March is Ghana month, the month in which Ghana celebrates everything Ghana. The laws of the land state who and how one can be a citizen, but how true of a Ghanaian are you if you cannot check all six experiences of true Ghanaian moments?
Trotro Palava
The most Ghanaian way of commuting is via commercial minibuses known as trotro. Though it may look like a routine, a true Ghanaian knows the trotro is a venue for drama. How can you defend your “Ghanaianess” if you have not been almost knocked out by the trotro mate’s odour? If you survive that, you may become the filling in the sandwich, where two people to your left and right give you no moving space because you landed the middle seat. Need I remind you of those who sit close to the window seat, leaving small space for someone to pass through to get sandwiched in the middle? Woe betides whoever decides not to respond to the name given by the trotro mate. Forget your birth certificate; you are either fifty cedis or Abeka Junction. Unless you are the couple that entered the trotro eating apples; then you are Adam and Eve. To top it all up, you may just forget to take your change. But that is what makes you Ghanaian.
Circle Telecommunications
If you ask what Circle is, you may get several answers. All are right. To the Ghanaian, it is a roundabout, an overhead, a transport yard, a market, and a shopping hub; it is Dubai! How Ghanaian can you be? If you’ve never had a story about phone snatching there. if you have been a victim, then you have twice the Ghanaian. One Ghanaian moment at Circle is when mobile phones bought and paid for turn into soap. If you know of such tales, then your experience as a Ghanaian is solid. Nighttime phone swiping in the area is a common occurrence, putting patrons of the area on guard.
Dumsor
If you have never cheered at the return of electricity after power outages or never booed at the outage and you possess a Ghana card, return it. Your behaviour, seconds after the lights go out and your behaviour when the lights come back shows how Ghanaian you are. Despite a relatively stable power supply compared to some years ago, a true Ghanaian’s stance stays the same on the outage.
Rhythms on the streets
“Ɛyɛ rich o pie,” “pure water bottle” “plantain,” “kosua ne mɛko,” if you need these to be translated, you are not Ghanaian enough. These are soundtracks. Recorded in no studio, and promoted by no label but it’s a banger on the street. To a famished or parched Ghanaian commuting, these sounds are a relief. One Ghanaian mark is having street hawkers line the road selling articles that surprisingly meet the commuters’ needs. From water of varying temperatures to drinks, snacks, sometimes packaged food and even toys. The twist here is to go on a ride outside the continent thinking you will have access to drinking water in the middle of the road. That moment will remind you how Ghanaian you are.
The Black Stars Love Story
“I have stopped supporting the Black Stars,” says the true Ghanaian who is about to watch yet another football match heavily monitoring the Black Stars’ performance. It always ends with either ‘The boys are doing well,’ or ‘You see why I stopped supporting the Black Stars.’ Should the Black Stars be beaten brutally in a game, expect the angered Ghanaian to watch the next game. The senior national soccer team is arguably the most loved unless you decide to say it in public. Through disappointing times, heartbreaking moments, and proud seasons, the true Ghanaian loves their Black Stars. After all, it is football!
The Waakye Matrix
Forget Jollof, forget Gɔbɛ. As a true Ghanaian, you know Waakye is the real deal. Unlike Jollof, no country fights over the right on Waakye with Ghana. Unlike Gɔbɛ, Waakye is not looked down on by some classists. However, as a true Ghanaian, you should know the waakye seller is an essential service provider. If you doubt this, ask why they were allowed to operate during the Covid-19 lockdown. The pleasure for Waakye is not without politics; hence the Waakye Matrix. As a true Ghanaian, you have to subscribe to at least one of the following theories of food.
-The bigger the gutter by the seller is, the tastier the meal.
-Gari is very important for the meal if you want to be satisfied.
-For true satisfaction, buy double and merge.
Beyond the red, gold, green and black colours that define Ghana, a true Ghanaian celebrates Ghana and upholds the nation
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ekow Boakye
