Chronicles from Ogyakrom

My resolution to blog away ...

2011-04-24T19:22:00.002Z

I have resolved to start blogging periodically, rather than waiting till I have the 'time' to do so. If I wait for the perfect time, full content etc etc., I will never get things off my chest, so this will be my sounding board from now on.

Even if it's 2 lines, I'll keep this space open and active!

Tsooboi!!!

Useful Tips for the returnee...

2010-11-13T12:48:00.005Z

So. ... I got a question about why Ghanaians outside apply for jobs via the Internet and don't get hired. That got me writing on the dynamics of the across-the-ocean jobhunt, and here are a few tips for people who would like to return to Ogyakrom.

Tsooboi!

Here's the low-down ...

Generally, it is difficult to hire people without meeting them in person, because it is important to look beyond the CV and to know the person who will be joining the organization. ... so most companies will not hire someone without meeting that person in flesh and blood because the CV could be inaccurate, and references may also be 'faulty'. Very few companies are willing to bear the cost to invite someone across the ocean for an interview. In some cases, the company may have representatives or offices in different countries, and so in-person interviews can be arranged. Alternatively, if someone from the company is going to be travelling to a country - let's say the US or UK, then an interview can be scheduled. Few would 'okay' that you spend your own funds to attend an interview, because of the possibility that you may not be selected. Also, not all companies are willing to cover the cost of relocation.

What we advise is that if you are interested in moving back home, you start looking around (www.axishcl.com, jobsinghana.com, sabinesolutions.com, ghanaweb.com, businessghana.com, and many others ...), and then actually visit before moving fully. If you can, then you can do some homework and find as many jobs within your career area as possible, follow up on applications and schedule interviews and then when you visit, you can attend interviews, build networks etc, Your experience in doing that will help you to take some decisions, and if you are successful in finding a job, go back to wherever you currently live, resign from your job, and then prepare for relocation.

At Axis, we pay attention to CVs from outside of Ghana. If the CV shows the person as a strong candidate, we get in touch and let them know we are interested in them, and also let them know the client will not pay for relocation etc etc… we at least prefer to let them know we are interested, and then tell them that if they happen to visit, they should come in for an interview. We have a representative in the US and in South America, who may interview the person, and if the person is a really good fit, we inform the client, and if the client has ways of meeting that person (as I described in previous paragraph), then we set a meeting up. We’ve actually recruited through this process before. … fortunately, the client was on a business trip to the country where the applicant resided, so we were able to work that out. Not common, but not impossible either.

If you are outside and are looking to move back home, here are a few tips … …

1. Identify the career direction and area you would like to operate in, and start paying attention to what’s going on in that industry on the ground. The edge that a local applicant has over you the diasporan applicant is local industry knowledge, so you will need to read the news and learn of what’s going on. If you’re interested in private equity, real estate, banking, oil and gas, microfinance, teaching, FMCG manufacturing, NGOs and civil society orgs., whatever the focus (water sanitation, health etc), educate yourself on who the key players are, recent events in that industry, current opportunities in the industry etc… a lot of that can be done through reading the news online… It’s very important to KNOW and understand the terrain, especially if you are looking for strategic/managerial positions.

2. Don’t rely solely on ‘who you know’ – you need to boldly explore all options in your job hunt. If you are serious about moving back, yes, do talk to people you know, but you must proactively look up job listings on the internet, ask someone on the ground to look through the newspapers and relay relevant information to you, and if you are sure about your career path, and have identified companies you would fit very well in, don’t be scared to do some cold calling – find a way of getting in touch with them, or find someone who can be a gateway to them, and let them know of your interest and how you can fit in and add value etc etc…

3. Be ready to make some sacrifices in order to make your move successful. Your sacrifice may be to take your hard-earned money (or credit card), take your annual leave and journey back to see what’s going on. You need to do a lot of groundwork before you get here. You must also be realistic about salary scales – you cannot come down expecting to earn the 120k USD or 70k GBP that you may be earning out there.

4. In cases where you want to set up on your own, try to visit, and each time, have a target and tasks that move you closer to your relocation. You will have many things to plan – putting together a business plan (or whatever you choose to call your planning document), visiting to do some market research to inform you better, registering a company, looking for potential resources to start with (you may not need to hire an office. Can you start from a virtual office and home, till it’s necessary to find an office?)… there are many things to consider, and you can do these incrementally, and it may take a few visits to get settled.

5. Consider and carefully manage all stakeholders in your relocation plans. You never know when you would have to return to your current country of residence, so don't burn any bridges. Put your house in order - clear credit card debts as much as you can (sometimes, you call them to find out about special amortization plans, debt settlement plans, and you'll be amazed at some of the relief they can give you). Make sure spouses and children are involved in the decision-making - don't keep them in the dark, and don't think of your career only as you move - think of the other primary stakeholders in your life. People out there (resident outside Ghana) will question why on earth you want to move back, and those currently resident in Ghana will also question why on earth you want to move back. If that is what you want to do, listen with caution, but carve out your own journey, and don't listen to the naysayers. If you are a Christian, you know that all this can be sorted out in some serious 'kneeology' aka prayer. Do your part (due diligence), and let God do His. Sort all your affairs out both in your country of residence and in Ghana - accommodation, schools for children, bank accounts, office space, etc.

6. If you have been engaged in a lot of non-career jobs, and have not set yourself on a career path, start now. The best advice an uncle gave me when I shared my plans to move home was this: “whatever you want to come and do here [Ghana], find the opportunity to start doing it there.” If you’ve never managed a shop in your life, what makes you think you can do that in Ghana? You may think that ‘anything goes’ in Ghana, but that’s an old-school way of thinking. Service delivery has changed, so we expect good quality now – doing things ‘biara-biara’ is not sustainable, so get with the program. Granted, ‘Nkrataasem’ may hinder you from serious (corporate) career opportunities, but you still need to think ‘career’ over ‘job’ as you plan your move.. … So let’s say you’ve been working as a security officer, or a cashier in a supermarket for a while now, or have worked as a health aid for a while. Don’t expect to come back to Ghana and because of your ‘international’ exposure be propelled into a corporate position. Here are a few ideas for you – you come and find a management position with a local security company, and beef your IT skills so you can help them identify technological tools that will build their business. Come with your background as a health aid, and find a partner to actually consider doing the same business here in Ghana. Think of setting up an agency that provides good, well-trained caregivers for the homebound. Come and offer to train cashiers in a supermarket here, or find a small supermarket and start from there with a target to help them find a niche, train staff, etc… We are still doing individual referrals for tradesmen with skills, so come and set up a company that promises to get a carpenter, plumber, mason, handyman etc. for clients within 24 hours max. Yes, there’s a growing market for non-traditional ventures now – more than you can imagine, so do not belittle your own humble beginnings! Be creative! If you can’t think of entrepreneurial ideas, let me know, and I’ll share many of mine with you at no cost!

7. One critical thing to do is to do a very serious self-assessment. Your attitude and posture are critical to the success of your move. The right CV and right profile with the wrong attitude will get you in all the wrong places or nowhere.

Here are a few myths you’ll need to dispel, and some hard facts to acknowledge …

MYTHS

1. International exposure means you merit automatic job placement or that you are more employable than the ‘local breed’. Wrong – there are also ‘locals’ with comparable or better profiles.

2. International exposure necessarily/always mean better skills sets – in my line of work, I’ve met some incredibly sharp, open-minded and self-taught professionals who are major assets to whoever hires them.

3. Finding a JOB is good enough, so long as it pays/so long as it can match your current diasporan salary. The move is psychological before anything else, so a J.O.B that does not fit into your career plan and gives you no satisfaction, but pays well, in the context of the stresses of Ghana-life is self-inflicted punishment. (Think of a CAREER, not just a J.O.B. I call it a process of Career Maturity).

4. You know a lot of people, and that will make your re-entry easier (note that more organizations are structuring processes and becoming more accountable, so ‘backdoor recruitment’ is not as it used to be. You must often go through the process/formalities even if you know people etc..., and your success is not automatic.

5. A plethora of references to life outside impresses local people. Don’t be fooled into thinking people are ignorant and hungry for your stories. Many people now live in Ghana physically, but are vicarious global citizens through the internet, or may even go back and forth quite often, so your accent and incessant and sometimes irrelevant references to the US or UK etc. becomes annoying after a while. If it’s so wonderful there, then stay there and spare us the lectures. Oh, and … your heavy British or American accent after your 3 year stay there is not impressive either. The façade wears off quite quickly, so Be Real!

POSTURE

1. Don’t adopt a Tarzanic posture, beating your chest with grand ambitions to return and tame the ‘jungle’ at a go. Yes, we do have problems and challenges on the ground, but don’t come in with an upturned nose ready to lead ‘savages’. You ask for alienation and outright rejection (even sabotage) when you come in with that attitude.

2. Be humble and ready to start from somewhere. Be ready to rebuild your career through learning, and then accelerate beyond your colleagues as you show your worth and ‘grow’ in the industry. Yes, the colleagues you left behind may have climbed high up the ladder, and are now successful business owners and senior executives in big companies, and you may not start at their level, but you can accelerate your way to the top. They have the advantage of local knowledge and ground-level experience, and for positions that involve more strategy than operations, that is key.

3. First, demonstrate how things can be different with action, not with whining. Comparisons to different, more efficient contexts are not encouraging, so come with a mindset to ‘pilot’ positive change. If you feel business should be conducted a certain way, come in, take up a position, and pilot that change on a small, experimental level, and then sell the results. That way, it becomes more difficult for anyone to stand in your way to overhaul the system or turn things around in whichever company you work with.

4. Be impatient with the status quo, and seek positive change, but apply wisdom in how you deal with it. For example, customer service is not what it should be, so you constantly get into quarrels at the bank, in traffic, in restaurants etc… How about also demonstrating and acknowledging positive examples and drawing attention to them? So when that teller does a good job (yeah, yeah, that’s what they’re paid to do, you’d say, but your affirmation showcases what should be, and it’s easier for others to emulate), draw attention to it. Say thank you, affirm them, if possible, ask for a supervisor and acknowledge the person. It can lead to contagion of good behavior.

5. Build your professional network and (re)build old and new bridges. You have a lot to learn, so this is very important. Go through the newspaper or online, and attend some of the business events – AGMs for some companies you are interested in, seminars, etc, so long as they advance your plan to integrate and take advantage of opportunities to build your career. Be ready to consider partnerships, and don’t try to do it all by yourself.

So, in summary to re-enter the system:

Prepare a Plan (articulate it on paper/screen)
Conduct Research – know the terrain, and be realistic
Connect with others and conduct a thorough job hunt
Carefully plan a visit, and come with an open mind, ready to explore the opportunities. Look into the entire relocation ‘wahala’ – schools for children, accommodation, etc etc…
Return and manage diasporan stakeholders – family, creditors and debtors, employers etc… Leave on a good note.
Begin process of move – incremental or radical – your choice. Whichever is less stressful
Periodically review your move, burn no diasporan bridges and keep building your career!

Start poking around to see what's going on on the ground. First Stop >> www.axishcl.com
Cheers!

The Holy God - LIC Word (May 9, 2010)

2010-05-09T18:10:00.006Z

Last week’s lesson – communicable and non-communicable attributes of God.

1. The meaning of holy or holiness

2. God’s holy nature

3. Man’s unholy and potentially holy nature

4. Reconciliation of the holy and unholy

The most common understanding/usage of the word is that something is morally pure or without sin … this makes holiness incommunicable, since we are not sinless. However, God says BE HOLY, for I the Lord AM HOLY, so there is an aspect of holiness that is communicable, yet can we describe ourselves as holy?

God’s very high expectations of His people stem from His own nature, and the fact that we are created in His image (Gen 1:26-28). He shares that attribute with us. Exodus 19:6 and Leviticus 19.

To be holy/holiness exists in 2 fused dimensions

1. Moral purity (without sin or blemish)

2. Set apart/consecration unto a holy purpose

Hebrew word is Qadosh, and means that which is cut off, separated/set apart from other things, because of its uniqueness.

Qadosh is closely related to kabod, which refers to God’s glory and splendor. Uniting these 2 words, God’s holiness then refers to His being unique in all ways and so being set apart in glory and splendor. The combination of Holiness and splendor means we approach Him in awe of His purity, and this causes us to fear and tremble.

Greek word Hagios, also means set apart, or distinguished from other things. It means sacred, pure, blameless, consecrated, separated, properly revered, worthy of veneration, Godlikeness, set apart for God and His service.

