Of Obama and Puppies

Ghanaians love Obama.  No, they really love him.  It is only a few weeks since the historic visit that the Prez and Michelle made to Ghana but he made quite an impact.  There is no clearer evidence of this than on the streets of Accra or Cape Coast.  Everywhere you look he’s there in massive format, smiling back at you - sometimes juxtaposed to Ghana’s president John Atta Mills, sometimes in the familiar portrait with the Capitol as a backdrop.  In one particularly arresting billboard on my commute to work he has one eyebrow raised and is pointing with two fingers outwards, probably soliciting a question from the audience but it’s an outrageously slick image.  My personal favourite banner was seen on Cape Coast reading ‘Akwaaba! Akwaaaba!! Akwaaaaba!!!  President Obama and Wife.’  I’m sure Michelle was thrilled.

Not satisfied with decorating their city with his very pleasant effigy, Mr. President seems to have inspired a number of local businesses.  There’s the lovely looking Obama Hotel and tomorrow night we’re hoping to eat at the elusive Obama Inn which seems to be so laid back that its never actually open.  You only have a few more weeks to snap up the ‘Obama Special’ airfare to New York from the local travel agency.  There’s also the Obama version of Ghanaian batik fabric complete with a graphic of his head, repeated interminably. Initially we thought we’d all get dresses made out of it – we saw one hanging on a stall - but we’ve calmed down a little and may just settle for a bag now (get your orders in!).

My American friends here can’t get over how wonderful it is to walk round a city like Accra and have people hugging you because of your President.  I, on the other hand, was asked where I came from whilst waiting for a sandwich yesterday and when I replied ‘Britain’ the response was ‘oh, our colonial masters.’  I may start practicing my California accent…

And, yes, puppies…  My friend Mira and I have been having a competition to see who can spot the weirdest thing being sold on the roadside from a bowl balanced on someone’s head.  So far, she had trumped all of my offerings – slightly battered fruit, sugar cane, yam chips, ‘peeeurrr waaattteerrr’ – with some classics: television antennae, superglue and underpants.  However on my ride to Labardi Beach today I spotted a gem: a woman carrying three puppies in a bowl on her head.  I resisted purchasing, but the bar was definitely raised.