Wow! The weekend is gone just like that! A flurry of events came by and all too soon Sunday evening was just there staring at me like, ‘ So what are you going to do about it? ‘ Absolutely nothing I could do.

Church was a pretty blunt service. We ordained new Deacons into leadership roles and the guest preacher & ordainer ( I just created that word ) Rev. Charles Apah shot some bullets of truth into the congregation. You know how nowadays many preachers focus so much on prosperity messages and leave out the message of salvation? Well, this man of God went all out on our behavior as Christians with his message titled , “Are you a Plus or a Minus”?  Is our attitude as Christians adding to the Kingdom, our lives and that of others or are we must causing loss to the Kingdom etc?  Hard but useful lessons.

Back to Sunday evening, after a good lunch of turmeric rice with gizzard stew, I decided to go green with dinner. It takes very little (money & time) to make a healthy quick salad in Ghana. But in the dry season, it can be a challenge.

Have you been to the market of late? Vegetables & fruits are now very expensive. Like very. Even a trip to Agbogbloshie will not give you cheap ingredients. My Mom went there recently and she wailed at how okro was three pieces for  GHC 1 cedi Nkontonmire was GHC5 for one bunch! Thanks to the poor attention being paid to the development of Agriculture in Ghana and our total reliance on rainfall; vegetables such as Nkontonmire and co. have gotten really pricey.  Shall I repeat again that we need to go back to Operation Feed Yourself?

I whipped up a Cashew Green salad in a matter of 20 minutes which went brilliantly went with slices of toasted brown bread. The magic was actually in the vinaigrette I used. It is super easy and healthier to make your own vinaigrette. I am having trust issues with some imported products into this country.

Dig In More: How To Make Your Own HomeMade Spice.

There are various ways to fortify a simple green salad for added nutrients. My go-to extra-nutrients are to add nuts, some healthy meats or fruits to it. Works every time.

A salad is a great dish to have if you want to quit eating late at night and that’s exactly one of the reasons I made this.

Follow these easy steps to making this nutritious Cashew Green salad..

What You Need:

(Makes for two)

1 Crispy bunch of lettuce

1 Large cucumber

I White or Red Onion

Quarter of a cabbage

1 medium-sized tomato

1 cup of cashew or any nut preferred

For the Vinaigrette

Half of a lemon

3 teaspoons of white vinegar

2 teaspoons of brown sugar

½ Tsp thyme

1 Tsp olive oil

½ Tsp black pepper

a pinch of salt

Directions:

For the vinaigrette

• Combine all ingredients together and with a fork beat them in well. You can add in more vinegar or thyme depending on how flavorful you want it.

Cashew Green Salad

1.     Wash all vegetables in a saline solution or with a vegetable wash.

2.     Chop up cucumber, onions and tomatoes into big chunks.

3.     Grate or slice cabbage.

4.     Tear up or slice lettuce (however you want it to look. It’s a free world darlin’! )

5.     Combine ingredients into a salad bowl

6.     Pour cashew nuts over the lovely green landscape and mix it in.

7.     Dash in the vinaigrette over that.

8.     A crucial step: Eat & Enjoy :D

Chill in the refrigerator if not ready to eat which will allow the vinaigrette to sink into every ingredient. 

Warm brown toast is all heart for me and it went exceedingly great with the salad. I think Shoprite supermarket makes the best brown bread in the city. Any challenger?

 What meal do you prepare in the early evenings to prevent you from eating late? I would love to read from you in the comments below.

 The Catholic Church which as been depicted in many movies and books as a  religious organisation with many secrets (dark or whichever colour) to hide just opened one of its doors to the social media world. The door leads into the Instagram account for Pope Francis @franciscus ! Imagine that! It must have taken a lot of deliberations and discussions for this to actually happen.

The world of social now gets a glimpse into the 'world' of the revered Pope and his activities. The already verified account has already raked in 285K  followers as at the writing of this post with one photo posted. How's that for influence pardner? 

Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom popped by to congratulate His Holiness. The perks of creating great addictive apps eh! Major!

His first photo is already at 45K likes with a simple but effective post asking followers to 'Pray for him' in 9 different languages.

Will the Pope overtake Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian or perhaps Instagram ?  How many followers can you predict for His Holiness's following ? 

It was an early Easter Monday morning drive to the Osu market to grab ingredients to make Abom for breakfast . I drove into the market glad to see the market women at work despite it being a holiday and after 15 minutes I drove out pissed at no one in particular. The source of my pissed off mood? Blame the GHC 10 garden eggs nestling in the black rubber bag on the passenger seat. 5 pieces of garden eggs for GHC5 which meant one was for GHC1? ‘ Yes oh! It’s because there was no rain for sometime, that’s why’, explained the market woman. ‘Don’t worry eh, the rains have started so it will get better.’

I was almost home. I was about to turn into a street when I noticed little clusters of people staring in one direction (towards my left which I was about to turn into) and vaguely wondered what was attracting their attention. My vague wondering mind now came to full understanding of what had caught their attention. Two men were in the middle of the road and were engaged in what seemed to be a slight scuffle. Well, the bigger man in a red t-shirt seemed to be winning at whatever scuffle it was. 

I blew the horn to separate them. Interestingly, it rather served to move both parties in the samedirection with the bigger of the two; Mr. Red Tshirt hotly following Mr. White Tshirt up-close-and-personal shooting indiscernible angry spats at his opponent. Someone had eaten Kenkey this morning.

They passed by on my left and before I was out of hearing, I saw Mr Red Tshirt raise his hand and a resounding smack met the sakora head of Mr. White! SMACK!  ‘KAA FEE BUULU! ONU?’ shouted Mr Red Tshirt at Mr. White Tshirt.

via GIPHY

 Mr. White was either too drunk to respond or was wise enough to know that Mr. Red was definitely bigger in size and any fight he indulged in would see him at the receiving end of proper blows. Smart man.

I was sad for Mr. White. What was his crime? Had he stolen Mr. Red’s money or wife? I saw two young men lounging on a rock at the junction having a laugh at the unfolding drama.

People are frustrated. Food prices are extremely high, fuel prices keeps skyrocketing. The least wahala you give someone can evolve into a fight. Dont play with people's emotions kwraa.

 Kaa Fee Buulu ‘Don’t be a fool’ is a popular strong threat or warning amongst the Ga’s. I have heard it spoken several times in my Dad’s family house in Adabraka where we would be left for weekends to get to know our relatives. I hated it. Every morning, I would wake up to the roughest and strongest of Ga insults which till today I blush to repeat. ‘Kaa Fee Buulu’, an Auntie would shout to a stubborn cousin who’s doing what he knows he shouldn’t be doing. He either got a smack in the head like Mr. White or a resounding knock on the head.

Maybe it’s timewe say Kaa Fee Buulu to some leaders in this country who are obviously running this country to the ground. Leaders who should be working to the growth & development of Ghana but rather ride in expensive 4WD’s forcing tax-payers off undercover tarred pot-holed roads.

Maybe it’s time you respond ‘Kaa Fee Buulu’ to anyone who tries to get you involved in corrupt practices at work or asks for sexual favors before giving you a job for which you rightly merit to have.

Instead of us keeping quiet, we must voice our anger at the corrupt, the rotten and the thievery going on in Ghana. So I ask you, ‘Ofee buulu alo?’

I love to blog. I never realised that my love for reading and writing poems and short stories would grow into this beautiful blog and space for creating and sharing incredibly valuable content.  Its been five years and counting since I started to blog, writing first about my opinions on things which interested me which interestingly spanned from weddings, relationships, food etc. Eventually this all came together to be a lifestyle blog. 

I joined Blogging Ghana some three years ago to be more connected to other Ghanaian bloggers in the blogosphere and learn ways to improve on my blogging skills. It's been a great association since I joined. Blogging Ghana is once again holding its Blogging & Social Media Awards 2016 to recognise and award bloggers who are creating original content and have an influential following on social media. 

My blog has been nominated as Best Blog & Best Facebook Profile by many of my readers which now sees it in the final nomination lists. Whoop!! Its now time to vote towards the awards ceremony to be held some time in May 2016. I am actually miffed at how I didnt make the Best Blogger nomination although many readers nominated me for that category. I sent an enquiry to the awards committee on this and got a rather unsatisfactory response. I had a few of my fans sending mail asking what the difference is between Best Blog & Best Blogger and how my blog wasnt in that list. What could I say? 

Anyway, to vote for my blog for the Best Blog & Best Facebook Profile here is what to do:

1. Click on this link - http://bit.ly/1R1KttH 

2. Enter your email address (screengrab below).

3. Check that email address & Verify your email address (VERY IMPORTANT STEP!) to get your vote counted. 

4. Go back to the voting page & click the link shared in step one which is here again http://bit.ly/1R1KttH . Now you can start voting.

