It's Not the Taxi; It's the Bank! (Ghana Commercial Bank)

...that most interests me. It's Ghana's largest Indigenous bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank.

Their customer service might be nothing to write home about, but they've been in operation--and existence long, long before I was born! Actually, since 1953, when it was established. It is also the only bank in the country that has networks and branches throughout Ghana's ten(10!) regions:

Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd. established in May 1953 for Ghanaian entrepreneurs, is now the largest indigenous Bank with 133 branches nation-wide. Our objective among others is to support the private sector and facilitate the nation's economic growth

Have a good weekend!

Welcome (Akwabaa) to GOIL Filling Station!

This is what it says on its nicely-designed website here:http://goilonline.com/web/contents/about/index.php

Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) was established on 14th June 1960 under the Companies Ordinance (CAP 193) as AGIP Ghana Limited with AGIP S.P.A of Italy having 855,000 shares and SNAM SPA also of Italy with 95,000 shares. On the 16th December 1968 the 95,000-shares were transferred to Hydrocarbons International Holdings of Zurich. The Company is now fully owned by the government of Ghana which acquired it in 1974. Ministry of Energy represents the government in all its dealings with the Company

I have always wondered why filling stations have websites, but I guess in these days of one, they wonder "why not"? Either way, I have to admit that it's rather fortuitous that I should find this on my desktop somewhere, because three years back home, working professionally, and here I was totally oblivious to this website!!

This picture was taken on the Spintex Road

The "Nanteyie" you see means "drive safely, goodbye!"

Red Royal Poinciana Trees in Accra?

Thought that would get your attention! Actually, there are many of these trees in the capital, Accra, and they bloom around May, when I took this picture--way back in 2005.

I'm unsure of the name--can anyone enlighten me?

15/8 update: Thank you, Ann! (from:http://mobaydp.blogspot.com/2007/07/flamed.html These are Poinciana Trees)

Beautiful Sunset on Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange

This is what I call "soul-food"!

Happy weekend!

Up Close and Personal...at the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange

This was, at least, the scene of serenity that greeted me yesterday evening, as I walked to get a taxi heading for the Spintex Road.

Boy was I in for a surprise, when up above, I would wait for a horrendous 1.5 hours before catching a Spintex-road-bound cab!

So, why the serenity, and free-slow this side on a Wednesday that is rarely traffic-free this side? Could it be the children on vacation?

Other photos of Tetteh-Quarshie:http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006/07/going-to-tetteh-quarshie-interchange.html

Spider Plants Eat their Heart Out in Accra!

These plants rarely need that much water to survive, and so it's little surprise that you'll find many of them littered around the capital of Accra!

Careful not to come too close, though!

Who Says African Children Cannot Read?

Ofcourse, I don't think anyone has ever said that, or even made that assumption. The usual spiel is that Africa is... (choose your negative tag).

I am not making any political statement here, except to say that I think this interesting and spontaneous picture I took a few weeks ago, whilst waiting to have my shoe fixed from a nearby shomeaker, diproves the fallacy and perception (including my own!) that African children aren't keen to learn!

Ghana's Flagstaff House Shrouded in Controversy

As far as my searching has gone, there exists no coherent entry on what the Flagstaff House is in Ghana. Even wikipedia has no entry on it--except the one in Hong Kong, which bears the same name.

Suffice-to-say, it was supposed to be the seat of government, as prescribed by the our first President Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah. However, off-late, it has been the subject of controversy, because Stanbic Bank--the very bank that wants to take over the shares of Ghana's only Agricultural Development Bank is now providing a loan for the re-construction of Flagstaff House. All this against much criticism from the minority National Democratic Congress in Parliament.

Now, please follow this logic:
1. Stanbic Bank wants to buy off Ghana's Agricultural Development Bank (responsible for providing micro-financing for farmers in the country)

2. Against the backdrop and furore against the purchase by Stanbic, it decides...

3. to provide a loan for the re-construction of Ghana's seat of government

Do I smell

desperation

by Stanbic to profit from Ghana here?

Certainly, not in my name, thankyou!!

Near the Airport, More Buildings Spring Up

Are there too few or too many trees near the airport?

