains or that things have generally gone upwards, which might be considered strange considering inflation is reported to have gone down...

Despite World Cup Febrility,Tigo Chalks One in Ghana's SIM registration Exercise

2010-06-16T16:01:00.001Z

There I was last week minding my own business--as you do--when I got a call from a strange number on my TIGO mobile number.

After a five minute conversation, the lady on the other side of the line had successfully registered my mobile number -- as per the directive of Ghana's National Communications Authority -- to have one's existing numbers registered, and all new ones done before use.

Despite the noise over the registration a couple of months ago by consumers about implications for privacy and whatnot, I believe they have gotten over it, and are having their SIM cards registered.

TIGO advised me to simply go to to a place like that in the picture and double-check.

Conversely, my MTN wanted me to have my name written in a book and stand in a queue, whereas Vodafone has not even started yet!

TIGO's is what I call customer service!

BTW, Just in case you missed it, GHANA beat SERBIA 1-0 in the ongoing FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. GHANA plays AUSTRALIA on Saturday, and GERMANY on 23rd June.

(Careful) Speeding--not over-speeding--in Accra

2010-06-10T15:56:00.000Z

First of all, it makes a change to enjoy speeding in Accra, as most of the time (read: "weekdays"), commuters and the like are stuck in traffic!

Secondly, the average Ghanaian is wont to say that "over-speeding kills". What they really mean to say is "speeding kills."!

Third point: the National Road Safety Commission likes to inform us through the media that "kill your speed before it kills you."

Well-noted!

Is This the Face of Corporate Ghana?

2010-06-07T16:40:00.001Z

I took this of Mallam, which is a suburb of Accra, not too far from Weija, and very close to the Accra-Cape Coast road.

But it does not look very different from what I encounter in town.

So is corporate Ghana now a country replete with ads from ECOBANK, MTN, Tigo, and other telecommunication companies (telcos)?

Two Thousand Acres of...Sea...in Accra!

2010-06-04T16:15:00.000Z

If you look closely enough, you will spot the inimitable Atlantic Ocean. This is the route that leads to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority

Forgive my exaggeration--not quite sure there are "2000 acres of sea", but I guess you get the picture of it being vast, and so deliciously close to the capital!!

Thanks to 89% Electricity increase, I can emphatically ask: "Where are My Accra Streetlights?"

2010-06-02T16:47:00.000Z

Yesterday, I launched what is to become a series of vituperative pronouncements on Ghana's streetlights--or lack thereof. Just to spare you going to the actual link, this is what I actually wrote:

I was in the Central region over the weekend, and noticed without fail that despite the ubiquity of the beautiful and well-maintained roads, there were no streetlights!

I believe this either remains the bane of contractors who come to Ghana to help us with our roads, or is a reflection of the myopia of our government.

From the Spintex Road (that has undergone a metamorphosis) to the already-well-done Accra-Cape Coast road, how can security ever be maintained without sufficient streetlights? No matter the number of police patrols you have set up, lights have–and will continue to remain–a great deterrent to criminals, both physical and otherwise!

I am not quite sure what else to say, except to say that it is heart-warming to see that there are actually government cars out there that have "Street Lighting projects" emblazoned on them. It is indicative of an effort.

Now, that the Public Utility Regulatory Authority announced 31 May that electricity has gone up by 89%, might we not finally sit up to protest for our streetlights?

A careful scrutiny of our electricity bill reveals that each and every blessed consumer pays an amount towards fire-fighting and street-lighting.

Bottom line: where are our streetlights?

MTN-branded Trees En Route to Ghana Ports & Harbours area

2010-06-01T16:22:00.001Z

The ubiquity of MTN is well-known in the country. You only need to look at the MTN-branded bus-stops in the capital and country (as exemplified by this one here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/01/mtn-can-ghana-2008-almost-here.html.)

But it is really only in Ghana that we take it one step further--to the trees! MTN-branded trees? Whether it's a whim by MTN-crazy fans or a publicity stunt, this is corporate Ghana gone mad, surely!!