Not an easy voting process right? But it works! lol! It must be a check against fraudulent votes or something. Hehehe..

Do tweet at me when you vote for me so I send you lots of RT love! Muah!! 

The need for solar energy in Ghana has become more pertinent than ever before! A country with 365/366 days of free sunshine, which can get as hot as 37 degrees on a normal day we have slacked in putting measures in place to tap into this alternative energy source. 

Thankfully all this is about to change with the first solar panels manufacturing plant which was launched recently by Strategic Partner Solutions (SPS) a key subsidiary of Strategic Solutions Systems International, 3SiL.

The solar panels manufacturing plant is located in Kpone (4kms from the Tema Roundabout on the Aflao Road).

The opening of the plant brought several invited dignitaries, guests and media houses to the event. A late start to the event which was supposed to start at 11am eventually took off after 12pm. 

Mr. Jerry Adjorloloo, Ghana's hottest corporate MC delivered excellently as usual to the impatient guests after some sweat-drenching minutes of waiting. 

Strategic Power Solutions a subsidiary of 3SiL, handing the manufacturing of solar panels in Ghana and the West African sub-region. The company is founded and chaired by Dr. Francis Akuamoah-Boateng and has Oheneba Ofori Boateng (son of Dr. Francis Akuamoah-Boateng) as its CEO.

In his opening speech to guests, Mr Oheneba emphasised the need for "approaches towards the use of renewable, clean energy at a time when Ghanaians are still looking for alternative, stable and affordable energy to complement what is produced at the national grid; and especially in our our part of the world where we have such resources in abundance". 

Dr. Francis Akuamoah-Boateng followed with his inspirational message by quoting that "success that does not impact my country and its citizens is not success at all". His entrepreneurial journey in many businesses has been arduous and long filled with some failures. 

Dr. Francis Akuamoah-Boateng

He couldnt help but show appreciation to his mother for bringing him up in discipline and love.

Mother of Dr. Francis Akuamoah-Boateng

Keynote speaker Dr. Mensa Otabil, overseer of International Central Gospel Church was next in a much anticipated address. The revered religious leader was blunt and honest as usual in his delivery on how the fundamentals and basics are not being solved in Ghana which is leading to a national crisis. He praised Dr. Akuamoah-Boateng for his entrepreneurial spirit and faith in God which has brought him this far. 

His speech was however interrupted by the late arrival of the Akyempemhene who was the Asantehene's representative for the occasion. 

He then continued on why many of our problems are not being solved in this country: the government is too busy playing political power play. "We must develop the ethics of saying right is right no matter who does it and wrong is wrong no matter who does it," he further stressed. On pursuing righteousness no political party can come out to claim exclusivity for things which are accomplished. 

"We must develop the ethics of saying right is right no matter who does it and wrong is wrong no matter who does it," - Mensa Otabil

Former President John Kufour slipped in a few words after Dr. Mensa Otabil's address.

Special dignitaries from the Namibian Ambassador to executive managers from GRIDCO were present during the launch.

The Akempemhene finally read the Asantehene's speech in his absence which was laced with brilliant humour from the Akyempene. 

The plant was then opened by Dr Mensa Otabil and the Akyempemhene who cut the ribbon to the plants entrance.  

The ultra-modern plant was clean and held various equipments behind which several engineers worked on sheets of panels.  

The VIP entourage went around to satisfy their curiosity about the various functions of the machines. 

The engineers looked confident in their PPE (personal protective equipment) and various safety measures could be seen around the workplace. 

The solar modules are of various sizes of installation with products including micro/macro solar grid systems and also supplies and installs of off-grid and grid systems, photovoltaic systems and PV streetlights. Currently the modules are generating 30MW per year which is expected to be upgraded to 100MW per year. 

The Akyempemhene then unveiled the plague to the plant with Dr. Mensa Otabil and Former President Kufour. 

Is this the end of Ghana's power crisis? Will solar panel be cost-effective for every Ghanaian home? Share your comments below on your thoughts about this venture.

Monday mornings can be a total rush. I know that feeling well. My days of having to work at a 9-6 most often saw mornings being the 'empty-stomach' mornings. My stomach only got filled after 9am with a quick cup of tea and tea-bread- croissants- if I was lucky enough to get the last piece. 

It is very possible to make a quick and healthy breakfast before hitting your 8-5 job instead of resorting to plain tea or coffee. Let me cut to the chase and show you how to make this insanely delicious and healthy kale & egg muffins recipe with 15mins. 

I got my Kale from SowGreen, my current FAVOURITE farm to get greens ( Arugula, Baby Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Parsley) which aren't popular on the local market. SowGreen comes to the GreenMarket at the Kaya Bar on Saturdays. I am still working them to open an online store on Storefoundry. Saturday is always a long way from Monday. Too long. 

To make Kale & Eggs Muffins, you need

1. 3 or 4 Large Eggs

2. 7 Kale leaves

3. Half-Onion

4. Chilli Pepper

5. Salt 

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 1

Put all ingredients together in a bowl with eggs. 

Beat and add in a dash of salt. A dash oh!

Pour into muffin tins. This cooking equipment is every woman's cooking weapon I tell you. It does amazing things and makes you a SUPERCOOK!

Place in oven and wait for the goodness to appear. I hopped into the bath and by the time I was out which was 10minutes ( Yes I bath really quick!) it was all done.

Once you bring them out, dont be surprised to see it deflate slightly once out of the heat. The taste remains awesome still.

This is savouriness at its BEST

What I love about this recipe is the few ingredients which still made the eggs flavourful.

Kale has 2.5 grams of fibre (which helps manage blood sugar and makes you feel full) according to WebMd. I can testify to this as I feel full for the rest of the morning. No need for mid-morning snacks till lunch. Yipee!

You should try this recipe and tag your food #SeeMyChow on Instagram for a beautiful feature. Have a beautiful, gracious week!

The first time I met Bright Ackwerh was at ChaleWote 2015 through my very good friend and ingenious photographer Nii Odzenma of Nfoningraphy

Nii Odzenma & Bright Ackwerh at ChaleWote2015

Bright had just finished drawing the Million Man Riot mural when we met. On meeting him for the first time, one can easily jump to conclusion that he’s a ‘quiet' guy ( I mean seriously, doesnt he look like quiet? ) Aren't most artists? Choosing often to use their artwork to speak brazenly on walls, in every day objects, on huge canvases and of late through digital art forms on social to political subject matters.

The ‘quiet’ guy conclusion changed when we became friends on Facebook. I saw another ‘wild' and ‘charged' side of Bright Ackwerh. I sensed a lot of frustration emanating from his posts on how things are happening in Ghana and sometimes a quirky satirical side often displayed in his original and captivating story-telling caricature illustrations. 

It was amusing to read the reactions of Ghanaians on most of his caricature works. Reactions were split between anger ( those unable to understand the story with a low tolerance for people who speak their minds about the realities of our society), hilarity ( those just got it and were more open-minded) to appreciation ( those who see good work and confess it as such). 

So when That Artist Bright Ackwerh won the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art, you can imagine the reactions on social media. Incredible! I am positive his haters couldn't even help but Like. 

I caught up with the Accra Academy/KNUST Alumnus at the Alisa Hotel on my search to find out what triggers this young and brilliant contemporary Ghanaian artist.

I sat by the poolside for about 5 minutes when he showed up. He ambled to the table in his YoYoTinz t-shirt and signature wool cap which hid the mass of Kpenkpeshie hair. 

O.Q - What inspired your work into caricature illustration? 

B. A - A lot of factors actually. I discovered the work of some artists on the Internet which amazed and inspired me. Their presentation of it was what caught my eye not the concept though as these were commercial illustrators. I decided to acquire that skill to add to my repertoire. Basically that was it. Also learning and reading in school on contemporary art and how anything can be used and presented as art contributed to me deciding to move from creating for fun to taking it more seriously. People were reacting to the caricature illustration in a certain ‘way’ which was getting a lot of engagement on social media. 

O. Q - Your Facebook posts. I sense a lot of frustration and sometimes anger. Are these emotions which are channeled into your work?

B.A - Yeah! A lot of the work I do are actually reactionary. For instance: its a way of expressing my opinion on a lot of things that are happening in Ghana at the moment. And you know there’s a lot of things in Ghana today that one can be angry or frustrated about. Because I don't have the power to go on the physical streets to demonstrate, I use my work. I also think that as an artist I owe it to the space which influences me. I think that is why you would find some of my posts as    ‘ charged’ or heavy on the critiquing. A lot of the times I am just having fun.

O.Q - Eh? Are you sure?

B.A - Oh yeah. When I post up things, its just me being cynical so its not as serious as it may seem. 

