I love this city called Accra!
UPDATE FROM ACCRA.. Feb 5th 2005
.... if i dont write this now, i don't know when i will.. its early in the morning, sunday the 5th of feb and i am at home feeling slightly under the weather.. i got a cold ( funny ,huh?) however, i am slowed down just long enough to type this up so here goes.. It is amazing to be back home, yup you heard me.. i said HOME. because i realize now more than ever that whenever i am amongst people who i know have my best interests at heart, i am home... and this is definitely the case here in Accra... it also helps that i grew up here ( partly anyways), lol!
What can i say? I have fallen in love.. with a city ..again. Accra is beautiful! The people, my people are amazing! The food, well, kelewele ( street side spicy fried plantians) on a cool monday night is just to die for! The weather.. HOTTTTT! I mean fricking sticky ain't no way i can get away from this heat kinda hot! Naturally i complain with the rest but truth be told, i am loving it! The city of Accra has changed a lot since the last time i was here, i mean that was after all 8 years ago.. Someone once told me in a long conversation about many things, that good roads are a hallmark of development.. or something along those lines.. well then, Accra is well on its way into the transition period. The major roads in the city are amazingly good.. a drive at 3 am when the streets are empty will affirm that ...and everywhere you go, there is more construction. Those IMF HIPC loans are sure coming in handy.. pity we will be paying for them for generations to come. The present Kuffor government is well into its second term. People are disgruntled as people usually are.. but truth be told there is a whole lot of work that they should be given accolades for..
.
...... I know this WILL sound almost sacrilegious coming from me.. but the capitalist fever has sure put Ghana on the road to "development" . The shifting of the markets from public to private and to ppp 's ( public private partnerships ) has led to an explosion of available services with affordable prices.. Take telecommunications for example.. you can sign up to get a cell phone with either , gt- ghana telecom, areeba, one touch or buzz- mobitel. because the options are more, the rates are pretty darn good! i can call the states for less than 2 cents on my cell phone!!
The same with the internet.. you can get broadband or Dial up and each service is offered by a number of companies.. which means competitive rates all across the board.. Now i wont pretend to know exactly who is providing these services, i 'd love to believe that they are Ghanaian owned but it is highly likely that some of 'em are international companies.. The many trade agreements as HIPC members we are forced to be party to have led to a flood in foreign goods on the markets. However, the government has also embarked on an aggressive "buy made in Ghana goods" campaign... Causal friday here is traditional friday .. so people wear traditional attire to work on fridays. so in addition to efforts to participate in the global economy there is are also efforts to strengthen the Ghanaian economy..
.. i haven't been too far out of Accra yet. I intend on going up North where the gap in the rich and poor that exists in this world is stark.. one can only hope that as we make strides towards creating a healthier society ( where health is defined as a complete state of well-being) the gap will begin to narrow. i still haven't figured out how capitalism is 'pposed to achieve this.. you know a society where nobody lives below the poverty line.. but till something better comes up, i guess this will have to suffice. Make no mistake about it, i still believe that in the end,a capitalist society with all is trappings will be humanities downfall.. however, right now when people are dying because of a lack of the basic necessities, it is proving to be a useful system to relive some of the immeasurable pressures on the public sector in the provision of these basic needs. People here are pretty darn hardworking, and its nice to see that there is actually opportunity for advancement.. and being the people we are we never move up without pulling someone else up behind us.... okay nuff with the economics..
.. i know some of you are dying to hear how i am doing personally... no surprise here, i am doing A-OK. a lot better than i was when i was in toronto. my perspective from here ( a much higher perch in the pecking order) is, i like to believe, clearer. I came here to do my thesis, see my family, relax for a minute and return back to the grind of a north american society..
now i am feverently looking for how i can create my niche here so that i can return in the next 5 years and contribute to the growth and continued development of my world. yes, this is my world. ;-). its not difficult to see that Ghana is on the cusp of some very big things. and that unfortunately there are few "younger" people poised to contribute and i aint going to lie, benefit from the progress. Well, I intend to be one of them. So as i go about my daily business i am continually assessing the overall situations. I know that in this society i am amongst the privileged few. What would be sacrilegious is my throwing that away by living in a part of the world where it doesn't mean diddly squat, instead of using my position, where it matters, to better the lives of those who have less than i do. thats how i am feeling anyway.
... in terms of my thesis ( female childhood sexual abuse as a public health issue), well, things are moving right along and i am crazy busy on a daily basis. i decided to go ahead and apply for ethical review here.. and within 4 days and after a few minor revisions i had my approval. now i am recruiting my study participants and conducting mini- focus groups on the issue of childhood sexual abuse... the issue is BIG here. sadly- or not depends on your perspective- the timing of my work couldn't be better. there is a general stirring in the consciousness of the people on this topic so the reluctance to speak that i had anticipated is practically non-existence. i am convinced that some good will come out of this, my thesis wont be shelf-ed after its all done, but will actually contribute towards creating change, now ain't that something to be happy about?
concurrently, i am taking notes on the organizational structures that exist to educate on human rights issues, to develop and enhance capacity and contribute to efforts in creating sustainable development. this after all is the direction on which i want to steer Voices ( my not-for-profit) in.. so i am taking notes, copious notes ;-).. and slowly translating my observations into something tangible that could be a serious vehicle for disadvantaged, exploited and at risk youth. i figure i am definitely in the right place at the right time.. and so i am taking it and running with it as fast as i can..as cautiously as i can.. and as prayerfully as i can..
