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Ghana Culture Day Wed 14

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FirstWord Bentsifi Published by ACVB Media P. O. Box 3399, Accra 1 Kade Close Kanda Estates Tel: 0244 697046 Email: bentsifi@gmail.com EDITORIAL Editor PaJohn Bentsifi Dadson Editorial Assistant Henry Derban Kennedy Tetteh STUDIO Art Director Ben Darteh Graphic Designer Oduro Assiamah Photography Francis Kokoroko Kwaku Gyabaa Rodney Quarcoo Steve Ababio Steven Adusei Emmanuel Bobbie John Owoo Marketing Rhoda Acquah Publisher ACVB Media

Akwaaba, Miawoezor, Welcome to Accra, Africa’s cultural city! March is special month for Ghana. We celebrate our independence from British colonial rule on the 6, and it is a time when we remember our founding fathers, particularly, the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah - African Man of the Millenium [picured here on the right on the cover of Time Magazine]. Not only is it the month in which we gained our independence 55 years ago this year, it is also the month when, from this year, we are going to be celebrating Ghanaian culture like we have never done before. With Mar 14 set to be instituted as Ghana Culture Day, the Emporium - Courtyard of cultural expressions and interactions taking place at the National Theatre, read all about it in Spectrum on Page17. There are always things worthy of note taking place in Accra. This month, join in the fun at the circus! Yes, there is a circus in town, the Il Florilegio from Italy is titilating audiences at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park till the end of April! Great stuff. We lost a great friend, Cephas Sackitey of the Alliance Francaise, and a tribute night will be held in his honour at the Alliance on Sat 10. We also have a double page spread on the fabulous coastal facility Lou Moon Lodge in Escape on page 19. Enjoy,

RALLY ROUND THE FLAG

PaJohn

Contents

GhC5 where sold. The views expressed in the articles published are not necessarily those of Bentsifi-ACVB. While every reasonable care has been taken in compiling the magazine, the publisher shall not be held liable for any omission, error or inaccuracy. Please notify the publisher in writing of any omission, error or inaccuracy. Editorial contributions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are submitted at the sender’s risk. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage. All rights reserved by Bentsifi-ACVB. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission in writing. Bentsifi is distributed for sale through selected major newsstands in Accra. It is also control-circulated to

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Trends | 14

ACCRAlife

Escape | 19

Spectrum | 17

Tatler | 12

Getting Around | 21

People | 16

Shops & Services | 15

Directory | 22

Events |10

Eating Out | 16

Fri 30th Come in national colours another TMB night - Ol skuul power play -

Night Life | 18 *Cover photo: John Owoo

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We can’t go through this month without... ...taking a day out to spoil ourselves just lazing about by the swimming pool at Stone Lodge! Just an excuse to order some of their fabulous Tilapia and banku dish! Hmmm...

...being one of the first to catch the Italian National

Circus Il Florilegio

which is currently in town till the end of April. Situated at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, we can’t wait to see the tigers and all the other animals do all those tricks! ...joining the Ghana Culture Forum celebrate

Ghana Culture Day - Wed 14 at the Emporium - a courtyard of cultural interactions & expressions at the National Theatre!

...going to the rlg Independence

Comedy Jam featuring the inimitable Basketmouth in an ‘uncensored’ session! I can’t wait, particularly as Irene Logan, Efya and Omawumi - the Nigerian songstress whose whimsical songs are as delicious as the lady herself is! Also on the bill will be Clint the Drunk and Gordon’s.

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Capital Delights We bring you some dining highlights this March

Sat 3,10,17,24 and 31, 12:30pm Special Ghanaian Lunch Enjoy typical Ghanaian cuisine in a relaxing ambience as a selection of mouth-watering meals is served. Branche Terrace, Golden Tulip Hotel

Tues 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fri 16, 6:30pm Middle Eastern Cuisine Our kitchen brigade will take you on an exciting culinary journey with delicacies from the Middle East to excite your taste buds. Branche Restaurant, Golden Tulip Hotel

Tues 6, 12:30pm Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anniversary Explore the taste of typical Ghanaian meals and specialties at the Ghanaian lunch. To top it up, fresh palm wine and indigenous drinks will also be served with good old highlife music to relax and enjoy to at the poolside arena. Branche Restaurant, Golden Tulip Hotel Tues 6, 12noon Taste of Ghana Engage your tatste buds sampling a variety of local traditional Ghanaian dishes from waakye to apapransa, and many other regional delicacies. Manhyia Restaurant, African Regent Hotel

media . leisure . hospitality events . PR 0244.69.7046

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Essentials

Hike It Up

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Events

Events THE ESSENTIAL LIST What the capital has to offer the discerning diner.