At work on his Wacom tablet

O. Q - Did you experience any form of rejection or negative kickbacks based on the caricature illustration technique? 

B.A - OH YES! And I’m still experiencing it now. I don't want to mention names here. But the thing is many Ghanaians want to play it safe when it comes to airing their views about the state of the country. I think artists ask more questions than give solutions. Many people don't like that I ask questions. I have had instances where I have presented my work in some spaces such as exhibitions, discussions and even blogs but have been rejected. The reason often given is often due to the content. This however hasn't deterred me and my recent award just goes to show that I am doing something right.

O.Q - Which political character have you enjoyed drawing the most?

B.A - Hmm…maybe that would be the dishonourable Kennedy Agyapong. I got a lot of engagement after posting it on Facebook. This was shared at a time when there was a tussle between he and Afia Schwarzenegger and everyone wasasking him to stop the verbal fight. So the artwork portrayed them as lovers instead of fighting. You wouldn't believe the number of people who plagiarised the artwork. They either cut my name out, edit it with some sort of software and even published it in a newspaper without due credit. But i realise that some of these things comes with sharing your work on social media. Aside him I haven't drawn any Ghanaian politician. 

READ MORE : Ghanaian Artist Sergei Attukwei Shares His Thoughts On The Art Industry in Ghana.

O. Q - Oh but you have drawn some world leaders. 

B.A - That’s true. I drew Kofi Annan who publicly advocated for the legalisation of cannabis. This is and its a move I totally support especially in Ghana. Hemp is very medicinal and has many uses for the hair, health benefits for the human body, etc. In Ghana, many people don't know what the constitution says about cannabis being illegal. If only they would research. I don't understand how some noodles and carbonated drinks are legal in Ghana when they are even more dangerous to our health. 

O.Q - What do you think is the brand identity of Ghanaians

B.A - Recently, Abraham Attah went to the Oscars to present an award because he had featured in a film about war in Africa and he became a sensation for it. When he came back, the First Gentleman of the land said Abraham Attah has done well because had sold the Ghana brand to the world. So i presume the image of Africa or Ghana as a poverty stricken and war-torn country is the Ghana brand. This is something many people have decried. Africa and Ghana are always being portrayed negatively in movies. We don't always have to be slaves in movies or criminals or witches. We have the beautiful areas in Ghana like Alisa Hotel where people come to chill and enjoy. Romanticise it if you can. But basically, yes this is the brand identity of Ghana. 

The prestigious award shone brightly in the late afternoon sun rays and I just had to remind him to not forget some of us when he's featured in the NewYork Times Art section.

The award was presented to him by El Anatsui - the famed Ghanaian sculptor who recently received the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award from at the 56th Venice Biennale was also made an Honorary Royal Academician as well as elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  

"When El Anatsui called out my name I was stunned and when I went to receive my award, i instantly forgot my prepared speech. Me. Getting an award from El Anatsui? Wonders. Now I know how Abraham Attah felt!"

Be the first to see Bright Ackwerh's  latest work (below) premiered here FIRST! 

His latest work is titled The Son's Tears and forms part of his #veryverygraphic series. Can you figure out the story in this succint artpiece which at first startles and quickens your heartbeat when understanding reaches your heart and possibly your first reaction becomes...TF??

Please do share your comments below.. *away bus* 

Find more of Bright Ackwerh's work on his Instagram and Facebook Page. 

If you have never come across the highly visual photography work of Nana Kofi Acquah, then this is your opportunity to see how he tells the African story. The story which the rest of the world never sees. He captures and documents Africans in their everyday life with an objective to         re-position Africa with new imagery. There are few Ghanaian photographers who capture Africa like he does. 

On this day, many years ago, This Free Spirit was born by a slave castle into a family of bold and beautiful people. He ran along the shores with glee Oblivious to the pain and tears many had shed in shackles on that same shore. Every time it's my birthday, a voice tells me: "You are here to right the past. To build bridges so those who were taken away can find their way back home. You are here to help ensure that what happened never happens again. You are here to restore Hope and Love and Dignity". Photo and Words by Nana Kofi Acquah (www.nkaphoto.com) @africashowboy (Copyright: 2016). @alueducation #LeadTheChange; #AfricaRising; #InspireAfrica, #ALU #surfing #kokrobite #Elmina #Ghana #silhoette #iphone #iphonography

A photo posted by Nana Kofi Acquah (@africashowboy) on Apr 23, 2016 at 12:57am PDT

Also known as @africashowboy on Instagram, Nana Kofi is an award-winning blogger and poet whose love for Fuji cameras cannot be underestimated. 

It is heart-warming and encouraging to see influential African Instagrammers and Photographers like Nana Kofi get international recognition for their commitment and passionate drive in creating African stories that move people into action. 

We are used to poverty And fat bellied politicians Who fart out empty promises At the sight of a ballot box Contaminating the sweet honey That drips from their lying lips With their selfishness and greed. We are used to poverty of will Our lack is not money or gold But men and women who care. Photo and Words by Nana Kofi Acquah (www.nkaphoto.com) @africashowboy (Copyright: 2016). #bantama #market #kaya #cheaplabour #migrantlabor #Africa

A photo posted by Nana Kofi Acquah (@africashowboy) on Apr 19, 2016 at 7:38am PDT

The inaugural Tim Hetherington Trust / World Press Photo Foundation Fellowship recently awarded Nana Kofi Acquah as its first fellow towards developing his project about gender/women in Africa, thereby contributing to a new African visual voice.

Women winnow maize before bagging them in sacks for sale. Tamale, Ghana. If the harvest had failed, they'd have migrated to Kumasi and Accra and use these same pans they're holding for carrying other people's goods and groceries in market places. Photo and Words by Nana Kofi Acquah (www.nkaphoto.com) @africashowboy (Copyright: 2016).

A photo posted by Nana Kofi Acquah (@africashowboy) on Apr 26, 2016 at 3:26am PDT

He also got awarded  €5,000 to be provided equally by the Tim Hetherington Trust and the World Press Photo Foundation and its partners.

What else does this award mean for Nana Kofi? 

The World Press Photo Foundation and the Tim Hetherington Trust will support future beneficiaries by focusing on the opportunities for them to be involved in the media economy, either through support for education or by connecting them to the best international networks.

The fellowship will assist visual storytellers by providing access to training or mentorship so they can further their projects and mission. Fellows will become part of sustainable network focused on innovative processes and permanent education. The fellows from each year will become part of the network and will play a role in selecting new fellows. The aim is to grow and strengthen a network of multiple skills that provides on-going support.

This should motivate Ghanaian Instagrammers to do more in their story-telling photos to take advantage of such mentorship opportunities reposting without credit like some do. Tsk..tsk. 

Congratulations to Nana Kofi Acquah! We are proud of you! Nyomo ajorr bo daa k3 daa! 

If you are stuck in a rut as to what to get or do for your Mom this Mother's Day, then you are in serious luck! 

You can cook for her as part of the Instagram Contest, my food blog SeeMyChow.com is running, towards 8th May which is this year's MothersDay. This can be your favourite meal which she made for you over the years or a traditional dish you are really good at. Think outside the box on this one. 

There are prizes to be won! Two shopping gift vouchers to be given to the Ultimate winner and the first runner up. 

Personally, I am thinking of baking a chocolate cake! My baking skills needs a lot of work but on that day I will put in all my creative prowess to bake that cake! My Mom has been baking pastries and cakes forever for the home. Its time I treat her to something extra-O!

To take part in the Instagram contest, follow the following rules below:

1.     Follow @seemychow on Instagram

2.     Cook a special meal for your Mom this Mothers Day.

3.      Take a photo of you enjoying the meal with Mom

4.     Add the hashtag #CookingForMa sharing why you chose that meal and what Mom means to you.

5.     Best story and photo wins one of GHC 75 gift voucher from ShopRite!

* Requirements

Contestants must live in Accra. 

Deadline for all submission is 8th May, 2016 Midnight 

Are you here still reading? Ei, if I were you I would start planning the meal right away! Happy cooking!

*PS- Dont forget to use the hashtag #CookingForMa and following SeeMyChow. 

Picture this, a woman has given birth to a healthy baby and the man goes to work celebrating with his boys at the office.  With the loud cheers of celebration he receives, you'd almost think he was the one who went through all the labour pains.  The reality is, men often don't get that involved with a woman's pregnancy.  I'm not saying all men, but there are many who don't always make the added efforts to help a woman from beginning to end.

Image by Andras Czipa

  In Ghana and in many African cultures, pregnancy is often viewed as a woman’s issue. Something she has to manage and the man is not always held accountable for throughout the duration of her pregnancy.  But many health professionals agree and recognize that getting men more actively involved is a very important factor in the improvement of maternal and child outcomes.  In the research article by BioMedCentral titled, 'Perceptions of, Attitudes towards and Barriers to male involvement in Newborn Care in Rural Ghana',  there are findings that support the general consensus that men are not actively involved in their partner's maternal care. 

