NaNo NaNo

Okay, so I'm late by hey, what's new? I've decided to the NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org) thing so I won't be posting anything on this blog until Dec 1. Not unless I'm really itching to...but no. I am determined this year. 50k is the target and I'm getting phat.

Torn between two loves, winning every time

I feel like holding up a lit candle and swaying from side to side singing, we are the world, we are the children, but that's not very far from how I feel after my trip to Ghana. Don't get me wrong. My bags are unpacked, and all thoughts of decamping and moving back to Ghana are now...well, kinda buried.
I'm lovin' this enduring Autumn's stunning chilly skies. I enjoy wrapping up for firework nights and long walks in the park. The Child and I are now back to our routine, rushing to catch yellow-yellow leaves as they fall from trees; cuddling up on the sofa to watch Strictly. My horrendous commute continues and I'm back to turning up late for work, leaving early and stressing all the while. Living only for the magic 8.30 pm when, I can finally exhale and write.
Yet thoughts of Ghana are not far away. And I definitely want to visit more often. How lucky am I to love two countries.
And as a writer, I see London and Accra as a rich source of stories. From London, I want to write about otherness, difference and fitting in; from Ghana I want to find and draw from an endless well of rarely told stories of gay love; benign polygamy; charismatic Christianity; drug trafficking; elder romance and child entrepreneurs. The list is endless. All I have to do is be the best writer that I can be and hope that the publishing world will welcome my stories.

Post Ghana: Introducing David

There are loads of impressive buildings all over Accra. In fact, when people talk of development they usually refer to the construction industry. I wanted to find out more so I decided to speak to someone who works in the industry. This is David. He is a local architect with his own business. His wife is an executive director of an international advertising company; his teenage children attend fee-paying schools.

WG: Okay, so I just want people who read the blog to know a bit about how you live. What car do you drive?
David: Mazda Pick up 2.7 ltr
WG: How many bedrooms are in your house?
David: Five
WG: How many domestic helpers do you have?
David: Three
WG: Now your job. Where did you train?
David: Bucharest, Romania



WG: How many people does your company employ?
David: Eight
WG: I have seen some very grand buildings in Accra. How much would it cost to design and build an eight bedroom mansion in an area like Airport or East Legon?
David: A 100'x100' (feet) plot would cost about US$30,000 and the house would be about US$80,000.
WG: How much would it cost to design and build a regional hospital?
David: It is hard to say. One hospital I worked on cost approximately 35 m (sterling ) (excluding consultancy fees).
WG: That's more than I thought it would be
David: There is a very funny phenomenon here in Ghana. Construction costs are high mainly because almost all the building materials are imported and, for a hospital, just add the cost of shipping all the equipment and paying the foreign 'experts' to install them plus their five star hotel bills - must I go on? It's even worse if the hospital is being built by the same people who are providing the loan for it.

WG: What do you think is the biggest problem facing Ghanaians today?

David: Misplaced priorities in terms of development.
WG: What are your hopes for the future?

David: One day, we will be able to enjoy the real fruits of our labour. There is a lot of money being generated in the country but most of it is unaccounted for, if these monies were to be utilised properly we would not need to borrow so much from the West
WG: Have you ever thought of leaving Ghana to live abroad?

David: Never!

WG: Wow, why such a strong answer?
David: It's not that I would never live abroad. It's just that I haven't thought about it simply because I believe a person can be or do whatever he or she wants no matter where they are located. I was born in Togo, I started primary school in Egypt, I was confirmed in Pakistan, I started secondary school in London and I went to university in Romania. From my experiences and from hearing those of my friends, I have come to believe that it's what you do, not where you are that makes a life worthwhile.

WG: What would you like people who read this blog to know about Ghana today? David: Ghana is a fast growing economy with lots of investment potential. As they say, the early bird catches the worm so, those who get in the market early will stand a very good chance of making a profitable investment. It's also a cool place to hang out.

