Economy of Democracy

There is an interesting article in today’s GRAPHIC written by one Larweh Therson-Cofie, entitled “A tale of two economies”

It compares Ghana to Malaysia from an economic perspective. It makes it’s comparison on the basis that both country’s were British colonies and both country’s achieved independence in 1957.

The direct comparisons were made between 1957 economic data and 1984 economic data.

Ghana Malaysia

Population 13.5 m 15.8m
Land Size 92.098 sq mi 127.316 sq mi
GDP $4.7b $29.8b
Per capita $420 $1.886
Reserves $631m $6.4b
Engaged in Agriculture 60% 21%
Engaged in Manufacturing 10% 32%

It was an interesting article and a comparison which leads one to ponder on why the difference.

Since 1957 Malaysia has been part of a stable political environment with very little upheavals. Ghana on the other hand was subjected to military rule for 21 years out of the 48 years of independence. Ghana is the second largest gold producer in Africa and has other mineral resources that would make a lot of country’s smile.

The conclusion of the article is that democracy promotes peace, political stability and rapid economic development.

Since democracy returned to Ghana in 1993, economic growth is now around 5.8%, inflation has dropped from 40% in 2000 to 14% in 2005 and interest rates have reduced from 50% in the late 1990’s to the current level of 22%.

These are positive results and with an election due in 2007, MP’s arrested for drug dealing in the USA and the President under pressure to defend accusations that he is the recipient of kick backs, one would hope and trust that the country will be in the state to continue economic growth and prosperity for all.

Corruption remains the biggest hurdle!

Me and my mate Kieth

The puppy dog eyes indicate excess consumption of Captains

3000+

Oh yes - and my counter has clocked over the 3000 hit mark.

Thats in 18 months. Maybe I need to put sex, naked woman, Paris Hilton shagging and other nice stuff in my blog to attract hits.

But it is an average of 5 hits a day which means the 7 of you visiting my site do so waaaay to often. *chuckle*

(I like this picture stuff)

The picture is of Nessers and Sam at the start of a party

Hummmmmmm

I notice these nice icons for the first time (Esther told me about it in a mail a while back) and I wondered if the Picture Icon works well. The picture - if it posts is of me down south burning meat.

Hitting Branches of the Stupid Tree

Another day in Africa!

Month end is complete and I await the currency restatement tonight in order to complete my reports tomorrow and file away another month in Ghana.

My malaria has left me, but I seem to have a nagging cough and nasal drip as a reminder. This better bugger off before I head back South!!

I was chatting to Nessers yesterday. This was in response to her chatting about her nose bleeds. Now when Nessers nose bleeds, it bleeds. She has seen a quack about it, but for some reason will not get it fixed permanently.

And then she mentioned something which made me worry about how blonde she can be. “Wow love, it was bleeding so much I thought about putting a tampax in my nose”

I remember a very long time ago when I was very young (These kind of things stay with you) when I discovered a tampon left in the bathroom by my sister (Unused I will add). I pulled the thing apart none the wiser what it was. Only when I saw an advert in the paper some time later that it dawned on me what it was. I must have been around 9?

A few years later now, and I am a tad wiser as to the mechanics of tampons. After our Nessers made this wonderful statement (as she brushed past a branch of the stupid tree) I had this picture of a tampon in her nostril doing what a tampon does best. That is swell up to the size of a small glass and trap all the liquid behind it. Looks good on TV but the picture I had in my mind of a nostril swelling to accommodate the rapidly filling tampon was too much to bear.

I almost dropped the phone from laughing.

Nessers did – to her credit – realised she had just brushed said branch of the stupid tree.

The next people to hit the branch of the stupid tree is some faceless person who decided in order to make their lives easier they will issue edicts which bounce off the stupid branches on the way down.

As everyone in SA knows – the construction industry shuts down over Xmas. Therefore the faceless wonder decided that everyone had to fill in leave forms for the Xmas shut down. All works well in theory. Except they fuck everything up by adding to the edict “If you do not fill in a leave form – you will automatically be debited 13 days leave”. In theory good, as construction walla’s are not known for their paperwork.

When you point out that Ghana is not South Africa and the idea of construction shutting down in December has not reached this far north, you are met with a stony silence.

When you further point out that we are not taking annual leave in December, you are met with more stony silence.
When you again point out the stupidity of having to complete a leave form indicating that you are not going on leave to prevent having leave deducted you are met with an email stating “Since no leave forms have been received from you, you will automatically have 13 days deducted from your leave”

When you have finished screaming in abject frustration, you hear the sound of the faceless one bounce off the last branch in the stupid tree.