  The lack of male responsibility starts as early as the time a couple is trying to conceive.  Of course if a woman becomes pregnant easily she is praised and the families are happy.  However, if she is unable to become pregnant, she, the woman, is held responsible.  Although it’s true there are cases when a woman’s infertility can be cause for concern, 33% of the time it’s actually the man who is either infertile or has a very low sperm count.  But in African cultures, rarely does a man speak up and admit that he could be the cause of the problem. 

Too much pressure is placed on the woman as if she is the only one to blame and this can cause her further emotional and mental stress, which is also a factor causing difficulties becoming pregnant.  There needs to be a shift in thinking and a man can take the responsibility to visit the doctor and find out if perhaps he is the reason they are not conceiving. The other possibility is timing. A woman is ovulating at certain times of the month and that is the most likely time she will get pregnant.  This may seem so simple, but many don't even take that into consideration. 

  Why is it so important for men to be more actively involved in women's maternal health?  Well, studies have shown that when men are a part of the process it increases knowledge for both of them and improves their behaviour when it comes to seeking out information on health and educating each other on life saving tactics should they face any challenges when the time of delivery comes.

In a study done in the Northern Region a few years ago, it was found that after a woman had lost a child during pregnancy, men became more involved in future pregnancies.  In fact, 60% of men in the study attended appointments with their expectant wives (especially for third and fourth pregnancies).  In these cases the couple made maternal health decisions together 75% of the time.   It shouldn't take the death of a child or serious complications for a man to become involved in the future.  They should always want to be involved.

How men can be more involved with the pregnancy process.

Attend Doctor or Clinic Visits with Your Partner

Men should be encouraged to attend ante-natal visits when they can. It helps to keep informed of your partner's health.  When a man is with her during an appointment he may ask questions of the doctor or nurse that maybe the mother-to-be may not have thought about. You can make better decisions together and be more aware of any high-risk health issues your wife (or girlfriend) has and what you can do together to manage it.

Encourage Her to Make Decisions about her Own Body

  Some traditional practices can also come in a way to cause harm to a pregnant woman indirectly.  In the research study by BioMedCentral, a 37-year old man said, "Every proper married woman should listen and do accordingly everything her husband tells her to do."  This statement is an example of the gender dynamic in many areas, particularly in rural communities.  When the man is the head of the household in traditional families, the woman is sometimes not given the autonomy over her own body and fails to make decisions without the man's permission. In these types of situations, it can end up causing serious harm when an emergency arises. 

  When I was on a trip to the Northern Region a nurse told me that she knew women who died while waiting for permission from their husbands to go to the hospital. One specific case she told me about happened when a midwife did everything she could at the woman’s home during labour. She could see that the situation was becoming so serious she needed to refer her to the closest hospital in Salaga. The woman said she was not going because her husband was still working on the farms. She needed his permission if she was going to the hospital to deliver.  The woman lost her lifewhile waiting for her husband because she had severe haemorrhaging and was bleeding so much she died.  

This scenario could have been prevented.  I understand that there is a strong belief in a man making decisions in many rural, and even urban, communities. However, there needs to be a balance where men are taught the value of trusting a woman’s judgement and ability to make a decision when it comes to matters of her body and health.

Help Her Stay Healthy

Culturally in many communities a woman will serve the best portions of the meal she has prepared to her husband first. Leaving only the remaining for herself. That is not the best when she is in need of double the nourishment since she is not only feeding herself, but also a growing child. One of the leading problems when it comes to maternal health in Ghana is anaemia. Many women suffer from low levels of iron in their blood making them anaemic.  This comes largely from poor diet.  If men take a more active role in considering her health first they will not allow her to sacrifice proper meal portions.  Through education and public forums, men can be encouraged to become a vital part of a woman's nutrition during pregnancy.

Comforting Her During Delivery

  This is one area that is not widely accepted in many African societies.  Men are usually told to leave the room while a woman is going through delivery.  Often assisted by midwives, traditional birth attendants or other female family members.  Men are kept at bay and usually only re-enter the room once they hear the cries of the newborn child.  This is quite common.

  But with many societies embracing the idea of a man in the room during delivery, it is slowly catching on in some areas.  Not everyone is comfortable with the idea, but if your husband (or boyfriend) wants to be there with you, allow him to comfort you during the most difficult part of pregnancy. 

Women Allow Him to be Involved

Not all men are disinterested in being a part of the process.  Many men of this new generation see the benefits of being actively involved in all the stages from the point of conception through to delivery.  Some even express the desire to be more actively involved in caring for the child, which has been traditionally left for the woman.  Just take a scroll through Instagram and you'll find plenty of doting fathers of this generation who are happy to show their caring nature with their babies.

One of the problems that can be a barrier is that sometimes other female family members don't allow the man to be as actively involved.  It's customary for other women in the family to come and help when a mother has delivered a new baby.  That's one of the wonderul parts of Ghanaian (and African culture); support from family. 

But we should also take the opportunity to allow the men who want to be involved the chance to do so.  The modern man wants to also bond with his newborn in a way that perhaps previous generations didn't before.  It's healthy and it gives the mother a break sometimes when she needs it.

Overall, men getting involved with a woman's maternal health is a good thing.  As a couple it allows you both to make informed decisions together for the health of the woman and the baby. 

This is a guest blog post by TV Personality, Writer, Public Speaker & Producer Ivy Prosper. She is also the founder of Branding Fashion Africa, an organization that's focused on building up the brand names of African and African diaspora designers.  She's outspoken on issues regarding women's self-esteem, positive body-image and empowerment of women and girls..  She's also an advocate on educating about issues surrounding  maternal health. 

James Breakwell's tweets about his everyday experience with his four daughters all under the age of six are simply delightfully hilarious! He has been featured on several websites and blogs from  DailyMailUk to Mashable due to the witty and sometimes relatable - if you have kids of your own- conversations he has with his daughters which he tweets on his Twitter account @XplodingUnicorn . Their conversations usually ranges from economics, school, food, clothing, sisterhood and parenthood. Its actually pretty wide. He is an office worker and freelancer and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his family. 

His Twitter account has more engagement and reach than his Facebook Page which makes more sense for the line of work he is in. 

Check out a few of his tweets

[hardware store]

Me: Should I buy the electric hedge trimmer?

5-year-old: We don’t have any electric hedges.

— Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) May 7, 2016

and this..

3-year-old: My jacket smells like a camel.

Me: What does a camel smell like?

3: My jacket.

Me and my stupid questions.

— Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) May 6, 2016

His Twitter following has grown by more than 1000% due to the content he shares. He currently has more than 500K followers with a daily growth by more than 50 a day. 

I e-interviewed James via Twitter to share more on how social media, in this case Twitter & Facebook, have impacted his life and career. 

O.Q  So James,  when did you realize you should be tweeting your everyday experience with your beautiful daughters?

J. B  I'm uncreative, so I tweet about whatever is in front of me. Usually, that is my children. They never really go away. I started this account back when I had a mere two kids. As I added children, they took over my life and my Twitter account at the same time.

[bed time]

Me: Your mom told you to stay in bed.

3-year-old: There's a scary monster in my closet

Me: Scarier than Mom?

3: *goes to bed*

— Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) April 28, 2016

O.Q  Did you think it would generate such a following?

J.B I didn't know I would ever gain this many followers, but I've been plugging away at it for years. I write jokes every single day about my children. I figured if I kept at it, something good would eventually happen. People can't ignore me forever. It's the law of averages.

[breaking up a fight]

Me: Tell your sister you're sorry.

5-year-old: You told me not to lie.

— Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) May 9, 2016

O.Q Which other social media tools are you using for this experience?

J.B I mostly tweet from my phone or computer directly into Twitter. If I need to schedule something, I use Hootsuite.

O.Q How has this impacted on your career?

J.B My boss doesn't know about my online double life, so it hasn't impacted my real career at all. As far as my dreams of becoming a full time comedy writer, I've gained a ton of opportunities through Twitter. Ever since my account went viral, there may be some big things on the horizon.

O.Q I noticed you write for others. Can you share more on this?

J.B I mostly write freelance articles for other publications, but I'm willing to sell jokes or tweet for people if the circumstances call for it. I usually come up with more material than I can use on my account, anyway. Today a kid offered to pay me to write her research paper. That's where I draw the line. I got into comedy writing to have fun, not to help some kid cheat at her homework.

O.Q Does your wife tweet? How is she handling your current reach?

J.B My wife does not tweet. She sometimes reads my tweets, but usually she does her best to avoid them. She's all for my sudden burst of fame and the writing opportunities that come with it. She would like us to avoid bankruptcy when we send the kids to college.

