Village Rainbows

GOD IS KING (and so is “Uncle Ben”)

In recent years in Ghana, we have seen an increasing amount of freight and goods being transported by semi-trailer trucks. Not so many years ago, that work was done by conventional single axle trucks (lorries). Drivers and their mates prided themselves in their great ingenuity and dedicated perseverance to ensure that no load was too big or too difficult to haul. During one of my stays near New Edubiase during the 80′s, a dugout canoe was brought out of the forest, to be taken to its destination on the coast where it would be used for fishing. Considering that the canoe was more than twice the length of any truck on the road at the time, I wondered how it would make the journey. However one day, “God is King” showed up, and with the help of many willing hands, it was moved on board and set off on its journey south. On another occasion, “Uncle Ben” passed through town, laden with a similar cargo, proving that where there is a will (and willing hands), there will be a way.

GOD NEVER SLEEPS

In 2008, this photo was taken in Accra where this lorry has been plying the roads for many years. The owner surely considers his lorry to be living proof of his belief that “God never sleeps.”

HONESTY

The arches of the Adome Bridge which provide the link between the Volta Region and the Eastern Region are in the background. The bridge is located a short distance south of the Aksombo Dam on the Volta River, and at the time of this photo in 1973, was still in very good repair. In recent years it has shown its age and load restrictions now apply. When reading in the daily newspapers of the various capers of the current crop of politicians, it might appear that “Honesty” is also not as healthy as we would like it to be!!

NEVER LOSE HOPE

This lorry box, sitting forlornly on the side of a street in Half Assini in 1971, looks like it still had many good years of service left in it, and was hoping to connect with a lorry chassis in the same situation.

BLACK POWER

In 1957, Ghana led the way for other African countries to reclaim their independence from the colonial powers.  This lorry, delivering a load of passengers to the market at Half Assini sometime between 1971 – 73, may be making a reference to that or it may be simply stating something that all Africans have always known – there is a power in Africa that comes from its people and that now can be found around the world.

TRUTH IS ONE

Even today many villages in West Africa are not served by passable roads, making it difficult to get farm produce to market. In the early 70’s, transport to the village of Newtown, west of Half Assini and located on a narrow spit of land that extends into the Tano River lagoon was only possible on the beach at low tide. Lorry drivers had to have a fisherman’s knowledge of tides in order to safely make their trips in and out of that area.

ANIMALS IN THE FOREST

Lorry owners choose their slogans and sayings for good reasons, although those reasons may not always be clear to everyone. This allows us our to create stories and scenarios in our own imaginations. This old Bedford was so heavily loaded and leaning to one side that any animals that it may have encountered in the forest would have been well advised to stay clear. This load was likely destined in 1972 to be off-loaded at Jewi Wharf onto canoes and transported across the Tano lagoon to neigbouring Cote d’Ivoire. And if you wanted to let your imagination wander just a bit, you might find yourself wondering what kind of goods were being transported, and whether or not they might have been smuggled…

NO WHERE COOL

I “snapped” this lorry one day in 1972 when passing through the coastal town of Elmina. I expect that this slogan could be a favorite of tourists visiting from temporate climes as well as politicians who may find themselves in the hot seat for any number of reasons!

BECAUSE OF MONEY

“Sika Asem” is a common expression in Ghana. Money matters. In other parts of the world people might claim that “money is the root of all evil” but in the Ghanaian marketplace, SIKA (money) is what makes the world go round.

In this scene outside the Half Assini Market in 1973, we see women negotiating prices for their commodities (smoked fish and yams) and a mammy lorry waiting to carry them home with their wares.

The Poor Shall Rise

This lorry sat on the side of the street for the entire time that I lived in Half Assini in the Western Region of Ghana, from 1971 to 1973. I was told that it was waiting for repairs which was not surprising since that was a time when vehicle parts were very much in short supply in the country. The roadside fitters were (and still are) very adept at finding ways of keeping vehicles on the road, often fabricating replacements from a variety of unlikely sources. At times, even their ingenuity encountered situations which were impossible to remedy without original parts. The effect was to leave drivers and their mates without jobs; the lorry owner unable to earn anything for his investment; and villagers with one less means to get to market.

I have been particularly fond of the slogan on this lorry because it speaks to the indefatigable faith that so many people exhibit when faced with hardships. In spite of continuing challenges, the village people of Ghana continue to demonstrate that faith, and in that I find a great deal of inspiration.