GOD’S HOLY NATURE

God is holy, and unique in His holiness – I Sam 2:2

- Hannah in adoration says “there is none HOLY as the LORD…”

- Jesus in teaching us to pray starts by acknowledging God’s holiness – He says HALLOWED be Thy name…

God is holy, and God is holiness itself, His name is holy, His dwelling place is Holy, His Word is holy, His thoughts are holy, His actions are holy, His creation can be holy…

A.W. Tozer says “to be holy, He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is absolutely holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is. Because He is holy, His attributes are holy; that is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy.”

Because of His holiness, we cannot contain His presence, or stand in His holy presence. We will not live. God told His own friend Moses, that he could not see God and live (Exodus 33), so God had to protect Moses from seeing Him (God)

Imagine …

1. Your dog strays away from you

2. Chapel decked in white, you decked in white at a very important ceremony

3. Dog goes and wallows around in the cesspools of the Korle Lagoon – fur is all matted, dirty, has fleas and ticks, is foul-smelling etc etc.

4. You call out to dog – you want reconciliation

5. Dog comes towards LIC … and gets shooed away

6. Dog tries to come in and is eager to come and play with you etc, BUT…

7. He must first pass through a cleansing – a purification process (salvation)

8. And it has to commit to stay away from the cesspools and stay close to you

- From creation till now, God has been giving us tokens of His holy presence – the Ark etc… because we cannot handle His holy presence

Isaiah 55:8&9, Leviticus 23:19, 1 Samuel 16:7 etc. all remind us that God is NOT like man. He is different, set apart in ALL His ways, and He is pure, unlike us. Because of His moral purity, He is intolerant of evil, or sin. He cannot dwell in the same place as sin. God’s nature cannot, and will not allow Him to dwell with sinful men without an intervention.

Consider the experiences of …

- Isaiah @ the throne room

- Moses @ the burning bush

- Jacob @ Bethel

- Peter, James & John @ the mount of transfiguration

Isaiah 6:1-8

- Isaiah saw the Lord from outside the temple

- There were living creatures all around Him

- Smoke (symbolic of God’s presence) filled the temple (2 Chronicles)

- Isaiah (who must have been a Fante) saw his own vileness and cried out – woe is me! (the Fante version of “mewoe”)

- Holy, holy, holy – symbolic 3 times

- Father, Son and Holy Spirit

- In Hebrew, repetition (x3) elevates the attribute to the superlative degree – Holy, holy, holy

- Isaiah’s lips were touched with the coal to cleanse him.

- Significance of the hot coal. Taken from a fire, possibly from an altar – a sacrifice is necessary for us to be welcomed into His holy presence.

- Fire refines, purifies

- The coal did not, and cannot come from man. It had to come from God Himself – Christ.

MAN’S UNHOLY NATURE

The moment the fruit touched the lips of Eve and Adam, humanity lost its intrinsic holiness. That likeness to God was disrupted, and they could no longer even dwell in His presence, and had to cover themselves up and hide…

The nature of man is unholy – not morally pure as God is, and we are not naturally set apart from the world or from sin – we are part of it.

- Galatians 5:16-17 tells of the disparity between our nature and God’s nature

- Jeremiah 17:9 – natural wickedness

- Isaiah, describes it best in Isaiah 64:6 – that our righteousness are as filthy rags in God’s presence – dirty, smelly, worthless…

- The men of Beth-Shemesh -1 Samuel 6:20 – who shall stand before this Holy God?

- No matter how GOOD you are, your holiness can never match up to God’s

- And YET, God says we should be holy! That means it is possible to be holy

- Be morally pure

- Be set apart for God

- Be different.

RECONCILIATION OF THE HOLY AND UNHOLY

Our entire existence revolves around God’s holiness and His desire for fellowship with us.

We were CREATED for INTIMACY WITH GOD

1. God created man for fellowship

2. Man sinned and fell, and was necessarily cut off from God

3. God instituted ways of restoring us back to Himself

OLD MODEL – holiness/purity through rituals, sacrifices, etc… to purify the people and make them able to receive God’s presence

- The book of Leviticus is full of messages about holiness, and – how to set creation apart for God’s purposes

What God set apart for His purposes:

- People (Levites) (Ex 29:9), Elisha, Nazarites

- Items – oil, vessels, garments, altar… (Zech 14:20,21)

- Days/times - the Sabbath (Ex 20 20:8)

- Space – the holy of holies (Ex 26:33)

- Events – ceremonies, rituals, festivals etc…

2 Samuel 6:1-11

- The ark symbolized the holy presence of God – a mobile sanctuary – wherever it was, was consecrated/holy ground – a token of God's presence (Something serving as an indication, proof, or expression of something else; a sign …)

- As Christians, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, wherever we go, we must be tokens or symbols of God’s holy presence

Note: the Philistines sent the Covenant Box unguided, trusting that the Israelites’ God would lead the oxen to His preferred location. However, God’s own people got human beings to guide it.

- A “new” cart; old or new, it was not what God had appointed! (Saul…)

- The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah did what any innocent person would have done – he tried to keep the ark from falling

God was angry – why?

1. The Ark was to be carried by priests – Levites - Kohathites (Num 4:5-15)

2. The ark was NOT supposed to be carried by a cart. David followed the example of the Philistines (he righted his wrongs in the final transfer (1Chron 15)

3. It was to be carried on the shoulders, and no one was to touch the Ark itself!

4. Perhaps Uzzah was presumptuous (Heb 10:31)

5. Familiarity >> breeds contempt and forgetfulness that we are dealing with Holy God, just like Ananias and Saphira forgot that they were dealing with a holy God!

How do we show REVERENCE to God and godly things? Through our thoughts, Decisions, Relationships, Words and Actions

- Godly days (Sundays etc…)

- God’s symbolic dwelling place and items of worship – the chapel, the Bible, the communion cups, the altar, etc…

- Godly people (pastors, everyone, etc)

- God’s creation – the environment, God’s people

NEW MODEL – holiness through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Through a more precious channel

- His Son - His Death

- His Blood - which speaks better things than the blood of Abel!

- His Resurrection (Col 2:15)

- His Constant Intercession (Heb 7:25)

Another way of looking at salvation is that Jesus died primarily because of the holiness of God – to restore unholy people to a holy God! (Heb 12:14)

Remember Isaiah - an encounter with the holy God must lead to some change –

1. We see God in His holiness – His purity and ‘otherness’

2. We see ourselves in our sinfulness and our unworthiness

3. We are transformed!

Hagiosune – the principle that separates the believer from the world. Hagiosune implies consecration to God – in soul and in body.

For us, holiness can be achieved in 2 ways:

1. It means separation from anything that defiles (Lev 10:10)

2. It means dedication to what is pure and holy (same principle behind James 4:7 – (1) resist the devil .. and (2) draw near to God. you can’t do one and not the other…

SUMMARY

- God is holy, and His holiness cannot tolerate or welcome anything unholy … and so what? And so Lev 11:45, 19:2, 1 Peter 1:15 & 16 – be holy, for I am holy. Amen!

- God’s nature – His holiness and His desire to be with us made Jesus’ sacrifice absolutely necessary

- God is holy, and only those who are holy can see Him (Heb 12:14). Holy God-Holy family, Holy God-Holy Church. Holy God-Holy people. Holy God-Holy Nation. Amen!

- Isaiah had to undergo transformation before he could stand in God’s presence. He ACKNOWLEDGED his unholiness and nothingness before Holy God.

- We cannot be holy outside of Christ. He is the coal that cleanses us. He makes us righteous, so that we can have a relationship with God. After imputing righteousness, the Holy Spirit sets us apart and keeps us apart, if we will allow Him to. He keeps us holy – consecrated and set apart unto God

- Observing, acknowledging and honoring God’s holiness means not treating His presence lightly – sitting in church and chatting, chewing gum, coming with unconfessed sin etc etc., are all things that show disregard for God’s holiness. Forgive!!!

Closing prayer

o John 17:17 – that God should use His Word to sanctify us and set us apart unto Himself

o That He should show us how to treat His holiness, and forgive us for past disrespect

o That the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see holy ground – Jacob@Bethel, Moses@burning bush

MHB 544 (Thomas Binney, 1826)

Eternal Light! Eternal Light!
How pure that soul must be,
When, placed within thy searching sight,
It shrinks not, but with calm delight
Can live, and look on thee.

The spirits that surround thy throne
May bear the burning bliss;
But surely that is theirs alone
Who, undefiled, have never known
A fallen world like this.

O how shall I, whose native sphere
Is dark, whose mind is dim,
Before the Ineffable appear,
And on my naked spirit bear
The uncreated beam?

There is a way for man to rise
To that sublime abode:
An offering and a sacrifice,
A Holy Spirit's energies,
An Advocate with God:

These, these prepare us for the sight
Of holiness above:
The sons of ignorance and night
May dwell in the eternal Light,
Through the eternal Love!

MPs to select research assistants

2009-08-03T19:54:00.004Z

... Hmm... for the lovers of truth and objectivity, this carries a dangerous foreboding. Science and Truth manufactured in a pot. ... I am a very strong believer in the crucial role of research in the development of Africa. I do think that our tertiary students should be engaged in applied research - not just to solve problems and to understand and better manage the various phenomena that engulf us daily, but to contribute to the body of knowledge that exists.

In an age where we seek to quantify all things, and we allow the mere recitation of numbers to confer a certain importance, irrefutability, objectivity and truth to the issue in question, I worry about this Research Assistant story.

Yes, by all means, let's engage our junior scholars in research. When we start raising issues of loyalty and confidentiality, and so request that MPs appoint/select their own RAs, then we are heading for trouble. We may be heading into a zone where numbers are interpreted through very political and partisan lenses, where loyalty can mean covering up the sins of the emperor, and can mean the downright insulting of our corporate and individual quests for knowledge and truth as human beings.

An alternative would be to hire RAs based on industry/sector/area, to furnish information to anyone in the government (executive/legislature/judiciary) and to the outside world, with the same, consistent empirical information that can be used in decision making. This way, we actually have the opportunity to generate intellectual resources to aid us in policymaking and development planning. Having issue-focused RAs also means we do not have to get 230 of them to match the number of MPs!!! Is this 'jobs for the boys and girls' since the hiring freeze in the civil service? It seems to be a way for getting gofers and personal assistants for MPs.

And please, somebody tell me ... how is this supposed to improve governance? ... Why can't we set up a non-partisan national research institute that can house senior and junior scholars across disciplines, to help in whatever endeavour this is, and avoid partisanship? Why don't we as a nation support research coming out of our institutions of higher learning?

Come on now! ... let's not toy around with something this serious, and insult the intelligence of Ghanaians. I do feel insulted. ... I have much more to say, but this will suffice. Other duties call. ... more coming from whence this cometh ...

___________________________________________
Read the story for yourself...
Directly Quoted from www.myjoyonline.com
>
>

Members of Parliament have until the end of this month to choose some 230 graduates from the nation’s tertiary institutions to act as research assistants.

The initiative is part of President Mills’ pledge to assist the legislature in carrying out its constitutional mandate more effectively.

The Executive Director of the National Service Board, Vincent Senam Kuagbenu in an interview with Joy News hinted that the MPs have the right to choose relatives or people from their constituencies, but added the board is yet to take a firm decision on the modalities.

“The MPs should know the person and trust that he is able to do his work for him and keep some level of confidence in his research person,” he explained.

The minority leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, though in favour of the president’s initiative, lamented the absence of an office space to house the research assistants.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Mahama Ayariga has supported moves to have relatives and close associates of Members of Parliament appointed for the position.

"Whether it is a relative, whether it is somebody from his constituency or whether it is any other person, i believe that there must basic criteria which must be met."

"We cannot discriminate against a relative on the basis of such people being relatives, he added.

He said the MPs need to be comfortable with the assistants who will work for them.

He reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening the legislature, saying the president is ready to increase budgetary allocation to ensure the speedy implementation of the research initiative.

Mahama Ayariga suggested the erstwhile Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to be used as a new office block for the research assistants.

Ayariga advised the leadership of the House to consult the Works and Housing Ministry for the release of the office space.

He said the presence of the research assistants will in no small way improve the performance of parliamentarians.

Listen to excerpts of the interview with Mahama Ayariga in the attached audio.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

... it's been a looooong while!

2009-07-30T20:55:00.002Z

I've been MIA for a while now. I've been too busy for my own good, trying to change the world! Well, that's still my mission. Well, this is just a way to jumpstart my writing again - to at least post something and begin writing again. There is soo much - in fact, too much going on for me to be silent about. I will be back in this space!

