From Trotros to AI: Embracing Convenience in Ghana

There was a time when life in Ghana was just vibes and inshallah. No Google Maps, if you were lost, you had to stop by the roadside and ask random people for directions, hoping they actually knew where you were going. Now? My phone talks to me like a personal tour guide. “In 200 meters, turn right.” The way I’d be lost without GPS is actually embarrassing.

And let’s talk about mobile money (MoMo). Remember when sending money meant taking a whole trotro to the bank, standing in a long queue, and filling out forms? Now, I can send money, pay bills, and even buy airtime while lying in bed. It’s all fun and games until your friends start hitting you with, “Bro, send me small MoMo, na my balance finish.”

Ah, but speaking of trotros, we still take them oo! No matter how many ride-hailing apps pop up, some things remain constant. You’ll order a Bolt, and after waiting 15 minutes, the driver will call and say, “Boss, where you dey go?” Meanwhile, the map is right there! At that point, you start considering if you should just take the trotro instead, cheaper and no stress of explaining your location. But then you remember the struggle of squeezing between two market women with heavy baskets or the random gospel preacher turning the whole journey into a crusade.

And ahhh, WiFi! The way I manage my data bundles like my life depends on it. “Don’t watch that video, my data will finish!” Now, if I get access to unlimited WiFi, I unlock a whole new level of soft life. Streaming movies without fear? What a time to be alive!

My Stanley cup? Game-changer. I get chilled water all day without constantly refilling ice.

Now, let’s talk AI, because this thing is creeping into our daily lives, and we’re all just pretending not to see it. We used to sit down and rack our brains for social media captions, but now, ChatGPT is out here suggesting posts like a personal ghostwriter. As a digital marketer, I won’t lie, AI makes life waaay easier. From writing email campaigns to analyzing customer behavior, the tech is tech-ing.

But also, let’s be honest, AI sometimes moves mad. You’ll ask it to summarize something small, and it will give you a whole thesis. Or you’ll be trying to sound professional, and it will turn your email into something Shakespeare would write. And don’t get me started on how fast AI tools are learning, today it’s writing captions, tomorrow it’s editing videos, next thing you know, it’s replacing customer service reps. Even chatbots have upgraded from “Hello, how may I help you?” to sending follow-up messages like, “Hey, you left something in your cart!” As if I owe them money.

The way technology is advancing, I won’t be surprised if one day, our fridges start texting us: “You forgot to buy eggs.” Or our cars start complaining, “You haven’t serviced me in months.” Imagine your AI assistant reminding you that you haven’t posted on Instagram in a week, like bro, relax, I have a life!

It’s crazy how things we once lived without are now non-negotiable. MoMo, GPS, WiFi, ride-hailing apps, AI, and yes, even my Stanley cup holding me down every day. I mean, what’s next? AI that does my laundry? Because honestly, I’d sign up immediately.

What’s one new tech convenience you can’t live without? Let’s talk!😂