Monday, March 2, 2009
Sweating in Tamale
I stayed on the first floor of the Al hassan hotel last night. Never thought I would experience anything like a Finnish sauna in Ghana, but it was a close as you can get. It's 40 degrees celsius outside and I've taken cover cause I'm Irish and need extreme forms of skin hydration from a multitude of precipitation forms in order to function normally. That aside Tamale is a city of a thousand bicycles and a nice change from the southern areas of Ghana. I'll post some pics soon.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A little touring of Ghana
My peepers have had a welcome break from the screen recently as I've been playing tourguide for my girlfriend's parents over the past week. We managed to visit the Kwame Nkrumah (Independence leader) Memorial park and museum; Cape Coast and Elmina castles, both of which were used by Ghana's former slave traders (Dutch and Brits mainly) with their sinister 'Doors of No Return' leading out to the Gulf Of Guinea whereupon countless millions over decades crossed perilous waters and conditions to become slaves in the Americas and beyond. We also managed to get to the fishing and tourism villages of Akwidaa, Butre and Busua where the local people's hospitality was great and the refreshing swim in the sea a welcome change to city life.
When I get a chance I will upload photos to give you a sense of how seeped in history Ghana is and hoe beautiful and diverse is the natural environment here. We spent a beautiful day in Kakum national park where I learned that one biologist discovered more species of ant living on one tree than can be found in the whole of Ireland and Britain. This has been my first chance to see Ghana in a bit more depth as for the first four months Dorota and I decided to base ourselves solely in Kumasi and concentrate on our work.
So it has been interesting exploring the coastline, meeting Ga, Ahante, Fante, Ewe peoples and trying to bend our Ashanti Twi dialect to encompass other Akan languages. I was surprised to find out that a lot of people understood our quests at communicating. I also learned a lot from Kobina Sekyi's parody 'The Blinkards' which is written in Fante and English. It is successful piss-pulling comedy play on the elite of Cape Coast attempting to become more English than the English themselves, at the turn of the 20th century.
So as Bug's Bunny would, that's all folks! We haead to the Northern region tomorrow to see Tamale and Larabanga. We were pleasantly surprised to see the staff had already started making to wheelchair ramps at our school from the Christmas project money. Before we left for Accra last week we bought a good range of Ghanaian educational books for the library we hope to start building in 2 weeks. The plumbing has also been fixed in the school from the xmas cards funds. Lots done and looking forward to seeing the students again next week.
Until then, nante yie (goodbye)!
When I get a chance I will upload photos to give you a sense of how seeped in history Ghana is and hoe beautiful and diverse is the natural environment here. We spent a beautiful day in Kakum national park where I learned that one biologist discovered more species of ant living on one tree than can be found in the whole of Ireland and Britain. This has been my first chance to see Ghana in a bit more depth as for the first four months Dorota and I decided to base ourselves solely in Kumasi and concentrate on our work.
So it has been interesting exploring the coastline, meeting Ga, Ahante, Fante, Ewe peoples and trying to bend our Ashanti Twi dialect to encompass other Akan languages. I was surprised to find out that a lot of people understood our quests at communicating. I also learned a lot from Kobina Sekyi's parody 'The Blinkards' which is written in Fante and English. It is successful piss-pulling comedy play on the elite of Cape Coast attempting to become more English than the English themselves, at the turn of the 20th century.
So as Bug's Bunny would, that's all folks! We haead to the Northern region tomorrow to see Tamale and Larabanga. We were pleasantly surprised to see the staff had already started making to wheelchair ramps at our school from the Christmas project money. Before we left for Accra last week we bought a good range of Ghanaian educational books for the library we hope to start building in 2 weeks. The plumbing has also been fixed in the school from the xmas cards funds. Lots done and looking forward to seeing the students again next week.
Until then, nante yie (goodbye)!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
3 important rules when living in Ghana
Would you go to a place called 'Mama Farty Fast Food'? I think not. Well the locals of Kwadaso don't care about the ironic branding of one of their favourite joints. Mama Farty's business is near by our local internet cafe. When I first saw the name inscribed on her small roadside food cabin, I scratched my bald patch in awe as to what meaning there could be in Twi that I was missing. Unfortunately the mystery continues. I haven't yet plucked up the courage to ask for fear that I will be asked what I think it means. Maybe it's just her name, although it doesn't sound so native, does it?
Then again, neither did the surname of the honeymooning couple whom I first gave a boat driving demonstration to in banagher when I worked as a teen on the river Shannon. The newly wedded German woman seemed to have absolutely no problem becoming Mrs Wanker. I kid you not.
The other night I went to get bread from a lovely old woman who lives in the locality. En route I passed by the trader who I sometimes buy eggs from and opposite her an orange and banana seller. The latter had her baby girl strapped to her back, as is the way of life here for most young kids whose mums work for a living. The local creche ends up being observing your mum's interactions with scores of neighbours and buyers from the area. As a kid your every need is attended to by your mum who is as close to you as physically possible. There's no Barbie, Ken or any other Disney figure to brainwash you. just real people going about their daily business all the time. But there's gotta to be a catch, huh! Well there is, given the subject matter I am addressing is somewhat related to names, you'll never guess what the kid's name is? I won't even bother wasting your breath.
Me: „Oh, and this is your beautiful daughter. Efre no sen (What is her name)?”
Trader: „Lady.”
Me: „Sorry.”
Trader: „Her name is Lady, like Lady Diana.”
Me: „Oh, well, wo ho te sen (how are you) Lady?”
End of conversation as Lady can't speak yet.
Rule No. 1- Never judge a fast food joint nor a person by their cover. Mama Farty's serves good food, Mr and Mrs Wanker were a lovely couple and Lady was the cutest baby I've seen since I came here.
Would you pray in a ramshackle chapel called 'Kingdom of Fire' above a bar with blaring music? I didn't think so. It may seem an odd place to go in order to get in touch with your Creator, but no divinity is beckoned in quietude here. Heaven is a long way away, so you oughtta scream out loud and get good amps if you want to be heard. Afterall, a lot of people are out there trying to get God's attention.
Maximise the noise till your ear drums have popped and your head is spinning with the rythmn of drumbeats, keyboards, trumpets and any other musical instrument lying around. For me, raised an Irish Catholic, the fact that people dance, wave handkerchiefs and voluntarily remain active participants in a religious service for 3+ hours is hard enough to fathom. And all of it is done, believe it or not, without the consumption of alcohol! Song, dance and a whole load of preaching is the protestant sect recipe of the day. Catholics do the same but with a lot more attention to sacramentalism. Just add candles, incense, altar servers, proclamation of faith through the creed, general confession and absolution, eucharist and you get your main differences.