Street-Hawking at Night in Accra

2010-05-31T17:27:00.000Z

This is so familiar a sight during the evening on the streets of Accra that we probably don't even see it any more.

These hard-working ladies--that comprise what many would consider "the working class"--eke out a living from working almost 24/7.

Come hell or high water, they are here--and mostly it's the women that persevere. The young men hawk mostly chocolates, and small bites--and usually drop off earlier. This woman was still working around 8.30pm, selling sachet water.

Better than selling oneself, some might say!

(good to be back!)

The Ghanaian Mobile Landscape Will go Green Soon...

2010-05-21T15:41:00.000Z

But when, exactly?

Globacom, Nigeria's indigenous mobile service, started springing up its billboards at the beginning of the year. There was attendant visibility with vacancies advertised around the same time.

Five months down the line, Glo has not commenced operations. It was supposed to have started around 2008; then the last quarter of 2009!

It was as far back as 2008 that it won a licence to operate in the country as Ghana's sixth mobile phone service. It sponsors one of Ghana's football leagues, and finally has an underground cable to enhance broadband access when it commences operations.

Question again, is when exactly will it commence operations?

Avoiding Traffic in Accra?

2010-05-20T16:12:00.000Z

No-one in their right mind would say they love being stuck in traffic, especially when the weather is so sweltering the last thing they want to do is check the temperature!

If you are sufficiently privileged to own a motorbike, traffic-time proves handy, because it's just a matter of not only taking a diversion, but a diversion more easily than the four-wheeled counterparts we like to call cars!

The guy is wearing a helmet--hooray! I am sure the National Road Safety Commission that has been banging on about helmets for motorbikes...might just give him a hug for being a paragon of road virtue;-)

Ghana's British Council Serves up a Good Message...

2010-05-19T16:36:00.000Z

I was at the British Council today to visit a friend, and caught sight of this. I thought it was too good not to capture. Kind of like a Zeitgeist!

The Accra Rains are Back in Town!

2010-05-18T13:58:00.000Z

Good to be back in town after almost 9 days of being outside Ghana. Even better that the rains have followed suit!

Question is--as ever: is the rest of Ghana adequately prepared for the rains? Much of this question animated one private radio station--CITI97.3fm--this morning.

Can we avert the attendant consequences and wretched lives that come in the wake of torrential rain, or will Ghanaians yet again politicise till Death do us part???

Call Centres in Accra are Great, But Who's Patronizing Them?

2010-05-06T16:38:00.000Z

Allow me to clarify when I write "call centres". After all, there are quite a few in Accra.

There's one for electricity, which can be reached at 030.2611.611, and the one featured here is for water; it can be reached on toll-free number 0800.40.000.

I cannot for the life of me understand why from these two utilities, only one would be toll-free.

The electricity one for Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) is considered a hotline, yet one has to pay for it! Last time I looked, these kind of services ought to be toll-free--like that of the Ghana Water Company, managed by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited.

Enough publicity for Ghana Water...I believe my point is well-noted: let's also make the electricity "hot line" toll-free!!

Help! Burning Taxi in Accra Central!!

2010-05-05T17:20:00.000Z

I was near the AU Liberation circle area in Accra this morning to run a quick errand, when I caught sight of this burning car.

It was only turning back to peer at the strange image that I noticed it was one of those ubiquitous double-coloured cars Ghanaians recognise immediately as taxis.

Thankfully, my trusted cameraphone was nearby, resulting in this shot.

It remains unclear what could have triggered it, but there was thankfully no indication of casualties--just tremendous heat emanating even from the distance from where I took the picture!

Indonesian-Produced Rattan Baskets in Accra--Where are the Ghanaian-Made Ones??

2010-05-04T17:12:00.000Z

I saw this basket, which goes for GHC8.50 (roughly 5.8US$). at Palace Shopping Mall on the Spintex Road.

