I Left Freetown,the capital of Sierra Leone on Monday,14th April,2025, at 2:09 pm.by a car that was not road worthy.Sooner,we started going,the driver stopped and said he had to replenish the radiator . So that was how the journey was interrupted; that after every 30 or so about minutes,we had to stop for the driver to put more water into the radiator .By sheer luck,we were able to reach the border town between Sierra Leone and Guinea safely .
CHANGE OF SIM AND CURRENCY:
This has become a reccuring ritual- At the border of every country I had entered,I had to buy a fresh Sim card so that I could access internet. Since I started my ECOWAS solidarity trip,I bought eight (8) different sim cards of eight countries all in West Africa.Also, I had to change my currency . This is a game that one has to be careful to avoid being cheated.so far I have changed different currencies that include: CFA,Liberty ( Liberian Dollar), Leones (Sierra Leone Currency) and Guinea Franc.
The ECOWAS has to double its efforts to ensure that we have eco,its proposed single currency for West Africa by the year 2027 as it promised.
It should also assess its free roaming call policy to deepen the integration in the area of telecommunication.
"GIVE ME 60,000 GUINEA TO CROSS YOU"
Almost all the borders that I crossed I parted with money to get my passport stamped. But crossing from Sierra Leone to Guinea,it was a commercial bike rider that I handed over the money, 60 ,000 Guinea Franc. So, at every barrier he would just stopped, salute the official and handed over the loot,and the barrier would be lifted for us to pass. That was how we crossed into Guinea Conakry.
FROM GUINEA CONAKRY TO GUINEA- BISSAU:
I never knew Guinea- Bissau is very far from Guinea Conakry until I spent 2 days and 2 hours on the road.We left Conakry on Tuesday 15 April and arrived Bissau on Thursday 17 April,2025 at around 5:30 pm, via a car that I boarded at Madina market in Conakry at the cost of 350,000 Guinea Franc. What made the journey to be this long, include bad road. 50 per cent of this road is not paved.Another long stretch is dilapidated.It was my most stressful journey so far. I had to board two different cars to make it to Bissau. The first driver who covered more distances, dropped us at a town in Guinea Bissau called Gabu.
Because of the high number of passengers at the bus station in Gabu; I had to wait for 3 hours before I could secure a ticket to Bissau.
EXTORTION:
Extortion of passengers along West African border posts is the rule rather than exception. For example, from Conakry to Guinea Bissau; I lost 12,500 CFA to officials manning those borders. When you convert 12,500 CFA to Naira,you would find it is a lot of money to a traveler like me.
And it was not only me who was being extorted;everyone in the car was a victim of extortion.
What pains me is that majority of the people who travel by road, are the poor, ordinary citizens, and they are the ones that are being extorted, and I am afraid; it is being institutionalized.
CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES :
Guinea's landscape is mountainous. It is surrounded by hills and mountains. Its forest is not as tick as those in Ivory coast or Ghana;but it has many trees; the type that is commonly found in the rainforest. It has also a lot of mango and cashew trees .
Guinea forest, like other forests in West Africa, is being depleted.
It was an eerie experience to me,when I saw a place that resembles semi arid area. It was like looking extreme northern part of Katsina state in the mirror.
Man can do anything to survive . Imagine to clear a rainforest? burn and cut down the long trees such as coconut .
As we continued with our journey to Bissau,by the roadside,one could see the charcoal makers and firewood sellers; and might as well,cease to care about the fate of the forest. After all, where is the alternative to charcoal and firewood? and how people can afford the alternative?
This again, ECOWAS should expedite action towards achieving clean cooking solution.
AVENIDA AMILCAR CABRAL: hmm! ,who is yet to read the history of nationalist movements in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde,has missed a lot about African nationalism. I was opportuned to take a morning stroll on a street named after Amilcar Cabral. I take my stroll as a tribute to one of the greatest African nationalists. I saw the headquarters of the PAIGC. Near it,is the presidential palace,and monument of independence heroes (Praca dos herois) and the hotel imperio.
I wish I had enough time to visit the museum.
Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina,
is currently traveling across West Africa in solidarity with ECOWAS.
