APOLOGIES

No, no apology for anything I’ve written.

The apology is to you, my reader. Damn, it is so easy to put options (widgets) on wordpress, so I have no excuse.

I’m referring to the fact that I did not give you the opportunity to subscribe to the madinghana blog. Imagine this is the 168th post since I started MADINGHANA back on May 17, 2009. So now, just click on manage below EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION in the sidebar on the right and you’ll get the latest MADINGHANA post in your email in-box.

Needless to say, this ole blogger does display computer/blog anxiety from time to time. But this time, a friend asked me how can somebody automatically receive a new post-so I did a little digging and voila – now you can subscribe.

And to think, I’ve got the book WORDPRESS FOR DUMMIES published by Wiley-I’m a double dummy-no excuses.

ROTARIAN FOUR VILLAGES, marching to a different drummer….(1)

I am a Rotarian. My Rotarian name is Rotarian Four Villages. I joined here in Ghana. I was never a Rotarian in my past life in Canada. This year I am the secretary of the Kumasi East Rotary Club. This year, the Kumasi East Rotary Club is celebrating its 20ieth anniversary since it was chartered.

The month of February is ROTARY AWARENESS MONTH. Our club approached a number of FM stations requesting a spot to talk about Rotary. Two stations agreed, but for a fee….30 minutes for GH C 100.00 (approximately US$70) to be given to the presenter-no receipt and GH C 50.00 for a 15 minute spot.

I objected at our last meeting saying we are a non-profit service club. FM stations have a social responsibility to support the activities of community organizations that are working selflessly to improve the living conditions of their fellow human beings.

This sentiment was actually expressed at the past District Assembly Conference held last April in Lome Togo. Much to my consternation and approval, a member of Ghana’s Rotary aristocracy, a past district governor I believe, challenged the status quo regarding Rotary’s explicit policy to publicize activities, projects. etc.

What was the reaction to my objection at the meeting. Stated-one member said I should be use to the way things work here by now. To which I replied…how can we expect anything to change if we don’t take a stand and just say we are not paying, that the money goes for projects.

The others-nothing-I just felt they were thinking. Oh I don’t know what they were thinking.

What’s great about being secretary is I can ensure that my objection is in the minutes. Who knows maybe it will move somebody reading past minutes in 2030 when the Kumasi East Rotary Club is celebrating its 40th anniversary of becoming a chartered member and the club is being asked for much more than the 2010 GH C 100.00 for 30 minutes…Maybe then a few more members will say, “No, we won’t pay that!”

How does change take place…..I thought diaspora n Ghanaians with all that education and experience they receive abroad might tip the balance. Lots of Rotarians are returnees…guess they just succumb to the status quo existing here….

SPAGHETTI SAUCE A LA CHARITY

MMMMMMM, SO GOOD!

Hey, living in Kumasi…. do you shop at FOUR VILLAGES INN MEATS for your quality fresh meat, fish, chicken and cold cuts?

We are at Atinga Junction, Ahodwo across from La Petite Chemists, before NADVILLE GROCERY STORE.

Besides our mouth watering meat loaf, tasty ham, succulent bacon, and tantalizing pastrami, we now sell ready to eat spaghetti sauce which makes an instant meal in five minutes. Cost GH C6.00 per 500 gm.

And should you be headed to FOUR VILLAGES INN, why not order our arrival lunch special-soup, salad, spaghetti, and dessert for US$15.00 or Ghana cedi equivalent plus VAT.

Also available as an arrival special- soup, salad, cold cuts (an assortment of FOUR VILLAGES INN meats) on a whole wheat bun, plus a fruit dessert-US$10.00 or Ghana cedi equivalent plus VAT.

TAXI TIP-ARRIVING AT CAPE COAST FROM KSI OR WHEREVER

On January 31 in a post entitled Kindness and Conscience I mentioned problems getting around, with specific reference to the Kumasi-Cape Coast S.T.C. bus leaving at 4 a.m. Well at the other end there’s another potential trouble spot. I refer to the Cape Coast S.T.C. terminal at the GOIL gas/petrol station. The taxi drivers there can be particularly aggressive.

Below a very recent post on the Bradt Guide to Ghana Update by Philip Briggs-see blog roll.

Chapter 8, section “Getting there and away”, page 158: I found out that just after my arrival in Cape Coast by a STC bus from Kumasi, the taxi drivers located at the bus terminal were rather aggressive in their attempts to pick up bus passengers and their luggage. There was also a possibly self-proclaimed boss figure on the spot who was constantly yelling and shouting in an intimidating way and apparently tried to “manage” the taxi drivers (and their passengers). The taxi drivers also charged a non-negotiable fixed price for a trip to the centre of Cape Coast (4 cedis for a relatively short trip).

