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Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah
circle mirrors the arduous daily life of its 'ordinary' people.
From the popular Odo
rice restaurant to the Vienna City - mobile phone vendors and dealers,
corporate workers, traders, hawkers and prostitutes - all in sight at night.
Quite unique though -
is the mastery of thuggery and thievery exhibited here - swiftly and timely.
At least that is what a
roadside vendor in his 20s, who sells phone accessories and laptops seemingly
'applauded' when he bemoaned the artistry with which his two laptops were
stolen in a blink - when time afforded him the luxury of taking a nap in front
of his mini-shop.
"It's not a home
for strangers", he tells me.
Most of the people here
are a near 'god' to themselves.
One must know their way
around Accra's second most buzzing business centre to survive the hustle and
bustle of city life.
Don't be surprised;
muggers (kwashee guys), thieves (pick-pockets and phone snatchers) operate with
impunity at the glare sight of the police. Daily!
And although this does
not reflect the life of most Ghanaians generally - it's an enormously worrying
situation for the thousands of people who ply the circle road. Much worse for
individuals who have to jostle thieves for "trotro".
But this is not where
we met Adobi, a prostitute.
Monday evening. The
time is 7:20pm.
The Executive Producer
at Accra-based Starr FM (103.5) Kati G and I, a freelance journalist and
blogger of cmcghana.blogspot.com would begin our task of trolling the Kwame
Nkrumah circle. Once again.
Our mission is to find
our next night worker whose life best defines everyone has "got cobwebs in
their closet".
After over a three-hour
waiting - Blessing, a prostitute, arrived 'just' to share Peace - her fellow
prostitute's contact with us.
Taking advantage of
technology (i.e WhatsApp) wasn't an option. We had to wait or risk losing the
only prostitute who volunteered to chat us.
Too bad our hopes were
dashed - Peace later showed up only to reschedule another meeting.
"Not today",
she said after many attempts of persuasion.
We had to embrace the
ill reality that we would go home
without a story - and that is after hours of risking getting mugged at popular
prostitution hot-beds in Accra.
"We will try
tomorrow", we both said - less hopeful this time.
MEETING ADOBI:
1:34am, Thursday dawn
at Havana in Accra - the atmosphere
charged. One could literally smell and 'touch' marijuana.
Dogs barked as creeping
footsteps approached - two muscular men whose appearance at first glance looked
like thugs. Real thugs!
At this point my heart
cringed. Its beat doubled - leaving my teeth gnashing.
A dramatic show of
discomfort on my part didn't deter her from recounting her story.
"I charge GHc 20
for short distance and GHc 50 for long...more for a sleep over".
Her aunt introduced her
into the business of [prostitution], she tells us.
Although several
questions lingered, the most outstanding was why one's aunt would introduce her
into prostitution - it kept demanding an answer.
Then again footsteps
approached.
"I'm afraid living
this lifestyle. Even last week I witness something. I was sleeping in my room
and somebody just opened the door...I get afraid sometimes".
My long fear of an
eminent attack heightened. I peeped at Kati - and lisped "we must
leave!" .
"Adobi", male
voices boldly calling.
"A beg come
later", she replied.
I quizzed whether those
were clients.
"May be", she
retorted calmly.
"Let me check...
By: Crabbe Nathaniel...
For audio interview
listen here: https://m.soundcloud.com/user-521719783/campus-secrets-the-midnight-crew?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook
