Ghana's CITI-FM wins BBC Radio Award

If it might have escaped you that I am an ardent CITI 97.3 FM listener, that's okay, because here is the van of the station, which I captured last year, when I passed the station.

This radio station (a private, English-speaking one) that started operations in Aug 2004--the same month and year I arrived home in Ghana to work--has been my radio station of choice for the past few years; I've seen its lows and some of its highs, but this is definitely the highest, with the morning CITI Breakfast Show winning the "Best Interactive Show" in Africa.

Here is the story for it. You can listen to the station live on its news station Ghana News Today.

South Africa's "GAME" Store Opens in the Plush Accra Mall

Last Thursday, I chose not to resist the temptation of visiting the "GAME" store that has opened in the plush Accra Mall, occupying some 20,000m2.

I understand GAME is a South African retail store, and is reputedly the biggest. Swell. Now, it's in Ghana, to do business. After many year's experience of shopping at "grande surface" malls like http://www.hypercarrefour.be, this doesn't particularly impress me. I am more concerned about the consumer culture it will begin to create in Ghanaians.

But that's just me!

One article here maintains the Mall is on account of Ghana's growing economy and its growing middle class...

I will certainly be a visitor to GAME, but not a regular one, as it is the other side of East Legon, where I work.

More pictures to come on the location so that one can place it in the context of the famed Spintex Road I keep talking about on this blog;0)

Yet Another Accra at Night Post

Not that it bothers me; far from it! It's just that I am confident that a year from now, I can bring here a picture of Accra by Night...with streetlights!;-)

I've said it before that there are many parts in the capital, where streetlights abound, but I am usually not travelling in those parts with a camera unfortunately! I'll do my best to bring you some of those of well-lit parts of Accra, even if with my mobile phone.

For now, this is a picture, taken from a strategic point on the Spintex Road, where I get to see cars coming and going.

Some are taxis; some private cars; some trucks.

I love the picture of headlights contrasted against a picture of the dark capital at night.

Ghana Police! Wanted: Some Shade, and Rest, Thanks!

It's interesting that Ghanaians in this picture are resting casually under a signboard that says "Wanted By Police", but there you are!

Criminals abound in any country, but does the rest signify any potential apathy towards the police?

No, it's the sun!

Which necessarily makes traders and hawkers in the busier part of the capital feel compelled to rest their bones--no matter where!

Heading towards Traffic...on the Spintex Road

No-one likes going into traffic. Here, I'm the passenger having taken a shot of the taxi-driver who is driving me home towards the Spintex Road, some ten minutes drive from the nation's airport.

I doubt the taxi-driver likes going into it either!!

(As a result of it being Africa Union Day, tomorrow 25 May, I shall be off till Monday. For the first time-ever, I shall post pictures in advance!...and be sure to make it a habit!);-)

Accra--From a Car Rooftop

Life is dull if we habitually ride within the ambit of convention. That's no quote! It's yours truly speaking, and I do believe that.

There's a quote, from the Jerusalem Talmud, that acts as my screensaver for my mobile, and it reads:

"A person will be called to account on judgment day for every permissible thing that he might have enjoyed but did not."

Here are no stunts, but simply me having some fun with my POLAROID digital camera. I stuck my hand out of the window, being very careful not to drop my camera, given the speed my Dad was travelling, and took a shot of the capital of Accra behind us..as we left it for the Central region some two weeks ago.

That strap is from my camera, and I'm sure you can probably see some cars behind us;-)

Welcome to Ghana's Weija Lake Afforestation Project

Can you believe that I didn't even know that the Weija Lake Afforestation Project existed, despite this being en route to my maternal grandmother's hometown, which I have passed many, many times leaving the capital of Accra behind? Just goes to show that we don't always see the fine details;-)

In any event, Ghana's Times paper reported on this, in March 2007, stating that the Weija Lake Afforestation Project was under threat on account...

...of encroachment by land developers, felling of trees and fishing.

More specifically, the report went on to say how

Thirty six out of the 214 hectares afforestation project area have been encroached upon and willfully destroyed by developers, Simon Ashton, Finance Director for West and Central Africa of the British American Tobacco, disclosed on Monday at the handing over of the project to the Water Resources Commission in Accra

Whatever interest British American Tobacco has in this project is a source of confusion, for last time I looked they were interested ini propagating the selling of cigarettes, no?

