Woke up at 6:00 in the morning. Couldn't sleep much longer as I was jet lagged. Did all the important morning calls. The day looked interesting with Google Ghana Conference being the schedule for the day. Unlike the other Google conferences that I've been to, this one is organized for the public - to provide small & medium entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn about Google's products & get online!
After a quick English breakfast, we set out to the Alisa Hotel for the G Ghana conference. It was an amazing learning experience to interact with Googlers working in the sub Saharan Africa and the highlight being the interactions during the demo pod sessions we held. My demo pod was about Google AdWords (predictably). Basically, any one with AdWords questions could just walk up & ask away!
Top things I learnt today:
1. The room was packed with 99% men. Exposure to technology is still a privilege for the men here.
2. These entrepreneurs are intelligent and have bright ideas - they just need the right push in the early days of their business to propel them into making history in Ghana.
3. Technology/Internet penetration in Ghana is like India 10yrs ago. This also poses a big opportunity for those who recognise it's value early enough (like now!). Which is why I believe those who came for the Google conference have seen this potential and are already on their fast track to making a difference to their economy.
4. Apparently, maps don't work here! People conceptualize places in relation to a well known landmarks.
5. Credit is unheard of here. Everything is bought through cash. So, anything that's fast, easy & free is what people are looking for.
I've begun to appreciate/see India's technological advancement now! :P
Google in Africa works just like a start up but without any financial constraints of being one (how cool uh?). After the conference, we all headed out to Captain Cook for dinner. A really neat place with a submarinish sort of theme. Loved the food and the people so far... :)
Stuffed, tired and satisfied.. I'm crashing now!
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