Adapting to Takoradi Ghana

You did not get the full or in depth view of ghana. From what you have said it seems like you have only been in the city or suburb. These places are by far more advanced than the country side, abd the people (sometimes) strive on money and power. Accra is very much first world. But the magical parts of ghana lie in the country side where money and power are so far out of reach. so i think your view of takoradi may be accurate, but to get a scope of Ghana as a whole you need to get off the beach and go inland.

I have been in and out of Takoradi since 2003 doing mission work in three of the villages.I have found that much as to be taught on Intregity.Your word is not your bond for too many of the people.This concerns me greatly because I see the same behavior beng cycled in the youth. I want to train techers to teach Character Education so that the youth can come into a different mindset of what loyalty, honesty, sharing, compassion and love really means.

I believe when ones character has high standards a nation can change for the better.People will begin to enbrace the creative ideas that will cause more growth to take place in Takoradi/Sekondi, Ghana

The l person who supposedly wrote the blog/article on Adapting To Takoradi either is very confused about what he/she is writing about, an idiot or completely stupid....

re Ben...not sure where you come from Ben, but find you comments nonsensical and silly i.e Accra is very much First World???..

The author wrote a detailed, thoughtful piece. It can be quite difficult to convince West Africans to join organised projects that require self-sacrifice in order to profit in the long-term, either economically (for themselves) or socially (for others). Most people are used to focusing on the short-term, given historically high mortality rates and the volatility of the political environment.

Colonial corruption, followed by present-day nationalised corruption, has led most to doubt the integrity of any organisation in the world, whether corporate, governmental or non-governmental. As such, although people will oftentimes gladly help on an individual basis, collective aid is not easily done, since we are so accustomed to seeing funds stolen by others.

Imagine community fisheries projects that have been seized by military personnel. Bridge projects where the contractor stole off with the money. Hospitals where donated anti-retrovirals were sold off on the black market. NGO-sponsored agricultural projects where the NGO leader largely uses the tractor and fertiliser on his/her own field, forcing others to labour it for him.

When the wealthy in West Africa have become so through political means instead of self-sacrifice and saving, there are simply not enough positive role models for the youth to follow. The billions being donated to governments and non-governmental organisations are simply reinforcing the culture of non-transparency, corruption and greed.

If you want to help, you must build the leaders of tomorrow by living directly with them over 30 years, encouraging the honest, enterprising youth to remain honest and enterprising, rather than joining established, rotten organisations.

You comments seem very idealistic - check out a U.S. for a country that prides itself on integrety and honesty! WHAT A JOKE!

In poor countries, staying alive is a full time job and providing for your family requires many hours of work. Helping others is not realistic!