Nana Yaw Sarpong - Ready to Chew

ECG Fraud

2012-01-23T19:01:00.002Z

If you said you did not know of the massive corruption within Ghana's gargantuan Electricity Company of Ghana ECG; if you say you are one of those Ghanaians who hate smelling their own faeces; well, now you do not have any excuse to deny the existence of corruption in and debt owed by private companies and institutions and governmental bodies to the ECG. Ghana's ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has finally released documents on the types of illegal, corrupt activities happening within ECG, after eight months of undercover investigations.

Anas is not new to his game. Indeed, the man holds a law degree (so that he know what evidence to look for--those that can be used to prosecute in court).

I shall provide the list of companies that owe ECG. But before that, my opinion first. You see, the ECG has announced several times that it needs recapitalisation. For that reason alone, it undertook a project that led it to increase electricity bills of Ghanaian--most of whom pay their bills or risk disconnection by the ECG. Those who need not fear disconnection are the corporate bodies, the big institutions. For those who cannot pay bills promptly, they would have to bribe the ECG guy who shows up now and then, rudely entering and exiting, with banku and pepper or a cedi note.

Anyway, any Ghanaian who would deny knowledge of the illegality... Well, I should just shut up on that one. But come on, Ghanaians, you know that the ECG has elements within it at various levels who are corrupt. Simply corrupt. The fact that Mr. Anas had to uncover this raises serious questions both about Ghanaian state institutions and Ghanaian character. Generally, Ghanaians do not report crimes! The state institutions have taken on a lackadaisical character of not investigation anything unless it is directed by His Excellency. That is the chief problem!

Kudos to Mr. Anas and his team. I won't say anymore. Below is a list you should look at. They should be ashamed. But most importantly, ECG should collect those monies now!

Office of the President - GHS675,805.55;
State House (Parliament) – GHS635,781.31;
Police Headquarters – GHS393,736.65;
Ghana Water – GHS617,105.51;
Ministry of Finance – GHS524,924.67; V
odafone - GHS 886,814.15;
MTN - GHS 349,811.19;
Airtel - GHS56232.48;
University of Ghana - GHS4,388,500.63;
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology - GHS2,981,228.93;
University of Cape Coast - 1,871,556.40;
ECOBANK – GHS320,275.56;
La Palm Royal Beach – GHS238,621.89;
Movenpick – GHS 577,631.07
Vienna City – GHS44,435.14.

Rain in Accra Finally--Wash Us Away

2012-01-22T04:36:00.000Z

This would be my very first random post for the year 2012. I am not writing under dire circumstance, and I don't intend to write for long. I can feel the cold wind already through my louvres. Accra is experiencing rainfall for the first time in 2012, coming on the back of bad memories of floods in the last year. But that is not what is making me write. The Electricity Company of Ghana just took their lights with the coming of the rain. I suppose to intend for me to replace it with thunder and lightning.

I smell the dirt, the smell of dry terracotta rising to my nose as rain drops beat the ground. Then sitting in my room, I imagine bathing in the rain, it beating my clothing, reaching deep under my skin. I am happy it is raining, and I can only imagine is for some surreal reason.

First it was the cock that stirred the air, crowing. But when the rains started violently, I wondered if in 2012, strange things such as fowls would now signal the coming of rain instead of the croaking of frogs. I wondered if it was now nature re-adjusting to human ways instead of the reverse. Would that be good or one of the many acts of humans that lead us to our tombs.

Anyways, it is raining now in Accra finally. Wash us away. Wash away the dreadfully dry harmattan. The dust. And the Woyome-gate.

Why Fire Attorney General for only "MISCONDUCT"?

2012-01-19T16:27:00.002Z

I am of the opinion that the claims that the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General's Department (now fired by His Excellency the President), Mr. Martin Amidu, should not only be fired not

"...as a result of Mr Amidu’s misconduct at a meeting last Friday, January 13th, 2012 presided over by His Excellency."

scanned copy of letter

I believe that the reason for which he was fired, as stated by the letter, is preposterous and an affront to opinion held by many Ghanaians. Of course, our opinions mean nothing to powerful people. I think the Attorney general should be fired for his wild unsubstantiated claims. Is that what the presidency calls "misconduct at a meeting...presided over by His Excellency"??? I don't know. If so, why not state that in the letter.

I also believe that the Mr. Amidu should be made, somehow, by an investigative body, to give evidence of those he labelled "criminal" and the "colleague Ministers" who help cover up "gargantuan crimes" against the people of Ghana. I think sacking him is the easiest thing to do. It is like throwing someone in prison for stealing billions of state money. How do we get the money back? We should get that money back (and even make him walk free, instead of using state money to feed him in jail). Similarly, Mr. Amidu should be made to give us the evidence.

As it stands, it won't happen. there isn't any clear directive in the letter that discharged him of his duties that he should give evidence anywhere or a state body should investigate. For heaven's sake, he was an Attorney General and Minister of Justice, number one legal man in the Government of Ghana!

Judgment Debt and Sheer Inertia

2012-01-18T12:12:00.001Z

"Dun yeee feee." Translated: Darkness does not eat shit. Ga proverb.

I refused to comment on the issue of judgment debt payments in Ghana and particularly, the 52 (?) million Ghana Cedis the state paid to Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome. My reason for the latter was that I smelt something funny from the beginning, so I decided I was not going to eat it. About the former, I concluded that the state organs have connived to rob the people of Ghana, they look on and do nothing. Maybe it was my own impotence that killed my usual urge to rebel.

In fact, the general discourse about the huge unwarranted enrichment of Mr. Woyome was absurd, bizarre and deliberately convoluted, so that what remained was not the issue of judgment debts, but rather a colossal amount, of variant guestimated figures, paid to an individual. That is what the people of Ghana remember. The surname which is the worst and most notorious in Ghana presently--Woyome.

But the danger in the kind of memory those who discussed Mr. Woyome left with Ghanaians is that it would allow other payments, and the illegalities thereof, to continue with such equal rapidity, unabated. For this, I cannot say the discussants were indeliberate. We cannot let them of so easily. Those who discussed the issue, especially the parliamentarians and government officials, have all at one time read the Auditor General's report, or the cover letter or memo. They know.

Ghana has been paying monies to individuals and companies, corporate entities, who file all kinds of claims in court that their contracts with the state, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), have been wrongly terminated or anything close to this. This has been going on for decades. Public officials superintend this rot. Since many of these MDAs do not submit their end year accounts etc. to the Auditor General, we cannot know for sure how much of tax-payer money is been poured into the bottomless pit of individual and corporate pockets.
What should be emphasised is that all this triumphs in lack of clarity of operations, information and knowledge. The Auditor General's report is now made available online, but many Ghanaians do not have access to it, mainly because they are unaware it is available. And the media? Well, they now are bringing the whole fiasco to light. It happens that the Auditor General has on countless occasions made the same recommendation to parliament: officials who cause the state to lose such monies should be surcharged. Let me add, prosecuted.

But there is a problem: the Public Accounts Committer, which sits on the report by the Auditor General forwards his recommendations to another implementing body. Unfortunately, or knowingly, the the Public Accounts IMPLEMENTATION Committee comprises people whose institutions are liable in the Auditor's recommendation. As expected, they do not implement anything against themselves. Parliament knows this, yet it has not bothered to change it. The chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaa says Ghana needs a Financial administration or tribunal to handle cases such as this. A sentiment the Hon. Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensa Bonsu has echoed late last week. In an interview with Citi FM this morning, Hon. Kan-Dapaa stated that only about 15 percent of the report is prosecutable, the rest require administrative action. He also said parliament can make specific recommendations to be implemented by an instituted committee commissioned by parliament. But why hasn't that happened? Sheer inertia? I don't know.

As for Woyome, the Attorney General has filed a case to have him repay the money. That is not enough. He misrepresented people. Isn't that a crime? We do not punish corruption in this country. For example, I cannot fathom why someone who steals or misappropriates state money should be thrown to jail without having him refund the money. He eats free in jail, no payment on housing. Nothing!

Well, what remains clear is that the state would continue to pay "judgment debt" to people. Public officials can deliberately abrogate contracts and re-award it to another company just so that their friend whose contract got abrogated can file a suit against the state and make money. Pure corruption. Both will go free. This reminds me of an article I read yesterday in the Ghanaian Times, written by Cameron Duodu, titled Financial 101. People can begin to set up schools to teach people how to get judgment debt paid them. Free.

Theatre of Dreams

2012-01-16T17:15:00.000Z

When I was a boy I danced like alikoto
I swirl, and even twirl
My little behind stiff yet
With optical illusion I deceive myself
And the world, that my hard buttocks can whirl

When I became a man I danced kpalogo
I zigzagged, and even entered into holes
I gave up half of my father's house to friend
With a fast tongue I rattled all saying there!
My stranger-friend bought the sand for father

Now alone, I dance Azonto
I krump away while all my father's children ask:
Why have you sold the little we had?
They can go to court.

Attorney General who Fears Criminals

2012-01-12T17:58:00.000Z

There is a fable of a man who owned a portion of a land within a big land. The man was troubled many times by other land owners within the land, even tenants and neighbours. He knew the trouble-makers. And he attested that some of them were criminals. The man had the power to make these 'criminals' face the law, but mysteriously enough, he would neither send them to court or name and shame. This man, I do not know what to call him. But he must have his reasons no matter how ludicrous and asinine his reasons may seem to us.

Why the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Martin A.B.K Amidu, would pull out his own tooth, in the attempt to tell the world that the mouths of others smell, is very revealing. The AG position is fast registering as a notorious one, a hotbed and a politicised office. Its previous occupants have come under all kinds of attacks. The predecessor of Martin Amidu, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, was hounded out of the office by the current government's party loyalists. The apparent reason was that she was not prosecuting cases against members of the Kufour administration or the New Patriotic Party. She made the law argument: you just don't go to court with hearsay! When the president finally moved her out of office, she was never the same as before. Today, Martin Amidu is in the same pot he helped fan and stir.

The AG released a press statement this morning accusing an unnamed colleague Minister of State of sabotaging him because he [Amidu] "as a lawyer was a threat to the concealment of gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana in which they might be implicated.” According to the AG, the colleague Minister instigated a negative media blitz intended to tarnish his image as a lawyer and a professional with the aim of making him appear as not doing his job as Attorney General. Mr. Amidu described the pro-NDC media as a "perverse section of a rented NDC press " and "gullible section of the NDC press."

In what seemed like a treatise, the AG has clearly stated that he's away of crimes committed by some members of his party. He has asserted that "...the legal profession and the Bar, of which I am the leader, are more sacred to me than that of young and inexperienced members of a communication team of the NDC..." which indicates a perceived machination coming from his own party to oust him as AG. What is interesting is that the AG lists the pro-NDC press as the culprits. The AG has said he "never begged to be appointed Attorney-General: I opposed it on four separate occasions." So why? That is my question.

Why is the AG not prosecuting cases against the "criminals" he so loathes? Why has he chosen the media although he says he is experienced enough to know that legal battles are not fought in the media? And if he so bravely admits that he knows of criminals hiding behind political parties to avoid prosecution, why is he not prosecuting them? If he cannot file cases against these 'criminals' because he cannot go against the grain, should not he resign instead of wasting our time?
But this is Ghana, where political suicide does not kill. People do not resign because they say things that compromise their position. Martin Amidu is not the first to have gone in this suicidal path. The current Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mrs. Georgina Wood, alleged corruption in the Judiciary. Her adventure lives on still.

But why the AG says he does not fear for his life still is befuddling. The anecdotes. Who wants to kill him? And why would he choose to tell his "imaginary" assailants that he does not fear their "murderous" intents? His allusions to 1979 and 1981 is most interesting. Ghana has a history of murdered judges who were said to have died in the line of duty on 30 June 1982. But why Mr. Minister of Justice and Attorney General?

2012 Crisis and Other Stories

2012-01-04T12:59:00.000Z

"Suddenly the world has run amok and left you alone andsane behind." Wole Soyinka, Writer.

Many have wondered what 2012 would be like. I did not. But they did not have to wait far too long to see remnants of the turmoil-filled 2011 smuggle in its questionable character, stretched long like the map of Africa. In the United States, the once praised President Obama signed into law that would allow the military and the president to kill or detain US citizens without trial, for an unknown duration. The president, who's growing infamous minute by minute, added a note saying that he did not support this erosion of common civil rights/liberties of Americans, but he signed it so that the US military (the troops) would have the needed funds to carry out the spread of 'democracy' worldwide--of course, as they spread freedom abroad, Americans at home can face arbitrary arrest, could qualify as terrorists if a finger is missing or they have food stored lasting more than 7 days, and be killed without due process. Ironically, all this is very sane. That is how the year 2012 began, or that is how Obama wished Americans New Year: Enslavement.

Contrarily, 2012 stands to be a most difficult year. I mean the so-called revolutions--which I had better it remain as Arab Spring or North Africa Spring--have managed to remain in their basics, violated. Don't get me wrong, I respected the brothers and sisters in the North of Africa, their bravery and willingness to effect change. I cannot refer to these varieties of people 'awakening' as revolutions. This is what dominated North Africa for months while Israel was attempting to sabotage Iranian nuclear programmes. But this is 2012, so let me stick to that for a moment.
During the last week of December 2011, fuel price increases were announced in Ghana. A friend retorted saying those who increase the prices in the country do not buy fuel with their own cash. It is true. Their usual rigmarole between bus conductors and passengers occurred--Ghanaians settled in and allowed political/social commentators to take on the government. In fact, Hon. K.T. Hammong (MP), called the government "wicked" in a radio interview.

My people in Nigeria have found their inspiration from within themselves. Their anger. I for one think that anger without action is just a mere energy burnt. On the second day of 2012, the county announced removal of fuel subsidy. The people responded. A parody account of President Goodluck Jonathan was created on Twitter. The next day the hashtag #occupyNigeria appeared after people started mobilising to protest against the gross injustice. The protests went countrywide. A saw a tweet saying that some 300 police officers have joined the protests chanting anti-government slogans. I came by this website, occupy9ja, asking people to join up. No local television covered the protests. The BBC tried getting in there. I thought the BBC should cover its home protests, or give coverage to those in the USA and leave Nigeria alone. But that is an aside. Blogger Tolu Ogunlesi was on his game about How Not to Run a Country. I have never understood the nonsense in subsidies. A government uses the people's money to ameliorate their suffering and the government pretends they are doing the same people a favour? But this is all besides the point.

Listen to this: I want all Africans to know that great things will happen. If you refuse to give your time toaid its occurrence, it will still happen without you. I understand that thiscontinent cannot remain segregated. That is what it is: SEGREGATED. While wecannot wipe now the imposition of maps and borderlines, we can begin by wipingthose artificialities from our minds. We can connect, network and share to create a new society. If we around the continent, in other places, thesub-regions, don't assist our brothers and sisters fighting oppression, ourtime will come. Those who in their small mindedness cling to ethnicity as theircore identity do not see the collective vision in the African identity. You will lose, and it is not worth living your life as a hermit--for yourself! Triumphing in your solo peace is discordant with continental peace.

It is important that those who write our stories take centrestage. They are our memories. They are the memory of history. The writers must pick up their pens, laptops, and write! Write for the children because they are our only hope. It was Ben Okri who said "Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the artof the impossible."

Let's not forget, Ghana was a politically radical space. Ourmaturity has been there long, and we can feed on it. So can others.The pseudo peace we enjoy in this space sits on a time bomb, ticking and waiting to explode us away. Pretending the artificial space we inhabit is what we are is a self betrayal, a betrayal of our collective intelligence. For as long us we think within these boundaries, the backwardness thereof shall inure to the benefit of Others.

2012 will bring the crisis. That is not the challenge at all. The challenge is realising that the quasi institutions we operate with are old, not meant for African and they need re-structuring and re-engineering. Our academic institutions, from the very basic level must begin to teach our origins to children. This is the only way to go: Slow but sure.

Meanwhile, we must be willing to support and aid those fighting oppression--we must resist the lure of half revolutions, while remembering that a revolution without the desired change is not a revolution.

W)baakpe Ekonn, 2011: Thank You

2011-12-31T17:00:00.000Z

I have not done this on Ready to Chew before, but I think I should start thanking those who visit this space. What I usually have done is to begin the year with readers or spies--whatever they are--by stating my hope for the year, for Ghana, Africa and every personal life. I thought that was better.

In some ways, I think when I begin to thank readers for visiting here, whether by accident, reference or ritual, I then communicate insidiously the message that I require their presence. I rather like to think that people would read a page in various degrees once they found it appealing or abhorrent. Therefore, all I have to do is write and if anyone read it, fine.

So, I am putting up this post-although controversially withing my self--to mark the end of the year twenty eleven, a particularly difficult year for me as an individual in search of meaning and happiness on this wonderful planet. i have had some wonderful moments travelling around the country training teachers and students alike for the National Spelling Bee; I have met some wonderful people; Blogging Ghana has been bumpy and oracularly spectacular as well. I hope you have relished and detested the contents of this page. For those who have loved the writing on here or me, you are welcome again in twenty twelve. For those who found the posts or me execrable, I am proud of you. Such is the complexity of the 'human.'

Food Shortage and Price Hikes Next Year? MOFA

2011-12-29T12:15:00.001Z

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is warning of possible food shortages next year in Ghana and nobody is talking. Many people have little knowledge of how the foods they eat get to their table. Of course they do. They get into a grocery store within the city, or jumble about in Makola or a local market and get their foods. Therefore, it is quite understandable the little attention MOFA's warning has received.

What is interesting is that it does not stop at food shortages, price hikes will follow. The Metropolitan director of Agriculture, Mr. Kwamina Akorful, in the Daily Graphic, compared the gradual rise in food prices for us: "The price of a sack of maize which used to be GHC30 around this time last year is now over GHC60 and even at that price, it is not readily available." [emphasis mine]. Shiortage of food cannot be delinked from food price hikes. That, in fact, is its logical conclusion. There will be less food, and what would be available at all would be costly.
According to Mr. Akorful, the current food shortages is due to an abrupt stoppage of rainfall in the north of Ghana. The man cites inconsistent rainfall. This irregular pattern led to crop failure. This is why there is a likely shortage? The crops include maize, rice, millet and sorghum.

As if this is not enough, farmers who depend solely and directly on their farms will starve, at least for "a greater part of the year." And nobody is listening.
And this is not the first time. In 1983, Ghana was self-sufficient in only one staple: plantain. In 2006 there were reports of possible food shortage in the north of Ghana. In September 2010, the government re-introduced levies on importation of foods such as rice oil and maize. The explanation was that government wanted to concentrate on local production. But the prices continue to rise, there is no clear corresponding rescue plan, and Ghanaians continue to suffer.

I thought the government introduced massive irrigation projects in farming regions, what happened? Why are we still mentioning rainfall as a sole determinant for good crop yields and food? Crop specialisation is key. The group Farmers Organisation Network of Ghana (FONG) have advocated that and have managed to get some farmers to cultivate yellow maize alone this year.

But I am alarmed. Farmers may starve. If farmers starve, what should happened to those sitting in cities comfortably? I have been against using our farmlands to produce export crops mostly. I may be alone. But, I am proud to say that I now eat plantain, cassava and banana from my own backyard. With the help of my family, we've put up a little farm. if you have a space in your home, turn it into something better. Grow foods on it. It might not help others, but it will save you money and others can get access to what, otherwise, you would have bought from the food market.