Entries into The Critical List You are welcome to send information on your event to us for publication. Please ensure it reaches us by the 15th of the preceeding month of the date of your event. The editor reserves to right to .... Please send all information to bentsifi@ gmail.com and we will be happy to publish it for you. Please call 0244 697046 if you would like to be featured in .... 10

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Tatler

Tribute

Death Claims ‘Our’ Earthly Angel Accra’s “Rio” Carnival

It was with absolute shock that we received news of the passing of Cephas Sackitey, the ever smiling and welcoming Director of Cultural Events at the Alliance Francaise in Accra, at the Ridge Hospital on Saturday Feb 18, 2012. He will be buried at Odumase-Krobo in the Eastern Region on Saturday, March 24. He was 40. His body will however, be laid in state at the Full Gospel Church at Tema Comm 1, behind Obonu FM at 6am, with a fenural service following at 9am. What is more shocking was the fact that he was at work with his normal bubbly self the day before. Passionate about the arts, and his job, Cephas dealt with a wide variety of artistes from Ghana and abroad for the Alliance Francaise, and diligently worked across board with all kinds of artistes. A product of Tema Sec. School, University of Ghana, Legon and Maison des cultures du Monde in Paris, France, a fitting tribute concert is planned for him at the Allinace on Sat 10.

Melting Moments

Accra resonated to the sounds of Brazilia on Saturday Feb 25 when a crop of the capital’s fun loving set descended on the Toro Restaurant inside the Afrikiko Entertainment complex to celebrate in their own way, the biggest carnival in the world! Organised by accraexpat.com in collaboration with the Embassy of Brazil and the Accra Diplomatic Club, at one count there were some 390 expatriates and Ghanaian friends in revelry, many of whom felt they had actually been transported to Rio for that night!

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Tribute

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Trends

Shop & Services

Looking For…?

Empowering with Beads

Supermarkets Max Mart, A&C Mall & near 37 Station Three floors of supermarket stocking groceries, crockery, a bakery, confectionaries, florist, ‘winery’, office and home appliances among others Shoprite, Accra Mall and Kasoa One of Africa’s largest food retailers, stocks a wide selection of foods, confectionaries, bakes, drinkables and every other thing you are looking for, They promise less cost. Koala Supermarket, Osu, Danquah Circle Accra, Koala has a vast range of international goods including foodstuff, cookware, electronics, bakery, glassware, confectionaries and other items you may need, all åat this international supermarket.

Department Stores Game, Accra Mall. Find household ware, garden ensemble, electronics, sporting equipment, children’s items and all you’ll want from a large and comprehensive department store with promos and discount sales every week! Shopping Centers Accra Mall, Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout Real mall concept – Accra’s Largest – with international brands such as Game, Apple, Shoprite, Puma etc housed here. Also a convergence hub, find Silverbird cinema, and a myriad of eateries, activities etc. A&C Mall, East Legon Houses many stocked lifestyle stores, restaurants, cafes, a gym, pharmacies,

supermarkets, a swimming pool and secure kids’ playground. Palace Shopping Mall, Spintex Road In the same premises as Furniture City, a hypermarket that stocks a wide variety of household stuff including electronics, crockery, gym equipment and many more. Melcolm Plus Complex,North Ind Area Popular retailing centre with 3 floors of affordable household items, and space for outlets such as a dental practice, bookshops, cafes and a host of others. Orca, Graphic Road For contemporary and stylish interior décor ware, here’s where to go. A large double floor of everything from curtains materials to cooking utensils to gym equipment to furniture to children’s toys!

Heel The World( HTW) is a shoe company. But, they are more than that. They are a concept. A luxury, bespoke shoe company with head quarters in Ghana, West Africa. They exist to counter perceptions on the quality and capabilities of Ghanaian craftsmanship. Living in a part of the world where being an entrepreneur is not so popular, the HTW Shoe Company has thus established the HTW Foundation to Empower World Changers. For every pair of shoes bought they’ll empower an African startup because they believe in supporting people who are changing the world for the better. The foundation’s aim is to show that business and helping others is a completely compatible model. All their products are intelligently designed and bear deep meanings, including their Empowerment Beads [above] which run with an infamous black and gold theme. Every black glass bead stands for hard work whereas the single golden ornament represents the ultimate reward of success. It is what everyone who believes in empowerment is sporting these days... and they are limited edition jewelry that have been crafted to engage and empower individuals turn their passions into successful startups! They’ll deliver to your doorstep within Accra when you call 0277.51.4545. Overseas? Or have further enquiries, questions, call 0246.58.9160.

