Yet-Another Example of Ghana's Poor Customer Service

How does one reconcile loving one's country and demonstrating this love with a blog but contemporraneously showing the underbelly of the country? Very easily, in fact, for no society is perfect and to expect to show only the best sides of my capital and my country would be this side short of ludicrous.

On a daily basis, each and every single member of the Ghanaian middle class is confronted by the dark-side of Ghanaian culture. Never mind the Ghana Mean Time, where a lot of us always arrive later than a scheduled-programme, or the vision-less and clueless nature of most of our politicians to emphatically-act on important areas of development.

I'm talking about the smaller-but-important aspects of our daily life, such as customer service. It has gotten a lot better, but there remains much that needs to be done--as exemplified by this picture here that shows dog food alright, but dog food that is dusty! The dust is so visible it was picture-worthy--and that's why it's here!

This dog food is being sold in a lovely, swanky, pharmacy in my neighbourhood, which has all the works: good-looking ladies with a smile that offer great customer service. But what I can't reconcile, either, is how that is possible when they are also stacking goods like these that are dusty, and continue to be. I know--as I was there the other day.

Sadly, the dog food was still dusty--many weeks after I took this picture! Dare I tell the good ladies at the pharmacy?

Make your weekend good and safe!

Desperately Seeking a Job in Accra, or Seeking Desperate Job-Workers in Accra?

It's moments like these that elicit a shake of the head (better-known as "SMH") and a wry smile. I believe it is only in this beautiful-yet-flawed country of mine that someone would post something like this in a public place, and pay little attention to what their words imply:

"A company seeks desperate workers urgently..."??;-)

It would be funny if it were not so tragic! Truth is there are many job-seekers out there who are desperate. And some have families.

On another note, I'm not quite sure where in this world--never mind Ghana--that one can earn between GHS450(around 250USD) to GHS1000 (around USD555.5) without any experience??

The mind doesn't boggle in this instance; it positively is clueless!

Tyre Statue on the Accra-Tema Motorway, and why EPA deserves Shame!

Humour me! I come back to post many weeks after...and I come back with, what, a tyre-statue? Nothing about floods? what about beautiful scenes of Accra? no. All in good time.

A tyre-statue is not quite what this is, but what I do know is how whimsical and foolish some of our drivers who ply the Accra-Tema motorway can be.

I will not mince my words here: how on Earth do you pile tyres like this near a motorway? And how about trying to keep the place clean a bit? And where on earth are the Environmental Protection Agency? Do they have a website? Yes: http://www.epa.gov.gh/ This is what it says on their "About Us" page:

The Environmental Protection Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in Ghana. It's our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world.

I daresay "everyone" includes those who ply the road above???

In Reverse...on the Accra-Tema Motorway!

I have not died and gone to Heaven yet. Just lost in the maelstrom of real life...unlike these characters travelling by bike in the opposite direction...on the Accra-Tema motorway!

All I can say is "Only in Ghana!"

Have you Paid your (Ghana) Electricity and Water yet?

Ok, so complaints abound about the Electricity of Ghana (ECG) for the indiscriminate manner in which it can, despite schedules of load-shedding in the dailies, switch off our electricity.

I like the fact that on their website (http://www.ecgonline.info/ecgweb/), they have the number which you can call when the lights call off. It's, erm, their call-centre. What I don't quite get is why the number is still not a toll-free number when there are banks in this country which enable you to call their call-centre 24/7 for free on, say, Vodafone!

My policy is this: never mind the fact that ECG is switching lights off at specific periods--so that they can guarantee regular electricity, payment of my electricity bills (mostly paid in advance as most Ghanaians seem to be on pre-paid) are what will give me  the voice to complain when they switch my lights off!

From Taxi Hell...to Taxi Sanity at Accra Mall?

Ghanaians like to pretend they're paragons of virtue, but some of us like to think we know what paragons they are of--and it's certainly not cleanliness!