I swear – the faceless one MUST have worked in government.

That said – I am taking my R&R (pointed look at the faceless one) from the 23rd December 2005. Which gets me home for Xmas (just) but means I miss a friends wedding. The joys of living in the Jungle.

Another interesting part of the week was doing an accounting tutorial for this course that I am doing. It has been a long time since I have done accounting tutorials, but I laughed to note that the people that set questions still use the same old tricks that they used 20 years ago. 52 and 53 week years in ratio analysis is a trick as old as the hills. These lads try not to keep it simple.

It was also interesting to note that they used a real life company. Fossil Inc. All the ratios indicated the company was having a problem. This was in 2001. in 2005 their share price had effectively doubled making the investment decision based purely on the ratios a bit silly. I wonder if the person marking the paper will take kindly to my conclusion that making an investment decision based purely on the results of ratio analysis is a sure way of making the incorrect decision.

Oh yes

We all went to the beach this weekend. I swam, body surfed in the 1.5 meter swell, got burnt, got pissed, shouted at the TV screen as the Springboks got thumped by the French and generally had a good time.

Carlos also made contact with the stupid tree when he decided to carry meat in the car and not notice that blood had leaked onto the mat.

Take blood on the mat and a car with windows closed baking in the sun for two days and you will soon realise their trip back home was not a nice experience.

(Put hand to ear and hear the thud)

You have fun now – you hear – and keep away from the branches of that tree!

Mental Ilness in Ghana

A "reputable" daily rag (The Daily Graphic) had the following headline:

5.7 million Ghanaians suffer from mild mental disorder

I thought it was a requirement to make living in Ghana a lot easier.

Take the following instances.

Plain clothes cops decide to bust illegal lotto sellers. One illegal seller bolts and the cops fire "warning shots". A little lad of 8 gets hit by one of these warning shots. The local cops were not taught to shoot in the air? They were evidently not taught that firing their weapons in crowded streets was a nono as well. Or if you know the lads name and he runs away - and the charge is a small one. Why try shoot him?

Yup - that fits into the "mental illness" catagory


I get pulled over by the mine speed cops today. Yup even the mines have speed cops. Now I am careful as hell on the mine as it would not look good to my guys for the bossman to be pulled over. I thought it was a regular safety check. When said mentally ill candidate told me I was speeding, I looked at him and said "Nope. No ways I was speeding". After "discussions" were held, I finally told the guy to write me up and I will take up the issue with mine management.

The man finally said he will not write me up because I was only exceeding the 55kmph limit by 1kmph. I looked long and hard at the now confirmed candidate and asked him nicely to remind me why he pulled me over.

I drove off shaking my head in amazement.

There was an invitation to tender for 420.000 Motor Insurance Stickers. That leads me to assume there are some 400.000 cars in Ghana. Based on the traffic in Accra, they must all be there!!

Ghana Airlines have been taken to task for not serving traditional Ghanian dishes on their flights. I think it has something to do with not been able to have open fires on board to roast the plantain.

and on that mentally challenging picture, we are on month end weekend, I am off to Obuasi as they are working this weekend.

So have fun happy people :)

Slave Exit

Slave Exit
Originally uploaded by Hop.

the last bit of Ghana the slaves had...

SO near - So far

SO near - So far
Originally uploaded by Hop.

Dear Diary,

I have a room with a view

Governors Res

Governors Res
Originally uploaded by Hop.

Stand on the balcony and count the people clanking by.

Mortar

Mortar
Originally uploaded by Hop.

or distinct lack thereof

Carel looking for female Slaves

Carel looking for female Slaves
Originally uploaded by Hop.

Elmina Harbour

Elmina Harbour
Originally uploaded by Hop.

on fish market day

Plaque

Plaque
Originally uploaded by Hop.

41? not a bad age to die

Dated Plaque

Dated Plaque
Originally uploaded by Hop.

28 Feb 1855 - Almost as old as me.

Cells

cells
Originally uploaded by Hop.

Lock up

Elmina Castle

Elmina Castle
Originally uploaded by Hop.

The place is obviously up on a hill, although to be honest when you look at the slave gate where slaves were directly loaded onto a ship, realise that today the sea is at least 50 meters back, it may have been surrounded by water 150 odd years ago.