A Price Worth Paying – esi, ‘08

2008-12-11T02:56:00.005Z

A Price Worth Paying – esi, ‘08

A price worth paying, and a sacrifice worth making …
A bride worth waiting for, and a flavour worth savouring …
A Good worth buying – its benefits priceless …
A journey worth taking, destination unknown …

An altar where self must die and nation arise
A place where comfort must retreat, and unflinching resolve proceed
A place where sweat runs freely, pacified by weary cotton friends
A place where calories are tested, coursing through excited veins
A place where tempers can soar up high, crest and explode
A place where human lava can boil, and volcanoes erupt
A place where nothing is free, where the currency is life itself
A marketplace called democracy, a place where we rise

Better than war, and troubled sirens
Better than the screams of innocent children
Better than guns, booms and bombs
Better than fires, smoking embers and tear gas
Better than big, ruthless dogs on the prowl
Better than heartache, pain and death
Better than refugees with nothing, and yet great a load
Better than oppression, suppression and confusion
Better than all the ‘shuns’ that shun peace
Better than the alternative – chaos unleashed

A marketplace for sharing dreams
A marketplace for hawking ideas
A marketplace for trading talents
A marketplace for finding comrades
A marketplace where nation rises
A marketplace where me and you are fused into us
Sojourners for the common good, destination unknown …

I started writing this piece while standing in line to cast my vote. I heard people (including myself sometimes) complain – the queue was long; the sun was hot; they didn’t start on time; the people were tired; there was no shade; the rules weren’t clear; the process was cumbersome; etc etc,… and several times, people tried to make things easier – offers to get me a seat, move me up the line etc etc., but I realized how little a price, it was to pay … a small price for democracy -- a small sacrifice compared to those who struggled to make this freedom real, and those who laid their lives down for the cause. As I stood there, I thought of freedom fighters from around the world and different eras … in our own minute ways, those who are willing to endure the ‘pain’ of election processes are the new freedom fighters – those who will do what is right and good, suffer just a little for it, and allow the interest of the nation to overshadow their comfort. Yes, we are the new freedom fighters – our first step in demonstrating our resolve to dare – to dare to do things differently and to set the right example, and prepared to pay a price for an invaluable commodity. Anyway … before I get carried away … it was a price worth paying. A minute sacrifice in the face of greater losses that others have endured.

ElectionMania 2008!

2008-12-09T11:42:00.002Z

There's soooo much going on, and so much to write about, ... about how our democracy has grown and is still growing; how we need to distinguish between public office, public leadership and public change - all hands needed on deck ....

Well, I currently have end-of-semester blues -- grading etc., so more to come later on ... I started writing a poem while waiting in line to vote ... the price of democracy .... in a nutshell, the fatigue, sweat, discomfort and aching legs from waiting in line are all minor - a small price to pay for a decent, chaos-free election. A price waaay cheaper than blood, guns, booms and tear gas .... think about it... more to come later.

G.H.A.N.A.
God
Has
A
New Agenda
for us
!!!

Long live Ogyakrom!!!

Running for a good cause

2008-04-07T02:52:00.003Z

Visit the Accra International Marathon Website

Folks!

Picture this ...I’m in secondary school form 5, and it’s the Inter-houses athletic competition. In my little green skirt and bright yellow top (my house color was yellow), heart is pounding so loudly I can’t hear anything else, and then I hear “on your marks ... my pounding powerhouse of a heart has taken over, … get set … and the next thing I hear is ... pow! I take off, pacing myself so that other folks pass me by on the first lap of our 400m race. As we begin the 2nd lap, I see all the ‘too-known’ people who started aggressively begin to ‘de-gas’ and slow down, and Yours Truly picks up the pace ... I hear the crowds chanting ... “Esi, ma wo nan so.... aka kakraa na we wiei, ma wo nan so, aka kakraa na we wieii... ma wo nan so! [Esi, pick up your speed, you have just a little more to go, pick up your speed! (literally ... Esi, raise your leg, it’s left with small, and then you’ll finish” hehehe.)] Well, I come from behind and from seeing about 10 people in front of me in the beginning, I now see about 5. Blood is rushing through my body and my stalky legs are racing as fast as they can (like a cheetah’s chasing me), and ... I finally cross the finish line and come in 3rd! Phhew!! That was quite an experience! Anyway, I’m re-living this experience because it felt sooo good, and it felt even better when I kept coming in 1st, 2nd or 3rd on different occasions for Long Jump—my favorite sport. I was da bomb!!! Well, I’m about to do some more athletic stuff, and this time, not just for the adrenaline, but to support a good cause! ... ...

I’m going to be taking on a marathon! ... well, not exactly, but ... I’ll be doing the half-marathon walking/ jogging/ running/ panting/ sweating/ praying I survive and doing everything else I can to hang on till the finish line! I’m very involved in The Longevity Project because I believe in what the Project is about –raising health awareness and making people sit up and pay attention to our individual and shared health and well-being. So far, the Project has done well in raising awareness—a marathon last year, many smaller projects - walks, talks, health screenings etc, etc.... the Project rides on the backs of many volunteers (including Yours Truly, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to get involved!), and this marathon is to raise awareness and also raise funds to support the work of the Project.

For me, it’ll be fun getting back into the athletic endeavor itself, but most importantly, if I’m able to raise funds, it’ll be a great help to the Project, and the wonderful work we’re already doing can move forward. With a life expectancy of 58 years in Ghana, the sooner we all get to it and pay attention to our personal and collective health, the better it’ll be for us! In the past, our health concerns may have had to do with poor nutrition and sanitation, resulting in kwashiorkor, beriberi, rickets, Guinea worm disease, malaria etc.... As we generally do better, there’s a new set of health concerns waiting around the corner for us—diabetes, heart problems, obesity etc, etc.... So regardless of how rich or poor we are as a nation, health issues will not go away. I’m interested in joining whatever efforts I can, to help address some of these issues that I’m very passionate about.

I hope you agree that our personal and shared health is important enough to invest in. Please consider supporting this effort however you can. Financial support is great, as is any other kind of support—in-kind support, spreading the word about the Project, getting your employer or an organization you’re part of to adopt the Project as its ‘pet project’ to support, or whatever else you can give.

Thanks in advance, and God bless you! You’re helping us send the message out to keep Africa Alive one step at a time! If you’re in the USA, consider coming to join the marathon—if you raise a specified amount, you get a free ticket and hotel accommodations for the duration of the marathon – see the Accra International Marathon website for more details. Your contributions are also tax-deductible. Thank you! Remember ... ketwaa bia nsua (no amount is too little)!! Nyame Nhyira Wo!

Click here for my Marathon Site ... Consider joining the marathon!!!

esi

Africans and the Social Sciences

2008-03-29T03:09:00.004Z

AFRICANS AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

This was one of the first articles I wrote -- back in 1996 or 1997. It arose out of my frustration with people harassing me about why I was studying Psychology in college. In their minds, an African in America had no business in the Social Sciences. The way to go, according to them was Nursing (for quite green reasons), Computer Science, Business, Accounting etc ... The lesson I learnt was simple -- know what you want out of life, or else someone else will define it for you.

On many occasions I have come across Africans who strongly propose at the slightest opportunity that Africans who study at the tertiary level, especially outside the continent have no business studying anything in the area of the humanities and social sciences. Africans in fields of study such as Psychology, Sociology and History are seen by some as doing a disservice to the continent at large, and also wasting resources that should be diverted to support ‘better’ courses. In lieu of these subject areas, they would rather see Africans studying in fields including business, medicine, law and engineering. I was often asked why I was “wasting time” on Psychology, when I could make “more money” studying business, computer science or medicine.

Being a people who have dire economic/material needs, some aspects of well-being that deal with the non-quantifiable or abstract are categorized as unnecessary. Contingent upon the line of reasoning in question, this could be a somewhat legitimate argument – that it is more beneficial, contemporarily more functional, and developmentally more efficient to focus on satisfying basic needs than needs that have no 'visible' or ‘tangible’ and immediate impact on daily survival. However, ‘abstract’ needs such as mental health and self-esteem in the face of competition for scant resources are just as crucial. How well these needs are or are not met reflect the well-being of the people, and also serve as a tool for assessing the functional roles of individuals in the larger context of community, nation and the world at large.

As disciplines, African Psychology, Sociology or History for that matter have been stunted in their growth in the few instances where they have managed to take seed. Where there is usually an emphasis on Africa in many fields of study, the prime source of interest has been problem-areas, and there is almost always an "anthropological" approach that renders African ways of life, beliefs and traditions ‘exotic’ and to be gazed upon in wonder. Modern Africa is attention-deprived, and the Tarzan stereotype still exists in the minds of many non-Africans across the globe. Where there is any factual knowledge, it is only about an Africa that is antiquated and left behind by progress, enslaved by disease, poverty, drought and famine. With few published materials/resources in African humanities/social science disciplines, it is assumed that there are no authentic organizational systems or ideologies that govern African ways of life/thought. That contemporary political systems are borrowed from European models does not mean that there were no political/social systems set up by and for Africans even before the advent of the European. The importation of foreign theories/models have dwarfed authentic African models, and they are either rendered obsolete or given up in a mélange that echoes more westernization than anything else. It is said that when your story is yet untold, it is assumed that you have no story to tell at all.

In a Black Psychology course I took as an undergraduate student, I was exposed to the role of formally-trained psychologists in the society – specifically the black community, and how they can be used as tools in understanding individuals and the society at large. There are very limited resources on African Psychology, and I would be glad to find and join Africans willing to effect a change in that situation. Fundamental social institutions are changing with time, and accommodations must be made through social scientists to facilitate this transition into a new age and new century altogether.

The griots and elders, mothers and grandmothers, indeed the entire community in most African, collective societies took up roles as psychological care providers; offering mental and emotional support to those who needed it, recounting and outlining the past in order to offer direction for the future, lowering the need for clinical psychologists. Our social network/support system is not as it used to be -- more families are split up demographically, we have more working adults, especially women, who formerly were for the most part present in the home and offered support. We have more social problems, many which merit formalized support systems to accommodate evolutions that our societies are undergoing -- changes that are further compounded by contemporary influences. For example, dealing with simple misunderstandings, some resort to fatal and ‘sophisticated’ ways of retaliating -- pulling out guns and taking lives, scheming armed robberies (which were not very common till recently in Ghana), hard core child pornography and child prostitution, carefully orchestrated scams pulled by all sorts of religious and other "non-profit" bodies.

Take for example the grandparents and other elders who mediated conflicts in the past, passed on their wisdom, and guided the younger generations. Yes, they still continue to do so, but to generations that are more individualistic than collective in focus, making the 'services' of these people of little use, and in war-ravaged countries, where will we find the wisdom saints? With new difficulties comes the need for new and different solutions to replace or complement the old modus operandi.

A look at the statistics that indicate/demonstrate the spread of AIDS across the continent merits urgent attention and multifarious approaches to tackle the problem. Discarding the myopic solutions that have been embarked upon to deal with the problem and putting in place new methods and advances. Sex education for example has been taken up as a weapon to fight the spread of AIDS in many African communities. However, what good are these seminars if the health care delivery system has not been upgraded in decades, and improperly sterilized or re-used equipment is used on patients? What good would it be, when some cultural myths or practices encourage mostly men to have multiple sex partners, thus reinforcing the proliferation of the disease where it is already predominant? Largely a very stigmatized disease, AIDS remains a covert topic in the individual and or collective lives of people. In such situations, professionals trained to offer social services can be employed to open up lines of communication and tactfully expose people to how and why cultural beliefs/practices can aggravate the spread of the disease. In collaboration with the media, social service workers can research and design infomercials or programs that raise public awareness and discuss the issue, taking into consideration the existing cultural perceptions, and research into more effective solutions for the problem.

There are many other instances where social service personnel can effectively be used to combat contemporary problems. For example, in a society where corporal punishment is the principal mode of disciplining children, policy makers cannot impose policies banning the practice without expecting a public outcry against the new policies. This is where available research on the effects of corporal punishment, for example how it may inhibit articulate expression in a child can be discussed. Where studies have been conducted on alternative methods of discipline, and have been found to work better, some compromise can be made. Some lines may be drawn between physical abuse and discipline, and a joint effort by parents/caregivers and policy makers can protect children without robbing parents of their right to raise their children as they so choose.

