When Cometh Our 6th Mobile Operator, Globacom?

Ghanaians are waiting with baited breath! It's been a good two and a half years!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered by Accra's X-Men

Disappointed by the fact that my usual haunt--Allure SPA--at A&C Shopping Mall had closed down, I decided to find the next best place.

I honestly didn't know "best" was going to mean "expensive", but I must confess: it really was worth it!

Arriving to the place some couple of hundred metres from the said-mall, I walked inside to have the door opened for me.

"Uh-oh!" I thought. That itself must already be 1ghC! I was quickly ushered to a small, albeit snazzy, counter in the corner, with a lovely, young and personable lady explaining almost-everything about what the X-men outfit was going to do to revolutionize the typical barbering experience.

I'm sure you can see:

• Barbering
• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Massage
• Lounge bar!
• Pool table!
• [FREE wireless] Internet!

The exclamation points are certainly my emphasis as that was the last thing I expected. So let us quickly go through my experience:

1. I got a haircut...
2....followed by a clean shave(!) [there was a little stubble...] and after-shave...
3. ...followed by a wash of my hair with shampoo...

4. ...followed by a wash of my face with some sweet-smelling herbs
5....followed by a mini-neck massage...
6...followed by...a clean-cut and clean-shaven me!

I was asked to write my name, and was handed a receipt with my name...and a complimentary sweet!

Paying 12ghc (circa US$8.27 ) might have been comparatively more expensive than the erstwhile 7ghc I used to pay with ALLURE SPA, but in a typically-L'Oreal moment...(pre-2000):


I'm worth it! ;-))

Town Traffic in Accra, but Where's the Solution?

With the great number of cars on the road, is this phenomenon really that inevitable?

What is curious, however, is the number of roadworthy cars that make it on the road and which go on the road in disproportionate fashion to the number of good roads that are built.

Ghana has seen an increase in well-constructed roads all round the country, but the capital seems to suffer the most when these roads are completed. This is because good roads invite more people with cars to use them, especially because they get to their destination in a hassle-free manner.

What's the science for ridding Accra of a considerable degree of traffic other than...more flyovers??

The Bats of "37", The Sequel: "37 Military Hospital"

Remember the Bats of 37?. They're those mammals that don't come out at night, but late evening.

Well, in a rather circuitous manner, I am finally getting to the point of this post--it's about the ever-elusive "37" I keep banging on about. The above post should help clear up matters, but in the meantime, you will find on your left the "Emergency Trauma and Surgical Ward" of the 37 Military hospital. They're still actually building more to this part of the hospital.



This is a close-up of the same department. The first gives you a better panoramic view, and I must say: it's fairly neat.

At a time when the debate over private versus public health care seems to occasionally dominate the news, I want ti emphatically state that 37 military health care is very-much public, but a darn side less expensive and of higher quality than one would expect!


Highly recommended anyday!!

Anyone up for Ghanaian Ironing Boards?

Come on now, let's face it: we all iron, don't we? Or at least we have someone do them for us, right?

Whatever views you hold about it,.it a cardinal activity of almost-every household world-wide is this oft-mundane activity.

At a time when it seems like almost every other product Ghanaians have at their disposal is imported, it is refreshing to know that even these boards can be produced by Ghanaians themselves.

I didn't stop to ask how much one is, but I do know that your bargaining skills have to be this side of acute!;-)

Welcome to the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre Site...

...even if it is in a flash!;-)

Remember you first saw it here on this blog!;-)

Keep your weekend safe!

"Energy Beach Resort"--Mobile Advertising in Ghana?

It's not as if advertising on a car is anything novel even in Ghana.

It's just the manner in which it's been done, and the fact that the car looks a little worse for wear, but the person thought "hey, who cares?"

Only in Ghana indeed!!

Ghana's "Gold Cab" Service Gets a Face-Lift, UK-Style!