Tourist 102

Quite a while ago I had occasion to visit Elmina Castle. I had not used my camera for a while since then – not even to taken naked pics of Nessers – so I forgot I did a point and shoot on that trip.

I have downloaded the pics off the chip and present them for you viewing pleasure.

Just as a background:

Cape Coast was one of the central points of the slave trade in the 17th and 18th century. A whole load of African Americans owe their American citizenship to this castle.

An even greater portion of Africans died before they even got to the American Shores.

The most interesting part of the history, in my opinion, was the actual collection of slaves was left up to local warlords who kidnapped people and sold them to the slave traders.

The slave gate picture to me is very interesting as it appears you had to be bloody skinny to fit on the ship. If you were fat, there was no ways you were going to fit through that gate.

A whole load of Americans come to Ghana each year to “trace back their roots”. My feeling is interestingly the Americans want to be like Ghanaians and the Ghanaians want to be like Americans. Ergo – both groups are disappointed.

A good tourist venue in Ghana – Cape Coast abounds with forts and castles, although what interested me was they charged a fair amount to get into the castle – including an additional charge per camera – but the place is exceedingly run down and dare I say, falling apart. Good venues such as this one needs to be protected in my mind.

Elections, Drugs, Money, Law and Erections

There are times in life when you chuckle

And now is one of those times:

It appears that a “right honorable” Member of Parliament has had the handcuffs slapped on his wrists in New York for attempting to smuggle 67kg of Heroin into the good old USA. That’s the start of the most amazing series of related news articles.

1.
The senior minister of the NPP (which is the ruling party) was heard saying – obviously before he knew the identity of the MP in lock up “I am praying he is an MP from the NDC Party” (The opposition). Needless to say – he was a member of the ruling party.

2.
Said MP was arrested on 12th November 2005. He was marked present in parliament. Very much a case of been in two places at the same time. I am assuming he was wishing that he really was in parliament as opposed to the New Jersey lock up being introduced to Bubba.

3.
It was said on his arrest he claimed diplomatic immunity. It is now been said that all MP’s will be trained as to how they qualify for immunity. Not a diplomat – no immunity. I thought that was simple.

4.
The MP is in lock up. He will stay there for a while. Apparently he can only be booted out if he misses 15 sitting days. He applied for – and was granted permission – to be away from the house until 25/11/2005. As there are less than 15 sitting days until recess, he remains a MP until Feb next year when parliament reconvenes. He happens to enjoy all his benefits until then. Will he resign? That is the $3000 per month question.

5.
I wonder if his application for permission to be absent from the house – sent after his arrest – detailed the reasons for his absence.

6.
One of the local newspapers insist that he was arrested for cocaine trafficking. This is despite the charge sheet listing heroin. The local newspaper after days of been told of its error, refuses to put the record straight.

Ghanaians in general are mortified that an elected member of parliament has been arrested for drug dealing. Rumors abound however that even before the lad was elected he was involved in all sorts of shady deals. But he was still elected……

You may recall a blog a while back as regards my Nigeria trip and the State Governor that was arrested in the UK for money laundering.

Well surprise surprise. The said Governor is back in Nigeria. He bolted the UK shores using a false passport AND disguised as a woman!!

Now shoot me with a used piece of super glue. How the fuck can the lads in SA confiscate my lighter when I board a plane, but the security lads in the UK do not take note of a bloody ugly wo(man) boarding a plane bound for Ghana. I thought that’s the reason why you poor buggers in the UK are paying extra taxes for security. Security? Take care of the little things (like lighters) and the big things (like fugitives from justice) will slip through all by themselves.

To the Nigerians credit, 18 out of 24 MP’s have called for his impeachment. Of course in terms of Nigerian Law as he is a governor he cannot be charged in a court of law. Methinks the 18 MP’s should change the immunity law.

On other Notes.

When you rob someone and steal his cheque book. Make sure that you understand the difference between a USD account and a GHC account.

Said wally robbers stole said cheque book and tried to cash a cheque for GHC 230 million. (some ZAR 160.000). When the Barclays Teller noted to the person that he cannot write a GHC cheque on a USD account, the wannabe criminal bolted from the bank. In most places – case closed.

Not in Ghana. It appears on the face of it, the associates of the criminal decided there is no trust among thieves and did not believe that the bank would not cash the cheque. So of course our two brains go back to the bank to find out why they would not cash the cheque.