I could not help but take a picture--not just to tell a story--but to run a mini-commentary on Ghana's basket-making industry.

I did a quick search, and read that Rattan Baskets are mostly-produced in Indonesia.

At a time when basket-weavers are creating some 1050 jobs in the Upper East region of Ghana only in April this year, it beggars belief that the Lebanese-owned Palace Shopping Mall is selling Indonesian-made baskets, without a trace of the indigenous, Ghanaian-made ones!!

"Don't Say Water, Say Voltic!"

2010-04-29T15:12:00.000Z

True to form, I'm doing free publicity for Voltic, though I really don't intend to or even need to.

Voltic has been the choice of conferences for many years in Ghana. They've even gone the way of sachet water. Though they occasionally taste funny, they remain a quintessential name for water in Ghana when you want it. They've been around since 1995.

You can read more about the company here: http://www.voltic-group.com/contact_us.html

China in Ghana?

2010-04-27T14:47:00.001Z

I cannot help but wonder whether this picture is not sufficient proof of the pivotal role of China's capital in Ghana?

4th Blogoversary! (Not Your Usual Accra Daily Photo!)

2010-04-26T16:05:00.002Z

Like the blogger himself celebrating his birthday today, this blog is exactly 4 years old, coming to life back on April 25th, 2006--the same year the World Cup in Germany would be played.

Happy Blogoversary, ADP!

"Toyota City" at...the National Identification Authority(NIA)

2010-04-22T16:43:00.000Z

I suspected yesterday's post would far from elicit a response. Beyond the Ghanaian citizen who might be clueless, it was always going to be difficult for anyone to get a sense of where "Toyota City" was located.

Let me get the secret out: it is located at the headquarters of the National Identification Authority. Even the building is yet to be painted as glossily as most of these kind of buildings tend to look, but I must say that it is in a rather large compound, what with the Toyota pickups and all (see the last post).

You might re-call that in February, I experienced a rather long queue waiting to register details for my ID.

Well, this is the place where the cards will be eventually issued. I just checked the website (as the registration throughout the country is incomplete) and the last time it was updated was...20 April! Wow...

Let's keep our fingers crossed for better services from the NIA!

"Toyota Country" in Accra!

2010-04-21T15:43:00.000Z

Just perusing the the kind of cars is pretty boring: mostly full of Toyota pick-ups.

All set against the backdrop of a fast-developing landscape in Accra.

Any ideas where this could be? Any pointers?

After the Elusive Ghanaian Harmattan...

2010-04-14T16:08:00.000Z

...are Ghanaians now supposed to brace themselves for some drought--as claimed by today's edition of the "Ghanaian Times"? The actual story can be found here: http://www.newtimes.com.gh/story/1203.

If you remember, the harmattan lasted barely two weeks.

Climate change a-beckoning?

labels: ghana climate, ghana climate change, climate change, harmattan

Welcome to Ghana's Teacher's Hall (GNAT Hall)

2010-04-12T15:53:00.001Z

A place that is more often than not used by campaigners and others to debate and deliberate.

It is also a reflection of the historical role played by teachers in national development, and is known as "GNAT hall". GNAT stands for the Ghana National Association of Teachers, and they have a website! http://www.ghanateachers.org/.

Truth be told, they're so well-organised they offer financial services!

More here: http://www.teachersfund.org.gh/tf_financial.html

labels: ghana teachers, gnat, gnat hall

Can You Spot the Ghanaian Chief?

2010-04-08T16:19:00.001Z

Earlier this week, British premier Gordon Brown went to see the Queen to request her to dissolve Parliament in readiness for a general election on 6 May.

In Ghana, we don't have a Prime Minister, but a President--who does not need to see any traditional chief before calling a general election. Elections are held every four years, and it is politicians that are wont to curry favours from these chiefs, as they represent a constituency which the politicians would want to capitalise on.

