From East Legon with...

...Olympian love and all that.

Nothing much to say except enjoy the special day--and the commencement of the Olympics.

Like the BBC Worldservice so dramatically puts it in its trailer for the Olympics coverage, ...

...New legends WILL be created!

Going Bananas...

...over so many things in Accra.

How about you?

Ghanaian Schoolchildren Going Home

Note the different colours they are wearing (brown/yellow; blue/white) Each coloured uniform connotes a different school. It is generally the private schools that have very different colours--blue or otherwise--from the usual brown bottom (skirt/shorts for girls/boys) and yellow top.

I didn't quite get the sharpness of the pictures--next time--but for sure, they seem to be happy going home around 3pm, when schools close!

Lunch in Accra, anyone?

In what one can call a stark contrast to the working lunch I had a couple of months ago here, this is one of the more typically lunch foods I like to eat off-late.

Nothing beats nicely-fried sweet potatoe, with some fish.

Sweet potatoe, as the link above maintains is:

(Ipomoea batatas), food plant, native to tropical America, cultivated for its edible tuberous root, and particularly in Africa, for its leaves which are eaten as greens. Sweet potatoes have been called "yams" for centuries in the Americas, beginning when enslaved Africans applied their West African word "nyami" to the American sweet potato that resembled their African yam.

"Nyami" (or "nyana") became "yam" in English, "igname" in French and "ñame" in Spanish.Yams and sweet potatoes cannot always be used interchangeably.

.

Let me just finish off by saying a big "thank you" to all those who visit here regularly. I apologise for not reciprocating as often as I would like to. I am sure you can tell that the oft-infrequent postings in themselves point to areas that can be improved.

Promise to make a better effort from August. I'll be on fire then, for it will be exactly four years on Saturday since I came back home from Belgium from a working experience in Brussels to one right here in Accra.

Of Goats & Men, or A Typical Accra Scene...

...is a car waiting for goats or sheep to cross. I don't think that is necessarily a reflection of the patience that Ghanaians are supposed to have, but certainly a good measure of some of it?

I've met a number of taxi drivers, however, who have revved the engine, attempting not just to scare them off, but really to knock them down! I guess there are homicidal tendencies everywhere!

I guess ultimately, it depends on the type of person you are. As a dog lover and dog-owner, I cannot stomach any dog being maltreated. I really wish middle-class Ghanaians would take better care of them as a starter! (That's for another day!)

Enjoy your weekend...

Accra-Tema Motorway: Is this the Extent of our Bilingualism (Vitesse / Speed)?

Less an indictment about Ghana's bilingual policy (we are bordered by francophone Togo to the east of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to the West)and more an excuse to reveal some information about the Accra-Tema motorway, I could only cull this from another source:

When the Accra-Tema Motorway was opened to traffic in 1964, it was mainly to link two major cities — Accra, the national capital, and Tema, the emerging industrial and port city.

At that time, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the visionary, foresaw heavy vehicular traffic building between the two cities, reaching its peak when his dream of transforming Tema into the industrial hub of the newly-independent Ghana began to materialise.

Those who were old enough will recollect that in those days once one exited Accra, the only place of call was Tema, unless, of course, one was continuing towards Ho and beyond or Aflao, the country’s eastern gateway.

Today, 43 years later, the Accra-Tema Motorway cannot be said to be playing the same role envisaged at its inauguration.

The Motorway now carries heavy traffic destined for not only Tema and its numerous satellite settlements on the east but also for new communities that have sprung up on the western side...

It may interest you to know that the motorway is a few years younger than Britain's M1 motorway...

A Veritably West African weekend...

What does it take to have a truly West African weekend? A meal at Tante Marie in Accra Mall, or a Sunday evening with Blood Diamond? How about seeing a close relative off to the neighbouring West African country of Benin, by way of Accra.?

I might not have been sufficiently privileged to eat at Tante Marie, but I most definitely got my good share of West Africa.

It all started with Saturday morning, when up very early, my Mum and I accompanied my Dad off to Nigerian-based ABC Transport, near Caprice. At the time of morning we woke up--circa 4.00am, traffic was bound to be quiet and slow.

Some twenty minutes later, we were there at ABC Transport premises, curious, yet pleasantly surprised about how the Black Man can manage his own affairs. I felt especially proud when, after departure formalities (checking-in of passports at a till labelled "Lome-Benin-Lagos", weighing of suitcases to ensure when they passed the standard 25kg, a small yet reasonable fine would be paid; and finally lining up in not-so-single file to the buses to board (all against a backdrop of DStV) ) I spotted a Westerner, who looked rather confused at this kind of organised chaos.