On February 26, I wrote on my ghana blog "Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen" of the entrance of British Black Cabs landing on the shores of Ghana to be used by the "Gold Cab" taxi service I have been patronising for 4 years now. You can see how it first started--as a white car in 2006. In any event, this is what I wrote in February:

For the past almost-four years, I have been patronising the services of "Gold Cab", located in the centre of town (Kokomlemle). Though I have never been to their head offices, they have always been a phone call away. They are useful because they can go where commercial vehicles are unable to go, because they have WHITE number plates, which are the preserve of private cars (unlike yellow ones that dominate the taxi landscape).

Only this week, their fares per hour went up from GHC10.00 to GHC12.00, which is, respectively, US$6.66 to US$8.00. Not bad per hour, considering normal taxis have now gravitated towards that amount.

What makes them even more special is the fact that the cars are all new, or fairly new (roughly 1-2 years old) and are all air-conditioned. They first started with this fiat in the captured picture in this post, went to TOYOTA YARIS (no funny thoughts, pls!!) some 12 months ago...and will now go to...the Black Cabs of the UK.

Two GOLD CAB drivers have confirmed independently that the British Black Cabs will not be as big as in the UK, and will be converted from right hand- to left-hand drive. Another driver told me yesterday that they are currently at the ports.

I seriously look forward to seeing a slice of British cabbies here in Ghana very soon! If you're ever tempted to patronise Gold Cab's services, let me know and I'll pass you the info. Frankly, their communication strategies are poor. Despite the fact that they have a fleet of some 25 cars (painted in inimitable GOLD), they do NOT have a website!

I am pleased to say that on Tuesday, I was able to finally get to use the British Black Cab-Turned-Gold Cab Ghana! Here are two shots of it. The first picture shows the front, and the second the side.


I found out today that Gold Cab does have a website; I look forward to knowing what it is!

If you're driving this weekend, keep safe--wherever you are!

Busy Baatsona Market!

Baatsona follows after the famed Spintex Road, and also has a reputable market (pictured), where you're likely to see--every weekend--much of Ghana's (upper) middle class that lives on the Spintex flock to for relatively-bargain prices of quintessentially-Ghanaian foods!

When Ghana Walks for the Gambia on its "Freedom Day"

In a nod and a wink to the story of Ghana's "Media Foundation for West Africa", I am posting some pictures of the demonstration that took place.

I was representing my organisation at the press conference organised by Media Foundation for West Africa yesterday. The objective was primarily to draw attention to the fact that the celebration of "Freedom Day" in fellow West African country of The Gambia was not just ironic, but a misnomer. Not forgetting the fact that 44 Ghanaians had been killed in that country in 2005 (sadly, the Government of Ghana accepted only 6! a few weeks ago), The Gambia has been ruled by a dictator since 1994. The executive and judiciary is in chaos and freedom is under threat. Ghana is priviledged, frankly, to still be considered an "island of peace", developmental challenges notwithstanding...Please find below some pictures I took yesterday that offer a snapshot of the demo.


Demonstrators who sat in at a press conference to mark Gambia's "Freedom Day" get ready to march to Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to dispatch a petition to the Ministry for them to do more about The Gambia's abuse of human rights.









Demonstrators from the press conference walk with the Ghana Police who have to walk behind to ensure all goes smoothly!;-)










Demonstrators march towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration...












At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, demonstrators listen to what a Deputy Minister has to say about The Gambia.

Ghana's Police--Serving and Protecting?

Ghana's police cars are blessed--their license plates are all preceded by "GP";-)

They're also sometimes blue vehicles. Other times, they're pick-ups--like this one.

As to whether they're serving and protecting, one likes to think they're doing great, thankyou!

That they have a website, which can be reached at http://www.ghanapolice.info/main.htm can only go to confirm that they're well-ensconced in the 21st century.

They're not yet on Facebook neither are they on twitter.

How about it, Ghana Police??

Accradailyphoto.com Returns on 19 July

You may have noticed that my blogging has been this side of sporadic. You will definitely notice that for the next two weeks, it will be even more so.