These "chiefs" in the picture--identifiable by their colourful and psychedelic traditional attire (with emblazons of red/gold/green)--are what I would call "member of the traditional class", who are closely aligned with authority figures in the rural areas. Most of these authority figures are usually chiefs in the villages, as they are the ones that citizens wanting to buy land go to seek permission from, etc, and are often turned to for the resolution of conflicts.

Modern Ghana (identified by an increasing youthful middle class) are apathetic to these kind of figures, but in the village, they are seen more than often as paragons of virtue, and icons of deference.

As you can see from these pictures, they enjoy food, too! After all, they are not gods!!

labels: ghana chiefs, ghana chieftancy

(Ghanaian) Food for Thought on Flushing!

2010-04-06T15:24:00.001Z

What can I say?

I hope you have recovered from the Easter break, and are ready to observe some basic tenets of, erm, flushing in a public place!:-)

labels: ghana toilet, accra mall

Ghana Gets New 2GHC note...as Easter approaches

2010-04-01T17:24:00.001Z

In 2007, Ghana had a redenomination of its currency the cedi, which has now become known as the "Ghanaian cedi". It was broken down into 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 GHC. At the time, the 1 US$ was equivalent to 0.92 GHC.

Today, 1 US$ is equivalent to 1.45 GHC, so technically speaking the 2GHC will be equivalent to 1.37 US$

I picked the picture from http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201004/44192.asp. Once I get a copy of my own 2 GHC, I will definitely feature it here.

April sees the 4th celebration of Accra Daily Photo. When the appropriate date comes, I shall be popping the champagne!

Have a great Easter, and keep it safe!

labels: ghana currency, ghana cedi, new 2ghc

Signs of the Ever-Elusive Ghanaian Harmattan...

2010-03-30T15:11:00.001Z

...have found expression on cars, with little particles--some might say granules--of white that looks like sand.

For two days now, however, cars are not experiencing these foreign layers of dust on them; they seem to be back to being exposed to the vagaries of the Ghanaian weather!

Truth be told, I was "loving" my harmattan. I just love the fact that it's like a Ghanaian winter.

Pooh:-(

If you've forgotten what harmattan 2009 looked like, check here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/search/label/harmattan

"Let Who is Smart, Sort it out!", or a Tale of Where Ghana Needs to Go in Waste Disposal!

2010-03-26T15:08:00.001Z

Back in Belgium, you would often see many of these waste-disposal trucks on particular days, reminding you to do the so-called "triage", or sorting out. If you are seeing this here, it is because I took the picture right here in Ghana!

It naturally has to be one of those many second-hand vehicles that are imported into the country.

Whatever the case may be, the issue is clear: Ghana would seriously benefit from such a waste-disposal policy. While you are reading more of how Belgium does it here: http://www.belgium.be/en/environment/sorting_and_recycling_household_waste/index.jsp, allow me to explain very briefly what it is. It's about sorting out METALS / PLASTICS / DRINKS, etc all separately.

Plastics/drink/cartons were often picked up in a turquoise bag on Tuesdays; whereas regular garbage bags (in brown bags) were picked up twice a week. Everything else--like grass from the lawn, etc--had to be taken to a special waste disposal site. which was open to the public almost every day. If you forgot to take your garbage out, you could take it to one of these sites and dump it in appropriate areas.

I believe the title of this entry speaks volumes: "Let Who is Smart, Sort it out!". Wake up, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Environmental Protection Agency!

labels: ama. epa, ghana environment; waste disposal

Bright Lights, Big City of Accra

2010-03-25T17:28:00.001Z

I thought this was an interesting collage of colours. I was trying to capture cars from the review mirror, and ended up catching headlamps instead!

Still, could it be a metaphor for Ghana? Bright future through the prism of our troubled past? or bright future, glowing past?

Perhaps I should leave that for the historians!

labels: accra by night

Belated World Water Day!

2010-03-23T16:12:00.001Z

In commemoration of World Water Day, here are two pictures reminding us of that blue gold none of us could do without.