But if to the Westerner, it looks like chaos, to the average ECOWAS-ian, it looks like a very decent attempt to travel West Africa at a reasonable rate. The trip from Ghana to Cotonou and back goes for around GHC100. For now, it is only four countries--Togo; Benin; Nigeria and Ghana--the ABC transport plies. I live to see the day when it can go westwards towards Cote d’Ivoire and maybe Senegal?...

How are You Feeling Today? Can Ghana Health Service Help?

It's become second nature for me to plug things I take a shining to, or feel may be of use to others. As regards this blog, writing about hotels is one of them. That I have just discovered this Accra blog being referred to on GhanaWeb for those interested in reading more about one hotel I "reviewed" is I guess a testament of where this blog can go.

Last February, I wrote a short brief of my perspective on the hotel that is two minutes walk away from the office--Miklin Hotel.

I was passing there last week, and noticed that they were [finally!] advertising the website of the Ghana Health Service. Ghana Health insurance is something which billboards I have featured here before.

It's too early for me to provide an assessment of the site, except to say that here's a snapshot of the main page here:



Enjoy your weekend and dare-I-say-it: keep healthy!;-)

Check out the Huge SHOPRITE Fish!

You could say that I'm being lazy by featuring and showcasing Shoprite stories. Perhaps I am. That said, I think the place offers a wide mosaique of emerging stories (especially on the types of food), which might not always make frontpage-news.

This big fish on the left is one of them. Just to show you that this is Ghanaian fish. At least that was the consensus among the Shoprite people I spoke to; I see no reason why they would lie.

I wouldn't want to imagine what that fish might look like at night!!

Those Shoprite Cartons (of Chicken) are From South Africa!

Ok, so it was never any real secret that a retailer like Shoprite was going to retail only Ghanaian goods. A good number of goods were always going to be flown in from South Africa.

This picture I took says little except when you check the narrative, which is very simple. After taking the picture of this guy offloading cartons to go prepare the very delicious chicken that many Ghanaians from all walks of life like to come to Shoprite to buy, I asked him where so many of these are coming from.

I guess you know the answer by now.

Frozen South African chicken flown to Ghana when there is a vibrant, albeit dying, poultry industry here!

Go figure!

PS. It's deeply ironic that in looking for a link about Ghanaian poultry, I should come across an article, entitled The Chilling Effect of Frozen Poultry Imports, written today, that looks at how much of a big business the poultry industry is in Ghana. There's an interesting quote that is great food for thought:

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ghana spends more than 1.2 billion dollars annually on rice imports, which rose from 121,000 metric tonnes in 1993 to 507,600 in 2002...

Ghana imported 26,000 tonnes of chicken in 2002, mostly from the European Union, where farmers receive generous subsidies. Two years later this figure had almost doubled, to about 40,000 tonnes. The annual import bill currently hovers around 30 million dollars.

Fruit & Veg, Accra-Style

An article of great living in Accra is being able to buy fruit and veg to suit your whims. Why not take advantage of food that's so healthy and affordable? Stalls like these are typical on the Accra thoroughfare circuit--so-to speak--and I ensure I enjoy to the max...

...like here, where it's clear I'm enjoying my (daily) dose of banana.

Usually, don't question too much the salubriousness of the stall; if it's sufficiently neat and the fruit well-arranged, I'm good!;-) As regards affordability, this banana was going for GHC0.20 (twenty ghana pesewas), or roughly $0.18

The State of Ghana's Payphones

Well, yesterday was Republic Day and, as such, it was a holiday. It was odd coming to work on a Monday only to rest on Tuesday and get back today--but, hell, better than none at all!;-)

Back to the State of the payphones...well, they still exist in the country--like this one by the state-owned Ghana Telecom. It's a delicious irony I should be using this picture, for just today, heard that the British-based Vodafone has just bought 66.67% of Ghana Telecom(GT) for some $960million.

Results are what matters, so let's see what they will bring, though I cannot understand why Ghanaian polcy-makers have to consistently divest state-owned enterprises to attract investment. We've had horror stories from the Malaysians and Norwegians who did a bad job and left us. We're now going to the British...

Time will tell...

Oh, the Accra Night Sky!

Many serious apologies, but this time, a busy week, coupled with times away from the office and the computer for workshops left, right and centre totally took my mind away from blogging. There's another meeting this week that spans three days, but I am endeavouring to buck the trend by blogging hopefully ahead of time.

