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?

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)?

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...).

What's Your BB Pin? GetFamiliar Ghana!

When I look at my BlackBerry (BB) Smartphone, all I see is a communication device.

Well, I do not exactly expect to see any more than that, and frankly, I am sure millions of other BB users see just what I do. Research in Motion (RIM), manufacturers of the BB line of Smartphones will not be disappointed with such a report. RIM however, will and is impressed with what a young Ghanaian in his early twenties envisaged when he saw his BB Smartphone.

Yes, Albert Kwesi Appiah sees a communication device when he looks at his BB Smartphone, but two years ago, Albert did not see just that. He also saw a business opportunity. One that would get him doing something he has come to love.

Popularly known as Kinto Rothmans and very much known to almost everyone who uses a BB in Ghana, Albert, faced the same challenge almost every new BB user faces; how to amass contacts on his BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). Kinto managed to transcend this to some extent. What he would do for his friends who got onto the BB service however, has changed his life and added so much more to the lives of others.

For his friends who were new on the BB service, Kinto would send a broadcast message to all his BBM contacts. The message would read, “Get familiar with...” then follows the person’s name and BB pin, after which he would request for a re-broadcast. The idea was to literally get familiar with the new BBM contact and get to know them. Before long, people would have 300, 700, 1,000 and even 2,000 BBM contacts as opposed to 20, 30 or 50. With that huge a contact base on BBM, sending a broadcast message to all contacts and requesting for a re-broadcast would ensure that the message is received by thousands.

“There is power in numbers, so when you can reach a lot of people, you become powerful and that really is where the idea came from”, said Kinto.

For Kinto, the realisation that he could reach a large number of people at the same time, who in turn could also reach a large number of people with one message got him thinking. “One of the things that make a television station or a radio station successful, is being able to sit in a studio and talk, and get whatever you say to millions of people, sometimes halfway across the world”. Kinto figured he could do similar with BBM.

 

“I realised I can make good use of BBM, because if you can reach a lot of people with this medium, you can market with it and host events. More importantly, you can reach a huge number of people at the same time”, said Kinto.

 

There are currently thousands of BB users in Ghana, which is not surprising. A while back, old school mates  or old friends who had not seen each other in years, would bump into each other, and before parting, one would ask, “what is your name on Facebook?” Now, the parting phrase is “what is your BB pin?" In order not to feel left out, many young Ghanaians will go to great lengths to own a BB.

 

The telecommunication companies in Ghana have made it easy and affordable for all BB lovers to stay on the BB service by introducing varying data plans to suit one’s pocket. All the telecommunication companies in the country that carry this Smartphone, have come up with incentive packages to win non-BB users over. Some of them offer free data plans for a couple of months once a BB is bought from them, while others give away BB’s in lotteries.

 

Although the unemployment rate in Ghana at the moment is not known, it is pegged as at being on the high side. A frightening dimension of unemployment in the country is the rising levels of graduate unemployment. As at 2011, graduate unemployment in Ghana was estimated at 44% of graduate school leavers. For a 2010 Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Ghana, it is remarkable that Kinto has set up his own company, barely three years after graduating from school. What is even more remarkable is that right after university, Kinto got a permanent job with a telecommunications company in Ghana, what most young university graduates in Ghana would call, "an answered prayer". Kinto quit his job after working there for about two years. The reason? "I wanted to nurture my own business into a bigger company and nothing can be bigger than your own idea". He wanted to nurture the company, GetFamiliar.

GetFamiliar is a Ghana based social media/advertising, event publicity, entertainment (music promo), PR, marketing/promotions and brand awareness consulting group. The group as its mission, provides services for people who want to stay in touch, to belong to a larger family and to be informed and entertained, enabling them to express their emotions, which go a long way in enhancing their lives.

“GetFamiliar is a pacesetter and I totally am in love with what I do”, said Nick Johnson, Solution Manager of the group.

Nick, like a number of GetFamiliar’s members, is in school studying for his Bachelor’s Degree. Thanks to the idea Kinto had and nurtured, he now finds himself working while still in school, and most importantly doing something fun that fetches him cash. Nick is looking at working full time with GetFamiliar when he is done with school.

