Indonesian-Produced Rattan Baskets in Accra--Where are the Ghanaian-Made Ones??

I saw this basket, which goes for GHC8.50 (roughly 5.8US$). at Palace Shopping Mall on the Spintex Road.

I could not help but take a picture--not just to tell a story--but to run a mini-commentary on Ghana's basket-making industry.

I did a quick search, and read that Rattan Baskets are mostly-produced in Indonesia.

At a time when basket-weavers are creating some 1050 jobs in the Upper East region of Ghana only in April this year, it beggars belief that the Lebanese-owned Palace Shopping Mall is selling Indonesian-made baskets, without a trace of the indigenous, Ghanaian-made ones!!

"Don't Say Water, Say Voltic!"

True to form, I'm doing free publicity for Voltic, though I really don't intend to or even need to.

Voltic has been the choice of conferences for many years in Ghana. They've even gone the way of sachet water. Though they occasionally taste funny, they remain a quintessential name for water in Ghana when you want it. They've been around since 1995.

You can read more about the company here: http://www.voltic-group.com/contact_us.html

China in Ghana?

I cannot help but wonder whether this picture is not sufficient proof of the pivotal role of China's capital in Ghana?

4th Blogoversary! (Not Your Usual Accra Daily Photo!)

Like the blogger himself celebrating his birthday today, this blog is exactly 4 years old, coming to life back on April 25th, 2006--the same year the World Cup in Germany would be played.

Happy Blogoversary, ADP!

"Toyota City" at...the National Identification Authority(NIA)

I suspected yesterday's post would far from elicit a response. Beyond the Ghanaian citizen who might be clueless, it was always going to be difficult for anyone to get a sense of where "Toyota City" was located.

Let me get the secret out: it is located at the headquarters of the National Identification Authority. Even the building is yet to be painted as glossily as most of these kind of buildings tend to look, but I must say that it is in a rather large compound, what with the Toyota pickups and all (see the last post).

You might re-call that in February, I experienced a rather long queue waiting to register details for my ID.

Well, this is the place where the cards will be eventually issued. I just checked the website (as the registration throughout the country is incomplete) and the last time it was updated was...20 April! Wow...

Let's keep our fingers crossed for better services from the NIA!

"Toyota Country" in Accra!

Just perusing the the kind of cars is pretty boring: mostly full of Toyota pick-ups.

All set against the backdrop of a fast-developing landscape in Accra.

Any ideas where this could be? Any pointers?

After the Elusive Ghanaian Harmattan...

...are Ghanaians now supposed to brace themselves for some drought--as claimed by today's edition of the "Ghanaian Times"? The actual story can be found here: http://www.newtimes.com.gh/story/1203.

If you remember, the harmattan lasted barely two weeks.

Climate change a-beckoning?







labels: ghana climate, ghana climate change, climate change, harmattan

Welcome to Ghana's Teacher's Hall (GNAT Hall)

A place that is more often than not used by campaigners and others to debate and deliberate.

It is also a reflection of the historical role played by teachers in national development, and is known as "GNAT hall". GNAT stands for the Ghana National Association of Teachers, and they have a website! http://www.ghanateachers.org/.

Truth be told, they're so well-organised they offer financial services!

More here: http://www.teachersfund.org.gh/tf_financial.html



labels: ghana teachers, gnat, gnat hall

Can You Spot the Ghanaian Chief?

Earlier this week, British premier Gordon Brown went to see the Queen to request her to dissolve Parliament in readiness for a general election on 6 May.

In Ghana, we don't have a Prime Minister, but a President--who does not need to see any traditional chief before calling a general election. Elections are held every four years, and it is politicians that are wont to curry favours from these chiefs, as they represent a constituency which the politicians would want to capitalise on.

These "chiefs" in the picture--identifiable by their colourful and psychedelic traditional attire (with emblazons of red/gold/green)--are what I would call "member of the traditional class", who are closely aligned with authority figures in the rural areas. Most of these authority figures are usually chiefs in the villages, as they are the ones that citizens wanting to buy land go to seek permission from, etc, and are often turned to for the resolution of conflicts.

