Day 45: Dead Man's Clothes

Accra - This morning Laura, a missionary from Texas, was kind enough to take me with her to Makola Market to do some jeans shopping.  She knew about my interest in food and remembered that there was a large food prep area in the market she thought I might like to see.  Makola is known for its sizeable resale clothing market named obinini wauo which translates loosely to "white mans dead".  Giant bales of used European and American clothing are shipped to Ghana that are sold to vendors who in turn resell to sellers who sell individual items to customers at the market.  So much clothing is donated that it actually prevents Ghana from starting its own clothing industry.  Clothes are repaired, washed and separated into age and size categories and sold in piles or hung from hangers at different stalls.  You have to wind your way through a tight maze to see all the offerings, and there are many.  The only snag we hit was that many of the sizes were European and we didn't know the conversion.  We finally did find a vendor that carried US sizes.  The market was muddy due to the recent rains, but that did not stop the constant flow of human traffic coming from all directions.

I did get a chance to see a large food prep area and to interview an older gentlemen who has worked in the market most of his life.  Anthony Boateng is an assistant storekeeper and had patronized this particular food vendor for years.  As I was interviewing him, I was struck by how passionate Ghanaians are about their food.  They exhibit much pride in its wholesomeness, lack of genetic modification, and organic qualities. Reluctant to declare a national dish, they profess that there is no need as Ghana has a great variety of dishes to offer from each region. Today I finally tasted kenkey.  Sadly, it was not one of my favorites.  Happily, it only cost me one Ghana cedi to sample it.

Tim, myself, and the "Scotts Hill Girls" finished up the day at Chix n Ribs in Osu.  It was an American style fast food joint that served chicken wings and barbecue.  I was able to find some macaroni and cheese with a side of sliced avocado.  Tim had the barbecued chicken, while all the girls decided to try chicken and waffles.  They regaled us with tales of their own four and a half hour market experience at Ablobloshie (yikes!) as we enjoyed this little piece of Americana in Osu.       

Fufu with Fish Stew

Summer is a professional photographer and she took some "prom" pictures of Tim and I out back of the guest house.

Ghanaian chicken and waffles at Osu's Chix n Ribs