Report Africa 2009 (3)
12. Yamoussoukro, DIYO - 09.02.2009 - 330 NM - 2:3
This has been a flight over the rain forest but we could only see a part through the clouds. Nevertheless is was great fun. The capital of the Ivory Coast lives and dies with the imitation of the cathedral St. Peter in Rome/Italy. It is the largest and most expensive church (700 million US$) within Africa. But it doesn’t help people to find housing or food. Nowadays it is an object of ridiculing even if it was blessed by the pope.
13. Abidjan, DIAP - 11.02.2009 - 132 NM - 1:04
Abidjan is a very lively town with an immense traffic jam. But you will never find a nice place where you can sit at a street corner and drink a cup of coffee or a glass of beer.
At the whole West African coast it is conspicuous that some white French people show a snooty manner to tourists who speak English and if you aren’t French-speaking they don’t take any notice from you. They still regard this part of Africa as their own settlement. This behavior is partly copied by the staff of some hotels. Either you’re told the hotel is fully booked or you are treated impolite. The main part of the Africans who we met can be considered as corrupt and avaricious. Well, this is what they learnt from their own government.
Additional information to Abidjan
The day we left Yamoussoukro the assistant suddenly presented himself as a handling agent and demanded € 1200,- for his assistance which was refused by us with great disgust. After refueling in Abidjan at the Aeroclub we gave US$ 1200,- to a man who told us that he is a member of the Club. Afterwards he told us that he is a handling agent and wants € 2200,- for assistance in Yamoussoukro and Abidjan what we denied again. After this shock we met the station manager and pilots from the UN (all from Bavaria) and were very nice welcomed.
The day of our departure we had the next nightmare as we realized that this guy had embezzled money that was given for the AVGAS. The president of the Aeroclub, Christophe Servant, commanded this person to the Aeroclub, the gate was locked and the airport police was called. After long-winded negotiations Christophe, other Aeroclub members and Jörg Baumann of the UN finally succeeded to get the money for the fuel back and the invoice was reduced to US$ 750,-. It turned out that this handling agent wasn’t been authorized and makes common things together with the CAA and so he got the order to stay away from the Aeroclub. Neither the FSI nor ourselves had given an order for handling. But without payment we weren’t able to leave this corrupt country. Once more many thanks to Christophe, all the other members of the Club and to Jörg Baumann of the UN.
14. Accra, DGAA - 13.02.2009 - 240 NM - 1:56
After crossing the Sahara the flight along the gold coast of Ghana with all the castles was beautiful. Ghana and the capital Accra are contrary to the French countries of Africa. All people are friendly, life is better and the streets as well as the country side are clean.
In the evening we met our new friend Wujangi who was very helpful in getting a landing permit for us in Ghana because this is only possible with a personal contact within the country.
14a. Kumasi – 15.02.2009 – by car
It took us a whole day to get a rented car for self driving to go to Kumasi. First we intended to fly to Kumasi but then we drove, actually jumped over awful roads until we reached the kingdom of the Ashanti. The next day we visited the palace and met a lot of persons of this tribe.