Hear the sound of handcuffs closing around wrists?

They did.

Hear the sound of two people hitting every branch of the stupid tree on the way down?

They did!

Mauritz sent me an “announcement” with an edict to use it in my blog.

Now as I know Mauritz reads my blog once in a while, comments via email once in a while, is the peanut that refused to send my music system to Ghana and generally sends me pics of a good type when he senses I am uber frustrated – I decided it could generate enough of a chuckle to include it.

“The Government of the USA has announced its crest will change with immediate effect. Instead of the Eagle (Bald headed – unlike Mauritz) it will now be a CONDOM.

The reasons for this are:

It allows for inflation
Stops production
Destroys future generations
Protects a bunch of dicks
Gives you a sense of security while you are being screwed!”

Now I understand why Mauritz has a condom as a logo on his emails………..

On that note:- My blue blood has finally been tainted. After 16 months in malaria territory without catching the Lurgy, I finally have found a mozzie that liked the taste of captains and garlic.

I have had malaria since Sunday, taken the Chinese tables, sweated, tossed and turned, felt generally grim and NOT lost any weight!

For focks sake – if I am going to get sick, at least make it so I can lose some bloody weight when I am sick.

There is no justice!!!!

I am also tossing and turning in bed dreaming of DRAWINGS!!! I mean goodness. I have not had sex for over a month man!! At least if I am going to dream, let it be about sex!!!

There is no Justice!!!!!

Drawings have been a good part of my life for the past few days. Those of you that know me know that I missed the technical drawing part of my B Comm. course. So did 100% of my fellow B Comm. students. That has not stopped me from staring at the lined paper and trying to make head or tail of it and complete two quotes. I am starting to get the hang of it.

I was also the only walla to notice “Field Welds Required” notification on a piping drawing and “Temporary Bracing to be provided by contractor” on a structural drawing. Both omissions having left the technical walla’s with an embarrassed look on their faces. So there is life in the old accountant after all!!

With a bit of luck, our lil business unit will go into December with $1.4 million on the order book!!

Hold Thumbs! - we are!

Of Site and Sound Mind??

Another Sunday – another week passes us by :- Another week closer to home time: (In theory one month).

What has happened this week to young Tones?

Well loads actually: Lets see:

Our site manager on one of our projects was sent home due to medical problems, which left the site sans a site manager. I decided to step into the breach until something more permanent could be found. I learnt a hell of a lot about the job, worked on my fear of heights as the lads took me to look at all kinds of places so I would know what the hell I was talking about, sweated like a dog, got to enjoy cold showers at night when I got home (Can NEVER enjoy cold showers in the morning!!) and in all honesty had a load of fun.

Did I achieve much there? - Yup – I think I can honestly say I contributed positively.

That wonderful feeling when the door you have been knocking on for almost a year opens a crack and a sliver of light comes in…. well that happened this week when the one mine we had not been able to break into decided it was open season on Group Five and I am now spending my Sunday doing wonderful stuff like method statements, work plans, HSE Statements and Plans and other amazing stuff the lads in SA do on a regular basis.

Will we crack it? It appears 80% on the positive side. We should know by next week Thursday! So – Hold Thumbs. Everyone here has just that little more of a spring in their step.

The lads in Obuasi decided to spring a surprise on me on Friday night and took me to the top of the mountain. The road was 4x4 trial stuff and Zack had a cutlass (Panga to the South Africans) with which he made like Livingston and cut offending branches that blocked the road. On more than one occasion we thought he was going to chop his leg off as the swings were quite energetic.

The view was stunning and a definite return with the camera and long lenses is on the cards. What I also learn is the place is a firm favorite for the mine lads to come up and braai. While we were up there around 8 vehicles made the trip and a farewell party for one of the mine expats ensued. Met a few mine lads, supped our Captains the lads had bought up the hill and got home very relaxed around 8pm.

I must admit, having a rip roarer on the mountain (hill) and having to drive down the goat track is NOT something I would like to be part of.

Back in Tarkwa for a few days – to catch up all the work that has fallen into my tray since I decided to play site person. And I assume another 6 hour trip to our potential new client on Wednesday.

The lads are busy!

And best I get busy as well…..

Of trips postponed and clothes not packed

Another Monday in the sprawling Metro of Tarkwa and the missive gets another chapter.

We had a “pelican” (as the site lads called poor Gerick – and me I think) from SA to review the site job we are busy with in Obuasi. Needless to say he cursed about the road from Accra to Obuasi and would have cursed about the road from Tarkwa to Accra as well.