As for the Water Resources Commission listed above, a google search revealed from an EDIE.net website that the commission was established in 1998:

Ghana establishes Water Resources Commission (20 November 1998)

Ghana's Minister of Works and Housing, I.K. Adjei Mensah, has inaugurated a 14-member Water Resources Commission (WRC) to create a mechanism for water resources assessment, sustainable management, an effective regulatory framework and the authenticity to enforce compliance of laws in the sector.

These are some of the serendipitous discoveries that come out of taking photos of your country haphazardly;-)

I love Ghana!

Typical Ghanaian Traffic Scene--Pop Quiz

There are many scenes in any capital that we see so many times we take for granted. I though in the interests of creativity, I'd offer a pop quiz...with answers to follow later.

1. Why does that white mini-van have a yellow number plate, when most number plates--of private cars anyway--are white?

2. Why is that car behind van in double colours? Did it go through a time warp back to the seventies when outrageous and psychedelic double colours were, like, the in-thing? (so my parents tell me!)

3. Apart from begging, what do you think the guy in the green shirt (to the right of the picture) could be doing?

clues:

http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/11/so-accra-so-platitudinously-african.html

http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/06/world-cup-febrility-part-ii.html

enjoy!

Oh, and answers in comments, pls:-)

Traffic in Front of Ghana's National Theatre

Downtown traffic in Accra...in front of the National Theatre, which is shaped like a boat. A very inimitable design...


Here's another aspect of it.

I will be sure to obtain a BETTER picture of the National Theatre in another post.

Have a good weekend!

Ghana's Independence Arc

This is a snapshot of Ghana's independence arch, which overlooks the Atlantic ocean, and is currently the secretariat of the Ghana@50 secretariat managing the Ghana at 50 celebrations throughout the year.

It is an inimitable design that has stood the test of time, having witnessed more developments than anyone can imagine, including this event: a Standing Tall Against Poverty event, organised by OXFAM in September 2005 here in Ghana.

Good and Straight Ghanaian Roads Invite...

Well, they invite pretty much anything, but, like, the proverbial straight road anywhere, it invites speed.

We all know speed kills, but motorists need it drummed into them that a road this beautiful, and replete even with greenery on both sides is as bound to kill you if you fail to--as they say in Belgium--lever le pied, or lift that foot off the accelerator!

This picture is a snapshot of the Accra-Cape Coast road that links the Greater Accra Region to the Central Region of the country. It also forms part of the Trans West African Highway Network, which I referred to yesterday

Travelling Safely on the Ghanaian Roads, Onetouch Reminds Us to Drive with Care

My absence from here was due in part to a funeral I had to attend in my maternal grandmother's home town. Now, this town is some 1.5 hours away from the capital by road, and forms part of what has now become known as the Trans West African Highway Network, supposed to connect some of the West African countries together

[- Damane (Liberia border) 26 km in Côte d’Ivoire ;

- Bloloquin-Toulepleu-(Liberia border) 64 km - Côte d’Ivoire

- Ganta-Tappita-Douanes Tobli-Blay (Côte d’Ivoire border): 15 km in Liberia ;

- Bandajuma-Zimmi-Mru Bridge (Liberia border) : 97 km, in Sierra Leone ;

- Freetown-Pamelap (Guinea border : 126 km, in Sierra Leone;

- Boke (Guinea) - Quebo (Guinea Bissau) : 206 km

- Akatsi/Dzodze (Togo border): 31 km in Ghana ;

- Noepe-Hilla Condji (Benin border) : 80 km, in Togo. ]

In effect, the so-called Trans-West African Highway Network has been comprehensively completed since last week, prompting joys that the ECOWAS link-up is becoming more of a reality.

Sadly, it's coming at a cost, as exemplified by last Thursday's eerie accident that involved two articulators travelling at top speed in opposite directions; the helping of Ghanaian motorists of passengers of an overturned bus (comprising West Africans from Cote d' Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, Nigeria and Togo) resulting in their deaths as the second articulator hit them at top speed (after having lost control). Altogether, seven vehicles were involved in the very sad loss of lives that claimed 40 people.

The road on which this happened goes to one of Ghana's premier tourist regions--the Central Region, where there is much more greenery than in the capital of Accra.

The roads are so good and so speed-inducing it's not funny. Regrettably, badly-educated and opportunistic (not to mention tired) articulator truck drivers take advantage of these good roads and act as death merchants.

