May 24, 2025 • 13 mins
The complex relationship between African Americans and Ghanaians reveals itself through cultural misunderstandings, economic expectations, and the journey toward authentic connection. When relocating to Ghana, many African Americans discover how deeply American they truly are - not through race, but through cultural conditioning that shapes their interactions in unexpected ways.
"In Ghana, the most valuable currency is relationships," explains one long-term resident. This fundamental truth often eludes newcomers accustomed to functioning independently within systems that require minimal human contact. When your streetlight malfunctions in America, you call a number or use an app. When your light fixture catches fire in Ghana, you must rely on neighbors and community connections to resolve the issue. This shift from systematic efficiency to relationship-based problem-solving represents a profound adjustment for many expatriates.
Class dynamics further complicate relationship-building efforts across cultural divides. Economic disparities can transform what begins as genuine friendship into something that feels transactional, especially when financial requests follow social interactions. The "Obruni" (foreigner) label carries significant assumptions about wealth and resources that create barriers to authentic connection. Yet these challenges aren't unique to foreign-Ghanaian relationships - even Ghanaians who relocate abroad report similar experiences with requests from home.
Building sustainable relationships requires establishing clear boundaries, developing cultural literacy, and recognizing that integrity matters regardless of economic circumstances. For those committed to making Ghana home, the journey involves unlearning American expectations while embracing the relationship-centered approach that defines Ghanaian society. Through patience and mutual understanding, meaningful connections can flourish that honor both cultural perspectives.
Have you experienced cultural blindspots while living in a new country? Share your story and subscribe to join our community exploring these important conversations about identity, belonging, and cross-cultural understanding.
Watch the video episode of this on YouTube - https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
because you, sometimes Ghanians leave with
Wahalla and you come back andyou realize Wahalla is still
there and you and you even maybesometimes I don't know, but
even from what I've heard frommy friends is because this is
home and you, it's almost likethey look at Ghana like like a
brother or a sister that has somuch potential.
(00:22):
But then you see this brotheror sister just wasting their
life and it's like I want somuch potential.
But then you see this brotheror sister just wasting their
life and it's like I want somuch for you.
But when I see you doing someof the stuff that you're doing
and you've never changed, itbecomes so disappointing.
So, even though thedisappointment becomes
multiplied.
And but it's true, listen, Italked to my friends and I tell
them, you know, listen, I had, Ihad it's not necessarily a
(00:42):
friend, but I was at a meetingone day and we were talking
about police interactions andall of these things.
And listen, I've been in Ghanalong enough where even sometimes
I just carry coke because I'llgive the guy some coke, the
police officer some coke.
You know, even this simple,small gesture, you know, will
make a difference.
But anyway, one of the ladieswas African-American was saying
that I noticed that the policeonly bother us as
(01:05):
African-Americans, and so wehave to stop and say listen,
that's not true.
That's not a true statement.
In fact, it's worse for thelocal Ghanaian who can't fight
for himself.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yes, who can't afford 200?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
cities to cool him down, exactly, exactly.
So I agree with you that wehave this perception oftentimes,
that is, it's it's erroneousand it's not accurate of what's
really happening.
That's why these conversationsare important and and I will say
this, I will admit this right Ithink a lot of times as African
(01:37):
Americans, we don't realize howAmerican we are until we get to
Ghana, because in the Statesyou are always relegated to your
race.
I don't care how smart you are,until we get to Ghana, because
in the States you are alwaysrelegated to your race, I don't
care how smart you are or any ofthese things.
When you come to Ghana, it'sactually the culture of America
that exists in us.
We can be entitled, we can bearrogant, and for a lot of us
(01:59):
you have to be.
For example, for me, like inGhana, everything is okay,
everything is fine.
You just kind of relax.
Sometimes we don't really speakup for ourselves in Ghana, but
if you have this type ofmentality in the US, as a black
person, you will be crushed,right.
So sometimes you don't likethat, doesn't turn off like that
when you come to Ghana.