Nduom Quits CPP: Set to Run as Independent

2011-12-28T11:52:00.003Z

Today, the former presidential candidate of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has chartered his own course. Dr. Nduom has announced his resignation from the party and it is obvious he will stand as an independent in the 2012 general elections.

There is not much to say at the present moment. I must confess that I have been an admirer of Dr. Nduom, his personality at least. I like his discourse. And his current decision, though leaves much to be desired by many CPP hopefuls (except, of course, those calling for his head to be severed for their own sakes), we cannot judge him too quickly.

With foresight, I can say that Dr. Nduom is quite aware of the extreme repercussions of his decision on his political lifespan. It is a Ghanaian proverb that says "if a blind man says he'll stone you, he know what he stands on." I believe Dr. Nduom had the choice of choosing comfortable politics and he decided against it. For that alone, he deserves some credit. He has been engaged with many youths nationwide, CPP and non-CPP. That is an asset he still could utilise. I know he is the only presidential candidate who ever used social media seriously--setting up discussion forums on his facebook page and following up on it with an actual meeting with young people. He has a twitter page now. he cannot be a joke.

For those who think the CPP was better without him, they should prove to Ghanaians what they can achieve.

Click here and here for other press details.

Ghana Police is Helpless

2011-12-21T15:56:00.000Z

I have stated, though not on this blog, that I dislike the use of motorcycles as a public transport. My reasons for the opposition are very personal and hopefully by extension general. This morning, I saw someone fell off a motorbike on the High Street in Accra. He did not get any injuries, but at the point of the action, I felt my heart jump out. So, that may be my first reason: I deem motorcycle (especially with 2 or more people) as a perilous adventure.

Ghana's curent road and traffic regulations are against the use of motorcycles as taxis. And it should remain so. For a long time, no one ever introduced this danger as a means of public commercial transport. I never read or heard any Ghanaian call for it. Somehow, I'm sure we knew it would only add to the hundreds of deaths on our roads. But now, they are here.

Just an interlude, when I travelled to Ibadan, Nigeria, I went by road. The 9-hour journey took me through Benin. On my return, I made a stop in Benin. My plan was to window shop, then may be buy a thing or two. But my shock came when I attempted to cross the road from one end to the other. Motorcycles like a swam of bees. I hated it. The motorcycles controlled the road and I hated it. The dangers of okada in Nigeria are well documented.

Back in Ghana, we do not have special roads for motorcycles. The police has no effective means of checking motorcycle users' behaviour--hell, even cars and buses they struggle to control or enforce law and order. This will not change anytime soon. Another problem is that motorcycles now want to share the pavements with commuters. They shove you off onto the road, and they think they are right.

I cannot stand for this and I think any sane person should not make the traffic congestion argument here. If there is congestion in the city, if people find it hard getting a bus ride home after work, we should find an efficient way to solve the problem. It is why we have city authorities. It is why we have the ministries of local government and roads and transport et al. We should get a solution. For so long, we have loved the mediocre. And yes, the motorcycle taxi thing is a mediocre solution from mediocre minds.
If anything at all, those riding these death machines want to make money. That is all. they want to make money without considering safety.

But here, the Ghana Police looks on helplessly. They know that these riders wait around at specific locations to pick up passengers. They call out to you as you wait for a bus. I have experienced it. I have 2 photos that I took at Tema Station. But the Ghana Police wants to play hopeless and helpless--failing to enforce the law. And that is our death as a country!

What Happens with Nduom's Ticket and Samia's CPP

2011-12-15T15:58:00.000Z

Samia Nkrumah

I have watched in dismay the internal destruction--or better, the pseudo destruction-- of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the past few weeks. It started with media reports that the newly-elected Chair of the party, Samia Nkrumah, alleged that some powerful figures within the party are stampeding the new leadership into a congress to elect a presidential candidate. The party had just come out of a congress, which saw the election of the party's national executives, and Samia thought jumping right back into another was destructive. In the ensuing days, Samia pointed two fingers at strong party faithfuls and the party's 2008 presidential candidate, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, accusing the latter of instigating the former to push for a congress.

Nduom has maintained that he has been engaging party faithfuls across the country. Nothing can be wrong with that. In real terms, he is the only presidential candidate since 2008, given that the CPP has not organised any congress to elect a new candidate. As for Samia, one can only hope that by poking her finger into Nduom's eye, she is not deliberately causing him pain so that other candidates can take over--or the more insidious one, that the party does not field a presidential candidate in 2012. Call it tragic, but the party has sued its own 2008 presidential candidate and 19 others as well (here).

Dr. P.K Nduom

Indeed, not all are with the party Chair. Alhaji Murtala Kwame, the Northern regional Youth Organiser of the party, has labelled Samia Nkrumah a "mole" of the National Democratic Congress (here). Samia has remained resolute, playing on the party's constitution and a quasi fatigue from the congress that put her and the other national executives in power.

Things have not subsided yet. At least the mainstream media will concentrate of the seized cocaine which upon second testing months later turned out to be sodium bicarbonate. Meanwhile, Dr. Nduom soldiers on. He is a businessman after all. And he knows this best. A spokesperson of his has said that the 2008 presidential candidate is keeping his plates full, digging into every corner of his kitchen, including that of the CPP, as far as the 2012 is concerned. Nduom is a firm believer in domesticating Ghana for Ghanaians and Africans. He still is recruiting soldiers to prosecute his vision for the country, starting with the 7 December 2012 polls.

Further, in a recent interview with the Daily Graphic (here), Dr. Nduom made it clear:

"...I am currently engaged in broad consultations. I am taking my time consulting elders of the CPP, my family members, sympathisers and supporters across the length and breadth of Ghana."
If there is anything at all, I have developed strong respect for Nduom for how he has shrewdly conducted himself throughout these weeks of assaults from the new executives.

For now, Dr. Nduom has postponed his decision until January 2012. The speculations will continue. But whatever move the management/business mogul may make, I do not see if falling too far off from the CPP.

Why Can't White People Stay Awake in Trotros?

2011-12-15T00:30:00.000Z

I hardly sleep in buses. The same goes for trotros. If I did, I would have been drugged. This may be in part due to my inability to sleep during the day, and my self-absorbed principle that I must work during the day--make the most of it at least.

I have observed, however, that many expats in the country don't behave similarly. They should not. After all, many Ghanaians do sleep when in buses. But, I seek to say something different hear. I never have come across any 'white' person in trotro, awake. They all make it a commandment to sleep while in trotros. That makes me wonder: Can't any of these folk stay awake? Read? Or whatever? What work do they do in Ghana?

Just two days ago, while in a trotro, a 'white' person sitting next to me fell asleep during the 45 minute journey to Dansoman. She slept on my shoulder. I wonder at the reverse though.

Barcamp Ghana 2011 Press release

2011-12-14T21:30:00.000Z

Barcamp Ghana 2011 Press release

BarCamp Ghana 2011 is a free 1-day networking forum for discussion and dialogue about Ghana which will take place on December 17, 2011 at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre. The theme is “Establishing Partnerships to Transform Dreams into Action-Based Projects: Lessons from Mentors”.

A key focus will be the sharing of inspirational stories about partnerships between attendees and their mentors to create successful Ghanaian projects and businesses. Through this event, we seek to highlight the importance of appropriate partnerships and corporate engagements in ensuring the success of projects, spurring wealth creation and economic growth. Most prospective project managers and social innovators lack the know-how to establish partnerships with pivotal stakeholders such as public regulation bodies, state revenue authorities, financial institutions, and the media. Without these crucial linkages, many promising projects meet their early demise to the detriment of our nation as a whole. BarCamp Ghana 2011 is geared towards helping to reverse this trend.

We will also feature a speed mentoring session. Various confirmed mentors, speakers, and session leaders will include like Bernard Avle, Samuel Jonathan, Albert Ocran, Sheila Bartels-Sam, Lionel Dosoo, Leila Djansi, Carl Ashie, Kofi Dadzie, Alex Adjei-Bram, Nana Awere Damoah, Sefakor Gbewonyo, Alfred Cran-Mensah, amongst others.

The BarCamp Ghana team has successfully organized 10 BarCamps in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Tamale and Ho, resulting in a network of Ghanaian doers, entrepreneurs and change makers. This year’s final event is organized by the GhanaThink Foundation, a youth-led Ghana and US-based NGO. Like all Barcamps, there will be user-generated sessions and discussions in which attendees set the agenda for the day. If you are interested in organizing a breakout session, let us know, especially if you have special needs.

To Register/RSVP, visit: BarCamp Ghana eventbrite website.

Sponsors and Partners:

BarCamp Ghana 2011 is sponsored by the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, GhanaThink Foundation, Fienipa Group, Nandimobile, and iRokko Concepts. Our media partners are ModernGhana.com, Citi 97.3 FM, Radio Universe.

To become a sponsor, please contact the BarCamp Ghana team at www.barcampghana.org or email info@barcampghana.org

That is Not Who We Are?

2011-12-13T12:54:00.002Z

I remember when I was a school boy, on my way from school--some time noon--I greeted anyone adult-looking. I just would look up and say "ofain3, good afternoon." I did not only greet, which is a politeness structure, I added the ever clear and Ghanaian-fabled mark of politeness "please." I was a boy then. No one told me directly to say be polite in such a manner, when whenever I deviated I was told point blank what I ought to have said. The practice was engraved in my psychological framework. I never went anywhere leaving my politeness in my house. Other kids I grew up knowing did it too. it was Ghanaian.

Today, I still say please. Of course, i speak more English now, and with my kind of education, I know of the English modals so I could use them without the free distribution of "please." But I speak Ga, and Akan too. I never make utterances without the politeness forms. I also have made a conscious effort to add the more sophisticated polite form--a smile. But there is a problem. It is no more my nostalgia. When I look at today's Ghanaian child, I do not see the conspicuous polite child. most of them go by you without a word. They demand things as if you owe it to them.

It is generally said that "things change."And in Ghana, it is changing for the worst. The adult Ghanaian is fast becoming vitriolic and vile with his/her language. Quickly, the first reaction from the adult Ghanaian is a near-abusive language. But is that who/what Ghanaians are? I remember we all shared a value, respect each other, especially the stranger. I know also that we see pacifism as the normal channel of handling issues. However, that has changed. When the few ones amongst us complain of how worse our children are becoming, those "lost" adults respond that "things have changed."
This has been the mantra of Ghanaians who have been too busy to pause and think of their lives, how they live it--and most of all--how it affect the whole.

Further, we cannot assume this "new" attitude will remain at the level of our ordinary lives. It is not surprising that many elderly statesmen/women have targeted political discourse nowadays and labelled it is "politics of insult." I urge them, and others who have the time to think of this country, to be more perceptive than they are now. They should look at our homes, the parents and children. That is where the problem is from. Ghanaians are beginning to not care; and, that is dangerous.

When I was at the University of Ghana, some final year students at the Department of English (I was in this group) determined to study the politeness levels of Ghanaians using the known Politeness Theories. Their findings, although on a small scale (in terms of research), were astounding to many who saw it, but not to me. It would not be shocking to any Ghanaian today. The research concluded that Ghanaians are not as polite [anymore] as they like to think (at least, in Politeness Theories, we know of the positive face). How many times have you said "thank you" to a bus conductor (mate) who gave you change? How about your children?
Who are we now? I know we have changed for the worst. I cannot begin to tell anyone of the multifaceted reasons for the damage. When we see children in films talking anyhow to their parents and adults they do not know, it should remind us to not let go of the good old values. Maybe there is redemption still.

TEDxDzorwulu Press Release

2011-12-07T16:23:00.001Z

OnSaturday, December 10, 2010, from 8:00AM – 5PM GMT, the inauguralTEDxDzorwulu conference will be held at the African Regent Hotel inAccra Ghana on the theme: Think,Create and Innovate.

TEDxDzorwuluwill focus on innovation that has taken us beyond traditionalthinking and is producing budding Entrepreneurs from across Ghanawhose inventions and ideas are becoming income generating venturesand also providing solutions for today's modern societal problems.

TEDxDzorwuluspeaker line up will feature five forward thinking Ghanaians fromdifferent disciplines. Wanlovthe Kubolor, Fred Deegbe, Sheila Bartels-Sam, Kinna Likimani anda surprise speaker, who will be announced on the day.

Theevent hopes to bring together innovators, explorers, bloggers,technologists, academics and entrepreneurs who embraces andencourages collaboration, conversation and interaction. Our aim isalso to create a network of doers & achievers who are ready tobreak through their own borders that have limited them from been ableto Think, Create and Innovate.

TEDxDzorwuluwill be a carefully curated event of a 100 of your smartest and mostcurious young innovators/entrepreneurs, CEO's, Managers and Idealist.This is an opportunity to explore new ideas, get inspired byvisionary thinkers, and gain exposure to new concepts, an afternoonof intellectual adventure.

ABOUTTEDx

Inthe spirit of "ideas worth spreading," TED has createdTEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bringpeople together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is calledTEDxDzorwulu where x = independently organized TED event. AtTEDxDzorwulu, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to sparkdeep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conferenceprovides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDxevents, including ours, are self-organized.

ABOUTTED

TEDis a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Startedas a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown tosupport those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. Theannual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doersto speak for 18 minutes.

Theirtalks are then made available, free, at TED.com.

TEDspeakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, ElizabethGilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brownand George Ayittey.

Towatch the livestream tune intowww .livestream .com /tedx,to follow the conversation on twitter follow the hashtag#TEDxDzor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tedxdzorwulu, for any morequestions you can contact us on tedxdzorwulu@gmail.com

Dr. Agambila Reads for WPG's Ghana Voices Series

2011-11-28T15:33:00.001Z

In our last reading for the year 2011, the Writers Project of Ghana will feature Dr Gheysika Adombire Agambila, author of the novel, "Journey". The Ghana Voices Series is a series of monthly book readings at the Goethe Institute, Cantonments, Accra, and is intended to create a platform for both writers and Ghanaian reading audience to interact.

This event offers the opportunity for you to meet and interact with G A Agambila. There will be a short discussion session after the readings. Copies of the book will be on sale.

This months reading is organised in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, Accra.

Date: Wednesday, 30 November
Time 7:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
Location: Goethe-Institut Accra, 30 Kakramadu Road, (next to NAFTI ), Cantonments, Accra.
Admission is free.

Gheysika Adombire Agambila was born in Bolgatanga, and was educated in Ghana and the USA, where he had his BA from Brandeis University, an MBA from the University of Rochester, and Ph.D from New York University. Dr Agambila has worked with Ernst and Young, taught at the University of Ghana Business School, and served as a Deputy Minister of State in the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, Harbours and Railways, and Environment and Science.

He also has to his credit a collection of short stories for children, "Solma: Tales from from Northern Ghana".

Dr Agambila will read from the novel, "Journey", described by reviewer Kari Dako as "…an absorbing exploration of reality in contemporary Ghana…" and by A Denkabe as "… a fine novel, written in a sober yet often moving style, and rich in the way it reflects the Ghanaian post-colony."

"Journey" is published by Sub-Saharan Publishers and is available in bookshops across Ghana and also online at Amazon.com

Kinnareads Hosts Ghanaian Literature Week

2011-11-16T10:52:00.000Z

This week, Kinna Likimani, book blogger and African Literature enthusiast/'fanatic' is hosting Ghanaian Literature Week.
An event which is gradually becoming an annual affair seeks to celebrate mainly Ghanaian Literature.

Kinna describes the rules for the Ghanaian Literature week on her blog kinnareads thus:

"read a literary work by a writer who is from or lives in Ghana, read a book about Ghana, discuss any issue related to reading and books in Ghana."

Tomorrow, November 17, on Twitter, Ghanaian literature/book lovers will chat with the Ghanaian (but UK resident) writer and poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes at 8pm. The hashtag for tracking the conversation is #GhanaLit.

I am re-reading Ayi Kwei Armah's The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born for the week. Maybe, quite fortuitously, the Writers Project of Ghana's monthly Book Discussion Club is reading Armah's Fragments for the month. The venue of the discussion is the American Corner of the Legon Centre for International Affair and Diplomacy (LECIAD) at the University of Ghana. The time is 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. You can email any enquiries to info@writersprojectghana.com or visit their webpage.

Let's make the Ghanaian Literature Week successful. Grab a book! There are many Ghanaian authors.

University of Ghana Homecoming

2011-11-15T15:58:00.002Z

The University of Ghana is organising a special fair of its programmes which it has dubbed "International Education Fair and 'Homecoming' Event." The programme which began yesterday at the university's Legon campus saw the vice president of the World Bank, Ezikweli, deliver an opening address at the Great Hall.

The event is expected to showcase the research output of the university from the various Units of the University to both the public and private sector and contribute to the development and teaching programmes. The event will also see the various faculties and departments host several programmes; therefore, the entire event is somehow decentralised. It is also expected to run from Monday, 14 to Friday 18 November.

My focus is on the Homecoming itself where Alumni of the university are expected to file into the university to visit their departments, schools etc. and participate in the various programming. I'm attending the even myself, mainly as a former Broadcast Journalist with Radio Univers and a Sportman. Yesterday, I appeared on the Morning Show and handled the Newspaper Review. I'm scheduled to also appear on the literary show Read A Book and also present the 'consumer watch' programme, Area Online. On Thursday, I will host the Morning Show with Citi FM's Shamima Muslim.

Definitely, if you are an Alumni, please show at Legon!

Accra Rains: Climate Change and Attitude

2011-10-26T15:17:00.001Z

The topic is almost trite to begin with. At about 4 A.M. this morning, I received a call from a former colleague journalist. He asked if my home was flooded. The mention of flood jolted me out of my sleep. No, my home was not, I live at Dansoman and sometimes Osu and hardly does Osu get flooded.

But I was up and busy tweeting whichever credible information I could lay my hands on. At the time, many Ghanaians I know on twitter were silent, or probably asleep. I turned to Citi FM. And as it turned out, Richard Dela Sky had started a live report from at around one in the morning. It was the kind of journalism devoid of sensationalism but well focused on detail and description. Then many other Citi FM reporters got hooked on reporting from the whole Circle area, Achimota, Kisseiman, Kasoa, Weija et cetera. I still felt alone relaying all that information on to twitter until I saw that colleague Ghana Blogger member Mac-Jordan was awake.


Ghana Army arriving on scene

For me, I noticed that although news reporting started during the early hours when areas started getting flooded, it was not until about four hours later that the nation''s security appeared on the scenes as they tried to rescue flood victims.

The Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Portuphy, said his office has put together a combine rescue team consisting of the Ghana Army, Police and Fire Service. That was at about 5.30 A.M. Three deaths had been reported, two had been confirmed. Six people were reported missing. Communities were flooded with people on top of their homes

When Citi FM spoke to Dr. Amamoo, an expert, he confirmed that Accra had a primordial rainfall pattern and September-October was the second phase. If anything at all, Accra had just made a turnaround to pick up its past rainfall pattern. This says a lot about us as a people. We have taken too many things for granted. Indeed, climate change cannot be factored out of these change in rainfall pattern. And what have we done to contribute to this? Dr. Amamoo points to our destruction of Accra's vegetation. The rains fall and quickly disappear.
Indeed, flood is a discourse we have had over the years and yet, our reaction has been quite predictable.
Many have mentioned building on Accra's waterways. I dare say that if we plan and prepare ahead, that could be surmounted. And oh the drainages, if you see someone litter, call him or her to pick it up!