Modern Ghana (identified by an increasing youthful middle class) are apathetic to these kind of figures, but in the village, they are seen more than often as paragons of virtue, and icons of deference.

As you can see from these pictures, they enjoy food, too! After all, they are not gods!!




labels: ghana chiefs, ghana chieftancy

(Ghanaian) Food for Thought on Flushing!

What can I say?

I hope you have recovered from the Easter break, and are ready to observe some basic tenets of, erm, flushing in a public place!:-)



labels: ghana toilet, accra mall

Ghana Gets New 2GHC note...as Easter approaches

In 2007, Ghana had a redenomination of its currency the cedi, which has now become known as the "Ghanaian cedi". It was broken down into 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 GHC. At the time, the 1 US$ was equivalent to 0.92 GHC.

Today, 1 US$ is equivalent to 1.45 GHC, so technically speaking the 2GHC will be equivalent to 1.37 US$

I picked the picture from http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201004/44192.asp. Once I get a copy of my own 2 GHC, I will definitely feature it here.

April sees the 4th celebration of Accra Daily Photo. When the appropriate date comes, I shall be popping the champagne!

Have a great Easter, and keep it safe!




labels: ghana currency, ghana cedi, new 2ghc

Signs of the Ever-Elusive Ghanaian Harmattan...

...have found expression on cars, with little particles--some might say granules--of white that looks like sand.

For two days now, however, cars are not experiencing these foreign layers of dust on  them; they seem to be back to being exposed to the vagaries of the Ghanaian weather!

Truth be told, I was "loving" my harmattan. I just love the fact that it's like a Ghanaian winter.

Pooh:-(

If you've forgotten what harmattan 2009 looked like, check here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/search/label/harmattan

"Let Who is Smart, Sort it out!", or a Tale of Where Ghana Needs to Go in Waste Disposal!

Back in Belgium, you would often see many of these waste-disposal trucks on particular days, reminding you to do the so-called "triage", or sorting out. If you are seeing this here, it is because I took the picture right here in Ghana!

It naturally has to be one of those many second-hand vehicles that are imported into the country.

Whatever the case may be, the issue is clear: Ghana would seriously benefit from such a waste-disposal policy. While you are reading more of how Belgium does it here: http://www.belgium.be/en/environment/sorting_and_recycling_household_waste/index.jsp, allow me to explain very briefly what it is. It's about sorting out METALS / PLASTICS / DRINKS,  etc all separately.

Plastics/drink/cartons were often picked up in a turquoise bag on Tuesdays; whereas regular garbage bags (in brown bags) were picked up twice a week. Everything else--like grass from the lawn, etc--had to be taken to a special waste disposal site. which was open to the public almost every day. If you forgot to take your garbage out, you could take it to one of these sites and dump it in appropriate areas.

I believe the title of this entry speaks volumes: "Let Who is Smart, Sort it out!". Wake up, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Environmental Protection Agency!






labels: ama. epa, ghana environment; waste disposal

Bright Lights, Big City of Accra

I thought this was an interesting collage of colours. I was trying to capture cars from the review mirror, and ended up catching headlamps instead!

Still, could it be a metaphor for Ghana? Bright future through the prism of our troubled past? or bright future, glowing past?

Perhaps I should leave that for the historians!


labels: accra by night

Belated World Water Day!

In commemoration of World Water Day, here are two pictures reminding us of that blue gold none of us could do without.

The pipes are a reminder of some of the travails many, many Ghanaians go through to have a good supply of water into their homes, but how the privatised management that is Aqua Vitens Rand Limited--a South African/Dutch management company--manages manages to not fix the water problem since they took over Ghana Water Company LImited in 2005.

I'm concerned on this day about the role of private management companies that purport to resolve our water problems--how effective are they in the long run? Is it not better to invest money into state-run systems to develop capacity?



labels: ghana water; aqua vitens rand limited ghana, water privatisation

Anyone for Petrol in (Rural) Accra?

