jueves, 2 de julio de 2015

My City Accra

As the gateway to West Africa and the driver behind one of the continent's fastest growing economies, there is a feeling in Accra that the good times are just around the corner.

Self-study activity:
Watch this BBC video and say whether the statements below are true or false.


BBC My City - Accra from Peter Price on Vimeo.

1 Twelve million people live in Ghana.
2 Cocoa, gold and oil are making Ghana a rich country.
3 Healthcare in Ghana is very good for African standards.
4 Rollaball is a popular sport among taxi drivers.
5 Coffins like those you can see in Accra are manufactured all over the world now.
6 Boxing matches are usually held on Friday nights.
7 The training facilities for would-be boxers are not very good.
8 Accra boxers are aggressive but classy.

The gateway to West Africa. Busy, bustling, boundless energy. Two million of us grinding away in the heat, making this place boom.  Hi, I am Akwasi and this is my city.
As one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, Ghana is upheld as a beacon to others. And it's Accra that drives it. This city's never been better off, thanks to cocoa, gold and now oil. But much of society is still playing catch-up. Living conditions are poor, healthcare basic.
Many disabled people are shunned and left to beg. But for a few hours every Sunday, this taxi park becomes their arena. Their sport, rollaball. It's not for the faint-hearted, either. The rough-and-tumble is part and parcel.
It's not easy being disabled in Accra. This sport has changed my life. Now I appreciate my fitness level even more than money. I feel like a star when I come down here on Sundays to play the game.
There's a real community feel all over town. Life or death, everybody comes together.
We do things a little differently. Even our funerals need to be seen to be believed. We give new meaning to going out in style.
Crafted all over the city, all handmade, be it farmer or fisherman, these fantasy coffins are a reflection of your life - what you did, and how you did it.
These coffins are a trademark of Accra. They aren't made anywhere else. If you see anyone making them in Britain or America, you know they've copied this from Accra. It's very popular here, and everyone wants to be buried in one.
On Friday evening, this city ignites. Fight night.
We love a good fight. Some of the world's boxing greats were born and bred here in Accra. We're famous for producing champions.
But the first jabs start here. Early morning workouts, brutal late afternoon training. In the suburb of Bukom, dozens of gyms filled with young fighters dreaming of a world title. The facilities may be basic, but the coaching is class.
Accra in particular is so special for boxing because we like fighting, everywhere. Most of our boxers, they are very aggressive. You see some of them who are very stylish, but we aggressive. If I get the support, and I give myself five years... I'll bring world champions to Ghana. We have the bright future.
With the economic boom and a little bit of luck, there's a feeling that good times for everybody could be just around the corner. Accra is my city.

Key:
1F 2T 3F 4F 5F 6T 7T 8T