Trotro Wisdom and other Ghanaian things

August 6, 2021

In Ghana and other countries of the Africa West Area, the most common means of public transit are privately owned vans.  Each has a yellow stripe around it.  The stripe is an indication that the van is licensed by the government to be a public transit vehicle.  The van is called a "trotro" in Ghana, pronounced "troe troe".

They were noticeable from the day we arrived.  The driver does his thing while his "mate" hangs out the shotgun window as far as he can or the sliding door and waves people down offering rides.  It is a great team approach to entice people to ride.  The idea is to cram as many people as you can into van.  I avoid the right lane while driving down the major roads in Ghana because the trotros are pulling off into these specially carved out parking stops in the road, picking up people and then quickly getting up a head of steam to re-enter the right lane and head off to the next trotro stop.  Look out for that merging trotro!  The driver, with apparent authority, waves his arm out the window indicating "I am coming into this lane so move out of my way!"

This trotro was on a country road near Lake Bosomtwe.  And a Mercedes at that!

Thousands of people travel the streets every day.  Some trotros will take longhaul trips to outer cities that take hours to get there.  Being crammed in a trotro for a short city ride is one thing, then riding for hours in one in unthinkable almost.  It is not uncommon to see a van pulled off the road with the former passengers gathered around looking around for another ride because their trotro just had a breakdown. 

The trotros will have something written on the back window, usually a scripture of religious saying.  A friend of ours, Brent Belnap who was the Area Legal Counsel, accumulated these sayings and sent them around to all the senior missionaries and friends before leaving the country for Salt Lake City and another assignment.  He is a Church employee and a great guy with a great family.  He also added to the list familiar things we have all learned to appreciate while serving and living here.  

I know these will bring back memories when I read them in the future.  Here they are.

Dear All:

 

Here is the Final Edition of our family’s list of “Trotro Wisdom” sayings—those little phrases on the backs, and sometimes fronts, of trotros, taxis, buses, trucks, etc., we see while traveling about.  Although the list was originally meant to capture only religious Trotro Wisdoms, it has expanded to include many others.  Unfortunately, the list does not include Trotro Wisdoms written in Twi, for which I don’t have the correct alphabet fonts.  After three years, the list of Trotro Wisdoms has grown to some 900 (!) entries, including scriptural references.

 

We have also tried to capture other unique Ghana-isms and cultural matters (many of which are not unique to Ghana but are found across West Africa), although not as faithfully or thoroughly.  Besides Trotro Wisdoms, other items listed further below include (in this order):

• Ghana Business Names
• Billboard/Advertising Signs
• Nigeria Church Names
• Ghana Boat Names
• Ghana Funeral Notice Headers
• Street Names
• Personal Names—Male
• Personal Names—Female
• Common Ghanaian Phrases
• Unique Prayer Phrases
• Ghana Driving Hand Signals
• Music Titles
• Random/Daily Life Items to Remember (there are so many more items that could be listed here; this category is for those ubiquitous everyday things that probably don’t make it into our journals)
• Restaurants/Food Places
• Ghanaian Foods/Staples
• Plants/Common Flora

 

We hope you find enjoyment (and even some humor) in this parting gift from our family.  Thank you for a wonderful shared time together in West Africa.  We love you and we will miss you!

 

Kind regards,

The Belnaps—Brent, Lorinda, Rebecca, and Nathan (and our other children who have been so supportive while we were far away)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GHANA “TROTRO WISDOM” PHRASES (including sayings posted on taxis and buses, and some others from other West African countries):

2Much

Ablaze . . . . . For God

Action Man

Adore Your Maker

Advice Your Self [sic]

After Church

After Sunday What Happens To Our Christian Life

All Eyes

All For “J”

All For God

All Power Belongs To Jesus

All Shall Pass

All That You Need Is Jesus

All The Time God is Good

Allah Is 1

Allah Is Great

Allah Is The Almighty

Allah Is The Reason

Allmighty [spelled with 2 l's]

Almighty

Almighty God

Almighty Is My Infinite Source

Alpha And Omega

Always Give Thanks To God

Am Blessed

Amazing

Amazing Grace

Amen

And Let Them Know That Jesus Is Alive

Angels On Board

Angels On Guard

Annointing [misspelled]

Anointed Child                          

Anointing

Anointing By The Spirit

Apostolic Nyame

Apple of God’s Eye

Appointed Time

Are U God?

Are You God!!

Are You God?

As If But Not

Ask God

Ask Me

Ask Seek Knock

Baby Face

Back 2 Sender

Back To Sender

Be A Good Father

Be Bold

Be Gentle

Be Humble

Be Kind And Simple

Becareful [sic]

Because Of Heaven

Because Of Money

Beginning Of Creation

Behold God Is My Helper

Behold God’s My Helper

Behold I Make All Things New

Believe In God

Believers

Be Side The Still Waters [sic]

Bethel Nyame

Better Days Ahead

Better Judge Yourself

Beware Of Friends And Still Trust God

Beware Of Friends And Still Trust God And Not Man

Bible 1

Big Boss

Big Brain

Blameless Success

Blessing

Blessings

Boys Boys

Bread Of Heaven

Brightening

Bro. Hustle

Brother

But They That Wait

By Faith

By God

By Grace

By His Grace

By The Grace

By The Power of God

Carry On

Change Lesson

Children’s Father (YHWH)

Choir Master His Mercy Endures Forever

Choo Ze Wite [sic]

Christ In You

Christ Is King

Christ Is The Answer

Christ Makes The Difference

Christ Our Anchor

Christ The King

Clap For Jesus

Clean Heart [Sierra Leone]

Come To Jesus

Confidence

Consider Your Ways

Cool Your Temper

Craft Man

Curiosity

Defend Us In Battle

Delight Yourself In The Lord

Deliver Me Oh God

Dependable God

Dependerble [sic] God

Determination

Did You Pray Today?