A House of Rhema pastor comes down the steps while my friends and I are waiting for the Ghana Book Trust to open. He seems younger than me, but maybe that's just cause he shaves more regularly. „Hello friends, how are you all today?” Focussing his attention on me he stresses that it is God's plan that we met. He wants my phone number, to know where I live, what I am doing in Ghana, when will I visit his church. All within the first minute of our encounter. I was quite proud of the fact that I refused to give out my number, stating that I only pass on my details to people I know. I take his 'business card' to be respectful but as soon as he is gone I leave it on top of a shelf nearby. Why pretend a guy I met for 1 minute is a friend and God predestined us to meet when in actual fact he just happened to be coming down the stairs going somewhere while I was waiting to look as some books for our school library. That's it Pastor, there ain't nothing divine about it.
Fast forward two weeks – I am going towards the local porridge seller at 7.30am to get my daily fill. I meet my former neighbour (before he got kicked out for overstaying his welcome and here he had us conned that he was best friends with the director!) and local hairdresser. He makes another attempt at me to go to his church.
D: „I want you to come to my church, when are you going to come and worship with me?”
Note – He belongs to the protestant sect 'Assemblies of God' that are quite popular in this part of Ghana.
Me: „Well, we don't believe in the same thing so thanks but I'd rather not”
D: „Oh, why? Lots of white people come to my church. There is English translation on a screen for you to read if you don't understand the Twi.”
Me: „Ok, but it doesn't really matter what if white people go or not. You worship the way you want to and that's fine, but I come from a different background.”
D: „You are Christian, aren't you?”
Me: I was raised Catholic but......... (I don't need to fill in theg gaps here. Suffice to say I am a doubting Thomas).
D: „But you can still come and read the bible.”
Me: „Well, I don't believe the bible is the literal truth like your church does.”
D: You don't believe in the bible”
Me: ”I think it has interesting moral messages to teach us but I don;t believe it is literally all true. For example, take the two creation stories in Genesis.”
D: „But there is only one creaton story, God made everything in 7 days.”
Me: „Hmmm, I have my doubts. Isn't there the creation story of human's that Eve came from Adam's rib but also that man and woman were made simultaneously?”
D: „Where is that?”
Me: In Genesis, read the early chapters. If the bible is the literal truth how can you have two creation stories. One of them must be wrong. And if one is wrong, then the bible can't be the literal truth. Listen I should go got my porridge, I'll talk to you later.”
Rule No. 2 – Beware of constant church invitations. The fundamental reason is to get you to become a member of the church; the second so the inviter can look good bringing a white heathen to worship; the third, however, may just be out of common courtesy from a nice person who bids you no ill. Judge which invitation you have received carefully and don't be duped into saying yes cause you think it's bad manners to say no.
******
„My friend's tell me that Irish people are cute and short”. So says the cashier at the electrical goods store where I have just bought another voltage protector. She remembers me from a previous visit with Dorota and inquires where is the lady you were with last time. I sense a subtle marriage proposal coming! But then I'm a bit slow when it comes to flirting rituals.
Rule No. 3 – Go along with flirting from natives but if you are already tied to someone, draw the line so they can see it clearly. It can be good fun but you don’t want them stalking you over the phone, which men have a tendency to do if you give them your phone number.
Then again, neither did the surname of the honeymooning couple whom I first gave a boat driving demonstration to in banagher when I worked as a teen on the river Shannon. The newly wedded German woman seemed to have absolutely no problem becoming Mrs Wanker. I kid you not.
The other night I went to get bread from a lovely old woman who lives in the locality. En route I passed by the trader who I sometimes buy eggs from and opposite her an orange and banana seller. The latter had her baby girl strapped to her back, as is the way of life here for most young kids whose mums work for a living. The local creche ends up being observing your mum's interactions with scores of neighbours and buyers from the area. As a kid your every need is attended to by your mum who is as close to you as physically possible. There's no Barbie, Ken or any other Disney figure to brainwash you. just real people going about their daily business all the time. But there's gotta to be a catch, huh! Well there is, given the subject matter I am addressing is somewhat related to names, you'll never guess what the kid's name is? I won't even bother wasting your breath.
Me: „Oh, and this is your beautiful daughter. Efre no sen (What is her name)?”
Trader: „Lady.”
Me: „Sorry.”
Trader: „Her name is Lady, like Lady Diana.”
Me: „Oh, well, wo ho te sen (how are you) Lady?”
End of conversation as Lady can't speak yet.
Rule No. 1- Never judge a fast food joint nor a person by their cover. Mama Farty's serves good food, Mr and Mrs Wanker were a lovely couple and Lady was the cutest baby I've seen since I came here.
Would you pray in a ramshackle chapel called 'Kingdom of Fire' above a bar with blaring music? I didn't think so. It may seem an odd place to go in order to get in touch with your Creator, but no divinity is beckoned in quietude here. Heaven is a long way away, so you oughtta scream out loud and get good amps if you want to be heard. Afterall, a lot of people are out there trying to get God's attention.
Maximise the noise till your ear drums have popped and your head is spinning with the rythmn of drumbeats, keyboards, trumpets and any other musical instrument lying around. For me, raised an Irish Catholic, the fact that people dance, wave handkerchiefs and voluntarily remain active participants in a religious service for 3+ hours is hard enough to fathom. And all of it is done, believe it or not, without the consumption of alcohol! Song, dance and a whole load of preaching is the protestant sect recipe of the day. Catholics do the same but with a lot more attention to sacramentalism. Just add candles, incense, altar servers, proclamation of faith through the creed, general confession and absolution, eucharist and you get your main differences.
A House of Rhema pastor comes down the steps while my friends and I are waiting for the Ghana Book Trust to open. He seems younger than me, but maybe that's just cause he shaves more regularly. „Hello friends, how are you all today?” Focussing his attention on me he stresses that it is God's plan that we met. He wants my phone number, to know where I live, what I am doing in Ghana, when will I visit his church. All within the first minute of our encounter. I was quite proud of the fact that I refused to give out my number, stating that I only pass on my details to people I know. I take his 'business card' to be respectful but as soon as he is gone I leave it on top of a shelf nearby. Why pretend a guy I met for 1 minute is a friend and God predestined us to meet when in actual fact he just happened to be coming down the stairs going somewhere while I was waiting to look as some books for our school library. That's it Pastor, there ain't nothing divine about it.
