Saturday 18th September, 2020. It was my first flight after covid-19 reopening of the airport for travelling. The covid-19 pandemic had dealt an uppercut to most avid travellers which made it seem as if a part of their lives was lost. Thankfully they can now travel again though with limitations. I embraced the opportunity of this travel with the utmost joy. Our destination was Kumerica; the newly adopted funky name by the youth for Kumasi. They claim Kumasi is the America of Ghana. I was eager to see what has made Kumasi the America of Ghana.
Missing a flight is one of the regrettable moments for every traveller. I have always been sure never to miss a flight. The first time I was about to miss a flight was an Emirate flight from Heathrow Airport to Dubai and onward to Ghana; the Emirates airline staff was bent on making life a hell for me. I was very fortunate on that trip to have had quiet some good shopping of clothing and books. I was in the university at the time and therefore never lost cognisance of shopping for relevant books which most students who travel abroad never did.
On that particular trip, the airline staff at the check-in counter complained bitterly of my excess luggage weight. I did not have enough money to pay for the excess weight and I had nobody to return them home. I had to drop them off at the airport. Amidst an almost tears these Eastern Europeans guys doing construction works at the airport collected my items as I reduced my luggage to the acceptable weight by the airline. The announcement of my name was made severally loud in the airport amplification system. The flight was ready and I was the last person going through immigration processes to board. After several unsuccessful negotiations, I had to leave behind many of my clothing but not a book. I carried ten voluminous books in my hand and was rushed into the flight. Books in your hands are allowed into the flight.
Not to miss my flight to Kumerica, I left my Tantra Hill home at 3:47am to get to the Kotoka International Airport for check-in process which was to start from 4:15am. I have not had enough sleep since the previous day was busy long work related meetings. I got to the airport only to be told the flight time has changed and that check-in will start at 5:20am. I called my two other friends I was travelling with to inform them of the change in time. They are my trusted and astute academic friends. One is a Harvard educated lawyer and the other is a Nottingham educated PhD holder, now a professor.
When the check-in gate was opened at 5:20am, we successfully without an inch of difficulty checked-in. We proceeded for immigration procedures and waited for boarding which was supposed to be at 6:20am. The rains came heavily so flight time was further delayed. We boarded at 7:20am. There was in-flight announcement by a member of the crew. Unquestionably the voice wasn’t Ghanaian. The most captivating part of the announcement was: “the weather is 24 minutes at Kumasi it is better than Accra.” This caused lots of giggling by passengers. Since when was the weather calculated in minutes? Could it be a Kumerican style? It can only be a slip of mind…we all do. Don’t you?
The flight took off at 7:30am. It wasn’t a pleasant flying experience. The turbulence was overbearing. It was consistent and very troubling. I turned around to see if I was the only person having such experience. I realised all passengers had their eyes closed. I asked myself why everybody was sleeping and I was the only person suffering the agony of the turbulence. I decided to also close my eyes and force a sleep. Soon after, an announcement was made; the flight was 14,000 feet above sea level. The crew was asked to prepare for landing. I opened my eye. Many other eyes were opened and the murmuring stated. They were complaining about the turbulence. I realised they all forced a sleep to overcome the mind bothering turbulence. We touched the ground of the Kumasi Airport at 8:04am and went through the necessary checks, caught our luggage and left the airport.
We went directly to the venue for the main reason for which we have travelled. Later, I took a frolic with the driver. He drove me through town while I managed my not too good twi language skill to ensure a conversation with him for the purpose of knowing Kumerica. I have heard so much of the new name Kumerica and wanted to see what is new in Kumasi.
What one will not miss is the political party images. And rightly so was dominated by New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) billboards, banners and posters. Conversely, infrastructural developments were credited to the National Democratic Party (NDC). He showed me Kejetia market, the shopping mall and a few other places and said they were all either developed of the NDC or are projects started by the NDC. He quickly added that irrespective of the NDC’s development of Kumasi which has metamorphosed into Kumerica, many indigenes will vote for the NPP. He however mentioned that NDC do get good votes in Kumasi and are likely to improve. The popularity of the NPP in Kumasi is understandable and will not be challenged. The history of political party voting in Ghana supports his assertion.
Our check-in time was approaching. We made our way to the airport. I dread the turbulence and wondered if our return will be the same experience. The option of returning by road flashed my mind but will not be considered. I told my experience to the airline staff at the check-in counter. He exclaimed they have received many complaints of passengers experience on that morning flight. He explained that it was due to the heavy rains and that the weather is cleared so flying is smooth. I took him to his word.
We proceeded with check-in and boarding processes. There was strict enforcement of passengers to observe the covid-19 protocol which included the red marks on the floor for passenger social distance. Funny enough in the waiting room for boarding and in the flight, we sat shoulder to shoulder. How laughable our behaviour to covid-19 shows our own inconsistencies. We boarded the flight. It was equally full just like in the morning. There is high patronage for the local airline business.
We had a smooth flight on our return to Accra. Touching down at the Kotoka International Airport and going through the airport and a drive from the airport through town questions the Kumerica accolade…the difference is incomparable.