My mom: *glances at my phone* I can't believe 421 people follow you.

Me: 421,000.

Mom: God, the Internet is a sad place.

— Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) April 23, 2016

O.Q Do you get people approaching you on the street asking if you are that guy?

J.B After my account went viral, I was recognized a few times. The ladies who watch my kids at daycare recognized me, and so did a random person from church. Other than that, I've been as anonymous as ever in real life.

O.Q What on earth is an Exploding Unicorn? A dead one? 

J.B Back in high school, I had some extra time at the end of a computer literacy class, so I did the logical thing and started writing a fake book of the Bible. One passage was about unicorns that exploded because they were filled with hydrogen. The image stuck with me.

O.Q Are you not worried about privacy issues ( if any)?

 J.B I write under a pen name, and I use fake names for my kids. It keeps me from being fired and my family from being murdered. So far, so good.

O.Q what will you move on to when they are all grown up?

J.B I used to tweet about every topic under the sun. I only gravitated toward kid tweets because those were always the ones that performed the best. I'm confident I can keep telling jokes even after they're grown. Besides, Twitter will be long gone by then. *dropsmic* 

A succinct example of how social media can be used to grow not only a following but also one's influence which can positively impacts on your career. It's all about the strategy and sticking to the content consistency. 

When you eat good food, you must praise the cook or send compliments to the chef. Even if it’s a waakye seller or beans seller by the roadside; give them the thumbs up for a tasty well-prepared and memorable meal.

This is one habit I learnt to inculcate over time anytime I eat out. Good food is what got me going to this beans joint in Osu for the past one-and-half years. I was onboarded as a customer through a friend’s swearing that it was the best beans joint in Accra. Eish! That alone perked my curiosity to test if this was a lie or the absolute truth. After tasting it once I haven’t looked back again. I complimented the women behind the wooden barrier who served us diligently every time -Sedem & Mawuena. After that we became familiar with each other and I would greet them in my little learnt Ewe. " Norvi! 3foaa" "Eee," Mawuena would reply. There's something feel-goodish when you can relate to the waakye seller like you are the best of buddies. 

Sadly, the beans joint doesn’t have a name so I call it Beans Joint. It is the busiest beans joint ever! Bankers, taxi-drivers,  students and people from all walks of life come to this beans joint for their early morning breakfast or lunch. Yep, breakfast I said. Ghanaian food culture is fun like that. We can eat lunch for breakfast and have another lunch and then dinner. 

Beans and plantain or Yoor y3 Gari as its called in Ga is a meal consisting of boiled beans mixed with palm-oil or spicy vegetable oil and a bit of gari accompanied with a side of fried plantain. I grew up with this meal being prepared only on Sundays for lunch.

The beans joint is a wooden well-maintained shack which snuggles under a tree, housing both sellers and buyers. You have the option of buying To-Go or Eating In. If you choose to eat in, then you can settle on one of the wooden benches and bend over a low table to finish your meal.

The shack can be located a junction away, behind the Ecobank branch in Osu. It’s a popular spot and anyone can direct you there from the bank.

What I love about this beans joint is the taste consistency. It’s always amazingly delicious and the flavor is also unwavering.  Unlike a waakye joint, in my area which is never consistent on taste. Today its nice, tomorrow it’s something else. It's also a hygienic shack and food is served in a clean manner as well. Trust me I watch them very carefully.

In almost every suburb in Accra, there’s a beans seller and like waakye sellers they are always by the roadside.  And also just like Waakye; beans cooked at home never tastes the same like roadside beans. 

Here’s an inside look at how beans is sold atthe Beans Joint and at most beans joints in the city. The procedure is basically the same but the taste is always different from place to place. I recorded the ambient noise and conversation exchanges between buyer and seller so you get an appreciation of how streetfood is bought in Ghana. 

What does it mean to be a woman of influence? How can you be an influential woman? I have asked myself this question many times, finding the answers often by listening and reading podcasts and books by revered authors like John C. Maxwell and Michael Hyatt. But last week Sunday during a special Mother's Day service at church, I received more insight than I thought possible from Mrs Shola Doodo. It was as though God had sent her to speak to me directly. 

Her message was simple yet heavily pregnant with knowledge and riveting questions addressed to the women in the church. The sort of questions which made one squirm uncomfortably in their seats. It was definitely not a prosperity sermon. It wasn't the sort of sermon many Christians are clamouring for in most churches today; " YOU WILL PROSPER !" "AMEN!" " YOU WILL SEE A MILLION DOLLARS BEFORE THE END OF 2016!" "AMEN!" those are the prosperity messages people want to hear nowadays. Her message was the hard-hitting truth message which silenced the congregation with an infrequent squeak of "preach on!" response coming from within the throes of people. 

     The Influential Woman in These Present Times

That was the title of her sermon.

" What present times are we in? What are we as Christian women allowing our children to watch on TV and what are we exposing ourselves to nowadays on social media? There's no sense of urgency in realising that Jesus is coming soon," she said. 

She quoted Scripture to back her sermon; 2 Timothy 3:2-5 

“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

I realised how this verse is so true today. It's exactly what we are seeing and hearing of today. It resonates in the kinds of leaders we have, the marriages we get into and in every institution. The young generation coming up are a selfish generation; thinking only of themselves and what profits them and not their neighbours. Are they being influenced by what the existing leaders are doing? Are they being influenced by what we do as influential women?

She went on to define Influence as " the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself "

The points below were what I picked from her sermon and would love for you to have a read and ask yourself if you are being an influential woman in this contemporary age.

" The Influential Woman in this contemporary age is: 

• a woman of prayer because by praying you can save souls

• She's a woman of courage ( always have a store of courage like Queen Esther who despite knowing she could get killed for going before the king still went ahead and saved millions of her people)

• is a woman of fragrance. What aroma are you spreading in society? If you are a celebrity, are you using your influence positively to mentor other women? Or are you causing immorality by your actions? Mary Magdalene was a woman of fragrance " a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. Matthew 26:6-7 ESV. 

• Is a woman of faithfulness. Be faithful and set the worldly things aside. Going after material possessions will not bring you inner happiness, they are short-lived and always live a gap in the heart. Fill your heart with righteousness. 

• Exert a faithful servant attitude. If you aren't serving in any capacity ask what relationship you have with God. You are saved to serve. Don't be a church pew warmer. Find how you can serve in God's House and in society. 

• We become influential by empowering others. We need to build them up. If you aren't empowering women don't tear them down. Too many women tear other women down instead of supporting and encouraging them. 

• Be a mentor. Having and making time for others to hear someone unburden themselves onto you. Pray that God send someone for you to mentor. What are you doing today which is relevant for eternity? Small group discipleship is the key to growing people in the Lord.

Indeed the congregation was silent. We applauded in quiet as she took her seat. We don't like the truth as Christians sometimes. Especially when we realise it's in reference to our weaknesses. But that is part of our growth and we need to grow to INFLUENCE. 

I love how we have many ethnic meals in Ghana. From the Northern, Southern, Eastern & Western parts of the country, each region boasts of it's traditional ethnic meal. Tuo Zaafi is one of those meals. A healthy delicious Ghanaian dish stemming from the Northern Region of Ghana. 

My first encounter with Tuo Zaafi was some years back in Okaishie a boisterous business part of the Mokola market. My Dad had a store there some time back and I would go sit there for some time during my high school vacation period. Lunchtime was often Tuo Zaafi (popularly called TZ) which I would buy from the Muslim women who sold the meal in wooden kiosks within the market area. The queues at the kiosks were just horrendous and yet it was a meal worth waiting for.  It was a cheaper meal compared to buying Fufu. I always looked forward to the green ayoyo and the spongy meat in the sauce ( that part of the cow stomach which is called Kotsa)

I recently invited my friend Emelda Amoah to whom I had become acquainted with during the WhatAWoman workshop sessions last year to share how toprepare Tuo Zaafi. Don’t be fooled by her name, she’s from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana. I made that mistake too thinking she was Akan. When she told me TZ is a common meal eaten in her home I just had to invite her to show how it’s done.

We went to the Osu market to grab Ayoyo leaves, mackerel and dried fish. She had earlier on given me some Millet flour for the Tuo Zaafi.

Tuo Zaafi really is made from Millet Flour which is soaked overnight for a tangy taste. Unfortunately I hadn’t soaked it so we had to grab some fermented corn dough to add to the flour. But if you are following this recipe, it’s best to soak the flour for use the next day.