As for His Excellency the President, just as I anticipated, he was on the flood scenes making a first stop at Circle where he said "...the government will do everything to bring this under control" and extended his sympathies to the families of the flood victims. I think it is not the sympathies we need. Get the boats for the military. Too expensive? Try building a ship industry! Not too ambitious

Meanwhile, I can only congratulate the many Ghanaians who stepped out to show great communal spirit by helping those in distress while help seemed far-fetched. The journalists who helped disseminate information and cover the ongoing destruction of property. We can educate residents on how to respond better to floods or any forms of disaster.

For a crowdmap on the Accra Floods, please click here. On twitter, use the hashtag #AccraFloods

Qathafi Dies: What is Left of Us?

2011-10-20T20:43:00.000Z

No one deserves to die the way Qathafi did. No one. As a world, we have lost our sense of dignity and respect for human life. The use of force, and its erroneous righteousness, is rampantly being propagated and entrenched in politics--international politics where largely Europe and America is in the fray. I shall not attempt a trace at how mispractice has become the norm. It is not the purpose of this post.

For many of us south of the Sahara, who have been watching keenly the events unfolding up above us in the north, we do not know how to react exactly towards our brothers and sisters (who have been Arabised for some long decades now). We are in a state of dilemma because we want them to choose a government for themselves and remove their long-serving leaders who have become demagogues, but we do not want foreigners who only are in it for their well-known selfish ends. We also are afraid that their genuine quest for a freer, more liberal society could well become their destruction--a fear largely fuelled by our own recent past with these foreign, resource hungry powers. Cote d' Ivoire still bores a horrid military haircut. We have known instability well too.

But as a continent, we have not learnt much from our association with these destructive powers who see vengeance or reprisal killings as justice compared to reconciliation. Within us as a people, we know killing a man does not solve a problem. However, that is a common thinking amongst Western governments. Qathafi's death is just one of many killings done in the past and today and most likely will continue. These killings will continue as long as there is an African president, politically and economically willing to oppose the West or wanting to charter a different path for his or her people. Of course Qathafi should go. Indeed, he does not stand in the class of Lumumba or Nkrumah. Not even Mugabe. So at least, we down here south of the Sahara agree that a leader who outstays his want should leave. What we questions, however, is when foreigners who are daylight thieves pretend they are altruistic offer help to destroy our countries.

The National Transitional Council cannot rule Libya. It therefore raises several questions. They have proven to be inconsistent, even about their lies. Libya is definitely not in safe hands. The idea of a proxy state is not far-fetched. Such a state allows for resource theft and poverty. Some of us thought the United Nations states that a people had a right to choose whichever form of government? Well, who believes in that anymore? I have just read a poem from a friend, Eunice Tekpor, titled "Ye Who Stand In The Way" and I hope to share it later.

Today, Qathafi has been killed. I hold no brief for him. Hell, I am not sad by his death. I am sad for the Libyan people. I am sad for the rest of Africa. For as they (NATO et al) killed him, they ready themselves to send money in the form of aid to the illegitimate National Transitional Council as they steal and dry up the Libyan oil.

Elizabeth-Irene Baitie: Guest Writer for October's

2011-10-20T19:48:00.001Z

This month, we will be featuring Elizabeth Irene-Baitie, author of the novel, “The Twelfth Heart”, which won the first prize in the Burt Award for African Literature (Ghana) in 2010.

Elizabeth-Irene Baitie is a Clinical Biochemist and runs a medical laboratory practice in Adabraka. She grew up in Ghana. She attended Achimota School, and has a degree in Biochemistry with Chemistry from the University of Ghana, Legon, as well as a postgraduate degree in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Surrey in the UK.

In 2002, her novel, “Lea’s Christmas”, was short-listed for the Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa (Senior readers). Four years later, her children’s story, “A Saint in Brown Sandals”, won the Macmillan Prize for Africa (Junior readers). She has just finished another novel for young adult readers which will be published next year.

Elizabeth will be reading from her novel, “The Twelfth Heart” (book cover to the left), which tells the story of fifteen year old Mercy, in boarding school for the first time. Mercy knew the sort of friends she wanted to make — certainly no-one who would remind her of the small town she had left behind — poor, ugly or dull. How was she to know that the least likely of the girls in her boarding house would come to mean the most to them all?

This event offers the opportunity to listen to and interact with Elizabeth-Irene Baitie. There will be a short discussion session after the readings. Copies of the book will be on sale.

This programme is organised in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, Accra.

Date: Wednesday, 26th October
Time 7:00pm – 8:00pm.
Location: Goethe-Institut Accra, 30 Kakramadu Road, (next to NAFTI ), Cantonments, Accra.
Admission is free.

Accra Reads! Accra's Celebrity Readings

2011-10-06T15:34:00.000Z

Accra Reads, an annual reading project initiated by the Goethe-Institut, commenced in October 2010 with its first edition. Themed, “Creating Leaders Through Reading”, Accra Reads aims at generating the habit of reading among Ghanaians, especially school children in some relatively deprived communities in Accra. The whole idea is to bring Ghanaian celebrities to read and interact with pupils, using a book by a Ghanaian author. The Writers Project of Ghana (WPG) has been a key partner of Accra Reads from its inception.

Last year, two public readings were held on the 7th and 8th October at the Kathy Knowles Library (Mamobi/Nima) and Arts Centre (Accra Central) respectively. It was inspiring to say the least, to witness musicians such Paapa Yankson, Asem, Ayigbe Edem and Richie read to children. Also present at the event were high powered representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and UNESCO.

This year, Accra Reads promises to be more exciting with four public readings spread throughout the month of October. These readings will be preceded by a brass-band processing through the streets of James Town and an official launch at the Ghana Library Board Premises on 6th October, 2011. Our first reading session will be on 7th October, tomorrow.

On Friday, 14th October 2011, Accra Reads will start off at the Kathy Knowles Library where the event was launched last year. This will be followed by a reading in Mamprobi on 21st October and a final session at Madina on 28th October. At every public reading, there will be at least two celebrities present to read from “Between Sisters”, a book authored by Adwoa Badoe. It promises to be fun and impactful and WPG looks forward to yet another successful event this year.

The Prophecy of “Forward Ever, Backward Never”

2011-09-22T18:15:00.000Z

We cannot pretend we have moved forward. Alas, neither can we portend we are moving forward because we capture the sentiment in phraseology. For after all, it was former president John Kufuor who ominously stated that “we pretend to pay people and they pretend to work.”

It will be purelydisingenuous to surmise that Ghana is visionless, while consideringthe direction it has chosen over the past 5 decades. It has beenchequered but not visionless in terms of direction mainlyattributable to senseless military adventurism and headlessdemocratic governments, the latter having the feet of clay and theheart of a bird. Yet, the generality of Ghanaians remain resoluteabout the where they envisage their country to be. It still issuccinct in their minds what symbol the declaration of “forwardever, backwards never” meant.

However, for many,Ghana could reclaim the prophetic “Forward ever” with a cloningof Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s ideals, leadership verve, sense of pride inholding up supremely the Ghanaian interest et cetera. We cannot faultthose Ghanaians who sleep each night dreaming of over 60manufacturing plants, functioning libraries, well-equippedlaboratories and teachers spread nationwide with Osagyefo’sGhana—it is a good dream. But, we cannot pretend others would sitby and allow Ghana to reclaim its manufacturing years under Dr.Nkrumah—they would rather die. We cannot begin to pretend.

We stopped moving“Forward.” I hear someone say “oh come on, what of recentcommentaries claiming Ghana as the fastest growing economy?” I asksuch a person to look at other big economies and find out what Ghanahas in common with them today and juxtapose that to what pertained inGhana during the early 1960s. I ask that person to find out whichpeople are proclaiming Ghana’s economy as fastest growing and theirentrenched interests in Ghana remaining a consumer but not aproducer.

What we should berealising quickly is that we have been pretending other people haveaided us along the way for their own benefits. Founders Day affordsus the luxury of a whole day to reflect and do the neededintrospection.

Dr.Nkrumah, our first president, was an intellectual of the highestorder and he applied his intellect. We have the example we need tosucceed and proceed. By studying his life, we will realise the key tounlocking the prophecy of “Forward ever Backward never” residesnot in replicating the Osagyefo’s Ghana—that would be an exerciseof lazy intellectuals. It would require of us to raise a combinationof an Obama, a Lula Da Silva and an Appiah.

The key is studying thecore of Dr. Nkrumah’s thinking with respect to how to move Ghanaforward. Embracing and poaching those willing to assist us build backup our manufacturing sector; rallying every woman and man tounderstand why Ghana needs to change, why we now must work harder andstop aiding those sucking our milk and blood; forming working groupsof young people committed to studying and raising theirconsciousness.

Raising another Dr.Nkrumah would be a difficult venture, even an exercise in futility.But a well educated, conscious, confident population is equal to theDr. Nkrumah we so much desire to lead Ghana to build a nation basedon our collective cultural values and hard work. If you do not understand that Ghana cannot develop under the IMF and World Bank control; if you cannot understand that industry done by Ghanaians is the way to proceed; then, you never understood Nkrumah.

I Laugh Because Wiki is

2011-09-05T15:03:00.000Z

I have been absent from this blog for some time now. Probably for the whole month of August. At the time of writing this post, I did not check up on the last post I did. It did not matter at all to me other than the new post, which like a new baby, I'm here for its naming ceremony.

Last Friday, 2 September 2010, I read samples of Wikileaks cables released online by the famous (hated by politicians and loved by the citizenry) whistle-blower on Ghana. The first contained cables detailing a trip The Netherlands ambassador to Ghana and his wife had with former President of Ghana Jerry John Rawlings around 1996-7. In the cables, the wife of the ambassador observed (and the cables said it was "incontrovertible" evidence) that president Rawlings would disappear during meetings and only reappear as someone acting strangely, as if he'd taken in something to boost himself.
Oil companies in Ghana like Tullow have had meetings with foreign ambassadors and have given away information that could be described as state secrets. The cables also reveal that government information to the public about the sale of Kosmos shares to US oil giant ExxonMobil was deceptive to an extent.
Ghana's own state officials, the ambassadors have alleged in the cables, want the profits of the oil for their individual pockets.

It appears to me that foreign ambassadors in Ghana are clearly involved in espionage activities. For once, I cannot fathom how the wife of an ambassadors, whose only professional experience is as a social worker, could describe a president as a "drug user" and deferential to his wife (better still as we say in Ga, an "otoodonu," a man who acts as a fool for his wife). What is worse, this is sent back to the ambassador's home country as his report. Gossip becomes evidence. It appears it is all they do.

I for one, I have come to appreciate the efforts of a service like Wikileaks. After, the government of Ghana (its parliament too) is yet to ratify the Freedom of Information Bill that has been before it for ages. So why not spill the beans on all of them? If for nothing at all, these countries, Ghana included, should see the foreign ambassadors for what they are: spies. They should put them in their place. If you are a diplomat, it is not your duty to go sniffing "shit."

But can our officials do that? Not when their activities must be stamped and funded by these same people who have made it their duty to insult them in their backs. Where I come from, a man does not look in your face, smile with you, pat your back, then calls you a fool and a drug peddler when he is with his countrypeople.
Meanwhile, I'm beginning to regards these foreign diplomats as "kokonsa" who do not deserve the welcome they are accorded. But hey, once they dish out a million dollars to cheap politicians (and you're cheap if you will sell your country for a hundred million dollars for your integrity), they will ran back to them like some silly slaves. For now, let us have some more cables!!!

London Protests

2011-08-10T18:36:00.000Z

I am someone who hardly heeds the Ghanaian maxim "dzi wo fie asem" or "mind your own business--a phrase which President Atta Mills has rather ironically made more popular when the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) sought to mock the president through the same proverb. My penchant to talk about many things--whether about Africa or anywhere else--remains settled on one slowly acquired conviction: If you don't mind what "they" do, they will eat your soup anyway.

When the "xenophobic" attacks heightened in South Africa before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we were treated to a bitter cocktail of stories about how unsafe foreigners who wanted to watch the games would be and the need to move it away, elsewhere off the continent. Even the attacks on the Togolese football team in Angola during the Nations Cup in 2010 was capital for the mainly Western media to question security in far away South Africa.

Earlier this year, some Libyan, likely stimulated by other uprisings in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia, rioted and later took up arms in protest against the government there headed by Gathafi. Some people, including the United States and Britain and France and NATO decided to attack the Libyan government and its military framed as support for the civilians who already wielded guns and ammunition. They said they were protecting the civilians, civilians who I must say possessed guns already.

Like they say in Ghana, "tso ni ak3tswaa Tettey l3 aketswaa Tetteh." The stick with which we use on Tettey must be the same stick we must use on Tetteh." Some many young people in London started protests last Saturday, 6 August, which has spread to Manchester etc. The police brutalities which we have seen are barbaric and murderous to say the least. They obviously do not fall short of what we have seen in Libya.

We have seen young people loot shops in the process. The question is: Are these young British people that hungry to be looting? I was horrified last night as I watched from my room in Ho on CNN and Al-jazeera as videos revealed police officers on horse-backs like in the medieval times.

The question lingered. Should we take the London Olympics away from London?

Anthologies for 2012: Poetry and Short Story

2011-07-16T10:28:00.003Z

The Writers Project of Ghana intends to publish two anthologies of Ghanaian writing in 2012. There will be one anthology of poetry and another of short stories.

You are welcome to be a part of this.

Poetry: Send in five poems on any theme to poetry@writersprojectghana.com. Maximum length of any poem is 120 lines.

Short Stories: Send a short story between 400 – 4,000 words, on any theme to story@writersprojectghana.com.

Enquiries: info@writersprojectghana.com.

The target readership for these anthologies is young adults and older. The language of choice is English, but works in other Ghanaian languages are welcome.
All submissions must be of original, previously unpublished writing.

Submissions should be received by 30^th September, 2011.

The Writers Project of Ghana 2011 anthology of poetry, look where you have gone to sit, is available at the following places:
EPP bookshops
University of Ghana Bookshop, Legon
Citi FM, Adabraka
All Writers Project Programmes

Amina Assault: 1 Dismissed, 6 Face Suspension

2011-07-15T13:48:00.000Z

The University of Ghana has dismissed a student and suspended 6 others for their alleged involvement in the infamous Amina sexual 'assault.' This followed investigations on misconduct and sexual assault done by the the university's own Disciplinary Committee constituted after the incidence.
The dismissed student is Maxwell Kwadwo Frempong. The 6 other students suspended are Francis Attah Wiredu, Mark Dickson Kwame Tornu, Morris Awaregya; Jason Boama Ampomah, Benedict Neequaye Broohm and Elijah Tamboeg.

9 suspected students are still in court ( I want to believe that includes the 7 whom the university has descended on) after they were granted bail.

Amina is widely reported to have faced the wrath of some angry students at the Mensah Sarbah Hall after the students accused her of stealing phones and a laptop. The university security was conspicuously absent at the late night scene (only one security officer was present but was not seen to have called for backup).
What is interesting is that Amina had been reported to the Police in 3 separate occasions on account of suspected theft and thus she is a well-known face among students on campus. Many students condemned the university authorities for turning a blind eye to security issues on campus and for not standing by it's students. Students at the time accused the media, especially Joy FM, for blowing issues out of proportion. I'm afraid I would have to agree with the students on that score.

Meanwhile, the case is still in court. Those 7 students have indicated that they will appeal against the university's decision. I cannot overlook the prejudicial implications of the university's decision given the fact that it has, as per its sanction, signalled heavily that the suspected students were guilty.

What is also clearly missing was the central figure, Amina. I am yet to cite any section showing that the university investigated the alleged theft. Even if it did, the university cannot sanction her neither can it stop her from committing any future alleged thefts. It is most unfortunate that the university has overlooked the porous security on campus which after all kick-started the whole bizarre affair. It would appear that Amina has escaped the university.

The Lawless

2011-07-14T14:08:00.001Z

What we still do not fully comprehend as a people - as a collective group - is that we hold our destiny. We can decide as a people to farm our lands in neat rows with mixed foods or just mess up and beg others to feed us. We can decide that no one should take special packages within short terms periods of working for the state other than a regular pension for all. We could decide that anyone who wants any of our natural resources would first have to build local infrastructure or not touch it at all. We could do anything. We could.

The story of the Honourable Samuel Atta Akyea (MP, Abuakwa South) is one story one could discard easily based on past acts and prejudice; or, one could take a critical look with the aim of bettering an evolving progressive society. The Honourable has been accused of the "theft of $60,000 and fraudulent breach of trust" by a 'former' client - one Joseph Adom of J. Adom Limited which is a construction firm. The police arrested the Honourable Member of Parliament while he was in court (he's a lawyer too) contrary to Constitutional Provisions which disallows the arrest of a Member of Parliament without recourse to the Speaker of the House. Read full story here.

There lies the problem. I cannot say an MP should not be arrested for any alleged crime, real or perceptual. I would want him or her arrested instantly. However, the law we have approved for governing ourselves stipulates otherwise. So, if anyone or any institution or the generality of the people feels that should not be the case, a change could be initiated. Until that happens, I cannot make an argument in favour of any person wronged by an MP.

The Minority, of which Mr. Atta Akyea belongs, has cited the underhand dealings of the state saying the police acted upon the instruction of the Attorney General. In the past, the case has been made that the office of Attorney General should be delinked from the State and made independent. But the Minority is angry. Those who do not agree with them - at least for being irate - have said that when the New Patriotic Party was in government (2001-2008) similar arrests were not, thus, it has not the moral grounds to make such claims.

I think the latter is pointless and irrelevant to a serious nation that intends to foster progress. The past can be acknowledged, but it is very erroneous to use it as a justification potion. What is unfortunate is that, Ghana's often misdirected media will discuss this issue along party lines often polarising the nation further.

Guest Writer for July Book Reading: Fiona Leonard

2011-07-12T21:08:00.000Z

If you missed the Writers Project of Ghana's Ghana Voices Series - a monthly
book reading - you should not miss that of July.

Australian Fiona Leonard is guest writer for July. Fiona will be reading from her recent work, “The Chicken Thief”, available on Amazon. “The Chicken Thief”, described as “dramatic and colourful”, is a story about Alois, a young man forced into a life of crime by circumstance. The story is set in a time of political strife in a Southern African country.

Fiona writes from an exciting background, having previously been an Australian diplomat, foreign and trade policy consultant, freelance writer, theatre producer, blogger (a proud member of Blogging Ghana), home schooler and author. In addition, she has visited twenty countries across four continents, including one year long adventure driving across the USA and Canada with her husband, daughter and the dog.
Fiona’s love of Africa was forged during a three year posting to Zimbabwe. She has lived in Ghana since December 2009.

How does Fiona’s background impact her writing? What is she currently working on? Find out by joining us for the reading and discussion at 7.00 PM at the Goethe Institute on 20th July, 2011. Copies of the book will be on sale.
This programme is organised in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, Accra.
Date: Wednesday, 20th July, 2011.
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Goethe Institute, 30 Kakramadu Road, (next to NAFTI) Cantonments, Accra.
Admission is free.

Changing Skins and Minds

2011-07-06T12:36:00.001Z

I am not quite sure I am well equipped to tackle this issue. For that reason, I will write a largely opinionated post. For the same reason, I promise to keep it short lest postulate theories without much available evidence.

For a very long time, I have only heard of how people get Americanised or Europeanised when they live in those places. Sometimes, these people change within a very short period or it might take longer--the latter being possibly a disillusionment with their natural home over time--based on how they viewed their own home countries before their sojourn. On a few occasions, I have perceived in people I knew long before they travelled to Europe or the United States, traits of disgust for everything about their country.