First, let me define "rural Accra".

That is parts of Accra that are still undeveloped (read: no water; no electricity provision established) and probably taken over by Estate companies willing to charge pretty much an arm and a leg for a plot.

Well, would you believe it if I told you that there are parts of Accra where people still buy petrol this way?

If a picture paints... the proverbial, let me not do proverbs, and let it speak for itself!;-D

Have a good one wherever you may be.

Who Said Ghanaians Cannot Complain?

Despite the fairly good-natured attitude of Ghanaians towards life (where those who believe in in something leave it to God, when misfortune strikes), Ghanaians can be as vociferous and articulate as you can imagine.

These two pictures are captured from the DAILY GRAPHIC newspaper of this past Monday and today respectively, and are from the "Letter's Page", which appear on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The first complaint is against one of the telco's in Ghana--TIGO, and the second against ATM provision by a French-Ghanaian bank SG-SSB, where I myself have had a very bad experience with them in November 2007!



labels: ghana banking, ghana complaints, daily graphic

Fighting Crime in Ghana, Here's How!

If there is anything you could say about me this month, it is that I have been quite consistent about my coverage of the Ghana Police on Twitter, and by extension, blog platforms.

Yesterday evening, I witnessed a foiled armed robbery that reminded me of the poster I have captured here.

So, first step to fighting crime: KNOW the phone numbers to the police!



labels: ghana police, ghana crime

Even With the Absence of Ghanaian Streetlights...

...Ghanaians certainly do enjoy their night-life. This was taken in the heart of Accra somewhere a few weeks ago. Despite the absence of well-maintained streetlights, this did not prevent fun-seekers to enjoy themselves and fill their stomachs at the same time.

I guess it's about getting used to the situation?

Not really: despite serious challenges to life in Accra for a large part of the population, Ghanaians are no longer just "getting by" passively; they are complaining about utilities and service providers.

Later this week, I will show more of some of these complaints.

labels: ghana complaints, accra by night

Not Quite a Free Visa to FIFA2010 World Cup!

Despite rather good relations between South Africa and Ghana, it is never going to be so good that they decide to waive visas for us. There are, ofcourse, conditions, and here are the five-fold ones:

Processing for the 90-day visa, which is expected to take five days to complete, starts on April 1 – barely two months away from the world's biggest football festival.

To qualify for a visa,

 

• the fan must possess a valid passport which must not expire by end of the June 11 – July mundial;

 

• have a proof of a return air ticket,

 

• show enough evidence of taking care of oneself for the period of the event or stay,

 

• acquire a ticked voucher from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) or FIFA,

 

• as well as having a proof of a hotel/hostel accommodation.

Ms Lallie advised applicants to show up personally at the High Commission and cautioned them about the activities of potential "charlatans (visa contractors) who could take advantage of the situation to swindle unsuspecting victims."

She dissuaded fans who have the intention of settling in South Africa after the World Cup to disabuse their minds of such plan. "Much as there would be an extremely friendly environment in South Africa, I don't think the authorities are necessarily going to relax or renege on their responsibilities as far as security is concerned," she cautioned.

from: http://news.peacefmonline.com/news/201003/39906.php

What about where you are right now? How difficult--or easy--is it for you to get your ticket to FIFA?

Truth be told, I'm quite happy watching from the comfort of my home (and office, when Ghana starts playing!!)

Giving it up for Ghana Police!

Finally, Ghana Police got their act together this morning, and showed up at a major point on the Spintex Road. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Friday!;-)

All Roads Lead to Tema !

This is what wikipedia says about Tema:

Tema, population 209,000 (2005), is a city on the Atlantic Ocean coast, east of the capital city of Accra, in the region of Greater Accra, in Ghana, West Africa. Originally a small fishing village, it grew after the construction of a large harbour in 1961 and is now is the nation's largest sea port. It is also home to an oil refinery and is an important centre of manufacturing. It is linked to the capital by railway and a highway. Tema is one of Ghana's two deep seaports; Sekondi Takoradi is the other. Tema is the nearest city to the geographical position of 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude (which lies several hundred miles south in the Bight of Benin).