(Definition: Pelican (slang). Comes in, bobs its head around, drops shite all over the place and flies away again)

That said – My packing skills (or lack thereof) continue to plague me. Having two abodes – one in Tarkwa and one in Accra – I have got into the habit of leaving clothes at both places which generally means I have to pack less when I travel between the two towns. Where I get a bit lost is when I have to go via Obuasi. On two occasions now, I have found myself in Obuasi with no shirts. Last week was a tad embarrassing as I had already loaned a shirt from Zack the week before. To resolve the situation I had to send one of the lads from site to buy me shirts. I got one really foul one and a very nice polo shirt for R150.00 total. Still had me cursing.

I was due to go to Burkina Faso this week, but said Pelican used my car to go to Accra and catch the Sunday flight. Once again the new flights caught us out. U see. When the flight leaves at 23.55 it is a Saturday. When it leaves at 02.35 it is a Sunday. Poor old Gerick arrived at the airport at midnight to find that his flight had actually left at 02.35 on Sunday and it was now Monday in airline parlance. He is now rebooked on Tuesday at 02.35 which means he has to check in on Monday. Tres confusing.

My car therefore does not return, Burkina trip would only commence on Wednesday, which would leave insufficient time to get anything done before the weekend. Apparently the French lads in Burkina take weekends off. (and 2 hour lunch hours, but that’s a different story)/ The trip is now rescheduled for Sunday.

The weekend was work work work, with a tender due on Tuesday, two mines wanting prices on rather large jobs and another lad from SA arriving to work out my local staff’s training requirements. Needless to say there was not much time spent at home.

I did toddle over to Rudy’s for “lunch” at 5pm on Sunday which was a great Beef Roast, creamed veggies (yes I ate them AND enjoyed it) and a wonderful potato bake. Great Chef is our Rudy. There was a bit of Captains enjoyed but we did spend some time making nice brochures for a tender they were doing.

Home, couch, Troy (good movie) and sleep. In that order.

I awoke early – packed (and realised all my long pants are in Accra) and toodled off to work after buying a lighter. (well 4 actually as Ghana lighters tend to self destruct after using it a dozen times or so). There is a thing that bugs me when you live with other people. I had 3 perfectly good lighters from SA that I bought around 6 months ago. Total amazement that I did not lose my white lighter and it finally ran out on me. I can count on one hand how many times that has happened. I knew I had the spares, but when it came to actually finding them on the lounge desk. They had been appropriated. *growl*

A few items from Ghana news?

The only interesting item I picked up since my last blog was the fact Ghana presented their 2006 budget last week. It is the first time since independence (48 years ago) that the budget has been presented before the start of the budget year. That in itself needs to be applauded.

Company tax and personal tax was reduced to 25% from 28% and tax free limits were lifted. Noble I must admit, but one would question reducing revenue from taxation in a country that needs as much development as Ghana does.

A deficit is budgeted for which is less than 3% of GDP. Not bad given the development they need in Ghana.

No breakdown of what was given to where formed part of the budget. This was the one major failing and led me to believe that the other departments did not finish their budget in time.

There was no major comment on Macro items and Fuel imports were left static which could be interesting as the year progresses.

$8,2 billion debt was or will be written off by Ghana’s creditors. While saving on interest, I will be interested to see how much Ghana will borrow in the next 12 months. There is already talk in the press that they are looking for a $1.2 billion loan for infrastructure development.

The government reiterated its intention to ensure a minimum wage of $2.00 per day by 2008. The current minimum wage is GHC13.000 per day ($1.48).

With Ghana a member of ECOWAS it was noted that monetary unity was postponed to 2009. Of interest was the targeted establishment of a common customs union by 2007

Comment was made as to the 14% projected increase in tourism in 2006 and the substantial increase in the number of available hotel rooms from 28.000 to 34.000 in 2006. (estimate of some 40 additional hotels). Further note was taken of the commitment to building low cost houses

Government has committed themselves to creating legislation to channel long term institutional funds into mortgage financing as well as tax deductions from personal tax for mortgage interest. They also announced assistance to developers of 1.000 units or more. This will in no doubt assist the formal housing market.


An interesting budget. Not comprehensive such as our South African one, but one that sets out the processes for 2006. One hopes the implementation is speedy as well.

The budget was called “The Good News Budget” and quite honestly it could be good news.

