Ladies and gentlemen, part two of my thoughts on where and why Congo Republic, my new nation, is a Bhimnation, unlike Ghana - the dum-nation. I hear the lights off has abated. Congrats.
Today is special to me because it was the day in 2017 my second year at Africanews kicked into gear. On this day, I fought my first and last violent battle at the airport on arrival - story for another day.
Now to why Congo is bae and Ghana needs be booed. Final top five reasons by your truly Hajia Fati’s son.
Somewhere on the streets of Grande Marche in Pointe-Noire, man carrying flags on helmet, Congo on top - that's what's up!
1. Utility prices affordable, respectable availability
Back in Ghana, the tarrif tennis means if the Public Untilities Regulatory Commission smash us in one direction, then the service providers and government clobber us back with a bankhand. Water and electricity as basic resources were/are huge headaches in Ghana.
Not so in Congo. The tarrifs don’t behave like riffraffs, they respect the common man’s capacity and spending power. And service is give – and – take streets ahead of what ECG and GWCL offer.
2. Literacy is too high #French
Okay so in Ghana, English is our official language. But Twi is the on – ground official language. Yet you can’t walk into an average market and begin to be official, of course unless you brace up for some pidgin in there. Taxi drivers and people we relate to on a daily basis may not necessarily be literate in Ghana – as in speaking and writing English.
Well, different ball game in Congo. The Twi equivalent here is Lingala but EVERYONE speaks French – broken French no dey, they speak standard French, market woman, refuse collector, taxi driver, shop assistant. They may not write is but Twi here is French. Obiaaa ka!
3. President is revered and feared
I’d ally this point to the issue of media. In Ghana where non – entities can insult the President and still grin at their achievement. Here, the media is there but there is zero motivation to go and not insult criticize government let alone president. It’s a democratic autocracy.
So the president is feared and he is respected. You see how in Ghana we blurt his name on air in the newspapers and what have you? Boss, you catch here just respect yourself, it’s as easy as it gets.
4. Election day shock – Man I got shook
Firstly, campaigns end 24 hours to opening of polls. The only cars that move on election day are those of the security services. Or those that have attained authority to do so. Public transport is BANNED totally from even sparking their engines let alone dare to move.
During elections, internet is nicely lifted – in the name of national security. In 2016 March during vote for president for five days no internet, no call access. But the sweet admirable bit, all election campaign material vanish before voting day.
The town is virtually cleansed of the campaign spirit. You will not see even one poster. It is all scrapped off the walls, off the intersections, off the billboards no matter how high and huge. Election day is like a forced holiday, you no get anything do, sleep.
5. Streets, roads, avenues even lanes are properly named.
No. 91 VILLE DE POINTE NOIRE, 1.E.P. LUMUMBA / BASE AEROPORT. Avenue NGOUANOUNI. If you dey search me, that’s my direct residential address. The naming system for the city is dead admirable.
Last time I checked Ghana was still struggling to deal with streets and link roads in an on – and – off style. Well, back home where I still live with Hajia Fati, I think I live at Tantra Hill Navajo crescent or somewhere like that.
Conclusion
The travel and see mantra has never made as much buzz to me as in the last two years. You cannot but admit that you’ll be strange to others as they they’ll look, be and sound to you. How on earth can people live without waakye and kenkey for example?
But as Hajia Fati continues to stress, you gotta live with what ya got at any material moment. The kenkey (Ga) version of staple here is called manioc. Cassava cooked like kenkey in waakye leaves accompanied by lazy pepper, mayonnaise, chicken and ketchup. Till date I have yet to eat it. Two years holding out.
The blessings of travel, Abidjan airport overlooking the city. Pointe Noire for over a year, Addis Ababa by night and morning and Accra for over the many years of hustle. Tamale, Bolga must hear from me after doing Kumasi on last vacation. When next, I no sabi yet!
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