While this is a blog to showcase the great sides of Accra and Ghana, it's important to show the bad as well--just for balance, you understand;-)

Taxis are those groups likely to go straight to Hell if God were suddenly to appear in Accra (and you believed in Him ofcourse!) to do an inspection of the country: they're mostly impatient; indiscriminate about the fares they charge, and even when the regulator has given them a rate; and often possess very mercurial tempers.

Sometimes, someday, they err on the wrong side of a policeman, and end up doing the right thing.

I'm not quite sure which police officer ordered them to park here, but I witnessed, weeks back, a very exaggerated anger from a policeman who ended up removing the bolts of a taxi-driver's car that had parked wrongly, and headed off to Accra Mall on a whim.

The scene was not pretty: a policeman arguing with a poor, lanky, taxi-driver about where he had parked. After that, most of the taxi-drivers have been parking at the end of the bus-stop (as pictured here).

Bottom line is that while some have tried to renege on the unwritten contract to park there, most have stuck there safely...and littered the place in the process as well:-(

Still, I wouldn't exchange Ghana with any country!

Zambia wins Africa Cup of Nations 2012

Harmattan Redux!

This morning, it was unusually cold. Little did Ghanaians know that they were going to wake up to another "round" of the Harmattan--those dusty winds that blow through Western Africa. My sources tell me Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina were also plagued by this kind of weather this morning.

Between you and me, bar the dust, I quite like the coolness!

Spintex Road into Accra

Spintex Road, near Regimanuel Estates

Tetteh-Quarshie GPRTU Bus Terminal

Just in case Ghanaian Politicians forget in Election Year 2012...

Ghanaians do NOT "eat" roads!

This is a common refrain heard by Ghanaians of all walks of life. It is especially heard in years when elections take place, such is this Olympic year of 2012.

When politicians go campaigning, vox pop by media houses are likely to include a piece of an agitated voter stating categorically that "these politicans think they can come after three years of doing nothing and present only a road they did for us in this community. Do  they not know we don't eat roads?"

If roads were designed for eating, I daresay there would not be enough for anyone in 
this country!

Time for some Law and Order--Ghana-Style!

Signs like these literally litter the capital. As to whether Ghanaians pay attention to them is, well, moot! I must say, though, that I pass this sign every day on my way home, and I have yet to see any litter since it was put here around three months ago. Maybe we can speculate that we're becoming more sensitive to the need of protecting the environment? (and pigs can fly, too!)

Even if we are some seventeen days into the New Year, I believe nothing stops me from wishing you all a FABULOUS New Year--replete with good luck and good cheer?

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

To paraphrase the legendary Mark Twain, reports of my blog's death have been greatly exaggerated!

This blog--whether it is Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana; Accra Pictures by Day & Night; or Critiquing Regionalism; et al--are very much alive. The silence is attributed to the usual end-of-year pandemonium and cacophony.

No doubt, they shall all be back in full swing in 2012!

Suffice-to-say, as the sun sets on 2011, I sincerely hope however and whichever way you arrived at this blog entry, you'll be touched by the spirit of Christmas and goodness in the air and make sure you and your family HAVE YOURSELVES a great and scintillating Christmas break.

May it sound, peaceful and stress-free!

Have a supremely enjoyable and wonderful Christmas -- till we meet again in January 2012!;-D

Soul Food: Strange Cloud in the Ghanaian Sky

I'm all for celestial bodies...that..erm...don't come down and hold us captive and all that. I took this picture of the sky from the office.


Indeed, quite beautiful, but strange...

A beautiful cloud no less?

Incidentally, I cannot promise to be "back" as such...as real life is happening very much with regard to finishing the year in a bang. So, bear with me. This blog has not been abandoned at all.

Thanks for your interest and understanding!

Though it's been Sunny, More Rain Predicted in Accra

 This was the shocking front page of yesterday's "Daily Graphic" newspaper. Sadly, the lives lost are increasing, but the paper reported that we had nine perish from the devastation.

