Saturday, February 25, 2012

Accra, Ghana - Africa


Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park Fountain

Recently undertook a business trip to Accra, Ghana in Africa, a former British territory, a country whose culture was associated with gold, ivory, and slave trade and now known as a football frenzy nation. Like to remind you that some of the photos in the blogs are borrowed and are put together to get a feel of this place.

Ghana - West African Country


Flagstaff House - Indian Connection
Since it was business trip, exposure to Ghana was very limited, but what stood out was the warm hospitality of the Ghanaian, the warm weather and the cleanliness and the safety factor. Since English being the official language, had no issue in carrying out the normal activities during the visit. Other than English, Ga and Twi are spoken by the local. In the little free time I had, visited the La Beach, Accra Mall (movie theaters, food court and many leading shops including Shoprite) http://www.accramall.com/ and Holy Trinity Cathedral Church (http://www.holytrinitycath.org/).  

Accra Mall
Holy Trinity Cathedral Church

Independence Square  Arch 

Independence Square

Also drove around the Chinese build National Theater, which resemble a ship, Administrative buildings on the High Street including Supreme Court of Ghana, Independence Square, Kwame Nkrumah  Memorial Park, Movenpick Ambassador Hotel and India-funded Presidential Mansionor or Flagstaff House.  Heard that all university and colleges in Ghana now offers Chinese language courses, a sign of China's growing role as a superpower in African continent.

National Theater - Chinese Connection

Tro-Tro in traffic - (Blue and Yellow colored Vehicle)
Even though, public transport  is available, Tro-tro is commonly used by many locals to move around. Tro-tro is a cheap and popular shared transport in Accra. Tro-Tro name origins is, in Ga language word tro, means penny. From 1965, Cedi notes and Pesewa coins are used instead of pounds, shillings and pence, but
name Tro-tro have struck among the locals. One can always expect a very busy traffic and cars of very make including BMW, Mercedes, Tata, Honda and Toyota during morning and evening office commute. It is also quite common to see vendors selling almost everything - fruits, vegetables, watches, maps, mobile recharge cards, toys, etc., at most of the traffic signals targeting the car and Tro-tro commuters.

Majestic Movenpick Hotel
Since my trip overlapped with the Africa Cup of Nations (2012) organized by CAF (Confederation of African Football) had an opportunity to see the football frenzy nation live. Unfortunately, football enthusiasm met with an sad end when on  8 February, Ghana was defeated by Zambia (1-0). In the final, Zambia, defeated third-time finalists Côte d'Ivoire after a dramatic penalty shootout, giving Zambia their first continental title.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
La Beach
When my trip came to an end, had a wonderful feeling that I had visited a West African nation made of large number of good beaches, one that extends warm hospitality to its visitor and a country moving steadily towards political and economic stability - A promising and democratic nation in Africa. 

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