People were all over the place, hundreds of them. Indeed, seeing is believing.
When my girlfriends told me the new West Hills Mall on the Kasoa Road was packed, I didn’t expect such numbers. But I should have, because that’s how we do it in Ghana. When something new pops up, we jump on it and suck it dry. I can remember the openings of Logos 2 (a two-week book fair on a ship at the Tema harbour), the Accra Mall, Marina Mall, Osu Mall etc. and how people poured in and out of such places. In fact, most of us who went to these areas, didn’t actually go there to shop. We went to satisfy our curiosity and to have something to contribute when our friends raised such topics in conversations.
I couldn’t help laughing and gaping at some of the different categories of people I met at the new mall, purported to be the largest mall in West Africa. I have grouped these people into seven categories. If you visited the complex recently, I’m sure you’ll be nodding in agreement with me.
The selfie group: I call them the ‘photo-gbee’ group. These are the people who took pictures of themselves posing at vantage points. Teddy bears and Christmas trees on display in shops were some of their spots. I was thinking they were even going to purchase some of these nice products, but a close follow up on some of the ‘photo-gbees’ proved otherwise. They never bought a thing. You must be laughing by now if you’re part of this group. An example was a woman who stood right at the entrance of Palace (one of the shops at the mall) not caring who was staring at her, with slanted hips, one arm in the air, one foot forward and a broad smile and took a selfie. I admired her confidence though, because shy me couldn't do this unless it was at gunpoint.
The lovers: Wow! You should see them all over the place; some holding hands and others locking arms. I couldn’t help admiring those. Some purchased gifts for their sweethearts whilst others just strolled about. There was a pair of lovebirds who caught my attention. The lady was so shy that she stopped her boyfriend from holding her waist. I overheard her say, “Oh Kweku, y3 wo krom wai,” implying they are in public and so he should stop. Most married couples didn’t show as much public affection in the mall as those who were dating. Probably they are tired of each other, in the same way Ghanaians are now tired of the Accra mall, I thought.
The kids: I love kids, but yesterday I loved them more. I wasn’t surprised at their energy because children will always show excitement at new things (especially if it is fun). They frolicked about, running up and down the stairs, holding balloons and tying some around their heads. I found it rather sweet that some men also tied balloons round their heads to identify with their children. However, some of the children were without guardians as late as 8:30pm, and that was a bit of a worry for me.
The elevator users: Oh, these folks made me laugh till my ribs ached. As I sat opposite the entrance of one of the lifts, I saw this group pack into the elevator like sardines. Perhaps you want to make a trip there to witness what I am talking about. There were some users I didn’t quite understand. They would walk past the elevator and quickly make a U-turn once they saw the door open. Most of them entered, and the next minute they were out. I noticed this young boy who was drinking some yoghurt and moving in and out of the elevator several times. I knew he was one of the first time users.
I also noticed something funny; some stepped out before they arrived at their destination. Others were dizzy immediately once they stepped out. They aren’t used to it I guess. Well, I am not used to it either but thank God I didn’t display my ignorance.
The window shoppers: This group in my estimation formed about 80 to 85 percent of all the people at the mall. They would stare and touch (oh how I hate to touch and fidget and not buy) and check the price, and … end of story.
The escalator users: They were my favourite. Whilst some were very good at it, others were the exact opposite. I observed this woman, probably in her late fifties. She nearly fell when she stepped onto it. She wasn’t the only victim though. Most users were almost tripping but none fell. I laughed at the ones who started confidently, but stretched out their arms for help once they started losing their balance on the escalator.
The pickpockets: I nearly forgot about them. Perhaps, because I didn’t see them in action. On her previous visit to the mall, one of my girlfriends actually saw one being beaten for stealing from a customer. Well, they are good at snatching phones and picking anything and everything valuable from people’s pockets, bags and cars. The next time you visit the place, make sure you keep your purse, wallet and any valuable safe, especially in the crowded areas like the elevators.
It was great fun at the West Hills Mall that night. I loved those who visited the restaurants, too. Some were comfortable. Others were studying the menu as if it was a material required for an entrance exam.
As the Akan saying goes, “3s3 waeni, 3ns3 wo kakyir3”, (meaning, you should see it for yourself instead of hearing it from others. I would urge you to visit the West Hills Mall. You will love it. And hey, don’t forget to take notice of the various groups I have told you about and see which one you belong to. And feel free to expand my list.
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