This is my view: one of the best-designed communities in Accra. In fact, it is the only residential community that remains the best well-planned. It has more than 10 "communities", some of which link up to the famed Spintex Road. It has an indigenous "Tema Development Corporation", clearly making quite a bit from developing Tema to the beautiful, verdant and organised city it has obtained the reputation of being.

This is what fellow ghanablogging member Kajsa Hallberg Adu wrote of her adopted hometown:

Let's start my exposé on Tema with Nkrumah's own words. We go back to February 10th, 1962 and the Official Opening of the Tema Harbor. Kwame Nkrumah walks up to a podium and gives his speech.

"By taking advantage of the river systems of West Africa, it should be possible - again, by concerted action - to connect the hinterland, far outside the boarders of Ghana, with this great port of Tema. Thus, in this harbour of Tema, we see a unifying force and an essential requirement in the progress towards African Unity"

Hence, Tema was just one part of the grandiose plan of Africa rising. Tema should be a harbor not just for Ghana, but for Africa. Still today, Burkina Faso, Mali and other landlocked countries are highly dependent on the Tema harbor. What whould they be today without this sea port?

Nkrumah continued his speech with comparing the existing Takoradi harbor "designed by the colonialists to facilitate the exportation of the wealth of the country" to this new sea port. He said:

"Tema is the sign post of the future. It represents the purposeful beginning of the industrialisation of Ghana. It is the signal for industrial expansion, a challenge to our industry and intelligence and a hope for the future."

 Finally, from one US academic Dr.Renford Reese's page:

"One of our visits was to the bustling cargo port of Tema. Nkrumah built this city in 1960 as a manmade harbor. Today, it is Ghana's industrial center and the most important trading port in the country. As a populated city, Tema is the closest to the crossing of the Prime Meridian and the equator, a special treat for our three geography majors"
from: http://www.csupomona.edu/~rrreese/nonfla/GlobalCPP.html

Have you got the message how important Tema is to Ghana now?

Labels: tema, nkrumah

Happy Independence Day (March 6 1957-March 6 2010)!

I believe the pictures speak for themselves, but let me say it anyway: Ghana obtained independence from Britain exactly 53 years Saturday 6 March, 1957, with the memorable words ushered by great Pan-Africanist and founder of Ghana Dr.Kwame Nkrumah:

"At long last, the battle has ended. Ghana--our beloved country--is free forever!"

There have naturally been reminders of this on television and radio, and for those alien to Ghanaian culture (am unsure how you can be if you've been following this blog for almost 4 years now;-) ) there's a website to find out more:

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/anniversary/
--

Where's My (Ghana) Water?

Although there is a lot of bottled water around, there is a lot of "pure" -- or sachet -- water that is sold daily. And usually in one of the trucks, which average speed is just about faster than a snail!!

Look critically enough, and you will see that a lot of them are very old trucks that are imported into the country.

Your guess is as good as mine as to whether they are often the cause of serious and heavy traffic in the mornings!

The Curious Case of Vodafone Ghana

Vodafone Ghana has been making a lot of noise offlate on Ghanaians being able to access the "fastest" internet in Africa.

Yesterday I decided to try it out, and was given a coupon--free trial for 10 minutes, mind you--which I could use for only...ten minutes.

When I pressed the ladies at the shop as to whether I could buy some more credit, she quipped that I had exhausted my free trial, and that she would recommend I go to the shop in Cantonments, which is some twenty minutes drive from Accra Mall!

When I further pressed her, she seemed unrepentant in the total and utter confusion she had just laid on me: why go to another Vodafone shop for the internet, when this one could simply sell you an hour's worth after the free trial??

How is this done elsewhere? This is honestly the first I've heard done anywhere!!

--

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

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

Have you made up your mind yet?

Ghanaian Roads are about Livelihoods...

...so they must needs remain free (of traffic)!!