Dirty Enviness [sic]

Discipline

Discipline Soldier

Divine Favour

Divine Fruitfulness

Divine Grace

Divine Power!

Divine Protection

Do For Love

Do Good

Do The Do

Do The Right Thing

Doctor Jesus [also Dr. Jesus]

Don Chi Chi 1

Don’t Give Up

Don’t Rush

Don’t Rush In Life

Don’t Tell Them Let Them See For Themself [sic] [Sierra Leone]

Don’t Try Psalm 35

Don’t Worry Try Jesus

Dont Het Me [sic] [Sierra Leone]

Dream Big

Dry Bones

Ebenezer

Elder

El-Shadai

El Shaddai

Elevating

Elo-him

Emmanuel

Enemies Are Not God

Enjoy Your Comfort

Enough Is Enough

Envy No Man

Eternal Rest

Even Jesus

Every Thing By God [sic]

Everything By God

Executive

Exceeding Grace

Except The Lord

Excuse Me! Did You Pray This Morning?

Eye Adom

Faith

Faith Is Power

Family Man

Father Forgive

Father Forgive Them

Father Lehi

Father’s Blessing [Sierra Leone]

Favour Of God

Favoured Of God

Fear God And Do Right

Fear God Not Them

Fear Judgement Day [Sierra Leone]

Fear No Foe [on Ghanaian Armed Forces bus]

Fear Not

Fear Woman

Fear Woman and Save Your Life

Feel Free

Feeling Brother

Fight A Good Fight

Fight For Me Lord

Finger Of God

Flourishing

For Christ

For Give [sic]

For God

Forgive

Forgive Them

Forgiveness Heals

Free Man

Fresh Anointing

Friends Today

Future Is Unknown

Get Rich Or Die Trying [Sierra Leone]

Give Back To Sender

Give It To God

Give Thank’s [sic]

Give Thanks To God

Give Time For Life

Give Your Heart To Jesus

Givers Never Lack

Glorify

Glory Be To Allah

Glory Be To God

Go To Church

God And I

God Bless

God Bless D’ Owner [sic]

God Bless Daddy Joseph & Daddy Prince

God Bless Islam [Sierra Leone]

God Bless Me

God Bless Mr And Mrs Mansaray [Sierra Leone]

God Bless My Boss [Sierra Leone]

God Bless My Mum [Sierra Leone]

God Bless Ragee [i.e., Reggae]

God Bless The Owner [Sierra Leone]

God Bless To Enemies

God Bless ‘U’

God Bless You

God Can Bless Anybody [Sierra Leone]

God Delicious

God Dey

God Fire

God First

God Has Spoken

God Is Able

God Is Alive

God Is Faithful

God Is God

God Is God Trust Him

God Is Good

God Is Good / Think About God

God Is Great

God Is In Control

God Is King

God Is Love

God Is My Helper

God Is My Judge

God Is My Keeper

God Is My Secret

God Is One

God Is The Giver

God Is The Greatest

God Is Watching

God Is With Us

God Meets His People At The Point Of Need

God Never Change [sic]

God Never Deceive [sic]

God Never Fails

God Never Loses

God Never Lost

God Never Sleep [sic]

God Nor Go Shame Us [sic] [Sierra Leone]

God Of Daniel

God Of Miracle [sic]

God Of Unity

God Of Wonders

God Over Everything!!! [Sierra Leone]

God Protect Me And My Passengers [Sierra Leone]

God Say

God Says Break Through

God We Trust

God Will Take Care Of You

God Time

God’s Ally

God’s Favor

God’s Gift

Gods Gracious [sic]

God’s Light

God’s The Boss

God’s Time Is Best No Hurry

God’s Time Is The Best REPENT

God’s Way

God’s Time

God's Time Is The Best

God’s Written Is Written

Going to Jesus

Good Boss

Good Boy

Good Brother

Good Father

Good God

Good Luck

Good Master

Good Morning

Good Morning Holy Spirit

Good Name

Good Name Is Better Than Riches

Good Never Lost [sic]

Good Parents

Good Wife

Goodness and Blessings

Grace

Grace And Glory

Grace Found Me [Sierra Leone]

Grace Has Found Us

Great God

Great God Of Wonders

Great Is Jehovah

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great Things Take Time

Great Thy Faithfulness

Greater He Will Do

Guide Me Lord

Hahahaha

Halleluyah [sic]

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Hand of God

Happy Boy

Happy Sabbath

Hardwork [sic]

Have Faith

Have Faith In God

Have Faith Obey Spirits

He Is Risen

He Lives In Me

He! Knows Why

Heaven Gate No Bribe [sic]

Heaven Must Speak

Heaven’s Gate—No Bribe

Hebrews 11:1 Faith

Help Me God

High Grade

His Car, Not Mine (My Lord)

His Majesty

Holy 1

Holy Boy

Holy Ghost And Empowerment

Holy Ghost Fire

Holy Ghost Fire In Jesus Name

Holy Jesus

Home Boy

Home Hard Help Your Brother [sic]

Honesty

Hope

Hope Of Glory

Hour Of Grace

Humble

Humble Lion

Humble Thy Self [sic]

Humble Thyself

I Am That I Am

I Beg God

I Believe God

I Believe In God

I Have God

I Know My Level

I Like It

I Love

I No Go Forget “U” [sic]

I No Go Forget You [sic]

I See You

I Shall Overturn

I Thank God

I Watch Over My Word

Ice Prince

If Any Man Be In Christ He Is In A New World

If Any Of Ye Lack Wisdom Let Him Ask of God

If Not, Jesus

If God Say Yes? [sic]

If God Says Yes . . .

