We've been working on a top secret, not-so-secret pilot for a new show; and I've gotten a chance to attend a few exciting events concerning tech over the past few weeks.

Aunty Dorothy (Dorothy Gordon) hosted Innovation Week at Kofi Annan ICT center in Accra. The event was pretty decent and the overall goal of nurturing a framework for technologists to be efficient and thrive was met with the launch of Hackerspace.

Honorable Victoria Hammah, Deputy Minister of Communications

Attendees at the conference.

P.V. Obeng, Chairman KNUST council

Dr. Dorothy Gordon, Director - General, Kofi Annan ICT

Leti Games an amazing tech start-up out of the MEST Incubator in Accra, launched the Kwaku Ananse game series at the British Council.  Eyram Akofa Tawia shared the goals of the company to expand corporate branding for Ghanaian companies in games, similar to ad placement in popular EA Games jerseys for FIFA football/soccer games. Pictures below:

 

A new venue that supports creatives, techies and young professionals is iSpace. Fiifi Baidoo and his crew have the work space setup for group work, group meetings, space rentals and internet use. iSpace is in the same building as Hello Food by Oxford Street in Osu. The soft launch for us 'insiders' was an eye-opener to what iSpace will be offering both in terms of business & community engagement. Pictures below:

One of the things that I didn't think would be successfully replicated from my metropolitan DC life to Accra every day living was  fast, convenient food delivery. Especially one that was only a phone call away from my favorite restaurants food being sent to my doorstep. Until I found the perfect surprise! One afternoon, while craving for plantain and beans or red red, I decided to try out HelloFood's service for lunch.

HelloFood Office in Osu, Accra

I went online to their snazzy website and looked at the menu based on the local restaurant's proximity to my Y FM office at the Accra Mall. The website interface seemed pretty clear and the options were decent as I could order from East Legon, Kanda through Accra central with promise of delivery under an hour for most locations.

Online ordering service made easy

The delivery guy came through with smiles and decently anxious for my approval as he carried my meal in a polythene bag from Sweet Discovery Restaurant. After a confirmation call about my order, my meal came warm and decently packaged in under the 45 minutes that was advertised, no complaints there.

What I was a bit surprised about was how small the portions came up to considering the cost of my meal (minus delivery discount oh). I enjoyed my plantain and beans with chopped goat meat with relish and a week later, filled out the survey/response for Hello Foods service/Sweet Discovery's good food. Had a conversation with my pocket though, and at the reduced cost of 17.50 ghs (rounded it off to 20 ghs for buddy's tip) I would need a pay increase to patronize the service more. Without the delivery discount I would have been charged 24.50ghs...boss status.

When my salary/pay increase happens I'll be logging on to explore food options to be delivered, especially foods from restaurants I cannot easily gain access to at/from the mall.

A fortnight after the burial and I still don't know exactly where I'm at emotionally. Throwing myself at work, picking up projects I'm passionate about and trying to build on what I know my dad would be proud of.  They say time heals, I'll wait and see.

Close friends requested that I blog my ordeal from the last hospital visit to see my dad, through identifying his body & getting the death certificate signed at the morgue, to sprinkling sand on his casket as  I payed my last respects to Snr.  I don't know if I can recount the challenges of burying my father during these past few weeks - the entire experience is still difficult to process.

Nevertheless, my father's funeral in Ghana taught me a few lessons. 5 of the top ones, as well as pictures by kind courtesy of Timmy Adei | Team 1000 words, I can share:

1. Funerals are for the living, plan with money.
2. Funerals are our (Ghanaians/Africans) version of life insurance policy, attend with money.
3. A big man/woman's presence is usually most felt (especially by dependents) in his/her absence.
4. You can't please everybody, do the best you can, not an iota more.
5. Learn to forgive, especially when forgiving is the most difficult. Not for them, but for you.

To the man who taught me to be a man, even in his absence....

More pictures here: http://smu.gs/17yGXDA | Funeral brochure: http://bit.ly/12eQ6fA

To the man who taught me to be a man and to lift my head up no matter the circumstance, even in his absence.

Everyone: Mr Gamor, How is it going?

Emmanuel K. Gamor (snr): I can't complain.

I haven't been able to take pictures, blog, or tap into my creative side. I'm praying after June 8th (my father's funeral) I'll get back to my positive, industrious self. And when the world asks....I wont have any complaints. #MosquitoClaps

I got introduced to BarCamps in DC through Ato Ulzen-Appiah years ago. And I remember the first one I attended, BarCamp Diaspora, was pretty informative.  Last year's BarCamp Accra was my second. BarCamp was the first "un-conference" I had been to where an event was hosted by community leaders for all attendees to have the opportunity to also share/lead and facilitate within small groups. The idea that each person in attendance would have an opportunity, on an equal platform, to educate all present was a step further from innovative, motivational meetings with distinguished panelists. BarCamp Kasoa was held at the ICGC Transformation Center in Accra, on Saturday April 27th with the theme "Making an Enterprising Environment for an Emerging Market." Details of what went down late last month are featured in this extensive post on The Mighty African's Blog here: BarCamp Kasoa 2013