I have in the past considered moving to Ghana in the near future—but my chances of becoming a returnee keep diminishing, owning to the increasing social, economic and political problems in Ghana.
And don’t tell me I should go down there to help because it has been proven more than enough, that you cannot help anyone who is not ready to be helped—and when the mindset is glued on absurdity, no amount of sense can cleanse it.
I am sure majority of the many Ghanaians living abroad have a dream of one day returning to Ghana no matter their acquired nationality—since there is no place like home. But then again, you wouldn’t want to be part of a failing campaign or call a hostile habitat your dreamland.
Interestingly, I recently got into a conversation about returning to Ghana with a female friend, who quickly suggest on hearing my plans of settling in Ghana one day that, East Legon or Cantonments will be perfect for me—and “you will love it there”, she added.
For the many years I’ve contained a dream of re-settling in Ghana one day, I have never considered anywhere in Accra or Kumasi as my final would be destination, and as such, I probed my friend further to find out why her East Legon or Cantonments suggestion…
Quickly, she stated among other things, that these two places are very developed, living there commands great respect, the places are expensive and they have beautiful and high standard neighbourhoods.
On the sarcastic wave, I pulled her suggestion aside and said, “and I bet these places do not even have consistent running water and I will still need a generator to be able to have constant flow of power. Not to talk of the unmoving traffic”.
On a serious note, my friend’s suggestion sounded attractive but not persuading enough to any returnee like me, who will abandon London, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, Vancouver, Venice and some of the most expensive—and high standard cities in the world to move to Ghana.
It was difficult to make her understand that, if I was looking for a high neighbourhood to live in, I will rather choose one of the above cities and not relocate to Ghana. This fits the same box of coming on a holiday to Ghana and placing “myself” in long queues just to buy KFC.
At the end of the conversation, I felt I did a bad job with the presentation of my case as she sounded bemused by my contrary suggestion of living in the countryside where I would be able to enjoy the beauty of being a true returnee—I mean, enjoy the sense of community-ship, the natural environment, the local food and be far from the chaotic and unending African city lifestyle.
Since the day I had this conversation, I have had chats with several other friends living abroad concerning their dreams of ever returning to Ghana and the reasons why this ‘run away from the West’ journey is so important to them.
As expected, many wanted to be home, be able to enjoy the beautiful social life that living abroad has for many years robbed them of, and more importantly, live peacefully in a naturally beautiful environment—making the small towns, villages or outskirts of the cities their ideal location.
It looks like, when you have seen them all, experienced them all and have enjoyed well developed country’s lifestyle with the accompanying hostilities that living in some of the greatest cities in Europe/America bring, you yearn to be local; you yearn to return to the basics.
On the flip side, I believe this is why the many Ghanaians abroad are hooked on Kumawood movies, sharing and enjoying what those who live in the cities in Ghana will probably find “too local or too pathetic”.
I know I did not set forth the reason for this post in any of the above paragraphs and therefore you may wondering about the sort of mark I intend to make with this post.
I want to know this from those Ghanaians living abroad; in your ideal returnee mindset, where in Ghana would you prefer to live—-a city, a small town or a village. And why…?
To me, Ghana cannot offer any desirable “high cosmopolitan lifestyle” compared to the other cities (where I’ve lived where I can today move to if I want to). Therefore, if ever my dream of returning to the beautiful country of Ghana come to pass, you may find me wasting my left years at Ada, Prampram or some little village near Bimbila—eating “dawudawa “ until I fall dead under some tree with birds singing all manner of crazy songs over my head.
If you have a dream to live in the West, remember I also have a dream to live in Bimbila and I am seriously working tirelessly towards that!
