Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Updates...

Curiosity got me using routes I've not used in ages, and routes I usually wouldn't use in the morning (cos of something called traffic).

Kwaku Doe is still exactly where he's always been (since I started writing about him at least). Since I was just being curious and wanted to just see, I ignored him when he knocked on my window (to ask beg for money). Yep, I got a new car that has constant air conditioning (windows perpetually rolled up).

For the love of my new car, I dint risk taking a picture of my next update, as it was next to impossible to get one without having my car mangled. The metallic frame of the billboard is still in the same shape it has been for a while now. The flexi/sav (printed material) is still removed and I can't help but wonder what is going on. Of course, possible possibilities have run through my mind.

There are companies that construct metallic frames for billboards, pay AMA to have them sited (as well as monthly rental charges) and charge advertising companies nice sums to mount their printed material for a certain time period. Organisations hire advertising companies (or companies that profess to do just that) to do some advertisement for them. It is very possible that:
  1. the poorly constructed/poorly situated dangling metallic frame is the fault of the company that constructed it. Has absolutely nothing to do with the organisation being advertised, so that company has had its advertising company retrieve its flexi/sav, which can be reused (dint seem damaged to me).
  2. the organisation being advertised owns the metallic frame (very possible, very possible) and has removed its flexi/sav and will get to removing/fixing the metallic frame (I wonder how long that takes cos its been days weeks and trust me, there's no work going on there).
  3. a different company does own the metallic frame, it removed the flexi/sav and will get to fixing the metallic frame (most probably leaving it at the same place in the same position) in due time.
  4. the time period for the organisation's ad to be displayed has expired and that coincided with the collapse of the metallic frame, so, for both parties, "why bother?" (I guess the metallic frame constructing company will bother when another organisation or even the same organisation shows an interest in mounting an ad on this frame.)
Any other possible scenarios?

Monday, April 22, 2013

Definitely Deadly!

Yep, keeping to my "at least one post a week" plan.

Sometime last month, my friend, Enyonam put up a post about Deadly Billboards and I commented on it, mostly cos I know just how badly billboards in Ghana are put up by anyone (that feels like it), without consideration for certain rules, regulations and guidelines eg. wind direction, I guess no one takes into consideration the fact that if something goes wrong, these billboards could just fall on a passing vehicle or on a pedestrian or cause major havoc (who cares, until something terrible happens?).

I really do wonder who gives permission for some of these billboards to be put up in the first place. AMA? Sad thing is, even when something does go wrong, and fortunately, there are no casualties, and these billboards are hanging dangerously by the last thread (metal equivalent), they remain that way until someone decides to do their job (which of course they take their precious time in deciding to do) before it is either removed or fixed.


Deadly Billboard at Labone Junction
This billboard is located at Labone Junction, and it remained the way it is, as seen in the picture above for about a week (was prolly more. I took this picture after seeing it like that for a week). When something was done about it (last Friday), the flexi/sav (printed material) was removed leaving behind the metallic frame. I'm yet to see the billboard today.

The billboard advertises an IT school in Ghana and has Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah on it (I guess as icon). I'm guessing y'all know which IT school I'm talking about.

Who do we blame? The organisation/product being advertised that paid for the billboard? The advertising agency handling the billboard? The regulatory body (if there is such)?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Where's Kwaku Doe?

I honestly cannot truthfully answer the question and I really would like an answer to it myself. I'd hazard a guess and say he's where he has always been (he has been at the same place since I started this blog). Oh my! I missed my anniversary :( It's been 2 years since I started blogging. I started blogging at the end of March 2 years ago and for some reason (work related mostly) I hardly put up anything anymore.

About Kwaku Doe, hmmmmm.... I've been using this different route to work consistently for a couple of months now, and whenever I do use my old route on weekends, he's not there (maybe he has found a new spot). Well, I sort of found a new Kwaku Doe who I see every morning cos he's not far from where I live. This one does beg for money but he also directs traffic. Our relationship (if you can call it that) started with me totally disliking him cos he dissed me one time when I refused to give him money (like it was a must, just cos he asked). Now, we are pretty cool cos I pointed out to him what he did (seems he forgot. makes sense cos I'm sure he disses 1,000 people in a day. he can't possibly remember us all) and he actually went on his knees in the middle of the road to beg for my forgiveness. I wanted so much for him to get up that I said I'd let it go and to prove it, I gave him a GH¢1 note (people don't like it these days when you give them coins. times are that hard. a beggar got to survive too).

Happy blogger anniversary to me.
Mental note - I will make the time to at least post something once every 2 weeks (I would love to do it more often but...).

Saved (Twice)

Sometime in 2018, I was heading to work when I heard this knocking sound. It was coming from my car but I couldn't tell which part of th...