Sometime ago, BBC and CNN aired Cry Freetown, a documentary which demonstrates the problems faced by post-war African communities, and the need for rehabilitation, particularly for the children formerly engaged in perpetrating atrocities. The World Health Organization currently seeks people in the social sciences to assist in providing health care (physical and mental) to post-war populations. The families/communities that used to be the bulwark of collective societies are now split up, and child-soldiers need to be mobilized, rehabilitated and re-integrated into society. This is where Africans can support their own, using social support professionals rather than relying so much on foreign NGOs to move in and work with the people.

Grassroots development along all fronts starting with us, for us, by us. Going to the villages, cities and wherever else to get the masses to understand that one can be saved from malaria or typhoid through medicine rather than sacrifice the life or peace of some despised old lady in the village. We need to assist communities to take better advantage of contemporary amenities, start opening up minds and challenging the ideas/beliefs that all good things come from the west, and that we cannot make it on our own. Fighting dependency along whatever scale, be it familial, societal, national or international; methodically and tactfully demolishing mentalities that hold out the palm for foreign aid, and hold back the Self from initiatives that will propel development.

Any individual, whatever his/her profession can actively support initiatives such as those outlined, but a concerted effort made with 'professionals' in area of social sciences and services is a valuable investment. As my personal interest in the field of Psychology grows, I envisage an Africa with a growing need for social services like never before. Personally, I would want to see more research, especially in the field of social cognition and social policy. For example, studies on the interaction between Social Policy and cultural perceptions – how effective are social policies, and how can their effectiveness be hampered by cultural norms and beliefs? How can these policies subsequently be adjusted to accommodate the culture of the people? Studies on Social Cognition and re-adjustment in post-war communities, changes in self-perception through community/self-help development projects, perception of Self as a part of a global community, and its effects on local community participation are only a few of the issues that need to be examined. The era is dawning, when Africans have to give attention to previously-ignored fields of study and utilize any and every resource available to meet the needs of a new Africa with gaping social wounds that desperately need healing.

... my thoughts exactly!!!

2008-03-24T19:21:00.005Z

Don't have the time to write, but ... this is an echo of my thoughts - 100%. (I might as well have written the script! I totally agree). Ghana indeed DESERVES better leadership - those with pride and hope in the nation will say the same, and that won't be a lie.

Original posting from Joy FM's website...

Nduom: Ghana Deserves Better Leadership

Presidential Candidate of the Convention People’s Party, (CPP), Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has enjoined Ghanaians to pray to God for renewed and committed leadership.

He said after 51 years of Independence, Ghanaians are still grappling with so many basic necessities that other nations take for granted, such as water, requiring that Ghanaians pray for a leadership that will provide solutions to the basic problems.

Borrowing from the CPP’s maxim of organisation decides everything, Dr. Nduom, who spoke to Joy FM said ‘leadership decides everything’, and added it is nauseating to hear regular references to the Malaysias and Koreas of this world and how much progress they have made while no effort is made at finding out what they had to do to be where they are.

“With everything it is leadership, it is leadership that brings about the renewal, it is leadership that encourages the people. You know in Ghana, sometimes to the annoyance of many we keep talking about Korea, Singapore, Malaysia; all those people who were behind us at independence, but then no one wants to talk about the things that they did, the discipline in the society, the discipline with the leadership, the determination of the leadership to go beyond what the people can see for themselves…

(read the rest of this article on the Joy FM website)

Author: Isaac Yeboah

Story from Myjoyonline.Com News:
http://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/200803/14701.asp

Published: 3/24/2008

© Myjoyonline.com

Death Triangle

2008-02-18T16:05:00.004Z

Just sharing one of my poems -- as usual. Enjoy, and please do not quote without my express permission. Thanks.