... personally, my lenses have changed... or maybe just cleared up.. either ways i suspect this will affect a lot of the personal relationships i HAD when i was in Toronto. I know it might sound harsh but it took my coming out here to realize that some people just need to be cut the heck off. i have always maintained that it went against my grain to do that, but there is always an exception to the grain. and when you know that there are people in your life that exist in your world solely for their own benefit and all that they do be it good or bad are motivated by self-interest, you need to cut them the **** off! that ain't no mutually benefitting relationship, its a parasitic encounter of the worst kind. Continue to pray them, by all means, but keep your distance and i intend on doing just that..
..Speaking of prayer, all of my experiences at the end of the day boil down to the impact they are having on my spirit. Not surprisingly, my spirit is well.. in a strange reversal of things, this scares me.. because i know that it is much harder to cry out to the Abba when life is smooth sailing. I know this. i feel this. but i continue to try to persevere and to praise always for my blessings which seem to be falling by bucketfuls these days. Someone once told me they didn't want to stay too close because if they did they would end up both with bad luck and broke ( i kid you not, someone actually said this!) well, ain't it funny, cos it seems like without 'em, my winds of misfortune are all blown out, lol.. and should they return and of this i have no doubt, my Abba, my inner strength and my highly developed resiliency will, as it always has, pull me through. I never quite got why, this innate trait to triumph wasn't celebrated... but hey folks just different...
so as i continue my personal, spiritual and professional journey out here ..at home ..i am very conscious of a lot of things both past and present and as each day passes continue to put things into perspective. In December, i begged a friend to wait for me to go through this experience. i knew it would be healing and life altering and i begged to not be "put out" until i had touched my rock.. i dont know if i hate em or love em for seemingly hard heartedly ignoring my pleas but i do know one thing, with the Father's help i will NEVER EVER find myself in that place again.
.. I AM HOME. ... AND I WONT TRADE PLACES WITH ANYBODY FOR A MILLION BUCKS ;-)
well except the whole having to baby sit my 3 year old nephew bit.. he is ADORABLE and cunning and noisy and annoying and sometimes he makes you want to go arggghhhhhhh.. lol!
..till next time!
.... if i dont write this now, i don't know when i will.. its early in the morning, sunday the 5th of feb and i am at home feeling slightly under the weather.. i got a cold ( funny ,huh?) however, i am slowed down just long enough to type this up so here goes.. It is amazing to be back home, yup you heard me.. i said HOME. because i realize now more than ever that whenever i am amongst people who i know have my best interests at heart, i am home... and this is definitely the case here in Accra... it also helps that i grew up here ( partly anyways), lol!
What can i say? I have fallen in love.. with a city ..again. Accra is beautiful! The people, my people are amazing! The food, well, kelewele ( street side spicy fried plantians) on a cool monday night is just to die for! The weather.. HOTTTTT! I mean fricking sticky ain't no way i can get away from this heat kinda hot! Naturally i complain with the rest but truth be told, i am loving it! The city of Accra has changed a lot since the last time i was here, i mean that was after all 8 years ago.. Someone once told me in a long conversation about many things, that good roads are a hallmark of development.. or something along those lines.. well then, Accra is well on its way into the transition period. The major roads in the city are amazingly good.. a drive at 3 am when the streets are empty will affirm that ...and everywhere you go, there is more construction. Those IMF HIPC loans are sure coming in handy.. pity we will be paying for them for generations to come. The present Kuffor government is well into its second term. People are disgruntled as people usually are.. but truth be told there is a whole lot of work that they should be given accolades for..
.
...... I know this WILL sound almost sacrilegious coming from me.. but the capitalist fever has sure put Ghana on the road to "development" . The shifting of the markets from public to private and to ppp 's ( public private partnerships ) has led to an explosion of available services with affordable prices.. Take telecommunications for example.. you can sign up to get a cell phone with either , gt- ghana telecom, areeba, one touch or buzz- mobitel. because the options are more, the rates are pretty darn good! i can call the states for less than 2 cents on my cell phone!!
The same with the internet.. you can get broadband or Dial up and each service is offered by a number of companies.. which means competitive rates all across the board.. Now i wont pretend to know exactly who is providing these services, i 'd love to believe that they are Ghanaian owned but it is highly likely that some of 'em are international companies.. The many trade agreements as HIPC members we are forced to be party to have led to a flood in foreign goods on the markets. However, the government has also embarked on an aggressive "buy made in Ghana goods" campaign... Causal friday here is traditional friday .. so people wear traditional attire to work on fridays. so in addition to efforts to participate in the global economy there is are also efforts to strengthen the Ghanaian economy..
