Ghanaians Unwittingly Swimming in Raw Sewage
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La, Accra – Very few people know it, but MaizeBreak is an amazing employer. With the limitless funds in our coffers, we routinely give our reporters the leeway to do special reports on almost anything that suits their fancy. This month we sponsored a trip for Harriet Otoo, a senior staff writer, to return to her native Ghana to report on one of her biggest loves: The beach.
She shared her experience through these questions.
Ghana has many beaches, since it lies on the coast of West Africa. Which did you visit?
Labadi Pleasure Beach.
What struck you first during your visit?
Definitely the ungodly 4 Cedis ($4 US) they were charging to enter and park at the beach. They said the prices had been increased that day, specifically, because there was an arm wrestling competition going on. After begging my way back down to 3 Cedis to enter, the second thing I noticed was that the ocean was reclaiming the beach…and management had actually set up chairs and tables in what could be considered the middle of the ocean.
Was the water as you remembered it?
No, indeed. It was murky brown, where it used to be aqua green. The sand I remembered as pretty and white had a thick, booger-ish feel to it…almost like mud. As I gingerly waded into the water, every new wave brought a polythene bag, a butter tin, or used condom to my feet.
What was the most memorable scene?
I would have to say a couple’s futile attempts to make love in the water. I suppose they saw it on a music video somewhere, and thought it would be romantic. I think I saw the man reach for a condom that floated by and try to slip it on. In retrospect, the whole scene makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit, because I discovered the source of the waters color change was due to raw sewage being dumped from a near by pipe.
Will you ever return to Labadi Beach?
Not unless I die and return to the earth as a turd.
What is your biggest regret, if any, in visiting the beach?
That I let my kids play in the water. That, and the big gulp of water I ingested when I mis-timed a wave that hit me as I was searching for sea-shells. What I thought was a conch shell turned out to be a used diaper. I only wish I could have screamed louder.
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