THE ADAMS BUILDING
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<strong>THE</strong> <strong>ADAMS</strong> <strong>BUILDING</strong><br />
a journal by Jörg Hillebrand<br />
OPERATION FEED YOURSELF 2014
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>ADAMS</strong> <strong>BUILDING</strong><br />
OPERATION FEED YOURSELF 2014
Kumasi 2014, <strong>THE</strong> NEW HIPIC is around. People are tired. The atmosphere is tense. Corruption<br />
and mismanagement are the rule of the day. Daily routines for an ordinary citizen are difficult<br />
to manage and as it seems more hardships are yet to come.<br />
For 10 weeks i followed the news carefully. Everyday BAD NEWS, MORE PROMISES and NEW<br />
LIES.<br />
I met Kofi Adams and his friends in 0ctober 2014 and followed them for about a month. They<br />
stay at “<strong>THE</strong> <strong>ADAMS</strong> <strong>BUILDING</strong>“, which is an uncompleted storeybuilding in Kumasi, Breman<br />
UGC. It was built by a German bugger many years ago and has been neglected since then.<br />
Adams was hired as a watchman to take care of the building and the attached land. He lives<br />
in that building and uses the land for farming in order to maintain himself and his family.<br />
They have access to water, but not to electricity. Their lifestyle reminds me of President<br />
Acheampong´s campaign in the 1970ies, the operation “FEED YOURSELF“.<br />
There´s high unemployment in the neighborhood. Many young people are engaged in the various<br />
hustling activities since there no other alternatives. When I came there this year i encountered<br />
a high level of frustration among the younger generation.<br />
Kofi Adams lives an independent life and stays away from the above mentioned activities. He<br />
is a selfmade farmer in the city and manages the land in a sustainable way. From 4pm going,<br />
before DUMSOR hits the homes and streets, Kofi starts to prepare food at his fireplace from his<br />
homegrown crops. Around that time friends join him. They practise the NCNC idea. The place<br />
also serves as their local communication centre, where they share their food and their ideas.<br />
The food is always delicious and rich. With the little that is available they achieve a lot. They<br />
live a decent and underground life without getting themselves much involved into the hustling<br />
life of the Metropolis.
A journal by Jörg Hillebrand<br />
Thanks to<br />
Kofi Adams, Prosper Morrison, Sallah, Aisha, Francis, Mr.Watch, Akwasman, Akwasi and all the<br />
others who contributed to this work.<br />
Kumasi, Oct/ Nov 2014
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