So how do I get around
Accra? There are three methods of
transportation available to me here, walking, taxi and trotro. I have had to do a lot of walking here as it
is often simply the best way to get where you want to go. It is also gives you an opportunity to see
and interact with the people of Accra.
It can be dangerous, there are very few sidewalks and many open sewers
you must watch out for. When there are
sidewalks they are more than likely filled with hawkers and small food stalls. It is nice to see all the people as you walk
around, the children always yell out ‘embroni’ which means white person and
they always wave and ask in very proper English how you are doing. The people are nice and there are very few beggars
or situations where you don’t feel safe, even in some of the poorer areas.
The second option is to take a
taxi. Taxis are very different here, the
drivers likely don’t know where you are going and will have to stop periodically
to ask direction. The drivers try hard
and are working for a predetermined price, but it can be very frustrating, especially
when your destination turns out to be a major landmark. This happened to me yesterday as I was trying
to get to a place called Atomic Junction.
The taxi driver said he knew where it was, but after the third of fourth
stop to get directions, including one where he stopped on the highway in a lane
and not on the shoulder, I was pretty sure he did not know where it was. We did eventually find it and it turned out
to me a major hub for trotros on the north side of the city.
The third and most adventurous
way to get around is trotro. My guide
book says they are a great way to get around if you don’t care about how long
you live. Trotro are vans with around 15
seats that race around the city with a guy hanging out the window shouting
where they are going too, there is also a set of hand signals they use to indicate
if they are going straight down the road, turning off it or heading to a
roundabout which serve as hubs for trotros. They are very cheap, but also hot
and sweaty and depending on the driver you may spend your trip listening to the
latest techno dance hit or his favorite sermon.
 |
| Trotro |
Yesterday we did actual work, we
went to Accra’s new sewage treatment plant where they are having a problem with
water seeping through one of the embankments on one of the retention
ponds. They are going to be installing an
underground drainage system to keep the water from disturbing the embankment. We got to mark out line for the proposed
drainage system using our survey skills and a very old theodolite. It was good to do some work and feel a bit
productive, it has been hard getting used to how slow things move here, and the
fact that no one minds. For example we
ordered some aggregate for the base of the drainage system and asked when it
would be derived, the owner of the materials company said ‘8 o’clock tomorrow’. And the first thing the chief engineer asked
back was ‘which 8 o’clock’.
 |
| Dan and Jordan marking out the proposed drainage system |
 |
| Water seeping up through the road around the retention pond |
 |
| The University of Ghana on the hill overlooking the treatment plant |
Johnny
Glad you're using your skills. I'd love to see where you are living. Do you cook your own food or eat out?
ReplyDeleteMy fricking post just disappeared. To summarize - Johnny, I LOVE seeing these updates. We miss you and talk often about Uncle Johnny in Africa. I, too, would love to see pics of apartment and local food. (this is a Cole's Notes of my other post) Take good care!!
ReplyDelete