We venture forth at our own risk, subjecting ourselves to unbelievable sights, sounds and kindnesses.
MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN NICE
We would love to see a sign in the United States similar to this one put out by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. If we would all get along like Bob and this nice lady, the war industry would go out of business.
PRAYING FOR DELIVERANCE
Pictured is an example of one deafening evangelist hell bent on converting the masses. Or at least making a few cedis for her ear splitting speech. This phenomenon is locally referred to as a “One-Cedi Church.”
It is our opinion that religion has brought Ghana to its knees. The majority of Ghanaians are dysfunctionally preoccupied by church. The majority of Ghanaians spend more time praying for success than working towards it. We are not alone in this opinion. Here’s a quote from a recent Ghana news story: “A renowned Spiritualist has blamed Christians for contributing to the level of poverty and hardship they face. According to him, people over-indulge in church activities so much that they neglect their very means of livelihood, and, in most cases, their families. Malam Zack blamed the situation on churches which engage their members throughout the week in various programmes.”
This problem was started by the missionary movement 50 years ago and is exacerbated by the invention of the loudspeaker. Multiple Muslim mosques announce prayers five times a day, waking everyone within a three mile radius at 4:45 each morning. They stop after 10 or 15 minutes and usually we’re able to go back to sleep. The Christians are longer winded but not as consistent. At least once a week we’re subjected to an hour of Christian preaching. They badger and shout, promising deliverance before dawn while we lay in bed, hoping for deliverance from their ranting, asking ourselves, “Who would Jesus scream at?”
SORRY, BOB
We continue to find the tro tro and taxi names amusing. Bob often spends 5 to 8 hours on the road with Eric, chasing down elusive parts and services for the project. On this day, they spotted one tro named Bob and another named Mepa wo kyew. Mepa wo kyew means “I put myself under you” and is used in place of “I’m sorry,” or “excuse me.”
BAD HABITS
This sign says it all. “Do not urinate here bye order” is indicative of poor sanitation habits as well as bad spelling. Open urination is a “thing” here, so much so that one actually gets accustomed to seeing other people’s penises. And it’s rare to see a sign without a misspelled word.
CAMERA SHY
Bob was taking a picture of something and inadvertently snapped a photo of this coconut vendor, who promptly shook his machete at Bob in a threatening gesture. Many Ghanaians are surprisingly nervous about having their pictures taken and cameras are often banned from the vicinity of municipal buildings.
At any rate, Bob called his bluff prompting coconut man to put down his machete and stride over to Eric’s car, at which point Bob got out of the cab and stood up. All ended well as it usually does in these situations. The bluff is the important part and is rarely followed through with violence.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO
Another cultural phenomenon is the pervasiveness of pointless rules. Such as the rule that you must switch off your mobile phones when getting a propane fill. Bob brought it to the attention one of the service men that he had not switched off his own cell phone while working in the “no phone” zone.
HAPPY FACES
There are still many people in Ghana who are hard working and not camera shy. Eric took the picture of this man with his sewing machine walking down the street in front of our house. After we return to the States, it will be a long time before we see such a thing again.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL ON DR. J. G. WOOD LANE
Every Sunday afternoon, men and boys from the neighborhood engage in a friendly and boisterous game of football outside our front gate. Here’s a short clip to give you the flavor of the sounds we hear from inside the house.
THE WILDS OF DR. OSEI TUFFOUR BYPASS
Camille walked the 3.5 miles from Adiebeba to Santasi and was surprised to see a giant bird cage and a rice field along the busy road between Ahodwo Roundabout and Santasi Circle.
IRONIES
The ironies of these two billboards didn’t escape us. A giant Supa Star looms over a street filled with vendors hoping to make a few cedis selling whatever they can. Hair and nails salons advertise beautiful manicures beside a mud brick yard.
MINING DECLINE
While snapping a picture of idle gold mining equipment, Camille caught an African Mining Services car in the lens. Many illegal miners have been rounded up and deported, leaving behind a surplus of giant backhoes.