Hajj Village

Nearby the house, several giant tents were set up for the coming Hajj, the annul pilgrimage to Merca.

The tents are separated into male and female use. The female one can hold 300 people and the male one holds 200 people at one time. According to a local news article, the tents are also equipped with air-conditioners and accompanied with a medical clinic and wash rooms. They are to host worshipers who will travel to Merca 48 hours before their departure.

Before the first ever Hajj Village, the people bounding for Merca had to camp outside amid 90 degree heat, delayed flights and luggages. Now at last they are able to enjoy the cool air and giant TV screens

The modern technology plays a role not only in mega worship halls with multiple screens, but also in the places that have limited resources. A local news article appropriately called it "a better deal for pilgrim".

Ecowas in Action

Economic Community of West African States is a regional forum for countries to take unified actions. The organization has been busy recently due to two major events that have attracted global attention.

Guinea military leader clashed and killed over hundred demonstrators, many women were reported to get raped by soldiers on the streets. It could result in immediate sanctions, but it took days for Ecowas and other regional and international entities such as African Union, EU and UN to put out condemnations.

Niger is another country whose membership got suspended by Ecowas. The country was charged for wide spread fraud in a recent parliamentary election.

For now, one thing may be true, Niger citizens won't be able to travel to other Ecowas countries without a visa, a privilege designated for every member states.

Fireworks in October

Locals put out a big fireworks on display on this past Saturday night, and there is a good reason for it.

The Black Satellites successfully and historically beat Brazilian team to win the first ever U20 FIFA world cup. Although it is a win for a youth team, it is still indicates a bright future for the Black Star, the national team.

The year of 2009 must be a year of Ghana, first it peacefully transferred power to a opposition leader in a closest election ever, next it welcomed a fist African American President visit, becoming the first sub-Sahara country to receive Obama and his family. A while ago, the Ghana soccer national team stormed through qualify round and became the first African nation to enter the FIFA World Cup next year in South Africa, now the tomorrow soccer stars shine in Egypt to bring Ghana another trophy home.

Viva to the soccer players for bringing some cheers and lifting the spirits.

Last Funny Man Standing

Standup comedy must be universal, and it is a smashing hit here in Ghana.

Pros and amateurs alike preform their props on TV, in theaters and at events around the town. They usually speak English, however, there are also standup performed in local tones, Twi and Akan languages.

The topics range widely from daily lives to foreigners, the other day, I heard one comedian was bitching about Chinese. Audience are usually young and a good mix of man and ladies. They seem to care less as long as it is funny.

Standup stars have a large following and treated like a celebrity, youtube videos like Basket mouth get nearly 150,000 views.

Along with the famed high life music, vibrant weekend clubs, stand up has established a place to stay in Ghana's culture scene.

Ghana Reaches U20 Final

Ghana soccer team-the Black Satellites flying pass Nigeria and will face Brazil in U20 world cup currently held in Egypt.

Sometimes it seems nothing unites more people than soccer, at least among male fans. A room-full of coworkers won't come home after work but choose to gather to watch the soccer match on TV. They cheer, chat and chill, everyone is having a good time.

Amid the recent Newmont chemical spillage into a river, a report of more poverty among females and a fight for controlling the Ghana oil field even before a drop coming out, the Black Satellites certainly add some cheer and lift the spirit here.

Chinese to Topple Exxon Deal For Ghana Oil

Just days after a $4billion deal announced between oil giant Exxon Mobil and Kosmos, to explore newly found oil field off Ghana coast in Gulf of Guinea, a Chinese company CNOOC wants to overbid the deal, the same company had to withdrew a bid for U.S. oil company three years ago due to mounting political uproars from Washington. ( Ghana Business News)


Not only in Ghana, China is also pushing for resources in nearby Guinea, where a crashdown on anti-government rally had result in over 150 deaths and intense international condemation. (Finanal Times)


Fake or substandard drugs are not new and they are the rule here in Africa. Now former French president Chirac wants international attention to address the issue. (FT)


A bribery trial involving a UK company revealed a dark and corrupt past in Ghana. (AllAfrica)


Mobile phones are everywhere in African cities such as Accra, now they are increasingly popular in rural areas as well. (New York Times)

Fight over Control

Who is more accurate, an African index researched by a foundation supported by a Sudanese born philanthropist or Harvard political science professor?

The NYT piece, titled contention over Rankings of African Nations, examined the two indexes of Africa's best and worst governed nation rankings, by Robert Rotberg and Mo Ibrahim, respectively. The article raises the question without answering it.

I am sensing there is another question, how deep a suspicion Africans have towards the west?

The people here are both formal and polite, even my 2 year old starts answering to parents with "Yes, Sir!" (I am not kidding).

The past colonial influence is ubiquitous, whether superficial or out of subconsciousness. However, a new African identity is not only growing and going strong, but proliferating among countries in the continent. Thanks to modern technologies such as mobile phone and Internet, especially the phones, Africa is the fastest growing market in the world.

Thus the core of the question lies in: who should has the final say?

Rio de Janeiro Wins, My Memory of Beijing Bid 16 Years Ago

I can only image how emotional people are when the IOC president announced the name, Rio!

Sixteen years ago in Xi'an, around the same time in 1993, the day when I got up at 3am along with many many coworkers, and we were all standing outside amid early morning chill and watching anxiously the only TV set available for the whole work unit, many of us were young and feeling strong about the Beijing's bid to host the 2000 Olympic games.

Finally the moment came, the president opened the exactly same envelop, I remember clearly the envelop because they all had the five ring mark. I held my breath, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I had to look around to ease the breathlessness, and found that my colleagues, young in their 20s, many fresh out of schools and went through the 1989 Tiananmen student pro-democracy movement, looked just as tense as if they were ready to jump up and grape someone in their throats.

All in a sudden, no one utter a single word.
Some of us even closed their eyes.
But all ears were on the mouth that uttered the simple words....

I announce the host city for the 2000 Olympics......(the envelop was opened)

The moment was unbearable long and enduring.

Sydney!

OHHHHH.......Aaaa...........

Everyone looked confused and in denial. We turned to each other, as if the opponent has a answer for the obvious question: How come for we put so much hope, it could be busted like a balloon?

Still in disbelieve, people disappread into the predawn darkness, all the excitment, anexity, wish went along with them.

Tea or Coffee?

One of the few questions I asked the first I landed in Ghana is, what do people drink, Tea or Coffee?

Our social sponsor told me that people drink both.

It turned out that the answer is None.

It indeed is surprising and hard to believe, considering the past European influence, especially British one before the 1957 independence. However, I have yet to find a restaurant (except Chinese restaurants where you have to ask for Chinese tea) that offers tea.

Coffee seems to have expanded meaning of cafe, since there is a coffee shop nearby, and I had thought about going. Then I was informed that the coffee does not serve coffee, they serve meals.

I think I am on a quest to find the tea drinking or coffee drinking culture here, it may take some time, but it could be rewarding to learn more about a different culture, especially it is directly related to my favorite topics: Foods and Drinks.