Death Triangle – 2/18/08

Old money, no money and many-a-disease

Triple neighbors in a Bermudan headlock

They have unnatural identities – christened afresh

With names like Kwashiokor, Polio, and Rickets

River Blindness, Beri Beri and Respiratory Troubles

Malaria and Chicken Pox, Measles and Fevers

Diarrhea and Cholera, Flus and Depression

Thrashed bodies and twisted bones –

Morbid identities

Right before my eyes, they glide silently by

Pouting bellies mounted on cassava stilts

Fly-garnished little faces, with salty traces

Torment from unwelcome companions -

Mosquitoes and roaches, rats and scorpions

Worms and ticks, lice and mice – one big gang

Sucking and tearing, eating up and destroying …

Old money, no money and many-a-disease

~~~~~~~

New money, full bellies and still many-a-disease

Easy-going lovers spiraling into a blissful abyss

Sedentary lard, glued to a sofa, stuck to a bed

Rolling in comfort, no neighbors like roaches

In these Antarctic havens, no neighbors like ticks

Deadly names still emerge from new asylums

Diabetes and Heart Disease, Obesity and Depression

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, dying eyes behind spectacles

Here are the new lovers in the loaded triangle

Sky-high cholesterol and growing sodium mines

Anti-social butterflies, isolated from all nature

Trapped in a steel planet, robots at their service

Princes and princesses of dear old Zamunda

The future still unfolds, and eyes are yet to see

How living in a box, and dwelling on sugar mountains

Become the biggest robbers of childhood vitality

Diamonds in the rough, concealed by old giants

True pearls and precious jewels regardless of their state

All deserve the zenith of what this life can offer

No more love affairs between strange bedfellows –

Old money, new money, no money and many-a-disease

Dare to lift them out of their very miry clay

Dare to liberate them out of their muddy spiral

Dare to deliver from Bermudan strongholds

Dare to give life, amidst many, many deaths

Their angels are failing, their muses are silent

Dare to give life, and dare to inspire

It’s almost 4am, and there’s something rather heavy on my mind. I needed to get this poem out before heading to bed. This poem rises out of my concern of the health of our children. Those of generations past and present, suffer many diseases that economic relief can handle. Access to health care and better living conditions would certainly help to give better care – better surroundings, better food, etc etc. These are the diseases that were/are easily preventable, stemming from poverty.

Fast forward into our world today. We have a new kind of problem – children with so much that their health is also adversely impacted. New lifestyle diseases are plaguing newer generations. Call it what you will – a rural-urban distinction in health status; middle class versus poor or working class; … call it what you will, but the reality is that our children today from nouveou-riche families, fed on junk food and computer games, have a different set of health problems. Health problems non-the-less, that plague both the affluent and the poor. Somebody needs to speak up. A voice of reason must emerge. While we concern ourselves with the health problems of poor children, we must acknowledge that the wealthy children are fighting the same demons all spiraling into a gaping abyss ...

- esi.

My top issues this 2008 election season

2008-02-08T12:43:00.000Z

Its about 4:30am, and I can’t seem to tear myself away from the radio (online), so rather than sleep, here I am … I’m listening to Joy Fm’s Frontpage program, and the discussion is centered around issues – what issues do we want to see our presidential candidates and political parties address? I have soo much on my mind, and it’s sad that I’m so far away, and cannot contribute. Well, I could call (usually a daunting prospect, considering that I’d have to try several times first). Oh well, thank God for blog space. At least here, I can share my views …

So what are the issues that I think are key to our development? What should our politicians be focusing on? Here’s my list. It’s a chain – each of my five issues is linked with the other four. Ideally, there’s so much I’d like to see our leaders prioritize, but I’ll list only five out of a rather long list.

First of all, I would place manufacturing and processing and the protection of our local industries as my top priority. We need to craft an industrialization policy that wakes up to the reality that if we don’t look out for our own and move from the colonial economic system of producing raw materials and unprocessed goods, we’ll keep struggling economically. I would prioritize manufacturing, and start by conscientizing the people through public education campaigns. We’ll need to amend our thinking about M & P, and get people to realize the immense benefits of this area, especially in a globalized world. Our penchant for begging for grants and loans has locked us in economic ‘partnerships’ and bondages where our markets are forced open to foreign goods with the presumption that our local goods can compete in a free, fair and open market. The playing field is all but level, given our reality. The state must facilitate the growth of local industries by giving tax breaks, subsidies etc etc. that’s what will help our local industries to become competitive in our sub-region and globally.

M & P is linked to agriculture. We’re largely agrarian, after so many years, and there’s almost always talk of ‘improving’ agriculture. Well, I don’t see the answer necessarily in increasing the amount of land available to farmers, or small loans to farmers. I want to see a new way of thinking about agric for a start. A new and ‘green’ way of thinking of agric and sustainability in the long term. Once again, public education campaigns to help us realize the potential there is to unlock, in our agricultural sector. Mechanized farming for a start, and looking at our agric products not as end products per se, but seeing how we can process them and add value, making them competitive. This becomes ‘raw material’ for our local industries as well, and so we move into large-scale production, process and package our agric products and ensure that local needs are met as well as export needs. We can use agric waste materials as recyclables within our agric industry itself. If agric is to flourish, then we have to think of large-scale storage plants, and the infrastructure that will support agric – access roads, bridges, tunnels, ferried water bodies etc. This will be tied into infrastructural development and municipal planning.

Note my preference for ‘municipal’ rather than ‘urban’ planning, which reinforces the rural-urban divide. I want to see infrastructural development that is not geographically imbalanced, and this will go a long way to facilitate our industrialization process we will embark upon. Our industrialization plan will mean job creation on a large scale, and rail and other transport systems to transport people and goods. It will also mean the need for access roads into areas that have been hitherto neglected. If we have to tunnel a rail line through a mountain to get to the optimum location for our pineapple or garden egg plantation, then so be it, so long as it’s a creative and ‘green’ way of doing it.

M & P necessarily demands an investment into research and development, and educational reform. By this, I mean substantial and not just nominal reform. This is such a gargantuan task, but I believe if we strategize properly, we can fuel reform at all levels. First of all, we need to retrain our educators – get them to adopt more student-centered approaches that will fire up the potential that’s locked in our students at an early age. Our focus must shift to what is best for the student, and our emphasis must be shared between facilitating teaching and proactively facilitating learning. Let’s get our educators in touch with technology and creative new ways of teaching and learning. Let’s take better care of our educators at all levels, and through public education campaigns, let’s elevate the image of our educators, instill pride in what they do, and make it a viable career choice rather than a last resort, as it has become. That’s the starting point. Then let’s scrap this system that chooses for students what they have to study. This is a major, major, major concern of mine, and I can’t say it enough.

A system that does not encourage creativity, that is built on a colonial premise that we need to train for specific needs, and so stigmatizes some subject areas and exalts others is inherently flawed, and we’ve allowed it to persist for long enough. For example, in a sports-crazed country, why don’t we have sports administration and management programs in our institutions of higher learning? Yes, we need doctors and engineers, and let’s by all means produce them, but we do not live only by the work that scientists do. We need to allow students to explore the arts – visual, literary etc as well as the sciences and not select the ‘smart’ ones to do science and leave the rest to do arts. That’s a serious – very serious problem that needs immediate attention. Passion drives creativity, and creativity drives excellence, and excellence yields results. I strongly believe this. People say some subjects can’t or don’t put food on any table, but I beg to differ. Passion-driven work that is excellent, coupled with an entrepreneurial mindset will indeed put food on the table and do more than we can ever do by just following the crowd.

This educational reform at multiple levels will also encompass one thing – education on personal, civic responsibility. This is something that will be taught in our schools, encouraged in our workplaces and churches, and social groupings – personal civic responsibility, so that we don’t always look to government to do everything. Why lament government’s inability to clear the filth in our cities if we’re not taking personal responsibility for the filth we create as individuals? What of our conduct on the roads as drivers, passengers and pedestrians? It’s appalling, and we look to curative measures such as fines and police crackdowns on lawlessness etc, but if we start taking ourselves seriously we will behave better on our roads, and we can, through civic education, inculcate a certain sense of pride, self-esteem, morality, and discipline, it will serve us well. This tackles corruption at multiple levels, as we campaign against it and let people know that while it’s not okay to receive a bribe, neither is it okay to offer a bribe. We have to tackle the issue from both angles. Civic education at all levels will reduce the common flaunting of the law that we see, whether it’s on our roads, in our classrooms, in our courts, workplaces etc. if we take personal responsibility seriously, then we’ll have less trauma in the area of lawlessness and law enforcement.

Law enforcement and security in our society is of prime importance. We need a serious overhaul of our law enforcement apparatus – a transformation of our police ‘force’ into a police ‘service.’ A mental re-orientation is needed, proper recruiting and training of our officers, a heavy dose of socialization and education about their roles in our society, their civic duties etc is crucial, and I can’t possibly say it enough. Of course, as we need to do with the teachers, we need to take better care of our service men and women and focus on getting them to understand the philosophical foundations and reasons for their existence. They’re supposed to make our nation a prime/choice place for us to live in. If I’m in any difficulty, feel threatened etc, my first option must be to find a serviceperson, and they must be ‘findable.’ They must have the resources to show up and help me, rather then tell me to take it easy with the armed robbers while they go find a car to come to my house and deliver me from robbers.

We need strict enforcement of the law, which means we must educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities so that our law enforcement folks don’t take us for a ride. We must know the law, so that when I am stopped for driving without my license, I must know that I have 48hours by law, to produce it. If I know this, and it’s applied fairly, then I won’t have to pay the bribe when I’m threatened with a beating and ‘counter-back.’ I really respect the work some of these people do – out in the hot sun, through the night etc, and there’s much to be done to instill pride in what they do and equip them to be able to carry out their duties.

Finally, I’d like to focus on what I call the ‘little foxes’ – issues that seem minor and yet carry more weight than we realize. Fixing the little foxes tackles surface problems that cut across sectors and segments of our lives, and they serve as evidence of deeper, fundamental problems that need to be fixed. Sometimes the way to put out the fire is to first find out where the smoke is coming from. As we find the smoke, make our way through it, then we can find the source of the fire. The little things that will improve life while we tackle the deeper issues have to do with things such as signage, literacy, our addressing system, record keeping/management, and generally, how we do things. I’d label this a rationalization campaign. Max Weber, a German sociologist came up with this term to refer to how a system is standardized, de-personalized etc. I won’t go into that whole ‘doctrine’, but I would like to propose taking parts of it and applying it to our institutions, our ways of doing things etc.

My rationalization campaign will be combined with technology, so that we can ‘modernize’ and refine the way we do things. Specifically – we will re-organize our addressing system. This ties in to the more fundamental issue of land reform where we will have to do some serious zoning and re-zoning and get to a level where we can actually track people in our system – where people can’t just disappear into thin air. This will give us confidence in our credit/lending systems, reduce fraudsters’ hiding capabilities, help us to track criminals better, etc. Rationalization includes centralization – record keeping in our public agencies. Why do I have to go to Accra from Koforidua for my vehicle registration information because it is only available in Accra? If record management is properly done, in a decentralized or even centralized system, we will make life a lot easier. Once again, the fundamental issue of over-centralization of functions and power must be addressed.

When conducting research in Ghana recently, it was very striking, that we barely have signs around that tell us what to do. Go to public agencies, and you’re tossed from one office to the other without understanding the process and what’s going on. There are no signs to tell you what documents you must have, what the procedure is, how much it will cost you, etc etc., and these are the loose nuts and bolts that cause the system to fall apart because people take advantage of them and exploit the system. If the prices for services are fixed and made publicly visible, then I do not have to pay the ‘kalabule’ price an officer has just quoted because I am well-informed. This ties in to literacy. How many people are functionally literate? Answer lies in education – adult education for those outside the formal, educational system. So you see, this rationalization campaign is a hodge-podge mix of many seemingly minor things that if fixed, will help the system to work better. However, one must remember that these are only symptomatic of deeper problems that need to be fixed.

Okay, so these are my five top issues that are linked as in a chain – they will thrive on each other. Protectionism in manufacturing and processing (regardless of what the world says), agricultural and educational reform, civic education going hand-in-hand with law enforcement, and finally, rationalization. There are many other issues – human rights, sanitation, healthcare, etc etc, but if I were president, these are the top five issues I would start with, and I tell you, by the time I’m done, Ghana will be a better paradise than it already is. To me, it is paradise because of its incredible potential, and I’m madly in love with Oman Ghana. Yes … I did say PARADISE!

ps. as usual, this was supposed to be a very, very short piece, but you know me ... once i get wound up ... ...

If I were running for president, would you vote for me?

Of Politicks and Politricks ...

2008-02-02T23:15:00.000Z

Just sharing a poem I wrote a while back. Enjoy, and please do not quote without permission. Thanks.

Of Politicks & Politricks - December 19, 2007

Ticks and tricks in Ogyakrom

Not strange bedfellows, these

In a sea of much activity

Ticks and tricks entertain each other

Juicy and well-fed on bloody prizes

Parasites, killing the mighty one

Sucking her dry at every turn

Bloated and useless self-lovers

The politickal beasts, like little axes

In little strokes fell the mighty oak

Shall the oak fall, to bloody merit?

Brazen politickal beasts must fall

Tricksters and twisters passing through

Minds, like toys in their hands, they play

Cesspool games with beautiful smiles

Behind the veil, the spider weaves

Deceitful stories assault the ear

Charming moves seduce the mind

Broad smiles conceal cunning hearts

Of giant spiders and fine webs … all must fall

Ticks and tricks pollute the vision

Running amok for lack of a challenge

Silent saviors, powerless to save

Hidden jewels in a beautiful crown

Pink, blue, and green teasers

Purple and brown faces and rewards

The grateful palm welcomes them all

The eager feet run to do their bidding

The ticks and tricks of the polity

Running amok in rolling meadows

Living on borrowed time for now

Ticks and tricks will not survive

Silent onlookers must sacrifice the fence

Join the struggle for the common good

The interest of Ogyakrom in every heart

The future of Ogyakrom on every mind

- esi