If The Lord Had Not Been On Our Side

I'm An Example Of Christ

In All Things Give Thanks to God

In God We Trust

In Him Is Life

In His Time

In Jesus Name [sic]

In Life Anything Can Happen [Sierra Leone]

In The Name Of Jesus

Inlaw

Innocent

Is God

It Is By The Grace Of God

It Is God

It Is Over

It Is Possible

It Is Well

It Is Written

It Shall Be Well

It Shall Be Well, Amen

It’s A Lesson

It’s All About Jesus Alone

It’s God

It’s God. Think Of Tomorrow

It’s The Lord’s Doing

Jah Bless

Jah Over Dem

Jehovah

Jehovah Is The Final Say

Jehovah Thy Will Be Done

Jehovas Day

Jesus

Jesus Christ—Exalted King of Kings

Jesus Christ Is My Best Friend

Jesus I Know

Jesus I Trust In U!

Jesus Is All And All

Jesus Is Coming Soon

Jesus Is In Perfect Control [Sierra Leone]

Jesus Is Life Choose Life

Jesus Is Lord

Jesus Is My Rock

Jesus Is My Savior

Jesus Is My Savior / I Love My Wife

Jesus Is The Messenger Of God

Jesus Is The Solution

Jesus Is Wonderful

Jesus Loves You But I’m His Favorite

Jesus Never Lie

Jesus No Size [sic]

Jesus Power

Jesus Promise

Jesus Saves

Jesus Trotro

Judah Lion

Judge Not

Judgement [sic]

Judgement Day [sic]

Judges

Judgment Day

Just Be Patient

Just One Day

Keep Cool

Keep On Praying

Keep Praying

King David

King Jesus

King Of Kings

Lamp Of God

Land Lord [sic]

Last Minute God

Le Sang de Jesus

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Learn To Do Good

Let God Arise

Let God Be God

Let Love Lead

Let My People Go

Let The Blood Of Jesus Christ Speak For You Today

Let Them Say

Let Them Say One Day One Day

Let There Be Light

Let Us Pray

Let's Glorify God

Life And Salvation

Life Be No Race

Life Is How You Make It

Life Is How You Make It E BE SO [sic]

Life Is Not A Race

Life Is Not Competition

Life Is School / Rely on God

Life Is War

Light Is Light

Lion Of Judah

Lion On The Road

Live With Christ

Living God

Living Waters

Long Life

Long Story

Look Down

Look Unto God

Looking Unto Jesus

Lord Of Host [sic]

Lord Of Mercy

Love For All Hate For None

Love For All Hatred For None

Love Is A Service

Love Like Jesus

Love Me

Love Your Friends But Don’t Trust Them

Lovely

Lucky Boy

Lucky Step

Lucky Wife

Make Monney Not Friends [sic]

Man Is Not God [with “Awaga”]

Man No Be God [sic]

Man Of Integrity

Marvelous God

May God Bless You

Merciful God

Messiah

Ministering

Miracle

More Blessed

More Blessing

More Life

More Time

Mothers [sic] Love

Mount Zion

My Adonai

My Enemies Are Not God

My God

My God Reigns

My Happiness

My Jesus

My Lord And I

My Lord Is Able

My Mother’s Faith

My Redeemer Lives

My Savior Is Alive

My Spirit Will Magnify The Lord And My Soul Will Praise His Name

Naked I Came

Near To God

Never

Never Again

Never Forget The Judgment Day

Never Give Up

Never Loose Hope [sic]

Never Loss Hope [sic]

Never Mind I Am That I Am

Next Time

No Controversy

No Food for Lazy Man

No Helper Than God

No Hurry In Life

No Jealous [sic]

No Jesus No Life

No Mistake No Correction

No Night In Zion

No Pain No Gain [Ghana/Sierra Leone]

No Problem

No Shaking

No Size 1

No Story

No Truth In The World

No Weapon

No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper

No Weapon Only God

Not As You Think

Not By Might

Not Me By God

Not My Power

Nothing Good Comes Easy

Nothing Is Above Jesus

Nothing Late

Nothing Pass God [sic]

Nyame Believer

Nyame Kye

Nyame Ye

Obedient

Obey

Observers

Oh Braa!!

Oh! Everlasting Father

Oh Jesus

Oh Lord Thank You

Oh Yes!!!

OK Life Is Stressful

Omega

One Blood

One By All

One Day One Day

One God

One God One Judge

One Lord One Faith

One Mother

One Name Jesus Christ

Only Believe

Only God

Only God Can Change Destiny

Only God Knows

Only God Saves [Sierra Leone]

Only God Still Big G

Only Jah

Only Jesus

Only Jesus Can Save

Only Prayers

Onyame Nkaaba

Open The Gate

Open Your Heart

Our Father

Our God Is Faithful

Our God Is Great

Ownership Is God

Pardon Me

Patience Pass All [sic]

Pay Your Tithe

Peace 1

Peace And Love

Peace Be Unto You

Peace Maker

Pentecost Fire

People Are Talking

Perseverance

Please!!