Fast forward two weeks – I am going towards the local porridge seller at 7.30am to get my daily fill. I meet my former neighbour (before he got kicked out for overstaying his welcome and here he had us conned that he was best friends with the director!) and local hairdresser. He makes another attempt at me to go to his church.
D: „I want you to come to my church, when are you going to come and worship with me?”
Note – He belongs to the protestant sect 'Assemblies of God' that are quite popular in this part of Ghana.
Me: „Well, we don't believe in the same thing so thanks but I'd rather not”
D: „Oh, why? Lots of white people come to my church. There is English translation on a screen for you to read if you don't understand the Twi.”
Me: „Ok, but it doesn't really matter what if white people go or not. You worship the way you want to and that's fine, but I come from a different background.”
D: „You are Christian, aren't you?”
Me: I was raised Catholic but......... (I don't need to fill in theg gaps here. Suffice to say I am a doubting Thomas).
D: „But you can still come and read the bible.”
Me: „Well, I don't believe the bible is the literal truth like your church does.”
D: You don't believe in the bible”
Me: ”I think it has interesting moral messages to teach us but I don;t believe it is literally all true. For example, take the two creation stories in Genesis.”
D: „But there is only one creaton story, God made everything in 7 days.”
Me: „Hmmm, I have my doubts. Isn't there the creation story of human's that Eve came from Adam's rib but also that man and woman were made simultaneously?”
D: „Where is that?”
Me: In Genesis, read the early chapters. If the bible is the literal truth how can you have two creation stories. One of them must be wrong. And if one is wrong, then the bible can't be the literal truth. Listen I should go got my porridge, I'll talk to you later.”
Rule No. 2 – Beware of constant church invitations. The fundamental reason is to get you to become a member of the church; the second so the inviter can look good bringing a white heathen to worship; the third, however, may just be out of common courtesy from a nice person who bids you no ill. Judge which invitation you have received carefully and don't be duped into saying yes cause you think it's bad manners to say no.
******
„My friend's tell me that Irish people are cute and short”. So says the cashier at the electrical goods store where I have just bought another voltage protector. She remembers me from a previous visit with Dorota and inquires where is the lady you were with last time. I sense a subtle marriage proposal coming! But then I'm a bit slow when it comes to flirting rituals.
Rule No. 3 – Go along with flirting from natives but if you are already tied to someone, draw the line so they can see it clearly. It can be good fun but you don’t want them stalking you over the phone, which men have a tendency to do if you give them your phone number.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Being ready to live as a volunteer in Ghana
A sponge
The amount of dust one accumulates in their lungs, nose, ears, on their skin and pretty much everywhere is very hard to estimate. But by 3pm, if you rub a finger against the bare skin of your neck layers of dirt will start to show. If you have access to a shower, use it daily. If you have to use a bucket of water, then do so daily by washing yourself thoroughly. You will feel better, look cleaner and are less likely to get skin rashes, fungi, etc.
A radio
Note: Banana is just to give you an idea of the scale and is not a necessary accessory for tuning in to the airwaves.
It's important to keep tuned into local and national FM stations so you have a clue about matters that interest the general public, your neighbours, etc. and keep in touch with the news from bordering countries. Especially in Ghana, people like to and can openly speak about politics. In other countries you may want to keep a tighter lip – use your two ears and one mouth in that proportion. A lot of the radio stations, as with newpapers, are partisan and openly so. Listen and read from both or indeed all sides of the fence so you get a feel for the type of language they use to condemn each other.
Furthermore, with short wave you can keep a track on the BBC's Network Africa and Focus on Africa as well as general international news.
Sunday is reserved for God in Ghana and I suspect the same can be said for many countries in west Africa, so you can use the 7th day to recharge the batteries.
Toilet roll
When you are on a journey in the sweltering heat, your water bottle or sachet is empty, and your stomach is feeling queasy, toilet roll can come in very handy. Keep in mind there will be no stop offs at roadside garages that have electric flushes and scented roll from Kleenex. Plaintain, banana leaves are an alternative, as is your neighbour's newspaper (use the page with advertisements on it and he/she won't mind). In addition, the dust you accumulate in your ears and nose over one day of daily business here is equal to 2 weeks in the moderate climate of Europe. Unless you work in a dusty concrete factory. So blow and clean regularly. Try to get your hands on locally produced recycled paper. In Ghana it is called Rose and a pack of 10 cost between GHC2.50-2.70 or 1.50 euro.
An adaptor, intelligent voltage protector (and maybe a stabiliser)
To prevent your head being wrecked when your 2 pin round head plug does not fit the socket, make sure you come fully equipped or purchase the above once you get here. It may save you a lot of headaches and financial cost as the voltage fluctuates terribly at times and your chargers, equipment may be damaged in the process.
A brush
Not the one for your hair - guys, you are better off without any in this heat and dust. Girls, remember long, flowing (and especially blonde, fair) hair drives men crazy here. Tie it up, cut it off or let it become scraggy! Back to topic- I'm talking about a clothes brush. A scrubber to get all the dirt on your clothes is a must purchase. Then, as Tom Cruise famously said in a brutal Irish accent in the film Far and Away - "Plunge and scrub".
As regards hair brushes, I know little to the extent of their necessity as I have been in recession for quite some time. One thing is for certain though ladies, you will lose hair here due to the dryness and water quality. So get mammy to send you over some replenishing shampoo or shop till you drop in the local market – unfortunately, you may not find what you are looking for as hair materials tend to be mostly focussed on hair straightening. The majority of women in Ghana, at least, wear wigs and extensions. Afros are out sadly. The politics of African women europeanising their hair was recently covered by the Pan-Africanist publication New African in their December 2008 edition and is well worth a read.
A bucket
For washing your clothes in, splashing your face, flushing the toilet, to fill your kettle with water so you can sterilise and clean your utensils properly, to put on your head and pretend you are New Kelly, etc. etc. It's uses are endless. Turn it upside down and you have an extra seat. If you drink too much beer or get malaria you can puke in it. I think you get the idea. It really is a must as running tap water may not be in such a convenient place for you. You may be living some distance from running water if you are a volunteer on an under-resourced project or in a rural area, so be prepared. Barter hard and you'll get a gallon capacity bucket for GHC 3 or less than 2 euro.