 

Kinto and just about every member of GetFamiliar describes their proudest moment as when FridayFriends, GetFamiliar’s weekly event, won the rlg Accra Nightlife Award 2013 for the best weekly club event. It really was a great moment for all members of the group, especially its CEO, Albert Kwesi Appiah. It was a moment not to be rivalled by any other except for when officials of RIM paid a visit to Ghana and wanted to meet with GetFamiliar. The RIM officials made it one Friday night, to FridayFriends.

Kinto (Middle) with Tunji Ademiluyi (2nd right), Carrier Manager of RIM and three members of GetFamiliar

Aside FridayFriends, GetFamiliar has organised other events, some in conjunction with other event organisers, others on behalf of other organisations. The group has also undertaken brand activation for some companies in Ghana.

“In some years to come, GetFamiliar is going to be one of the biggest companies in the country”, said Kinto.

GetFamiliar has not left Android users out though. For the Android market, GetFamiliar has developed an application called GetFamiliar that instantly updates its users of trendy music, videos, pictures and upcoming hot events.

The Ghanaian social media marketing group, though started on BBM has not restricted itself to using only BBM to advertise. GetFamiliar, aside having its own website (http://www.getfamiliargh.com), advertises on other social media such as Facebook (GetFamiliar GH), Twitter (@GetFamiliarGH) and Instagram (@GetFamiliarGH).

Yipee! It's My Birthday! - Look at Me...

Well, it's actually not my birthday today but I dint like lie, lie :( My birthday was last Friday (a week ago), February 15, a day after valentine's day (and boy do I have a lot to say about having my birthday a day after val's, but that of course will be another post). So, I turned 28 Yay! (and yes, I do have some grey hairs).

 

I am grateful to God for how far he has brought me, for all my many blessings (I'm sure I don't realise just how blessed I am), but most importantly, I am grateful for the gift of life.

"Father, I thank You. You have been so good to me, even when I don't deserve Your being good to me. I am so grateful for all my blessings and for those yet to come".

 

Since I am always on their (mobile phone companies) case, it is just fair that I say this as well.

The most surprising birthday present I received was from MTN. Yep, MTN sent me a text message wishing me a happy birthday, credited my account with free airtime, free text messages and free browsing data. Thank you MTN (I really wasn't expecting it. matter of fact, I wondered how you knew it was my birthday, but I guess you have that data from when I registered my SIM card. it is nice to know you actually care).

It doesn't really matter though that I couldn't use the browsing data you sent me since I am subscribed to the Blackberry service (I know you have that information) and before I could send more than 1 text message, all that you sent me expired (you dint inform me in the birthday text message that everything would expire in 3 days).

It is the thought that most importantly counts. Muchas gracias MTN :). Now, how about one of 'em jaguars you giving out? :D

 

All of my life, up until 5 years ago, I was overweight. I was a big baby, chubby toddler, fat kid and overweight (actually, my BMI calculation showed I was obese at my worst) young adult. I dint really quite understand it cos I (think) dint like eating too much. I learnt when I was a baby, my mum had to chase me around to feed me (now I have this terrible image of me running around in diapers with my mum right behind trying to breast feed me).

 

Of course for obvious reasons, I did all I thought I could to lose weight. Trust me, none of the obvious reasons had anything to do with wanting to be healthy. I just wanted to be normal (like most people). I just wanted the name calling to stop. Jeez! It's so hard being a fat kid! Let's see, I was called "obolo", "obolobo", "obolosonic", "bufloat" (I don't even know if that's the correct spelling. it's supposed to be puff loaf or something) and bread fallen in water (in Twi), all of these were to my face. I found out later I was called football (some friends of mine told me that was what some of the guys in school called me behind my back). Why football? Cos, I'm not really a tall person (matter of fact, I'm short), plus being big made me look short and rounded like a football (that's the explanation I got), hence the name.

 

Now, I became this really mean person. So, I would lash out at people before they even had the opportunity to make fun of me (I should have read psychology. I seem to have a clear understanding of defense mechanisms).

Anyways, being mean of course ensures if you do have friends, they won't be many. So, at the point in my life when I realised people dint like me too much (and it actually mattered to me), I just went on ahead and became a "people pleaser" (learnt that phrase on Oprah). I would do any and everything (most of which involved me going way out of my way) just to get people to like me. That of course was tiring, so I knew the best solution was to lose the extra weight. What did I do? I starved myself (but that really dint go beyond 2 days before I would give up), I worked out (but after 4 days, when I dint see the weight go, I'd quit) and I alternated between the two (starving & working out), but that would last about a week and of course I dint see any improvements, so I'd quit.