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Eating Out

The Essentials

LIGHT GRUB

PJ Recommends

AFRICAN The Buka Osu Marquis Tante Marie Labone Eu Grand Ecuyer Ring Road

Palace of the East Awudome Tip Top Osu TIan Tai Sakaman Oriental Village Osu Kit Kat Dansoman Dragon House 88 Osu Tsing Tao Osu Dynasty Osu Golden Bowl Tema Community 5 Golden Triangle East Legon Mandarin Airport Residential Area Ocean Comm. 12, Tema Palace Dzorwulu Regal Osu The Landing Kotoka Airport China House Osu Danquah Cirlce Indian Heritage Indian Osu,Off Salem Road near Osu Presby

ASIAN Chinese Royal Dragon, La Palm Dynasty Osu, Off Oxford Street Regal Chinese Osu Imperial Peking Granada Hotel Hinlone Labone Wok Inn Adabraka

GHANAIAN Azmerra Roman Ridge near Borstal Country Kitchen Osu, 2nd Ringway Ghanaian Village La Palm Hotel Le Jardin Roman Ridge Top Taste Kokomlemle Sober Spot

The Directory section consists of establishments currently advertising in Bentsifi and others which Bentsifi’s editors believe are worthy of your attention. Entries are at the discretion of the editor. To ensure your inclusion contact 0244697046 for a mandatory or enhanced entry. Regular Entry Name, location [optional] The following attract an investment for a minimum of 3 insertions

Mandatory Entry Name, location, telephone contact Enhanced Entry Name, location, telephone and email contact, website address plus brief description [max 30 words] Call 0244 697046 for details.

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West Legon MI King Teshie-Nungua Asanka Ring Road Central Back Pass Accra Central Abba Fresh Gardens New Achimota Twinsti Aviance Airport Trafix A canteen restaurant serving a variety of wel prepared local dishes for lunch. Try their ...... National Theatre Odo Rice Kokomlemle Labone Coffee Shop Labone Favourite Fast Food Osu Nyaniba Estates Cornet Kokomlemle Akapulko Madina Home Touch Burma Camp LOCAL (CHOP BARS) Asanka Local Osu Asanka Ring Road near Bus Stop Blue Gate Off Oxford St. El Gringo Osu, Nyaniba Est. Heavy Do Kokomlemle Auntie Grace Opp. Calvary Methodist WESTERN French Le Must Labone, Orphan Crescent

The Buka There’s a distinctive aura here that quickly swallows you up once you step on the last of the flight of stairs that leads up to this 75-seater eatery. Set on a tastefully decorated airy terrace, Buka has a strong character with its ethnic African decorative motifs. Plus, its menu is a delight to read, as it takes you on a culinary excursion across West Africa offering a fusion of traditional foods with fresh, fine tropical ingredients. One of the few place in town that serves peppered snail and gizzard, their [Nigerian] Orisirisi stew with ewedu or egusi is a must-have for the initiated palate. And for a fantastic Ghanaian dish, try their Nkontomire and boiled yam, or their groundnut soup accompanied by the proverbial staple, fufu! Call it gourmet fufu! It comes with an assortment of meats that fill the bowl! There is a spread of scrumptious grills in the open-air in the evenings and, like the afternoon lunch sessions, which is patronised by many an executive, it is ever so popular, as a laid back evening of great grub! Buka serves juices. Fresh pineapple, and even coconut juice! It also has indoor rooms that can cater up to an additional 36 people, and is great for small parties.

La Chaumiere Airport Residential Area Le Magellan Nyaniba Estates Italian Bella Roma Osu, off Oxford Street FUSION/ INTERNATIONAL Melting Moments Coffe shop/Cafe. Serves sandwiches, paninis, light lunch meals like salads, as well as some Ghanaian fare. Excellent atmosphere. Order smoothies, coffes and cakes. Dade St, Labone. T. 0244.290.190 Cafe dez Ami next to Afrikiko, Kanda Sankofa Movenpick Hotel 1A @ Villa Monticello Airport Residential

Branche Golden Tulip Accra Mukyiya African Regent Hotel Zara Best Western Hotel Mansonia Royal Fiesta Hotel Wiase Holiday Inn Hotel SEAFOOD Captain Hook Cantoments Taverna Tropicana Nima Residential Area The Maya Cova (New) Artist Alliance Gallery, La CONTEMPORARY Fast Food KFC Osu, Oxford Street Bus Stop Ring Road Central Frankies Osu, Oxford Street