A mosquito net
To avoid contracting malaria or more likely nasty, itchy bites that will keep you up all night. You can get them easily here and they don't cost much. Mend holes as soon as they appear and regularly spray with anti-mosq. permethrin or just ensure you have a Permanet.
Bowl, spoon, cup
A lot of food is eaten by the right hand (the left is reserved post-food digestion purposed) but every now and again your stomach will not be feeling the best so it's wise to have the basics in stock. You probably won't have access to a fridge so you gotta eat all you prepare and don't forget to be a disciplined washer or cockroaches and ants will become your best friend. You can also impress locals with your sponn playing musical talents.
Games
So you can interact with local kids. It's the best way to break ice with their family at large and also to learn the native language. A football costs little but you would be amazed at the emount of kids playing with flat balls as regular hand pumps are not so accessible nor cheap. On sale rather are the larger pumps which cost at least 5 euro, hence the flat balls will you find everywhere. Valves are also hard to get at times so buy one when you come across and mind it. Table tennis is also popular amongst both genders, as is pool, though this is somewhat more a male in the bar scene.
Brush (local reeds tied together) & dustpan (cardboard)
To brush your floor daily. The dust that builds on window shutters, floor, everywhere you can possibly imagine is surprising. So brush and dump regularly for your own health. You can get them for very cheap in the local market or else just make one for yourself from your natural surroundings. Brush your floor regularly to ward off creatures from thinking your territory is part of the wild. And when you come across cardboard remember it can be used to make all sorts of things apart from dustpans - think boxes, bedside locker, educational posters, twister, etc.
Pee bottles
Snakes in the bush should be enough to remind you that peeing under the cover of darkness in he wilderness is not always the bravest or brightest thing to do. Relieve yourself inside, putting it safely aside for disposal the next morning. It also means you're less likely to get mosquito bites as you won't need to venture out unnecessarily while it is their dinner time. If you do, put on lots of repellent or wear long clothing. One bite from that anepholes mosquito can cause a hell of a lot of pain.
The amount of dust one accumulates in their lungs, nose, ears, on their skin and pretty much everywhere is very hard to estimate. But by 3pm, if you rub a finger against the bare skin of your neck layers of dirt will start to show. If you have access to a shower, use it daily. If you have to use a bucket of water, then do so daily by washing yourself thoroughly. You will feel better, look cleaner and are less likely to get skin rashes, fungi, etc.
A radio
Note: Banana is just to give you an idea of the scale and is not a necessary accessory for tuning in to the airwaves.
It's important to keep tuned into local and national FM stations so you have a clue about matters that interest the general public, your neighbours, etc. and keep in touch with the news from bordering countries. Especially in Ghana, people like to and can openly speak about politics. In other countries you may want to keep a tighter lip – use your two ears and one mouth in that proportion. A lot of the radio stations, as with newpapers, are partisan and openly so. Listen and read from both or indeed all sides of the fence so you get a feel for the type of language they use to condemn each other.
Furthermore, with short wave you can keep a track on the BBC's Network Africa and Focus on Africa as well as general international news.
Sunday is reserved for God in Ghana and I suspect the same can be said for many countries in west Africa, so you can use the 7th day to recharge the batteries.
Toilet roll
When you are on a journey in the sweltering heat, your water bottle or sachet is empty, and your stomach is feeling queasy, toilet roll can come in very handy. Keep in mind there will be no stop offs at roadside garages that have electric flushes and scented roll from Kleenex. Plaintain, banana leaves are an alternative, as is your neighbour's newspaper (use the page with advertisements on it and he/she won't mind). In addition, the dust you accumulate in your ears and nose over one day of daily business here is equal to 2 weeks in the moderate climate of Europe. Unless you work in a dusty concrete factory. So blow and clean regularly. Try to get your hands on locally produced recycled paper. In Ghana it is called Rose and a pack of 10 cost between GHC2.50-2.70 or 1.50 euro.
An adaptor, intelligent voltage protector (and maybe a stabiliser)
To prevent your head being wrecked when your 2 pin round head plug does not fit the socket, make sure you come fully equipped or purchase the above once you get here. It may save you a lot of headaches and financial cost as the voltage fluctuates terribly at times and your chargers, equipment may be damaged in the process.
A brush
Not the one for your hair - guys, you are better off without any in this heat and dust. Girls, remember long, flowing (and especially blonde, fair) hair drives men crazy here. Tie it up, cut it off or let it become scraggy! Back to topic- I'm talking about a clothes brush. A scrubber to get all the dirt on your clothes is a must purchase. Then, as Tom Cruise famously said in a brutal Irish accent in the film Far and Away - "Plunge and scrub".
As regards hair brushes, I know little to the extent of their necessity as I have been in recession for quite some time. One thing is for certain though ladies, you will lose hair here due to the dryness and water quality. So get mammy to send you over some replenishing shampoo or shop till you drop in the local market – unfortunately, you may not find what you are looking for as hair materials tend to be mostly focussed on hair straightening. The majority of women in Ghana, at least, wear wigs and extensions. Afros are out sadly. The politics of African women europeanising their hair was recently covered by the Pan-Africanist publication New African in their December 2008 edition and is well worth a read.
A bucket
For washing your clothes in, splashing your face, flushing the toilet, to fill your kettle with water so you can sterilise and clean your utensils properly, to put on your head and pretend you are New Kelly, etc. etc. It's uses are endless. Turn it upside down and you have an extra seat. If you drink too much beer or get malaria you can puke in it. I think you get the idea. It really is a must as running tap water may not be in such a convenient place for you. You may be living some distance from running water if you are a volunteer on an under-resourced project or in a rural area, so be prepared. Barter hard and you'll get a gallon capacity bucket for GHC 3 or less than 2 euro.
A mosquito net
To avoid contracting malaria or more likely nasty, itchy bites that will keep you up all night. You can get them easily here and they don't cost much. Mend holes as soon as they appear and regularly spray with anti-mosq. permethrin or just ensure you have a Permanet.
Bowl, spoon, cup
A lot of food is eaten by the right hand (the left is reserved post-food digestion purposed) but every now and again your stomach will not be feeling the best so it's wise to have the basics in stock. You probably won't have access to a fridge so you gotta eat all you prepare and don't forget to be a disciplined washer or cockroaches and ants will become your best friend. You can also impress locals with your sponn playing musical talents.