Ghana Cedi is Here! Of Serendipity and Virtue, Accra-Style!

The Ghana cedi may be here...but so is a blogger-cum-visitor-of-this-blog in town! She goes by the name of peculiar virtue, and she left a heart-warming post in the previous post.

It's truly serendipitous, or fortuitous, or lucky, for her to have chanced upon this blog a while back, and be visiting this country shortly after. Welcome PV!



In the meantime, let me present to you the NEW Ghana cedi. The pictures here are of the front and the back respectively (depending on what you consider the front, ofcourse!!). This new 20Ghana cedi (GHC20,00) is equivalent to old ç200,000 (two hundred thousand cedis). It is also equivalent almost to $20.00. In fact, if $1.00 is now GH0.92, or 92 Ghana pesewas (smallest denomination in coins), then we're looking at $21.73

Ghana has entered a new financial dawn--or so we are led to believe;-)

Remember this story? It might refresh your minds on the new currency;-)

Post Resumption at Last!: A&C Shopping Mall at Night

I took this picture with a SAGEM myx-7 phone in 2005. It was a late evening, around 6.45pm. I am including this detail just to say that go there any day around that time, and you will see a similar view. Nothing has changed that much, except new buildings round the back of the mall.

What I particularly like about this picture is the contrast of colours versus the contrast of the upstairs versus the downstairs.

(it's good to be back!--my computer is now virus-free. Wa-hey!)

Sporadic Posting for a while

We may have passed the middle of the year already, and every one might have forgotten how close to Christmas we are all getting. I raise this issue, because it strikes me every day, off-late, that time is running out for the numerous things we want to do.

 

Blogging offers a grand escape from the realities of life, and I am not about to stop it soon.

 

Suffice-to-say, whether it's about Venezuela getting goose-bumps from the friction of leaving MERCOSUR for a better alternative; me getting late with the writing of my novel; appreciating beautiful parts of Accra by way of pictures I have taken--but not yet posted--or pontificating about some of the challenges of living and working in my ever-so-beautiful country of Ghana, I shall blog about it.

 

Just that: next week, as this week has proved to be, I shall be a bit busy.

 

Internet provision that has remained this side of sporadic, coupled with a battle against viruses--both computer-related and otherwise--has been the bane of my blogging, but I shall definitely recover the week of the 23rd of July.

 

You can for sure expect more soapboxing from then!

 

have a good weekend!
 

Waste Management, Ghana-Style!

(May I take the opportunity to say that a combination of sporadic internet access and seriously hectic period, compelling me to be multi-tasker-of-all-things-but-blogging has created the vacuum of posting!)

Zoomlion is a waste management company that has been operating in the country for a while. This is what its very well-designed website says:

Zoomlion Gh. Ltd is an affiliate of Zoomlion China produces of quality and durable waste
management equipments which has over 50 years experience in the waste management
sector.
Zoomlion Gh. Ltd is clearly focused on delivering quality waste management solution by
providing solutions that rely on ongoing technical innovations that respect the environment. read more
from: http://www.zoomliongh.com/

I am telling you this, because when you look closely at the picture, you will see, to the right of the picture, some chaps in yellow hats, just in front of the guy with the fluorescent orange top. These are the waste management people under Zoomlion.

And when I say "under", it's interesting, because in fact, I noticed that the words "AMA", or Accra Metropolitan Assembly, was written under the words ZOOMLION. I suppose it's there as evidence of approval by AMA for Zoomlion to clean the streets in Accra.

This picture was taken just some metres away from the 37 military hospital, anad not to far from Flagstaff House--the official residence of the first President Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah.

A Snapshot of "Hotel Kufuor"

Anecdotal evidence has it that this nice-looking hotel belongs to the incumbent President's son. Elsewhere, they say it actually belongs to him! In 2005, a scandal borke out over this, and made headline news for weeks. Today, we officially know and accept it as the African Regency Hotel. In most Ghanaian minds, they know what they think!;-)

Good weekend!

The Reason for the One-Week Absence--In Pictures!: When Africa Meets in Accra!

Welcome to Ghana, and the Ninth Session of the African Union--In your face!

...in perspective!

Welcome to Ghana!: The African Union Summit is Here in Accra!

