Orthopedic training centre Nsawam

Great work!This centre which was established in 1961 to meet the needs of physically challenged Ghanians, has been helping thousands throughout Ghana.
Thanks to Brother Tarcisius who worked hard with selfless determination and deep faith to give hope and assistance.I was so happy to be there and giving Brother a big V ,see how kids are happy and they are dancing!!!

Ghana launch of Ambiente 2012

Mrs Yvonne Engelmann, Director Giving of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, has come to Ghana to promote and create awareness for the upcoming Ambiente 2012 and to acquire suitable companies from the handicraft business as exhibitors
eShopAfrica has been invited as a member of the GGEA(Ghanian-German economic Association)and as a pioneer in Ghana to show case artisans handmade products thru the internet.

Fun Walk

Ghana International Women Club (GIWC) organized a fun walk which started at 6:30 am last Saturday 5th November. The walk was used to draw attention to an upcoming Gala ni

ght for the club. The funds from the Gala night will be used to renovate an operating theatre for the maternity ward at Ridge hospital in Accra. By renovating the theatre, the hospital will have a theatre dedicated to the maternity ward. This will ensure that more than 2,800 mothers in need of extra care will receive the appropriate medical attention in order to increase the number of safe deliveries.

The GIWC Walk was a 45 minute event that included a walk that started at airport residential area and ended at the residence of the Egyptian ambassador. Setting of at 6:30am in cloudy weather and under a faint drizzle, participants of the walk were accompanied by a local marching band and local police. The 2 mile walk concluded with a breakfast at the residence of the Egyptian ambassador.

Just another day!!

The Aburi Botanic Garden is one of the most beautiful,

peaceful and fascinating places in Ghana. Opened in March 1890, covering 64.8 hectares, Aburi sits atop a mountain overlooking the Accra coastal plain. - All who visit Aburi gardens are struck by the scenic views, fresh air, and natural surrounding. A true getaway from the hectic city of Accra and must see attraction for every Ghanaian and tourist alike
My family and I decided to embark on another quiet trip to the botanical garden. The naturally picturesque drive up the mountain, as well as the peaceful, serene view from the top gave me a true sense of inner peace. Our trip to the mountain was filled with bizarre attractions (see picture) like this overloaded trucks on the highway in front of us. Watch the goat peeping at the back in the above truck.and the lady sleeping on sacks of yams and plantains on the next one,...sweet dreams!!

Meeting with COFTA...

During my short visit to kenya I managed to pay a short visit to COFTA, co operation for fair trade in Africa, to discuss with secretariat office how eShopAfrica would like to get involved in mobilizing more members from the western part of the continent to join COFTA. Hilda, membership officer explained the role played with COFTA as a network of fair trade producer organization involved and working with artisans to eleminate poverty through fair trade.

Joan, the regional director for Africa was busy in a meeting, nevertheless she warmly welcomed my visit.

I am looking forward to see change in the livlihood of African artisans through parntership and advocacy for fair trade.

Kawther's visit to Kazuri beads factory in kenya

Last month I was able to visit kasuri beads factory in Kenya. I was really impressed . I watched the whole process from making slabs of clay, then weghing clay pieces according to beads size,shaping each single bead by hand, baking, glazing, stringing and finally into a beautiful necklace,earing or a bracelet.
The factory acts as a social gathering with the hum of voices continuing throughout the day, the atmosphere is friendly and there was a smile on everybody's face. This factory provides employment opportunities for 350 disadvantaged members of Kenyan Society. What a great job!!!

International Womens day!!

Hi Women of the world..
congrats for the acheivements we had since the beginning of last century..that was great...but not the end of the line, there is still more to do...Poverty the world's poorest people are women. Health millions of women die during pregnancy or at giving birth in developing world. Slavery still women are discovered in domestic slavery every year. Sexual violence and forced marriages still prevails.
Let us make sure that the UN theme for this year "Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all" should acheive its goals..it is our duty to make it happen..Yes we will ...

Gallery: Out and About: Ghana Bead Society..a lot to learn about beads!

GBS meets at the W.E. DuBois Center in Cantonments/Accra on the first Friday of every month from 2pm-3:30pm.We meet to discuss all aspects
of beads..history,importance, production….etc .

Bead & Brass
producers as well as traders come & present their products for sale on those days.

We are looking forward to our next meeting in September.................

Gallery: Out & About: Kawther El Obeid goes to SIAO Burkina Faso

Held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou--better known by its French name as SIAO (Le Salon International de L Artisanat de Ouagadougou) is one of Africa's most important trade shows for art and handicrafts.  In 2008 Kawther El Obeid, one of eShopAfrica's Founding Partners went along. See her pictures below: 

Pictures:  Kawther El Obeid, eShopAfrica.com 2008

Find out more about SIAO, the International arts and crafts fair in Burkina Faso:   

SIAO
01 BP 3414 Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso

Tel (00226) 50 37 32 56/57
Email sgp@siao.bf
Website www.siao.bf

Gallery: Out & About: Osu Streets

Osu streets - our neighbourhood

eShopAfrica's office is in Osu one of the main shopping areas in Accra, the capital of Ghana. One day we took our camera out so you could see what our neighbourhood looks like.

This is an average day in Osu High Street known as Oxford Street in honour of its shopping. The traffic's usually pretty bad...

 

 

 You can find pretty much anything you're looking for in Osu... take this fine display of plastics

 

 

Although there are bad traffic jams, they're interactive. While you're waiting you never know what you might be able to buy. In the background you can see Frankie's hotel, restaurant, patisserie and ice cream parlour, a popular place to hang out.

While you're waiting in the traffic you might decide you need a new car seat, or an inflatable globe, or an electric hair clipper, or a duster - the choice is yours!
   

 

If you didn't like the plastics... how about a pair of trainers from the shop next door?

 There's always some eye catching street art to look at too like this hand painted advertisment for Club Beer... makes you thirsty just to look at it!

   
 

It's not only cars in the traffic... these goats are on their way to an important appointment and are causing a bit of a goat-jam. All part of day to day life
    

The traffic jams can last for hours... but it's OK. If you get hungry or thirsty someone will come along with something to eat or drink like the lady with the blue bowl on her head who's selling iced water.
    

And because it's West Africa colour isn't far away like this beautiful bougainvillea that's thriving despite the traffic fumes.

   
 

 

So it's goodbye from Osu... the traffic still isn't moving but we love it anyway!