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

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!!

Busy, Busy, Accra!

I guess you can gauge how "busy" this picture looks, what with the peanut-seller in the brown skirt looking for customers as the tro-tros come in and out of the station at the famed "37" station; not excluding the taxis to the right of the picture with door ajar--ready to call out to potential customers...

gotta run...!

Accra by Night

We get so used to the pictures around us that we oftentimes forget that the night brings a beautiful collection of sounds and sights--like this one--that cannot be emulated during the day.

Despite the reflection of the lights, one can still make out the cars and the streetlights. This was taken some fifteen minutes before 7pm on the '37' road.

The '37' Bats of Accra

Just in case you felt like it was the title of a horror movie made in Ghana, let me quickly dispel any fears--the bats are are a common part of the "37" part of Accra, which, in English means that bats like to hover around the part of Accra known as "37".

I hate to say it, but it's true--this blog has covered this part a number of times, not because I am not very creative, but it's because it's a "happening" part of Accra that many tourists flock to when they first come to Accra. The military hospital--known as "37 military"-- is also located in the environs.

As for the bats, they do not come out at night, but as Abby--a GHANABLOGGING.com blogger rightly says, around 5pm. I do have to say that I captured these ones around 3pm. I guess the bats had a mood swing that day!:-D

Greenery in the Heart of Accra!

Yeah, if you've been following this blog, you'll know that I love greenery. That I have captured it here not only cements my interest in greenery, but also the fact that I am awed that there could be so much green in the heart of the capital;-)

Yes, it is near 37, too!

Welcome to 37 Military Hospital!

Yet-again sporadic access has resulted in a dearth of posts. I cannot apologise enough! I have tried the schedule posting, and for some strange reason, it is not working! I might have to resort to posting by eml, which is not my best way of presenting Accra.

Either way, you may have come across "37" a couple of times on this blog. Commuters and Ghanaians--from policy-makers downwards--refer to it affectionately as '37'. It's a great hangout for young people , and one of the more recognisable places in the capital, on account of the military hospital that is there. Some ten minutes drive away, you get to Burma Camp--home of the military for, what, donkey's years!

Flying High into the Ghanaian Sky

An airplane veers meticulously towards the bright Ghanaian sky this afternoon. I caught it as I stood in traffic, near 37.

...Away it goes!...

Traffic. A Crowd. An Accident. Involving the Ghanaian President

Traffic on the 37 military road

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A crowd

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A police tow van

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a police officer directing traffic

A crowd is able to congregate round a green light, against the backdrop of what looks like heavy traffic

Something's certainly caught the crowd's attention

This is the perfect scene for comment. Some twenty-five minutes before I arrived here from a work-related press conference to see this scene--and take a picture of it--my Mum called me to ask me whether I had heard the news about no less than the President of Ghana John Kufuor being involved in a near-fatal car crash that involved the car somersaulting THREE times, after a car, travelling at top speed hit it.

Here is how Reuters reported it:

Ghanaian President Kufuor involved in car accident - witnesses

Wed 14 Nov 2007, 13:34 GMT
[-] Text [+]

ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghanaian President John Kufuor, chairman of the African Union, escaped unhurt when a car crashed into his vehicle on Wednesday, rolling it over several times, officials and witnesses said.

Presidential Press Secretary Andy Awuni said Kufuor appeared healthy and composed but was undergoing medical checks in the presidential palace to ensure he was not at risk.

Witnesses said a red car coming from the opposite direction struck the president's vehicle at a major intersection near the Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra.


"The car finally rested on the sidewalk and the people around helped his security men to pull him out. The president came out holding his head," James Kobinah, an electrician working nearby, told Reuters.

Awuni said police were investigating the cause of the accident and would question the driver of the red car, who was being treated in hospital. Some other people involved in the accident were also receiving medical attention.

"The picture is not very clear about the accident," Awuni said. "It's a bit strange for the car to run into his car directly."

© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
from: http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN447886.html

This is how Ghana's Joy FM reported it:

President Kufuor escapes unhurt after his car was rammed late morning Wednesday while on his way to his office.

President Kufuor is reported to be in good health and already back in his seat at the Castle, Osu, after he escaped unhurt in a late morning accident on Wednesday.

A man yet to be identified is said to have driven a Benz saloon car straight into that of the President at the Opeibea Intersection on the Airport – 37 Military Hospital road.

President Kufuor was said to be on his way to his office.

According to Mr. Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, those who were injured, including the President’s driver, have been moved to the 37 Military Hospital for medical check-up.

“But the President is doing well. He is right in his seat here at the Castle,” Awuni assured.

Awuni, who described the accident as a strange one, said only two cars were involved but added it was not clear how many people may have been involved. He could also not tell the whereabouts of the driver of the other vehicle and suggested he might be at the hospital or with the President’s security detail.

Explaining why the accident appeared strange, he said usually outriders would be fending off all junctions, which they did, “nevertheless this car came and just ran into the President’s car and of course nobody expects to see an accident so sometimes you don’t get to see how it happens.”

News filtering from the rumour mill as I walked round to take pictures was that the driver was a Lebanese man. The taxi driver who brought me to the office speculated about how problematic it would have been if it had been a Ghanaian that crashed into the presidential convoy!!

Snapshot of Downtown Accra (37)

This is a random shot taken last year of town.

You can see billboards (National Health Insurance); street (on the right), and many other psychedelic signboards.

Yet Another View from a Taxi: Northbound Towards "37"

Seeing as this is my most common form of transport, you will have to indulge me as I bring you--today--another view from a taxi.

This time, a more close-up view, where you can see(as in the sticker) that it's a taxi (see the orange sticker). The location is the other side of the road, where I took the Silver Star Tower picture a while back.