I wrote this around the time of the national congresses of the various Ghanaian political parties. That season reflected much of what goes on in general political life – ticks who suck human and non-human resources dry – leaches, and the tricks they use and promises they make. The survival of the ticks and their tricks is facilitated by the silent saviors – the people, who can act responsibly, think progressively etc to save the situation, but rather sit on the fence and aid and abet the ticks. ‘Tick’ may be a harsh characterization, but seriously, ever had a dog in the house? …then you’ve seen some tick action. … think about it for a while … …

The drums are beating elsewhere ooh!!

2008-01-12T19:58:00.001Z

Good people,
We are moving to new places! One of my articles made it into the Daily Graphic (Saturday, January 11th, 2008, page 7). Hopefully, my articles will eventually appear there on a weekly basis. As my material is accepted for publication in some newspapers, they will disappear from here, so enjoy them while they show up on this site. Enjoy the old blogs, and all the best in 2008!

Stay blessed.
Ogya.

The drums quieted down for a while, but they now arise!!!

2008-01-06T23:22:00.000Z

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 24^th, 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 24^th, 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 25^th, 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.

The drums are thundering in Ogyakrom ...

2007-11-24T18:27:00.000Z

11/23/07

Folks, I need to vent, so pray lend me your ears ... ...

Alright … continuing right where ended my last ‘missive’ … … or is it ‘epistle?’ Either way – I said I was going to talk about things that make me smile in Ogyakrom, but before I get to that, lemme talk about something that made me so mad today. … definitely stole the sweet smile from my face. … on the way to town, driving on the AFGO-El-Wak stadium road towards Cantonments, I saw something that got me so upset. I’m still upset … it’s been about 8 hours later, and I refuse to calm down. I have mentioned the Chinese moving in, getting involved in trade, etc etc. My problem stems mainly from the fact that we don’t effectively negotiate our way through these contracts to our benefit, and rather accept whatever portion is handed to us – master ‘towers’ who tow any line. Okay, …

Today, my fury rises out of different fires - on God’s good planet earth, and in my very dearly beloved Ogyakrom, we currently have a Chinese company building for the Ministry of Defence (that’s not the problem I’m referring to). The signboard that has the contractor’s information is written entirely in CHINESE with smaller font subtitles in English. I hope you see something wrong with that, ‘cos I certainly do! In MY Beloved Kentry? That IS a major problem. If and when they eventually set up their China Town somewhere here in Ghana (and lemme say that I certainly do see it coming sooner or later), then we can walk into that enclave and see Chinese all over with English subtitled, and I don’t think I’ll mind. For me, this signboard is an insult! For You to come to MY kentry and write in Chinese on a signboard meant to be read by who? I plan making noise about this aah, so this is definitely not the last I’m saying of it. It shows a lack of respect on their part, a lack of self-respect and taking things for granted on our part. Chinese is not an official language in this country, and with them replacing English with their own language, even as a matter of oversight or ‘benign neglect,’ we must realize that it says much more about us as a people. Sold our souls, that’s what we’ve done! It’s an advertising gimmick for them, and I understand that – if you want us to know that the construction is being done by a Chinese company, that’s fine; but you must do this within certain constraints. Who are the Ghanaians working on this project? That’s what I want to know. They must be either blind or … … never mind. I’m too young to have high blood pressure issues over nonsense! Are you telling me that their Ghanaian partners found nothing wrong with it? Come on now! We’re peddling our dignity to foreigners. Shame on us oooh, shame on us!

There are some other things I need to get off my chest before I share what puts a smile on my face. … Vicky Bright … a successful UK-based lawyer who’s come down and is very ready and willing to put her British on the line just so she can be part of govt. I heard of her and saw her on television for the first time this week. My first assessment of her and her situation, looking at how she sarcastically and somewhat rudely responded to questions etc was not exactly favorable. From where I sit observing the drama, they’re nitpicking and making this whole citizenship issue bigger than it needs to me - that’s unnecessary. However, I’m quite sure that it’s her attitude that just aggravates the situation. Just to penalize her for her arrogance, they may be willing to stretch this much more than it needs to be. You know the feeling when you’re sitting on the porch/verandah of a house, and someone comes walking right by you into the house without saying hello or asking for whoever they need to see. They go in, realize they can’t find who/what they’re looking for, and then they sheepishly return to ask for help. Ahaa! That glee and delight in the opportunity to show that person where the power lies is what I’m talking about. I’m sure they’d have brushed this over if it hadn’t been for her attitude. Apparently, she appeared before them in July, and her attitude etc was much worse than this, so what I saw on tele is supposedly nothing, compared to the negative show she put up when she first appeared before them. You know, the lesson here is simple – very often, to gain favor or to even get people to understand you etc, it’s not what you say, but how you say it, that makes a difference.

One of the problems that many people returning from outside of the country tend to face is resistance to their ideas etc. I really can’t blame the people on the ground for their resentment and resistance, if all we do is to show up, give them a snotty attitude and basically proclaim that we have all the answers, and for whatever reason, we’re better than them. That’s what engenders resentment and results in people on the ground sabotaging our efforts. It’s all about partnership oh. Ghana does not belong only to those who live here physically, and neither does it only belong to those who live outside, who think they have all the answers. Ogyakrom belongs to us all – we all share the responsibility to improve things here, in the same way that we share the burdens of social problems etc. …

Talking about social problems, one of the things that is gnawing at my tender little heart is the lack of [live] political debates in this country. We vote based on personalities and not on issues. Our leaders fear debate because it might expose their shallowness and give opponents a better image if they have better ideas. How do we sift from this legion who claim to be ordained to lead Oman Ghana? 18 aspirants … (I’ll refrain from making any John Koduah/Frimpong ‘Tico’ Boateng jokes), and what do they stand for? I’m interested in knowing not just what they plan to do, but more importantly how they understand the issues we deal with. There’s a certain fluidity in African politics where we just go with the flow, refrain from asking questions or answering them, and just go from one ad hoc move to another. We do have a growing democracy, so these things won’t happen overnight. Political discussions/debates - call 'em what you will, are all signs of political maturity. Are we growing politically, or we're still infants? I’d love to see folks like Nduom go far in their careers and aspirations – the kind of leaders who actually welcome debate and have no fear of articulating their stance.

Take a look at the NDC – what kind of debate went on for them to use as a basis for selecting Unlce Atta? Anaa der once big boss JJR spoke, that was it? Come on – don’t be puppets! Then I look at the NPP – out of the legion, as I choose to call them, you’re telling me that there’s no plan to hold debates to make it easier for delegates to know who stands for what? That’s a serious flaw in our thinking paa oh. If it’s the word ‘debate’ that we don’t like, ‘cos it sounds inherently confrontational, then for comfort’s sake, let’s talk about ‘discussions’ and ‘deliberations’ etc, so long as we can hear how these aspiring presidents think, and what they have to offer. Such discussions will expose the feeble and the strong and help us to make better-informed decisions. I haven’t heard of such deliberations in CPP, the PNC or anywhere else. For the CPP, watch out for Aggudey – he just might throw some verbal and physical punches. Why do we vote for one candidate over the other? How do we evaluate the different options available?

Sometime back, I asked myself where each party stood on certain issues –

The size of government
Role of government in the economy
Regional/continental relationships (for eg. This African Union govt. issue, peacekeeping etc)
Role of religion in national politics
Role and place of manufacturing and processing – industrialization policy
Role and place of foreign investors
Land tenure system
Chieftaincy
Education - priority on primary, secondary vrs tertiary etc..., subsidies etc
Health – universal insurance, access to health care, specific strategies – prevention etc
Rural vrs. Urban development
Role and place of infrastructural development
Campaign financing
Managing diversity – fostering ethnic cooperation etc….
Etc, etc, etc.....

Lemme take a quick break. …. Will be back soon! (short break sponsored by fried plantain and nkontonmire)

Can't resist --- let's talk about M&P!

2007-11-21T12:02:00.000Z

This is an excerpt of an article that was published in full in the Daily Graphic, so enjoy this bit, and if you want the full version, just let me know. Enjoy ... ...

After running around yesterday aah, I was so worn out. When I got home, I was too tired to eat. I picked sleep over food. Can you believe that? Absolutely unbelievable! Hmm. Even if I were to be spoon-fed, I’d need someone else to do the chewing and swallowing for me. Was soo tired. That’s what journeys around Makola looking for “Neat” this and “Neat” that will do to you. That’s one of the companies I would love to support in my Buy-Made-in-Ghana campaign. Their food is great, and the packaging is good – a truly refreshing change from all the shoddy packaging and ; ‘finishes’ of locally produced goods. I love Neat Hausa Koko and other Neat products – they do a truly good job, and once I started hooking myself up with my hausa koko breakfasts, I was truly hooked. Not usually a breakfast person, but if it’s hausa koko or rice water, I’m game. Love it. For whatever reason though, it’s been tough to find Neat products in ‘kentry’ besides Neat fufu. What’s up with that? I’ve actually taken their number down and plan to call and find out why I don’t see more hausa koko on the market.

Talking about hausa koko and our manufacturing and processing industry … I bought a brand of hausa koko I’m not familiar with … wanna try it, and as I examined the box, I noticed the directions for preparation. The directions say “Mix 6 spoonful of powder in 10 spoonful of water. Add mixture to ¾ cup of boiling water in a pot. Stir and cook for a minute.” Ei! My aunt is a nutritionist, who will flip when she sees something like this. 6 spoonful? Cook for a minute? Literally? … so I can get my stomach doing ‘Kak Dee’ journeys all over the place? Walahi! And yet they got the Ghana Standards Board to approve the labeling. So this one who you go blame? … the company wey e write am or the GSB who no see say the ting no be correct? I’m yet to try it, and if I like it, I’ll approach the company and tell them what I think of their packaging – the box mpo is some weak card stock that is bent all over the place, and the colours and graphics are all but attractive. Well, the market woman who sold it swore that after Neat, this is next in line, and since I don’t have any other choice, I’ll try it and see.

... ... ...

Okay … so back to our manufacturing and processing … I personally think that is our most ‘responsible’ way forward as a nation.

... ...

Prioritizing M&P means the state needs to get involved, the private financial institutions also need to get involved, our academic institutions need to get involved etc etc... While the state gives tax breaks and other incentives to manufacturers etc, the financial institutions support them with long-term, industrial-scale loans, our educational institutions loose their myopia and look beyond the status-quo subjects that we teach and begin to educate botanists, researchers in the use of rubber, food scientists, zoologists, occupational health and safety specialists, agric researchers etc etc… It means people who study civil, chemical, mechanical engineering etc can put their knowledge to use.

... ... ...

Creative educational strategies and creative learning oooh, creative learning! Look at how much we spend on sports for example. This is a sports nation. We will join international tournaments, renovate stadia, sponsor sporting events, travel for sports, get DsTV so we can watch Arsenal and ManU, etc etc… Look at how much attention we pay to sports – soccer, boxing, golf etc in this kentry... where are the sports administration and sports management programs in our universities? You see, people will tell you we have bread and butter issues to worry about, so let’s train doctors and nurses. Yes, I hear that, BUT, whether we like it or not, we do have a thriving sports industry, so why not train coaches, managers, analysts etc, so that we don’t have to import foreigners to do that? Creative learning means the training of cartographers, meteorologists, archaeologists, nutritionists, etc etc. You know, this is an area of educational reform I want to personally pursue. I’m sitting here getting too aggressively involved in my writing – keyboard is begging for mercy, so lemme slow down to a halt.

... ... ...

M & P is the calcifying factor that will lay the foundation for us to grow. Without it, we’ll be chasing butterflies in our dreams.

... ... ...

In fact, I could go on and on, and on, ‘cos there’s much more I’d like to say, but dissertation business is calling, so I have to yank myself off this bandwagon for now, painful as that is. I hope you get the point I’ve made here. This was supposed to be a very quick blog entry, but you see … topics like these get me all excited. I’ll continue later and boss you about how our potholes are not just becoming more widespread, but are just growing deeper and deeper! Ei! Craters paa in the middle of our roads oh. Hmm.

Problems or no problems, I loove dis crazy kentry, I tell you. (I’ve added ‘kentry’ to my dictionary, so get used to it). Enjoy what’s left of the week. Next time I’ll boss you all about the things that put a smile on my face …. Stay tuned … … once we get started, you never know where we’ll end up. There's much more where this came from … …

So much to say! ... the drums are beating again!!!

2007-11-16T22:17:00.000Z

So much is happening, and this is seriously challenging my resolve to focus on school work and stay away from social commentaries. The Makola fire … raises questions about urban planning, public education, occupational safety, literacy, etc etc….. Somewhere during the week, I was listening to some Vandals (Commonwealth Hall) guys who were campaigning for Hall positions. Ei! May God have mercy on us. I tell you – I listen to the basic English even at the university level, and it’s appalling to say the least. Okay, there’s more exciting stuff going on, so lemme get to it … …

Alright, regarding the presidential accident - so after all our motorcade ‘libi-libi’ and African entourage ‘laba-laba’ (remember Brother Qaddafi’s 100+ entourage to the AU Summit?), and the efforts we make to pave the way for the president and his men to sail through traffic, why this nearly tragic event? Ei! Hmm. The witches are alive and active, I tell you, but some people's prayers are covering the father of the nation. He’s blessed paa oh. It really raises many issues – as for the conspiracy theories, e no be easy oh. I guess the way in which it happened was … … mysterious. How come all cars stopped except for this one? How come this car seemed to find its way through all the traffic to get to the prez? How come it was no other car in the motorcade, but that of the prez? How come the prez walked out alive and smiling, when it was expected that he’d be hurt in the car that lay on its side? How come the prez is called Kuffour, whose car runs over another car whose owner is called Pastor Kuffour, and has a judge presiding over the case called ‘Diwuoh’? Heheheh. Africans are interesting paa oh! With all these questions, you bet there’ll be attempted answers; indeed, many of them have made their way around …

… the NDC ‘croos’ are trying to finish him off; it’s the doing of Aliu Mahama, so that he can slither into office before the elections, and use incumbency to gain political favor and visibility and ease his way calmly into office; the witches’ conference that was supposedly held last month or so arranged to take the grand papa out; the Anlo chiefs and deities are showing mr prez. ‘where the power lies’; Rawlings must have just paid another visit to Antoa Nyama or whatever deity he allegedly bows to; it’s punishment for all the corruption after the revelations of the Public Accounts Committee, it’s a ploy by the incumbents to divert attention from the PAC; it’s an inside-job; it’s an outside-job, it’s everything and anything and nothing about assassination. Go figure – African remote control at work. Apparently Alan ‘Cash’ also had a near miss recently in B.A. or somewhere up there. They say the prez and his alleged ‘protégé’ are under attack. Ei, nnyen no hon enyiwa aber paa oh. Nana Akuffo Addo and vice prez Aliu Mahama all had some kind of vehicular brushes with death – encounters arranged by ofienipas all in a short period. MUSIGA folks returning from Sunyani also had their share of road trauma. ei! hmm. Oh, and of course since we live in a country where everyone has a strong opinion about anything, everything and nothing, many are the opinions about this event – it was a security breach; heads must roll; the powers-that-be must start prosecuting DUI cases more closely (apparently, the dude who hit mr. prez had a li’l som’n som’n in his blood; well, if our traffic lights were working properly, we wouldn’t have to struggle to control traffic when the prez is moving through etc etc…