So you have to really havethese come sometimes bad
(02:20):
experiences where you stop andrealize I overreacted.
That was too much to reallyunderstand that.
Okay, I'm safe, nobody's tryingto come and attack me.
I really have the privilege tolive where I want, do what I
want, as long as I have theresources and I have the
relationships.
But sometimes that mentalitydoesn't turn off immediately.
(02:42):
It takes time it takes time.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
It takes time.
It's, it's the realization thatthat has got to go at some
point.
I think when ghana became alittle bit easier for me to stay
was when I became like thelocals yeah, understood why they
do what they do.
Otherwise, you pay 200 citiesfor a bottle of water.
Meanwhile, it's three cities.
Yeah, yeah, it's true, becauseyou've chosen to, you've created
(03:04):
a huge gap between you and thesystem.
Yeah, and it's three cities.
Yeah, yeah, it's true, becauseyou've chosen to, you've created
a huge gap between you and thesystem.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
And it's the people that make the system.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And that's the biggest difference, right when
you're coming from a world whereyou know Ghana, the most
valuable currency in Ghana isrelationships, yes, yes.
But when you're coming from aworld where basic things like if
your streetlight is off, youcall a number maybe you have an
app that tells you thetechnician will arrive between 2
pm and 4 pm, the technician ison the way, the technician has
(03:33):
arrived, the technician hasrepaired the situation, the
technician is gone and you don'tnecessarily need people.
You don't really understand howmuch you need people until you
come to a place like Ghana.
Again, for me and I'm talkingabout a situation like, listen,
the first place I lived, we hadall of these issues.
You go outside, the light isliterally on fire.
You call the local company.
(03:55):
They won't do anything.
So you have to go and greetyour neighbors, Please, do you
know anyone who can repair this?
But until you live in a systemwhere you're forced to really
adopt that currency ofrelationships, you don't really
understand how valuable that is,and sometimes that only comes
through time.
It only comes through time andexperience.
(04:15):
So and I think that, so youknow, I tell people who are
coming.
I don't care if you're Ghanaian, Nigerian, if you're coming, if
you haven't been in thisculture for a while, you know
you have to give grace to peopleand for those who are here, you
know you have to give grace tothose individuals as well,
Because you know, I think allfolks are just trying to come
(04:35):
together and live together, butthere's going to be conflict.
No matter anytime you havecultures coming together,
there's going to be conflict.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Let me stop you here for a minute.
If you've been watching thisshow, I want you to subscribe
and become part of the family.
We are on a journey of changingthe lives of people on this
channel and we appreciate youfor being here.
But if you haven't become partof the family, connect with us.
Hit the subscribe button andlet's carry on the conversation.
(05:02):
You mentioned in one of yourinterviewed interviews that you
struggled with buildingrelationships like genuine
relationship with people yeah,yeah, I struggle because there's
a few things.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Number one, because I personally have struggled with
relationships, regardless of thecontext I'm in.
That's me personally,regardless of the context.
The second thing is, you know,classism and culture have never
been significant factors indeveloping relationships when I
(05:36):
was in the States.
Because typically, when you aredeveloping relationships with
people, typically people move inthe same kinds of groups, the
same class, the same education.
Normally and I'm not saying allthe time, but normally you
don't have folks who are, youknow, have PhDs, and you have.
It may come out wrong, but Idon't care, but people have a
(05:56):
certain kind of intellectual andsocial and economic pedigree
and you're hanging out withpeople that are different, not
to say you can't buildrelationships with them.
But let me tell you how itplays out right now.
Let's say you make a thousandcds a month and I make a hundred
thousand cds a month and I say,chale, let's go have a good
time tonight.
My idea of a good time is Icould maybe spend five thousand
(06:18):
cds tonight yeah right now, whenit's time for us to go out and
have a good time, and I want tospend 5,000 CDs.
You may not have the capacityto do that, and I can afford it
and it won't.
It's like a drop in the bucketfor me.
Now for the record.
Where's the camera?
I don't.