I have a meeting on the mine. So let me post this and Vanish!

Have fun people and peoplesses

Of breakfasts and passports

We have Accra on a Monday after a weekend of storms, no power, heat and sushi.

Yup…. I was in Obuasi on Thursday for a series of meetings, all of which were most productive and positive. We managed a few drinks at the local pub with our lads and later on our clients, and although I was in a bit of a party mood – no-one else was. *sigh*.

Thursday night was also the first of a series of power failures that have plagued me over the last few days. Obuasi have a nice new genset at the house so failure of Ghana Power to deliver on time is easily resolved. One thing they do not have is a shower with hot water. I am still trying to work out, what idiot builds a house with four bathrooms, two of which have showers, and decide that the bath can be hot and the shower can be cold.

I will NEVER get used to a cold shower in the morning!

Friday was a trip to Accra, visit to a client on a large project they are considering and more power failures. The Accra house is a large one and one is constantly amazed at how hot it gets inside when the air conditioners are not working. To make matters worse, the aircon in my room has blown its mortal coil and my room never had a head start. We cooked on gas and read by candle light.

Saturday was a series of meetings once again, starting at my second office – The Golden Tulip – for a breakfast meeting on housing in a box and rural electrification projects. Tulip breakfasts are nice!

The other meetings revolved around suppliers in Accra as we try get our buying process resolved. Useful.

Saturday afternoon was a few reports and the required nap.

Two of our clients were up on a flying visit to our Obuasi project and flew in on Saturday evening to Accra, before hopping on SAA for the trip down south. SAA have once again moved their flights from 23:55 to 02:35 which in my view is a really silly time for a plane to take off. But once again they are pandering to the US market. We are now faced with two choices. Sleep until around 11pm and then check in or go on the piss until midnight and then check in. No prizes for guessing what option gets chosen. *chuckle*

Our clients were treated to the vagaries of local air travel with a 40 seater aircraft replaced by a 20 seater aircraft and the resultant bun fight to get to Accra. They were fortunate enough to secure the required seats instead of been faced with a 4 hour night drive to Accra from Kumasi on what is now fully recognized as the most dangerous road in Ghana.

You may recall last week I mentioned I had discovered a sushi restaurant. Well now was the perfect opportunity to sample their wares. This was however preceded by the rugby at 8pm and we were buoyed by South Africa’s fine win over Argentina.

The sushi was nice, the steaks and swordfish were apparently stunning, the wine was fresh and the company good. Expensive - but good. We happily deposited said clients at the airport at 00:15 and staggered off to bed some 30 minutes later. I really am becoming a bit of a woes when it comes to late nights.

Sunday was a day of power on – power off and my power supply to the router shuffled its mortal coil as well. We happily spent a few hours at the beach, supping some Star Beer and watching the world go by.

I now have a few days in Accra sorting out some items that have being placed on hold since I arrived.

One of which is I seem to have misplaced my bloody passport. I cannot believe after 25 odd years of traveling, for the first time I cannot work out where I left my passport. A trip to the SA High Commission is on the cards.

The issue is however attached to my passport is my Yellow Inoculation Card which now will have to be replaced as well as my multi entry Nigerian visa.

Updated: Passport was found at the airport. Digging in my brain (which proves to be difficult most of the time) I recalled that the jimmy at customs asked for my passport. After spending an inordinate amount of time checking my stuff, I bolted, happy to get away with my imports and in dire need of a smoke. Needless to say I did not remember to retrieve said passport.

You will be amazed how many other people leave their passports at the airport. They have over 100 there. So if you lost your passport in Ghana, odds are it is at the Kotoka International Airport – Airport Services

Say after me “You are an idiot!”

Current Ghanaian issues to chat about?

There are none. *chuckle* well none of any significance. The newspapers carry stories one can only consider mundane. One that did catch my eye was the editor of the Sun newspaper in the UK was arrested on a domestic violence charge. Apparently she beat up her husband.

As we have a contract on the go, I had to toddle out and purchase some food for the Accra house as a good few people will be sleeping overnight before making the trek to Obuasi, or later to Bogoso.

Mainly breakfast goodies:

Cornflakes still take the cake at R50.00 for a packet, orange juice at R12.00 a litre, cheese at R60.00 a kg and milk at R12.00 a litre. Expensive place to eat breakfast is Accra.