To remind Ghanaian motorists of the importance of preserving lives, my favourite network, Ghana's mobile network--Onetouch--has erected billboards throughout the highway that spans several kilometres, reminding drivers not just they can connect to ONETOUCH in the area they have passed, but that "life is precious, drive with care".

A publicity stunt, notwithstanding, it's important to read that as you cruise from one region to the next.

(May those West Africans who lost their lives, as well as those Ghanaians who stopped to help them, ending up killed, rest in perfect peace)

Apologies...but I am back!!

I was compelled to ask for a few days off on account of preparations for a funeral.

 

Regular posting is resumed as of today!

 

 

Thanks for your patience!
 

Need your Windscreen (in Accra) Cleaned?

I think I can already see some people shifting uncomfortably as this guy approaches towards the car. Not to worry: it's a regular refrain in Accra's traffic, sometimes, in some parts of town.

These guys are only trying to make a quick buck, but doing something to force you to give them a buck. In this case, a cedi;-)

Better than being an armed robber, no?

this picture was taken some five minutes drive away from the country's main airport in Accra

Chicken Run à la Ghanéen!

You should be so lucky!

It's not quite an exotic name for a fancy Chicken dish made in Ghana--yet.

See the rocks on the pavement. To the immediate right of that is some small greenery, and just near that greenery is a vestigial shape of what looks like a chicken--and, in fact, is a chicken.

Greenery is no stranger to Ghana, or this blog, but I have got to add how quizzed I was by this roving chicken. Did it escape someone's soup, or something? As I write, it's still trekking the neighborhood, and running away from small lizards and whatnot that live in the area!

Ghanaians are Nuts!...

...about cashews:-)

I took this picture after I virtually devoured this bag of cashew nuts, which is going at ç10,000 (Ghanaian cedis) or just under $1.00. Even for Ghanaians, cashews are rather prohibitive, or expensive. If you really think about it, this small bag, with some fifty cashews or so is priced this way, so you can imagine what a slightly bigger bag may attract, by way of price!

I found out that from 16-19 April, Ghana celebrated Cashew week, and there's plenty on the website of what is actually a cashew association. The length of the name of the association is sufficient to put you off alphabet soup...with plenty of cashew nuts in them;-): Cashew Processors and Exporters Association of Ghana (CAPEAG).

The theme of the week was "Cashing in on Cashew". You can read more about it on their website here: http://www.ghanacashewproducts.com/about.html.

Either way, here's a hot fact you might not have known:

Cashew is an important tropical crop because of its nuts which is the real fruit. It provides a valuable kernel which ranks third in world nuts economic importance after almonds and walnuts. World demand for raw cashew nuts in 2005 was 1.75 million metric tonnes with a supply of about 1.4 million metric tonnes. Ghana exported 47,962 metric tonnes in 2006 earning US$ 24 million. This figure is considered very small when compared with world excess demand of 430,000MT of raw nuts, valued at US$270 Million, and growing at a rate of 5-8% per annum

Anyone, now, for cashews?

(a belated MayDay!)

Sporadic Posts...

Sorry for the absence. This week will prove to be a difficult week time-wise, not just because I am turning thirty on the 26th April (hint, hint!), but other work-related factors...

B here sooner than you think!

Thanks for your understanding!

Ghanaian Shot in the Dark? (A Tale of Unlit Roads)

Not quite! Just a headlight on a dark -- and unlit -- road in Accra. This is not to say that our major roads and otherwise are unlit, but there seems to be a visceral dislike by our two past governments of well-lit roads, which probably explains why the streetlights that were erected on the Spintex Road remain, after four months, veritably unlit!

Apologies for a two-day absence.

I wish you all a Happy Friday and weekend!;-)

Ghana's Re-denomination Gains Speed

Two Fridays ago, Ghanaians woke up to the news that the Bank of Ghana had launched a new website on the re-denomination of the currency, scheduled for July 2007.

Getting to work, I checked Joy FM's website on the article, a story culled from the Ghana News Agency about the initiative. It was great to see the Bank of Ghana, in a manner reminiscent of the flyer it sent out in January with copies of the Daily Graphic.

By clicking http://www.ghanacedi.gov.gh, you are exposed to a fresh, rather hip webpage that is replete with funky graphics and bold colours that are pleasing to the eye. There is a download page, where you can download videos of the now-very-popular jingles all over radio and tv. The refrain is no longer recondite:

"There is no change in value, the value is the same"

The video can be downloaded on the page listed above, along with a few other less popular jingles.