Games
So you can interact with local kids. It's the best way to break ice with their family at large and also to learn the native language. A football costs little but you would be amazed at the emount of kids playing with flat balls as regular hand pumps are not so accessible nor cheap. On sale rather are the larger pumps which cost at least 5 euro, hence the flat balls will you find everywhere. Valves are also hard to get at times so buy one when you come across and mind it. Table tennis is also popular amongst both genders, as is pool, though this is somewhat more a male in the bar scene.
Brush (local reeds tied together) & dustpan (cardboard)
To brush your floor daily. The dust that builds on window shutters, floor, everywhere you can possibly imagine is surprising. So brush and dump regularly for your own health. You can get them for very cheap in the local market or else just make one for yourself from your natural surroundings. Brush your floor regularly to ward off creatures from thinking your territory is part of the wild. And when you come across cardboard remember it can be used to make all sorts of things apart from dustpans - think boxes, bedside locker, educational posters, twister, etc.
Pee bottles
Snakes in the bush should be enough to remind you that peeing under the cover of darkness in he wilderness is not always the bravest or brightest thing to do. Relieve yourself inside, putting it safely aside for disposal the next morning. It also means you're less likely to get mosquito bites as you won't need to venture out unnecessarily while it is their dinner time. If you do, put on lots of repellent or wear long clothing. One bite from that anepholes mosquito can cause a hell of a lot of pain.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Santa comes late to Ghana's ex-President Kufuor
<Ex-president Kufuor has received a fairly generous retirement package from parliament.....
...despite the fact that government projects and schools for the disabled continue to rely upon foreign food imports and handouts to keep their heads just above water"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.” I'll guess that you have an idea about the rest of this famous Christmas song so I won't bother writing the rest of it. History lovers will remember that it was illegal to be a Catholic in England (and Ireland) from 1529 until the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829. This song was thus written as a means to teach young Catholics their faith. 'True love' stands for God, 'me' the church and 'a partridge' represents Jesus Christ, the mother partridge acting as a decoy to save her helpless chicks (i.e. us).
So what the hell has all this got to do with Ghana. Well, funnily enough, it was the first thing that came into my head when I recently heard about ex-Ghanaian president John A. Kufuor's retirement package. John must have been worried about what Santa Claus (I'm using metaphors here as I can safely guess the reader is acquainted with the tradition whereas the obese guy who needs a beard trimming is an alien to most Ghanaians) was going to leave under his fake pine tree. He was already missing out on the gold spray-painted US$37 million presidential palace constructed under his tenure. Twice his nemesis in the 2000 and 2004 elections, newly elected president John Evan Atta Mills will wine and dine the elite for the coming 4 years in this enormous waste of taxpayer's money.
The Chinery-Hesse commission was established to propose a relevant 'good luck and good night' gift-wrapped incentive for Ghanaian presidents to leave power peacefully and not dangerously meddle in political life after their tenure. This is what they decided on. If you are Ghanaian you may wish to rewrite the lyrics of the above mentioned song in commemoration of this fine bulk of presents John has received.
On the first day of Christmas the taxpayer gave to me:
1 overseas holiday (with his wife, for a maximum of 65 days)
2 fully furnished residences
3 saloon cars
4 hundred thousand dollars (US) (paid as a lump sum)
5 cars in total (all to be maintained, insured, taxed, fuelled and chauffeur driven)
Ok, this is where the numerical symbolism of the song goes out of tune, so bear with me.
1 million dollars (US) to establish a foundation
A 24 hour security guard
An annual budget for 'entertainment'
A constant police cortege while travelling
3 personal assistants and additional security personnel while travelling
An ex gratia bonus amounting to 18 months salary
Free medical care
And well, that's pretty much it. Of course, it has also being offered to the only other surviving president, ex-military dictator JJ Rawlings. He's the only other survivng president, cause, you see, when he came to power in '79 and again in '82 by force he had 2 other ex-presidents executed. So in that sense, I guess you could say he saved the taxpayer quite a lot of money from the perspective of this generous retirement package. JJ, ever the populist, has denounced the lucrative deal, which has been passed by parliament, as "grandiose rubbish”. On Friday January 23rd, Daily Graphic's columnist George Sydney Abugri admitted he found himself struck for words, not only because of the extent of the package but also the debacle which ensued conflicting reports regarding parliament's alleged underhanded passing of the bill. Some MPs seemed unaware that it had been voted on and threatened legal action to seek redress.
So what's the bigger picture. Well, as the Daily Telegraph reported in Britain, it does seem a stretch generous given the fact that Ghana relies on 91 million pounds of aid annually to keep the population's head above water. In other words, such extravagant gifts for one individual and his wife were ludicrous in the context of the poverty faced by many Ghanaians. Even supporters of Kufuor's party, the NPP, were uncharacteristically critical of the ex-president's farewell rewards.
The Daily Graphic compared it to ex-president Bush's retirement package:
$191,000 pension
secret service protection
paid travel expenses and 2 assistants
private fund to establish a library
free medical care
Laura and George get no house, car nor gratuity. If I was on the US retirement commission he would get a one-way flight to the Hague to stand before the International Criminal Court. But I'm not, so I guess you are safe George.
President Kufuor has not given any public statement regarding the controversy but he supposedly would rather just three vehicles. Yeah, that ought to be enough I would think.
So it remains to be seen whether the passing of legislation granting President Kufuor 20 wheels and 2 front door keys, amongst other benefits, survive court or parliamentary challenges. It looks likely though that it will not be reversed, and that Africa's great model for peaceful, democratic transition has been dealt with in an exemplary fashion by Chinery-Hesse. Who needs 12 drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens and two turtle doves when your friends are partridges and have keys to the treasury.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Protect your electircal equipment in Ghana
There will be nothing revelationary in today's blog, apart from a little tip regarding connecting electric appliances whilst in Ghana. This info. also applies for those of you who are visiting any country whose electricity supply is unstable.
You will save yourself a lot of hardship if you purchase an intelligent voltage protector as soon as you begin using your laptop, charging batteries, etc. Due to the erratic fluctuations in voltage you may find a lot of your hardware destroyed if you are unlucky to experience such events, which from anecdotal evidence occur quite frequently. In Ghana you can get an IVP for about 14 Cedi, 8 Euros or $11. If you go to Binatone's factory in Accra or Kumasi you will knock off 2 Cedi from your expenditure.