I couldn't resist that as this is a picture I used for a post on my ghana blog over here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2010/02/unbearable-lightness-of-being-in.html, which I wrote about this way last week:

Roads are our lifeblood. It is what we need to move from A to B. It is what helps us get to our destination. So, when we do not move on it quickly, it invariably becomes more than a headache. We cannot avoid traffic--there will always be accidents, people driving crazily and/or carelessly/foolishly--but we can certainly avoid a situation where the most important parts of our morning are eaten up in traffic on the only thoroughfare that will take us into the capital!

The essence of the post was about the National Road Safety Commission hotline calling me to check--as they did again this morning--whether the Motor Transport Unit of the Ghana Police were there!

The police officer is the one standing in reflective yellow to the left of the picture. That place is strategic, because it is very often the genesis of the chaos that takes a life of its own and finds expression in dual-way traffic northbound, when it should be one-way northbound.

That this confusion is compounded by major construction works on the Spintex Road to smoothen the traffic does little to give small headaches this side of the capital every morning!

Great Ghanaian Billboard, Shame about the Message!

Just wish that there would be a public service reminder or something. This kind of billboard is huge for nothing; most Ghanaians are familiar with the Tom-Tom product. Why shove it in our faces?

Now imagine the impact if, say, National Road Safety Commission entreated drivers to drive carefully?!!

An Unnecessary Ghanaian Crowd -- Just to Register National ID?!

Though it is true that Ghanaians are naturally nosy and like to find out in both discreet and indiscreet ways what someone is doing, you might not believe me if I told you that this crowd has been formed because of the ongoing registration of the national ID card. This scene was taken in one of the Estate neighbourhoods that fall under the deceptively-sounding-prestigious "off Spintex road".

The crowd was rather amorphous on account of the denizens standing in the then-up-and-coming midday heat. Apart from the frustration and fatigue associated with this queue, people could not quite understand the incredibly slow pace of the registration. Sadly, despite media criticisms, the pace has not quickened.

Some might say "all in the name of democracy"!;-)

Better this pace than to be fighting a senseless war that characterised a good number of African countries two decades ago...

Ghanaian Girl Scout at Akosombo Fish Market

Well not quite a scout, but this smart girl is certainly on the lookout for a catch to buy some of her fish!

If I know our market people, this one will not give up till her goods are sold!

Ghana's Talking Point:" Road Tolls"

I have come to read and understand that the USA has an atavistic revulsion towards big government. Consequently, anything that comes with a greater role of the State and the government is attacked. Small wonder Obama is suffering the fallout, if you will, of focussing on bringing some sanity to health care reform in a manner that the EU would applaud.

Ghana and the US might be similar only in the sense that our elections are held the same year as the US, but I sincerely hope that Ghana will never go the way of sneezing at taxes and government. The what some might say "dramatic" increases in the road tolls on Ghana's major motorway--the Tema motorway--where the tolls have gone up more than 50% overnight has led to a situation where commuters have used the infamous Spintex road in the morning just to avoid paying the taxes.

Or so private radio station CITI97.3fm was averring yesterday morning in interviews. I seriously would not put it past my fellow denizens, though!

Ghanaian Fishmarket Woman Doing it For Herself!

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

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

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

One of the Beauties of Ghana--Markets!

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

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

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

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

An Appeal to Ghanaian Itinerant Vendors!

If you want to sell something, how about a little smile?

I know the sun is oftentimes scorching and as soon as I get out of this air-conditioned car I will also meet it, but when you smile, I might just somehow not feel too bad not buying it?

Bright Lights of Accra! Big Dreams for Order!

Who needs streetlamps when you can get the lights of cars stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic have theirs reflect and refract over all kinds of lights to create this mosaic of colours?

If there is anything I like about Accra is its singular ability to give you something to talk about!

I haven't even talked about these taxi-drivers waiting for passengers in a zone that has clearly been marked for them to remain only for two minutes!

This kind of cavalier attitude does not only come down to illiteracy (frankly, most taxi drivers are not!) but an obstinacy to not conform to order!!

But I still love Accra!;-)