Thursday, September 24, 2009

Parasites, Pesewas & Porridge

“I will give you 50p.” That’s what the attendants announce to you at a well-known fast food chain in the City of Accra. What they really mean is that they will be keeping your change, because they do not have any. Imagine this – they will make GHC 150 if they do this to 300 ‘victims’ a day! The receipts they give out around 9 p.m. show that they take close to 400 orders daily. Some supplementary income! And when you come out to the car park, some security guard accosts you and asks for “some coins for Koko* for Old Man.”

*Koko - cornmeal porridge

13 comments:

  1. hahahaa...the title really fits. Yep, sometimes they do have the change but pretend not to and in our bid to be 'ladies' and 'gentlemen' we leave. It's really funny...

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  2. Charlie, NFA, this gentle soul makes them cheat a poor boy like me all the time!

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  3. Is it bad that I would demand my full change? I like tipping but not by force! It's money they would probably get anyway but you can't just choose to withhold my money.

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  4. No, Sankofa, it's not wrong to ask for your full change. You can even make a scene if you please! ;)

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  5. Hehehe! Ain't that Ghana for you and me...Extortion at all possible opportunity and constantly being guilt-tripped into giving....even (dare I say it) in church!

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  6. Especially in church, Abena.

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  7. Especially in church.

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  8. In other parts of the world tipping is actually a BIG deal. More like an obligation on the part of the customer. The average Ghanaian cusotmer is not a big fan of tipping, so therefore I think there is a different way of getting tips from the customer>>> JUST OFFER EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. The client will be pushed to reward you with Gp 50 or more. Extortion is not the right move.

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  9. Man, these seemingly harmless bandits!

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  10. Maxy, I'm going to have to do something drastic and public next time they try to pull that thing off on me (but will I?)

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  11. I live in respectful awe of those who fight for their rights. I watch in silent support every time I see a physical battle involving an unruly trotro mate and a noble passenger, over 100cedis.

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