When I was in JSS (now junior high) I actually got one of my few friends to buy weight loss tea in a drug store for me. I told her it was for one of my neighbours, and I couldn't go in and get it cos the attendant in the shop might think it was for me (since I was big), and might not sell it to me cos I was too young, but since she was skinny, the attendant would sell to her (if you read this dear friend, I'm sorry I lied. at least now you know the truth). It really was for me :( I drank it all up religiously but unfortunately, there was no change.

I disliked taking pictures and even if I did, I'd either stand behind someone in a group photo (which really was difficult since I was and still am the shortest most of the time), or I'd just sit if I was alone.

Me in 2007 (seems I'd lost some weight) Only pix from then I could find

 Sitting dint really hide the folds (tried using my hands to cover my tummy. it looked awkward doing that while standing).
Well, at a point, I convinced myself that I was "big boned", (another phrase I picked up from Oprah), so then there really was nothing I could do about the extra weight, and I was just going to be big forever.

Sometime during my national service (which interestingly enough I did in the dietherapy department of a hospital), I decided enough was enough. I decided I would live healthy, be healthy and stay healthy, whether I lost weight or not. So, I worked out everyday, watched my diet, and the pounds just fell off.
Initially, I dint realise it myself until people started pointing it out to me and my clothes seemed too big on me. Thing is, I wasn't too obsessed about losing weight so I wasn't weighing myself everyday and giving up when there was no improvement after a few days.
I remember there was this time I went to town with my mum and bought 2 pairs of trousers. I dint try them on, convinced they would fit. I got home, tried them on, and one wouldn't go beyond my hips and the other couldn't be buttoned after making it past my hips. My mum offered to take them back but I declined. I said to her, "I'll keep them, lose weight and fit in them" (even I did not believe that was possible).
After all the "wow, you've lost weight" comments, I just had to try on the trousers, and they more than fit :D

Yep, I lost weight but it hasn't been easy maintaining my weight loss. I stopped workig out, went back to eating junk, gained some weight back, but I managed to lose it again.
Right now, I'm just maintaining the staying healthy bit and thank God it's working for me. I'm 28 years and liking what I see when I look in the mirror ;)



Me, on my 28th birthday

Why did I put up a picture of me sitting?
Now, I can comfortably stand and take pictures :D

Me, at the end of 2012

That's more like it! I actually love taking pictures now.

To all those that ever made fun of me or had a name for me when I was growing up, all I got to say is "IN YOUR FACE!" :p

About To? Seriously?

I have heard of, I have seen "Just Married" on the cars of newly weds.

Saturday, I saw for the first time "About To Wed" on the back of a car. The front of the car was decorated with ribbons.

Just wondering if the wedding was going to happen that day and the notice was there for the before the wedding and then after the priest says "I now pronounce you husband and wife", the notice would change to "Just Married".

Forgive my ignorance but this was just the first time I saw this:

Anoda Doe? (Kwaku? or Kofi?)

Pretty confusing huh? Seems I've come across another John (Kwaku or Kofi) Doe.
No, I don't interact with him.
Why? Never had the chance to or maybe it's better I dint.

I've always questioned original Kwaku Doe's sanity but with this new guy, there's no question about that. It is quite clear that there's something wrong.

First time I saw him, he was taking a bath in a gutter (yeah). His front was covered though by this slab at the edge of the gutter. All anyone really could see was his bum. He was using this tin can to fetch water out of the gutter, which he was standing in, and pouring on himself. He was butt naked.

I do know mentally challenged individuals do weird stuff but what I don't get is how come he knows he's got to keep clean (eventhough it was with gutter water) and how come he also knows he has to keep his nakedness away from the public (eventhough he was butt naked, by the roadside. at least he knew to cover his front part).

A few days after the first time I saw him taking his bath in the gutter, I saw him walking along the roadside fully clothed. It did make me wonder how he got out after his bath (if he got out before dressing or if he dressed before getting out). What really baffled me was no one seemed bothered or thought what he was doing was out of the ordinary. Matter of fact, I was the only one staring (maybe everyone is just used to him and his baths).

I saw him again this morning, taking a bath in the gutter (and yes, I was the only one staring) and no matter how many times I chance upon this scene, I doubt if I'll get used to it.