Cars Stand Attention: Traffic Wardens in Sight!

See the man, wearing white uniform, to the right of the picture? He is one of many traffic wardens, from Ghana's MTTU, or Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

Here, he is directing traffic exactly the lane down, where this picture was taken, near the airport.

Happy Easter!

There will be no posting from tomorrow up until Monday!

Happy Easter to all my lurkers and visitors!

May the good winds of April blow your way!:-)

A mardi!

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

"Sunday World" : Ghana's Sunday Paper

In fact, this is the edition of last two week's Sunday World--a not so original title for a Sunday paper, but, hey, what can you do?;-)

It's been running for a few months now, and judging by last week's edition, the pages are growing by the week! This past week's edition was a good 31 pages.

One big snag is that for a lot of Ghanaians -- irrespective of whether they go to church or not -- getting the paper on the day that it would be great to read is not always possible, on account of not so-well-planned areas that make delivering Sunday papers problematic. That is to say, it is only in well-established estates that delivery is less difficult, because the planning is far better.

Streetnames do exist, ofcourse, but our rather tumultuos past put paid to a more concerted and wiser way of organising how to get to particular places without homorously saying : pass the blind beggar on your left, and turn left at the green mansion. Make sure you pass the barking dogs, and turn right at the shoe-seller who squats behind the filling station;-)

oh, Ghana!

More new buildings in East Legon

Last year, this building was not erected in East Legon. A year later, follwing the trend of many other buildings being established by individuals for Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebrations, and the increasing number of tourists trouping into the country for those celebrations, as well as Ghana's hosting of CAN 2008, or the Africa Cup of Nations in Jan 2008, many buildings are set up to respond to the needs of consumers.

This one includes a bookshop (Christian), and an eaterie. That's to the right, where you can see the two red parasols;-)

Apologies....

 

…yet again. Will post some piccies tomorrow! Thanks!

A Snapshot of the Inside of BusyInternet, Ghana

This is a picture of a colleague, but the bigger picture is that of the inside of Busy Internet. This space is further down Africa's biggest Internet cafe.

The red you see on one of the computers there to the left is the stock-in-trade colour, as it were, of BusyInternet, as all of its advertising leaves NO red out;-)

You can visit their website here:http://www.busyinternet.com, and be prepared to see plenty of the red colour;-)

Ghana Police: Someone's Always Protecting and Serving

Not to get paranoid here, but it stands to reason that on occasion, the police force stop on shoulders and pavements in the capital to ensure that our fellow citizens are driving the right way, and following the regulations of the road.

This particular police van is so inimitable it's not funny: a big van, provided by the French government (therefore the van being of French origin--most likely a Renault or a citroen)and painted -- what can I say?--police blue;-))

Whilst I am at it, let me just provide you with an insight into Ghana's police force. As far back as 2004, they were running a website which, very unimaginatively, is called http://www.ghanapolice.org;-)

Welcome to Ghana, Bye-bye, Togo / Au Revoir Ghana, Bienvenue le Togo!

West Africa has some of the most porous borders in Africa. A legacy of colonialism you could say. The bright side is that it has helped foster and facilitate regional integration--as exemplified by the West Africa regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a fifteen-member bloc that has been in existence since 1975. Togo is also a member, and in this picture, after having being dropped off by a colleague's family, back in 2004, I took this picture to capture how really fluid the Togo-Ghana border was.


See those people walking into and through that arch? That territory there is...Togo!! and the area where the 4X4 is...Ghana! The Black star on the arch, like Ghana's flag could be construed as an indication that you're in anglophone Ghana!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Images of Ghana President John A Kufuor in the UK on State Visit

Well, these are not exactly pictures as I wasn't in London myself, but pictures captured by my digital camera of TV images from Ghana's state television GTV. Sue me!;-) This is Westminster, UK, as you might have surmised, and you can see one of the quintessential landmark that typifies the UK: the Big Ben. I fyou look closely enough at the image capture, you can see the ticker scrolling from righ to left with the words :you are watching a live coverage of..."
this image, regrettably, is not as clear as I would've wanted it to be, but let me just say that it provides a vignette--of sorts--of Ghanaians in the UK watching the Queen of England move graciously, albeit geriatrically, with the Ghanaian president.
Finally, this image shows both UK and Ghana flags (can you see the red-gold-green of the Ghana flag?)lined up one after the other on both sides of that famous road near the Palace, and ,with a motoracade I could only describe as UK-protocol-engineered-yet-formidable. The road is so famous I forget the name...;-)

Apologies--yet again--for the lack of posting, but the sporadic nature of the Net has been so bad it's not funny. Please bear with me, and have a great weekend in the meantime!!