I love this picture -- for the state of the evening sky, taken at the Accra Mall

It's Oh-So-Hot in Accra...Sometimes!

Yeah. It can be hot. And sometimes, too, it can rain like cats and dogs!

If you're coming to Accra in May or June these days, prepare to come with your trusted umbrella!

Enjoy the weekend!

Greenery in the Heart of Accra!

Yeah, if you've been following this blog, you'll know that I love greenery. That I have captured it here not only cements my interest in greenery, but also the fact that I am awed that there could be so much green in the heart of the capital;-)

Yes, it is near 37, too!

Welcome to 37 Military Hospital!

Yet-again sporadic access has resulted in a dearth of posts. I cannot apologise enough! I have tried the schedule posting, and for some strange reason, it is not working! I might have to resort to posting by eml, which is not my best way of presenting Accra.

Either way, you may have come across "37" a couple of times on this blog. Commuters and Ghanaians--from policy-makers downwards--refer to it affectionately as '37'. It's a great hangout for young people , and one of the more recognisable places in the capital, on account of the military hospital that is there. Some ten minutes drive away, you get to Burma Camp--home of the military for, what, donkey's years!

When Electricity is Pre-Paid...

It would be wrong to assume that the majority of Ghanaian consumers are using pre-paid, but it is safe to say that after the electricity load shedding that started in August 2006, there was plenty talk to make it a nation-wide affair--especially in ministries, where there is tremendous waste when it is post-paid.

Happy World Environment Day! (apologies for the three-day absence!)

A view ofTetteh-Quarshie Interchange, Redux

Hang on. Please don't switch over too soon. Yes, it is yet-another view of Tetteh-Quarshie, but I thought this one was interesting because of the elements in it:

1. The infamous itinerant vendor
2. The signboard indicating that you're going to Accra and Spintex Road
3. The huge (MTN) billboard

How can you deny the beauty of three regular elements in one picture, the quintessence of some of what makes Accra what it is?;-))

Do enjoy the weekend; it's categorically going to be a rainy one this weekend!

The rainy season, unlike last year in 2007 started around April this year.

(pssst: I actually prefer this picture for the greenery of the grass, and the clear, blue sky. I'm strange that way!)

Huge Billboards: Onetouch Mobile Network, Eat Your Heart Out!

Huge Billboards are no stranger to this blog. Many Ghanaians who have returned after many years--and foreigners alike--like to tell of an idyllic Accra, where many buildings have sprung about. Too true, that; it must be said though that quite a number of the so-called "beauty" has to do with the psychedelic boards that have sprung up.


This one, by ONETOUCH, Ghana's indigenous mobile provider that has just launched Mobile TV (BlackStar TV) on the network is advertising on the Tetteh-Quarshie interchange a newly-launched service, called FONBUK, that enables customers store up to 250 numbers from one's phone onto a secure server--for free-- in the event that one's phone is lost or stolen, and the contacts all gone.

Apologies for the absence

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful weeekend, but before I go, the reason for the absence has more to do with seriously sporadic broadband internet connection, which somehow screwed up blogger.com.

For some strange reason, I was unable to BROWSE for pictures and upload, so I am doing that here through EML to BLOG service by blogger.com.

I went to Ghana's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) [website: http://www.dvlaghana.gov.gh/] to get my learner's license, and here's the proof!;-)

Have a good one!

Given that Sunday is Africa Union Day, (it's always on the 25th May), Monday will be a public holiday. Yipee!!

Heading into the Weekend

I'm glad yesterday's post elicited such a response--greeetings to you all! And, Paz, anyday!

Like the motorist (probably a student) off into the heart of Accra with his backpack (against the backdrop of an ad encouraging multi-media messaging), so I am off into the weekend!

Hope you and yours are all constructive and stress-free!

An Ode to Paz: (Green) Plantains = Enjoyable Ghana Food

Here's to you, Paz; I realize it's been a while, and I am seriously going to reverse that trend as of June. (Kindly bear with me!) Internet connection has been rather sporadic off-late. Rainy season means less-than-stable connections on even broadband;-)

To everyone else, could not resist capturing last night's meal. Ofcourse, this was the meal while being washed and ready to be put on the fire for some thirty minutes. It's nicely-enjoyed with spinach stew and onions, and some garlic if you prefer.

Ghanaians like plantains, because there's a myriad number of meals you can cook with it. These green ones could have been fried--just like the ripe ones.