If you are using a TV, fridge, dvd player - in other words, a lot of equipment at once, then get a plugboard and stabiliser (range between 45-90 Cedi depending on voltage) to ensure that they don't all blow up when the currents jump or descend to the abyss.
You will save yourself a lot of hardship if you purchase an intelligent voltage protector as soon as you begin using your laptop, charging batteries, etc. Due to the erratic fluctuations in voltage you may find a lot of your hardware destroyed if you are unlucky to experience such events, which from anecdotal evidence occur quite frequently. In Ghana you can get an IVP for about 14 Cedi, 8 Euros or $11. If you go to Binatone's factory in Accra or Kumasi you will knock off 2 Cedi from your expenditure.
If you are using a TV, fridge, dvd player - in other words, a lot of equipment at once, then get a plugboard and stabiliser (range between 45-90 Cedi depending on voltage) to ensure that they don't all blow up when the currents jump or descend to the abyss.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How to live on 1 Cedi 60 pesewas a day (90 cents a day)
Buy 20 pesewas worth of porridge before 8am as it's high in demand and the pot will be scraped clean at 8:01 leaving your belly grumbling. Slice one of the 3 bananas you got for 20 pesewas the night before (you share them with another person so in fact you only pay for and have a right to 1.5 bananas). Prepare a cup of real coffee, which costs about 2 pesewas when you add powdered milk and sugar (all 3 from west African States) that you purchased on Kejetia market.
Use your 30 pesewas piece of fresh bread or sugar bread to finish off the other half banana. You purchase all of these locally to cut out transportation costs and support local traders who in turn give you better deals once they see you are a loyal customer.
For dinner, between 3-5pm, given that you have not invested in pots or pans, charcoal or a grill , etc. you go to one of the many local roadside eating joints, which pretty much serve up home cooking. It's economically better sense for the majority of adults who are working to eat this way. For 40 pesewas you will get a good serving of rice, plaintains, yam or fufu - add some 30 pesewas of cabbage stew, cocoyam leaves with sauce, or salad and mayo - leave out your meat and fish which are an unessential additive, and hey presto you are full for the rest of the day.
You still have enough for a cold sachet of water, costing 5 pesewas, while you can buy for small, fresh oranges for 20 pesewas and spilt them with partner.
Then, to top it all off, you have 20 pesewas for bisuits, a chocolate chewy, more fruit or a cold juice.
That's how you live on a budget of 1 euro a day in Ghana if you are a volunteer! And it all tastes good, is healthy and substantial enough to keep you fighting off all them bugs.
Of course, you will need a supplementary fund for internet and whatever other enterprises you want to engage in. But living on 50 pesewas of food for a month is a good way to start saving for other areas. If you have your own tips, feel free to add.
Use your 30 pesewas piece of fresh bread or sugar bread to finish off the other half banana. You purchase all of these locally to cut out transportation costs and support local traders who in turn give you better deals once they see you are a loyal customer.
For dinner, between 3-5pm, given that you have not invested in pots or pans, charcoal or a grill , etc. you go to one of the many local roadside eating joints, which pretty much serve up home cooking. It's economically better sense for the majority of adults who are working to eat this way. For 40 pesewas you will get a good serving of rice, plaintains, yam or fufu - add some 30 pesewas of cabbage stew, cocoyam leaves with sauce, or salad and mayo - leave out your meat and fish which are an unessential additive, and hey presto you are full for the rest of the day.
You still have enough for a cold sachet of water, costing 5 pesewas, while you can buy for small, fresh oranges for 20 pesewas and spilt them with partner.
Then, to top it all off, you have 20 pesewas for bisuits, a chocolate chewy, more fruit or a cold juice.
That's how you live on a budget of 1 euro a day in Ghana if you are a volunteer! And it all tastes good, is healthy and substantial enough to keep you fighting off all them bugs.
Of course, you will need a supplementary fund for internet and whatever other enterprises you want to engage in. But living on 50 pesewas of food for a month is a good way to start saving for other areas. If you have your own tips, feel free to add.
Monday, January 12, 2009
A 'friend' I just can't shake off
'A motivational speaker once told me that blah blah blah blah......'
Sorry, I can't finish Franklin's conversational piece because I didn't listen well enough and subsequently found it of no interest to the topic which was at hand when he offered his contribution. He was of course, uninvited, when Dorota and I were engaged in a conversation, discussing matters related to our project. He is a colleague of our project director and was just wandering around the centre while the Dec. 7th voting was taking place, albeit without any intention of exercising his franchise, Franklin has since come to be one of these folks who are hard to not meet on the streets.
His presence seems almost omniscient, Great Caesar's Ghost, appearing from the shadows, enthusiastically and incorrectly uttering 'Doroga', 'Daniel' – vying for the attention of his new found friends. Problem is, he is not our friend. We have no idea who he is. And herein lies the problem. People like Franklin, who are far and few between in Ghana, seem to have an Obroni radar implanted in their brains, either divinely installed or self-inserted. Once we step out onto public pathways they seem to hone in on their prey. Whether it's a European address, a white woman (or her sisters, friends) to possess or $$$$, one thing is for certain. They want something from you, the alien, other than to greet you and bid you a good day or night. It's not out of poverty that this annoying clinginess derives. I rather think it is part of the same cancer that a journalist recently wrote about in Ghana's well-respected national Daily Graphic – the 'get rich quick cancer'.
Mourning this increasing phenomenon in Ghanaian society, the writer was specifically addressing a recent tragedy that occured nearby Kumasi. A fuel tanker having overturned, a number of locals sporadically decided to prosper from the spoils, only to end up cremated when a sparks flew and an inferno commenced and death clenched it's unforgiving claws on those who acted before thinking. In fact, I've invoked a boycott against him due to the fact that he crossed a boundary he knows he shouldn't have. While I was recently talking to my brother on a pay phone he appeared, characteristically, out of nowhere. He paid little heed to the fact that I was having a private conversation on the phone but disturbingly continued his approach and attempted to engage us, so she took the initiative to move him away by moving some 5 metres away herself. He positioned herself on a bench beside her, and characteristically for Dorota, she respectfully did not prejudge nor brush him off. Later she told me that he had put his hand on her leg, and spoke about wanting a white woman, motivational speakers, blah, blah, blah......she quickly removed his hand and without verbally giving him the cold shoulder made him fully aware that his behaviour was out of order. Thus, he is ow the first person in almost 3 months here to make it onto our 'persona non grata' list.