The experience of the newness of a place could be enriching as well destructive. And for many migrants, the first attempt to maintain the erstwhile life in the new place proves ineffective. The more likely road to take would be assimilation--even quasi assimilation.

I find that there is hardly an individualised textbook on assimilating into any particular society. For a Ghanaian, one can say that we predominantly easily assimilate. There are the occasional revolutionary minded and historically conscious ones who resist.

For many who acculturate, there is the need to show to those left 'behind' that they who have become Americanised or Europeanised have become 'better' in their humanity or condition. It is difficult to resist this feeling. One reason for this is that the years of acquired understanding of their natural homes has to be dished away in order to take on their new found home. Losing the natural old self for the alien new is a popular phenomenon among migrants. In the case where such migrants are younger, the process of cultural erosion is faster.

What could be an issue still concerns the factors causing the one wash the old self off; accommodating the new self with the old; and, maintaining the old. What is evident, however, is that some form of change is evident.

Book Reading: Manu Herbstein

2011-06-28T14:53:00.001Z

The Writers Project of Ghana (WPG) is pleased to have Manu Herbstein, author of Ama: A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, as the guest writer for June, and as usual there will be a reading at the Goethe Institute in Accra. This event, which is part of the Ghana Voices Series, will take place on Wednesday 29th June, 2011.

Manu Herbstein's novel won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book in 2002. Beyond this, Manu has many other works to his credit, one of the more recent being President Michelle - Ten Days that Shook the World. The author will be reading from a variety of his works, giving a wide view of his skill and scope of writing.

The Ghana Voices Series provides a platform to engage with writers in a friendly atmosphere. The reading will be followed by a discussion.

This programme is organised in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, Accra.

Date: Wednesday, 29th June, 2011

Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Goethe Institute, 30 Kakramadu Road, (next to NAFTI) Cantonments, Accra.

Admission is free.

Women Commit More Domestic Violence

2011-06-07T12:33:00.001Z

A recent report by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Northern region branch says women commit more domestic violence. The report goes on to say that many of these cases to local authorities (chieftaincy institution) rather than the appropriate legal bodies.

The cases include forced early marriages, child molestation and character assassination by women.

This raises interesting questions partly because it is an area many do not study. We usually would study domestic violence as committed by men and this report has highlighted what otherwise was only theoretical. For me, I would say that actions taken by women, especially crimes, are so normalised so tat it becomes impossible to even suggest that a woman was violent against a man or child.
What is essential is that we must begin to see things for what they are. We must take a holistic focus in order to create a better society.

New African and Cherishing Lost Loves

2011-05-27T19:55:00.000Z

I renewed two things today. First, I finally grabbed a copy of New African magazine after 4 months of absence. I relied on a big pharmacy/shop outside of the University of Ghana, the University bookshop plus a host of newspaper stands to get my copies. When they failed month after month, I was getting depressed about the whole thing. At one time, I missed April's copy by seconds as the bookshop cashier told me the unsold copies were just picked up by the distributor. I almost told him: "Pal, just say you didn't have copies for the month. Damn it!" But for my Africanness hmmm.

Gladly, a pal on twitter just hit me up with a contact to one distributor in Ghana. I will be looking forward to grabbing the previous issues--January to April.
The second renewed substance: I turned up in the Newsroom after weeks of absence. I am trying to find what I cherished in the past few years. I might make a good return to the tennis court too very soon.

The May issue, which I just picked up has interesting write-ups as usual with separate focus on Sierra Leone and Togo. My favourite though is on Desmond Tutu's new book tittled "God is not Christian: Speaking Truth in Times of Crisis" and also a small feature on Professor Kofi Agyekum's book on Akan grammar--my own head of department at the Department of Linguistics at the University of Ghana.

Archaelogy-I'm Thinking of Jobs

2011-05-23T11:27:00.001Z

I have been thinking a lot about archaelogy and heritage in Ghana. Basically, on how we can maximise efforts at researching into our past, gathering artifacts, improving on museums or building art museums. Of course, on a good day, my preoccupation with such a subject would lean towards the arts (creative writing or oratory) but this time around, I mean to link it to job creation. It's a topic I hope to look at fully in the coming weeks if and when I find the time space.

Our attitudes to our past is horrible, simply put. We are part of the creation of that attitude and our unwillingness to change that course is evidence to it. But what if a change to a positive attitude could transform the fortunes of the country? What if the government together with the legislature pass a bill into law making it mandatory for all construction companies to dedication a percentage of their budget to archaelogy works before they clear an area for construction? Jobs.

Today, there is news of parts of ammunitions buried but now found somewhere in Accra which could date back as far as 1981. The construction company workers just run over it and that was why it was discovered. It could have been different if an excavation of a sort was mandatory.

Our Judges

2011-05-20T11:58:00.003Z

It has been difficult to keep quiet. I do not pretend to love Ghana or
Africa than any other person, but at least I care enough to spend time
to write a blog post about affairs in this country. So here I am and
about to run on with our judiciary.

When the national Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress,
Dr. Kwabena Adjei, made his famous call for the ''cleansing" of the
judiciary by telling the president that the ways to kill a cat sever,
I objected. It was an issue of principle. I also said that the
judiciary service itself has been taking steps to address issues of
perceived corruption including unsubstantiated allegations of
bribe-taking on the part of judges. The service now has computerised
its selection of judges who sit on cases. A visit to the high courts
on the High Street show a conscious effort at eradicating this
perceived disease.

Furthermore, the former boss of the Commission for Human Rights and
Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Emile Short, said very recently on
Citi FM that anyone with concerns about corruption in the judiciary
could approach CHRAJ on the matter. The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship
Georgina Woode, has made similar calls too.

But recently at a forum, four lawyers --Abraham Amaliba, Raymond
Atuguba, David Annan, and Larry Bimi --(most of them eminent) pandered
the perceived corruption in the judiciary with Dr. Raymond Atugubah
giving clinical details on how he had helped a judge ward off some
Ghanaians who wanted to bribe the said judge. Read full story here.
Immediately, the Association of Magistrates and Judges hit harder than
one would expect at the four lawyers by refusing to hear cases
involving the said four. The lawyers were so unimpressed and have
stated their positions again, not eating humble pie. The Magistrates
and Judges also have put the case before the General Legal Council.

Several points can be raised in this issue. It is not the first time
people of high social standing have raised issues concerning
corruption in the judiciary (researches abound); the Magistrates and
Judges' decision is questionable and could prejudice the outcome of
the adjudication of the case which they (Magistrates and Judges) have
placed before the Legal Council; this could signal wrongly that those
on the bench cannot be criticised and thus insulate themselves with
the power to hear or not hear cases. Of course, it should be seen as preposterous if Judges who are paid by tax-payers refused to work for what pay they receive. It is simply a bad precedence and it should not stand.

As a citizen, I hold the position that whatever the four lawyers know,
they should petition a constitutionally recognised body (it will be in
the interest of justice in Ghana). The Chief Justice and her office
must do more--if possible initiate investigation (which could be
secret) to catch the bad nuts in the service.

My very radical heart goes in support of the four lawyers who have not
been afraid to speak at all.

Funeral Poems: First of Many

2011-05-17T11:18:00.000Z

I have written my first poem after that unfortunate incident occurred and I plan to creatively channel my frustrations which have started already. I penned it on Saturday morning and tweeted the whole poem bit by bit on Sunday which subsequently appeared on my Facebook page too.

Today, I post the first 2 parts of the whole poem--4 parts in all. I intend to title the whole series of works I shall attempt to produce during these difficult periods as "Funeral Poems" and I shall look forward to inputs. Also, I have received my calling to attempt writing Plays. I produce the poem, the first 2 parts below.

Reduced.

To shadows dropping spectres

Of peripheral traces

To occasional scares of fake stares

Of my own imaginations

To fears of your return

Of things unseen

Of who occupies my empty seats

Invasion.

Shreds the dregs of smiles left

Making it cold, lonely

And forgetting smiles are duets

Mundane selves lick the ephemeral of you

blowing it

Into some monstrous glory, nonexistent

Perching at the corner of your--

lips are living devils who cannot wait

For your post-mortem

Leeches who hide behind tradition

To rape your memory

‎And Age to seal my lips--

The lock enlarging my mouth with unsaid words

To My readers

2011-05-16T12:42:00.000Z

To my regular readers, in the coming weeks (may be for the next 4 weeks), blogposts here will be chequered due to some unforeseen circumstances. I will try to do write-ups occasionally for this blog.

And whenever I do write a poem about my current situation, I will not hesitate to share with you. Until then, may we all be well.

Death, it Comes

2011-05-11T12:35:00.001Z

What does death look like? I have not died and therefore I cannot
claim to know. Many have described it as cold, but I do not feel cold.
May be death itself is cold or does it leave those who die cold?

Can we talk of a process of dying? What then, if yes, is this process?
Is it not suffering and thus the biggest tragedy? I mean not death
itself, but rather the process--is it not only filled with pain for
the one undergoing the process?

Why do others expect you to weep to signal you feel pain at the loss?
Is it merely the expectation, being hypocritical ie. if you do not
feel like it, or that emotions in such cases are best poured out in
the torrential form of tears? Would you suffer any psychological
breakdowns? Would not rather the expectation drive one into an abyss
of psychological trauma? Should not the various ways of mourning be
tolerated, so that if one does not pretend to shed tears, he/she would
not be seen as unaffected or having played a part in the death of the
person?

Let the dead bury the dead? Are we not to be weary of those who cry
loudest at a funeral?

Nana Konadu Files for President--Spells Doom for Mills

2011-05-05T09:40:00.001Z

"If they tell you tell yourself too" and so goes the saying. No particular person holds the 'truth.' In fact, I would be more inclined to align with those who say they are in search of or for truth than those who claim to possess it. If ever truth should manifest itself, how would it do it? Would it find you or you would find it? How far would your own contorted reality shaped the lie you admit as truth?
If ever the "truth" about the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) should reveal itself and be told, should that truth choose Nana Konadu and her supporters as vehicles. In deed, should truth come out from the sharp tongues that insult?

As the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings launched her campaign to contest the sitting president J.E.A. Mills, a similar narrative rang through all the speakers who lined up to show their support for the history-making woman. Truth. One after the other, the speakers professed to be speaking the truth that many of the president's men and women have refused to talk about--largely because they are the president's ministers. (I wonder if it is deliberate to segment the government from the party itself. If it is so, then there is a constitutional headache. In the NDC, the president is the leader of the party). My fellow blogger, Graham, could tackle the topic of language politics in relation to 'truth' and biblical innuendos.

In the end, the members of the Mills administration are ''untruth'' tellers while those who now want to unseat His Excellency the president own the truth.

Surprisingly--albeit I am not too shocked--the Mills-led government has chosen to play the victim who shall rise to victory in at the end of the struggle. In a radio interview on Citi Fm, the communications director at the presidency, Koku Anyidoho, attempted to compare successively Mills and the government to Jesus and the doctrine of the resurrection. According to Mr. Anyidoho, although the President has been attacked like Jesus, he shall rise again. I wonder if playing the victim will help the government in any way. My interest rather will be to look at the logic behind the comparison.

What is not too clear is what the real problem against Mills is. Is Nana Konadu and her supporters worried about Mills' leadership of the 'party' or of the nation? Or both? If it is about the party, I don't think Ghanaians should care so much then. They can cut themselves there. If it is about the nation, I think Ghanaians should speak for themselves. Otherwise, it all seems like a selfish attempt to sabotage the president. The evidence of the latter assertion lies the very vociferous and scathing attacks on the president by the former president Jerry Rawlings, a man the president was once a vice president to. The Nana Konadu attempt to challenge president Mills is being fictitiuosly paraded as a signal of the internal democracy within the NDC; but, this rather shows deep cracks in the party. The insult-slinging that was witnessed yesterday at the Nana Konadu's launch is not a good sign of things to come.

Meanwhile, we all wait to see the end of it all. Kwesi Pratt, a journalist, has said that Nana Konadu may well be a good dancer who could win over 90 percent in a dancing competition but not as a presidential candidate. The former president Rawlings and husband of Nana Konadu has also said President Mills will lose the 2012 elections if he wins the Delegate Congress in July against his wife. President Mills has been quiet so far. I can say that the opposition New Patriotic Party has largely remained silent on all of this--not that they are obliged to comment as they are focusing of strengthening their own party--and would wish Nana Konadu won the candidacy of the NDC.

Breaking the Jinx, Catching the Liars

2011-05-04T11:42:00.000Z

It does not hurt to spin a little conspiracy. It always sounds sweet or scary. When the conspiracy meets the facts, when the truth or reason of the conspiracy smells, looks, and tastes like the fact, we should consider it. Obama is as much a puppet as Bush and Clinton. He is a bigger puppet or a consistent liar who has thrived on a cult created by his bankrollers who control the media and perpetuated by his charisma and strong rhetoric. He is the perfect face for puppetry: black and intelligent. But he appears groomed for what he has become today and all his actions so far as president has focused on breaking his election promises and making those who sign his pay cheque pass on the champagne on Wall Street.

Obama's election came at a time when all has gone bad for that country which used to be a force for good and progress. Bush has been uncovered as a liar and a failure as president. Americans were angry at Republicans and Democrats alike. The Wall Street money-makers, spearheaded by bank owners and billionaires, had successfully fuelled a huge credit based system in America and had deliberately sunk it. The reasons should clear enough: they make more money that way and GAIN EXCESSIVE CONTROL OVER THE PEOPLE. The latter is their ultimate desire and Obama is billed to facilitate this desire through his engineered high approval ratings.

Americans are becoming aware of the lies of this president and are beginning to ask about the real faces behind his government. So what do they do? Throw in the old villain who is defunct already, get Americans to focus elsewhere and Obama becomes the hero who promised to save the economy again. It is only an electioneering gimmick just like his promise to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, close Guantanamo Bay, place a cap on the pay of CEOs of banks (but ends up touching only small banks who were less guilty) and remain silent on the North American Union (a union of the United States, Canada and Mexico). Upon winning a second term, he will take the fall too. Another puppet will be thrown in to continue the fascist agenda of these bank owners forming the (private) unconstitutional Federal Reserve who currently are above the laws of the American constitution.

If in a free country like America, people can get arrested for talking harshly about the president while draconian legislations that seek to limit freedom of speech and expression looks increasingly possible of being passed into law, one cannot be sure about how far they are willing to go. Currently, there are brigades mushrooming in the United States and the ultimate goal would be to force young people to be conscripted for at least 3 years and force older people to be recalled into the military. Obama voted for the Patriot Act which made legal wiretapping although many think he does not approve of it. Obama has maintained his cover because of his cult image but the ultimate buck does not rest with him—he can be president for only 2 terms. Under one term, he has done more damage to Americans than Bush in 8 years: started a new war in Libya without honouring his promise of getting out of Iraq or Afghanistan, did not bail out the small banks and gave a huge cheque (said to be 700 million dollars but was actually a more than that because Congress did not get the chance to read the over a thousand page document) to the Federal Reserve which compromises private bank owners (the same people who deliberately orchestrated the economic meltdown),

Africa is the next playground and we should stand up against this grand system of thievery and deception being orchestrated by bank criminals and the puppets they use. If you notice the trend, they use fear, staged attacks touted as acts of terrorism and economic tools. In Kenya, it has started, with the bombing of the US embassy in that country. It is an attempt to make the ruse and the so-called "War on Terror" appear global. Somalia is well known. Uganda has begun already. Libya and Ivory Coast are within their grasps (the traitor, Allasane Ouatarra is a goon of the IMF and World Bank which these bank owners control and if Gaddafi is crippled, the African Union will lose funding too). The notorious Africa Command is part of the scheme to set up military bases all over Africa to protect resources which these bank owners and criminals have intentions of coveting—resources that belong to the people. Congo is still volatile and the whole of Eastern Africa is shaky.

The Global Warming idea being presented as caused by humans, that the former US vice president Al Gore bought green credit and won an award, is a sham. I have always thought that the earth is not heating up beyond levels and this has happened before just like the Ice Age. In fact, touting humans as fundamental causers global warming is a scientific fraud posited by pop artistes and fraud politicians. If this is allowed to continue, more American troops will be stationed in and around Africa as they pretend to be saving the earth and teaching African farmers how to farm as they supply Genetically Modified seeds! These bank owners want to drive the Chinese out of Africa but only for geopolitical reasons.

So far, there has been stiff opposition to the actual establishment of the African Command. For Africa's sakes, it should remain so. Africans should learn to look at US soldiers on the continent as fraud, not saviours. They are here for the criminals in the United States and not for Africans. One cannot be sure of the current political fibre, but people always have power. And knowledge is power!

University of Ghana blocks Facebook on its Network?

2011-05-03T21:45:00.001Z

If you live on the University of Ghana campus, you might not be able to access your Facebook account today, and most likely, in the future.

I have been trying to access my Facebook account all evening. The LAN cable I am using belongs to the University of Ghana and because I spend most of my time in the office and I use Facebook for several purposes, some academic. I wondered if something had happened to Facebook in Ghana--one can never be sure. Then I asked my News Editor about it. His response shocked me. The University has blocked access to the site on all of its internet networks. My understanding is that it is working at blocking other sites as well. As it stands now, Twitter works perfectly.

The action by this academic institution, I think, is unfortunate, retrogressive and unnecessary. It is not only administrative staff that make use of the university's main server. If it presupposes that Facebook is leading to unproductivity (in which case I wonder what data it has been looking at), it should find effective monitoring mechanisms.

In fact, each student is allocated a certain amount of hours to use at the university's main ICT centre. Shouldn't students decide what to use the time for? I have indicated that students could use Facebook for a worthwhile exercise, like connecting with other student and discussion topics of common academic interest. After all, internet is cheaper than phone services.

I do not know how many students are aware of this action. In recent times, the university has taken certain decisions not favourable to students. It currently is looking at providing a meal a day for each student. The demerits outweigh the merits on this one. Students need constant water supply than a compulsory meal.

For a university that is looking to make waves into e-learning and wanting to take advantage of online tools, blocking access to Facebook is certainly a wrong move. What will they block next? I hope not Twitter too.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on Marriage and Privilege

2011-04-28T12:13:00.000Z

When I first came across this letter, I was only curious and anxious at the same time to read it. I had followed a link on the twitter page of a pal called Dadzie (Legenderry) because I occasionally blog-read. The letter was written by Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a response to one Mrs. Shirley G. Du Bois, director of Television in 1964. The latter had requested to film the president together with his family; but, what Dr. Nkrumah gave as a decline to the offer did more that just that. It expressed the man's opinion on marriage.

Dr. Nkrumah calls marriage "unnatural...[as]not existing in nature...bourgeoise imposition, a mere contrivance set up as a matter of human convenience for the protecting of inheritance rights.." He goes on to assert that "any advantage that is based on privilege rather than on merit is both illusory and unnatural." If this is the case, then marriage too is "illusory and unnatural."

I have enormous respect for Dr. Nkrumah's intellect and I am sure for the advancement of thinking, we can slightly overlook his politics which has for so long overshadowed his intellectual growth and achievement. I have always thought of marriage as a social construct, unreal and artificial. It only is meant to protect privileges, give some to others; and, because we have made several social arrangements like passports etc, marriage becomes another creation for convenience. It will all be fine if many do not take marriage for more that it is. Like Dadzie, I reproduce the letter below.