Protecting Newmont Ghana's Assets!

Far be it for me to promote, or endorse Newmont Ghana in the least...so I won't--except to say that it is one of many Gold mining companies in Ghana that has a history of reaping more profits from its mining by the year and giving less to the country of Ghana...by the year.

If that's too political for you, you might be interested in this picture, which for me epitomizes the greed of these companies--branding the staff's trousers! How unreal is that?!

What's the scoop on the practice by multinationals elsewhere?;-)))

I've seen the proverbial name tags at the bank before, but this certainly takes the biscuit!!

Back to (Driving) School!

Started my driving lessons--theory at least -- yesterday. Looking forward to getting behind the wheel next week like the puerile, big boy that I am;-)

(SO many road signs...prohibitory/informatory, blah-blah)

Ghana Banks: Welcome to Fidelity Bank, Service with...

Hang on, where's that smile?

These are relatively new bankers in the Ghanaian banking industry that enjoy having fully air-conditioned waiting rooms, with big plasma screens showing cable tv. At least, that was one experience had a few weeks ago!

On a serious note, their penchant for orange is worrisome if you dislike orange like the plague. Nonetheless, they do offer a very good service insofar as customer service is concerned.

Their website is: Fidelity Bank

And no, am not being paid for this free ad!!;-))

Enjoy the weekend!

A View from the 4th Floor of Silver Star Tower, Accra

Remember this place?

This is a view from the third floor. Awe-inspiring, if you ask me!

Driven to Distraction

After all that cogitation around UN issues and whatnot, it was important for me to pursue the long-postponed need to drive. I'm picking up the bat next week. I will be sure to blog about the experiences in different quarters of my blogs;-)

This place is some minutes away from work, so it should be apt to start straight after work. But first things first: one week of theory, which I am pretending to work on!

Can you tell I'm thinking?;-)

Money Laundering...

...of an innocuous kind!

Yours truly forgot two ghana cedis (circa $US2.00) in my shirt yesterday as the things went in for a wash.

The sight of those wet notes was all-too-tempting for me to come out with this blog entry title!:-) Have a great weekend. Hope Labour Day was a good one!

Military Cemetery, Accra

As far as I know, there is only one miiltary cemetery in Accra. I came across a website that gives you greater insight into the cemetery's outline and such stuff.

I captured this during the unctad XII conference that ended last Friday.

I was lucky to have done so, considering the significant security contingent around the conference centre at the time.

Great to be back to regular blogging!

UNCTAD XII Diary: Day One: Connected to UNCTAD Wireless

I have spent the better part of the day uploading documents for the UNCTADXII-CSOFOUM.org website, whilst simultaneously experiencing pangs of hunger. Currently located in the heart of the NGO/Press epicentre of UNCTAD XII, with two/three UNCTAD officials to the left of the room I am in, where computers and printers are located. You could say it is the secretariat, for there's plenty of paper and people wondering why their wireless is working with their laptops, yet their desktop computers are not.

Anyway...

The wireless, as you can see from the picture, is connected--at least on my computer! My desktop friends could do a lot better, which they are now in fact, especially after the UNCTAD ICT people came down to help set it up. I find it fascinating that the UN is the only organisation--bar the private sector I guess--where the ICT doodes were suits and ties!

More pictures to come later!

My Piece on UNCTAD for Ghana's only Sunday Newspaper Sunday World

from: http://www.sundayworldonline.com/newsdetails.asp?id=3110&cat_id=1

 

EVERY four years since 1964 when it was established, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has been holding its highest level meeting, where member States make assessments and reviews of current trade and development issues, discuss policy options and formulate global policy responses. The conference also sets the organization's mandate and work priorities.
UNCTAD is in fact an organ of the UN's General Assembly, and seeks to add value by enabling intergovernmental agencies arrive at a consensus regarding the state of the world economy. The last time an UNCTAD conference was held in Africa was in 1996, when it was hosted by the South African government under UNCTAD IX. This year, it is back in Africa-specifically Ghana, where the 12th session of UNCTAD is to take place.

The theme of UNCTAD XII is "Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges for Development" , and comes at what some might consider an appropriate time when the global economy is beset with a number of significant challenges-as exemplified by the rising prices of food stuff, which has been triggered by the interest by the West in bio-fuels; as well as the impact of the US's sub- prime mortgage crisis that saw poor people in America being given loans they were unable to pay back, triggering a crisis of confidence in the credit markets.