Now, everywhere I and we turn, he is there, in the shadows (due to the dim street lighting and not the murkiness of his character). Not stalking nor acting in a sinister fashion, you know, just one of these people that you happen to run into an awful lot and pretends to have a history with you while acting like an asshole when he plucks up the courage to disrupt.
So to conclude, I think it's only fair to clarify, unless you go away with a negative stereotype about Ghanaian males as a result of the above vitriolic diatribe about Franklin. Such species are as rare as icecream in our local area. Every now and again they pop up, but by and large, one can go about their daily business unhindered apart from the cute, harmless and repetitive squeals of young kids shouting, 'Broni ba, broni ba' (The white man/woman is coming, the white man/woman is coming). And all they want back is a wave, smile or funny face - not an engagement ring or your bank details.
Sorry, I can't finish Franklin's conversational piece because I didn't listen well enough and subsequently found it of no interest to the topic which was at hand when he offered his contribution. He was of course, uninvited, when Dorota and I were engaged in a conversation, discussing matters related to our project. He is a colleague of our project director and was just wandering around the centre while the Dec. 7th voting was taking place, albeit without any intention of exercising his franchise, Franklin has since come to be one of these folks who are hard to not meet on the streets.
His presence seems almost omniscient, Great Caesar's Ghost, appearing from the shadows, enthusiastically and incorrectly uttering 'Doroga', 'Daniel' – vying for the attention of his new found friends. Problem is, he is not our friend. We have no idea who he is. And herein lies the problem. People like Franklin, who are far and few between in Ghana, seem to have an Obroni radar implanted in their brains, either divinely installed or self-inserted. Once we step out onto public pathways they seem to hone in on their prey. Whether it's a European address, a white woman (or her sisters, friends) to possess or $$$$, one thing is for certain. They want something from you, the alien, other than to greet you and bid you a good day or night. It's not out of poverty that this annoying clinginess derives. I rather think it is part of the same cancer that a journalist recently wrote about in Ghana's well-respected national Daily Graphic – the 'get rich quick cancer'.
Mourning this increasing phenomenon in Ghanaian society, the writer was specifically addressing a recent tragedy that occured nearby Kumasi. A fuel tanker having overturned, a number of locals sporadically decided to prosper from the spoils, only to end up cremated when a sparks flew and an inferno commenced and death clenched it's unforgiving claws on those who acted before thinking. In fact, I've invoked a boycott against him due to the fact that he crossed a boundary he knows he shouldn't have. While I was recently talking to my brother on a pay phone he appeared, characteristically, out of nowhere. He paid little heed to the fact that I was having a private conversation on the phone but disturbingly continued his approach and attempted to engage us, so she took the initiative to move him away by moving some 5 metres away herself. He positioned herself on a bench beside her, and characteristically for Dorota, she respectfully did not prejudge nor brush him off. Later she told me that he had put his hand on her leg, and spoke about wanting a white woman, motivational speakers, blah, blah, blah......she quickly removed his hand and without verbally giving him the cold shoulder made him fully aware that his behaviour was out of order. Thus, he is ow the first person in almost 3 months here to make it onto our 'persona non grata' list.
Now, everywhere I and we turn, he is there, in the shadows (due to the dim street lighting and not the murkiness of his character). Not stalking nor acting in a sinister fashion, you know, just one of these people that you happen to run into an awful lot and pretends to have a history with you while acting like an asshole when he plucks up the courage to disrupt.
So to conclude, I think it's only fair to clarify, unless you go away with a negative stereotype about Ghanaian males as a result of the above vitriolic diatribe about Franklin. Such species are as rare as icecream in our local area. Every now and again they pop up, but by and large, one can go about their daily business unhindered apart from the cute, harmless and repetitive squeals of young kids shouting, 'Broni ba, broni ba' (The white man/woman is coming, the white man/woman is coming). And all they want back is a wave, smile or funny face - not an engagement ring or your bank details.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Butre - a hidden treasure on Ghana's coast
The small, mainly fishing village of Butre outside Takoradi welcomed us warmly recently over the New Year. Apart from the begging habits of the kids, testimony not to their poverty but to their regular interactions with tourists who reinforce bad habits by giving handouts, the local people were very hospitable and the area is really majestic. Hideout lodge is a simple but well-run accommodation centre nearby the village and well worth a stay.
Fort Batenstein - built by the Dutch in the late 17th century, it was handed over to the British in the late 19th century and fell into ruin soon after
The beautiful beach at Butre, with Hideout lodge in the foreground and an Ewe fishing village 400 metres beyond
Inside the fort, which needs a bit of a weeding
Fort Batenstein - built by the Dutch in the late 17th century, it was handed over to the British in the late 19th century and fell into ruin soon after
The beautiful beach at Butre, with Hideout lodge in the foreground and an Ewe fishing village 400 metres beyond
Inside the fort, which needs a bit of a weeding 
The winds of change will change little
2009 has hit Ghana, as has the final election result from the presidential run-off between the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Addo Akufuo Addo, and the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) runner Professor John Evan Atta Mills. With one final constituency to vote on January 2nd the political nemeses were neck to neck, but with NPP calling for a boycott from the Tain constituency vote as a protest against electoral regularities (meaning they knew the hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of winning), the former Internal Revenue Service Head Prof. Mills succeeded in gaining the leadership post – a matter of being 3rd time lucky, as he had previously being defeated in 2000 and 2004 by outgoing NPP president John Kufuor.
Fears remain amongst NPP supporters as to whether Jerry Rawlings, the former military dictator (1979, 1982-92) and civilian leader (1992-2000) will have a major influence on Atta-Mills NDC regime.
The President-elect will receive the keys to the new US$37.5 million presidential palace in Accra on January 7th, built on the former site of Independence leader and Pan-Africanist Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's HQ (overthrown by military coup in 1966 after being in power for 9 years). Sprayed in gold it is a typically indulgent elitist project which has squandered vast sums of taxpayers money.
Ok, enough politics. No matter who is in power, the students of the Dept. of Social Welfare vocational training school at Edwenase Rehabilitation Centre haven't a prayer of getting access to their statutory right to grants to aid them start their own small business ventures. Basic resources like sewing machines are in need of repair and pleas have to be made at every corner to ensure that there will be sufficient food in the coming semesters so that the school can re-open. But Ghana's political elite will bask in a gold-sprayed edifice and dine with cutlery sets that could probably fund one of the talented students here for the coming 12 months. Sympathy from readers, whether their pockets are deep or not, will not solve the 'begging syndrome' which is an inevitable result of being desperate for funds here.
