Why I do not want to live in Accra

Growing up, it was the dream of most of us born in the village to at least visit Accra, the capital. 

If you are lucky among the village boys and girls to have an aunt or uncle residing in Accra and they visit, we all gather to hear stories from the holidays, when school resumes from vacation.

We want to hear about the numerous cars that pass on a road that one has to wait several minutes to cross.

We want to know about the city’s tallest buildings and how everyone seems busy going to or coming from a place.

These were fantasies that our feeble minds as children could not fathom.

As an adult, however, every single day that I visit Accra, I prefer going back to my village where everyone cares for, and about one another.

Wonder

I really wonder why people will want to move from their towns and beautiful homes in the village to Accra to live under dehumanising conditions under the illusion of getting non-existing jobs.

Is it that bad in the town or village? I have a couple of friends who live in kiosks in Accra that could basically pass as livestock pens in the village.

The dehumanising environment, near chocked and stinking gutters, where these kiosks are situated, is enough to send the sensitive packing back to the village where there are many empty buildings to be occupied.

The irony and the drama is to turn up on festive occasions in the village in rugged jeans with a couple of cedi notes to flatter friends and family that all is well in Accra.

Really?

Opportunities

I am not blind to the many opportunities that Accra offers, but if you want to be in Accra, you must be ready and prepared to live in squalor.

Many, who live in Accra and do decent work have no problem being in Accra.

Accra is for them and they are for Accra.

The bottom billion, however, who come to Accra with no skill, no qualification, but to take chances to better their lives do more harm to themselves than good.

The overpopulation in Accra has already taken a toll on every sector, particularly the public employment sector, with no job opportunities in public service.

No one has the time nor the space to listen or attend to you if you have not met the required standard.

Even if you meet the standard for public goods or services, you have numerous others in the same category to compete with.

Accra will be enjoyed better if you possess some skill, let us be in the village brother.

Why bother to come to Accra when you can make it in the village?

The writer is a Marketing & Communication Consultant.

E-mail: benonymullray @gmail.com