The more things change, the more they stay the same. … Our journey continues from “ku me preko” to “wie me preko” to “wahala” to “ye wu.” E no be small kraa oh. Hmm. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Plus ça change, … … Anyway ... so why are our young men in showbiz etc walking around with these huge, bling-bling earrings, watches and woolen skullcaps and sweats? …yes, I did say “woolen” and “sweats” as in sweatshirts with hoods in this hot, hot Ogyakromian sun. You know what … now that I think of it, lemme move on from that topic … no room for headaches.
It’s about 4 days to Christmas, and the night before the NPP Congress, and my mojo is back in swing. I’ve been unable to write for a while now because I’ve been sooo tired and overloaded with academic work. So much has gone on that I’ve been unable to share with you … I haven’t had the luxury of time to just write and write and write.
Okay, it’s bronya, and somehow, I didn’t feel it kraa in the atmosphere. Gone are the days when you would hear Christmas carols all through the season – starting from November through to the end of December. Seriously – on the 24th, I had to keep scanning through the radio stations looking for carols, and found very few. Ao! Morbor! There was next to nothing ‘christmassy’ about the season for me oh. I think that has a lot to do with the political events that took place so close to Christmas time. The NPP Congress stole all the attention. Prior to that, the CPP also took all the attention. Bronya has changed from what it used to be oh. I remember how on the night of the 24th, we used to go round Legon singing carols on people’s verandahs. Then there was the huge bonfire with lots of food and drinks at the Little Legon roundabout. Add to that the delightful job of decorating the house, looking forward to Piccadilly biscuits and Fanta. Ooh, now that I remember it, lemme sing you an old favorite – ‘Blonya mli papa papa, hémor noko obaha mi (2x); biscate (biscuit) keh Fanta, Fanta, Fanta! Literally translated, it means Father Christmas, buy me something - biscuit and Fanta. You know, I was quite disappointed when on the morning of the 25th, I tuned in to the radio station I listen to most often, only to hear carols that have more to do with Rudolph, Santa, the Christmas tree, jingle bells etc, and very little about the Christ Himself.
The commercialization of Christmas is not a new phenomenon – it’s one that becomes more and more pronounced as time goes on. I thought America was the land of commercial Christmasses, but nooo. So it is or has become in Ogyakrom. I was amazed to hear so much noise being made about hampers. Ei. I think I’ve been out of the ‘kentry’ for too long, ‘cos it’s something that has been growing over time – people covet hampers as gifts, and give them out as gifts and make so much noise about it all over the place. I don’t see anything wrong with that – I just find it interesting how certain things catch on. We’re always copying one thing or another – we love fads. Well, lemme move past that. As I said, bronya has been overshadowed by politics, and I must say the recent events have gotten me all wild, fired up and ready for political change! New beginnings!
These are exciting times, I tell you!!! J It’s a thrill to be in Ghana now!!! I’m excited about what is going on here – it’s amazing, how far we’ve come. There are new winds blowing over this land, and I’m really looking forward to a very engaging pre-election period with much deliberation. The CPP has a man at the helm who welcomes debate about issues, and that thrills me to no end! The NPP also has a flag-bearer whom I presume will welcome debate and be ready to battle it out intellectually. I frankly don’t know how Uncle Atta (NDC) and Uncle Eddie (PNC) will handle this one, but all the best to all of them who seek to SERVE (not rule) Oman Ghana. Uncle P.K. has actually said he’s ready for political debate on issues and welcomes monthly debates until election time. That’s brilliant! You know, it’s about time we grow up and deal in mature politics – one that is not fueled by personalities and partisanship, but one that is fueled by issues. I’ve already listed in one of my previous blogs, the need to know where each candidate and party stands on key issues – industrialization, healthcare, education etc etc… … Some naysayers say we haven’t arrived at the point where issues become important and drive political choices. I do think we have indeed arrived at that point – the airwaves are charged with people discussing issues, regardless of how flawed, erroneous, correct or idealistic the views shared. Talking about flawed viewpoints – you know, prior to the NPP election, I kept asking taxi drivers and regular, everyday folks who they’d prefer as candidate and why. Those who opted for Osafo Maafo often said he would be good because he took Ghana to the World Cup, and during his time in office, he took us into and out of HIPC. You know, this is the chaff that campaigners put out, and we buy. What have these got to do with having a leader who can move the nation forward? It was even more disappointed that some of the aspirants also threw some of this some nonsense around. How can Alan Cash mount a podium (right before the elections, at the Congress) and say delegates should vote for him because he had the most effective and most organized campaign? The presidency is not about showboyism, for crying out loud! Why and how would sane, thinking people vote for somebody just because he’s been loyal to the party over a long period of time? Huh? Others could not seem to articulate their agenda, but kept on bitterly and resentfully berating fellow contestants about their use of cash etc. So intense was their witch-hunt that we never got to hear what they had to offer; if indeed they had something to offer.
The best option for African nations (in my maybe little, utopian mind) is a coalition government – not single party states or multiparty states where consensus and concessions are utilized in decision making, and continuity in policies, implementation etc characterize national development. I’ve already battled this last point out with a few people – that’s why I choose to call it all utopian. I’d like to see some of the relatively young, fresh, progressive-minded NDC, NPP, CPP, PNC and other leaders get together and put GHANA FIRST and thinking of policies that will move us forward, not party politricks and all the witch-hunting we see and hear of. Okay, let me rest my fingers small. All this talk about politicks and politricks is making me hungry. Sometime soon, I’ll share with you my poem – “Of Politicks and Politricks.” I haven’t forgotten to feed you with the filla on things that make me smile in Ogyakrom. Look out for it.
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