Waiting for Godot?: A Typical Ghanaian scene...

Despite the Jubilee and the celebrations, life still goes on. This is why you will find scenes like these, where Ghanaians from all walks of life wait patiently to board the so-called tro-tro bus, which is a very cheap--albeit dangerous--way of commuting;-)

For an overview of different modes of transport available for commuters, please check this link here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

A Snapshot of Ghana, Three Days after Jubilee!

This is just opposite where I work, where we find, it is a hotel--fully-booked--for the next month or so, on account of the Jubilee celebrations.

The flags flying are: Kenyan; Ghanaian; Nigerian; Ghana@50 flag; Cote d'Ivoire; British (not in that order)

Have a great weekend! I have set up a blog for those who might want to check out some of the videos I captured on my digital camera of the celebrations. There are three there already, including that of the Duke of Kent addressing the Parliament of Ghana. Check it out here: http://myghanaat50videos.blogspot.com

Toodle pip!!

Happy Birthday, Ghana!: You are 50(Fifty)!!!

The front of Monday 5 March, 2007's Daily Graphic's cover...


...certainly a cover/an edition to keep for posterity!

Happy Birthday, Mother Ghana!! You are 50 (Fifty)!

As I won't be in tomorrow, given it being a statutory holiday, as well as the subsequent day, I am posting this for 6 March.

Happy Jubilee!!! This is a cover of the latest edition of New African. The cover is, well, not surprising. It dedicates a good 45 pages, including the odd advert, but almost fifty anyway(!!) to Ghana!

Enjoy!!

PS Just one thing: Nkrumah, in fact, said "Ghana, our beloved country is free forever" Now, unless, New African did not have that in quotes, it could be accepted; otherwise it appears the "Greatest African" who ever lived might have said that...

Ghana's Electricity Crisis: Some Relief?

Many apologies for not having been able to post on Friday, but -- yet again -- we got a case of sporadic reception of broadband internet:-(

Either way, I'll definitely do my best to provide some more pictures throughout the day to make up for those two days.

This picture here is nothing exotic: a mere capture of the front of country's Daily Graphic of last week's edition, when the nation was informed that the country will experience no black-outs on the scale of this, when the load management programme for the nation to conserev energy began, back in August 2006.

So far, apart from a short "brownout" yesterday where I live, it's been pretty consistent. Fingers crossed!

Countdown is less than 24hours for our Jubilee!!!

One of Ghana's Pleasures: Buying (key) Groceries...from the Roadside (in Eastern Region)

Yes indeed! It is one of the pleasures of travelling through the country, where prices are bound to vary on groceries like tomatoes, onions, etc--essential ingredients for the quintessential soups that Ghanaians like to drink;-)

Here, en route to Accra from Volta Hotel, in the Eastern region in January 2006, after a work-related trip, a couple of colleagues stopped down from the bus to buy tomatoes to take to Accra, on the one-hour journey back to the capital.

PLease feel free to re-visit the video I posted about the beautiful greenery that characterises that part of the Eastern region, here:http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/06/video-commentaryakosombo-commentary.html

Spintex Road Flowerpots, Anyone?

One of the greatest mysteries of living in Accra is the capacity for Ghanaians to display expensive products -- like these flower pots -- outside, and gather them all meticulously at night, covering it with something or other for the next day, without being too scared that at night, someone might come and whisk it away! And if that paragraph is this short of too long, sue me! 'Cos I don't understand!

Sometimes, you get vendors selling sofas--yes, leather sofas--in this same environment. Evidently, when the climate is less clement, as in when the rainy season sets in from July-October, selling in this risk-averse way might be problematic. Either way, the Ghanaian capacity to "arise and surprise" is kicked in when conditions change;-)

(btw: many thanks for all those who commented on the music on this blog!;-) )

Welcome to Ange Hill Hotel, East Legon, Accra: Are you prepared for some green?

I've been here a couple of times. The hospitality is typically Ghanaian, but the speed with which things are done is the questionqble part, especially when it comes to getting your food.

