Roll up! Roll up! (in the Ghanaian Food Market!)

Anyone for some Ghanaian tomatoes and fish? If you're a denizen or a frequent visitor to this country, you cannot miss this sight at the markets. Very often the food is placed in these buckets/containers, and sold as half or full quantities.

Have you made up your mind yet?

Ghanaian Fishmarket Woman Doing it For Herself!

I think it has now become a staple of the perception of Africa that women in the informal economy are stronger than their male counterparts, with their strength being derived from their tenacity and ability to hold on while all around might have quit.

If you look at the relatively carefree manner in which this woman is carrying her fish at the fish market in Akosombo market (see yesterday's post), you can see that not only is she used to it, but she has, insalubrious conditions and competitors notwithstanding, a steely determination to make sure her catch is sold by the end of the day.

Now, if that's not strength of character, what is?!

One of the Beauties of Ghana--Markets!

Although Ghana has embraced the free market model off-and-on like the occasional provision of our electricity(!), under the incumbent administration of the National Democratic Congress (that has tagged themselves social democrats), you are bound to see a fair bit of a mix of the free-market and the State protection.

Truth be told, I am talking about markets of a gastronomical kind! This picture is revealing in so many ways.

Primo, we see that even paragons of discipline like the Fire Service personnel love to patronise the market for fish; secondo, the little girl selling here at a market at Akosombo (just off in the Eastern region, and 1.5 hours from Accra), might just be too small to be transacting such business.

Where's the mother, I wonder? Although it was a Saturday, this is the reality of much of the more "rural" parts of Ghana, where children are seen at markets trying to complement the subsistence of what is most likely the mother and his/her siblings...

"Onyame Bekyre" Market Stall on Accra's Spintex Road

As I was going to work this morning, I was confronted by the sight of two bulldozers -- one on either side of the Spintex road -- doing the necessary grading of the road to expand it to the four-lane the new NDC government promised us.

Almost seven months into the government, this is an exemplification--if ever--of delivering on a long-held promise the outgone government failed to work on.

As Ghanaians keep their fingers crossed for the work to continue apace (and, frankly, where it's at, it would be ignoniminous to stop!), it might be a good idea to remember our market men and women who have stalls all along the said-road. Their livelihoods might just come at the expense of "development"--read: "a reduction in traffic for already-too many cars on the road".

This stall (pictured) is but one of many. Tomatoes are not the only food the market woman lady is selling, though the picture might belie this fact.

I'm all for development, but as they say in this part of the world (and as per the inscription of the market stall), Onyame Bekyre, or God will show the way!

Akwaaba!: A&C African Market...Preparing for National Farmer's Day!

East Legon's A&C Shopping Mall is going places, what with its new-since-July African Market, where it is expected a number of traditionally "African" and Ghanaian items (crafts; food and whatnot) will be sold.

As to whether it will put the indigenous enterprises out of business, only time will tell--but I'll be sure to actively be there--rather than bring you a merely passive view of the market, next time.

For now, have yourselves a good weekend--as tomorrow is Farmer's Day in Ghana, where we award and celebrate our Farmers!

Till Monday!

Welcome to Makola Market!

Given that this is my first post on Makola Market, I am not going to re-invent the wheel--as there are others that have written qualitatively about it, so here's a post from Allafrica.com photo essay:

West Africa's markets are legendary and none more so than the famous Makola market in Ghana's capital, Accra. Run by powerful women traders, Makola is a place where you can buy anything you need - manufactured and imported foods, fresh produce, tools, medicines, shoes, and pots and pans. It's also a place that's good for the soul; its humour and energy will recharge your batteries.

Even Ghanaians who do not live in the capital know about the city's legendary market which has risen like a phoenix from the devastation of a fire more than once.

For visitors, the market conjures up the sights and sounds - as well as the smells and aromas - of West African cookery; the mouth waters as you move from stall to stall, imagining the spread on the table once the shopping is home and the cooking complete!

If you aren't lucky enough to be in a West African city, you can still imagine you're there. Whether you are in New York, Paris or Sao Paolo, Johannesburg, Nairobi or Cairo, click on the link and join Ofeibea Quist-Arcton on a stroll through Makola Market. It will do you good...

enjoy!!