And… the charges taxis to Elmina hotels like Elmina Beach Resort, Bridge House, Elmina Bay Resort, and Coconut Grove can be considerably more out of whack considering the greater distance.

The answer: If you are going to Elmina, promptly leave the terminal and cross the road and flag down a passing taxi. Frankly anything is better. But don’t forget the cardinal rule-negotiate the price before you sit down and don’t bend if the driver changes the price at the end of the ride-ya gotta read the post below on this very subject!

Note: While looking for a pic of a taxi, I came across this travel site-travel to work- and there was this great post entitled:

I HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH THE TAXI DRIVER

http://www.traveltowork.net/

This morning I had an argument with the taxi driver I took to work. He wanted me to pay more. It’s very annoying when a taxi driver does that. I got to the road side flagged him and told him where I was going.

“2.50″, he said.

“I’ll give you 1.50″, was my response.

“No 1.50 is too low, make it 2.00.”

“Well, I can’t. Everyday I pay 1.50″

“But that’s too low”

“Well, for you. Everyday the drivers I stop call out 2.00 when I tell them where I want them to take me and I offer 1.50. You are too expensive so I cant’ take you.”

With this I move to stop another taxi, he calls me back.

” Sit down, I’ll take the 1.50.” So I sit and we move.”

Just when we’re about to get to my office he whines:

“The 1.50 is too small. It’s unfair. You know it’s too small and you should pay more.”

I stare blankly at the back of his head. It’s so annoying when taxi drivers do this, trying to get you to pay more than what has been agreed on. I don’t need this kind of stress in the morning. I replied:

Look here taxi driver, I was going to take another taxi when you called me back and accepted my offer. Nobody forced you. So stop complaining and take the money. He takes the money but continues to complain.

I walk away but he calls after me:

“Passengers are so cheap! I know you would have preferred the ride to be free!”

I roll my eyes and keep walking.

“Have a nice day too, darling”, I mumbled.

MORALE OF THE STORY: Stick to your guns, and walk away!

FOUR VILLAGES INN-KINDNESS CENTRE

Kindness is infectious! In this blog I have been celebrating the kindness we know guests of Four Villages Inn experience here. After ten years in the business, it’s dawned on me that our acts of kindness are not spurred by a business model, but rather prompted by our guests’ stories of unusual acts of generosity, dedication and sacrifice in trying to improve the quality of every day life for Ghanaians. Now our guest book asks guests why they are in Ghana, because so many here busy doing special work!

PRE-SCHOOL BUILDERS KEVIN(LEFT) IAN (RIGHT)

This is no better illustrated than by Ian and Kevin. Ian and Kevin were part of a Toronto, Canada’s Ryerson School of Architecture team that built a pre-school in the Volta Region. Along with 50 colleagues last May, they completed the first phase of the project in 30 hectic days all captured on a DVD, and you can watch this inspirational DVD at Four Villages. It’s a wonderful production that is sure to stir your heart.

Here’s what they wrote in the Four Villages Inn guest book:

” Visiting KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) to discuss exchanges, building school in Kpedze Todje. Thanks for everything.“

Ian

“Thanks for your fantastic hospitality. I truly enjoyed my time here.”

Kevin.

Append um: Ian and Kevin were having car problems with their rental car. I led them to my mechanic near Santasi Roundabout where they left the car to be fixed. I then gave them a lift on their way to the Cultural Centre.
Gee, they built a school where 50 3, 4 and 5 year olds go to school. HOW CAN I NOT HELP THEM OUT. Kindness breeds kindness. And oh yes, the car ran smoothly back to Accra and the car rental office.

And, a final word…..I asked a friend, “All these people from foreign lands doing such great things….are people here doing things?

The reply, “Not really, they are too busy struggling to make a living, struggling to survive.” HOW TRUE THAT IS!!!!!!

FOUR VILLAGES INN-OUT OF BEER!

asserting democracy in small sips. I mean steps

Still waiting for Ghana Tourist Board personnel to help resolve the FOUR VILLAGES INN beer store ban. On Friday 22nd January I was promised intervention within 48 hours! See post dated January 29, entitled FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, but oh those sica (money) bullies!

Just texted Regional Manager of Tourist Board “almost out of beer, I will not go anywhere else”

I’ll keep ya posted

BUSINESS-KINDNESS AND CONSCIENCE

Two little stories, first one of kindness…as tourists trek around Ghana on public transport they sometimes encounter problems.Here in Kumasi, one such issue is the State Transport bus schedule from here to Cape Coast and Takoradi. The first bus departs at 4:00 a.m. and then there is only one other bus at 12 noon that is often booked, for obvious reasons. Not only does Four Villages Inn provide free transportation- so no taxi hassles etc., -we provide a small snack of sandwiches featuring Four Villages Inn Meats cold cuts “to keep you going”. Sandra Corbaciogla, our first visitor from Turkey, was so thankful for both the lift and the sustenance. “HOW KIND,” she said.