Well, almost. The Ninth Edition of the African Union Summit Head of States opens in Accra on July 1. In the meantime, in Accra, there will be many scenes like these, where you see a Ghana flag hanging in front of a hotel.

This is Alisa Hotel, in a rather exclusive part of Accra. I was there this afternoon in connection with a launch of papers around the debate of an African Union government by the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies.

Asanka Locals Chop Bar: A Great Place to Eat

Located in the heart of the capital (OSU: Re), where one can find a number of hang-outs for both ex pats and Ghanaians alike, this is not a place where one does, receives, or views any "chopping".

In the local parlance, "chop" means "eat", so a "chop bar" is a place where you go to eat--and not necessarily a bar, even;-)

If ever you find yourself in Ghana, and specifically OSU, ask for it. The prices are reasonable, and you can find a wide variety of food there.

Good weekend!

Itinerant Vendor in Accra

Brace yourself for anytime you have to come to Accra, for these are some of the vendors--or hawkers--you will meet in the streets of the capital.

This particular one in the red polo is selling lozenges, including Mentos.

Meanwhile, a traffic warden directs traffic.

Spintex Road=Byword for Traffic

By now, I am sure any regular visitor might feel compelled to give me a prize for the number of times I have referred to the Spintex Road on this photo blog.

Suffice-to-say, this road, as I have written elsewhere,

"
The Spintex Road in Accra is one of the fastest-growing, traffic-inducing roads just outside the Accra Metropolis. It leads to Teshie-Nungua, and onto Tema."

This is not too far from the Accra Mall, anad at the time that I took this (circa 6.15pm), it was already getting dark, and the single-file of traffic was no longer legendary, but...normal.

It might interest you to know that the Spintex Road has a very rudimentary website: http://www.spintexroad.com, promting speculation in some quarters that it's going to be a rather gargantuan economic hotspot of the capital.

Accra Sunset...all Yellow!

See the first layer of yellow that is part of the picture? Those are yellow/gold rays emanating from the beautiful sunset I captured with my camera phone last night.

I took two pictures, in fact, with this capturing the time as the sun was, as it were, ensconced into the landscape.

We often under-estimate the beauty of these small things, which take some effort to appreciate and ruminate over...

Holy Spirit Cathedral in Downtown Accra

This is Holy Spirit Cathedral, located in Adabraka, in downtown Accra. This part of Accra looks rather modern: the streets are very well-done, and the winding roads all lead to strategic parts of the capital.

Apologies for the absence, but I had to prepare for an interview on one of the private radio stations--Radio Gold on the theme of African integration. More pictures of my fifteen minutes of fame next week;-)

Towards an African Union Goverment--a Public Forum

I understand if many unfamiliar with Accra--and indeed Ghana--might not value the importance that Ghanaians attach to Pan-Africanism, but it certainly is there, considering Ghana was the first African country in the sub-Sahara to achieve independence from the British in 1957.

As such, with the Africa Union annual meeting taking place in Ghana this July, with 53 member AU states present, it was deemed incumbent to hold a public Forum to hear what Ghanaians have to say about the grand project of an African Union government.

I was there yesterday at Ghana's Teacher's Hall (many more pics to come), where I took this picture.

The forum was organised by a private newspaper, The Statesman; a private English-speaking radio station CITI 97.3FM; Metro TV; and a civil society organisation called the Centre for Democratic Development

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.

Another Accra Interchange: Ako-Adjei

This rather popular interchange takes most cars, among other locations, to the Ring Road, where you can find Africa's biggest internet cafe, Busyinternet, as well as a slew of banks and airline agents. It also leads to central Accra.

Developments in Accra: New "EASTGATE" Hotel; Accra Mall Roundabout

This is the latest hotel in East Legon, which opened in March for the GHANA@50 celebrations, where I work. It has only twelve rooms--or so I am told--, but are all quite luxurious. It's just opposite my workplace, too. Real swanky place. They make a good spaghetti bolognaise, though!


Meanwhile, though I toook this picture some weeks ago, it shows cement being used to continue the building/maintenance of footpaths leading to the circle that goes to the Accra Mall, where GAME shop is located.

The Rainy Season Has Begun in Accra!

Enough said.

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;-)