It’s Monday 30th April and I am sitting in a hot internet cafe
in Accra surrounded by 419 boys (internet fraud) and the ac isn't really
working but the windows are closed. My journey from London to Ghana via Lisbon
was long as we were delayed for a day in Portugal as TAP Portugal could not
find a co-pilot (worst excuse ever) but at least the hotel they put us in was
nice.
It feels great to be back home and I loved the way the African
humidity slapped my face when I left the plane at Kotoka International Airport.
As soon as I got of the plane I touched the ground with my hand
to the bemusement of some of the airport attendants, but who cares there is
something about African soil that brings out weird rituals in people and this
just happens to be mine.
I am welcomed home in typical Ghana time as brother got my
arrival time mixed up as Ghana is an hour behind hence I was left waiting at
arrivals for 30 minutes before I got picked up.
As usual Accra is hot and buzzing even at 9 pm on a Sunday. I
got home and the AC in my room was not fixed - no surprise here as my mum had
warned me that there had been low voltage and frequent power cuts lately, hence
there was no use in fixing it. It seems all was conspiring against me as I was
attacked by a roach as I tried to unpack - and yes I screamed a bit as it
fluttered about but in the end the bottom of my slippers prevailed.
Then the power socket in my room decided to go on sabbatical - wow
my first night back without an AC or fan. Luckily for me after harassing the
switch for a while it decided to work and I was back to enjoy my first night
back in the humid heat. I am not complaining at least the killer mosquitoes
spared me last night; I am guessing it just a temporary reprise and tonight
will be a different story.
So why have I moved back to Ghana despite all these hustles? Not
only is Ghana home, the sun makes me happy, the people are alive and smiles are free, Ghana in also sailing on the back of the
African renaissance.
You might not be aware but Africa is on its way up especially in
the field of technology and this is where my path
collides with the Ghana
Decides project.
Tomorrow I begin work as a Social Media Coordinator for Ghana Decides a non-partisan project , which “aims to
foster a better informed electorate for free, fair and safe 2012 Elections
using online social media tools.” It’s an initiative under GhanaBlogging,
which itself is a membership-based platform to connect bloggers both in and
outside of Ghana who write about the country. I have been a member of the Ghana
Blogging community since its inception and I am extremely excited and honoured
to be utilising my digital media and design work experience on a project that
will positively impact the future of Ghana and Africa social media terrain.
If you
would like to follow my adventures in Ghana then follow this blog
and my twitter account here: @sirboateng