A concatenation of private matters, exigencies, and imperatives have compelled me to be driven to distraction away from this blog for a while.

I will certainly return with a spring in my step the week of 19 July!

In the meantime, you can catch up on Ghanaian celebrations (hopefully we will be URUGUAY!!) during FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 on my ghana blog: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com

There's Only One Place Ghanaians Will be Watching this Evening!

Do you really need to ask why?

Accra Markets Have Potatoes, Onions...you Name it!

Markets are commonplace for Ghanaians, but increasingly, too, there a good number of these more "sanitised" markets springing up--as the one here off the Spintex Road (towards Baatsona) "Sanitised" because they are rarely located in areas that might pose challenges to the average nose, and as you can see from the picture, the arrangement of market goods are a bit more orderly.

See those potatoes and onions in the picture? They don't come cheap these days! Not quite sure whether it's because of the rains or that things have generally gone upwards, which might be considered strange considering inflation is reported to have gone down...

Despite World Cup Febrility,Tigo Chalks One in Ghana's SIM registration Exercise

There I was last week minding my own business--as you do--when I got a call from a strange number on my TIGO mobile number.

After a five minute conversation, the lady on the other side of the line had successfully registered my mobile number -- as per the directive of Ghana's National Communications Authority -- to have one's existing numbers registered, and all new ones done before use.

Despite the noise over the registration a couple of months ago by consumers about implications for privacy and whatnot, I believe they have gotten over it, and are having their SIM cards registered.

TIGO advised me to simply go to to a place like that in the picture and double-check.

Conversely, my MTN wanted me to have my name written in a book and stand in a queue, whereas Vodafone has not even started yet!

TIGO's is what I call customer service!

BTW, Just in case you missed it, GHANA beat SERBIA 1-0 in the ongoing FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. GHANA plays AUSTRALIA on Saturday, and GERMANY on 23rd June.

(Careful) Speeding--not over-speeding--in Accra

First of all, it makes a change to enjoy speeding in Accra, as most of the time (read: "weekdays"), commuters and the like are stuck in traffic!

Secondly, the average Ghanaian is wont to say that "over-speeding kills". What they really mean to say is "speeding kills."!

Third point: the National Road Safety Commission likes to inform us through the media that "kill your speed before it kills you."

Well-noted!

Is This the Face of Corporate Ghana?

I took this of Mallam, which is a suburb of Accra, not too far from Weija, and very close to the Accra-Cape Coast road.

But it does not look very different from what I encounter in town.

So is corporate Ghana now a country replete with ads from ECOBANK, MTN, Tigo, and other telecommunication companies (telcos)?

Two Thousand Acres of...Sea...in Accra!

If you look closely enough, you will spot the inimitable Atlantic Ocean. This is the route that leads to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority

Forgive my exaggeration--not quite sure there are "2000 acres of sea", but I guess you get the picture of it being vast, and so deliciously close to the capital!!

Thanks to 89% Electricity increase, I can emphatically ask: "Where are My Accra Streetlights?"

Yesterday, I launched what is to become a series of vituperative pronouncements on Ghana's streetlights--or lack thereof. Just to spare you going to the actual link, this is what I actually wrote:

I was in the Central region over the weekend, and noticed without fail that despite the ubiquity of the beautiful and well-maintained roads, there were no streetlights!

I believe this either remains the bane of contractors who come to Ghana to help us with our roads, or is a reflection of the myopia of our government.

From the Spintex Road (that has undergone a metamorphosis) to the already-well-done Accra-Cape Coast road, how can security ever be maintained without sufficient streetlights? No matter the number of police patrols you have set up, lights have–and will continue to remain–a great deterrent to criminals, both physical and otherwise!

I am not quite sure what else to say, except to say that it is heart-warming to see that there are actually government cars out there that have "Street Lighting projects" emblazoned on them. It is indicative of an effort.

Now, that the Public Utility Regulatory Authority announced 31 May that electricity has gone up by 89%, might we not finally sit up to protest for our streetlights?