Position Is Not Possession

Power Belongs To God

Power Of Praise

Power Of Worship

Powerful Jesus

Praise

Praise God

Praise The Lord

Pray For Life

Pray Is The Key [sic] [Sierra Leone]

Pray Without Ceasing

Prayer Changes Situation

Prayer Is The Key

Preach The Word

Prestige

Proud Mary

Put God Fos [sic] [Sierra Leone]

Put On Me

Quiet, I Have God

Rapture! Jesus Is Coming Very Soon

Ready And Willing

Rejected Stone

Rely On Allah

Remain In The Anointing

Remember

Remember Jesus Loves You

Remember Ur Creator

Remember Your Creator

Remember Your God

Repent And Be Saved

Repent Jesus Is Coming

Repent N Be Save [sic]

Rescue The Perishing

Respect

Respect Jehovah

Respect What U Have

Respect Your Work

Resurrection Power

Revived Through Prayer

Righteous

Royal Mummy

Sacred Mother I Will Never Forget You

Salvation Is In No Other But Jesus Christ

Save Me Oh God

Saved To Serve

Saviour

Say Jesus

Say Your Prayer [sic]

Seeing Is Believing

Serious

Shalom

Short Ways Are Dangerous

Show Boy

Show Love

Showers Of Blessing From Allah

Simple Man

Smart Boy

Smile Africa

So Nice

Son Of God

Son Of Peace

Soon Time

Sooner Or Later

Spirit

Star Boy

Stay Bless [sic]

Step By Step

Still

Still Akokoa

Still Alpha

Still Ask God

Still Be Serious

Still Be Wise

Still Believe In God

Still Christ Makes The Difference

Still Cool Brother / Fire / Psalm 35:1

Still Destiny

Still Do Good

Still Enemies Are Not God

Still Faith

Still Fear Not

Still Give God Your Best

Still God Dey

Still God First

Still God Is Good

Still God Is In Control

Still God’s Favour

Still Good Brother

Still Good Master

Still Great God

Still He Never Fails

Still Holy

Still I Beg God

Still I Believe in God

Still I Can Do

Still I Never Knew

Still Innocent

Still It Is Well

Still Jah Guard Me

Still King Jah Jah

Still Living Hope

Still Lucky Boy

Still Machine

Still Master Jesus

Still More Blessing

Still Mpaebo

Still My God Reigns

Still Never Give Up

Still No Shaking 1

Still Not By Power

Still One Lord

Still Peace And Love

Still Pioneer

Still Pray

Still Psalm 41

Still Repent

Still Serious

Still Service

Still Star Boy

Still The Same People

Still The Same Story

Still Think Twice

Still Time Changes

Still To Be

Still Travel And See

Still Victory

Still Watch Out

Still Worry Not

Still You Lie Bad

Strong And Long Life

Success

Such Is Life

Sunny Day

Sweet Joy Always

Sweet Mother [also seen next to Our Father]

Teamwork

Tell Them And Let Them Know Jesus Is Alive

Tell Them The Truth

Testimony

Thank U Jesus

Thank ‘U’ My Lord

Thank You Father

Thank You Jesus

Thank You Lord

That Same Jesus

That's My King [picture of Jesus]

The Ark

The Battle Is The Lord's

The Bible

The Blood Of Jesus

The Bread

The Day

The Devil Is A Liar

The Eagle Has Landed [Sierra Leone]

The Early Bird

The Evil That Men Do Lives After Them

The Finger Of God

The Good Shepherd

The House Of God

The Lion Of Judah

The Lord Reigns

The Lord Is Doing

The Lord Is My Light

The Love of God

The Perfect Soldier

The Rejected Stone

The Rock

The Rock of Zion

The Same People

The Secrete Of My Joy Is Jesus [sic]

The Temple of God

The Truth

The Truth Is One

The Utmost Definition For Life Is Christ..! Do You Know Him?

The Wicked Must Die

The Young Shall Grow

There Is Hope In God

There’s Only One God

They Act as Lovers

They Say

Think About Your Future

Think About Your Future / Leave Me Alone Chale Chale

Think Twice

This Boy

Through Christ

Through Tithes Still Blessings

Thy Grace

Thy Will

Thy Will Be Done

Time Changes

Time No Dey!

Time Up Jesus Never Fails

Time Will Tell

To Be A Man . . .

To Be A Man Is Not A Day Job

To Be A Man Is Not Easy

To God Be The Glory [Ghana/Sierra Leone]

Together As One

Together We Can Build

Tomorrow By This Time . . .

Tomorrow Is A Mystery

Top Man

True God

True God. Good Master

Trust God Only

Trust And Obey

Trust In God

Trust In The Lord

Trust Jehovah

Trust Me

Trust No One

Try Islam

Two Things

U + Jesus = Enough

U Bless

Unbeatable Jesus

Unless God

Unprecedented God

Use The Brain

Use What You Have

Value What You Have

Veritas!

Victory

Vote For Jesus

Watch And Pray

Water Of Life For All Nations

We Thank God [mud flaps]

We Trust In God [Sierra Leone]

We Walk By Faith

Well Done

What A God

What Is Written Is Written

What Says The Scripture?

What's On?

Where Is Love Today

Who Be You?

Who Is Free?