The ramifications of these two events have stretched far and wide to even Europe, where not only has the British-based Northern Rock collapsed, triggering its nationalization by the Brown government, but there have been instances of riots in countries as far apart as Haiti, d'Ivoire and Senegal. Against backdrop, it might seem difficult reconcile the fact that there is a commodity boom.

Put into context, these elements an apparent commodity boom, in foodstuffs and general malaise he global economy point to a globalization that continues to create opportunities and challenges. stands to reason that because of civil society organizations (CSOs) particularly keen to make an impact in the outcome of the conference. One way of doing so is at the Society Forum that will take place from 17-19 April in Accra before conference. CSO Forums not new practice
Parallel civil society forums for many years been an important component of UN conferences. Accra conferencee is no exception. civil society, the primary concern bringing collective energies to from all the participants to finalize the civil society statement that be delivered at the opening plenary of the main conference.


Even before the conference, society has already initiated activities that will seek to influence outcome of UNCTAD XII-as exemplified by the many workshops, seminars and forums that will take place in those three days. The tradition has been for CSOs-which incidentally include the media-to unite around common positions that are enshrined in a Declaration that is formally presented to the UNCTAD conference. Here in Accra, the collective statement will be finalized during the 17-19 period. For this reason, the drafting process was started ahead of time so as to ensure the broadest possibilities to input into it.

As for the main conference, the main theme has been framed in a way as to invite Ministers to identify the changes that need to be made to tackle the challenges around globalization, as well as capitalize on the attendant opportunities.

According to one Ambassador Stepenson's outlines on the UNCTAD website, the first sub-theme invites a discussion on how to continue to enhance policy coherence at all levels, including global, regional, bilateral and national.

The second involves examining the new policy environment and how new realities-such as terrorism and climate change-are affecting strategies for the promotion of development; the third is more proactive in the way it which it invites action on enhancing the enabling environment at all levels. Finally, sub-theme four focuses on how to strengthen UNCTAD by enhancing its development role, impact and institutional effectiveness.

In fact, for Ghanaians, the role of UNCTAD might hold resonance not just because there is a general impression that many Ghanaians are unaware of this forty-four -year old UN agency, and therefore a better appreciation

of it can be obtained here at the CSO Forum, but also because there has been a lot of talk about the WTO and its influence of developing countries, including Ghana, but rarely has there been an understanding of how a countervailing influence it can represent to the neoliberalism enshrined in the WTO, where trade matters above all else.

UNCI'AD's edge over the WTO is in the manner in which it consistently undertakes research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts. Furthermore, it offers technical assistance that is specific to the needs of developing countries. In the last Trade and

Development Report on regional integration for example, UNCTAD talked about the need for developing countries to be given policy space to develop their own regional integration, simultaneously castigating the offensive launched by the West against poor countries and the tremendous pressure they are often under to sign FfAs.

Regrettably, the report went little-noticed among many Ghanaians. UNCI'AD XII is an opportunity to make a loud noise and re-dress constructive and proactive debates on the imbalance that has been created by forces greater than that of poor countries.

 

ENDs 

UNCTAD XII Hits Accra!

I am sitting in a cyber cafe at the NGO side inside the main UNCTAD XII (http://www.unctadxii-csoforum.org) conference that just opened some almost-two hours ago. The President of Brazil Lula da Silva opened the conference in his capacity as President of UNCTAD XI. After that the new presidentg incumbent John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana opened it, with a long speech that was covered by Ghana Broadcasting Radio Live (http://www.gbcghana.com). The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also read a rather long speech. I did some digital recording of the two speeches, and hope to upload it as soon as.

 

I am rather impressed by the security detail around and the organisation of the whole set-up so far. I hope the media--unlike at the AU summit last June -- will have plenty to write home about!!

 

There are people -- mostly of the civil society ilk -- lingering around hoping to get access to UNCTAD wireless. The login and password have not been that great for the desktop computers; the laptops, like yours truly connected rather seamlessly.

 

Fingers crossed for the start of a fast-paced week for all participating! More pictures to come for sure!

High in the Sky--Can you Spot the Plane in the Accra Sky?

Pictures like this are sobering: looking above the clear-blue sky, seeing a plane with hundreds of people in it in--heading for the airport--and being contemporraneously awed by the technology of the plane (and the brains behind it), whilst equally being reminded about how small we humans are faced against the awesome sky.

I took this picture just behind the A&C Shopping Mall with my Motorola Z6 phone.