And yet there is not a whisper of dissent to be heard from the church, trade unions, students, media or civil society at large at this evident waste of money on one building for one man his entourage. Yes, we all know, the Ghanaian politicians aspire for Ghana to be a 1st world country by 2025 and inviting world leaders to a roadside chop bar will not do anything for poitical or economic prestige. It's all about keeping up appearances. Ghanaian politicians, through the UN Millenium Development Goals, are still hoping to eliminate poverty and ensure primary education for all, abolish the high infant mortiality rates, etc. etc. etc.
Forgive my economic immaturity and mathematical dumbness, but investing almost US$40 million in a time of global financial hardship (albeit the project was commissioned some years ago, that is, when Ghana's economic outlook was far more negative) doesn't seem like the best way to go about achieving these targets. Many of these grand proclamations of poverty and infant mortality reduction, gender equality, disease control, global cooperation and development expansion are testimony to the distance the elite find themselves from those on the grassroots level. GDP, GNP rates are inhuman economic indicators that often miss the true human picture of how people continue to struggle to better themselves against overwhelming odds. Yet they are the acronyms that are often quoted throughout the media that Ghana is a beacon of light in the midst of a 'heart of darkness' (Yip, I had to put in some Conrad- afterall, I am writing about Africa, remember).
Whether it is our local porridge/omelette seller or tyre dealer who will likely never gain access to credit to improve their small businesses if they wished to do so. Whether it is the sprawling masses of child labourers (e.g. kayayee girls) who flee rural villages crucified with agricultural productivity deprivation due to World Bank and International Monetary fund stipulations that the State cut subsidies for farm machinery, irrigation schemes, etc. Whether it is the elderly churchgoer who gives her hard-earned pesewas to exploitative self-styled evangelists, pastors, and prophets who poverty preach, rant and rave in tongues. I just wish the Pentecost did actually descend one day and show those who use the facilities at this Centre the difference between a shower room and a toilet. Maybe then they would find divine inspiration to walk the extra 4 metres and stop pissing in the washing facility.
All in all, I hold out little will change under the governance of the NDC. Solutions that will be advantageous for those on the bottom rung are hard envision when spending exorbitant amounts of money on a presidential palace is welcomed as a grand symbol of national pride and achievement. It appears to me, that it rather perfectly symbolises the growing gap between rich and poor in this country.
Or maybe I will be proved wrong, and as I write contingents of labourers from Anglo Ashanti goldmines in Obouasi are being organised to spraypaint every Ghanaian State centre for the disabled with gold?
Time will reveal all as to whether my grunts of anger transpire to be true or not.
Fears remain amongst NPP supporters as to whether Jerry Rawlings, the former military dictator (1979, 1982-92) and civilian leader (1992-2000) will have a major influence on Atta-Mills NDC regime.
The President-elect will receive the keys to the new US$37.5 million presidential palace in Accra on January 7th, built on the former site of Independence leader and Pan-Africanist Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's HQ (overthrown by military coup in 1966 after being in power for 9 years). Sprayed in gold it is a typically indulgent elitist project which has squandered vast sums of taxpayers money.
Ok, enough politics. No matter who is in power, the students of the Dept. of Social Welfare vocational training school at Edwenase Rehabilitation Centre haven't a prayer of getting access to their statutory right to grants to aid them start their own small business ventures. Basic resources like sewing machines are in need of repair and pleas have to be made at every corner to ensure that there will be sufficient food in the coming semesters so that the school can re-open. But Ghana's political elite will bask in a gold-sprayed edifice and dine with cutlery sets that could probably fund one of the talented students here for the coming 12 months. Sympathy from readers, whether their pockets are deep or not, will not solve the 'begging syndrome' which is an inevitable result of being desperate for funds here.
And yet there is not a whisper of dissent to be heard from the church, trade unions, students, media or civil society at large at this evident waste of money on one building for one man his entourage. Yes, we all know, the Ghanaian politicians aspire for Ghana to be a 1st world country by 2025 and inviting world leaders to a roadside chop bar will not do anything for poitical or economic prestige. It's all about keeping up appearances. Ghanaian politicians, through the UN Millenium Development Goals, are still hoping to eliminate poverty and ensure primary education for all, abolish the high infant mortiality rates, etc. etc. etc.
Forgive my economic immaturity and mathematical dumbness, but investing almost US$40 million in a time of global financial hardship (albeit the project was commissioned some years ago, that is, when Ghana's economic outlook was far more negative) doesn't seem like the best way to go about achieving these targets. Many of these grand proclamations of poverty and infant mortality reduction, gender equality, disease control, global cooperation and development expansion are testimony to the distance the elite find themselves from those on the grassroots level. GDP, GNP rates are inhuman economic indicators that often miss the true human picture of how people continue to struggle to better themselves against overwhelming odds. Yet they are the acronyms that are often quoted throughout the media that Ghana is a beacon of light in the midst of a 'heart of darkness' (Yip, I had to put in some Conrad- afterall, I am writing about Africa, remember).
Whether it is our local porridge/omelette seller or tyre dealer who will likely never gain access to credit to improve their small businesses if they wished to do so. Whether it is the sprawling masses of child labourers (e.g. kayayee girls) who flee rural villages crucified with agricultural productivity deprivation due to World Bank and International Monetary fund stipulations that the State cut subsidies for farm machinery, irrigation schemes, etc. Whether it is the elderly churchgoer who gives her hard-earned pesewas to exploitative self-styled evangelists, pastors, and prophets who poverty preach, rant and rave in tongues. I just wish the Pentecost did actually descend one day and show those who use the facilities at this Centre the difference between a shower room and a toilet. Maybe then they would find divine inspiration to walk the extra 4 metres and stop pissing in the washing facility.
All in all, I hold out little will change under the governance of the NDC. Solutions that will be advantageous for those on the bottom rung are hard envision when spending exorbitant amounts of money on a presidential palace is welcomed as a grand symbol of national pride and achievement. It appears to me, that it rather perfectly symbolises the growing gap between rich and poor in this country.
Or maybe I will be proved wrong, and as I write contingents of labourers from Anglo Ashanti goldmines in Obouasi are being organised to spraypaint every Ghanaian State centre for the disabled with gold?
Time will reveal all as to whether my grunts of anger transpire to be true or not.
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