Welcome to Kwame Nkrumah Circle Footbridge...

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

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

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

Ghana's New Holiday--"Founder's Day" (21st September). Dr.Nkrumah's day!

Given that pictures paint the proverbial thousand words, I am going to leave a sampling of some of the headlines from Ghanaian dailies--(from top to bottom): Ghanaian Times; Daily Graphic; Ghana Palaver. I have begun creating a specific album for photo captures of Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, the Founder of Ghana. Monday began the 9-month celebration of the centenary of his life. He must have been something special to have a whole 9 months dedicated to his celebration. The truth?

He was!

He built our Tema motorway in the late 1940s. It still stands strong todqay. He built our Akosombo dam, which still gives us electricity--despite the fact that we are 22.5 million now as compared to 6 million in 1957!

Words are insufficient to explain the man, but the headlines--including the fact that he should inspire the youth--already attest to the greatness of the man. For non-Ghanaians, a quick google search will give you a good insight, but let me leave you with the fact that in 2000, listeners to no less than than British Broadcasting Corporation voted him the Man of the Millenium. Here is the quote back then:

Last December, BBC listeners in Africa voted Kwame Nkrumah, the first head of an independent Ghana their "Man of the Millennium". But although Nkrumah triumphantly led Ghana to independence in 1957, by February 1966 he had been overthrown in a coup and spent the remaining six years of his life languishing in exile.

Return of the Mass Metro Buses on Accra Roads?

A question like that might go some way to do a great disservice to those buses that actually have been plying on the Ghanaian roads, but it was important to ask! Especially because last time the regularity was indisputable, I was posting entries like this here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/02/inside-ghanas-mass-metro-buses.html and http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/10/heres-almost-how-packed-i-was-in.html

Yesterday morning, I needed to go downtown as part of my habitual service to the nation that I am rendering (all will be revealed soon!) alongside my regular work.

Running late, I decided I was going to have to charter a taxi, which would have been rather expensive (around 6-8 ghc, or roughly 4/5 US$). Rather fortuitously, a bus (as referred to above) pulls up, with a sticker by the window "SAKUMONO / [Accra] CIRCLE" [Sakumono is on the Spintex Road, and Circle is really downtown!!], with a young personable lady shouting for customers.

I boarded the bus to a sight of neat buses--very atypical to the tro-tro. I thought these buses had gone out of service this part of Accra!


I would rather coincidentally board this same bus on my way home from work, just across the Accra Mall. The young lady of the morning--looking rather tired--and I would exchange smiles for the very small world I am reminded daily of being a part of!

Whichever transport you take today, keep it safe, and have a great weekend!

Is it that Obvious that Obama's Coming to Ghana?

I spoke to a friend in the States this morning who knew nothing of the visit of Obama to Ghana, but knew of the one to Russia!

Whatever the case may be, as this VOA article maintains, "Ghana's government is running a series of radio ads in anticipation of President Obama's visit".

One ad that has been on the airwaves goes like this:

"First black president of the United States of America, you have become a shining star, and despite the height of your achievement you are still proud to be called a black man. Barack Obama is coming home. He is coming to Ghana, Gold Coast, the center of the world,"

Ghanaians wait with baited breath for his visit!

This rather blurry picture, compounded by the fact that it had rained, was taken last weekend near the famed Kwame Nkrumah Circle.