Ghana’s Hazards

Beware Obruni: Things May Not Be As They Seem

June 12, 2014 by Obolobo

“Can I see your ID?” my friend asked the putative police officer. Last Sunday night around 9pm, my friend and I were returning from watching a movie at the Accra mall. A blue, Nissan Navarra police truck perched at the intersection in front of my residence with its lights on. A police officer stepped out of the car and waved for us to stop. “Not all police officers wear their IDs,” he responded. The two of them engaged in a […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture, Personal • Tags: Ghanaian police, robbers

Leave a comment

A Cautionary Tale of a Ghanaian Businessman

March 21, 2014 by Obolobo

“It’s distressing because you work so hard all your life to live a comfortable life. [But] because someone wants to steal what you have, you have nothing,” Kofi lamented. For the last five years, Kofi has been embroiled in court with his former business partner and a local Ghanaian bank. (Since the case is ongoing, I have changed the names of those involved.) Stress from court and mounting financial costs has impacted his health. In both 2008 and 2009, he […]

Categories: Entrepreneurship, Ghana's Economy, Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture, Interviews • Tags: Entrepreneurship, Ghanaian court, Ghanaian legal system, Ghanaian returnee

Leave a comment

Crazy %!$# Taxi Drivers Say

November 9, 2013 by Obolobo

“Ghana police be criminals,” mutters Kwesi nearly every time we pass a police truck or police barrier. Kwesi is my primary taxi driver. He takes me most everywhere I need to go during the day. I like him because he’s honest, pretty reliable, maintains a clean car, and speaks semi-fluent English. He’s the only driver I trust my valuables with. His verbosity and strong opinions are bonuses. Lastly, he avoids talking about religion and politics. “Armed robbers” and “armed robbery” is […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards

Leave a comment

I Thought This Was Endangered – Sex in Hiring

October 11, 2013 by Obolobo

Abuse of power seems to be the theme in Ghana. My staff, my friend’s female worker, and female friends all seem convinced that men with the power to hire regularly make sex a requisite to being hired. One lady said that at some tertiary institutions admission also involves sexual quid pro quo. Apparently, high school teachers also use their position to take advantage of their students. One of my staffers, Teresa, recounted how she was interested in working for […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture, Ghanaian Women • Tags: sexual harassment

Leave a comment

Tips for Visitors to Accra

September 27, 2013 by Obolobo

Let’s say you’re coming into Accra for a couple of nights. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Basics Running water, constant power, and broadband Internet are luxuries Greet everyone with a “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” and do not use your left hand to introduce yourself Always have some small cedi notes, e.g. 1, 2, 5 cedi notes There is nothing to see in Accra Good girls do not stay out late Yes, there are a lot of […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture, Personal

Leave a comment

Arrested for Grapes and Air Fresheners!

September 20, 2013 by Obolobo

How much are those worth? Maybe 30 cedis? 50 cedis? Apparently, being accused of stealing these items can result in being jailed in Ghana. Our house employs Adwoa to clean, wash, and babysit my housemate’s child. Emmanuel, Adwoa’s brother, works as a stockboy at a grocery store. He was accused of stealing grapes and air freshener(s) then arrested by the police. The police are not granting him bail at the moment and will keep him behind bars overnight. According to […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture, Uncategorized

Leave a comment

Lessons Learned: You Will Be Unprepared for Scams and Corruption

September 17, 2013 by Obolobo

This post probably goes in the one named “Being an American Has Its Disadvantages” but I think it’s worth separating it from the others. I feel pretty confident operating in America. I attended a good undergrad university and a great business school, I scored at the top of the range for the GMAT, and I have worked at some large companies as well as some cool small ones. Americans are known for being forthright and transparent. In our culture, we […]

Categories: Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture

Leave a comment

Ghana’s Darker Side

September 15, 2013 by Obolobo

“What do you have to do in Ghana to buy a 4 billion [cedi] car?” asked Frank, a taxi driver. (Just for clarification, most Ghanaians still refer to the old Ghana cedi when referring to figures so 10,000 old Ghana cedi = 1 new Ghana cedi = US$0.50) Frank was referring to a Bentley parked in the A and C Shopping Center. More importantly, Frank was suggesting that the Bentley owner purchased his vehicle with ill-gotten gains from drugs. He […]

Categories: Ghana's Economy, Ghana's Hazards, Ghanaian Culture • Tags: Dangers

obolobo

Category Archives: Ghana’s Hazards

Beware Obruni: Things May Not Be As They Seem

A Cautionary Tale of a Ghanaian Businessman

Crazy %!$# Taxi Drivers Say

I Thought This Was Endangered – Sex in Hiring

Tips for Visitors to Accra

Arrested for Grapes and Air Fresheners!

Lessons Learned: You Will Be Unprepared for Scams and Corruption

Ghana’s Darker Side