.. i haven't been too far out of Accra yet. I intend on going up North where the gap in the rich and poor that exists in this world is stark.. one can only hope that as we make strides towards creating a healthier society ( where health is defined as a complete state of well-being) the gap will begin to narrow. i still haven't figured out how capitalism is 'pposed to achieve this.. you know a society where nobody lives below the poverty line.. but till something better comes up, i guess this will have to suffice. Make no mistake about it, i still believe that in the end,a capitalist society with all is trappings will be humanities downfall.. however, right now when people are dying because of a lack of the basic necessities, it is proving to be a useful system to relive some of the immeasurable pressures on the public sector in the provision of these basic needs. People here are pretty darn hardworking, and its nice to see that there is actually opportunity for advancement.. and being the people we are we never move up without pulling someone else up behind us.... okay nuff with the economics..
.. i know some of you are dying to hear how i am doing personally... no surprise here, i am doing A-OK. a lot better than i was when i was in toronto. my perspective from here ( a much higher perch in the pecking order) is, i like to believe, clearer. I came here to do my thesis, see my family, relax for a minute and return back to the grind of a north american society..
now i am feverently looking for how i can create my niche here so that i can return in the next 5 years and contribute to the growth and continued development of my world. yes, this is my world. ;-). its not difficult to see that Ghana is on the cusp of some very big things. and that unfortunately there are few "younger" people poised to contribute and i aint going to lie, benefit from the progress. Well, I intend to be one of them. So as i go about my daily business i am continually assessing the overall situations. I know that in this society i am amongst the privileged few. What would be sacrilegious is my throwing that away by living in a part of the world where it doesn't mean diddly squat, instead of using my position, where it matters, to better the lives of those who have less than i do. thats how i am feeling anyway.
... in terms of my thesis ( female childhood sexual abuse as a public health issue), well, things are moving right along and i am crazy busy on a daily basis. i decided to go ahead and apply for ethical review here.. and within 4 days and after a few minor revisions i had my approval. now i am recruiting my study participants and conducting mini- focus groups on the issue of childhood sexual abuse... the issue is BIG here. sadly- or not depends on your perspective- the timing of my work couldn't be better. there is a general stirring in the consciousness of the people on this topic so the reluctance to speak that i had anticipated is practically non-existence. i am convinced that some good will come out of this, my thesis wont be shelf-ed after its all done, but will actually contribute towards creating change, now ain't that something to be happy about?
concurrently, i am taking notes on the organizational structures that exist to educate on human rights issues, to develop and enhance capacity and contribute to efforts in creating sustainable development. this after all is the direction on which i want to steer Voices ( my not-for-profit) in.. so i am taking notes, copious notes ;-).. and slowly translating my observations into something tangible that could be a serious vehicle for disadvantaged, exploited and at risk youth. i figure i am definitely in the right place at the right time.. and so i am taking it and running with it as fast as i can..as cautiously as i can.. and as prayerfully as i can..
... personally, my lenses have changed... or maybe just cleared up.. either ways i suspect this will affect a lot of the personal relationships i HAD when i was in Toronto. I know it might sound harsh but it took my coming out here to realize that some people just need to be cut the heck off. i have always maintained that it went against my grain to do that, but there is always an exception to the grain. and when you know that there are people in your life that exist in your world solely for their own benefit and all that they do be it good or bad are motivated by self-interest, you need to cut them the **** off! that ain't no mutually benefitting relationship, its a parasitic encounter of the worst kind. Continue to pray them, by all means, but keep your distance and i intend on doing just that..
..Speaking of prayer, all of my experiences at the end of the day boil down to the impact they are having on my spirit. Not surprisingly, my spirit is well.. in a strange reversal of things, this scares me.. because i know that it is much harder to cry out to the Abba when life is smooth sailing. I know this. i feel this. but i continue to try to persevere and to praise always for my blessings which seem to be falling by bucketfuls these days. Someone once told me they didn't want to stay too close because if they did they would end up both with bad luck and broke ( i kid you not, someone actually said this!) well, ain't it funny, cos it seems like without 'em, my winds of misfortune are all blown out, lol.. and should they return and of this i have no doubt, my Abba, my inner strength and my highly developed resiliency will, as it always has, pull me through. I never quite got why, this innate trait to triumph wasn't celebrated... but hey folks just different...
so as i continue my personal, spiritual and professional journey out here ..at home ..i am very conscious of a lot of things both past and present and as each day passes continue to put things into perspective. In December, i begged a friend to wait for me to go through this experience. i knew it would be healing and life altering and i begged to not be "put out" until i had touched my rock.. i dont know if i hate em or love em for seemingly hard heartedly ignoring my pleas but i do know one thing, with the Father's help i will NEVER EVER find myself in that place again.
.. I AM HOME. ... AND I WONT TRADE PLACES WITH ANYBODY FOR A MILLION BUCKS ;-)
well except the whole having to baby sit my 3 year old nephew bit.. he is ADORABLE and cunning and noisy and annoying and sometimes he makes you want to go arggghhhhhhh.. lol!
..till next time!