Meanwhile, today's edition reports that apart from "more rains to come", Accra is likely to get "storm drains".

I understand this is not anything new in Accra as in May, another area -- Darkuman -- was going to receive 2 million ghana cedis for the construction of such storm drains. Here's the story:

http://ama.gov.gh/accra-investment-forum/news/general-news/govt-pumps-gh-2-million-into-darkuman-storm-drain/

Make your weekend safe -- wherever you may be!

PS. Take a look at the different kind of storm drains that exist on  the web: http://www.google.com.gh/search?q=define+%22storm+drain%22&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1366&bih=529&sei=%20t9KqTr32AsKZOsLk9eIP

Torrential Rain Hits Accra... Today 26 Oct, 2011

I woke up this morning around 5.30am to the news on one of Ghana's leading private, English radio stations -- CITI 97.3 fm -- that people coming from Central region into the capital Accra were stuck because water from a bridge around the area had caused significant damage, and made roads impassable. Then came more news that people were "missing". When I heard no less than the managing-director of CITI-fm Mr.Samuel Attah-Mensa giving updates, replacing the usual religious slot at that time, I knew this must be a serious matter. I want to first begin by saying "kudos" to CITI-fm's Richard Sky (apparently up at 1am monitoring the impacts of the rains), Bernard Avle, and the MD, and the collective effort for informing us on the rains so early.

Without a doubt, other radio stations have been doing a yeoman's job of reporting the floods.

I want to use today's entry to pay tribute to all those working hard, including Ghana's National Disaster Management Organisation, to ensure that lives are saved and a sense of normality is reached for citizens of Accra. In the meantime, let me leave you with pictures I culled from news websites in Ghana. I was unable to capture my own pictures as I am blessed to live, and have woken up in an area where the water drainage is considerably better-structured.

 

By-word for Accra Traffic...anyone? How about "Trafficitis"?

Traffic has become so endemic that if we're not careful, it'll become a pandemic -- maybe trafficitis! Add a bit of occasional rainfall and you got yourself even more trafficitis.

Am unsure--as are many commentators--what the cause is. We keep blaming the never-finished roadworks and the numerous cars on the road.

Some of us are so tired of talking about it it's no longer funny...so we take pictures of traffic instead!;-)

One such picture is one I took on the famed Spintex Road--you will see "Oak Plaza Hotel" on the left there -- towards Accra. On that day, it looked like despite the rain, there would not be much traffic. Boy was I wrong! There was a bumper-to-bumper just waiting up ahead to get my finger a-clicking for a blog entry.

But I desisted. I was so bored.

Here's An Easy Case for CSI:Accra...

...if it existed!

Sure, Accra has A Criminal Investigations Department(CID) at the Ghana Police Service. They have some rudimentary training on forensics, though not quite as sophisticated as those in the teams of the "CSI:" trilogy.

But let's have fun anyway.

Supposing there was CSI:Accra, this case would be an open-and-shut case with minimum use of epitheleals. We'd see a cotton swab dabbed into that "liquid" on the tyre, have the swab sprayed -- only to realise it does not come out red, meaning no sign of blood.

A quick smell of the tyre by police dogs would blow the case wide open...they would probably wag their tail -- like Brian, of Family Guy fame, does -- when he's excited, even while still being the intellectual he is.

While there might be no Grissom equivalent to deliver a witticism, there might be a collective groan that it's only dog pee!

Have yourself a great and humour-filled weekend!;-)

Ghanaians, Remain Disclipined on our Roads!

I have deliberately used this picture both here and on my sister blog on this link here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-i-told-daily-graphic-about.html. This is because for the past few days, there have been too many road crashes and attendant deaths that are totally unnecessary. My fellow citizens often fail to adhere to road safety rules--especially the commercial drivers -- who are too quick anad too keen to make as much sales as possible in a day they flout all kinds of road laws for the bottom line.