Who Is Free On Judgement Day [sic]

Who Ja Bless

Who Jah Bless

Who Knows Tomorrow

Why Some People Wicked So [sic]

Why Worry When You Can Pray [Liberia]

Wipe Your Fears

Wipe Yours Tears

Wisdom Thee

With God

With God All Things Are Possible

With God Charity

Wonderful Jesus

Wonders

Yaweh Is My King [sic]

Yes! He Is God

Yes I Am Yes You Are

Yes Lord Man Is Not God

Yes My Lord

Yes, God Is Good

Yesu Dea

You Are The Living God

You Can Make It

You Can’t Blame The Youth

You Can’t Understand Me Except God

You Do For Your Self

You Don’t Know Tomorrow

You Lie Bad

You Thanks Jesus [sic]

You Will Never Walk Alone

Young Shall Grow

Your Reliable Power

Your Time Is Up!

Zero 2 Hero

 

 

GHANA TROTRO SCRIPTURES (when there are only scripture references; no other words):

Acts 5:16-31

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Exodus 14:14

Exodus 23:20-32

Galatians 2:10

Galatians 5:19-21

Genesis 12:3

Genesis 26:13

Genesis 28:15

Hanukkah 3 [sic]

Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 12:6

Isaiah 3:10-11

Isaiah 4:10-11

Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 41:8-13

Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10-13

Yesaia [sic] 49:15

Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 55:8

Jeremiah 32:27

Job 1:21

Joshua 24:14-15

Luke 10:19-20

Matthew 4:2

Matthew 6:33

1 Peter 5:5

Proverbs 6:6

Proverbs 30:10

Psalm 9:18

Psalm 20

Psalm 23

Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:7

Psalm 27

Psalm 34

Psalm 35

Psalm 35:1-3

Psalm 37:1-7

Psalm 37:5

Psalm 37:37

Psalm 91

Psalm 91:11

Psalm 92:1-14

Psalm 100

Psalm 109

Psalm 118:10

Psalm 121:1-2

Romans 8:31-39

 

 

GHANA BUSINESS NAMES:

Able God Workshop

Adonia Early Childhood Dev. Centre

Adonai Ventures

Aleluya [sic] Fruit Joint

Allah's Gift Electricals

Almighty Cold Store

Almighty Technologies

Am Blessed Phones

Anointed Hands Catering Services

Anointed Modern Day Ventures

Anointing Electrical Store

Ask God Hair & Nails

Ask God Investment

Be Honest Casket Centre

Be Humble Rolling Gate and Metal Works

Believer Service Center

Believers Guest House

Believers Media Production

Bless You Aluminum

Blessed Floral Home Services

Blessed Global Ventures

Blessed Laundry

Blessed Trinity Montessori School

Blesses Rental Services

Blessing Beauty Salon

Blessing Book Shop

Blessing Engineering Company

Blessing Metals and Engineering

Blessman Motors

Blood Of Jesus

Break and Enter Ministry

By God's Grace Chop Bar and Pastries

By God’s Power [shop]

By His Grace [auto repair]

Calvary Greatfields Montessori School

Canopy Of God Guest House

Christ Alone Cold Store

Christ In Me ________

Christ Is The Answer Boutique

Christ NTSI Metal Works

Christ Our Hope Ventures

D-Bless Ventures

Dandy Saviour Ent.

Delight Yourself in the Lord

Depend on the Lord Beauty Salon

Divine Destiny Smile and Shop

Divine Laundry

Divine Petroleum

Divine World Training & Repairs Center

Don’t Mind Your Wife Chop Bar

Emmanuel Electric Works

Emmanuel Vulcanizing Works

Enemies Are Not God. Mama Naadu’s Ent. [sic]

Exodus 14:14 [station]

Exodus 14:14 Beauty Salon

Experience God Vulcanizing Business

Faith Homeopathic Clinic

Faith In God Company Limited

Finger Of God [food stand]

Finger Of God Beauty Salon

Finger Of God Meat

Glorious Jesus Transport

Glory Be To God Food Joint And Bar

Glory Be To God Optical and Eye Care Service

Glory Hair Ventures

Glory Oil

God Can Do Enterprise

God First [food stand]

God First Barbering Salon

God First Beauty Salon

God First Beauty Saloon [sic]

God First Electricals

God First Engineering

God First Enterprise

God First Food Joint

God First Phone Repairs

God Is A Consuming Fire [street stand]

God Is Able Beaty Salon

God Is Able Building Materials

God Is Able Catering & Décor Services

God Is Able Cold Store

God Is Able Food Joint

God Is Able Metal Works

God Is Alive [food shop]

God Is Aware Ent.

God Is God

God Is Good Beauty Salon

God Is Good Fashion

God Is Good Furniture

God Is Good Gas [Ghana and Nigeria]

God Is Good Refrigeration Enterprise

God Is Great Boutique

God Is Great Doors House

God Is Great Food Services

God Is Great Kitchen

God Is Great Shop

God Is Great Value Enterprise

God Is In Control [shop]

God Is In Control Beauty Salon

God Is In Control Fashion Shop

God Is King Metal Works

God Is King Tailor Shop

God Is My Helper Fruit

God Is My Provider Fashion

God Is My Strength Cold Storage

God Is Real Rentals

God Is The Giver [shop]

God Is The Reason [shop]

God Never Sleeps Metal Works

God Of Bethel Fan Milk Agent

God Rules Internet Cafe

God Time Is The Best Ent. [sic]

God’s Answer Petroleum

God’s Blessing Curtain and Flower Deco

God’s Divine Design Drafting Center [Liberia]

God’s Gift Floral & Deco Training School

God’s Hand Enterprise

God’s Own Phone & Accessories

God’s Time Is The Best Beauty Salon

God’s Time Is The Best Hair Salon

God’s Time Is The Best Key Cutting Services

God’s Way Happy Corner Chop Bar

Gods Way Metal Works [sic]

Godly Favoured Eye Care Centre

Gods Favor [tiny food stand]

God’s Own Kids Salon

God’s Property Music Solutions

God's Star Aluminium Systems

God's Time Is The Best [shop]

God’s Time Is The Best Time Enterprises

God’s Way Guest House

God’s Way Happy Corner Chop Bar

God Will Provide Ventures

God With Us Cold Store

God With Us Enterprise

Good Books And Others [meaning so-so or “bad” books are also sold?]

