Ghana’s stock exchange is the newest and one of the fastest-growing in Africa, having quadrupled the number of listed companies in just a few years to 29. So when Bono landed in the capital Accra on the last stop of his visit, he headed for the trading floor to see what it’s like — with NBC anchorman Brian Williams who had just joined 
the tour.
By the time he got there, most of the trading had stopped for the day — it runs until noon every day — but he managed to catch a few of the traders and the exchange’s bosses. The trading floor is a small room with a few desks and a ricker board. Among the biggest foreign companies listed is South Africa’s mining group AngloGold and a Gambian Bank.
When Bono heard GGB stood for Guinness Ghana, he exclaimed: “As an Irish man I want you to know it is a little confusing that Guinness is more popular in Africa than in Ireland.”
When the Kofi Yamoah, the exchage’s managing director, said that Guinness was not only popular but tasted better in Africa, Bono replied, “Oh you’re hurtful! A mortal wound!” (Picture: Bono accepts a gourd during a visit to the cotton-growing town of Dafara, May 22, 2006. REUTERS/Rainer Schwenzfeier )
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i don’t drink the stuff, but i find the brew quite embracing because of the precious hometown of Dublin that it’s attached to. possibly the kindness of the people of ireland makes the brew more popular here. i’m happy for them either way.
this is one of many a delightful moment in the long hard awesome trek thru this country. africa has indeed come across in the broadcasts as a land that is brighter and optimistic and investable as ever. they work hard, and now we know they drink hard, and with the good stuff! how excellent is that?
i wouldn’t even have imagined ghana having a trading floor. they are more than ready for business with the world, fair trade. now that bono has brought the cameras indoors there, i hope many a western investor believes so too.
stay close,
- Posted by Sammi Fredenburgsammi fredenburg
seattle, washington usa
As Bono’s latest public trip to Africa is drawing to a close, I would like to thank Bono and his cohorts at DATA/ONE/RED for focusing on the POSITIVE aspects of life on the African Continent.
That doesn’t mean that hunger, poor sanitary conditions, lack of universal public education, unfair trade conditions with rich nations or the abyssmal inadequacy of the health care systems in African nations to meet the challenges of AIDS, TB and Malaria don’t still exist - they do.
And they concern ALL of us who are African activists quite a lot.
But Bono knows that “compassion fatigue” might be setting in about Africa’s challenges with rich nations and he is determined to find another way to state his case for Africa.
Bono has found it on this trip.
He is asking the rich nations to CHANGE THEIR VIEWPOINT ABOUT AFRICA.
He is asking us to look at Africa’s People as entrepreneurial, hard working, optimistic and gracious. (which they have been in my experiences)
He is asking us to see the American Dream alive and well in Africa. All it needs is a little “investment” - some seed money in the form of fairer trade conditions, fuller debt cancellation and increased money to fund programs to fight AIDS and extreme poverty in the Continent.
AND BONO IS RIGHT.
Investing in Africa’s future in the above ways WILL PAY DIVIDENDS for the world community down the road.
It will help to make African countries stronger, more democratic and more resistant to the influences of negativists and terrorists and that seems like a good return on an investment to me.
Not to mention that assisting Africa to stand back up on Her feet will help us to feel good about our role in the world community. How can one look into the gleaming, hopeful faces of Africa’s children and not recognize that there is a TREMENDOUS RESOURCE there to be saved?
So, THANK YOU, BONO, for helping to make Africa an adventure for so many people. But this is not an adventure of wildlife and savvannahs - this is an adventure back into the HEART OF HUMANITY to find our connection back to each other.
Let’s not lose grasp of each other again.
Take very good care. (Now go get some rest, Bono - you did good.) Blessings always.
ONE in the Spirit, debbie
- Posted by Debbie K[…] Included: - A slideshow of photos from the visit - A story on a trip to the Ghana stock exchange. When Bono learns that the stock symbol GGB stood for Guinness Ghana, he exclaimed: “As an Irish man I want you to know it is a little confusing that Guinness is more popular in Africa than in Ireland.” - Blog readers submitted over 200 questions to Bono, and he answers a few. […]
- Posted by Bono’s Blog » @U2blog