Picking A Winner

The use of mobile phones in Ghana is a much different experience to home. Phone calls are really cheap and texts even cheaper. This means plenty of use for the phone!

The essential item. Cheap phone. Security says it is your best weapon. Sometimes it is annoying.

Non-stop use. There is never a reason not to answer, and if you don’t answer, you will be reprimanded by constant phone calls or a stern talking to. Also it’s not common to wait the second or two that it takes for the line to start working once you have ‘picked’ the call. The caller and receiver will start: ‘Hello? HELLO? hEllo? heLlo? helLo? heLLo? helo? hellO? HEllo? HeLlo? HelLo? HellO?’ (and so on), and then finally; click, the airways open up and it’s on. You have to close your ears or leave the room because the volume for chatting is high. There is a lady at our work whose reputation precedes her and colleagues refuse to travel in her vehicle because the conversations are so imposing.

Everyone asks for your phone number. I was riding my bicycle home last week and a small school child on his bike that I rode past asked me for my number. Really? Luckily the conversations are short. The record so far is 30 seconds. Basically just asking how you are. If you answer correctly with ‘fine’, then it’s time to call the next person. My tactic of pretending I missed the phone call when screening calls doesn’t work. People are very persistent. Multiple phone calls, regardless of time of the day (5am is apparently acceptable) means it’s best to pick the call.

Phones are #1 priority, meaning people often have multiple phones, definitely multiple sims, and they are never ignored. If you are in a meeting, another phone conversation, in the middle of lecturing someone, driving a motorbike, bartering for groceries, you name it, the call will be answered. Loudly.

In meetings, simply answer loudly, but to keep your manners, ducking under the table, or throwing your head back (so you talk upward, not across the conversation, interruption problem solved) is suggested.

Ringtones are a whole different story, but of course loud and imposing. This is why it is good to side with your colleagues and help them choose a ringtone that you don’t mind, otherwise you are stuck listening to Celine Dion snippets all day every day. I’m sure using ‘silent’ here is unheard of, but I daydreamed about a library the other day….

Throwing your head back when on the phone means noone can see 
you and you aren't interrupting ...... apparently