Turning up the 🔥 in the #SeeMyChow kitchen with @melamoah as she shares how to cook her ethnic meal.. Tuo Zaafi. Follow @seemychow to see the final result. #SeeMyChow #cooking #Ghana #Ghanaianfoods #tuozaafi #foodie #cnnfood #bbcgoodfood #africancuisine #africanfoodblogger #blogger

A photo posted by Naa Oyoo (@oyooquartey) on May 16, 2016 at 6:38am PDT

Here is the video I made showing how she prepared Tuo Zaafi & Ayoyo. It's no small feat. Unlike Banku which is just stirring of fermented corn in water till it hardens for driving, this had some more unique steps to it. Millet is gluten-free, did you know that? Tuo Zaafi isnt heavy like Banku which makes it much easier to swallow with the soup of course. It goes down very smoothly but be warned..you will be hungry in no time after even two balls of Tuo Zaafi. 

You can make the Ayoyo soup and eat it with Banku or Eba. As you can see the Tuo Zaafi preparation is not for small boys and girls. Edey form k3k3!

The Ayoyo leaves known scientifically as Corchorus is packed with abundant antioxidants, beta-carotene, Vitamin C etc. The leaves ensures that the intestines are running smoothly. Trust me on that one. No more constipation nansins. lol!

Watch. Learn. Share.

Have you had Tuo Zaafi before? On a scale of 1-10 where would you rank it in comparison with Fufu?

Doing things together as a couple to build intimacy can come in different forms. It's not just going out to eat or hangout at pubs and joints, but understanding each other's passion and interests. Imagine learning how to play video games with your partner whilst he also learns how to create flatlay product photos which you love to do? Incredible time for knowing more about each other.

So this Saturday, my partner and I were strolling through the aisles of the supermarket at the Marina Mall in the curious search for flower pots. Rows upon rows of household goods flashed by. Unlike GAME at the Accra Mall, there was no marked aisle for gardening. That's weird I said.

I gave up when we got to the utensils section. I was about to turn back when I saw hanging nearby several ice-cream scoops. For some reason I thought they were melon ballers and I tagged at Kofi's shirt in excitement. The words died in my throat when I realised my error. Kmt. Next to it hang another smaller ice-cream scoop. Kofi took that off the metal hook and said, 'It's a melon baller.' Hope! Indeed, it was a melon baller. But small. How many scoops do I need to make using this. I searched in futile for a bigger size and came up empty. No worries, time to get creative.

We got home and I brought out the watermelon we had bought on the Ada road to Aqua Safari. I pulled off the tag and tried to make my first scoop as I had seen on WikiHow. I blasted. I tried again by digging in the baller and dragging it to fill it. It was a fruity mess. Kofi wanted to try so I gave the tool and watched. My eyes widened as he deftly dug in the baller and turned it around several times and voila! A melon ball! 

We deseeded the watermelon to ensure each ball was seedless. We conversed about other fruits which can be balled into this fashion. Banana came up and so did Pawpaw. 'Hey! We have Mango!' I suddenly remembered. An abundant quantity of mangoes we also got in addition to the watermelons. Out came the mango for balling. 

We became spellbound at the beautiful creations and we laughed about the contrasting colors produced by the mango and watermelon; yellow and red.

 'We should make fruit khebab using the toothpicks,' said I. 

 ' You are right! That will be really cool,' Kofi agreed.

So that was how we spent the next 20 minutes making Melon & Mango Khebabs after a rather stressful Saturday afternoon. At the end of it we made a whole plateful of colorful fruits on tiny sticks. I was so proud of Kofi and his dedication at creating this attractive and appealing fruity snack. 

Jazz, I call it the music of the soul. Soothing and relaxing. Each melody seems to engrain itself in our verycells. Jazz is enjoyed by many across the continents. It's roots can be traced toboth African and European origins.

Great jazz musicians such as the likes of John Armstrong, Scott Jolie, Benny Goodman have kept us on a light to a quick sway of the body and the tapping of feet with smiles filled with good memories.

When it comes to entertainment, Stanbic Bank Ghana has been at the forefront bybringing a different kind of variety to the the industry. This year is their third time running of another unforgettable jazz experience.

 The last jazz concert saw about 3000 jazz enthusiasts attending the two day festival featuring Earl Klugh. The maiden edition however saw performances by world celebrated jazz musician Peter White. It even promises to be so much more exhilarating this year. With star performer Bob James.

BOB JAMES

Bob James is an American two time Grammy Award winner and smooth jazz keyboardist. He was discovered by Quincy Jones and well known for the complexity of his arrangements and instrumentals. He is also recognised as one of the original founders of smooth jazz.

Other performers for this year's Stanbic jazz festival include Tom Braxton and some local musicians such as Aka Bay, Ben Ayisah, Kyekyeku and Constant Boty.

TOM BRAXTON - SAXOPHONIST & COMPOSER

This three day festival according to Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Marketingand Communications at Stanbic Bank Ghana,  "We want to contribute in positive ways to the local economy, by developing and growing the music Industry".

The festival promises savage entertainment. Come meet fellow jazz lovers, awesome people, build new networks or even your future Bae. as well. Get your tickets from Junction mall,aTetteh Quarshie and Stanbic heights. You can also reserve your tickets at www. Stanbicjazz festival.com. Show time/Regular single is 250 and double is 450.

VIP single is 350 and double goes for 650 Ghana cedis. 

A taxi driver taught me how to drive some 12years ago. That is how I was initiated into the world of driving. No, I didn’t go to a driving school, ha! It wasn’t my decision though but that of my parents. Best decision ever. It really boosted my confidence on driving on these crazy streets in Accra. The best part of this virgin driving experience was that the car was a stick shift. Oh boy did I feel like Schumacher. I believe driving manual should be every beginners experience before moving on to automatic.

Today, its not common to come across stick shift cars in Ghana. Automatic gears are everywhere and my first experience of driving one was actually a simple one which made me take my focus off shifting gears at every move. Relaxing.

The Mazda3 experience was pretty much an exhilarating and memorable time. Red is my favorite color so you can imagine my delight when I saw the sleek sporty-looking car looking fiery and fierce! This was going to be fun!

I picked up the Mazda 3 for a full day’s experience which I know wasn't sufficient for a total experience. A week wouldn't have been bad. This was going to exciting I still thought to myself. As a lifestyle blogger I have been approached by brands for an experiential occurrence at one point or the other. Remember Mauritius? It gives me a whole different experience every time.

I definitely needed a change from my 4 year old Yaris which I bought in an almost-new condition. I couldn’t help but notice how the car was looked at by other drivers as we waited in traffic. I saw them from the corner of my eye spying. It’s a good feeling! I want to do it again.

The Mazda 3 is sleek and elegant in design and has any function to make you have a total driving experience. 

The features I loved most:

1. The ease and smoothness of acceleration on start. It was so smooth like spreading Even butter on tea-bread. It has 4 automatic transmission

2. Ergonomic design of the seats gave me great comfort and I wasnt tired after even 20 mins of driving. My back felt nothing. However moving the seats to adjust one's comfortable position to fit in was not a good experience. I had to handpump the seat adjuster. 

3. Blue-tooth function was a bit chunky to locate. I like simple press of a button to connect my Spotify playlist. 

4. The Mazda 3 has low fuel consumption which is great for Ghana, a country riddled with high fuel prices. The engine is 1.6L with an embedded Mazda Skyactiv Technology which generates more energy for every drop of fuel compared to mass production engines. 

5. I counted at least 4 safety airbags in the saloon car. That ticks off the safety checkbox.

Isn't it interesting how after having an experience with a product you suddenly start noticing similar ones around? So weird. All of a sudden my perception of the number of Mazdas in Ghana increasing by a 50% notch. I recently saw the new Mazda6 cruising somewhere on the Airport Road. 

A few weeks after, I met the PowerStation team to shoot a video for the Mazda social media campaign. The number of takes I had to do were countless. Whew! Here is the official video for your watching pleasure.

To end our experience package, we were whisked off to Aqua Safari in another version of a Mazda model: Mazda CX5. I had only heard of Aqua Safari because of Castro's disappearance in the river/lake, now I was actually going to see the place for myself.

The Mazda CX5 is every family's dream car for going on a road-trip beyond the swell of Accra traffic.  A sturdy and comfortable car with all the need features for a leisurely drive (and surviving Ghana's poor road structure). 

After the driver picked us up, Kofi immediately connected his Spotify app to the cars' interior bluetooth feature on the on-screen dashboard. Sweet! It reminded me of Manhattan, when we did same in an Uber cab. A beautiful memory. We buckled up and off we went in a plume of Accra dust. 

I dozed off somewhere between the Tema roundabout and Community 25. I love powernaps like that. You should have seen the array of watermelons by the roadside as we neared Ada. It was a spectacle to behold! Light green watermelons were strewn in the fields spanning from the roadside and I couldn't help but wonder how come I never realised those previously empty fields held such juicy fruits. We have to buy some on our way back, I mentioned to Kofi.