Goodness And Mercy Mass Transit

Goodnews Forever Phones & Haircut

Gospel Van

Grandmum's Fingers Restaurant

Great Kings Electrical

Great Provider

Greater Grace Cold Store

Greater Grace Cold Store

Hand Of God Chop Bar

Have Faith Beauty Salon

Have Faith In Allah Fashion

Heavenly Father Furnitures

Heavenly Home Enterprise

Hebrews 13:8 [shop]

His Majesty Barbering Salon

His Presence Hotel

Holy Covenant Provision & Cold Store

Holy Ghost Telecom

Home Of Signs And Wonders [sign shop]

Honesty Upholstery

Hope For The Hopeless Guest House

Hope In Christ Ventures

Hotel Messiah: "A Glimpse of Heaven"

Hour of Grace Beauty Salon

I Wish For More Guest House

In God We Trust Carpentry

In God We Trust Tailoring Shop

In Him Is Life [hardware]

Innocent Blood Coldstore

Jah Bless Ent.

Jah Is My Driver [shop]

Jesus Beauty Salon

Jehovah Is My Refuge Agency

Jesus Furniture

Jesus Hands Alive Ventures

Jesus I Know Electrical

Jesus Is Evergreen Ltd.

Jesus Is In Me Fashion

Jesus I Know Electricals

Jesus Is Lord Fashion

Jesus Is My Savior Enterprise

Jesus Is The Answer Cold Store

Jesus My C.E.O. Plumbing Shop and Works

Jesus Trotro

Judgement [sic] Day Phones

Justice Store [so “justice” is now for sale?]

King Jesus Computer Classes

King Jesus Fast Food

King Of Kings Electrical Engineering

King Of Kings Engineering Service

King Of Kings Fast Food

Kingdom Beverages Ltd.

Knowledge of Hope Books and Stationery

Lord Of Mercy Salon

Lord’s Triumph Enterprise

Love Divine International School

Manna Heights [apartment building]

Merciful God Beauty Salon

Merciful God Vulcanizing

Ministry of Borehole Ltd.—Water Is Life

Mount Of Olives Guest House

Mummies Wanted [advertisement for nanny care] [Nigeria]

My God Is Consuming Fire

My Redeemer Lives Beauty Salon

My Redeemer Liveth Fashion

My Saviour Lives Agro Chemical Shop

Never Mind Just Victory Cement

New Jerusalem

No Jesus No Beauty Salon

No Weapon Food Joint

Not My Ways Salon

Nothing Pass God Cold Store

Nyame Ndae Carpentary [sic] Shop

Nyame Safo Motors

Only God Enterprise

Only God Plumbing Shop

Only God Ventures

Our Lord Is Good Business Center [Liberia]

P of Peace Ventures

Peace And Justice Fitting Shop

Peace And Love [roadside shop]

Peace Be With You Key Cutting Service

Praise God Machine

Psalm 121 [shop]

Queen Esther International School

Redeemer Barbering Salon

Rock Of Ages Beauty Parlour

Royal Good Shepherd Hospital

Royal Majesty College

St. John Of God Clinic

Salvation Automobile Service Center

Shiloh Rods Ent.

Six Feet Funeral Mortician [Nigeria]

Solomon’s Brain [name of school]

Still God First Ent.

Still Jesus Is Mine [food stand]

Thank God Beauty Salon

Thank ‘U’ Jesus Barbering Studio

Thank You Jesus Bicycle Shop

The Blood Of Jesus Fashion

The Favour Of God Welding and Fabrication

The Hand Of God Ent.

The Hand Of God Pump Specialist

The Jesus Company

The Judgement Day [sic]

The Light Of God Never Fails Bread

The Lord Is My Shepherd Special Food Joint

The Lord Is My Shepherd Tires

The Lord Is My Shepherd Tires Doctor

The Lord Is One Beauty Salon

The Walking Egg Medical & Fertility Center

Thy Grace Local [food shop]

Thy Will Be Done Licensed Chemical Shop Corporation

Thy Will Be Done Special Foods

Thy Will Biofil Professionals

Thy Will Bread Joint

To God Be The Glory [shop]

To God Be The Glory Brake Bands & Clutch Service

True Faith Aluminum

True God Motors

Trust God [food shop]

Trust Jesus Salon

Trust in God Beauty Salon

Trust in God Guest House

Very Good Wife Ent.

Wait Upon the Lord Ventures

Walk By Faith (chemicals??)

Well Dressed Drivers Association Ghana

White Temple Agencies Ltd.

Who Jah Bless No One Curse Barbering Shop

Why Worry Ventures

With God All Things Are Possible [small shop]

With God All Things Are Possible Beauty Salon

Worship God Motors Limited

Yesu Adom Fitting

Yesu Ayebi Food Joint

Yesu Dea Cold Store

 

 

BILLBOARD/ADVERTISING SIGNS:

De-Luxy brand signs

“KNOw Jesus KNOw Life”

“Land Not For Sale” signs

“Overspeeding Kills” [because merely “speeding” doesn’t?]

