Comments on naijablog: Oyinbo in Accra

When I visted Accra, I was shocked to see homes wi...

2006-12-14T16:47:00.000+01:00

When I visted Accra, I was shocked to see homes with low fences.....nothing like the tall, iron gates surrounded with barbed wire like in Nigeria. And tourists really are tourists in Ghana....you're so right. It was a pleasure to turn up at the airport, and send my mom off too her hotel complete with a booked chauffeur from the hotel and not having to worry while I went off gallivanting with my friends. Nor did my mom have to worry about my safety.

you'de be wrong. Ghana's per capita income is high...

2006-12-11T17:30:00.000+01:00

you'de be wrong. Ghana's per capita income is higher, but its rate of growth is slower than nigeria's (5.9% to nigeria's 6.9%) and is not more diversified. considering the bulk of it's budget comes from aid, while in nigeria it comes from oil, i'd say nigeria's economy is stronger.

Jeremy,You say:"...although people are poorer and ...

2006-12-11T14:11:00.000+01:00

Jeremy,

You say:

"...although people are poorer and the economy much weaker (when one arrives in Accra, one becomes a Cedi millionaire instantly)"

This isn't right. Certainly, the rate of depreciation of the currency is an indication of the strength/weakness of an economy, but the rate itself isn't that important. Else, should we say a country like Japan has a weaker economy than Russia's?

To judge the strength of an economy, I'd look at things like how fast the economy was growing, how diversified it was it's GDP and how good its infrastructure was. I think Ghana rates higher than Nigeria in all these areas.

I think the comparison is between one city capital...

2006-12-11T13:05:00.000+01:00

I think the comparison is between one city capital and another, case in question Lagos and Accra. I am sure that white missionaries in Osogbo would hapily go around on buses but they wouldn't dream of doing same in Lagos or Abuja. Needless to say there are areas in any city that are notoriously dangerous, but generally, Accra, a city capital is safe and easy to roam through compared to Lagos.

Ghana is a lot more open to international expats/d...

2006-12-11T11:17:00.000+01:00

Ghana is a lot more open to international expats/development workers. Naturally then, whites will feel a lot more welcome in that environment bcuz they are seen as "Ghana-helpers."

You think oil is a curse? Nay, my pasty friend, G...

2006-12-10T23:08:00.000+01:00

You think oil is a curse? Nay, my pasty friend, Ghana would probably do better with Nigeria's oil than Nigerians have with theirs.

Very interesting. I think it may depend on where ...

2006-12-10T19:10:00.000+01:00

Very interesting. I think it may depend on where you are in Accra as there are some areas where you become VERY cautious as a white person, speaking from experience of getting into so very dodgy situations. Whilst there are some nice areas of Ghana and Accra there are also some very bad areas, worse than I saw in Nigeria but maybe Lagos will change that for me when I visit?!