We were moving at an average of 140kmph and we hardly heard the engine sound. It was as silent as an area with dumsor. We dozed off again. I woke up to check where we were on Google Maps. The GPS woman said we should turn right. We turned. Ada is serene. I would love to retire here some day. The road was getting tarred ( elections are almost here) and flecks of stones and dirt flew from the tyres of vehicles ahead of us. 

We turned again at left at a crossroad, went through a small town and turned right again. The hotel's signposts guided us easily. The car handled the un-tarred road really well. Why is the road leading to renowned resort, bumpy and un-tarred? Was it to really give you the experience of actually going to a Safari? Perhaps. The woman in the GPS said we had arrived. Indeed we had. I just wanted to see the lake.

The day was far spent so we went around the resort to see what made it different from other resorts. It was actually pretty different. I will write a separate blog post on that. Dinner was below my expectation. Never try the raspberry cheesecake, do so at your own peril. Dinner was mini-wrecked by a rainstorm before we could get through the main course.

It was an unforgettable experience! From the jet skiing to playing frisbee near the lakeside. I purposely packed a frisbee. My frisbee-throwing skills were a total blast, and I dont mean that in a positive way. I just couldn't throw like every human. But the jet ski was fab-awesome! Like hi-five awesome. It seemed scary at first, knowing that Castro fell off his in an attempt to save his girlfriend who had fallen into the water.  They are both gone. But I threw my fears into the wind and got on with my trained captain. The captain guided me on how to use the controls which were pretty much like riding a bike ( never ridden one before either). 

This is me, acting too-known. 

I think I screamed my way throughout the ride, especially when the jet ski flew up in the air on big waves. What a rush! 

All too soon our weekend was over! Sob! It rained yet again the Sunday morning before we left the resort.

Scooters to move guests from the reception to the car park.

I hadn't forgotten my promise to buy the watermelons on the way. I added some mangoes to the list as well. The boot of the car was very spacious for several luggages, bunches of plantain, cassava and any food produce you want to buy on your way back from the road trip to the insanity of Accra noise.

The Mazda CX5 is strong for our 'gbongbla' (outrageously pot-holed roads) roads. I believe that a 4XD was created for roads like ours. The saloon cars are best for city drives and use: from work to home, home to church, home to Grandma's etc. 

Both models i.e Mazda 3 and Mazda CX5 are worthy cars of the Ghanaian environment and if God blesses me with $20,000 I will invest it for awhile to make some interest and then consider buying the Mazda3. 

This post is a sponsored post for PowerStationGhana as part of the Mazda 3 digital marketing campaign for Mazda Ghana. Thank you to #TeamPowerStation for the memorable experience! 

Imagine going about life as usual. It’s Saturday morning and you wake up to the enticing vapours of palm-nut soup emanating from your mother’s kitchen. You stretch your body languorously and scratch your stomach in mindless fashion. 

You search for your phone to catch up on news on Twitter. As you flip through what you missed during the night, your eye catches on news that violence has erupted in the city and it looks like some incensed people are going from house to house killing opposition party supporters. What do you do? Where can you go? 

Imagine being forced to leave your country in order to escape war, natural disaster or persecution based on your religion, ethnicity, or political affiliations.

This is the reality of many refugees around the world. War has caused them to walk miles, cross seas and deserts to save their lives and families. There is an ongoing call for support for refugees to be hosted in other countries. There are those who are for this call whilst others stand against it.

I recently went to one of the refugee camps in the Central Region of Ghana; Egyeikrom Refugee Camp. This is one of the emergency camps set up by the Government of Ghana and UNHCR to host Ivorian refugees who fled their country during the 2011 conflict. 

The visit was an initiative by UNHCR with other Ghanaian creatives to share the real stories of hope and the dreams of refugees in Ghana. Emmanuel Bobie, prominent Ghanaian photographer and Louis Appiah an animator and graphic designer (creator of Tales of Nazir) came along to understand the lives of refugees and to capture heir hopes for the future in photography and animation. 

My first time in a refugee camp and I was really curious to hear the stories of people like you and I who have been forced to leave their homes, businesses to another man’s country for safety. The long dusty road from the main Elmina road led to the settlement which seemed built on a sandy-rocky falling and rising elevation.

We were welcomed by the camp management team who briefed us on the settlement activities and procedures to follow during our time at the camp. We then met the Refugee Council members who were also briefed on our purpose at the camp. They were a bit hesitant at first at the mention of photo coverage. They were still wary of exposure getting to the wrong persons it seemed. 

I was so thankful I could speak French if not fluently. My days at Ghana Institute of Languages was paying off. 

I met Jeff the artist who spoke ardently about his struggles as an artist at the camp and pleaded for support towards his work. He showed us his work on canvas, wood carving and cane. His demeanour was that of someone looking to learn and improve his skills in painting and to make a living selling his artwork. 

Jeff The Artist

The settlements are a combination of plastic tents and semi-permanent transitional shelters. The plastic tents looked strong. But how long should a person live under this?

Some refugees were hesitant to let me photograph their faces so I chose a different focal point to be able to still share their story. 

I came across several pregnant women in the camp who seemed to have similar dreams of opening their own hairdressing shops whether in Ghana or another country. 

I want my children to have a better and brighter future and life than mine. 

Would they want to go back to their country to start life again? The response was negative. They seemed more eager to be in another country aside their own. Some interestingly declined to live in Ghana to make a living, choosing to travel to Europe and other countries. 

The settlement was like a mini-town having several facilities for the persons of concern. Children of school going age wearing the Ghanaian government school uniform ( gyigyi k3 nkati3 as we used to call it in our childhood years) made their way to a primary school which seemed central placed on a hill. 

Life on the Egyeikrom Refugee Camp

I had a chat with some students on what their aspirations were and just like any Ghanaian student at that age, they wanted to become either a lawyer, teacher or a scientist. 

My name is Israel. I want to become President of Cote d'Ivoire in the future.

Je suis Bellima. I want to be a teacher in the future and teach citizenship.

Saint-Michel, School Prefect. 

As school prefect I give instructions to the students to do this and that and keep the compound clean. I want to be a scientist one day.

I am Grasse Natasha. I want to become a Doctor.

I want to become a lawyer one day in Ghana.

Saint-Michel and his colleagues all have dreams of being professionals, leaders just like you and I. They are not different from us. No matter how small or ordinary their dreams may be they need support as well.

The three class-room block school has a library filled with French text and story books.  The headmaster appealed for English books to help the students improve their English speaking and writing skills. The library was still new and smelt of freshly sewn wood. Interestingly, the furniture in the library was internally sourced and built by one of the camp inhabitants. 

Other organisations like the United States Embassy in partnership with UNHCR and others have supported several projects within the camp.  A typical example is the establishment of the Egyeikrom Integrated Agric Project Cassava Processing Centre for the production of Attieke and other cassava based products. 

Although there wasn't any being prepared during our time there, I had the opportunity of meeting a former mayor of Cote d’Ivoire who demonstrated how it’s prepared. This former mayor also fled the country for fear of the opposition coming for him and his family. He was the first of refugees who actually started doing something for himself in order to take care of himself and family. He did this by starting an attieke eatery on the camp. He shared his dream of seeing his children and grandchildren living a better future than this. His eyes glistened as he remembered events from his country. 

Demonstration of how attieke is prepared. 

Similarly to the mayor are other inhabitants who prepare and sell local meals to their neighbours. Its a matter of survival for these refugees.

  Due to an exponential increase in numbers of persons forcibly displaced by conflict to the largest since World War II, the resources available to UNHCR has dwindled.  Therefore most of the attention is being focused on newer humanitarian emergencies.  UNHCR has over the past three years been building capacity of the refugees through vocational and technical skills training, apprenticeship, small business support and agriculture so that they will be self-reliant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

A  Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound established by the  Ghana Health Service currently provides health services to the refugees. 

I sensed a lot of bitterness, hope and aspiration when I spoke to several people.  They were bitter about their country's leadership and conflict. They dream of a better life outside the camp. They hope for a better future for themselves and for their children.  

There’s so much we can do for refugees in Ghana. 

 Here's the reason why; Not only is it a humane thing to do but its also a Christian thing to do as its written in Deuteronomy 10: 19 18

“ He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. “

Interested in sponsoring and supporting the refugees at the Egyeikrom Refugee Camp? Please contact: 

Nii Ako Sowah

Public Information Associate

Phone: 0544340747

Twitter @UNHCRGhana

Facebook: UNHCR

Every refugee needs your support. Sign the petition today to stand #WithRefugees 

Will you stand #WithRefugees? Every day war forces thousands of families to flee their homes. People like you - people like me. To escape the violence- they leave everything behind –Everything except their hopes and dreams for a safer future. We believe every refugee should have the opportunity for a safer life. We stand together #WithRefugees. Please stand with us.