“Safe Journey” signs

“Save Water, Drink Wine”

“To Let” signs

We All Go Paint Some (meaning “let’s go paint”)

2 Moorch Data (meaning “a lot of data”, not “too much”)

 

 

NIGERIA CHURCH NAMES:

The Eternal Order Of The Cherubim And Seraphim

 

 

GHANA BOAT NAMES:

Nyame N'Adom

Psalm 27

 

 

GHANA FUNERAL NOTICE HEADERS:

A Life Well Lived

At Rest

Call To Eternal Glory

Call To Eternity

Call To Glory

Call To Rest

Called To Rest

Celebration Of Life

Forever In Our Hearts

Funeral And Burial Of . . . .

Glorious Home Call

Gone Too Soon

Home Call

Home Calling

In Loving Memory [of the Late . . .]

Life Well Lived

Obituary

Painful Exit

Rest In The Lord

Royal Demise Of The Late . . .

Royal Home Call

Royal Journey

Sudden Call

The Final Funeral Rites

Transition

Transition Of Life

Up In Glory

What A Shock

 

 

STREET NAMES

Low Cost Street

 

 

PERSONAL NAMES—MALE (Ghana, Nigeria, etc.):

Allswell

Apostle

Bless

Bright

Confidence

Glory

Godbless

Godknows Bestman

Godwin

Jewel

Kingdom

Loveday

Obedient

Precious

Prince

Prophet

Prosper

Prosperous

Sunday

Temple [including Church Temple employee in Nigeria who committed fraud]

Thankgod

 

 

PERSONAL NAMES—FEMALE:

Comfort

Gifty

Godslove

Patience

Precious

Princess

Rejoice

 

 

COMMON GHANAIAN PHRASES:

“Akwaabah” (“Welcome” as in greeting and “You Are Welcome”)

“Are you fine?” (way of asking “How are you?”)

“Auntie” (pronounced the U.S. East Coast way; used to refer to older woman as a sign of respect)

“Grandma” (term used to refer to elderly woman as a sign of respect)

“I am very enjoy it” (meaning “I enjoy it very much”)

“I am fine” (common response to the question “How are you?”; asked “Are you fine?”)

“I have much ____” (using “much” instead of “many”)

“Safe journey”

“Small small” (meaning “little” or “tiny”)

“Yes, Boss”

“Yes, Ma’am”

“Yes, Mum”

“Yes, please”

"Yes, Sir"

“You are welcome” (more than a response to simple “thank you”; also means “welcome” to this place”)

At Church:  congregational response to “good morning” from speaker is “good morning” (also, noticeable pause between singing of hymn verses)

 

 

UNIQUE PRAYER PHRASES:

“We are so much grateful unto Thee for . . . .”

“We are grateful for being accounted among the living today.”

 

 

GHANA DRIVING HAND SIGNALS:

Motion to pass/continue on/move around

Hand vertical—I’m stopping here

Splayed fingers: stop—I’m cutting in

 

 

MUSIC TITLES:

“Aketekyiwa” by Nana Tuffour

“Angela” by Kidi

 

 

RANDOM/DAILY LIFE ITEMS TO REMEMBER:

Home/Temple Complex/ Neighborhood:

View of Angel Moroni atop Accra Temple from our kitchen window

Live lizards inside our home

Tiled floors and thick brick walls

African decorations purchased from the DuBois market and other locations

Temple lit up at night

Senior missionary apartments at Beaufort Ridge and Alima Court

 

People/Street Life:

Sellers on the roadside with loads on their heads

People dressed in red and black or in white attending Saturday funerals

Angry stares from Muslim women

Motorcycles heading the wrong way and going through stop lights

Overloaded trucks

Chuckholes—everywhere and as deep as they come

Deep gutters

Tons of trash

Burning trash piles

Roadside stands

Roadside trotro stops

Speed bumps—frequent and high, made of cement or packed red dirt

People rolling small handcarts selling goods (some in glass boxes)

People walking on the roadside

Stark naked people walking on the roadside

Corrugated metal roof houses

Elaborately carved coffins

Urinating on the side of the road—or just about anywhere

“Do Not Urinate Here” signs

De-Luxy paint advertisement signs

Piles of sand and rock dumped on lots awaiting construction or indicating ownership/possession

Non-completed/half-built buildings

Goil and Total gas stations

Police road checkpoints—and requests for bribes

Indomie noodle signs

Ceiling fans

Hand sanitizer stands; handwashing basins

“To Let” signs (we initially thought the signs were supposed to say “toilet” but with a missing letter “I”)

Bulls with huge horns

Three-wheeled carts

Zongo settlements—migrant shanty towns (such as Nima)

 

Market Items/Crafts/Goods:

Variety of goods for sale carried by people (mostly women) often on their heads standing or walking on the roadside—a veritable grocery store or WalMart:

• stacks of fruits and vegetables
• fruit juices
• dripping cold water bottles
• water pouches/sachets
• FanMilk ice cream
• laundry detergent
• toilet paper
• Ghanaian maps
• neatly stacked trays of unshelled peanuts on women’s heads
• cassava tubers--huge
• mobile phone cases
• socks
• plantain chips (in assorted shades/colors indicating sweetness)
• sunglasses
• hats stacked on heads
• machetes
• inflatable swimming pools
• etc., etc., etc.

Furniture for sale on the roadside:

• bed frames
• chairs
• dressers
• closets/armoirs
• coffee tables
• oversized sofas
• wicker furniture

Roadside plant nurseries

Roadside ceramic pots/pottery—terracotta, painted

Roadside cement pavers, cement structural pillars

Baskets:  plain, natural and synthetic dyed fibers, fluted necks, leather-handled, etc.