The cheaper prices are still meat at R25.00 a kg for beef and R28.00 a kg for marinated chicken cubes. Coke is cheap at R3.00 a tin for the imported (and better tasting) coke and I indulged my passion for the pita bread here at R6.00 for six large pita bread.

All in all a quiet time. Now that it is 8am and Accra has woken up, let me get out there and start my day!

Oh yes! I remembered my niece’s birthday! How good is that. I sent a sms – she phoned and we had a nice chat before the phones died once again.



You keep on smiling you hear!

IN keeping with my problem with Authority

Another week starts, and by the time I realise it, it is Wednesday.

To say I have hit the ground running is correct. However! I had the weekend off this weekend, thanks to my friends at IT who wanted to play games with the database. (true to form today we get a mail bemoaning the fact that the database has folded in upon itself and a restore was required. Net effect: All Tuesdays work was lost. Net effect for me: Nada cause I did no input yesterday: hehehe

That said – the weekend:

As mentioned in the previous blog the beach was going to be a fun option. That was until Zack phoned from Obuasi and mentioned spit braai and party. Quick phone call to Marco to confirm that we had place to sleep and Obuasi became an attractive place to be.

Off we toddle to the local Captain Morgan Shop and purchase 2 x captains and 4 x Beer. Why so little you ask. Well – both Carlos and Myself did not have much money *chuckle* But the four beers lasted us until the T junction. *ewg*

The weekend was thus pork leg on the spit, loads of captains and bouts of tossing a rugby ball around. Standing in the rain cooling off towards the end of the evening was a bonus. The food was good (Garlic and more Garlic), booze was enough and company was great.

Sunday AM wake up was somewhat difficult thanks to sore muscles from the running around the day before. Gawd am I unfit and an old man.

That also said – it was decided to finally erect the bicycle and start doing something to increase the lung capacity and our shag limits. Carlos being a mechanic was entrusted with the task and before long we were proud fathers of a bike in the corner of the lounge smiling happily at us.

Since that date, we have with long teeth and not a small amount of moaning completed our 4km per day at an average speed of 24kmph. The tension is only at level 3 but we are starting slowly. By 2009 we should be up to 4km at level 9. *chuckle*

Can I feel a difference after 4 days? No. Unless you count the sore legs! But with each one egging the other on…. We shall overcome. Maybe when I get back down south Nessers will not have to be on top quite so much. *smile*

Once again today I have fallen foul of the local federales!! It appears while I was pigging out on sushi in South Africa, the requirement to wear a safety belt was made law. Of course I only hear about this AFTER the fact. Normally I am very good with wearing my seat belt, but as luck would have it, today was one of those bad days. Billy the Nick pulls me over and here I am thinking they want their GHC50.000 from the money man. Nope: He quite happily proceeds to kak on me for not wearing a seat belt. 6.45am – I am NOT a morning person. Do NOT kak on me until I have had my cuppa. Needless to say I waxed lyrical about how he was stopping me, but no other people etc etc.

It was proven that he had not charged (formally anyway) any other person with not wearing a seat belt. I refused point blank to dash the problem away, so I am in the proud possession of a little note on white paper telling me that I should pitch up at the local circuit court on 08/11/2005 at 9am.

I have already started my written presentation. I mean they canna lock you up for not wearing a seat belt can they!! At most it is going to cost me time and money. All this instead of paying the dash and carrying happily on. But today I am having my “problem with authority” day – as one of our lads in SA found out when they decided to replace a perfectly fine “advance form” with a new version that did not take into account the fact that we are not based in Head Office – or for that matter even in South Africa.

Tomorrow I am off for a series of meetings at Obuasi before toodling off to Accra for a series of meetings there.

We are also planning a trip to Burkina Faso in the next two weeks. I do get to the most exotic locations.

I am also planning a return trip to Nigeria as well as a trip to Benin. Be still my beating heart :

Other than that: Life goes on

All is well at home, besides Lisa asking for money for a broken car and a broken TV. I have looked at my credit card statement in disgust and realise that I was quite the spender while down south. Ahh well – we live but once. However over R1000 on sushi was rather interesting. (We ignore the GPS, new shoes and other goodies for the moment). Hehe

Fun people – I hope you have a smile on your face, and are at least getting regular nookie…..!

Till next time 

(Oh yes – I have started my economics tutorial. A micro Economic Analysis on why Anglo American PLC has decided to disinvest from AngloGold Ashanti and concentrate on the platinum sector. It is proving to be quite fun)