12th November, 1964

My Dear Shirley

Thank you for your letter of the 6th November, suggesting that NHK should film me and my family in the gardens of Flagstaff House on Sunday.

Although I appreciate your reasons for suggesting this, I have to say quite firmly and definitely that I am not in favour of it. I would like to take this opportunity to explain why and to express a little of my own thinking about marriage.

You will appreciate that my Office as President of Ghana is not a hereditory one, like that of a Monarch or Emperor. It is therefore not in the best interest of the children, nor is it wise, to encourage them to live in an artificial atmosphere which they cannot maintain without me when they grow up and have to fend for themselves like any other citizens of Ghana. I consider it important to ensure that my wife and the children are allowed to live a normal private life, free from the entanglements of public obligations.

Indeed, I regard it as my bounden duty to protect them from the glare of undue publicity.

People in general seem to be insatiably curious about the family and private lives of those who are in the public eye. It has always been my strong conviction that my domestic affairs – my home and my family – are purely private matters which should not be “mixed up” with my official and public life. I see no reason why I should exhibit my wife and children in order to satisfy public curiousity.

My view – and this may jolt you a little, Shirley! – is that marriage does not exist in nature and does not warrant the importance that has come to be attached to it. It is a bourgeoise imposition, a mere contrivance set up as a matter of human convenience for the protecting of inheritance rights, capitalists and property-owners.

To sum up – I am most anxious that no one should tamper with my own liberty within my family. Irrespective of my present position, I still look upon my family as a private concern and not as an instrument of projecting a personality of myself either as an individual or as Head of State. You know that any advantage that is based on privilege rather than on merit is both illusory and unnatural.

I have no objection to NHK filming me when I am alone or engaged in some State activity. But other than this, I refuse to budge one inch!

Yours very sincerely,

Kwame Nkrumah

The Lying Statistics about Malaria--Time to Change

2011-04-25T16:01:00.001Z

I do not believe in the statistics many bodies, including Non-Governmental Organisation--yes, especially NGOs--cough up to show that we all die from malaria. I am more inclined to think that it can only be a ruse for them to land more cash, pay more staff (even if local, with an expatriate as director) and the situation gets worse. In fact, I cannot buy into the argument that these organisations hold the promise of a mosquito-free West-Africa.

It was Albert Einstein who said that "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." What do you do? You change plans. Where I live at Osu, I remember the Assembly did a mass spraying on the area making sure to target gutter--especially, the open gutters and water areas. I cannot list one person who died of malaria alone! Pardon my skepticism, but if you supply mosquito nets (free), manufacture anti-malaria drugs which cost very less so that anyone anywhere could afford, give huge amounts of money to organisations who would work at eradication malaria; and, years later you report figures which show a worse situation, should not the strategy change? Quite the reverse happens. Foreign donors get excited and dish out more money to these same bodies for them to do more?

Mosquito nets and drugs will not remedy the situation. I do not intend to wade into the whole pharmaco-political world; but, I am wise enough to know that for someone to sell more drugs, the disease must exist, or in this case, persist. It is happening. If those in West Africa want to change the trend, it is time for their governments and people to change the past trend. Get into mass spraying. Tackle the sanitary conditions. Therein real change lies.

For those of you who do not live in West Africa or understand it, do not buy the bad rubbish. Use your computers, call someone here, or better still, get on that plane and come and see for yourself! We are not dying as anyone wants you to believe. If I get feverish or feel dull, I check into a clinic or hospital. Sometimes, I am too busy to do that so instead I check my body for the presence of mosquito bites. If present, I check into a pharmacy, do a malaria test (or skip it) and get an anti-malaria.

Guest Post: France Robbing Africa through the Colonial Pact

2011-04-21T13:01:00.001Z

Here, I reproduce an article titled "France Robbing Africa through the Colonial Pact,"posted by Beatrice K-Whyte in a special group on Facebook for I am a Proud AU Citizens. The article was publish on The Ticklish, a current affairs blog which discusses Ghana and African affairs. Part of the article was taken from the NewAfrican article on how the French are ripping off French-speaking African countries under the Colonial Pact. It can be found in the February edition of the influential magazine. I believe that the consciousness of a people is tantamount and commensurate to how informed or knowledgeable they are. If they are armed with information, they can create their change. This is why I share this article.

France Robbing Africa through the Colonial Pact

It is the colonial pact that set up the common currency for the Francophone countries, the CFA franc, which demands that each of the 14 CFA member countries must deposit 65% (plus another 20% for financial liabilities, making the dizzying total of 85%) of their foreign exchange reserves in an "Operations Account" at the French Treasury in Paris.

They have been robbing Africa since long

The African nations therefore have access to only 15% of their own money for national development in any given year. If they are in need of extra money, as they always are, they have to borrow from their own 65% in the French Treasury at commercial rates. And that is not all: there is a cap on the credit extended to each member country equivalent to 20% of their public revenue in the preceding year. So if the countries need to borrow more than 20%, too bad; they cannot do it. Amazingly, the final say on the CFA arrangements belongs to the French Treasury, which invests the African countries' money in its own name on the Paris Bourse (the stock exchange).

It is, again, the Colonial Pact that demands that France has the first right to buy or reject any natural resources found in the land of the Francophone countries. So even if the African countries could get better prices elsewhere, they cannot sell to anybody until France says it doesn't want to buy those natural resources.

It is again the Colonial Pact that demands that in the award of government contracts in the African countries, French companies should be considered first; only after that can Africans look elsewhere. It doesn't matter even if Africans can obtain better value for money elsewhere, French companies come first, and most often get the contracts. Currently, there is a case where just before the elections in Cote d'Ivoire, the Gbagbo's government wanted to build a third major bridge to link the central business district (called Plateau) to the rest of the city, from which it is separated by a lagoon. By Colonial Pact tradition, the contract must go to a French company, which incidentally has quoted an astronomical price – to be paid in euros or US dollars.

Not happy, Gbagbo's government sought a second quote from the Chinese, who offered to build the bridge at half the price quoted by the French Company and payment would be in cocoa beans, of which Cote d'Ivoire is a world's largest producer. But the French said, "non, you can't do that".

Under the Defence Agreements attached to the Colonial Pact (which were run by the French defence ministry ), Paris had the legal right to intervene militarily in the African countries, and also to station troops permanently in bases and military facilities in those countries, run entirely by the French.

Overall the Colonial Pact gives the French a dominant and privileged position over Francophone Africa?

In short, the Colonial Pact has created a legal mechanism under which France obtains a special place in the political and economic life of its former colonies.

This is surely a big scam instituted by the French to continue to steal resources from Africa in order to survive. France would be poor and worst off without this "legitimate" neo-colonial day-light robbery.

It is time Francophone Africa wakes up to this reality that although they claim to be independent, there is hardly anything independent from the French. Francophone Africa is not independent, the French are choking them and making them poor when they should have been able to reduce poverty and improve on their infrastructure.

It is a shame that the French should be living off the meager resources of these poor African states and this has made worse the poverty situation in most Francophone Africa. They say they are developed and that they eschew corruption and embrace all those nice virtues, but behind the back, the French are really starving Africa. It is these resources that should have been used to alleviate poverty that has made the French what they are. This should not happen in this day and age. What right do these French people have to decide the fate and destiny of Africans? Why can't Francophone Africa tell the French to get off their back, for them to have meaningful development? WAKE UP FRANCOPHONE AFRICA.

[Part of this article is taken from NewAfrican (February 2011: page 13)

http://theticklish.blogspot.com/2011/03/france-robbing-africa-through-colonial.html

Water Water Nowhere

2011-04-20T18:39:00.000Z

In the past, I could drink directly from my tap in my home. I just turn it and ...clean water. I cannot say the same today. I used to see this PolyTank advertisement on television..."water...water..everywhere." I cannot sing that anymore.

What is interesting is that, my clean water was supplied by Ghana Water Company--managed by my 'country men and women.' The usual theme of our incapability at managing our own water started. Some said we needed foreign investments. Instead of building our capacity if we lacked it, we put the care of our water in the hands of others.

Today, I cannot drink directly from my tap anymore. In fact, the water flows less and less. As we ask in Ghana: Did we go or did we come?

Nigeria Needs A New Narrative

2011-04-18T16:36:00.001Z

Stories are very creative ways of constructing society. In fact, it is a slow but effective way of repairing the damaged psychology of a people. It can be a force for good or bad--it is an insidious mind-controller. Therefore, the stories a people tell themselves is key to their continual sustainability and progress just as it could spell their doom and annihilation. But it is the stories others tell about a people that should be what they should fear most--if they could, they might as well attempt to control those who tell their stories.

Nigeria is in dire need of a new narrative. A very powerful narrative that is futuristic, but also could change the present bizarre story. The populous country does not need to re-invent the story, it needs to look into its past and dig the best of its self. What in Ghana we say Sankofa--dig into your past for the values.

The narrative of Northerner and Southerner must stop. Especially, Nigerians themselves must stop selling the bad story. If you are from Nigeria and you tell others to not visit it because it is dangerous, you should be ashamed. You have chosen to be part of the funeral of that beautiful land and people instead of planting a new seed of possibility for the best.
Nigerians writers must be able to talk about the crimes of the past without patronising it. They must write with purpose, not just for the preservation of knowledge but they must fashion a new self out of the old. They must heal.

Any sane mind must question why the ethnicity of a presidential hopeful of a country should be under serious discussion and media dirge-singing. Hell, why should his religion be the narrative when the narrative should be about the people? Do we know which small town Cameron or Obama comes from? Why don't we discuss the village of Sarkozie and Putin? The answers should not be far-fetched. The stories of these people are controlled from those without of their countries. This is key.

Until Nigerians realise--indeed, until Africans wake up to this challenge--that foreigners will twist the stories concerning them (Africans), they will witness crimes perpetrated by people who have believed lies and curves in the tales as Nana Fredua Agyemang's powerful poem, A Curve in a Tale preaches.

The Konadu Tales

2011-04-16T18:35:00.001Z

The former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, has caused a
stir in Ghana. Sh has been arguably the most discussed figure in Ghana
in the past week, but for what reason? She resigned as a vice chair of
the ruling National Democratic Party, a political party her husband
help shape and found; thus, she paved the way to address issues
concerning the possibility of her running against the incumbent
president Mills.

Nana Konadu will be setting records, if she has not already. She will
be the first to contest a sitting president in his first term as
president and the only one to be met in such an acrimonious manner.
She will also be the first woman to want to file to run on a major
party's ticket.
Many party executives and ministers have advised against her
intentions to contest the president mainly because they think it will
break the party's front; that it would send wrong signals that the
president is under-performing; and, that she is a stooge for the
former president Rawlings.

However, I think Konadu should be let to run. There is a Ga proverb
that says that 'a child that does not allow the mother to sleep will
also not sleep.' She has done a lot for the party and Ghanaians. The
latter, in her capacity as a first lady. It will be good for Ghana
politics. Many are playing the 'woman' card, but I will not play it.
So Konadu bring it on and let us see what you got!

Neo-Colonialists. France Topples Gbagbo in d’état

2011-04-11T14:30:00.001Z

Recent happenings on the international scene have caused many, especially political scientists and those involved in governance, to worry about the theory of sovereignty. The independence of each nation-state is guaranteed and other nations are not to interfere in the internal affairs of another independent nation.

However, many countries, the United States and European nations like France and Britain, have been notorious for interferences—and many times military interventions—into sovereign nations. In Africa, these Western nations are making the continent their playground even after many African countries fought with their lives for their freedoms. In some cases—especially, in the case of France—these Western colonialists have inserted subtleties that allow them to siphon resources of former colonies. To maintain their hold and continual pillage of the resources of the peoples of Africa, they have created deceits, including the funding of internal conflicts and wars, in order to call up all sorts of security resolutions from the United Nations Security Council (a council which they dominate) to interfere in the internal affairs of African nations.

So, what is the essence of sovereignty when it is increasingly being mocked by a so-called international community that only steals from Africans who cannot protect themselves? Under no circumstance must one nation use its military against another nation which is not at war with it. At least, this is the theory which the U.S., France and Britain have been so good at deriding.

Presently, French Special Forces are reported to have arrested the president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo. The French News Agency reports that it was Allasane Ouattara's rebel forces that arrested President Gbagbo, but BBC's correspondent in Ivory Coast, Mark Doyle, believes the French military was in the lead. (I must mention that the BBC calls President Gbagbo as former President Gbagbo and they have sought to create the impression that Mr. Gbagbo is not president). They are said to have sent President Gbagbo to his competitor and UN/EU president Ouattara.

What France has done is not an act of benevolence; neither did it do it in the interest of Ivorians or for international peace. Its president is seeking to please its king-makers in France and seeking to secure its access to the 65 percent of Ivory Coast's foreign exchange. In other words, by attacking president Gbagbo, France seeks to clear the path to its continual thievery of Ivory Coast's resources and nothing else.

Any African should not get excited at these colonialists who have returned with new laws under which they could continue to torment Africans after attempting to make 'French' of Africans for close to 4 centuries. While we should want a solution to the stalemate in Ivory Coast or Libya, that genuine want should not blind us from the actual intent of these neo-colonialists who are bent of entrenching their presence once again on the continent they stole from some years ago. France's coup d'état is unacceptable!

Another Fool Writes on Ghana--Bad Reportage Akwaaba

2011-04-08T14:27:00.002Z

When we (I mean Africans) complain about bad reportage about our continent in the Western media, we are not whistling an old tune for the joy in it. Another sophomore has ventured into the lost worlds of his predecessors and has sought to deliberately misrepresent Ghana, again with no facts. In an article titled "Inside the criminal world of Ghana's e-mail scam gangs" Thomas Morton shows us why he is owns a controlled mind that puppets his payers! This is not shocking to anyone familiar with reports about Africa in Euro-American media and I should not be the one to point out that to any reporter from the West, Africa can only be bad. Below, I publish some comments this disingenuous article on the CNN website has generated just to make the point that we African will not tolerate such malarkey from any foreigner who owns a pen, camera and has some money from his twisted organisation.

I have a job. Many Ghanaians own 3 bedroom houses. Buy their cars with their incomes not loans. There are good roads. Skyscrapers. Banks. 5 Star Hotels. Slums. But water sachet sellers do not even make up a percent of the population. I dare say only an ignoramus who sat in his car the whole time in Ghana would cough up such write-ups

The article has this as its preamble:
"Ghana is doing extremely well by African standards. Of course "by African standards" means there are dirt roads leading past the brand-new, gold-columned presidential palace, and it seems 1 percent of the country is blowing their country's GDP at bars with $50 cover charges while the other 99 is selling bags of water at stop lights. They have huge mineral reserves and lots of foreign money invested in their extraction, all of which ends up concentrated in the hands of the president, his cabinet, and whichever of their cousins they're getting along with at the time."

A Ghanaian comments:

"I am sincerely disgusted at this infantile attempt to characterise Ghana as a backward, useless society. To set the records straight, we do not have a "gold-columned presidential palace" neither do we have "1 percent of the country blowing ...the country's GDP at bars with $50 cover charges while the other 99 sells bags of water at stop lights". I sincerely find this uninformed reportage infantile and distasteful. Africa and for that matter Ghana is not a basket case needing anyone's sympathy. yes we do have our developmental challenges but we are working at overcoming them."

Another response hits hard at truth but first pointing out the foolishness of such articles:
"nkwasiasem paa ni!!! jst imagine this is the sort of propaganda they write and whoop sympathy and pity and before u knw it NATO or UN is up to provide Humanitarian Support which will end up causing a civil war then they steal the oil eehh"

Here comes disappointment:
"This article should be treated with the disdain that it deserves. highly disappointed in the idiot who wrote it. has he taken a good look at where he is coming [from]? there is crime, unemployment and the likes. the idiot who wrote it should seek to correct all that before trying to correct ours. we do have some developmental problems but not as he/she has put out there."

Ghanaians still chat over this abberation:
"Charlie Kwaku, i have never been this upset in a long while....you should have seen my face when i was reading the article. the initial response i wrote had to be edited cus it was too strong.......what a dunce!!!!"

"it only goes to show that he is ignorant about what is actually happening and only serving his stupid need to try to make him feel good about where he comes from. IDIOT!"

"this idiot how can you say unemployment rate is in the single digit? where did he school? has he even got the right education cos his stupid article is riddle with inconsistence, false hood and grammatical errors. well Kwame a dunce is the perfect word to describe him"

It's a story we are so familiar with in Africa:
"hei Charlie, una don start ya own? hehehe somebody said its Nigerians that have migrated bcos of fast internet... im sorry but this is just putting me in stitches...understand the cardinal rule of journalism "good news is no news" need I explain further?" Then he adds "Same way you dont argue with mad men, you've gotta let this one go mate"

A frustrated Ghanaian could not hold it anymore:
"Pardon my french but i believe he's a sonofabitch!!!"

Many such so-called journalists abound in the West and as someone who is African, it is my right and duty to take such people head on and show them why would succeed now but not forever. I chose not to write my own response to this piece because he or those who think like him do not deserve it. If you're reading this in Ghana, how are YOU using ICT constructively? Please visit the CNN site and tell them in the comments what Ghana actually looks like

Ivory Coast and the Rebels, the French and the UN

2011-04-06T12:24:00.000Z

As I write, president Laurent Gbagbo is said to be somewhere in the presidential palace in Abidjan--hiding but still finds time to talk to the media. The French colonisers are also in Abidjan together with rebels who are been armed most likely by the French troops. I understand a Bangladeshi general, who until his resignation, was with the United Nations peace forces has left the country.

A few things have become clear: The United Nations has gone beyond its mandate of protecting Ivorians to protecting a controversial president, working with a rebel unit and engaging in combat activities; the French has stationed an army unit in another sovereign country against international law and are bombarding the country; the rebels fighting in the name of Alassane Ouattara are attempting to lay a siege of the presidential palace; many Ivorians are fleeing into Ghana and Liberia en masse.

Much as I would want the standoff to end immediately, I cannot, like many others who have refused to think but buy into the propaganda and misinformation being spread, overlook the colonisation threat that France poses to Ivory Coast and the 15 or so French-speaking countries in Africa. There is also an obvious imposition of a president on a country going on right before us. I cannot admit that Outtara won a free and fair election and this revelation has become clearer than before. I heard an expatriate in Ivory Coast speak on the BBC World Have Your Say programme this morning, calling President Gbagbo a 'liar, lunatic or psychopath' and I wondered why she was allowed to continue on the programme. I wondered if the same would be allowed of an African who thinks president Sarkozie or Bush a 'liar and murderer' for the proxy wars in many parts of the world. I am afraid not.

A document in circulation, written by a United States Senator (I believe the name is James Inhofe) and submitted to United States Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, required of the Obama administration to change its stance on Ivory Coast and call for fresh election in order for peace to prevail. And as I have stated, one wonders why the UN and France refused for a recount of the ballot. The Senator had seen the ballot results, including those from rebel strongholds and the figures changed dramatically in the second round. The Senator sent two letters, both in March stating the obvious to the US government but nothing happened in that regard.

There is so much fowl play at work in Ivory Coast and that does not come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the track record of foreign governments like the EU and the US when it comes to their xenocratic activities. As it stands now, a recount seems far-fetched as the UN, France and the rebels are bent on using force to claim the presidency. We can prepare for the worst.