Fabric/cloth:  available in endless designs and colors

Clothing/sewn items:  dresses, skirts, shirts, pillow covers, placemats, handheld fans, etc.

Jewelry:  glass beads, brass pendants, carved bone, etc.

Paintings:  black skinny silhouette figures, market scenes, villages, sunsets, etc.

Wood carvings:  masks, folding stools, chief stools, board games, wall plaques, bowls, animals, painted black Santas; carvings stained black, covered with thin sheets of metal, beaded, etc.

Drums, rattles, other musical instruments

Brass items:  ornaments, adinkra symbols, green patina female figurines, Nativity sets, etc.

Items covered with adinkra symbols (e.g., clothing, furniture, brass objects, etc.)

 

Nature:

Different flowering trees at distinct “seasons” of the year

Bright red flamboyant tree flowers

Baboons on roadside around Shai Hills

Hazy Harmattan skies and dusty air

Purple and lavender sunsets

Orange sunsets

Red mud

Thick jungle growth

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Bats at 37 Hospital

 

Sounds, Tastes & Smells, Foods:

Bird calls

Aircraft engines taking off—especially noticeable after COVID-19

Pervasive smell of burning wood

Pungent smell of raw sewage

Acrid smell of vehicle exhaust

Spicy jollof rice

Plantain chips (including street versions and packaged Sankofa brand)

Ghanaian pineapple

Ghanaian mangos

Roadside coconut milk stands

 

 

RESTAURANTS/FOOD PLACES (favorites and not-so-favorites):

Accra City Hotel (buffet and menu)

Bistro 22 (an expat favorite)—family favorites:  Beef Mango Salad, Vegetarian Curry, Risotto

Bosphorus (great rooftop sunset views)

Burger King

Capitol Café

Kempinksi Hotel Gold Coast City (best buffet in town)

KFC (never tried)

Labadi Beach (buffet and menu)

La Piazza

Le Magellan

Lord of the Wings (closed)

Mamma Mia Pizzeria

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel (buffet and menu)—family favorites:  Braised Beef Tips with Mustard Sauce

Moka's

Noble House (Chinese)

Noble House (Indian)

Pinkberry (frozen yoghurt)

Pinocchio (ice cream)

Pizza Hut

Polo Club (family favorites:  Virgin Strawberry Daquiri)

Pomona (Italian)

Rockefellas (family favorites:  Chicken Cordon Bleu, Vegetable Tempura, Sushi, Mac & Cheese)

Simret (Ethiopian)

Sunshine Salad Bar

Tandoor (Indian; family favorites:  Gobi Aloo Mutter, Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka, etc.)

Toro Tapas

Urban Grill

Zion Thai

Jumia (for food orders/deliveries)

 

 

GHANAIAN FOODS/STAPLES:

Banana (“Kwadu” in Twi)

Banku (fermented maize and cassava dough served with stews, sauces, meat, fish)

Bofrot (blowfloat or puff-puff—deep-fried pastry)

Cassava (“Bankye” in Twi)

Chicken (usually roasted; eaten with right hand fingers)

Corn/Maize (“Aburow” in Twi)

Fish (dried or fried, in stews and soups)

Fufu (cassava and green plantain flour; eaten with right hand only; fingers used to make balls that are swallowed whole—never chewed)

Goat (often used in stews)

Groundnuts (peanuts)

Groundnut Soup

Jollof Rice (easy conversation starter: merits of Ghanaian jollof over Nigerian jollof)

Kenkey (fermented maize; wrapped in leaves/husks and steamed)

Kola nuts (folk medicine)

Mango (pronounced “mawn-go”)

Palm Oil (from African Oil Palm)

Pawpaw (Ghanaian papaya)

Pepper Sauce

Pineapple (“Aborobe” in Twi; Ghanaian pineapples are less acidic than Hawaiian/Dole cultivars sold in the U.S.)

Plantains

Red Red (beans and fried plantains)

Rice (long-grain/non-sticky)

Snails (Achatina achatina, commonly known as the Giant Ghana African Snail)

Stews (of various assortments)

Sugarcane (“Ahwerew” in Twi; often sold/eaten raw)

Ugali (a type of pap)

 

 

PLANTS/COMMON FLORA (found growing around Accra Temple and/or elsewhere):

Trees:

African Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis)

African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)

African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulate)

Banana “tree” (genus Musa; not a true tree; back side of leaves are whiter than on plantains)

Baobab (Adansonia digitate)

Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra)

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)

Flamboyant Tree (a/k/a Royal poinciana) (Delonix regia)

Indian Mast Tree (a/k/a False Ashoka) (Monoon longifolium)

Plantain “tree” (genus Musa; not a true tree; also referred to as “cooking” or “green” bananas)

Plumeria (Frangipani or Ghanaian “Forget-Me-Not”)

Cuban Royal Palm (Roystonea regia)

Strangler Ficus

Traveller's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis; not a true palm; grows on east-west line; serves as rough directional compass)

 

Shrubs/Bushes/Flowering Plants:

Almanda

Bird of Paradise (genus Strelitzia)

Blood of Jesus (shrub used to mark farm boundaries; leaves used to cure malaria fever)

Bougainvillea--numerous shades from fuchsia, lavender, peach, white

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

Hibiscus (national flower of Ghana; used to make West African drink of bissap)

Ixora

Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex)

Plumbago

Vinca

If you read this entire list, good for you!!