Join the conversation on Twitter #WithRefugees #iBelong 

Uber. The online transportation networking company which has globally disrupted how to get from point A to B at a lower cost and in a chic way is now in Ghana. Uber is a German word which means 'above' or superior. Superior way to get transportation in short. 

When I first heard of Uber coming to Ghana, it was more of a whisper passing through the grapevine ears of techies in Ghana. 'Have you heard Uber is coming to Ghana?' whispered many. Noone really knew anything until some months ago when it seemed that this was no filla but fact indeed. 

I first used Uber in Manhattan. It was such an exhilaration experience to use the Uber Black and UberSUV. A premium service compared to the low cost UberX which is what has been rolled out in Ghana. UberBlack and UberSUV was luxurious and cheaper than taking a typical NYC Yellow Cab. Aside having the ability to connect our Spotify with the car, the drivers were Uber nice and professional with a deep knowledge of the city. Of course, there's a much superior addressing system in New York for getting around. 

On June 9th, Uber launched in Accra at the Chinese hotel; Tang Palace. It was a dreary day in Accra as the city got flooded yet again during a heavy downpour. I myself, was caught in traffic which was crawling during rising waters in Kanda. Very scary experience. Naturally, I got there late. I couldn't help but wonder if Uber would consider bringing in UberSUV to Ghana taking into consideration our giant pot-holed roads and flood situations. 

People want to use Uber: each dot represents every time a unique user opened the app here in Accra! #MoveGHANA pic.twitter.com/wDavoyGYtP

— Uber Ghana (@Uber_Ghana) June 8, 2016

I got there just when Uber General Manager Sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits shared who they were partnering with to ensure a successful growth in the Ghanaian market. 

Uber has partnered with local companies like MTN (free phones for first 100 drivers) , SMSGH ( mobile money payment on Uber) and strategically with the Ministry of Transportation and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (you can guess the reason). 

After the successful launch, I went around meeting friends and guests who got invited to the launch asking of their opinion of Uber launching in Ghana. Will it work? The responses were mostly positive. Some confessed that it wouldn't be an easy thing for them to do, with some stating several factors which Uber might have to overcome. 

Leon Mwotia, AfuaRida and a guest.

Nicole Amarteifio and friends at the launch.

Flippy Campus founder Amishaddai and his girlfriend.

Checking out the Uber app.

AfuaRida and her Mom.

That's me and Ameyaw Debrah. Blogger tins.

Will Uber succeed in the Ghanaian market? I believe they can but it won't be an easy mountain to conquer. Nothing really is easy after all. These are the factors I believe they must overcome;

1. The Ghanaian laggard attitude- We are very slow at adapting to change especially technological changes. The average Ghanaian who has a smartphone with all kinds of features and functions limits the ability of the phone to using only WhatsApp and sometimes Facebook. It will take awhile for them to download the app, the next will be to trying to use it. That will be another challenge. I shared the uber app voucher on a church Whatsapp group and I got zero comments on it. Those who watch things shared on Whatsapp without commenting have seen it. Will they try it? Did they have question on it, I wouldn't know. 
2. Internet & Technology Literacy - I requested an Uber yesterday. It was a struggle for the driver to read the map to find my location which in my opinion was pretty easy. I was just a junction away from Nyaniba Estates Junction. I ended up taking the usual dropping because I was late to a meeting. I have friends today who have no clue of how to use Google Maps. Millennial friends who have no idea of how to get around the city using the easy mapping system. So what of the drivers to be used for Uber in Ghana. Regular training on how to use the mapping system for these drivers should be a priority for UberGhana. I cancelled the trip but the poor guy didnt even realise it and called to tell me he was at my location. Ha! 
3. GPRTU skirmishes- The Ghana Private Road Transport Union will be rising up soon. Have they even heard of UBER in Ghana? Just like many associations in Ghana, they don't even have a website or a social media presence. When they do finally hear of the online transport app, Uber should expect some kickbacks. But this will be quelled by AMA who has partnered with Uber. 

Ghanaians reacted differently on social media when they heard of the news of Ubers arrival. It was a three-fold split between those who have used the service before and welcomed it, those who have heard of it and were excited to have it here as well and the minority negative who never have anything positive to say about anything and won't provide substantial points to back up their negativity  (the pure critics who act like they are perfect little gods in a non-existent world)

Some claimed Uber will be bad for the Ghanaian economy (without really having hard facts to back this up) 

@edemkumodzi they'll displace a lot of cab drivers and majority of their profits will not be invested in Gh..

— Maarty Kaan (@80GRIOTS) June 9, 2016

Some were elated over the cheaper rate at getting around the city. Rightly so.

@edemkumodzi Yup - Uber will often be cheaper than a normal taxi. This is the fare estimate from East Legon to Osu. pic.twitter.com/T7itzyKyss

— Emmanuel Quartey (@equartey) June 9, 2016

When I tweeted that Uber would be cheaper than dropping, the curious dropped by to say hello.

It's going to be much cheaper to pick an @Uber in Ghana than picking
' dropping'. pic.twitter.com/hfBjHrzLRT

— Naa Oyoo Quartey (@OyooQuartey) May 19, 2016

Bloggers like Kajsa run polls to test the pulse of Ghanaians about Uber.

How do You think @Uber_Ghana will do in Accra?

— Kajsa Hallberg Adu (@kajsaha) June 10, 2016

About a month ago I shared a post on Facebook about Leon Mwotia doing a presentation at MEST about UBER. Read the comments on the post.

I then shared the free rides offer on my Facebook and got many responses (positive & negative). 

Others have tried it and love it.

Uber's presence in Ghana, will create business opportunities in Ghana. Think of an app which will be useful for Uber in Ghana and create one. Don't just sit there and gripe and grumble and do nothing about it. We like that too much. Complain with no solutions for anything. 

Anywho, what do you think of Uber in Ghana? Another EasyTaxi ending? Or a brighter longer future here? 

June 3rd will forever be embedded in my memory. There I was with my hair royally covered in hibiscus and honey hair mask after some days of neglect.  I was working from home with my intern and training her on instagram marketing when I saw a Twitter notification on my iPhone.  My heart stopped but miraculously I didn’t drop dead.

Congratulations to @OyooQuartey, winner for top Lifestyle blog in Africa. #ABA2016 https://t.co/aqZrtkhMSg

— AfricanBloggerAwards (@African_Blogger) June 3, 2016

My blog had won Top Lifestyle Blog of Africa for 2016 at the African Bloggers Awards!  I jumped up screaming in the most girlish manner possible! Ellie my intern looked up sharply at the unpredictable movement .

I showed her the screen. She started screaming! We screamed together! I could barely stop my fingers from typing a message to my boyfriend on the news. He was dumbfounded.

Then I posted to Facebook in words I could hardly muster or think of. This is all I could come up with.

Other Ghanaian bloggers; Kobby Blay and Circumspecte had also won respective awards in different categories. Congratulations to them both for unwavering passion to create content on public health, entrepreneurship and social issues.

 I wasn’t expecting this award and to be honest I had forgotten that I had submitted my blog into the African Bloggers Awards, which had been about a month earlier.

The African Bloggers Awards uses metrics using Webfluential to determine a blog’s specific engagement and readership.

According to the organizers, “The awards aim to recognise and honour the best bloggers on the continent in the fairest way possible by measuring their actual influence and traffic.”

Out of the bottom of my heart, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to you my reader. I cant imagine creating content which no-one reads or shows interest in. Of course there are strategies to get traffic to your blog but without you hanging around to read what I share (whether I post a new blogpost or not), without you who has subscribed to the blog, downloaded the blog app or saved my RSS feed what would this blog be but just another blog in a black hole.  Thank you for reading, your comments, resharing and reposting my posts!

When I started blogging five years ago, I put my heart into it. I started writing on things which bothered me and what I was doing to change them. I wrote to share the side of Ghanaian culture, which many do not see on the internet; our food, fashion, events, relationships, etc. I wrote to talk about things that many people were afraid to write on and discovered that delivering value to the lives of people was the key to increasing my readership. That is a TIP you should keep in your ‘ Botom’ if you have a blog or thinking of a business idea. What value are you going to add to someone’s life?

Thank you again! I am encouraged and uplifted! Trust me when I say that it’s not easy creating content in Ghana. There have been times when I don’t feel like lifting a finger to tap on the keys and times when I have questioned myself and what I was doing. During those times, I would get an email from a total stranger who would show appreciation for what I was putting out there. That email alone brings a smile to face and lifts me up from the bed at 5am to get to work.

Thank you again! I can’t say enough thank you’s . Oyuwala donn! I am so looking forward to adding more value to your life through this blog. God is good!  Peace!

Here is the full list of the 2016 African Bloggers Awards.