Sandra had had enough excitement during her visit. At dusk the evening before , after a day touring Kumasi and the villages with our guide Comfort, they went for a drink on a first floor outdoor terrace bar. A sudden Harmattan storm blew in… Chairs went flying, the lights went out. Here’s Sandra’s comments of her day’s excursion in Comfort’s review book:

“Thank you for a lovely, exhausting day! Won’t forget the thunderstorm at the bar!”

and about her stay at FOUR VILLAGES INN, here’s what she wrote:

“Thoroughly enjoyed my short stay here! Thanks for all the travel tips!”

And now a story of conscience: Over the years, a certain N.G.O. in Accra has been sending its personnel to Four Villages and last week was no exception. The reservation was for one night and one person.

Around four that afternoon, the phone rang and it was the fellow coming. asking if we had a second room which we did. Now here’s the pathetic fallacy in this little ditty, a freak violent wind storm blew in, blew out and the party arrived.

Two fellows came in and I showed them the rooms. The employee of the N.G.O. said he had been a Peace Corps for a couple of years and then had joined the staff of the N.G.O. and he had been working there for two years. He said they were going to their vehicle to talk to the driver. He came back made some small talk and then explained that he had a crew and they thought it best to stay together and he was sorry for “wobbling”.

So, after the consternation subsided, I got thinking-the nerve…so I wrote the N.G.O.’s lovely secretary we deal with:

“Hi _____________,
Belated Happy New Year. All the very best in 2010!

We held the room for _____________. He phoned and asked if there was a second rooms and we had one.

When they arrived, I showed them the rooms. He went out and conferred with the driver and his companion. He then returned, said he had a “crew”, apologized for “wobbling” and left!

I’m just glad that we didn’t any lose business.”

Then a letter came from the lovely secretary:

Dear Chris,
I am very sorry to hear this. The initial arrangement was that __________ will stay in your hotel and driver will get a nearby hotel to sleep in. I was not informed of any crew. Please accept my apologies. I will take this up with ________ when he gets back.
Kind regards
_______________

I wrote back to the lovely secretary:

Thanks _________. I just thought that this kind of behaviour reflects badly on _______________.

Until next time….

And then….a letter from the Director:

Dear Chris

___________has sent an apology to you. I am sorry that our consultant did not stay with you at Four Villages Inn. There seems to have been some breakdown of communication (we didn’t know for example he was travelling with others).

I’ve written to our consultant explaining our good relationship with your hotel and this is not the sort of behaviour I expect of someone travelling on ____________ business in Ghana.

Please accept my apologies.

When you are in Accra it would be a pleasure to take you for dinner. Please let me know when you are in town.

Regards,

_________________
Director

So that’s the little story. I could write reams on the psychology of the situation. Suffice it to say, that daily one has to keep ego in check. It is so easy to become self important here and make decisions that are just not acceptable…One day I’ll write more on this….have you got anything to add?

Hey, I just remembered, this same scenario happened just a couple of weeks ago-only that was a no-show. See post dated 2010-21-01 entitled “VALUES HIJACKED-PRINCIPLES UPHELD”.

CHRIS SCOTT, LETTER WRITER

Besides owning a bookstore here in Ghana-not giving a damn if I sold anything or not- my other ambition would be to be a letter writer. How I envy those old men in the gloom of the grove of trees beside the fort across from the main post office in the heart of Kumasi. There they are pounding away on their old Olivetti, Smith Corona, Underwood and Remington typewriters. It’s a tourist attraction in itself. Where else in the world do you still see these champions of literacy and advocacy?

And oh the stories they must be capturing-tales of heartache, disappointment, betrayal, and cheating. Here the wronged try to make things right. Here too the dreams of unfulfilled opportunity pour out in the form of petitions and applications full of hope and promise.

On second thought, better not disturb the historic atmosphere there with my Toshiba laptop. I’ll just work from Four Villages. Maybe I’ll set up a little tent in our own shaded grove to the right of our front gate….

Until then, I can work from this desk and the other day I did just that. I had my first chance to write for somebody else. Oh happy day for me, my first customer! ….. One of Charity’s friends, who lives in Holland, wants to rent her house, but there’s a hotel next door that’s playing loud music…..sound familiar?

Here is the statement:

January 29, 2010

STATEMENT OF_______________________________________.