I don't make a million CDs amonth all right, so don't, don't
go, don't get it twisted.
but so now, when you build arelationship, sometimes you
(06:38):
build relationships aroundsocial activities, around food
and about family.
Now Now let's say, for example,I want to invite you to my home
.
You make a thousand CDs a month.
Maybe.
I invite you to my home andCharlie, you're looking at my
house like, hey, master, charlie, the guy has money.
So now the relationship mayturn into a sponsorship where my
uncle is sick, my mother issick, my daddy is sick, I want
(07:02):
to go to school, can you help me?
Okay, no, and I'm not sayingthat you can't have genuine
relationships with people thatare different, but I'm saying
it's the mentality and what weplace on people based on those
social expectations.
So for me, the difficult thingwas I go back to the example of
(07:23):
you know, when I first movedhere.
The reality is forget how I sawmyself when I moved to Ghana.
Right, you're seen as a Bruni,right, and as a Bruni right, and
as a Bruni, you have money.
Oh, bugger, yes, and your moneyis limitless.
You just go to the ATM and youget money.
You, in fact, you don't have toeven put deposits, it's just
(07:45):
they're waiting for you.
So when someone has thatmentality of you, how they
engage you will be based aroundmoney Transactional it's
transactional.
And so where you think someoneis generally trying to assist
you, and maybe you've met afriend, you realize that it's
transactional.
Now, on the other hand, I'vewisened up to understand more
(08:08):
about where people are comingfrom right, how to say no, how
to navigate relationshipsdifferently.
But back then, when I wastrying to develop develop
relationships, I didn't know allof these things.
So it was very difficult whensomeone is, hey, I'm calling you
just to greet you and I'm like,oh man, this person is so nice
and then I don't realize.
It's just the how do you callit?
The, the pre conversation towhat, what is coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yes, you know something is coming.
Yes, my daughter is yes, yes,yes.
Have you ever had a phone callfrom your mechanic saying that?
I've been heard from you know,wow, listen.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I've had phone calls from everybody.
So that's why, even when I, whenI travel, I don't even tell
people I'm traveling outside ofGhana.
And when I'm outside of Ghana,if I see a number plus two,
three, three, you don't pick, Idon't pick up because I know
it's oh my big, tell it andthere's some things I need to do
.
Ok, I don't have a problem withgiving people opportunities to
(08:59):
work, but at the same time,listen, this is not a
transactional relationship and Idon't think, regardless of
whether you're Ghanaian, aNigerian, a South African, a
Brazilian, nobody wants to be ina transactional relationship
with anybody, regardless of whoyou are.
But I think that sometimes, onone hand, I get it though.
Right, because that, let me say,average Ghanaian who may be
(09:20):
making that 500 or a thousandCDs a month, who has been
underexposed about the world andabout how things work, not
because they're dumb or stupid,just underexposed, right, they
may not know the impact ofconsistently asking someone for
money, and it's not just anAfrican-American thing, right, I
got so many of my friendswho've moved to the UK, to the
US, and they tell you Chale,chale.
(09:42):
I don't even pick my phone theway people worry me.
I'm a student, I don't havemoney, but, chale, people are
asking me to send them this,this, this.
So it's not just anAfrican-American thing.
It's the mentality that we havethat says that when someone has
something more than me, I amentitled to a piece of that, and
(10:04):
I'm going to come for it.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's the thing that makes it difficult.
Again, it's so sad that it'shappening, but it's not unique.
Yeah, it's so sad that it'shappening, but it's not unique
it's not because, um even forsome of us.
You know it happens all thetime, every day.
Phone calls are coming in allthe time.
Yeah, you know the employeesyou have at a workplace every
now and then.
You know they want to borrowagainst their salary yeah you
know, and it keeps happening andyou're thinking to yourself
(10:30):
well, if this is what you'redoing, then, given the
opportunity, you're gonna steal.
Exactly given the opportunity,if it arises, you're gonna steal
.
Yes, and that explains why.
