Between Ghana and Nigeria - caliberation using African countries

I have just returned to London following two weeks visiting Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. During my visit to Freetown, my host described the country as being somewhere between Ghana and Nigeria. I found this description quite interesting and have given it some thought since I first heard it.

First, I loved Freetown. Beyond the anxiety of riding on a helicopter from the airport to the city, it felt a lot like home. I found it interesting that a lot of people had Nigerian names and the Creole sounded a lot like Nigerian pidgin English (not the Warri type though!). Their mountainous landscape made for spectacular views and their unspoiled beaches were amazing. Driving up the hills was quite nervous given the ever-present threat of falling off a cliff, but otherwise, it was fun.

The reason though that I found the description (between Ghana and Nigeria) interesting is that in this statement, I heard all that was good and bad about Nigeria. For a country just emerging from a bruising civil war, I felt remarkably safe. Power supply was erratic and a lot of people were clearly unemployed and poor. Yet, the people were warm and friendly. I would certainly go back again.

I was in Freetown attending a conference of the West African College of Surgeons. The conference itself was very successful - credit to the organising committee and I got to meet the Sierra Leonean president (if his walking past me with a smile admiring my exhibition stand qualifies as meeting him). This gathering of the cream of West Africa's health care professionals highlighted Africa's healthcare manpower challenges. IFC's recently published report (see http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/healthinafrica.nsf/Content/FullReport) show that a lot of private sector participation is required to improve healthcare in the continent. I look forward to being part of that improvement.

Between Nigeria and Ghana. I wish Nigeria was a lot more like Ghana! The spirit of the Ghanaian team at the Cup of Nations was commendable even if the talent to deliver was not available. The food, the warm people, the exciting nightlife, the... Great country Ghana!