Rawlings Dividing Again

2011-04-04T14:40:00.001Z

Days after a Fast Track High Court ruled against a court case brought
to it by the state against alleged killers of the late King of Dagbon,
the former president of the Republic of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings,
has incited some youths in the Dagbon area. The former president told
the youths that he understands why they acted the way they did,
including threatening President Mills by asking him not to visit the
region. The former president went ahead to discredit the government
claiming the government was the reason for which the state lost the
case.
According to Mr. Rawlings, he knew the outcome of the court case and why so.
In the most vile speech anyone could deliver, he also called the
former president Kufuor a liar. He claimed former president Kufuor
stole the 2004 elections and that he had plans of not handing over in
case he lost the 2004 elections. Very wild allegations.

What befuddles me still is why Mr. Rawlings has refused to send his
case to the police. Many other commentators have had serious problems
with Mr. Rawlings over his favoured approach to reconciling the
nation, especially in cases where a crime had been committed. His
position has been that a fresh investigation should have been done.
Earlier this morning, the deputy minister of Information, Samuel
Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the government did some extra investigation
before going to court. Is Mr. Rawlings detached from his own party or
from the government? Or he is seeking to discredit the president Mills
administration so that his wife, Nana Konadu Rawlings would become a
viable candidate for the party?

It is important to note that politicians, Rawlings being notorious for
that, through subterfuge, calculated deception and sheer lies have
sought to derail peace for their parochial and self-focused interests.
Mr. Rawlings has been more of a divisive agent in Ghana's political
body since he stepped down as president. He has consistently attacked
and levelled corruption allegations against his predecessor, Mr.
Kufuor, when under his (Rawlings) watch there was a pillage of the
country's resources and massive corruption. He lacks the moral right
to call anyone corrupt or murderer and he must be made to understand
it very well.
If we want this nation to have continual peace throughout the country,
the media must watch people like former president Rawlings and his
statements which only incite and divide the country. He is acting less
like a statesman.

A Word to the S-Called 'Royals'

2011-04-01T11:56:00.001Z

This is just to tell my fellow Africans in the Northern regions of Ghana. Sorry, I meant to say this to the Abudu and Andani 'royal' gates.

Ghana is a democracy and therefore there is no space for people who claim to have some special blood to cause public mayhem. They have a right to demonstrate and use the law courts if they want a concern addressed.
No government owns the law courts and for them to believe that any government can give them justice is to show to all that they are ignorant and gullible. For what is worse, I cannot understand what their sense of justice is! Should the courts convict people only because some people believe 'justice' means putting people behind bars.

Let me tell them that they are no special than any other Ghanaian, the royal malarkey must stop. Instead of advancing a discourse which could lead to infrastructural development in the region, they have chosen to fight over a dead king. The country must stop patronising those who claim to have some special blood. It is a word to the politicians who go promising these people all kinds of things!

What if Silvio Berlusconi was Silvio Bediatuo

2011-03-29T11:20:00.000Z

What is Silvio Berlusconi was Silvio Bediatuo? Or better still Silvio Berlusconi Bediatuo? He would be called primitive, stuck in the 10th Century, instead of traditional. His personal issues would be African. But as he is not Bediatu, his worms are those of a beleaguered prime minister and not Italian, how much more European?

Silvio Bediatuo would be called a philanderer and a prostitute and would be accused of spreading HIV because men in Africa have the virus in them from sleeping with monkeys.

He would be representative of the stereotypical rotten African president (or should I say head of state since an African government cannot be legitimate or comparable to that of the French president) who has an almost genetic lust for power. He cannot leave office and come back even if the constitution guarantees it because he would be African. In such cases, the constitution would be an illegal document.

Silvio Berlusconi Bediatu would be instantly labelled corrupt by Britain, France; and, he would be on the US government's watchlist of corrupt African leaders who they must topple for the suffering people.

Silvio Bediatuo would wake up to human rights advocates, especially, those working in the area of "Girl Child" education and rights--indeed, feminists too--who would discover some obscure law and call for his impeachment. They would even petition that his long and thick manhood be cut off (thick and long only because he then would be African and not Italian).

Our prime minister Silvio Berlusconi Bediatu (we shall call him Yaw because he would be a philogynist) would be a perfect epitome of a monstrous, patriarchal African who has a natural penchant for the utter disregard for the virtue and value of the modern-day woman.

Of course, Silvio Bediatuo would be Mugabe, Zuma and Gbagbo all in one.

Eating with Forks and Things

2011-03-25T14:16:00.001Z

I have not done such a post on so-called social etiquette in a very
long time. But reading a post from a co-blogger Nana Yaw on his blog
Anti-Rhythm has made me wade into the fray. I admonishes those who eat
rice with spoons, or rather, he instructs that you should not eat rice
with a spoon.

Of course I disagree. I think that people should use whatever they
deem fit to eat a meal once they are satisfied and safe after eating.
I was lucky to not have spent an entire 3 years of Senior High School
in a what could be a slave-making house called boarding school.
Alright, let me put it better, because I did not go to a boarding
school I was spared the sanctimonious prescriptions of table manners
of one other cutlery for this and that. In the end, I knew how to use
the fork and knife, my hands, spoons etc. I was at liberty to choose.

The problem is, there are those who have these very colonial training
from the boarding school days about using the fork etc in eating.
Well, my sister (I hope she does not forgive me for this one) went to
the kitchen one evening to bring a fork after I had placed some fine
kelewele (spiced and fried bits of plantain) on the table. Apparently,
she wanted to use the fork to eat the kelewele. I objected! She,
earlier, had used spoon in eating kenkey when I was not around the
house. She also only started this malady after she entered Senior High
as a boarder at Accra Girls High School.
Now this is serious for many reasons. These educational institutions
are making European of these kids. I am sure many grown-up Ghanaians
are victims of this already. I shall not be. I am dedicating my hands
to my waakye, rice, kenkey, banku whenever I want to eat. Period!

World Water Day

2011-03-22T13:09:00.000Z

Last year when World Water Day was marked, I wrote about how I felt privileged to have had water all through my life and in the city, Osu. I wrote about how this should spread throughout the whole country.

I cannot say much on the expansion of water delivery services to many place in Ghana. What I can write about, however, concerns the situation at Osu and the University of Ghana campus where I spend most of my time. Over the past month, there has been what one can describe as 'rationing.' The problem with it is that it is difficult to predict how long the water would run or when indeed it would at all.

At Osu, we have beefed up water storage facilities. At the University of Ghana, the flow is chequered as well. When you use water, think of the other person who does not even have what to drink. That person could be in Japan now or some corner in New York or Nairobi. So how far have we come, I don't know. Happy or Sad Water Day to you all.

Indigenisation: A Deliberate Way to Develop

2011-03-22T09:23:00.000Z

Why shouldn't the government ensure that 50 percent of oil investments (those monies from outside coming into the country) go through local banks? After all, they are those banks (CAL, ADB, GCB, Prudential, UT, etc) which support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises which drive this economy.

Why not state in Ghana's laws that all foreign companies looking to go public should enlist on the Ghana Stock Exchange. This should include Telecommunication companies, Banks, Oil and Gas Companies etc.

Why not pass a law requiring companies to have company directors or Managing Directors as Ghanaians?

To take a cue from someone who has made it in Ghana, Frank Adu, Chairman of Ghana Stock Exchange and MD of CAL Bank (a Ghanaian bank), said "Development is not by accident." If Ghana wants to change rapidly, here is a way. As far as political leadership is concerned, none of those parties that have governed this country from 1992 to 2011 have shown that they have such an agenda to benefit the Ghanaian business person. With fond memories, I recall Dan Lartey--the man we all called "Mr. Domestication." He understood it well.

Transforming Ghana in 10 Years: Nana Addo's Challenge

2011-03-19T13:29:00.001Z

So the presidential candidate of the biggest opposition party, New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo, during the week proposed a development plan or blueprint with which he intends to transform Ghana within a spate of a decade. It would be recalled that, the Convention Peoples Party, following in the strong footsteps of its founder, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, had on so many occasions intimated that there was a need to move away for vile political discourse to an alternative governance models and it was ready to provide one. But Nana Addo provided a time frame for the achievement of rapid improvements in infrastructure etc for development.

What Nana Addo postulated, the full content of which has not been seen yet, has met fierce opposition, condemnation and propaganda from the government. The deputy minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Fiifi Kwetey called the plan "grandiose" and descended heavily on the presidential candidate attacking his record as Member of Parliament, Attorney General and also Foreign Affairs. According to him, Nana Addo has a worse track record and that he could not bring about change while he was minister and MP.
The deputy minister of Information, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa also described Nana Addo's proposal as "impracticable" while humouring himself. The both of them have never won any election in Ghana. The deputy minister of Finance was until his appointment a propaganda secretary of his party while the Information minister was a fresh university graduate from the university of Ghana with strides in student politics.

But is it true that Nana Addo has a worse track record in public office? I doubt very much. It should not be wonder that instead of focusing on the issues that a potential president has put forward, government officials have chosen to dig in the gutters and derail what could be a healthy public discourse or debate. It is how despicable and worse public debates amongst politicians have become. What harm would be caused if government officials invited in the documents of Nana Addo's plan, interrogated the means and feasibility of implementation? If they had other ideas and thought that it was unachievable and thus a political gimmick by the opposition candidate, then they could express such deprecations. Would not that be intelligence and right purpose at work? But no. Rather than see if the proposals could help change Ghana or in the government's own parlance "make a better Ghana" (I wonder what better means, compared to what?), these officials preferred a barrage of insults to proper debate!

What is astonishing, many continue to inquire of the government to provide a clear policy direction. The minister of Communication, Haruna Iddrisu, attempted answering this query by pointing to obscure online sources when a listener of News File, a news analysis programme on Joy fm, posed the question again today.
I think that Nana Addo has thrown up a challenge and any serious government would engage it rather than dismiss it if it wants the good or best of its people. I do not recall the last time a potential presidential posited such plans before getting into government. We cannot refer to the manifestos of these political parties anymore because they contain regurgitated "plans."
My thinking is that it is a good development that a political leader lays out his plans with a time limit for achievement. After all, politics is about good and practicable policies.

A Fabled World of Liars

2011-03-09T16:37:00.001Z

Why is it that rebels are supported? Why is that the army of one country can be called pro-Gaddafi forces and some other nation's own called an army? Why not the Libyan army? To what end does such labeling by the Western media achieve? Would it bring peace or division to Libya?

I have watched events unfold in Libya with shame! The US and NATO through the UN wants to impose a 'no-fly' zone over Libya. Why? Because the Libyan government has jets and helicopters with which it could use to capture lost territories under rebel control. The Libyan government says it will take up arms if the rebels get what they have been asking for. Honestly, you think this will help the people? It is sad that civilians are caught up in this affair. But I have a question: If California decides to secede from the United States, would the US allow that to happen? What modus operandi would the government adopt to reclaim California?

For me, this is all too difficult. A state has the right to stop insurrections if it happens. In such cases, people suffer and that is the reality. Biafra comes to mind quickly. In the Ivory Coast, those forces supporting and guarding Allasane Ouatarra are 'REBELS' and the UN is working with them. In fact, they are being supported by non-Africans. Such is what our world has become. Those who do evil are supported by legitimate bodies once those devils achieve the aim of such powerful bodies. Libya is becoming one.

Women and International Women

2011-03-08T16:29:00.000Z

Today is marked as a day for Women, or International Women. GhanaBlogging is officially writing on the day too. Some co-bloggers have put up posts already. Edward Tagoe picks Farida Bedwei, author of Definition of a Miracle as his Woman. Mighty African decides to share some good music done by Women.

I did not grow up to see women as sub-'anything' in society. At least not where I grew up. I will also not blog about Women who are said to be suffering daily under the social system--or sometimes preached as suffering under male domination. y reason is very simple, the narrative is now an industry that other Women feed on instead of really helping to make an impact on the lives of the under-privileged Woman. On this day, I will call my mother and tell her that she is appreciated like the Queenmother who has the right to reject the enstoolment of a King. I will tell my female friends to fight like the Amazons did for Benin.

On this day, I call on all people in society. I'm not calling on Women to support Women. I'm calling on both Women and Men. We must shirk away the thought that only Women understand Women and thus can help address their concerns better. We must watch those who dissuade us into thinking that creating a society that is fair and just, especially for the sake of Women, would require work from Women alone. We must fashion an approach that involves Men. We must start to see Men not as a species always wanting to dominate Women. We must give them the chance to work with hardworking Women to create a better society.

My watch-words are that: We should be careful not to become the evil we seek. Taking power from a Man and giving it to a Woman will not change much. There is power in togetherness.
And is the Day for Women or International Women?

Independence

2011-03-06T20:22:00.001Z

Last night when midnight struck, I heard booms! then kabooms! I stepped out of my home at Osu and wondered if some silly military officers were at some game. I saw lights. The whole thing was to mark Ghana's 54th Independence. For me, it was new. I kind of liked it but it made me start to think about what to blog on. Most importantly, it made me wonder why I had not found the time to write anything about Ghana for 6 March.

So, what do I think? I think that after decided to take control of the reigns of government from the British colonial administrators, we have lied and cheated ourselves and have made strides too. What concerns me most is the former. In the year of Ghana's 54th Independence, the president of the republic appeared to be convinced that for him to succeed, it was the Chinese minister of Commerce who could secure it for him. Ghana struggles with acute water and electricity supply (although it is better than Nigeria). Housing problems is widely known and cost of living continues to increase. Many youths are still yet to figure out what to do with themselves although there is hope.

But Ghana, under 54 years--including a chequered past of stupid military interventions and misrule--Ghana has broken even. Indeed, it has achieved for itself what is necessary for massive change. We need to take charge of our own future and stop the donor supports. But I have a question... How come no one wished me Happy Independence Day?

Killing Teachers in Ghana

2011-03-04T20:17:00.003Z

One good morning, we will wake up to hear that this Single Spine monster of a salary payment structure has killed some teachers. I will not be surprised on that day because this country would then have gotten its heart's desire: the teacher has gone to 'heaven' to receive his/her reward!

When the government announced that it was going to migrate the teachers on to the highly famed pay increaser, the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), the teachers welcomed it with open arms. They suspected it was going to bring some level of sanity in their salaries, that they were going to receive a boost in pay just like many ordinary officers in the police service. Of course, who wants to think about the mess that the Single Spine did to the Prisons Service? But the most praised yet highly disrespected profession in practical terms was to share the same grief as the Prisons Service.

After the said migration on to the SSSS, teachers all around the country started phoning in to radio programmes reporting reductions and discrepancies in their salaries. This plus many other frustrations sparked widespread outbursts from teachers nationwide. Indeed, some threatened to quit the Independence Day on 6 March. They are not freed yet I believe, and surely, Dr. Nkrumah would petition them not to march. As Ato Kwamena Dadzie once wrote, may be the single spine should be doubled because it might do the trick. A friend retorted that if he was left with any last place to send his ward, he'd build a kiosk for him/her instead.

The Education ministers Betty Mould Iddrisu and Mahama Ayariga have begged the teachers to remain calm. I do not think I would be calm if my pay is slashed. And it would be insane to assume that the teachers would behave like good school children and pretend they believe the government. Such is how this country has systematically impoverished the teacher on the one hand while on the other hand pretending to want to adequately pay teachers their due. If this is not denigration of what is only called "a noble profession," without taste, what is?

Gaddafi and the Questions

2011-03-01T13:57:00.001Z

I feel sad about Libya for a couple of reasons. First, I have a strong dislike for any person or group of persons who behave like they own a country. I think all monarchies are on the same level as dictators (by dictators, I mean all those people who entrench themselves in power whether through elections or not). They cough up all sorts of reasons.
I have started to look at what happened in Tunisia, Egypt, and now Libya, as something more than just a people fed up with a system that has perpetuated for so long. I'm suspicious of it all. I'm just not sure what exactly I'm suspicious of--that is all.

But see, the Americans have called Colonel Muamar Gaddafi 'delusional.' I do not know if the man is or is not. But calling another head of state such names does not help anyone, not the Libyan people too.

I have a few questions of my own. So far, all the news reports have supported the people in the East of Libya and other surrounding cities. The same media (Al Jazeera leading) have fueled a news content that has led to attacks on anyone with a 'black' skin in Libya. They said that Gaddafi has flown in mercenaries from all places in Africa (Ghana and Kenya). The stories told by these people who managed to survive are gruesome to say the least. Gaddafi has been accused of opening fire on innocent citizens.

Questions: How can a people attack foreign workers who obviously aren't Gaddafi-looking? How come no one is condemning the use of arms by the so-called opposition groups in Libya? Why are the French flying in all sort of supplies? Why chase Gaddafi alone? Would the sanctions change anything in Libya?

Naked Butts Everywhere

2011-02-23T10:57:00.001Z

I am usually not one who dedicates a space to talk about what someone wore or did not. I generally think that people are responsible for their own dressing and usually should be mature enough to pick the right clothing for themselves. After all, if you dress badly, the message is sent across to those whom you meet. However, I have not had a person I can call a confidant (male) who dresses and shows off his underpants. In other words, he deliberately drops his trousers or shorts low so that you can see what is underneath. You can imagine waking up in the morning and the first breakfast you are served with is the pantie of a passenger in a public transport.

The same thing goes to my lady friends. I cannot row with you if you keep showing your panties. On many occasions, I have told my friends to pull it up or sometimes, I do it (of course check if your friend is cool with that). While schooling at the University of Ghana, one dominant feature of the frequent parading of women naked buttocks in buses, lectures hall and anywhere possible. For me, you can have fashion and still keep your sanity. Indeed, you can have fashion and still keep the sanity of the person sitting behind you. I heard a story told by Richard Sky of Citi Fm about how one student could not write anything in an exam just because the lady sitting in front was showing him her bottom line. Disastrous. I could not help laughing. But it is serious.

My own experience sitting in my hostel bus to lectures each morning corroborates this story. It disgusts me to have to look ahead only to find out that a nude buttocks is staring right back at me. It is inescapable sometimes. It would be a woman, then a man. I do not see the joy in it. They know they will bend over somehow in the course of their journey. They know their stretch-marked buttocks will show. Yet, they do it! One time, this woman tried getting across me in a bus while her buttocks showed. I told her that her buttocks was in my face. Everyone in the bus cackled and laughed too. If you show your buttocks, you never know who may be laughing at you. Is that your only beauty or fashion statement?

We Just Need to Change

2011-02-15T12:58:00.000Z

“Indeed, as far as the two biggest socialist states are concerned (the Soviet Union and China), socialist development has already catapulted them beyond states such as Britain and France, which have been following the capitalist path for centuries.” Walter Rodney, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (1972).

We are a country that borrows heavily. We are in essence not the actual proprietors of our own today, much less our future. We do not have the equipment; we do not have the engineering basis or infrastructure to initiate the propulsion our peoples desire to see; we do not have the committed people to drive the wheels of growth pro rata to our internal resources; and, in the pro tem we haven’t made the conscious decision to maximise our efforts in all of our activities by realising that we possessed a quality superstructure which we have fractured greatly in the past 5 or so decades.

What makes sense in any society is to focus on one’s grouping; therefore, it should be commonsense for Europeans to look out for themselves or Americans to think it strategic to exploit other peoples for their own growth. This is because wherever there have been developed groups as compared to a so-called ‘developing’ group, there is some gargantuan underdevelopment streaming. It also holds that while one group is advancing, there is another group which is equally being oppressed. The latter group have remained in South America, Asia and Africa. In places where this oppressed group has emerged out of this repression, it has been because they dislodged themselves from the spin put on them by the oppressed.