When I first started, you know,I sucked a lot of people very
quickly you have to I didn'tunderstand what was going on.
Now I'm beginning to try tonavigate a little bit better,
(10:51):
but there's always thingshappening in my mind.
Should I, should I not know?
Where is it gonna take?
Where are we going to from here?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
and it takes wisdom and understanding and knowledge
to be able to make thosedecisions.
For example, when I first cameto ghana, I had house help and
this person was stealing from meand I didn't do anything
because it was 50 pesos, 30pesos, oh that's, that's cool oh
(11:18):
, it's no big deal, but theintegrity piece.
If you steal 30 pesos, you willsteal 3 000, and if I don't say
anything about it, youunderstand, because someone told
me, actually a ghanaian friendof mine, he said you know, I
remember him saying listen,charlie, you will meet people,
you will work with people foryears and they will just break
(11:40):
your heart.
And I didn't really understandwhat he meant.
And then, when I first moved inGhana, it was a temporary house
and the guy who owned the placeI would see the way he would
speak to his workers Ha, whatare you doing?
Don't put this here.
I said, man, the guy is so mean.
When I have workers, child, I'mgoing to be this, this, this,
this and this, and you know whathappens, child, the people say,
(12:01):
ah, this foolish man, so let metake him for a ride.
So for me, when I didn't sackthe person for stealing 30 pesos
or at least let me say, have aconversation I enabled this
person.
Eventually they stole my phoneand I'm so stupid, I kept them
on working with me and theneventually they stole like 50
(12:23):
CDs.
Right, that was my problem.
Being foolish, I would neverallow someone to do that if I
was working in the States, butmy mentality was what is?
30 pesos?
The person may not have it.
But now when I hire someone, myphilosophy is I hire slow.
I train well and I fire quickly.
I hire slow.
(12:43):
So anytime I work with somebody, they go through three
interviews.
The first interview they don'teven know it's an interview.
I'll have a conversation withthem, charlie.
Let me talk to you tomorrow at3 pm on the phone.
By 3 pm, 315, they don't come.
I already know that they're notserious.
The second interview is talkingmore about the job itself.
What do you want to do?
Why do you want to do this?
(13:04):
Okay, you live at Timma andyou're working at this place.
How much is the cho-cho farefor you to come from this place
in this place?
This is the salary.
Are you sure you're okay withthis salary?
Because when you take this fromthis place to this place, this
is the salary.
Are you sure you're okay withthis salary?
Because when you take this fromthis place to this place,
talley will be eating yoursalary.
But have you thought aboutthese things?
The last interview is theformal.
This is what it is.
This is what it's not before weactually start.
(13:25):
Then I train you.
Here's the culture of theorganization.
In fact, I had to train somepeople when you're working with
me, don't throw rubbish on theground, don't throw rubbish in
the Uber, because you representme.
How can I be out here talkingabout we love Africa?
because you, sometimes Ghanians leave with
Wahalla and you come back andyou realize Wahalla is still
there and you and you even maybesometimes I don't know, but
even from what I've heard frommy friends is because this is
home and you, it's almost likethey look at Ghana like like a
brother or a sister that has somuch potential.
(00:22):
But then you see this brotheror sister just wasting their
life and it's like I want somuch potential.
But then you see this brotheror sister just wasting their
life and it's like I want somuch for you.
But when I see you doing someof the stuff that you're doing
and you've never changed, itbecomes so disappointing.
So, even though thedisappointment becomes
multiplied.
And but it's true, listen, Italked to my friends and I tell
them, you know, listen, I had, Ihad it's not necessarily a
(00:42):
friend, but I was at a meetingone day and we were talking
about police interactions andall of these things.
And listen, I've been in Ghanalong enough where even sometimes
I just carry coke because I'llgive the guy some coke, the
police officer some coke.
You know, even this simple,small gesture, you know, will
make a difference.
But anyway, one of the ladieswas African-American was saying
that I noticed that the policeonly bother us as
(01:05):
African-Americans, and so wehave to stop and say listen,
that's not true.