Never ending cries of so called returnees. Let me guess..u look forward to walking bare foot with cowries in the dreadlocks you plan on growing soon
are you for real? where is the criticism in the article? did he say he want to grow some stupid dreadlocks? hehehe what did you smoke this early morning
Personally if I ever return to Ghana, I will find some quite village to settle too. The cities are filthy more than the villages. and the on top if it, not peaceful. I hear even you have more electricity in the villages than in cities where they put the lights off more regularly. People ar much nicer in the villages too and life is more fun there so I agree with you on this. I wont move to Ghana to live in Accra. Twaa, why not remain in Toronto then
Imagine if the folks who built and developed Toronto had the same attitude you/ee have. Imagine if the founding fathers of USA had the same attitude you have. They would have just settled in the backwoods somewhere in rural Maryland and called it a day. Yes, Ghana isnt as rosy and there is a lot to be done. The beautiful cities we all love now didnt not fall out of the sky. We need to take charge of our destiny n not leave everything to fate
Well said!!
Chris, my husband has the same notion as u. He said he will even avoid electricity if he can bc he believes that all these diseases that r over powering people now, such as cancer, were unheard of before all these commodities.
I disagree. We didn’t know abt cancer back in de day but Ghanaians were dying from it. My grandfather died way b4 I was born and now dey realized he probably died from lung CA.
hmmmmmm
Yes living in the country side or village allows for peaceful and conscious living. I’ll prefer a quiet village in the eastern region!
where in the Eastern Region? I will recommend Akyem Oda for u my home town
Yawning… your business #whocares#
If i should relocate to Ghana from London i will settle in Winneba cuz it’s a beautiful town and pluz i can commute or go to Accara quiet easily if it’s necessary
Yes!! Im from Winneba and I approve…lol
lol… fanx…. plz can u help me purchase a land…..laughs…. Winneba all the way
Yesssssssssssssssssss winneba all day and anyway. Winneba junction is slowing advancing, lands are very expensive too.
Settling in the small towns sounds nice and less stressful, but I think all the same I would settle in the city cs I have no option than to.
I think the more you grow the more you will want to relocate to a quiet place…by that time you have had enough of the noise…yes accra is tooo noisey…ahh ba…
Chris, why would you even think of someday relocating to Ghana??? It is not a place for a self-proclaimed “superior” person like you. As you are very aware it was for sale and has been SOLD. Think of Monaco, a place for the “ballers” like you!!! While you searching for a location, change your last name to a British colonial master’s name because Agyapong Febiri is too darn Ghanaian, which you don’t deserve.
Christopher Vincent, why would you even think of someday relocating to Ghana??? It is not a place for a self-proclaimed “superior” person like you. As you are very aware it was for sale and has been SOLD. Think of Monaco, a place for “ballers” like you!!! While searching for a location, change your last name from Agyapong Febiri to a Bristish colonial master’s name because it is too darn Ghanaian which you don’t deserve such agony.
U r so rite Vince,but note prampran will soon be the east lagon u forbid living Der. I believe it also the feeling of belonging, feeling at him, probably owning ur own home, mansion,, calling it ur own. Self fulfillment knowing uve accomplished something. Especially when its at home. No matter how well or established u r somewhere else other than ur land, it makes a difference wen u r established at home.
@ Chris Vincent. Kintampo, With Beautiful Waterfalls, Fullerfalls. right in the middle of GHANA. Agyapong’ hometown. I’m ur childhood classmate, good work but change ur views on the gays n lesbians. MPS rollcall. Joel Owusu, Kwaku Abra, Alhassan Seidu, Akosua Yeboah, Christian Boahen, Kwaku Wasape, Jerry Febiri, Agyapong Febiri, Effah Asumadu, Theodore Yuah, Ellen Duah, >>> Me (You will know later)
I was just introduced to this blog or whatever and I have to say after reading 3 articles and the comments I am through. young man, this attitude you have will take you no where, you are like a balloon. you are currently full of air and so you are floating but you will bust very soon and when you do there will be nothing to be done with you.
it is not a threat or a curse it is what it is.
your tone of writing is very negative and remember if you have all those negative thoughts in your mind you will not be able to produce anything positive.
right now you think you are okay you have learnt how to create a blog you have advertisement money so you are talking plenty NONFA. may God have mercy on you otherwise you will go through the very things you are looking down on.
True talk Chris. When I want to finally go and live in Ghana I will make it to a calm place too, a village will be too much but a small town with warm and nice people will be my spot. I love the costal areas so maybe a small house in Elimina will not be a bad idea. Yup
Akosua madam lesbian. E be you dat?