Saturday, September 28, 2019

Visible Ghost Bankers to the Poor: A Profile of the Sierra Leone Informal Economy (VI)


Dr. Umaru Bah, CEO
DataWise (SL) Ltd.
@DataWiseSL


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Meet Manny Cash. He handles well over twenty thousand dollars on  any given day. And takes home twenty dollars. You are guessing right now that Manny is an entry-level bank teller assigned to the forex counter. Like that of your friend, Mary Banks. You guessed right. But only thirty percent right. That’s because Manny wakes up way earlier than Mary and goes home way later. He works neither in a uniform, nor at the counter, nor in an air-conditioned room. Unlike Mary, Manny does not have the luxury of being bored or stressed to death, based on the level of traffic or temperament of the customer. But Manny makes more money than Mary in a month. Because Mary averages Le 5,000,000 a month ($556), a little more than half of what Manny makes. In a bad month, that is. And without any windfall. Mary is a college graduate. Manny is a Junior Secondary School drop-out. 

Monday, June 10, 2019

Bomeh Inc.: Shit for Sale:: A Profile of the Sierra Leone Informal Economy (V)


Dr. Umaru Bah, CEO
DataWise (SL) Ltd.
@DataWiseSL


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Kingtom Bomeh Landfill: Barren tree surrounded by salvaged plastic ready for haulage.A pig-pen of salvaged corrugated iron at top left. Raw sewage pond at mid-right, off-camera. Part of the Ebola burial plot just over the fence at Kingtom Cemetery, off-camera.  

Africell headquarters sits atop the highest hill in Wilberforce. At least that’s what it looks like, viewed from afar in the Kingtom Bomeh refuse landfill. Its skyscraping height makes it an unavoidable landmark. As does its distinct yellow n-shaped exterior plating. The building enjoys the company of many international development agency offices. And a couple of other government agencies. And the residences of many expats: Most pay top dollars—or euros or pounds—for the sea view and the commanding panorama. And the seclusion.