That's not a true statement.
In fact, it's worse for thelocal Ghanaian who can't fight
for himself.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yes, who can't afford 200?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
cities to cool him down, exactly, exactly.
So I agree with you that wehave this perception oftentimes,
that is, it's it's erroneousand it's not accurate of what's
really happening.
That's why these conversationsare important and and I will say
this, I will admit this right Ithink a lot of times as African
(01:37):
Americans, we don't realize howAmerican we are until we get to
Ghana, because in the Statesyou are always relegated to your
race.
I don't care how smart you are,until we get to Ghana, because
in the States you are alwaysrelegated to your race, I don't
care how smart you are or any ofthese things.
When you come to Ghana, it'sactually the culture of America
that exists in us.
We can be entitled, we can bearrogant, and for a lot of us
(01:59):
you have to be.
For example, for me, like inGhana, everything is okay,
everything is fine.
You just kind of relax.
Sometimes we don't really speakup for ourselves in Ghana, but
if you have this type ofmentality in the US, as a black
person, you will be crushed,right.
So sometimes you don't likethat, doesn't turn off like that
when you come to Ghana.
So you have to really havethese come sometimes bad
(02:20):
experiences where you stop andrealize I overreacted.
That was too much to reallyunderstand that.
Okay, I'm safe, nobody's tryingto come and attack me.
I really have the privilege tolive where I want, do what I
want, as long as I have theresources and I have the
relationships.
But sometimes that mentalitydoesn't turn off immediately.
(02:42):
It takes time it takes time.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
It takes time.
It's, it's the realization thatthat has got to go at some
point.
I think when ghana became alittle bit easier for me to stay
was when I became like thelocals yeah, understood why they
do what they do.
Otherwise, you pay 200 citiesfor a bottle of water.
Meanwhile, it's three cities.
Yeah, yeah, it's true, becauseyou've chosen to, you've created
(03:04):
a huge gap between you and thesystem.
Yeah, and it's three cities.
Yeah, yeah, it's true, becauseyou've chosen to, you've created
a huge gap between you and thesystem.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
And it's the people that make the system.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And that's the biggest difference, right when
you're coming from a world whereyou know Ghana, the most
valuable currency in Ghana isrelationships, yes, yes.
But when you're coming from aworld where basic things like if
your streetlight is off, youcall a number maybe you have an
app that tells you thetechnician will arrive between 2
pm and 4 pm, the technician ison the way, the technician has
(03:33):
arrived, the technician hasrepaired the situation, the
technician is gone and you don'tnecessarily need people.
You don't really understand howmuch you need people until you
come to a place like Ghana.
Again, for me and I'm talkingabout a situation like, listen,
the first place I lived, we hadall of these issues.
You go outside, the light isliterally on fire.
You call the local company.
(03:55):
They won't do anything.
So you have to go and greetyour neighbors, Please, do you
know anyone who can repair this?
But until you live in a systemwhere you're forced to really
adopt that currency ofrelationships, you don't really
understand how valuable that is,and sometimes that only comes
through time.
It only comes through time andexperience.
(04:15):
So and I think that, so youknow, I tell people who are
coming.
I don't care if you're Ghanaian, Nigerian, if you're coming, if
you haven't been in thisculture for a while, you know
you have to give grace to peopleand for those who are here, you
know you have to give grace tothose individuals as well,
Because you know, I think allfolks are just trying to come
(04:35):
together and live together, butthere's going to be conflict.
No matter anytime you havecultures coming together,
there's going to be conflict.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Let me stop you here for a minute.
If you've been watching thisshow, I want you to subscribe
and become part of the family.
We are on a journey of changingthe lives of people on this
channel and we appreciate youfor being here.
But if you haven't become partof the family, connect with us.
Hit the subscribe button andlet's carry on the conversation.
(05:02):
You mentioned in one of yourinterviewed interviews that you
struggled with buildingrelationships like genuine
relationship with people yeah,yeah, I struggle because there's
a few things.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Number one, because I personally have struggled with
relationships, regardless of thecontext I'm in.