You might be interested in taking a stroll round the grounds of this most-green of hotels (that contrasts beautifully against the greenery of East Legon!;-) )whilst you wait for your order!;-)

All that being said, the rooms are very cosy and comfortable; and the beds are comprehensively inviting!

Be careful, though, as you might just bump into film crews; it's a great location for Ghanaian soaps!

Alternatively, you could just check out their website here: http://www.angehillhotel.com/.

Have a good weekend!!

Miklin Hotel at Night: What a Difference Tungsten Makes

The title says it all: this is Miklin Hotel of Feb 20, 2007 fame (below), but this was taken with a "normal" frame--i.e.with a flash from a distance of around 200metres (if you count standing behind the gates of the hotel and the front that many metres;-) )...

...whereas this particular picture was taken with a tungsten style on my Polaroid digital camera. How do you find the difference? The blue looks very elegant, in my view...

Welcome to Miklin Hotel, East Legon, Accra!

I figured since some of you may not be able to be in the country to celebrate Ghana's Jubilee Year, I would bring you a snapshot of some of the hotels, as a way for you to live vicariously through the pictures on how the experience of these hotels might be like. Today is the start of these occasional posts, and this is of Miklin Hotel, located in East Legon--a few metres walk away from my office;-)

The staff at this hotel are very friendly, but the food at the bar takes quite a bit of time to arrive. It serves everything from local Ghanaian dishes (jollof, fried rice, banku and tilappia) to sandwiches and chips, with any dish you like.

Welcome to EZI-Shop!

As Ghana moves progressively towards a cashless society, where an increasing number of consumers use ATMs, more of these so-called EZI-shops will be popping round Shell Shops in the capital and beyond. And more we need! They are hosted by ECOBANK, the indigenous West African bank, that is linked to the classic VISA platform.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Chocolate Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! or, if you're in Ghana today, Happy Chocolate Day!. The Ministry of Tourism a few weeks ago decided to designate Valentine's day as Chocolate Day, as a way of ensuring that we, Ghanaians, patronize our chocolate.

According to the latest statistics from the UK-based International Cocoa Organisation, Ghana is the n#2 top producer of cocoa in the world. Even despite the coup of 2002 that hit the West Africa country of Cote d'Ivoire, the country remains the top producer, producing between 2005-6 1,387 thousand tonnes of cocoa, against Ghana's 740 thousand.



This article in USA Today on how Young Ghanaians [have been] smitten with holiday pretty much sums the whole picture up.

Advertising for free in Ghana! (Well, almost), with Weekly Donkomi

While it is fair to say that there are a slew of newspapers in the country that advertise, I am sure we can all surmise that the advertising is for a fee. Whether the amount is affordable or not is a moot point, but point is taken that there is that space.

Well, today, I bring you the first -- at least in this country -- of a newspaper that will be sold for ç4000 (4000 cedis), or 4000/9100, or just under $US0.43(43 cents) for almost 12 pages of free-ly submitted adverts, ranging from classifieds to cars to whatever you can think of!

Hooray for the (Ghanaian) consumer!

JB Danquah Circle in Accra (Ghana is 50!)

By way of celebrating Ghana's Jubilee year, here's a picture of the Danquah circle, located some metres away from Osu, Oxford Street--a very popular part of the capital for both Westerners and Ghanaians alike.

J.B.Danquah was a member of the so-called "Big Six", who spearheaded the country's independence. He is also considered by some Ghanaians as the "doyen" of Ghana politics. He is, regrettably, also implicated by some to have been involved in what some consider apocryphal--or questionable--accounts of the overthrow (collusion with CIA) of the first president of Ghana, Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, in 1966.



Here's a picture of the website, where you can find more info on the "Big Six"...


whose pictures grace our 10,000 cedi bill, which by July 2007, would be equivalent to almost $US1.00.

Inside Ghana's Mass Metro buses

Just like any other bus, right?;-)

Had a Bad Day? This Video Clip might Just Fix it!

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Thanks to Live Africa, the blog of an expat living in Ghana, for amusing me no-end with this post. Spread the love with this video.

Seeing as Youtube and Video posting is all the rage these days, I think I might just follow fashion;-)

Have a good day!

The Spintex Road has Traffic Lights!!

I took this picture last week from a taxi. I wanted to capture the Spintex Road, as well as the erection of the traffic lights there. Now, all we have to do is to wait for them to be lined ALL the way on the road, as well as light up!!;-)