Ruminations in Takoradi

Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 7:09 AM

Subject: Prices, the internet, soccer, etc.

Hello everyone,
I am minding the store for Star of the Sea/Willmar Internet Cafe--Kobby, the manager, is on lunch break so I get to use his computer! The photos show the cafe and Kobby & Pius.

I was just thinking about some things that I learned while traveling--just tidbits:

Next time you buy gasoline, think of the price of petrol in London! It is .87 pence per liter which translates to $7.31 U.S. Dollars per gallon! In Ghana the price of petrol is 6,666 cedis per liter or $3.11 USD per gallon--people do not FILL their tanks here... only a little now and then.

For what it's worth, the internet is made very difficult and frustrating for persons in developing nations by commercial interests in the US, UK and elsewhere. Most Ghanaians I know have Yahoo addresses and we wait and wait for Yahoo screens to complete with advertising that is full of large graphics and animation--all totally unnecessary and unavailable to users here. It is so frustrating! What is needed is a simple email service with NO ads, no nothing so people can access the internet without the mess of nonsense they get at Yahoo, MSN, and all the portals I use. Can anyone direct me to places where this does not happen? If any of you are members of the Digital Divide Network, this is a good topic to explore there.

I met the president of an NGO called NEW BEGINNINGS here in Takoradi. He and his organization have similar philosophies as E-quip Africa. He is in the book distribution business financed by his work at a motorcycle shop. A topic for EQA board of directors might be collaboration with him. I will need to do some research on the history of his program to make sure it is what it says it is, but he genuinely seems to work for assisting the poorest of the poor. Here in Ghana, what appears to be may not always be the case, however.

This man also has a culture group which put on some dance demonstrations for our travel group last year--it is called the Obibiman Culture Group. They are doing a special show this weekend. A group like this could tour churches in the USA with their exciting musical presentations. So all you promoters and public relations types... how could we make this a reality. I could see them telling their story and soliciting books for their program which could either piggy back on EQA's container or fundraise for their own container. It is an idea, and we should evaluate their production (on DVD or video tape) with a critical eye.

This same man is a member of the Western Bikers Club, an association of motorcycle riders. Now, they may look like the HELLS ANGELS, but the ones I met are very tame. They have presented a plan to all the local hospitals along the coast offering their services to transport emergency medical supplies, blood, testing results, etc. from hospital to hospital free of charge. I think that is a good idea and will try to see what the medical community thinks of it.

I have met twice with my Rotarian friend, Kwiku Bedu Mensah. He is an appointed assemblyman, which means he is on government committees involved in his special interest areas, namely the environment. I will receive valuable consultation from him regarding the process EQA has entered with the Ghana EPA.The Willmar Rotary Club's international project most likely will center around the library. I am moving to Bedu's hotel today and will spend most of the weekend with him discussing the world situation. I will have their board's attention for 1 hour before the general weekly meeting on Tuesday--they do things just like in Willmar! I will come away with a good plan and the club will receive the BP kits as gifts from our club. They are eager to start working!

I must go now... the manager is back and tells me there is an important football match (soccer) starting in 1/2 hour--Ghana vs South Africa for the right to go to the World Cup.

Bye!
Doug


Doug Wilkowske
E-quip Africa