That's me personally,regardless of the context.
The second thing is, you know,classism and culture have never
been significant factors indeveloping relationships when I
(05:36):
was in the States.
Because typically, when you aredeveloping relationships with
people, typically people move inthe same kinds of groups, the
same class, the same education.
Normally and I'm not saying allthe time, but normally you
don't have folks who are, youknow, have PhDs, and you have.
It may come out wrong, but Idon't care, but people have a
(05:56):
certain kind of intellectual andsocial and economic pedigree
and you're hanging out withpeople that are different, not
to say you can't buildrelationships with them.
But let me tell you how itplays out right now.
Let's say you make a thousandcds a month and I make a hundred
thousand cds a month and I say,chale, let's go have a good
time tonight.
My idea of a good time is Icould maybe spend five thousand
(06:18):
cds tonight yeah right now, whenit's time for us to go out and
have a good time, and I want tospend 5,000 CDs.
You may not have the capacityto do that, and I can afford it
and it won't.
It's like a drop in the bucketfor me.
Now for the record.
Where's the camera?
I don't.
I don't make a million CDs amonth all right, so don't, don't
go, don't get it twisted.
but so now, when you build arelationship, sometimes you
(06:38):
build relationships aroundsocial activities, around food
and about family.
Now Now let's say, for example,I want to invite you to my home
.
You make a thousand CDs a month.
Maybe.
I invite you to my home andCharlie, you're looking at my
house like, hey, master, charlie, the guy has money.
So now the relationship mayturn into a sponsorship where my
uncle is sick, my mother issick, my daddy is sick, I want
(07:02):
to go to school, can you help me?
Okay, no, and I'm not sayingthat you can't have genuine
relationships with people thatare different, but I'm saying
it's the mentality and what weplace on people based on those
social expectations.
So for me, the difficult thingwas I go back to the example of
(07:23):
you know, when I first movedhere.
The reality is forget how I sawmyself when I moved to Ghana.
Right, you're seen as a Bruni,right, and as a Bruni right, and
as a Bruni, you have money.
Oh, bugger, yes, and your moneyis limitless.
You just go to the ATM and youget money.
You, in fact, you don't have toeven put deposits, it's just
(07:45):
they're waiting for you.
So when someone has thatmentality of you, how they
engage you will be based aroundmoney Transactional it's
transactional.
And so where you think someoneis generally trying to assist
you, and maybe you've met afriend, you realize that it's
transactional.
Now, on the other hand, I'vewisened up to understand more
(08:08):
about where people are comingfrom right, how to say no, how
to navigate relationshipsdifferently.
But back then, when I wastrying to develop develop
relationships, I didn't know allof these things.
So it was very difficult whensomeone is, hey, I'm calling you
just to greet you and I'm like,oh man, this person is so nice
and then I don't realize.
It's just the how do you callit?
The, the pre conversation towhat, what is coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yes, you know something is coming.
Yes, my daughter is yes, yes,yes.
Have you ever had a phone callfrom your mechanic saying that?
I've been heard from you know,wow, listen.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I've had phone calls from everybody.
So that's why, even when I, whenI travel, I don't even tell
people I'm traveling outside ofGhana.
And when I'm outside of Ghana,if I see a number plus two,
three, three, you don't pick, Idon't pick up because I know
it's oh my big, tell it andthere's some things I need to do
.
Ok, I don't have a problem withgiving people opportunities to
(08:59):
work, but at the same time,listen, this is not a
transactional relationship and Idon't think, regardless of
whether you're Ghanaian, aNigerian, a South African, a
Brazilian, nobody wants to be ina transactional relationship
with anybody, regardless of whoyou are.
But I think that sometimes, onone hand, I get it though.
Right, because that, let me say,average Ghanaian who may be
(09:20):
making that 500 or a thousandCDs a month, who has been
underexposed about the world andabout how things work, not
because they're dumb or stupid,just underexposed, right, they
may not know the impact ofconsistently asking someone for
money, and it's not just anAfrican-American thing, right, I
got so many of my friendswho've moved to the UK, to the
US, and they tell you Chale,chale.