Papaye Osu, Oxford Street Chicken Republic Osu, Oxford Street Oriental Delight North Kaneshie Cooland Kokomlemle Gold House Dansoman Chick ‘N’ Lick ‘N’ Osu Churcheese Labone Foods Inn Osu Foods Inn Cantonments 37 Frankies Osu Mr. Bigg’s K. Nkrumah Circle Papaye Spintex Road Papay North Kaneshie

Cafe dez Amis

Serving breakfast and freshly baked breads and pastries all day, there is also great pancakes and waffles to go with gourmet coffee and hot cocoa, sandwiches and salads on offer here. Get also, pasta dishes that go with cold fresh juices and homemade ice cream. In the evenings, barbecue and live band music in the garden.

Open Mon through Sat from noon till 10pm, and till 6pm on Sun, call 0244 842464 for reservations

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Spectrum

Night Life Our pick of the capital’s hottest night spots.

A New Lounge, A New Attitude

CULTURE OUR LIFE – CULTURE WE DEY CHOP!

The bar at Firefly

Exotic cocktails

Brandy flambe

A new addition to Accra’s fabulous nightlife scene, resonating from the hip hub of the capital, Osu, the Firefly Lounge Bar is a warm inviting joint that offers a unique dining and nightlife experience. Be it is a quiet date, an intimate gathering, or a fired up party, depending on what day it is, Firefly is your place! It’s a cozy atmosphere here, and the staff are pretty smart. Hopefully

Accra club scene is hip, and has a lot of atmosphere, even on a regular night. But, in this ‘month of love’ catch the fire at these joints that keeps the city awake most nights. Night Clubs Aphrodisiac Dzorwulu Bella Roma, Osu Millonaires, Citizen Kofi, Osu Excel, Airport Residential Cinderellas, Cantonments Grand Pappaz, Cantonments Rockstone’s Office, Cantonments Boomerang, Caprice Roxbury’s, Asylum Down Jokers, La Opps!, Bubiashie Roundabout Scratch, East Legon The New Cave, Kuku Hill, Osu

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Pubs, Cool Bars & Joints Twist, Headlines, Hospitality, Labone Monsoon, Osu Food Court Ryan’s Irish Pub, Osu Champs, Paloma, Ring Road Central Venus, Osu Celsbridge, Labone Rhapsody’s, Accra Mall Honeysuckle, Ring Rd opp Fire Service Tyme Out, Pentagon & Legon Hall (Legon)

they will be like that for a long time and not wane in their enthusiasm to delight as the months roll. The bar at Firefly sports, perhaps, every liquiour and liquor concotion ever made! Call it and the tender is likely to oblige you. They do a good mix of cocktails too. Their kitchens also serve some exciting grub including spicy grills and dishes that are hot off the fire!

Ghana’s premiere Jazz & Live Music Club.

At last, a day, whose purpose is to promote our national culture, arts, and academic success, has been set aside this year to celebrate Ghana’s heritage. Proposed by the Ghana Culture Forum (GCF), a membership based civil society consultative and advocacy network of cultural practitioners & activists and organisations, in partnership with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the ‘Ghana Culture Day’ set on Wednesday, March 14, will showcase an kaleidoscope of Ghanaian cultural interaction and expressions at the National Theatre in Accra. To be held under the theme ‘Culture – Our Life! Culture We dey Chop!!’, the day will be marked with an emporium, a marketplace - a courtyard of cultural interaction and expressions The Emporium will be a courtyard of cultural interac- that will climax in the formal launch tions, expressions and living art performances of the GCF! His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana is expected to grace the occasion as the Special Guest of Honour. Also designed to promote the mainstreaming of culture in national development, the event seeks to emphasize the important linkages between culture and other sectors of national life. The Emporium, which will take place in the afternoon from 2pm, will see a series of exhibitions and performance sessions with the participation of schools, cultural actors, organisations and the general public.

There will be a delightful culinary section where preparation of some of our more traditional dishes will be demonstrated and offered for tasting! In the evening at 5pm a Keynote presentation on the theme Culture – Our Life! Culture We dey Chop! by Professor Kofi Anyidoho of the University of Ghana, and member, Interim Steering Committee of the GCF will be made at the interactive forum, which will also see the formal launch of the Ghana Culture Forum by His Excellency the Vice President. Proposed and initiated at a UNESCO-organised Consultative Forum on the “Power of Culture in Development” held on 28th April, 2011 in Accra, the GCF has a number of cultural personalities as members of the Interim Steering Committee of the Forum. They have since been working to establish the GCF as a civil society advocacy platform for culture development and action, and the conveners at the helm are Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana (Chairperson) and Mr. Akunu Dake, Heritage Development (Vice Chair). All domain organisations are actively participating in the evolution of the programmes of the GCF. It is hoped that this day becomes instituted as a national culture day, set aside to celebrate Ghana and encourage more patriotism. A day when everybody, foreigner or local resident will eat, speak, drink and sleep Ghana.

