Demolished House in Accra

As the Accra Metropolitan Assembly courts controversy for its decision to pull down some slums in the heart of Accra, I thought it timely to snap this picture to convey the mood.

Strange Signboards near Accra-Tema Motorway...Shame on Corporate Ghana!

I love the Accra-Tema motorway--and not just because it's Ghana's historical legacy to its people, having been established since 1964 by the BBC's greatest African of the twentieth century Dr.Kwame Nkrumah.

It's the route I like to take to cross to the the much-blogged-about Accra Mall--every day after work.

I decided to catch these signs for one reason--the bottom line.

These signs advertising BARCLAYS BANK; MTN; and PIERRE CARDIN are so out of place and out of touch it's not funny. The route is calling for a foot bridge so desperately, as an increasing number of Ghanaians--and foreigners--use that very convenient shortcut to cross from Accra Mall to East Legon.

Instead of authorities of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly realising [is that what local metropolitan authorities do?] that there are serious risks and dangers associated with the Accra-Tema motorway, it seems like they want accidents before they do something about it. Even then, I wonder.

I point the finger primarily at the AMA; and secondly to the above-mentioned companies that are seeking nothing more than the bottom line! You don't mind Ghanaians taking risks to cross the road to MTN or whatever, yet you are less inclined to advocate safety first!

Shame on you three!

(Nana Yaw, I appreciate your discerning eye for my paradoxes--I guess this takes the biscuit!)

No Photoshop Job in East Legon

With the tremendous number of imge-edittors out there, it would have been rather easy to get a picture of a wall, and have this "for sale" sign, of sorts, written on it.

Just that, it's no (Adobe) photoshop job; it's a very real picture of an expression by someone for anyone to buy guinea pigs and ducks from them.

Last time I looked, "banners" like these were done properely. Properely done, it requires a permit from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly that regulates the posting of such signs.

Fancy that! It has a website that is updated regularly!

Orders from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly!

Got anything to post in Accra?

Remember--you saw this notice from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly here first!!

Have a good weekend!

Ghana Taxis -- Security Embossment Exercise A-Ok!

See that "912" embossment on the side of the picture of that taxi (which I didn't take)? Well, it's a security number provided by a private embossment company for taxi drivers in the metropolis by the capital of Ghana's metropolitan assembly, or Accra Metropolitan Assembly, also known as AMA.

A Ghana government document online outlines some of AMA's responsibiities:

While it cannot be denied that waste management is high on the agenda of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly under the new Mayor, other critical issues are also of serious concern.These include the resolution of chieftaincy disputes, the mobilization of revenue to tackle various development projects and the enforcement of discipline as regards conformity or otherwise to the bye – laws of the A.M.A.
from http://www.ghana.gov.gh/dexadd/feature/taatolai.pdf

Guess what? It has a website, that has some interesting pictures, but is under construction. You can click it here