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It’s hard being the “IT” guy or the “computer” guy in Ghana.  Why? Where do I start?

• First of all, people expect you to drop whatever it is you are doing and solve their problem for them (never mind that it’s really important to you). They need their computer/ software working now.
• We really really don’t like the users that ask us to help solve a problem then start making idiotic suggestions based on incorrect information they picked up online. If you’re going to start talking nonsense so that you look like some kind of expert, maybe we should you fix the damn thing 
• People are not willing to make the simple effort required to keep their computers out of trouble (how hard is it to go online and update your antivirus? ). I don’t really believe that computers will get to a point where you don’t need to know anything to use one. They’re kinda of like cars; if you own or drive one, you should at least be able to check your own engine oil level and change a tyre. But no when it comes to computers, people feel that computers should do everything for them. Computers are a tool and are only as good as the user.
• This particular one is a pet peeve of mine and is something we usually get from business clients. They say they need a website, an application or something of that sort. You say, “Sure, I can build it for you”. You start the project and when you need cooperation or information, you don’t get it. And it’s not because someone doesn’t like you or is trying to sabotage you. It’s simply because they just don’t care. That apathy is one of the reasons, why many people in the IT industry, at least in Ghana, do such bad work. They start thinking, “I’ve been asking for information on this company’s products for the last 2 months so I can finish the kick-ass website I was building for them. Unfortunately, no one there seems to care if the website does what it’s supposed to do so I guess I’ll just put in some generic stuff and call it a day”. Apathy is a big annoyance.
• One more thing. If we’re going to spend anywhere from 1-7 hours to fix your machine, time which we could be using to do something else (studying, working on a paying client’s project or stacking piles of Convenant dead), we expect that you could at least offer some compensation. Not necessarily cash, you could offer to buy us a drink,  lunch etc. It’s nice to know we’re appreciated.