(09:42):
I don't even pick my phone theway people worry me.
I'm a student, I don't havemoney, but, chale, people are
asking me to send them this,this, this.
So it's not just anAfrican-American thing.
It's the mentality that we havethat says that when someone has
something more than me, I amentitled to a piece of that, and
(10:04):
I'm going to come for it.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's the thing that makes it difficult.
Again, it's so sad that it'shappening, but it's not unique.
Yeah, it's so sad that it'shappening, but it's not unique
it's not because, um even forsome of us.
You know it happens all thetime, every day.
Phone calls are coming in allthe time.
Yeah, you know the employeesyou have at a workplace every
now and then.
You know they want to borrowagainst their salary yeah you
know, and it keeps happening andyou're thinking to yourself
(10:30):
well, if this is what you'redoing, then, given the
opportunity, you're gonna steal.
Exactly given the opportunity,if it arises, you're gonna steal
.
Yes, and that explains why.
When I first started, you know,I sucked a lot of people very
quickly you have to I didn'tunderstand what was going on.
Now I'm beginning to try tonavigate a little bit better,
(10:51):
but there's always thingshappening in my mind.
Should I, should I not know?
Where is it gonna take?
Where are we going to from here?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
and it takes wisdom and understanding and knowledge
to be able to make thosedecisions.
For example, when I first cameto ghana, I had house help and
this person was stealing from meand I didn't do anything
because it was 50 pesos, 30pesos, oh that's, that's cool oh
(11:18):
, it's no big deal, but theintegrity piece.
If you steal 30 pesos, you willsteal 3 000, and if I don't say
anything about it, youunderstand, because someone told
me, actually a ghanaian friendof mine, he said you know, I
remember him saying listen,charlie, you will meet people,
you will work with people foryears and they will just break
(11:40):
your heart.
And I didn't really understandwhat he meant.
And then, when I first moved inGhana, it was a temporary house
and the guy who owned the placeI would see the way he would
speak to his workers Ha, whatare you doing?
Don't put this here.
I said, man, the guy is so mean.
When I have workers, child, I'mgoing to be this, this, this,
this and this, and you know whathappens, child, the people say,
(12:01):
ah, this foolish man, so let metake him for a ride.
So for me, when I didn't sackthe person for stealing 30 pesos
or at least let me say, have aconversation I enabled this
person.
Eventually they stole my phoneand I'm so stupid, I kept them
on working with me and theneventually they stole like 50
(12:23):
CDs.
Right, that was my problem.
Being foolish, I would neverallow someone to do that if I
was working in the States, butmy mentality was what is?
30 pesos?
The person may not have it.
But now when I hire someone, myphilosophy is I hire slow.
I train well and I fire quickly.
I hire slow.
(12:43):
So anytime I work with somebody, they go through three
interviews.
The first interview they don'teven know it's an interview.
I'll have a conversation withthem, charlie.
Let me talk to you tomorrow at3 pm on the phone.
By 3 pm, 315, they don't come.
I already know that they're notserious.
The second interview is talkingmore about the job itself.
What do you want to do?
Why do you want to do this?
(13:04):
Okay, you live at Timma andyou're working at this place.
How much is the cho-cho farefor you to come from this place
in this place?
This is the salary.
Are you sure you're okay withthis salary?
Because when you take this fromthis place to this place, this
is the salary.
Are you sure you're okay withthis salary?
Because when you take this fromthis place to this place,
talley will be eating yoursalary.
But have you thought aboutthese things?
The last interview is theformal.
This is what it is.
This is what it's not before weactually start.
(13:25):
Then I train you.
Here's the culture of theorganization.
In fact, I had to train somepeople when you're working with
me, don't throw rubbish on theground, don't throw rubbish in
the Uber, because you representme.
How can I be out here talkingabout we love Africa?
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