The pipes are a reminder of some of the travails many, many Ghanaians go through to have a good supply of water into their homes, but how the privatised management that is Aqua Vitens Rand Limited--a South African/Dutch management company--manages manages to not fix the water problem since they took over Ghana Water Company LImited in 2005.

I'm concerned on this day about the role of private management companies that purport to resolve our water problems--how effective are they in the long run? Is it not better to invest money into state-run systems to develop capacity?

labels: ghana water; aqua vitens rand limited ghana, water privatisation

Anyone for Petrol in (Rural) Accra?

2010-03-19T16:19:00.001Z

First, let me define "rural Accra".

That is parts of Accra that are still undeveloped (read: no water; no electricity provision established) and probably taken over by Estate companies willing to charge pretty much an arm and a leg for a plot.

Well, would you believe it if I told you that there are parts of Accra where people still buy petrol this way?

If a picture paints... the proverbial, let me not do proverbs, and let it speak for itself!;-D

Have a good one wherever you may be.

Who Said Ghanaians Cannot Complain?

2010-03-17T17:40:00.003Z

Despite the fairly good-natured attitude of Ghanaians towards life (where those who believe in in something leave it to God, when misfortune strikes), Ghanaians can be as vociferous and articulate as you can imagine.

These two pictures are captured from the DAILY GRAPHIC newspaper of this past Monday and today respectively, and are from the "Letter's Page", which appear on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The first complaint is against one of the telco's in Ghana--TIGO, and the second against ATM provision by a French-Ghanaian bank SG-SSB, where I myself have had a very bad experience with them in November 2007!

labels: ghana banking, ghana complaints, daily graphic

Fighting Crime in Ghana, Here's How!

2010-03-16T15:20:00.001Z

If there is anything you could say about me this month, it is that I have been quite consistent about my coverage of the Ghana Police on Twitter, and by extension, blog platforms.

Yesterday evening, I witnessed a foiled armed robbery that reminded me of the poster I have captured here.

So, first step to fighting crime: KNOW the phone numbers to the police!

labels: ghana police, ghana crime

Even With the Absence of Ghanaian Streetlights...

2010-03-15T16:29:00.000Z

...Ghanaians certainly do enjoy their night-life. This was taken in the heart of Accra somewhere a few weeks ago. Despite the absence of well-maintained streetlights, this did not prevent fun-seekers to enjoy themselves and fill their stomachs at the same time.

I guess it's about getting used to the situation?

Not really: despite serious challenges to life in Accra for a large part of the population, Ghanaians are no longer just "getting by" passively; they are complaining about utilities and service providers.

Later this week, I will show more of some of these complaints.

labels: ghana complaints, accra by night

Not Quite a Free Visa to FIFA2010 World Cup!

2010-03-12T15:23:00.001Z

Despite rather good relations between South Africa and Ghana, it is never going to be so good that they decide to waive visas for us. There are, ofcourse, conditions, and here are the five-fold ones:

Processing for the 90-day visa, which is expected to take five days to complete, starts on April 1 – barely two months away from the world's biggest football festival.

To qualify for a visa,

the fan must possess a valid passport which must not expire by end of the June 11 – July mundial;

have a proof of a return air ticket,

show enough evidence of taking care of oneself for the period of the event or stay,

acquire a ticked voucher from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) or FIFA,

as well as having a proof of a hotel/hostel accommodation.

Ms Lallie advised applicants to show up personally at the High Commission and cautioned them about the activities of potential "charlatans (visa contractors) who could take advantage of the situation to swindle unsuspecting victims."

She dissuaded fans who have the intention of settling in South Africa after the World Cup to disabuse their minds of such plan. "Much as there would be an extremely friendly environment in South Africa, I don't think the authorities are necessarily going to relax or renege on their responsibilities as far as security is concerned," she cautioned.

from: http://news.peacefmonline.com/news/201003/39906.php

What about where you are right now? How difficult--or easy--is it for you to get your ticket to FIFA?

Truth be told, I'm quite happy watching from the comfort of my home (and office, when Ghana starts playing!!)