Britain was described by Napoleon as “a nation of shopkeepers”, but in 2013 I would say that this title is much more appropriate to Ghana. “Hustle” is a daily part of life for many Ghanaians and wherever your tro-tro (bus) stops there is always a number of people looking to sell water, food, footballs and many other items you might add to a shopping basket in the UK. Roads through the towns are packed with huts and the markets bustle with enterprise.
One of my favourite things about the shops in Ho was their names, they almost always having a religious connotation. Sometimes this was linked to what the person was selling, e.g. “God’s Time is the Best – Fast Food” but on others it seems to have no connection at all, “Rams Horn Enterprises”. As always in Ghana, the shops are colourfully painted and people are keen to engage with potential customers. Below are a few examples of my favourite shops in Ho. Have you shopped in Ghana? I’d love to hear about some of your experiences.
davecoles 