On a more serious note – it’s quite serious that the prez has an accident, and his security entourage is following normal procedures and flowing with traffic and don’t realize what’s happened, and civilians are the ones who have to come and turn the car back on its wheels and drag him out. What if one of these witches had been planted at the ‘jonction’ to oversee the project? He/she could have taken the opportunity to finish him off. Ei. Seriously though … it means the folks in charge of his security detailing etc have to review and revise their protocol. I’m thankful that he walked out in a full piece, and as resilient as he is, he moved right along with his agenda. He did give me something to laugh about though, when they interviewed him – he said “… I felt myself and didn’t feel anything.” Hehehe.

Okay, so why are some of the CPP aspirants and some party folks trying to discredit Nduom and Akosa as traitors who worked with/for another political party? That’s just pure political immaturity. I actually consider it a strength that these men were able to take up roles as senior public servants in the interest of this ‘beloved kentry’ outside of their party. With mindsets that are so partisan, you bet we’ll see a winner-takes-all and highly partisan approach to politics, regardless of who comes to power. Leave these leaders alone. I actually pay a lot of attention to PKN, ‘cos I do agree with a lot of what he says (even though I do get distracted by his moustache). I just saw him on KSM’s show – TGIF, and I’m excited to know (according to KSM), that he agreed to appear on the show without pre-screening of questions, like other candidates asked for. The brave and the bold. Ready in and out of season. You know, it’s time to grow out of partisanship, leave the party politricks alone and start focusing on the nation – Ghana, and not some political party. If we’re to approach politics with this ‘beloved kentry’ in mind and in focus, I tell you, we shall surely go places! God bless the mothaland! Ça c’est l’histoire de l’Afrique. L’Afrique que j’adore. Mercy!

Oh … the budget… hmm… bright future and agbedefu. I actually agree and disagree with both the incumbents and the minority. Haruna Iddrisu, controversial as he is, did raise some good points re: the budget – concerns about allocations and misallocations. I don’t want to go into budget conversations. I’m trying to keep this short. If I had my way, the top 3 budgetary priorities would be manufacturing and processing – providing tax breaks and incentives for local producers, so that we can stop being a retail nation that produces nothing and just buys and sells just about anything. There’s much talk about the agric sector and mechanized farming etc; well, I’d like to see cooperatives being encouraged, and I’d like to see farmers being guided into processing their produce – the tomato factory in Pualugu can be revived; pineapple, groundnuts, pepper, palm oil, etc etc … all these can be processed locally. I’ve spoken about all this in previous blog entries, so I won’t go there. It’s crucial to our development though, so we really need to head down that road. Pay attention to some of the approaches used in the East – manufacture and market your stuff like China; seal off your markets as much as possible and engender support for locally-produced goods before opening the market up to foreign goods like Japan (unfortunately, this cannot be done because we’re subject to all sorts of international trade agreements that work against us – force our markets open. It not only supports made-in-Ghana products, but it creates jobs, it integrates the agric sector into the economy, it reduces our dependency on foreign goods etc etc. you know, with the kind of problems we have on this continent, we definitely need more comprehensive, long-term resolutions to our problems. Did you hear of the traders’ strike at Abossey Okai? I hear them. This takes me back to the issue of R&D and how we can investigate new, creative and innovative ways of growing our economy, improving living conditions and just building our own ‘utopia’.

Two other priorities – urban planning and Research and Development. I’ve already said so much about these in previous blogs, so will leave the issues alone.

Oh boy, lots to say, but gotta leave this alone for now. Enjoy your weekend, and stay blessed. Stay covered, and may the protection showered on Mr. Prez be your portion!

Some mild drumbeats for now ...

2007-11-13T23:03:00.000Z

11.13.07

Okay, we’ll make this very quick. This one is burning in me, so the fire must come out. You know, when we decide to address problems in this dear African context of ours, we have to do so as comprehensively as possible. No myopia. I could go on and on about the condition of our roads, but I’mma let that slide for now. I was just thinking of crime that’s become rampant in many neighborhoods in Ogyakrom. Driving in certain places, given the condition of the roads, you have no choice but to slow down to avoid killing your shocks, and that’s where some of the armed crooks hide out or set roadblocks and attack innocent folks. This is where these folks grab phones and hurt people in the process. So … there’s your link between our bad roads and crime.

While I’m on bad roads, let’s talk about non-working traffic lights. I’ve said it before, and will repeat it – why on earth don’t we have solar powered traffic lights? I really am not too worried about the energy source so long as the thing works! On a trip from Ashaley-Botwe to Accra High Street, I tell you, only about 5% of the traffic lights along the road work. I’ve never seen the Tetteh-Quarshie-Secaps traffic light working before. The fixture is there to remind us of our poor management. This is an intersection with tons of people crossing, so unless some generous driver stops and manages to flag others to slow down and also stop, pedestrians will have to negotiate their way through and take risks to cross the street. I bet there’ve been countless accidents here. So … why on God’s good earth can’t we fix some of these things? Hmm.

If you haven’t been down in Ogyakrom for a while, they (whoever ‘they’ refers to) are finally fixing the stretch between T-Q and Adenta. Apparently they’ve done a pretty good job on the Aburi road, and now it’s very user-friendly. Since I can’t avoid this road condition talk, I might as well finish what I’ve started … these same non-working lights mean that some boys-boys walking around stop to manage traffic at our intersections. We may drive by and not tip them for their services, as they harass drivers. At the same time, we can’t do without them sometimes. Try the Asylum-down Trust Towers junction, or the main Holy Spirit Cathedral intersection, or the East Legon underpass from the Spintex Rd. These boys-boys provide a service they have no business providing, but they’re being entrepreneurs – capitalizing on an unmet need. We may chase them away, but given the reality that we don’t know how to be patient and take turns in passing through intersections, we’ll be needing them around for a while.

Seriously … you can have an impasse at a crossroad for about 30mins, just because nobody wants the other person to move. That brings me to something else – why on earth do we build traffic systems that rely on proper and good human judgment in order to function properly. Case in point – roundabouts. We keep building them, etc, even though we live in a country and continent where the indiscipline on our roads is massive, and so a trip around Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle is like negotiating your way through a war zone. Why do we build systems that will rely on benevolence and good judgment when we seem to have none? I’d say scrap those and let’s have monitored intersections. Well, if the lights won’t work, then what’s the point? Oh well, … … plus ça change … you know the rest … …

Let’s talk about something more pleasant. Food. Ooh, you know I don’t mess around with that. If there’s anything I love to do, and do well, it’s enjoying a good meal. It’s refreshing to see that now we have places ranging from chop bars (yours truly likes those too!) to good restaurants. I can find Ghanaian dishes around more easily, and don’t have to stress anymore over the fact that our dining options are mainly foreign. Buka is one of my favorite spots. Be sure to check it out – next to the old American Consulate building. Their food is excellent! Jollof with onions (I’m a huge onion fan) tossed in a vinaigrette, and juicy and well-cooked chicken, palava sauce, banku and okro, atieke, etc etc, some good Nigerian dishes, and of course the dessert – cut-up sugar cane with a slice of lemon. Oooh, child! Making myself hungry, I tell you! the banku and tilapia, omotuo and waakye joints, the Asenka Locals and other places are feeding the likes of moi and making good money too. It’s about time! Tempted to talk about service quality …

We still have a looong way to go oh – you ask for one dish, and when it comes you notice the meat or fish came from some other dish. Kontonmire with bright reddish fish that just swam its way out of some gravy. … if you’re not an ‘ampo kyékyé’ person like me, then those are major issues that zap the appetite right out of your mouth. Talking about service quality …. That’s what my research is all about. SQ in the public sector. Everyone who hears of it thinks I’m crazy, and this will be the toughest project I ever undertake. Probably true. I’m really interested in finding out how we think of and define SQ, and what’s the most important aspect of that contact between the client and the service provider. I argue that the interpersonal interaction matters more, and many folks base their evaluation of SQ on the interaction, not just the other things – the environment, facilities etc …

Okay, sorry for this rather dry piece. I’ll find some more juicy stories for you some other time. Let’s just say I’m having a few ‘Ghana moments’ – blackout in dis brain of mine. Oh, before I go .. I picked up a book today – Elizabeth Ohene’s collection of writings – Stand Up & Be Counted. Very impressive. Wow! Phenomenal woman. I like her strength. If you can get your hands on a copy, do get it – especially if you didn’t live through the regimes of the late 70s, JJ’s era etc as an adult. Great insight into what happened then – the executions, murder of press freedom etc etc… fascinating. Look for it.

Oh … and I must say that I’m very impressed with the number of infomercials/edumercials on t.v. these days. There are public education infomercials on road safety, drug trafficking, electricity conservation etc etc. that’s what I call conscientizing the nation one mind at a time. That’s a good thing. We must ‘watch these things.’

Aight, lemme get off. Starving ridee, so the ‘apor’ has all evaporated. Will continue later on sometime.

The drums are beating furiously in Ogyakrom! She's baaaacck!

2007-11-09T19:13:00.001Z

Drumbeats from Ogyakrom!

The Lord is my Shepherd, Who art in heaven. Who preparedst a table before me, in the presence of all the “ofie nipas” ... and leads me not into temptation … many temptations to write and write and write, especially when I have loads of school work to do. Amen. Hmm, … … na wao! As always, I’m thrilled to be back home, even though things are crazier than I last left them. These days I’m somewhat a prisoner in the land of the free … the boys-boys in the areas are mugging people, snatching bags, robbing at gunpoint etc aah ma, now yours truly has to be extra careful. People are infringing upon my liberties oh. Yoo. These are the things that push me to yield to sweet temptation and put my pen (fingers) to paper (screen).

There’s so much to write about … as usual, but this time around, I honestly do not have the time to write as much – I’m not supposed to busy my little self with anything other than dissertation business if I really want to graduate in May (so-help-me-God) and then head back to Ogyakrom. My love for this place and my ‘mof mof’ about moving back is being tested. Will I still sing the same “i-loooove-Ogyakrom” song even when my haven of peace is being disrupted by armed robbers? Help me Lord!

Okay, I got here on Thursday the 1^st, and by that weekend, walked right into an effort to raise funds for flood victims in the north. It was a charity event spearheaded by Mr. Music Man himself, Kojo Antwi, telecast live on GTV. He got his fellow celebrities to get together and take calls from people who were willing to pledge their financial and other support for the brethren in the north. The support was very positive and well-noted; people called in literally from all over – Sandema, Bolga, Half Assini, Hohoe, Yendi, Berekum, Nsawam, Tema, Tarkwa, Koforidua Bimbilla, all over Accra, Liberia, Nigeria, Mauritania, the U.S., the U.K., Holland etc. Abeiku Santana, Rex Omar, David Dontoh, Akofo Edjeani Asiedu, last year’s Ms. Malaika and other well-known faces gathered to do some ‘hard labor’ in the Call Center. Some performed too – one of my favorite Ghanaian gospel singers (Ohemaa Mercy) also performed. Let me digress for a second. … you know, the first time my supplier of gospel music CDs recommended her music, her name kraa put me off. I said to him that I didn’t want any of the many sister-somebody, mama-somebody or ohemaa-somebody singing whiny, dirge-like songs in my ears. I wanted a good selection of worship songs and edifying praise songs. Well, I rejected her CD. I got an MP3 selection of music, and there were at least 6 songs I immediately fell in love with, and guess the woman behind the voice? … you got that right. Shame on me. Love her music – ministers to me.

However, I can’t help but mention my disgust? Displeasure? Sadness? at how much of the gospel music being released is merely entertainment – it has the bumping and grinding ‘dombolo-like’ moves you see in contemporary secular music videos. Puzzling, if you ask me … Recently, many national leaders – Imams, pastors, teachers etc have been commenting about the lewdness we see on the screens – especially the ‘fillers’ used by the television stations when they are behind schedule or have nothing else to offer our eagerly itching (or is it itchingly eager) eyes and ears. The fashion sense has changed … wearing clothes with boobs all over the place, body-hugging stuff that displays every single pimple and dimple is causing custodians of cultural values, moral values etc to be worried. I hear them on that one. And … I have issues with some of these beauty pageants etc … our sense of beauty is equated with the skinny ribcage-displaying light-skinned women with fake hair, nails and the works. God bless Ms Ghana 1987 and some others, who displayed in their time a healthy helping of meat to cover their bones, and had the brains to add to the beauty. It was refreshing to see last year’s Ms. Malaika – a dark-skinned beauty for a change. Anyway … you know what? Lemme leave that issue right there for now. TBC later.

Back to the charity event … this is/was the first Telethon held in Ghana, and I must say it has great potential as a fundraising tool for serious needs like this one. A noble and worthy cause, and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to help out with it. It kept me busy that weekend, but for a good reason. I hope that time will not erase the flood off the memories of people in the country, and that NADMO, different NGOs, individuals and other entities will continue to support the victims - innocent victims of furious nature.

That same weekend, I marched off to the Qodesh – i.e. the home base of Lighthouse Chapel Int’l to witness the ordination of a good friend of mine. It was a blessing to be there, and you know, I realized how stable the church has been over time, and how it’s kept its mission/ vision all these years. Truly international oh … Tuesday evening saw such a representation of the diversity God has blessed this planet with … churches represented from Australia, Brazil, Austria, Germany, the U.K., Italy, and tons of African countries including South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali etc etc … I was telling someone the other day, that whenever I get lost, all I have to do is look out for a bright yellow signboard, and I will find out where my wanderings have led me to … LCI – Banana Inn or LCI – Darkoman, or LCI – Sakumono. It’s a blessing to be part of that family. Looking forward to spending time with my original spiritual family too - LIC in Legon, and ooh, it’s always so refreshing to be back with them. No place I’d rather be, I tell you. This time, my trip is going to be all about me, God and our dissertation. … and of course, ‘light’ updates on what’s going on in Ogyakrom. Light updates like this one …

Some fires are raging here oh – chieftaincy wahala in the Anlo area. A dispute over the rightful successor to the stool etc … Some representative of one of the factions came on the SMShow (Joy Fm), and totally said everything about absolutely nothing, trying in some very lame way to pin the ongoing conflict on government using parables. Government didn’t send law enforcement early, and then now they can handle things by themselves and don’t need any law enforcement agents. I tell you, I could not for the life of me understand his point (of course that’s because he had none). Why do we ‘Ghana-nians’ alllllways have to politicize everything? In a conversation with a taxi driver the other day, he blamed government for higher oil prices, saying that government owns the petrol stations like Total, Shell, Mobil etc, and so they’re the ones profiting from higher prices. It’s all the NPPs fault – that’s the song. This is where I launch my favorite missile – taking the scales off ignorant eyes and conscientizing Ogyakromians one mind at a time.

