Another "Ghana moment" - or should I say "only in Africa"? as the slot on BBC Network Africa goes?
On a recent weekend I did one of my normal cooking gas runs, as two of the three cylinders we use for cooking were empty, and with the holidays approaching, it was better to be sure of stock, rather than waiting till the last minute. And then having to spend a lot of time looking for it when supplies are limited!
With the two cylinders rolling around a bit in the boot - I hadn't put the stone which was to stop them rolling in properly - I set off for the place I usually hit first. Thinking why didn't I phone first? I guess I still operate in the "old" Ghana style that you have to go somewhere physically... that really shows how long I have been working the system here!
Anyway I got to the supplier, only to find a hand-painted sign on the gate saying "NO GAS". But unlike some other occasions when this was the case, the gate was open, so I decided to go in and ask if the people around had any ideas where I could get gas. Rather than telling me straight out where I could try, or that they didn't know, the guys hanging around continued to chat, though one of them did go into the office. There must have been a signal because the next thing I knew one of them was asking for my cylinders...
And when I asked how come they were selling to me, with the sign indicating no gas, the response was "for special customers only"... Hmmm... The price was surprisingly the correct one, but I do have to admit I couldn't resist giving a donation to the "Christmas box" as a way of saving me having to roam around looking for the cooking gas.
Definitely a Ghana moment, almost reminiscent of the bad old days of shortages and kalabule!
2 comments:
"Kalabule" LOL
That tells me you've seen a few phases of Ghana.
Read a few of your blog posts Lady Accra and they're fascinating insights into your Ghanaian world. From here it seems you have to put up with a lot of nuisance -- water weak, if at all, electric off, gas sold "under the counter", even to simple competition when buying stationery). But your seemingly placid acceptance that any jumping up and down is not going to change it straight away is heartening. As if you go with the flow so to speak. Love the way you tell your tales. Really like the blog. :)
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