Unfortunately for us, we have had a people bombarded with all kinds of images of a ‘rich’ Europe and USA, leaders who hold no philosophy of their own except for a shameful reverence for what is foreign and a sham they have called political tradition, which I must state, has not caused or initiated a transformation—social or economic. In short, we have psychedelics for leaders who only show oratorical brilliance and more recently cheap insults.

It is important to give confidence to a people in their own economy. This trend of talking down the Ghanaian economy can harm only us alone. For instance, in statistics, Ghana is said to be a middle income economy but what one would hear is that the truth of that should not be trumpeted because it could imply the country requires no further donor support (loans, grants etc from Europe and the U.S.A). Amazingly, it appears there is rather a preference for the untruth in order to access other people’s money, whether it was robbed off Africans or not. Therefore, the people have decided to move on in the presence of the massive difficulties (high interest/lending rates by the banks) including government inability or reluctance to intervene to create a direction for Ghanaian businesses to grow. It is common to find many people who have come to the conclusion that this posse of politicians have nothing to offer the Ghanaian people except for them to contract loans for car purchases and wholesale ex gratia. The point here is that there is wastage, one which seems almost deliberate now.

What Ghana can boast of is only potential. Currently, its human resource is not mobilised but there is a growing population of university graduate with nothing to do. Unfortunately, it is the responsibility of this compromised government to create a direction. If harnessed, this could prove astronomically beneficial to the country’s accelerated growth. Ghana continues to import much more than it exports. The trend must be reversed and the only way is start creating—what in economics would be called production and manufacturing. Essentially, we should just revamp engineering through collaboration efforts with higher learning institutions (students continue to create but their efforts are not supported and thus remain in the libraries of universities). Without enough revenue, Ghana cannot charter activities for its own future which should be far off from those prescribed by these foreign bodies—Ghana can only be peculiar to itself and therefore should not structure its economy based on the designs of western economies which have had the time to develop on its own. So, revenue mobilisation—i.e internal mobilisation of taxes from the formal and especially the informal sector—and efficiency and prudency in use is vital if we are to take charge of our own future.

The current deception by donors and international bodies that Ghana and Africa is developing must be discarded. We have been underdeveloped and there is no shame in that. Instead, it should make us rise to put the brakes on the strings that are pulling us into the abyss of our demise. Dr. Walter Rodney wrote that “It can be offered as a generalisation that all phases of development are temporary or transient and are destined sooner or later to give way to something else.” My question is what would Ghana give way to when we cannot determine where we even are, primarily because we are been told all sort of things? Our growth has been continually misdirected and retarded and it would take some critical consciousness to intervene and cause that social revolution we need to ensure the working classes work and are paid wages they deserve.

The advantage we still hold is that not too many of our peoples are suffering psychological disorders mainly from work and economic pressures as pertains in other ‘advanced’ countries. We do not need to play the catch-up because we can charter our own path for ourselves. If there is ever another opportunity to do these things, it is now.

Oh Egypt, Thou Hast Found the Nile

2011-02-10T19:39:00.000Z

Tahrir Square. Photo credit: Foreign Policy

Tonight, as I sit in this newsroom, my heart in the Tahrir Square all the way up in Egypt. The people have gotten their wish. Mubarak must go and he is gone. 30 years is too long - ruling with emergency laws and repression.

I smell the air of freedom. No one can express that better then the people of Egypt themselves. Coming from a nation that once fought for it, I have an idea. but the glory is Egypt's in the end.

I hope those greedy men in uniform do not take that space which they seem to want to occupy with ancient lies. If they do, the people will rise till they get their own. And my heart will still be in the streets of Tahrir!

Meretricious Politicians: Chewing on Nana Addo's Tails

2011-02-10T11:38:00.001Z

Nana Addo. Photo credit: Google images

Am I allowed to say that I have had it with gimcrack politicians who try to twist anything someone says? I cannot tell exactly why we - actually they - do not understand what 'opposition party' means. Why they always have to show how chintzy they could be? I have had it. I know this isn't the first time I'm bursting out. I'm a Blogger, and I have my moments.

Look, the New Patriotic Party presidential candidate for 2012, Nana Addo, goes to speak with a group of people in the Eastern Region, throws in words and phrases like 'Akan,' 'cowards,' '2012,' 'all die be die' and all the sleazy bottom politicians wade in biting hard at nothing. The people he was speaking to were presumably Akans, [Ghanaians], Africans. It is unfortunate when we posit that people cannot refer to their ethnic leaning ever. What should cause anyone to worry is what whoever is speaking is seeking to do by referring to his ethnic affiliations. After all, we are Ghanaians only because of 1884 and 1957. Essentially, we are continually faced with two choices: to be an African or to be of an ethnic group. The rest is colonial and a comfortable solution is the complex self!

I have listened to the audio about 7 times already and the more I listened, the more I get convinced that those calling Nana Addo ethnocentric, war-mongre etc are themselves hypocrites and haters of peace. While I'm not vouching for the particular phrasing of Nana Addo (he has the right to structure his arguments), I must maintain that his statement when taken in whole (like a paragraph) cannot be misinterpreted like many people are doing. The reason is that his statements were clear: [we] cannot allow [ourselves] to be cheated again, so vigilance is the keyword.

When our intelligence is perceived as being so low, tawdry politicians would drown us in their fowl activities, logic twisting ventures and such. They cannot do simple discourse analysis and they limit us to think we also cannot. Nana Addo said nothing ethnocentric neither did he stir people to violence. As a people, we must wake up to these things. If a bad statement is made that threatens the peace, we should stand up against it - just not for cheap politicking.

Ghana to Get 2 New Universities

2011-02-08T13:10:00.001Z

The government has announced the setting up of 2 new universities - one in the Brong Ahafo Region and the other in the Volta Region. The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service, Paul Krampa, says these new universities will be schools on their own adding up to the training of professionals, including medical professionals.

But what on the surface would prove to be a fantastic idea has met both harsh criticism and joy. The criticism has been that these new schools are to offer programmes which the current universities do. So what is the goal of establishing new ones?

Mr. Krampa, while reacting to question on the expansion of facilities in existing universities, said there is a limit on the expansion and added that government would continue to support existing universities. The 2 universities will focus on Energy and Health and Allied Science. I should state that the University of Ghana has a college of Health and Allied Sciences. It makes me wonder what would be special about this new one except for an upsurge in the number. If the latter is the case, then expansion of current infrastructure would be the way to go.

Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso of the University of Ghana has called on government to expand on existing universities in terms of technology. He added that he is not against the establishment of new universities, but it must be commensurate to Ghana's economy not for political points. He criticised government on not helping improve the University of Development Studies. He says the education system should be set up in such a way that graduates would find themselves in the economy. He advocated satellite schools instead.

President Mills says the schools are to be established in fulfillment of his campaign promise. I cannot be against new universities. Actually, I should be excited, but I'm not. I'm questioning the rationale behind the choice of Energy, Health and Allied Sciences. UDS and the KNUST offer courses on these areas too.

Who, What Are Ghanaian Men?

2011-02-05T16:44:00.002Z

I am a man. If you are a woman and you ask me to tell you about men, I'd tell you things don't know. Things that are deeper than the huge androids who you think cannot stay off philandering. I'll tell you how different they are from women; how different they are as you encounter them; how each could be unpredictable. So, when at the last GhanaBlogging meeting, our blog action for the month February was determined, I wondered if i should tell of the deeper things or what women want to hear.

Men like to pay the bills. But there are men who would rather not make a woman feel that by his action, he's superimposing himself. Men like to know that their women are safe and secure. It is more of instinct with a borrowing from social construct. But unlike women, who would rather pretend they do not yearn for men, men do not shy away for this urge to protect. This is not to say women need protecting, but men would do it anyway.

I cannot imagine my life without my Old Paps, you see? he was the discipline, he was the love too. My mother was both too. i find it strange when people talk all day without mentioning the men in their lives. I would want to believe that only women shaped them, but I'd rather think that such people haven't taken a second look to think differently about what society has put in their heads: Women raise children. the latter happens, but not exclusively.

Marriage: Ghanaian men are becoming afraid of this monster. They cannot find hard cash to pay the churches and the plush receptions that follow. But hey, they are trying. I cannot wait for the day when women would also marry men.

But to a more thorny issue, the Statistical Service/Census Secretariat has given me cause to broach a topic: What should women in Ghana do about the few men. I do not have answers, but I will be expecting readers to offer some answers. The Census Secretariat puts the figures thus: Females: 12, 421,770. Males: 11,810,651

The situation is no doubt precarious. I put up the question on my status and the impression I got from lady pals who commented showed that women who have boyfriends or husbands are alright with the figures. in fact, they think the women would 'manage.' I have no solutions because I think people should do what they want. If it has been said that more men die than women (the factor many), the men must be engaged in something, or?

But let's leave it that men are Great!

Freedom and Justice?

2011-02-01T14:56:00.001Z

I was so angry that I decided to postpone my anger, or writing about it. I am breaking that silence now because continually I am becoming disillusioned by/with Ghana. Growing up in Osu can only be a joy, a privilege of the very few and an opportunity. I saw huge buildings, shops, restaurant etc. I had constant electricity and water supply (forgetting those hard moment of general water crisis and power rationing). I saw the stadium, the ministerial buildings, parliament, conference centre and I WALKED TO THE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE - SAT THERE AND ENJOYED THE WIND BLOWING FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

But no more! According to whom? A bunch of military boys instructed to keep Ghanaians away from the Square, the beach and surrounding areas! Of course, with no explicit rules.

We were two. We entered the Square, made for the seats, then we heard a loud ssssssssss sound in Ghanaians style. A hand wave followed, beckoning us to approach. The military officer informed us that 'they' do not allow 'people' to sit around any more. Why? No reason! I was infuriated. This is my town, I grew up here damn it! I said all that in my heard. After all, he was the one with the gun. We headed for the beach instead and we spent time day till about 6.30 in the evening.
It was all well until we heard a sudden snap. There, this man was commanding us to come with him! Where to I asked?

"Keep asking questions and I'll slap you."
I thought to myself: this man is violent. Next, he showed us an ID that said in stark confusion: GHANA ARMY. It had no name, I observed. My companion was trying to say something to him, but instead he pulled her towards an abyss that led down to the sea itself. In that fluster, I snatched my companion's hand from the officer's hand and refused to go with him!

What he did next? We followed him to the arch at the Independence Square where two uniformed military men sat, guarding. It was here I received the shock of my life. I had read and heard stories of how people in other parts of the world have had to struggle - or rather hide, desist from - with the wanting to show affection to whomever they loved openly but were not able to do so. Here was this brute staring at me in the face and blurting out words he alluded to Ghana's constitution. We were engaged in 'indecent exposure' and he had busted us! Imagine! Kissing or cuddling was 'indecent exposure!' I never knew Ghana was backward, NEVER, until that so-called military officer from Ghana's Armed Forces told me. I was disgusted.

So since he has decided to go constitutional, why was he keeping us there? He would not say. Instead, he phoned one other colleague who quickly came in a taxi. Earlier, we had been told by one other officer to not sit at the Square. The same officer was there. He pulled aside this brute and uttered some things to him. Then he told us to leave. This brute wanted money. When I said thank you to him, he said 'You won't show you are a man.' He added some other things. But I was thinking fast. Like many Ghanaians, the perception was that it was our police service that was prone to bribes, but here I was been reoriented by a military officer!

Before we left, they had brought two other people, one man and a younger looking lady. My thoughts? They have been doing this for sometime!
If the Ghanaian public is not allowed at the Square, if they are not allowed to sit at the sea beyond a certain period, it should be written there, BOLDLY! Even that would be an affront to freedom!

If you ever visit the Independence Square in Ghana, right before you cross to enter the large space of the square, you will see another grand building that holds up high the letters: FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. GHANA. That freedom, the spirit in those letters is Dead. I can now say that freedom, I feel, is lost!

A Word For My Brothers and Sisters in Egypt

2011-01-31T10:55:00.000Z

Not that I cannot mind my business - I do, but only on a very few occasions. What is happening in Egypt, preceded by what one could describe as a near social revolution in Tunisia, is precipitated upon the fact that people know what they want and when their patience is outstretched, they would diffuse that energy into an upheaval never seen before.

For me, as an African and a lover of freedom (without which I would call myself a blogger but would not have blogposts to show for it), I can only support acts geared towards the full attainment of freedoms. It is this exactly that my brothers and sisters in Egypt are striving for and all Africans must support them. The African Union is holding its 16th Summit, but has so far skipped Tunisia and Egypt. That is a disappointment for me.

But I have other thoughts. For a very long time, democratic governments, and those who call themselves gods and guardians of that system of governance, have been dining with dictators and heads of states who have forced themselves on the people, like Ben Ali and Mubarak. What is disgusting is that these democratic countries have been selective, making sure their interests come first. The last time, while speaking on Citi FM, the General Secretary of the ruling government in Ghana (National Democratic Congress) mentioned the dealings of the USA with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China etc in the presence of lack of democracy and untold human rights abuses.
Often, the reluctance to remove these dictators is hinged on the idea that the future will be uncertain. In Egypt, it is the Muslim Brotherhood. A fear created by the same people who oppose change because they steal the people's resources, and entrench themselves. This has to stop. If it doesn't we will continue to see these non-state power brokers organising effectively, using social media.

So, if you are out there, and you think Egypt or Tunisia is none of your business, you must think again; especially, if you are African. We and them go way back before they turned Arab, or were dominated by it. I just cannot imagine someone holding office for a period longer than my own age!

The Honourable House Has Lifted the Begging Cup

2011-01-25T13:56:00.001Z

In this blog, I have been a serial critique of Members of Parliament in Ghana. I think that is not about to change soon. They are no special human beings. They triumph in a twisted ignorance which they oppose, anyway, yet would do nothing about to change. Indeed, when President Mills raised the amount MPs received as loans for their four-wheel drives, I objected. I sought to say at the time that tax-payer money needed to go to development more than individual pocket, much less when these individuals are so temporal. I also disagreed that MPs should receive 'wholesale' ex gratia (as it stands now, whether an MP is retained after 4 years or not, they all take home emoluments). In fact, I said the act amounted to theft! And so I put up a link on this blog to stop it from happening. What's more, their competence, performance and credibility have always been in question!

But these MPs are back, asking Ghanaians to give them a pay rise from about 2500 Ghana Cedis to 75000 - over a 100 percent increase. First of all, aside their monthly income, which is over 8 times the amount an average worker earns in Ghana, they receive per diems for official duties, perks on housing, fuel, car loans; then, the almighty 'wholesale' ex gratia.

Why are they asking for a pay rise? They go to social functions like funerals where they have to donate monies. They face all kinds of social pressure from constituents and others in the form of paying health bills, schools fees etc. Their income cannot, thus, support these engagements WHICH THEY WERE NOT VOTED INTO OFFICE TO DO ANYWAY! Some honest ones have expressed their displeasure at the reasons some of their colleagues have tabled and have added that the amount is just too much. They are divided.

The Cause? The MPs have contributed massively to a public perception that they earn huge salaries. They promise all kinds of things during their campaigns. And very recently, filing fee hikes in order to contest parliamentary seats on the ticket of a party. They have said there is nothing in parliament (for example, parliament does not enrich an MP), so why do they make it difficult for new entrants? Why don't they serve their country for at most 2 terms? There is obviuosly something and they have proved it by asking for this monthly payment of 7000 Ghana cedis.
Just a simple math, the National Service Personnel in Ghana is paid an allowance of 200 Ghana Cedis each month. No housing, no transport allowance (the University of Ghana pays 30 Ghana Cedis to each personnel which cannot cater for a month's transport expense from Osu to Legon), NO NOTHING! These Service Personnel do it for a year under dire circumstances. In most cases, it is the same for public sector workers.

But I have a few ideas. I think the Emolument Committee should be scrapped. It is redundant! At present, at the end of the term for every president, a new committee is set up to look into HOW MUCH MONEY POLITICIANS, mostly, SHOULD TAKE HOME. ALL OF THEM. The very people serving the people stealing 'legally (?)' from the people. What's worth, if you are an MP, and you cannot rather direct people to register with the Health Insurance Scheme, or ask people to seek jobs even with the NYEP, and you choose to give them your own cash, it should be your personal issue to deal with. The tax-payer should not be asked to fund your campaign to maintain your popularity. Never ever! This isn't over simplifying matters. They should do the right things. Period.

In any case, why don't we put them on the Single Spine Payment Policy which is for Public Sector workers? That way, we can assess their work and pay them accordingly, if they must be paid. As for those so-called social demands, any money like going into a thing like that should be institutionalised. The monies should go into the Common Fund, not their pockets. That way, Ghanaians can monitor who spends how much for what? The simple reason is that if the pay is increased for these frivolous reasons, what happens to MPs who do not go to funerals? I can't help laughing.
They should have offices, facilities to work with and personnel too. Since they received those free laptops, I haven't heard any of them state how it has improved his or her work. They should be resourced as an institution, not themselves.

Interestingly, in the same week these Member of Parliament were proposing a pay rise from 2500 to 7000 Ghana Cedis, some Ghanaians were using alcohol as first aid for cure of worms. If they did not, the alternative would be to travel via canoe to access health-care. I'm wondering where the moral justification is for these MPs.

Where is My Phobiaaaaaa

2011-01-21T15:20:00.002Z

As a little boy growing up in Osu, the only club I knew of was Phobia. What you guys call Accra Hearts of Oak. It was in my marrow, I bled Phobia. I watched almost every match that Hearts played. My most memorable one was when we thrashed Kotoko, our bitterest rivals, 4 goals to nothing under the floodlights of the Accra Sports Stadium. Just like all other Sundays at the time, I'd sneaked into the stadium through the tennis courts. Usually, I'd play tennis all morning just to pass the time till Phobia's match had begun.

But those were the times - times when the stadium was filled to capacity. At least the popular stand got filled at every match day. And I was proud to be there screaming: "Arose arose arooooose! Be quiet and don't be silly. We are the famous Hearts of Oak, we Never Say Die!" Our attack was threatening much as our defence was vociferous and sharp. I cannot say the same of today's Hearts.

It is difficult to say what is wrong with the tam. We cannot score. I've watched almost all our matches on tv when TV3 or Metro tv showed it late into the night. We lack the class. We have failed at investing in the club and now we face relegation just like Olympics did some years ago. It is our first time in this zone and I hope it wakes the club up to realise that gone were the times when the players played because it was Phobia!

This Isn't Competition Guys

2011-01-19T11:24:00.002Z

Now, I'm a firm believer in competition. I also believe that competition should be in the interest of the country, and it's people. If you happen to be the kind of listener that I am, switching between one radio station to another, you'd not be too happy with Citi fm and Joy fm and their so-called competition.

Now, my main focus is on their morning shows -Citi, Citi Breakfast Show and Joy, Super Morning Show - which run from 6.30 A.M. to 10.00 A.M. and those events they've been organising, especially when we are approaching December.
When you tune in, it is as if the 2 stations have the same producers or perhaps sleep in the same bed and have the same dream. On the show, they end up calling the same people and it becomes so obvious that they are sometimes waiting on the guest to finish speaking! That cannot be competition. I remember Citi started MOGO, next thing I hear Joy with HiLife Party. We can say same of their news too. It's just so bizarre.