The President's "Water Gallons"

I have never hid the fact that poverty in Ghana is well and truly real--even if those under the so-called poverty ladder are associated with what many might consider the "working class".

Whereas in the other parts of the world, the working class will have access to some type of water, in Ghana, the poor working class rarely do, because they are living in areas grappling with poor water provision. The irony of it all is that the so-called middle class has issues with water, too--although it is safe to say they manage a bit better than the former!

The past few weeks, water provision in Ghana has been in the news--and not without reason. A good piece here provides an insight why. It also underscores and re-inforces the need to have water container sellers like these yellow gallons--dubbed "Kufuor gallons"--who are willing to walk miles in the capital to ply their rather-lucrative trade of selling to those who need to store the water they are paying higher to obtain.

Certainly lots of Colour in Accra!

Not much to say. Too much to do. But, do enjoy the weekend!

Mr.Price -- At Accra Mall

A few weeks ago, I believe it was in February, Mr.Price opened at Accra Mall. I can tell you any time I pass the shop during the evening, the place is quasi-packed.

I couldn't possibly explain why!;-))

Showcasing the Chair Centre on the Spintex Road

Okay, so you get to this place, and you see that they sell nothing less than chairs....


Now, why would you then have to have a humongous billboard stating the obvious, that obviously questions the motives of those who put it up...as having more money than sense? or all in the name of visibility?

The Irony of it All...(Ghanaian "Beauty")

There's a perpetuating and permanent irony buried deep in the Ghanaian landscape--and that is of billboards of beautiful edifices and whatnot advertising even more beautiful places, with the billboards located, or placed, in less-than-salubrious places.

This one is no exception.

While you mull on this, let me take the opportunity to wish you a great weekend.

See you next week!

If You Ever Doubted You were Watching Accra...

...well, I guess, now you don't!;) I have to confess that I have been excessively attached to taking pictures of the Accra Mall, which has become a de rigeur kind of place to take and visit.

Let's just say I ain't refraining any time soon!

Seriously, it's a place, where changes are most visible quickly, and the psychedelic nature of it all makes for a great place to snap pics of.

I like this picture for the way in which it captures the signboard indicating Accra, Tema, and Legon and juxtaposes it against the front of the Accra Mall.

It was not deliberate to omit mentioning Achimota. It is important to add that both Legon and Achimota are lexicons of academic excellence, with the former being the site where the University of Ghana is located, and the latter a seriously awe-inspiring name that is also a by-word for excellence as far as schooling is concerned. Ghana's first (and late) president Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah and former President (1992-1996) Jerry John Rawlings are alumnae.

More on Achimota on another date, but suffice-to-say that it is a place where the so-called crème de la crème mix and mingle with a view to becoming the "best" in society. It is, ofcourse, only one of many schools in Accra and the country, but is certainly the most well-known.

Working Lunch: Jollof and Fish Stew at Accra Mall

Before I begin, let me start by wishing you all a belated Happy Easter. Work pressures--as exemplified here have kept me away from the habitual posting. Still...I hope your break was as good and as relaxing as mine;-)

The pressure is back up at work, but I'd rather that than no work at all!

On more relevant matters to this blog, Accra Mall is a great place to do a lot of things--including eat. Here, I have phone-captured a shot of the food that I ate with work colleagues last Thursday. The place is Maquis Tante Marie, a place I have posted about before. This outlet in Accra Mall has a very convivial atmosphere, and I whole-heartedly recommend it!

The food in question in Jollof rice--a quintessential Ghanaian dish, where oil and stew is cooked with rice--not mixed!. The fish is another Ghanaian favourite (to the right): a good piece of Tilapia fish.

Bon appetit!

Accountability, ECOBANK-Style?

If there was ever in interesting way to uncover the transparency of a bank, I would say, it could be revealed through its suggestion box--like this one here.

Either the bank is too efficient to warrant comments and suggestions, or, customers are too apathetic to make comments and suggestions. Or simply, it could be that as soon as they come up with these, the box is emptied?

Or, finally, that everyone is so intimidated by the fact that the suggestion box is near management's office that they don't bother!

Still, food for thought as you stroll into the bank to get some cash...

Worktime for Ghana Telecom

I caught this picture of Ghana Telecom, the nation's premier telecomms provider, doing regular services in the East Legon area, where I work.

Seeing is as great as believing, meaning that even when they screw up on providing ADSL services on their broadband4u service, one is tempted to forgive them--for the subliminal message given here is that we do our repairs, so bear with us!


Have yourself a stress-free weeekend!