A careful scrutiny of our electricity bill reveals that each and every blessed consumer pays an amount towards fire-fighting and street-lighting.

Bottom line: where are our streetlights?

MTN-branded Trees En Route to Ghana Ports & Harbours area

The ubiquity of MTN is well-known in the country. You only need to look at the MTN-branded bus-stops in the capital and country (as exemplified by this one here: http://accradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/01/mtn-can-ghana-2008-almost-here.html.)

But it is really only in Ghana that we take it one step further--to the trees! MTN-branded trees? Whether it's a whim by MTN-crazy fans or a publicity stunt, this is corporate Ghana gone mad, surely!!

Street-Hawking at Night in Accra

This is so familiar a sight during the evening on the streets of Accra that we probably don't even see it any more.

These hard-working ladies--that comprise what many would consider "the working class"--eke out a living from working almost 24/7.

Come hell or high water, they are here--and mostly it's the women that persevere. The young men hawk mostly chocolates, and small bites--and usually drop off earlier. This woman was still working around 8.30pm, selling sachet water.

Better than selling oneself, some might say!

(good to be back!)

The Ghanaian Mobile Landscape Will go Green Soon...

But when, exactly?

Globacom, Nigeria's indigenous mobile service, started springing up its billboards at the beginning of the year. There was attendant visibility with vacancies advertised around the same time.


Five months down the line, Glo has not commenced operations. It was supposed to have started around 2008; then the last quarter of 2009!

It was as far back as 2008 that it won a licence to operate in the country as Ghana's sixth mobile phone service. It sponsors one of Ghana's football leagues, and finally has an underground cable to enhance broadband access when it commences operations.

Question again, is when exactly will it commence operations?

Avoiding Traffic in Accra?

No-one in their right mind would say they love being stuck in traffic, especially when the weather is so sweltering the last thing they want to do is check the temperature!

If you are sufficiently privileged to own a motorbike, traffic-time proves handy, because it's just a matter of not only taking a diversion, but a diversion more easily than the four-wheeled counterparts we like to call cars!

The guy is wearing a helmet--hooray! I am  sure the National Road Safety Commission that has been banging on about helmets for motorbikes...might just give him a hug for being a paragon of road virtue;-)

Ghana's British Council Serves up a Good Message...

I was at the British Council today to visit a friend, and caught sight of this. I thought it was too good not to capture. Kind of like a Zeitgeist!

The Accra Rains are Back in Town!

Good to be back in town after almost 9 days of being outside Ghana. Even better that the rains have followed suit!

Question is--as ever: is the rest of Ghana adequately prepared for the rains? Much of this question animated one private radio station--CITI97.3fm--this morning.

Can we avert the attendant consequences and wretched lives that come in the wake of torrential rain, or will Ghanaians yet again politicise till Death do us part???

Call Centres in Accra are Great, But Who's Patronizing Them?

Allow me to clarify when I write "call centres". After all, there are quite a few in Accra.

There's one for electricity, which can be reached at 030.2611.611, and the one featured here is for water; it can be reached on toll-free number 0800.40.000.

I cannot for the life of me understand why from these two utilities, only one would be toll-free.

The electricity one for Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) is considered a hotline, yet one has to pay for it! Last time I looked, these kind of services ought to be toll-free--like that of the Ghana Water Company, managed by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited.

Enough publicity for Ghana Water...I believe my point is well-noted: let's also make the electricity "hot line" toll-free!!

Help! Burning Taxi in Accra Central!!

I was near the AU Liberation circle area in Accra this morning to run a quick errand, when I caught sight of this burning car.

It was only turning back to peer at the strange image that I noticed it was one of those ubiquitous double-coloured cars Ghanaians recognise immediately as taxis.

Thankfully, my trusted cameraphone was nearby, resulting in this shot.




It remains unclear what could have triggered it, but there was thankfully no indication of casualties--just tremendous heat emanating even from the distance from where I took the picture!

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