Make Fufu Not War

Well I'm glad I got to experience my last riot on site before leaving this country. Excellent timing! It's mad how quickly a seemingly peaceful crowd can turn into an angry, loud, stone throwing, intimidating mob. Once again, it's all about the money. As the construction project is at final stages many of the local Ghanaians try to negotiate large bonus sums for themselves. Quite understandable actually. There may not be any work left for most people in the region for some time, years perhaps. However the demands aren't necessary reasonable and as yesterdays events have shown sometimes you just can't reason.
   What started as civil discussions with labour representatives and management, turned quickly into stone throwing and other exercises of the intimidating kind. When it got heated I slipped off my chair, to a crouching position in a corner of my office in an effort not to be seen or heard for about 1.5 hrs until the first wave of the angry mob had calmed. This turned out to be a good idea. Eventually though I was discovered by a group of workers. This is probably the first time I got the shakes out of fear and not knowing what is going to happen. The mind tends to go a bit ahead of itself I guess. I could see in the eyes of the guys they were surprised to see me there and after a few seconds that seemed to be minutes they made handsignals to try and calm me down and ensure I would be left alone as I was a woman. "Ghanaians don't beat women."
   I decided to play it safe and remained where I was though and I got the occassional check up visit from some of the more peaceful minded workers who wanted to make sure I was ok. After about another hour later these guys decided they would guard me and walk me off site to a pick-up from Security. Nerve wrecking having to walk through this mob but my guys kept shouting "she's a woman", "she's not part of management, let her go" and all was fine.
   Boy, did I enjoy that double whiskey when I got to the camp where a worried Rory had moved every lever into action to get me out of there and had the whiskey ready. 
   Today, the situation with my own company is unchanged but at least somewhat peaceful. Obviously there won't be any work done for a while. Also, I think I don't have an office anymore as it got trashed, so my last day at work has come 2 days early. Another sub-contractor is going through the same problems with their workers this morning and  as a safety precaution, we are on red alert for a possible emergency evacuation to Accra.
   Rory and I have spent the last hour frantically packing our bags and in the middle of it all I have finally managed to get and pay for travel insurance which will also cover us for motorcycle overland touring. Lastminute.com :)
It can only be more relaxed from here on!

What lies ahead

As some of you may have already heard through the grapevine or directly from us, we will be going on the BIG TRIP much sooner than originally planned. Rory's current job has come to an end as the construction project is now in final stages. Although about 3 months sooner than we had anticipated we are thrilled.
   Frantic packing has started. Both Rory's and my last day with our employers will be this Friday, 1st March. Our room looks a bit as if a bomb has gone off and it's the nicest feeling in the world as it calls for adventure and reminds us daily of what lies ahead of us. Sometimes a small bit of panic creeps in as well mind you. There is still so much to do...
   But first things first. We had booked and pretty much paid for our next holiday already. Not going would mean wasting money for nothing. So we're still going to fly to South Africa on Sunday, 3rd March. We will spend a few nights in Livingstone (Zambia) at the Victoria Falls, return to Johannesburg (South Africa) and take part in a weekend dual-purpose off-road motorcylce course, do some outdoor shopping to buy a tent, sleepings bags etc. and then it is off to the island of Zanzibar (Tanzania) to enjoy the last bit of comfort for a week.
   On 20th March we'll be arriving back in Ghana. Rory will have to transport his bike to Lome (Togo) to the only KTM dealer in the west of Africa. It needs serious looking after, so fingers crossed all goes well.
   We will have to apply for our Ivory Coast visa in Accra which shouldn't take more than 2 days to be processed. Hopefully. Our planned route then will take us from Ghana through Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco into Europe where they better have the Tapas ready for us!
   As it stands we're aiming for 1st April to commence the trip. Oh boy! :)

Peace, love and all

What cracks me up a lot of times are the rather unlucky and comic choices of titles for the numerous stalls and enterprises along Ghanaian roads. One is spoiled for choice doing business with Blessed Electrical Services (what can possibly go wrong?!), Blood & Fire Barber (how reassuring), Abotere Carpentry & Haircut (diversify!), Justice Shop (the price will tell), and Thank You Jesus (how very Irish). 

  Many Ghanaians (or perhaps Africans for that matter) like to choose epic first names for their offspring. Along the many males named Moses, Elvis and Prince you will be introduced to individuals called Comfort, Bright, Saviour, Prosper, Foster, Aswell, Sabbath, Mercy, Gifty and Legzzy just to name a few. You could nearly build a conversation or riddle around these names. J

  Apart from the more creative names there’s a clear preference for the biblical such as Obed, Dinah, David, Solomon, Ebenezer, Moses, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph, Isaac, Esther, Sampson even Shadrach with “Emmanuel” being the distinct overall winner. It’s not surprising really, if you consider the amount of churches of all kinds of Christian orientation rubbing shoulders with each other in the tiniest of villages. 

  Talking about love thy neighbour… we’re currently on lockdown due to civil unrest. It’s all about the money, money, money… Enough said!
 

Blessed Electrical Services and Bike Emporium -
The coffin maker has settled next door...