Muuh, the cow, in the slaughterhouse

„You see this sign here along the road from Circle leading to Kanamanto Market, just where the Artisan Shop is, just here next to our in 2015 burnt down pharmacy Bediako Brothers Pharmacy Limited of a company Bilfinger & Berger, a German construction company? They left Ghana after the EU declared corruption abroad as a punishable offence in the EU. „Interesting! I only know my father-in-law, Joseph Mensah, worked in Accra when AUDI had a company here, but it closed down and left. Why? I do not know! „Neoplan… you know it was a German company?“

2013, Philipp Aquah, brother of Paul Aquah, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Director of Ghana Environmental Protection Agency: “Keep your money offshore, never in Ghana. It will be stolen from you.“

2014, Late Ms Mawuena Trebarh, former CEO of GIPC: “Any transaction more than $ 50.000 is a problem. It gets stolen.“

Muuh, the cow, looked around the shiny new slaughterhouse with no sign of what would happen to her next. She thought of standing in a brand-new stable with fresh hay. The walls were tiled, and silver shining plates stuck to the walls, very hygenic indeed. The management of the slaughterhouse tried a new method to bring the fear of Muuh and her peers down, facing unknown territory. Stacks of hay proved to be the best way to make any new arrival feel comfortable. And it worked. Muuh felt flattered, unable to see what was about to come. Invisible behind the blinds. Yes, she had heard of plant-based patties at McDonald's and Burger King and on supermarket shelves in Europe and the USA, plant-based meat imitations. Some countries have changed and improved on their mistakes made in the past. Muuh knew not everyone turned out to be vegetarian. Meat was still plentiful in the markets. But things changed gradually.

Dumsor and heavy rains hit citizens and companies hard in Ghana. The banks are the same, and political parties are the same. Fighting high-level corruption with „Bread and Games“ to entertain the common men is still the art of the day in Ghana; nothing has changed. Unreliable justice system? Nothing fundamentally changed! What about Law Enforcement? Nothing fundamentally changed. Freedom of Speech? No...still a problem. Galamsey? Still part of the political system! Projects well designed, carried out and employing people in numbers? No...my Lord, still a dream to come true! Qualified workforce? My Lord...please...keep a low profile about it. Vibrant administration, what about that? No...my Lord...paperwork kills any good ideas. Honesty of politicians? My Lord...you should not go there, I beg of you!

Muuh, a German Holstein cow, white with black spots, had given Ghana everything possible: thousands of litres and five caves, beautiful as the mother. Her caves were bought by a Sheikh from Oman, and they enjoyed a happy life under the sun in a cool stable with air conditioning and hay as much as they desired.

Muuh carefully tasted the hay put in front of her, touched by many workers around. They talked to her and praised the place as the most beautiful...house she could have wished for at that particular moment in her life. Before she had entered, she did not see the sign board saying „Slaughterhouse Accra Limited“. Muuh was filled with hope and ambition. She knew here she would make it, not like others before her. Oh no...never ever. The others were not well informed, but she...Muuh, she knew hay does not lie, and the people around her were so friendly, they definitely would love her. Muuh felt really good. She was guided further into the brand new stable, further and further and closer and closer, before a mighty door was opened. She felt betrayed and tried to run away. The many people around her pushed her over the threshold where a shiny silver machine was rotating. Tin Tin in China enjoyed her burger at Wendy's.