They can be more creative than they are now. Why Citi and Joy? They have the resources to shape public discourse and they have made attempts in this direction. My knowledge of radio tells me that if production is well-thought through, a show could be just better!

Guest Post: Literature in the Eyes of the Elite by Nana Fredua Agyeman

2011-01-18T14:01:00.000Z

Published Monday, 17 January at freduagyeman.blogspot.com
I'm a lover of, a producer of, a keen follower of literature. Particularly African. One thing that interests me is language and culture and how that is diffused in literature. I've been cooking up a post of naming and language in Africa and the impact on the African's psyche if that African bears a foreign name. I've studied Linguistics for 4 years and I know the impact language can have on the thinking of a people, not to talk of language/cultural imperialism. But here, Nana Fredua Agyeman, a good friend of mine does a good job at tackling an angle I have tried before: Africa's supposed intellectuals! Enjoy the reading.

Ever since Tricia Nwaubani's infamous article, In Africa, the Laureate's Curse, first published in The New York Times and then at the NEXT, a lot of comments and opinions have been shared. The majority of these have been against the theses posited by the writer. I personally wrote a response. The crux of Tricia's article are:

An Ngugi Nobel would have resulted in the new generation of aspiring writers dreaming of nothing higher than being hailed as "the next Ngugi";
An Ngugi award could have them [new writers] back to the old tried and tired ways [which Tricia described as 'an earnest and sober style' of Ngugi, Achebe and Soyinka];
Instead of acclaimed Nigerian writers, we would have acclaimed Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa writers. We suffer enough from tribal differences already. This is not the kind of variety we need. [Here Nawaubani claims that writing in his native Gikuyu language or any other African language for that matter breeds tribalism].

Whereas most of the comments and articles (Molara Wood, Carmen McCainwritten, Kinna) rebutted all three issues therein raised, one article has recently popped up on NEXT supporting the the tribalism that writing in ones local language breeds. The author also discussed why we should write in English. The first response I read on this issue was by Amy.

This preposterous article by Arthur Anyadua, which rebutted the first two points but supported the latter, states that

Nigeria, .., is a country and has remained so because of the English language and influence.

According to the writer 'anyone trying to reach a national Nigerian audience would be quite unserious writing in any of the native languages.

Like Tricia, I 'shudder' when I hear arguments coming from individuals who could be nothing but elitist blessed with the ability to speak excellently in an imposed language, without first having to translate from their local language. Africa is a continent with about 54 countries (waiting for the birth of the 55th - southern Sudan) and hence has numerous languages. Yet, in the midst of such varied languages, without the so-called 'English influence' we existed as Empires and Kingdoms, trading amongst ourselves successfully. My minute knowledge in History tells me of the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire and the Ghana Empire, which all thrived successfully until conquest destroyed them. Many years ago, the Mongol Empire

stretched from the Sea of Japan to Eastern Europe, covered Siberia in the north and extended southward into Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It is commonly referred to as the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world. At its greatest extent it spanned 6,000 mi (9,700 km), covered an area of 33,000,000 km² (12,741,000 sq mi), 22% of the Earth's total land area, and held sway over a population of 100 million. (Source Wikipedia).

And was this achieved after the 'English Influence'? Such comments show one thing and one thing only: the Elites of Africa when trusted with leadership positions would look only to the West for freedom. Such individuals have lost all sense of self and have placed themselves below all others. Is Arthur telling us that Nigeria would be this 'united' without the 'English Influence?' I guess they would be really UNITED when the unity is borne out of respect for each other's culture and when it is proposed from amongst the people themselves.

Besides, should writing be commercially motivated? Why can't one write to preserve a culture, to improve a language and to inspire? Why can't one write to express oneself in a language that ruled his or her formative years? In Ghana the preservation of most of local languages has been left in the hands of drivers and signwriters to devastating effects, such that misspelt words are virtually pushed into ones face every day.

Arthur also pointed out that it is only

'the uneducated mass of Africans are still exempt from any form of written literature, be it in indigenous or Western languages.'

I don't know elsewhere but in Ghana the situation used to be different. My late grandmother read Twi and Ga like I would read English but she never could read English to any satisfaction. This has become a problem because of such thinking and thesis as

The English language is our academic language, our governing, official and economic language. (emphasis mine)

posited by Arthur and his kin. So that ones wisdom and capability is judged by his ability to fluently rattle English: the more foreign accent infused into it the better. As a result local folks who cannot even construct one grammatically correct sentence tend to infuse strange accents, not spoken anywhere, into their speeches. We call such accents, LAFA: Locally Acquired Foreign Accent. Yet, Swahili is spoken in East Africa and Hausa is spoken in most countries. It is a wonder and a pity that in an age where Google has seen it fit to have translations into many local languages (in Ghana we have Twi and Hausa, with work still on Ewe and Ga), Africans of such learning could write to belittle their own languages.

And when it got to this:

Our civilisation is either borrowed or enforced. No language can strongly support a culture that lacks the commensurate strength to sustain it.

and that:

The English language dominates modern technology, market, economy and even religion. Africa does not have any strong indigenous religion; no indigenous technology to compete with Western ones, no strong economies and markets. So, how do we expect to build a strong literary heritage that will identify with our weak indigenous languages without recourse to the cultural realities of our present existence?

when it got here, I knew Arthur is lost. Here the author is not equating his local language (which I believe he has) with Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, French. He is eagerly putting his below all others, again! This is the kind of problem Africa has. The author's view of civilisation is skewed at best. He sees the Hollywoodification of the world as civilisation so that he who is not on such a path is uncivilised. We all know that the path to development for the Asian countries is far different from the path taken by the US and UK. Hence, there are several paths that lead to the same destination. The BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) are hardly English-speaking and are they developed technologically, politically, commercially, as the author tend to define his civilisation? Is Russia not civilised because they speak Russian? And can Africans develop their language to such a level, and if yes where does it begin with? A century or two ago, Latin was the language of the academics, even in Britain. Which events led to this language coup? Is one civilised only if one speaks and write English?

Is not this a compelling reason for us to develop our local languages? Then there is the problem of what constitutes African or Nigerian literature. And is it because of this that we should all write in English? Because we cannot define what the African or Nigerian literature is? Like Soyinka said, the tiger does not exhibits its tigritude.

The author states that

The world is going global and cultures have intermingled.

When it got here I realised there is a new world order coming up. Are we aiming at a homogenous world culture with globalisation? Globalisation involves bringing to the table what you have and not losing yours to another because you consider it inferior. Should we begin to wear a three-piece suit, a felt hat with a walking stick in one hand, drink tea, and speak to be civilised or to be come part of the global village? The Japanese instead of throwing away their Kimono, their Buddha Statues, their tea houses, to become civilised, have developed and strengthened these because they take pride in them, seeing it not as second not another's culture but as superior to all. This is what the author has failed to see and instead of congratulating Ngugi for this he is condemning him on the pretext of tribalism.

According to the writer, a stone would be stone in any language it is spoken in. Arthur in this instance refers to literature as a material, a name given to an object and since this material remains same from one language to the other it does not matter the language within which one speaks, the understanding and self expression would be clear. When I say "W'amma wo yɔnko antwa ankɔ a, wo nso worentwa nnu" (If you don't let your companion clear the path forward, you also won't clear it to the end) there are sounds here that has multiple meanings. For instance, "ankɔ", which means, as used here, 'do not go (forward)", sounds similar to "nkron" (or nine in English), and "nnu" (not reach), also sounds like "du", ten. Hence, this simple proverb also could mean "if you do not allow your friend to harvest nine you would not harvest ten". Is this second meaning implied in the English version? This is the beauty of language that Arthur fails to appreciate. Literature is not just names it is the stringing together of words to create a work of art and in doing so assonance, cadence, nuance all come up to make the meaning whole.

Finally, the author warns

Rather than begin to romance with the cold of the past, African writers should immerse themselves into the spirit of the times and begin to use the available tools in their disposal to call humankind back to our common humanity. A man must dance the dance prevalent in his time, to echo Achebe.

To respond to this I would quote Armah (Two Thousand Seasons):

A people losing sight of origins are dead. A people deaf to purposes are lost. Under fertile rain, in scorching sunshine there is no difference: their bodies are mere corpses, awaiting final burial.

Woe the race, too generous in the giving of itself, that finds a road not of regeneration but to its own extinction. Woe the race, woe the spring. Woe the headwaters, woe the seers, the hearers, woe the utterers. Woe the flowing water, people hustling to death.

If we all take such an elitist view of Africa, its culture and literature, we would be lost and the only thing that would remain for us to do as a people at the final stage of this transfiguration would be to bleach ourselves, stretch our hairs, paint our pupils and if all these fail approach the genetic engineers (or th eugenics) for the removal of the melanin to help improve our race and reach the obtainable level of this Arthurian Civilisation.

To bestow universality to a borrowed language is to divest oneself of one’s identity. Let’s not be blind to the fact that ‘English’ as a language is another man’s culture; his local language.

This was my initial response to Anyaduba's article and it remains my response.

Mayor of Accra

2011-01-14T15:22:00.002Z

"[When people speak] let them talk with common sense." AMA Boss, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuije.

I have written widely concerning the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for many reason. In December 2007 when the then Accra mayor Adjiri Blankson decided to start a Sunday Market, I blogged about it. I wrote in December 2009 (A Tale of the Accra Mayors and Decongestion) concerning governmental interference. I have an interest in the activities of the AMA because I think it is placed almost exclusively to carve out a plan for Accra and follow through with it. In the past, I have been worried about how government interfered in the body's activity - in fact, I have at one point supported calls for the various mayors to be elected.

But I have had cause to write again about the AMA because of Dr. Alfred Vanderpuije. His face is wild-looking with beards so over-grown as if he wants to use that to scare off people. He is a determined man who wants the best for a city that is rapidly expanding yet infrastructure is not being fashioned to meet the demand. Dr. Vanderpuije is fully aware of this - he did not only grow up in Central Accra, but he leaves his office to join his women and men on the streets daily, enforcing the law. His adventures are many: public toilets, model schools and very recently, hi-tech revenue collection system.

However, I feel Dr. Vanderpuije feels so alone in his attempts to keep the city sane. He wants to make Accra a "Millennium City" and also add schools in the same direction. To ensure effective and efficient revenue collection, he has made provision for companies and shops to pay their bills directly to the National Investment Bank (NIB) and Inter-Continental Bank and also has employed digital payment and receipt at the Central Business District.He has spoken concerning low property rates residents within the city pay on huge properties. For instance, he has visited - in quite a dramatic style - the offices of the General Post Office and that of TiGo threatening to close down their offices if they didn't pay up on monies they owed to the AMA.

While speaking on Citi fm, the Mayor said: "They will not threaten us!" He was making reference to those governmental bodies and big businesses doing business in Accra and yet do not want to settle their bills. His next stop is on parents and/or guardians within the city who do not send their children to school. I wish him speed and success.

Mobile Telecoms Networks: Respect Me Please

2011-01-11T20:55:00.000Z

Now I am no expert at telecommunications, but I am a consumer - and as someone who pays for services, I expect the optimum delivery of that service. The only blog posts I have done on the sector, in Ghana, are very few and had to with the acquisition of the then Ghana Telecom by Vodafone and the new numbering introduced by the Communication ministry. But it is not news to any Ghanaian when you complain of bad phone network services in Ghana - whether MTN, TiGo, Vodafone, Airtel or Expresso.

What is common to all these mobile phone networks is name changes. Each time there is a takeover, or merger, better services are promised. None of them seem to have a complete service; say, for example, constant network area, lowest of call drops, realistic price charges, fast data service. You cannot find the above in any one of the companies above - and i used three of the above. In fact, almost every Ghanaian, you don't even need a businessperson, shuffles between two or more mobile phone networks. It is costly, yet they have no choice. The communication is even looking to making it easier for subscribers to change networks easily.

However, in the past week, indeed what is prompting me to write this post, is simply because 1. I have been seeing strange text messages from TiGo; 2. interruption of service has become rampant with both TiGo and MTN (I couldn't send messages on MTN for so long); 3. TiGo is changing things with regard to loading of credit etc.

I simply hate it! Period. For instance, every morning, I get about 3 text messages from TiGo. These are messages they have sent in the past week and they kept sending. Each time I reload, instead of just displaying the amount I have loaded, they now tell me a 'message has been sent successfully by sms', then if I press to exit the screen, I receive a barrage of text message from them. Now, they have adopted some "new telecom English" I don't understand. One reads:

"Balance is 6.1582 GHC. Your offoronnet call account is 5.000 GHC. Your offoronnet call account is 1.3142 GHC. Your offoronnet call account is 5.000 GHC. The highest texter wins 10,000GHC on 15/01/2011! Send Tigo to 3030 for 35gp. Your account expires after 11/04/2011."

All of the above inbox bam!!! What do I do? Today, I received a message saying the SmartBrowse, SmarText blah blah blah is undergoing revamping or something so I cannot use it? Really? Well, later in the day, I received another text saying the service was back on. Someone tell these guys that we just want clean service, we will pay the right prices for it. I like the notice at least that services will be down, but they should find different periods for it.

I have a question though: which of these guys has the best data service? I mean the modem for internet? I understand Expresso is to get 4G soon? Well, for now I will just keep the 3 lines like everyone else.

I Will Atta-Mills Your Questions: Editors Forum

2011-01-08T17:42:00.001Z

Yesterday, President Mills met editors/journalists to take questions from them (probably on behalf of the people of Ghana). I have a few things I also would want to make note of. To start with, the editors did not ask questions that supposedly worried Ghanaians the most - or should I say their readers - apart from a very few ones. Kwaku Baako went to search for truth about the widely publicised top-50 achievements of the Mills administration and the president shifted the goal post. David Amanor asked one for the ordinary man dying daily on the streets and the president agreed with him. There was no question on HEALTH or EDUCATION except for one on the One-time health insurance premium!

For the most part of the whole Editors Forum, the questions were not mostly on point and the president's answers were merely unsatisfactory. My fellow blogger Edward Tagoe tweeted that to Atta-Mills a question means to dodge the question like the President does.

His Excellency used humour and a barrage of political innuendos in all his answering. Sometimes, he just dropped a few fragments here and there as answers. He would always draw comparisons using football or basketball or one sport of the other. He obviously had such a penchant for weak comparative metaphors yesterday. I don't know how you feel, but I think President Mills didn't answer the questions asked. I liked how he came out on the Cote d'Ivoire issue and for the first time (I guess) he did not see anything wrong with celebrating the 31 December coup - the so-called revolution that changed nothing drastically.

So well, he blamed the fuel price hikes on the NPP administration by saying his government met debt at the Tema Oil Refinery, TOR (but did not mention NPP also met debt too left by his party).

This is all too funny to think about. Asked a question on the said removal of the Chief Justice, the president came closer and removed his glasses, asked the journalist to look into his face, listen to the sound of his voice and determine if he (President Mills) looks like a Cat-hunter! What??? Really? So who is the Cat-hunter? His party chairman Dr. Kwabena Adjei who said about the removal of the CJ that there are many ways of killing a cat??? The President qualifies officially, I think, to be one of the funniest Ghanaians ever and I like his humour. I would certainly want him to answer my question on health and education if I ever meet him. Hopefully, he would not Atta-Mills my question.

Military Option Should be Last!

2011-01-07T13:27:00.000Z

The last post I wrote on the political standoff in Cote d'Ivoire, I made my position clear that there may be more to the election that we are been made to hear, see and believe - especially by the media. I thought that both Ouatarra and Gbagbo may have cheated in the November 28 election. My qualms was why France, the USA and the IMF were at only Gbagbo's neck; even to the point that a sitting president of one country (France) had the audacity to instruct another president to leave office. I think that is absurd, to say the least. That being said, a solution must be found.

ECOWAS started moves to resolve the situation diplomatically as possible while later hinting at a military option. The regional bloc has done it before, twice; but, it still considered dialogue as a better option. I would never support military action. While on the surface force appears as a show of clout, it is a sign of lack of wisdom and political shrewdness. It would only benefit a few people, like Ouatarra and his cronies. For me, the so-called international community - the same group that preaches against rebels but has joined forces with them - never ceases to amaze me with their hypocrisy. This is the main reason why ECOWAS must insulate itself and seek a solution within its means or risk being betrayed by a community that has already compounded its troubles by going ahead to give more power to Ouatarra and his 'hotel' administration.

It was the great military strategist, Zhuge Liang of China, who said:
    When hypocrisy sprouts, even if you have the wisdom of ancient warrior kings you could not defeat
    a peasant, let alone a crowd of them...'A military operation is like a fire; if it is not stopped, it will burn
    itself out.'

And Zhuge was a genius!
Ghana's President Mills, while interacting with journalists today at the Castle, said Ghana will NOT allow its 500 or so troops serving with the UN forces (currently protecting Ouatarra from whom I don't know) to join any military attempt to get President Gbagbo out of office adding that he (Mills) prefers the current dialogue which is underway. If any military attempts should be considered, Ghana would be expected to join Nigeria and Senegal in the operation. Indeed, Ghana would suffer the most if anything should go wrong in Cote d'Ivoire. For his statements, I respect President Mills very much. Military action or war should be a last option (or avoided at all cost) for any clever or shrewd leader or country. It is the way of the wise. Sun Tzu writes in The Art of War thus:

   Those who assist a leader by means of the Tao do not use arms to coerce the world, for these things tend
   to reverse--brambles grow where an army has been, bad years follow a great war.
   ...Weapons are inauspicious instruments, not the tools of the enlightened.

Ouatarra has become a lazy leader for me - one who waits for others to do a job for him to enjoy, not seeking alternatives. I have an advice from Sun Tzu for him: "Those who celebrate victory are bloodthirsty...Those who are good at knighthood are not militaristic, those who are good at battle do not become angry those who are good at prevailing over opponents do not get involved."

At the End of Time - A Poem

2011-01-03T16:10:00.002Z

At the end of time, the end of age
Water will fill the Earth's lands
Wiping old rage, ushering in a new age.
The Earth does not die!

We will behold from the skies

King Aquarius

Who's coming was foretold by Jesus
The symbols smashed and misconstrued
By man's own love for the end of things
And new beginnings

With all the forces, of ancient days...

Starting the Year Without Illegal Africans

2011-01-01T18:06:00.001Z

I remember when I first wrote a post on South Africa and it's attitude towards other Africans, especially Zimbabweans who then were fleeing their country.It was in July 2007. Those Zimbabweans were chased with dogs in a very shameful manner. I asked why South Africa had chosen such an approach without thinking of its past; that when it was under the murderous apartheid regime continental Africans stood with it and even supplied it with funds to fight those 'white' supremacist/killers. I wrote from a moral point of view. I wrote as a fellow brother. I never have been in South Africa. I know many others who are not interested in visiting it. The country that was once victimised by foreigners now victimises its own kin.

Fast forward to 1 January 2011 and this is how South Africa, it's government and people have decided to start the year: All Zimbabweans residing in SA ''illegally'' should apply for residence or will be repatriated to Zimbabwe! Why? The answers are deeper than one would think. The country's people and government have forgotten what the rest of Africa did to free its people. They have become protective! They have become 'afraid' of other black people - xenophobia. They say these people threaten their job security.

For me, it is an interesting way to give a present to your kin. Apply or I sack you. Your application is subject to approval; thus, I could sack you anyway. So much for pan-Africanism. South Africa's position to African unity is 'gradual.' Well, so it is there for all to see. It is unfortunate that this is what SA has become: A nation welcoming outsiders and dejecting family.

Happy New Year!