The Ghana Culture Forum is a membership based Civil Society consultative forum. It is a network of cultural practitioners & activists and organisations united around a common vision of affirming the cultural foundations of development and enhancing the cultural sector. GCF seeks to: 1. Ensure the recognition and mainstreaming of issues of culture in national development as enshrined in the Constitution in the Directive

Mon - Thu 5pm-2:33 am Fri: 5pm-4am Sat - Sun: 2:33pm-4am

Principles of State Policy. 2. Monitors and intervenes in developments in the cultural sector as envisaged in the Ghana Cultural Policy 3. Coordinates and represents the views and voices ensuring that they are heard and ventilated 4. Supports cultural activists and their organisations to promote the best of Ghanaian creativity and heritage. 5. Promotes Ghanaian identity through our cultural diversity.

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Travel

Escape ...Travel and adventure

Escape

How To Get There uyhfl

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Sheer Luxury within a tropical enclave

Go further west from Takoradi, and get on the Axim- Elubo Road from Agona Junction. Turn off to Axim, and at the outskirts, look out for the Lou Moon sign on the left and join the 2km rough road to Anyan village looking out for the signs along the route!

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Spread across some 24 acres of land with the Atlantic Ocean to its south and beginning of the tropical rainforest to its north, Lou Moon Lodge lies amid a beautiful bay surrounded by sandy beaches. On the shore of this natural swimming pool, protected from the ocean waves by an enchanting peninsula, the Lodge provides some ecclectic accommodation with twelve rooms ranging from the peaceful “traveler” rooms to the exquisite “executive” bungalows located on a private island. The open bar which serves some of the best sorbets in the country

[try the mango or soursup], and the restaurant that serving world cooking always delivers mouthwatering recipes! The architecture of the very airy buildings, the decor and layout of the grounds makes Lou Moon very user-friendly and for your wellbeing, lazy lounges are kept by the shore for relaxation. Adhering and adopting the rules of fair trade and responsible tourism, the facility presents a most serene ambience whether in the rooms or the large open terrace set up on stilt in the middle of its luxuriant garden!

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Getting Around

New road arrangements; one-way systems and flyovers, supposed to help to ease traffic in the inner city, doesn’t seem to be working! The traffic is getting worse! Nonetheless, getting around in the Central Business District is now fairly easy. Once you know a landmark near your destination - street names are not popular – you can get to where you want to go quite easily. Ask for which neighbourhood you’re going, and the nearest landmark. By Bus: Several mini buses and Lorries known as ‘Tro-tro’ run regular routes in the inner city, and while congested, it is the most inexpensive way to travel. The Metro Mass Transport service, recently introduced large buses run on many routes too. By Taxi: The distinctive Ghana taxi - with yellow painted mud guards- are in plenty and run a

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shared, or hire service called ‘dropping’. The shared service picks and drops passengers along a particular route while the hire service, which any taxi would usually oblige, takes passengers directly to their destination. You must, however, determine what you pay before embarking on your journey. Different rates apply for different trips, but the current hourly rate for taxi is between GhC8 per hour for more than 5 hours and GhC10 for less. By Car: While traveling by car is fairly easy, many visitors find driving in inner Accra, cumbersome. Many commercial drivers flaunt traffic regulations and while this rarely results in serious accidents, it can be frustrating. Many car rental companies in town provide drivers as well, and this may be a better alternative. Contact the Car Rental Association of Ghana on, or the Accra Visitor Service, 0244.69.7046 for a

recommendation. On Foot: Recent improvements in clearly demarcated pavements have helped to make walking, which is the cheapest way to get around, a lot more easy. The only snug may be the heat of the scorching sun if you are not well protected. So get your straw hat and sunglasses out! Be careful though, particularly in the Central Business District, as the many other pedestrians can push you onto the road. Always try to walk facing oncoming traffic. Inter-City Travel A number of private coach companies run a schedule service to all the regional capitals, and most major other towns. Also, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has buses that ply major towns. There are also ‘Fast Cars’, hatchback saloons that go very fast to the destination for about twice the price of the regular schedule routes. Be advised not to take them after dark. Many begin their journey at the major lorry station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

ROTARY CLUBS: Meetings