Last year Vodaphone took over Ghana Telecom. We had seen the headlines in newspapers about this takeover and local people were clearly hoping that this would mean that an improved service.
Over the months we have not seen any improvement in the service – both telephone and internet services continue to be the same - sporadically good but most of the time appalling. The only big difference noticed so far is that Ghana is turning “red”! This is not Ghana turning “red” politically and if you read on you will understand what I mean.
The takeover happened on a Friday and the next day when we went walking into town, and by the main Ghana Telecom building saw a few red umbrellas with Vodaphone logo on it. I said to Michael that although it is early days there is no sign of improvement in service but the umbrellas are here to show that the big multinational Vodaphone is here.
Within a few months we saw not only more red umbrellas appearing everywhere in Ghana but
also buildings being painted red. Previously, there were numerous buildings painted yellow – MTN colours. Now this was being taken over by this bright offensive red buildings. What I could not understand was that even old colonial buildings were being painted red. One person said that it is getting your shop or house painted without any cost to you so you go for it. So for the locals it is a pragmatic approach with no thought being given to them advertising for the multinationals for free.
Another big surprise was seeing Vodaphone t-shirts and hats at funerals. One of my blog entries last year was about the importance of funerals in Ghana and that people wear red, shirts, scarves and headdress, for funerals. The pragmatic Ghanaian has again seen the freebees as benefiting them. So now instead of seeing traditional red dresses and scarves and headdresses, we see Vodaphone red everywhere on Fridays, the funeral procession day.Now, we get welcomed into towns and villages not only by Tigo (another telecom company) but also by Vodaphone within a few meters of each other
Over the months we have not seen any improvement in the service – both telephone and internet services continue to be the same - sporadically good but most of the time appalling. The only big difference noticed so far is that Ghana is turning “red”! This is not Ghana turning “red” politically and if you read on you will understand what I mean.
The takeover happened on a Friday and the next day when we went walking into town, and by the main Ghana Telecom building saw a few red umbrellas with Vodaphone logo on it. I said to Michael that although it is early days there is no sign of improvement in service but the umbrellas are here to show that the big multinational Vodaphone is here.
Within a few months we saw not only more red umbrellas appearing everywhere in Ghana but
also buildings being painted red. Previously, there were numerous buildings painted yellow – MTN colours. Now this was being taken over by this bright offensive red buildings. What I could not understand was that even old colonial buildings were being painted red. One person said that it is getting your shop or house painted without any cost to you so you go for it. So for the locals it is a pragmatic approach with no thought being given to them advertising for the multinationals for free.
Another big surprise was seeing Vodaphone t-shirts and hats at funerals. One of my blog entries last year was about the importance of funerals in Ghana and that people wear red, shirts, scarves and headdress, for funerals. The pragmatic Ghanaian has again seen the freebees as benefiting them. So now instead of seeing traditional red dresses and scarves and headdresses, we see Vodaphone red everywhere on Fridays, the funeral procession day.Now, we get welcomed into towns and villages not only by Tigo (another telecom company) but also by Vodaphone within a few meters of each other
3 comments:
Dear Michael and Kiran
hope you are alright in Ghana. Are you having a good time? Is it difficult driving car?
In the photo there are lots of people and lots of boats. Have you had a ride onone of the boats. from ROHAN XX
commercials on funerals?!
this kind of advertising is topping it all.
best wishes
jan.
Dear Rohan, Unfortunately no rides on boats for us!! Thanks for looking at the blog. Miss you all. Love, Michael and Kiran
Dear Jan, yes unbelievable but people are practical so ...
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