Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Nsawam Breadline

A few kilometres outside Accra, on the horrid highway to Kumasi, a ‘livelihood’ line of bread sellers stretches as long as the eyes can see. This is the town of Nsawam. Its dying buildings tackle the streets tightly, threatening to tumble any moment. The main street is a narrow tar strip with edges gobbled jagged by time, rain and native neglect. The baker’s design suggests that all the bread is baked and browned in one bakery or two. So, how does one know whose bread to buy? I’ll start with the first rustic Pretty I see with an idyllic smile. When the new highway bypasses this town, no cars will come this way. The bread line and the famous Nsawam bread will simply go away.

6 comments:

  1. That is food(bread) for thought(excuse the pun). What alternative source(s) of livelihood can the people of Nsawam venture into when the highway is ready for use? Have the residents even thought about the economic implications of that development?

    ReplyDelete
  2. And i can't spell:) squeeze, squeeze, squeeze a thousand lines.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oops, Ms Cleland, I deleted the earlier one because I thought you had re-posted your comment with "squeeze". So I can't read, read, read, a thousand times. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kwame Mensa-Bonsu16 June, 2010

    Terrible 4 Nsawam.Just terrible. They would truly be in a breadline when the new highway is ready.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your blogs. I too am a legal eagle blogger. kimaspeak.blogspot.com. I spent some time in Accra so the breadlines are all too familiar.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Kimapeak. I have been to your blog, and it is goooooood.

    ReplyDelete

After writing your comment, please select the Name/URL box below, and write your name in the box, before submitting your comment.