Post Ghana: Introducing Emmanuel

I met Emmanuel, who became our regular taxi driver, when I was looking to hire a taxi with seat belts for The Child's car seat. He speaks impeccable English and agreed to to do this interview and have his picture on my blog.
WG:How old are you?
Emmanuel: 31
WG:Where are you from?
Emmanuel: Aflao (in the Volta Region)
WG: Who is in your family and how often do you see them?
Emmanuel: My father is dead. My mother is very old now. I am the fourth child of six and the responsibility for looking after my mother falls mainly with me. I send her money and I go back to the village at Christmas time. We have a great time together. Accra is no fun at that time of the year. People eat and drink a lot in the village and they take food to their neighbours' houses.
WG: Why did you come to Accra?
Emmanuel: I am here for work. I have lived in Accra for ten years. I am an electrician but I couldn't get work so I turned to taxi driving. I had an electrical apprenticeship but that was cut short. So far, I have worked for a security company and I have also baked pastries for a living. I have been driving a taxi for three years now.
WG: Are you university educated?
Emmanuel: (looks surprised) No, I didn't even go to secondary school. I would one day like to return to schol to study computer engineering.
WG: Do you have a girlfriend?
Emmanuel: Yes, we are engaged to be married. She is 26 and has a job.
WG: What do you think is the biggest problem facing Ghanaians today?
Emmanuel:It is difficult for a poor man from a poor family to be rich.
WG: What do you mean?
Emmanuel: Rich people help their children. Some of us [poor folk] are lazy. It will be hard for a rich person to help a stranger.
WG: Do you think I am rich?
Emmanuel: Yes
WG: Why?
Emmanuel: You live in a self-contained bungalow
WG: Self-contained?
Emmanuel: Yes, everything [kitchen, bathroom, toilet] is inside.
WG: Where do you live now?
Emmanuel: I am renting a single room.
WG: Would you feel rich if you lived in a self-contained property?
Emmanuel: Yes, that would make me happy.
WG: What do you think of the international celebrities and local politicians who build massive mansions in Accra?
Emmanuel: They live in a different world.
WG: What are your plans for the future?
Emmanuel: I want to open an electrical store. I have already bought a kiosk structure and I am saving up to buy the tools I will need. It is hard because I have so much responsibility back at the village.
WG: How much money will you need to set it all up?
Emmanuel: Two hundred and fifty Ghana Cedis (250 US dollars, 190 pounds approx).

Post Ghana: Introducing Vivian

Following my Londoner-come-to-town hissy fit,

I decided to talk to a few Ghanaians to find out more about life in Accra. This is Vivian. She's agreed for me publish her picture and tell her story on my blog. She is twenty-five years old and she comes from Ada (Tcevie) which is near the Eastern region. Her father (who is dead) was a farm hand and her mother is a vegetable trader. She was originally one of eight children. Four died. Vivian has a two year old daughter. Her son died some six months before I met her. Vivian does not speak English so this interview was conducted with the help of an intepreter.

WG: Why are you here in Accra?

Vivian: I am here to take up an offer of marriage.

WG: When?

Vivian: I am not sure yet. I am living with the man right now but my relatives are insisting on us doing things the traditional way so we will have to go back to the village to do the formal engagement and marriage.

WG: Are you happy with that arrangement?

Vivian: Yes, because I lived with my former partner without performing any rituals [engagement etc] and he just left when my son died so I support my relatives in this.

WG: I want to learn more about you. What worries you most about life?

Vivian: The way men behave. I would like to have a happy equal partnership with a man. I want to be independent, to start trading so that I can buy the things I need for myself.

WG: What makes you happy?

Vivian: Spending time with my sisters, having a laugh, watching television.

WG: How many languages do you speak?

Vivian: Four

WG: Did you ever go to school?

Vivian: (looks to the ground) No

WG:What in your opinion is the biggest problem facing Ghanaians today?

Vivian: People are suffering from money worries and no work

WG:What do you think about Ghanaians who come from overseas to build big houses and spend their foreign money in town?

Vivian: People who come from abroad have better opportunities so they go further. Their parents give them good opportunities.

WG: Would you ever consider going to school?

Vivian: Yes, if I could find someone to look after me to do it.

WG: Is your fiance in a position to support you to go to school?

Vivian: (looks to the ground and laughs): No

WG: What are your hopes for your daughter?

Vivian: I want to start trading so that I can send her to school

WG: How much capital do you need to start trading?

Vivian: One hundred and fifty thousand cedis (Fifteen US dollars, 8 or 9 pounds sterling)