I, _________, would like to lodge an official compliant regarding high levels of noise most Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and sometimes to daybreak, when _________ hosts a wedding or a funeral. Also it plays loud music sometimes on Sunday. This situation arose when _______ Hotel bought a quarter plot and constructed a swimming pool. This area now borders on my wall and the noise levels at these times are absolutely unbearable.

Therefore, I appeal to your good office to intervene on behalf of myself and my family. These properties lie within the boundaries of this first class residential zone. I pay the highest taxes of any part of this metropolis. The peace and quiet that I had been enjoying for the past ten years since purchasing the property has been broken. I might add that ________ Hotel located itself in this area knowing that it would also enjoy the peace and quiet the area offers.

I include the particulars of ____________ Hotel to facilitate your contacting them.

Owner: Mr
Tel: office-

Your concerted action is required to rectify this situation. I thank you in advance for your attention to my complaint.

Signed: ____________________________________________

Alternative Contact: , Four Villages Inn, Daban

Now, the lady is back in Holland, but I’ll keep you abreast!

Footnote: Incidentally it was a C.I.U., that stands for Criminal Investigation Unit, officer that asked for the statement. Let’s see what kind of results this unorthodox avenue of attack gets……bet it’s better than going through the Ghana Tourist Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Health Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assemby, and the assembly itself.

P.S. Charity didn’t let me charge her. Darn! hee hee

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, BUT OH THOSE SICA (money) BULLIES…

Here I go again, that schizophrenic blogger who can’t make up his mind if this is a travel blog or a “down and dirty living in the third world” blog. Hell, it would be boring if I just celebrated FOUR VILLAGES INN, KUMASI, ASHANTI AND GHANA day in and day out. I sometimes do that and one of my hard knock Facebook friends brought me back to earth with “modesty isn’t one of your strong suits” comment!

Well, first the celebration, our first tourist bikers arrived yesterday on their way to the coast. No, we didn’t host a motorcycle gang. Four refined Dutch gentlemen arrived at Four Villages on their bicycles. Each year they take two and a half weeks off, travel to countries all over the world and cycle around. Ghana is their first country south of the Sahara. And, they’ve had a great journey. “People are so friendly and helpful. ” FOUR VILLAGES INN IS NO EXCEPTION.

GO CYCLING IN GHANA

Here’s their review: ” Wonderful stay, delicious kitchen, what a surprise here in Ghana, especially after several days of heavy cycling in the blazing sun!”

Well, now for the flip side of the story. These guys needed beer and we had some which they enjoyed in our frosted mugs. Anyways I wanted to replenish our supply just in case….Now let’s get some perspective…these fellow have freedom of movement around this great country, but Four Villages has lost it’s freedom of movement across the street. Read on…

But it’s a NO GO for FOUR VILLAGES INN at the beer store across the road where we have been buying beer since they opened in front of the LAHANA AVON HOTEL. You know the place….that’s where the beer bar opened up in January, 2009 blasting out music into the night which we could hear all through the inn. So….complain, complain, complain-everywhere-in offices, on the radio, in the newspaper and, you got it, on the internet. Well, something worked-might not even have been me-but nowadays it’s all quiet across the street.

But there are consequences….FOUR VILLAGES INN has been banned from the beer store by Nana Kofi, the owner of the Lahana Avon who, my watchman informed me, has threatened to boot the owner of the beer store out if he serves FOUR VILLAGES. Ironically, Nana Kofi spent years in Holland. He might have lifted his ban if he had known the consumers of the beer were Dutchmen (hee, hee). Anyways, I call these returnees SICA BULLIES. Guess what sica means…….sing along with me ….money, money, money….. money. Ya they say it is the root of all evil-well let me tell you it can be the enemy of a fledgling democracy.

For the last few weeks, I have been imploring an official to “address this human rights issue.” Earlier this week, I told him I realized it was hard, but he casually said it wasn’t and that he would be here “in the next forty – eight hours”. That was a week ago and now our drink supply is getting low.

The Ghana Constitution states:

“(1) All persons shall have the right to -
(g) freedom of movement which means the right to move freely in Ghana, the right to leave and to enter Ghana and immunity from expulsion from Ghana.”

I don’t want to go the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice. I didn’t want to go to the police when he pushed me roughly off his property. I was quietly asking the staff at the bar one Saturday afternoon not to play the music loudly as we a number of V.I.P. guests that night.

Why can’t officials in the department concerned ACT and get allies to tackle issues when they are difficult…as this situation is? Situations fester and who knows what can happen….I will not be intimidated. We all lose if we bow to these sica bullies who think they are above the law.

NABY FROM GUINEA TO PLAY KUMASI

This guy is good. He’s won Junos in Canada and RFI awards in France. And he’s got a gig in Kumasi. Should be a great night!

G-T, K-C on Monday, February 1st