Simply put: KEEP SAFE! DRIVE SAFELY!

Danpong Clinic -- A Testament of Ghana Sweat, Blood and Tears in Ghana's Health Industry

Danpong Clinic is located on the infamous Spintex Road, and actually closer to Batsonaa.

It may not have a dedicated website for the clinic, but has one for detailing its parent group -- DANADAMS, which website can be found here: http://www.danadamsgh.com/?root=profile/

The interesting thing here is that DANADAMS in wholly Ghanaian. Here is what the corporate profile says on its website:

"Danadams Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited is a wholly-Ghanaian owned limited liability company incorporated in Ghana. Danadams was commissioned on 8th June, 2005 by His Excellency J.A. Kufour, with staff strength of fifty-two(52), which has now grown to over 200 employees.

The company is focusing on economically targeted areas in the pharmaceutical industry, which have much social implications in the country. Our core business is the production of Antiretroviral, Antimalarials, Anti-Tuberculosis and other quality generic pharmaceuticals used to fight opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients.

Danadams seeks to address the problem of scarcity of Anti-retroviral drugs in Ghana and the rest of West Africa, by increasing its production of quality generic Antiretroviral drugs locally. Danadams Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited is among other West African Pharmaceutical companies selected to collectively act as catalysts to spearhead the building of the local capacity for production and distribution of Antiretroviral drugs and working in partnership with governmental initiatives like the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Economic Regional Bodies such as West African Health Organization (WAHO) under ECOWAS, and international Organizations like United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and World Health Organization. (WHO)"

At a time when the WIKILEAKs cables reveal our Ghanaian elites and policymakers to be grossly out of touch with the Ghanaian, it bears reminding that things do and can work in Ghana, and for those that do work, they need encouragement to do better!!

Sneda or Melcom? CHINA** & INDIA's contribution to Ghana, or a Tale of How Ghanaians Love to Shop!

To the left is Sneda shopping centre; to the right is Melcom. Both are perhaps a by-word for retail shopping in Ghana. That they have been around for many years only adds up to the credibility they have built in Ghana as one place "to-shop".

Sneda's website is a non-starter; it's just a page, which you can find here: http://www.localyte.com/attraction/20656--sneda-shopping-centre--Ghana--Greater%2BAccra--Accra. Conversely, Melcom's site promises to be big, but has not gone to be big yet. Here is the link: http://www.melcomgroup.com/melcom/html/index.html

These stores can be found all over the country, but, interestingly, never have I found the  two so closely to each other. Sneda came first, but probably did not anticipate MELCOM's. Still the famed Spintex Road, from where I took this picture, offers significant potential for custom.

Four months after I took this picture, you should come and take a look at how they both have changed: SNEDA now has a clean, beige, minimalist look and feel at its entrance, whereas MELCOM is offering more competition by adding "MELCOM PLUS" to its regular store.

If you're ever in Ghana, or the capital--Accra--pass by and compare prices. If you don't like the quality, you know what you can do, don't you? Blog about it!!

Make your weekend nice and safe!

**correction: SNEDA is, in fact, Chinese. A facebook friend pointed it out to me. Don't get me started on the BRICs!;-)

The (Mobile Phone) Cameras behind AccraDailyPhoto.Com

Yesterday was a holiday in Ghana to celebrate the end of fasting of Moslems.

I thought I would follow suit and add a "light" post today by pointing you to one of the cameras that has brought me great pictures over the past couple of posts.

Since I created this blog in 2006, I have gone through a Canon, Polaroid and, now, Kodak camera.

All the while, though, I have interspersed it with my mobile phone camera, with the latest being the trusted NOKIA E63. While the shots could be a bit sharper, I want to today thank Nokia for creating such a snazzy phone that makes pictures that much different from a classic stand-alone camera of 10/12/14 megapixels!;-)