That aside … you know, there are certain issues that cannot be resolved without the input of some key stakeholders … how can we ever do any serious urban planning if we won’t involve the chiefs who sell, re-sell, re-re-sell and then sell the same piece of land to different people? The last time I came down, I was appalled (this is the kindest word in my dictionary for now) … at the condition of some of our public agencies – Town & Country Planning, Deaths & Births Registry and those agencies housed in the shacks that were supposed to be temporary some decades ago by the sea. Why am I wasting my breath anyway? After all, the Akosombo Dam mpoh was supposed to be temporary, and here we are, 50 solidly golden years later … Come je disais … plus ça change … Hmm… I really would like to do a study on the funding patterns for public agencies – the visibility and invisibility of some agencies. Compare CEPS and the GIPC to T&CP …. that’s like comparing night to day.

You know, these are the things that get me worked up about the public sector. If there’s any young person out there who believes in the public sector more than I do (not that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, but that they can be mobilized to do what they’re supposed to do), please, I beseech you … introduce me to that person. For some reason (only God knows), I see the potential and the indispensability of the public sector, and I can’t wait to start working on certain projects to help some one progressive and needy agency somewhere to find its raison d’être and function as it’s supposed to. Hmm … lemme get off that train for now.

Certain things haven’t changed – round-the-clock traffic jams, rude customer service personnel, goats, chicken, people and cars trying to share road space, tons of radio call-in programs etc etc etc… The more things change, the more things stay the same, I tell you. Your political aspirants are still crawling all over the place like ‘nkran’ (ants) in warfare. The heavyweights and “political ticos” (thanks to Ato K. Dadzie on Joy Fm’s Super Morning Show, Dr. Frimpong Boat has a small nickname to match his political stature among the heavyweights). It’s wearying to hear of NPP all the time. I’m on the lookout for noise by the other parties too, but nothing serious yet. … just the MPs slapping each other and Aggudey shoving his feet and hands into his mouth a little too early in the game. Did you hear his outburst? My goodness -- and this dude wants to be president? You bet press freedom will be heading on its way out as soon as you guy this one in.

Oh … today I went walking through Madina market. You know me and my school girl haircut. I get the labels “hey, school girl”, or “small.” Some dude actually referred to me as “school girl”, touched my arm, said “obaa” something something…, and commented on how soft …. In fact, I was immensely annoyed, to say the least, but I realized that the nincompoop was too empty-headed to even acknowledge my threats, protests, etc… The most I got out of him was “ah, na wonnye obaa? Me de mensa kã wo ah n’ayeh den?” (trans: ah, aren’t you female? So what will happen if I touch you?). You know, it’s amazing to walk in these shoes oh…. I get so quickly stereotyped either as some J/SSS school girl, or some ‘millenium woman’ who perhaps is all book and nothing else, can probably not cook or keep a home, will be the harasser of some poor guy. And … here I am, the total opposite. I’m happy whenever I see women who dare to wear their hair short on this continent … it is just another option – not a lesser option, but people refuse to see it that way. You’re free to perm your hair, wear a wig, braid it, wear locks or go santo/sakora. So why is it difficult to accept that we don’t all want our hair permed? Ça, je ne comprends pas. Seriously. Anyway … I keep getting harassed about marriage, wearing short ‘school girl’ hair instead of a perm etc etc… Why can’t we just accept alternatives to the straightening of our natural kinks? As for the extent of our brainwashing, the least said, the better.

Oh … the Most Troublesome Network in Ghana right now is messing me up paa, so I got myself a chip To Go, and texted my new number to a couple of friends (by the way, all puns intended). ...and by the way … that freeze on the sale of starter packs was one of the most useless directives. It was just a display of NCA might – mightless might, I might add. It’s different if you’re going to go and check the actual tech equipment they use to serve their network, etc etc etc. What did it achieve? Oh well. … so I sent my new number to friends, and one of them called back, but wasn’t saying anything when I answered. The call came through about 4 times, and then I gave this buddy of mine a warning … that I would count five and hang up ‘cos I wasn’t sure whether the Most Troublesome Network phone he was using was misbehaving or not, or whether he wasn’t aware his phone was calling me. Countdown … and then I hung up. Call came through again, and some woman asked who I was looking for, and I gave the name, and then realizing it was a wrong number I’d texted, I apologized for disturbing her peace. Then came the barrage of threats … that I should never dare to call her husband ever again or text him. I said ‘oh madam!’ dis one na wrong nomber oh abi. Make you forgive me. Sister-woman was too irate to listen, and then hung up.

Moments later … phone rings with a seriously-stressed out brother at the other end asking if I’d called him. I said oh Massa, I misdialed the number oh. Poor dude was panting, obviously after a heated argument with his bezerk wife, who thought I was his ‘mpena.’ Ao, mercy!! Poor guy. I tried to apologize to the Mrs., who refused to listen, so I moved on with my life. Perhaps Mr. man may have some skeletons in his closet, giving this woman some reason to suspect him of foul play. Or … she’s some mental nutcase who’s acting out in paranoia. I’ll leave the head doctors to figure that one out. It left me with a question I still haven’t been able to answer … why do spouses always go pouncing on the person they think is trying to poach their partner, when indeed, prudence would suggest that they rather launch their attacks on the one to whom they have committed, who seems to be breaking the commitment? Not worth my time for now … let’s move on.

I need to focus on school work – don’t wonder what my Sacramento Kings are doing, or how the Phobians are doing, or anything of the sort. Don’t wonder how I’ll leave all the Ghana 2008 excitement to return to Uncle Sam’s yard, just 2 days before the games start in January. Hmm …

You see how this happens? This was supposed to be a very quick 2-paragraph update, and here I am after a number of pages. May God have mercy on this temptation that so-easily besets me. Hmm. I’ll boss you more later on. I’ll try to make my entries short and regular – as much as possible. There’s so much to boss you about … the Trasacco trial. Now tell me … how does an Italian kingpin come here, make tons of money off us, commission land guards to storm parcels of land, kill people, use mafia tactics to evict and murder people and get away with it? It drives me insane! What kind of nonsense – mega nonsense is that? Oh, … the Chinese are here in full capacity – Bui Dam, roads, schools, etc etc… I wonder our role in dealing with them - equitable/equal partnerships? Servants and masters? Uneasy bedfellows? Much to say, but I hold my peace. Lemme stop here norrr. Keep your ears opened to the drumbeats floating up out of Ogyakrom. Be safe, and God bless Ogyakrom!

The drums are beating furiously in Ogyakrom! She's baaaacck!

2007-11-09T19:13:00.000Z

Drumbeats from Ogyakrom!

Oh … the Most Troublesome Network in Ghana right now is messing me up paa, so I got myself a chip To Go, and texted my new number to a couple of friends. (by the way, all puns intended). Oh, and by the way … that freeze on the sale of starter packs was one of the most useless directives. It was just a display of NCA might – mightless might, I might add. It’s different if you’re going to go and check the actual tech equipment they use to serve their network, etc etc etc. What did it achieve? Oh well. … so I sent my new number to friends, and one of them called back, but wasn’t saying anything when I answered. The call came through about 4 times, and then I gave this buddy of mine a warning … that I would count five and hang up ‘cos I wasn’t sure whether the Most Troublesome Network phone he was using was misbehaving or not, or whether he wasn’t aware his phone was calling me. Countdown … and then I hung up. Call came through again, and some woman asked who I was looking for, and I gave the name, and then realizing it was a wrong number I’d texted, I apologized for disturbing her peace. Then came the barrage of threats … that I should never dare to call her husband ever again or text him. I said ‘oh madam!’ dis one na wrong nomber oh abi. Make you forgive me. Sister-woman was too irate to listen, and then hung up.

Final update from Ogyakrom coming soon! Until then ...

2007-08-24T23:52:00.000Z

I'm back in NJ (just my body, that is), but the rest of me - heart, mind and soul are all back in Ogyakrom. I stay in touch with what's happening on the ground by listening to Joy Fm's Super Morning Show. Check it out - worth your time, for sure. In the meantime, here's my most recent poem. Please do not quote without my permission. Thanks, and enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sweet Dreams and Nightmares

8/16/07 - esi

Dare to dream if you can

Dare to dream if you will

In a field with no horizon

Soar as high as your dream will take you

So much promise yet unfulfilled

So many opportunities yet untapped

Dare to dream if you’d like

Dare to dream if you wish

Sitting atop a dung hill

Smells assault, and sights enrage

Sounds of vultures and their spoil

Nightmarish apparitions hover around

The frustrated wanderer asks …

Will good arise from this land?

The disillusioned native thinks …

Why not flee this troubled land

Eyes planted in the back of heads

No vision for what could lie ahead

Feet turned backward, ready to run

Each step forward is another step backward

A new pair of eyes settle on the dump

Putrid smells and painful eyesores

Assault of the senses and of the mind

Yet, a different reaction arises

A resounding response to a hollow call

Rubbing hands in delightful anticipation

A pupillary feast on an elusive treasure

The discerning eye catches the dream

Secrets unveiled to daring dreamers

Mind and attitude are poised for battle

Doubters will pummel, and pessimists harass

The mind of the battle - the tough must prevail

The battle of the mind – the dream must prevail

Creative assembly of desire and passion

Rejection of pigeonholes for open turf

New ideas frame new realities

Visions clarified, the impossible is possible

Giant excavators and little spoons

Shovels and spades all get on board

Partnerships of hope, eyes on the mine

The vision births hard work and faith

The cleanup begins with trepidation

Courage swoops in to aid the weak

Treasures are uncovered to spite the cynics

Beauty emerges to crown the effort

There are dreams to be dreamt in the motherland

There are opportunities to create in this Garden of Eden

There is much rubbish to incinerate …

And much more wealth to appreciate

The inner man speaks of satisfaction

The soulish being’s great contribution

A nation uplifted from a garbage dump

A mine of treasures uncovered by few

I started writing this on the bus in Newark while musing over how we see our motherland (Ghana). I just returned from Ogyakrom, and my passion and desire to return fuels me and fires me up all the time. It's pretty evident each time I talk to people, and they wonder why on earth I want to leave the green pastures of Uncle Sam's land to return to Ogyakrom. I keep running into a lot of negativity surrounding the issue of going back, from both people outside and those within. Most people seem to see no reason for heading back to Ogyakrom. I on the other hand look, and all I see is a goldmine concealed under a rubbish heap … … …

Ogyakrom live! Oily tales & Afrika united!

2007-07-07T23:51:00.000Z

Mother of all ironies … … I went through some old newspapers in order to dig up the Daily Graphic issue that came out around the time when I was sojourning in the Pearl of Africa. That was when we discovered oil in Ogyakrom! Well, I came across a May 11^th Daily Graphic in which the finance minister promised that “in the short term, I can assure you that Ghana is on track in ensuring that we increase our power generating capacity to end the current energy crisis by the end of the year,” he said. Ooh boy, I’m waiting for 12/31/07. You see, one thing I have become sick and tired of, is all the talk-talk that goes on in this country – forget it … this continent. Each time I watch TV or read the newspapers, I see nothing but meetings and deliberations, and it makes me question why we waste our time talking and doing nothing. Talk-talk is easy and cheap, and we don’t hold ourselves accountable for action, so we go on and on babbling and babbling. If we use the hot air we generate from all our talking, I tell you, we’ll have enough energy for the entire continent, and I bet it’ll last for generations to come! Anyway, the overly broad and overarching goals set by the nation, NGOs, the world financial institutions etc, are nice on paper – look like they’re moving us forward. However, we never seem to get any closer to these great goals. What’s the problem? The problem is simple – Africa is too bloated with theorists who do nothing but run their mouth with no practical steps. Okay, so you’re moving us forward on energy – how? By discussing nuclear energy? Ha!

Like I keep saying, … I’m full of great ideas, and I’m about to unleash one, so if you have money to invest, please holla at a sista, and let’s work some miracles! Okay … how about a community-based approach that will start looking into energy issues. Step one – the government and all well-meaning institutions commit to put up a laboratory – the Ghana (let’s dream big … ) the African Energy Laboratory. Step two - we import primarily African scientists and engineers (to build the equipment needed) on the continent and beyond to this laboratory (and of course, we’ll bring in the non-Africans we can learn from), and we all contribute to fund it and equip it to the max. Yes, we DO have the money to do that – just cut down on the entourages, the travels and perks of our politicians, and voilà! Step 3 – we get research going - on all possible types of energy sources – ethanol from our beloved ‘borla’ that chokes our gutters, wind energy, solar energy (ironically seen as too expensive, when it is the cheapest option – do we pay for the abundant sunshine we have south of the Equator? No!), geothermal energy (hot springs), etc etc etc….. Step 3b – while all this lab work is going on, we get some of the scientists to visit randomly selected communities to evaluate which energy source would be the most efficient, effective etc…. Step 4 – we test our lab solutions in real life communities. As we discover viable solutions, we find similar communities and spread the energy. Not every community must be powered up the same way – each one takes what works in that given context. Yes, there may be risks involved, but we have to at least take them! What do we have to lose anyway? Damned if we do, damned if we don’t, so we have to tread along, just treading cautiously. I won’t continue talking about solar energy – really passionate about that, but have said a lot about it lately in previous postings, so I’ll give it a rest for now.

Anyway, so they say we have found oil eh? Walahi! I remember my father used to say if it were not for the witches in a certain beloved town along the coast in the central region, we would have oil in Ghana, but alas! These witches used it all to fry kelewele by night. Hehehe. After 20 years, foreign experts – Kosmos Energy (U.S) and the GNPC dug till they hit light oil! Ei! God must have been smiling down at the drillers when they hit the jackpot. I thought we’d been drilling at this same Cape Three Points in the past? Well, it’s great news. We join Uganda in becoming new oil ‘superpowers.’ Hehehe. Open your eyes. Here comes Uncle Sam! Projected 600 million barrel deposit, in just one of the multi-well West African sites that Kosmos is exploring – not bad huh? Yeah ... not bad at all for Kosmos, I tell you. Ha! Okay, my nosy little self has a barrage of questions amidst all the euphoria …. What were the details in the contract that licensed the drilling? Driller-takes-all? After all, according to the June 19th Graphic, out of the 126 workers, only 16 were Ghanaians. Will we plan on using home-grown experts, or even our own migrated experts? Was there one contract for the exploration and another for the actual drilling? Where does the money go from there? Are we planning on refining the oil here and selling it on the world market at a higher price than crude oil? … or perhaps we’ll do what Africans always do – send the raw materials elsewhere to have it refined and sent back to us in processed form so we can buy our own oil all over again? So far, all I’ve heard is about extraction, not refining. I see African myopia still has us in its grips. God have mercy on us! If you know the Minister of Energy, please forward these questions to Him, and I’ll be grateful.

Ghanaians are jubilating, and it’s a good thing. What we can start doing is praying that we will learn to manage our resources properly and not be like Esau, exchanging the intangibles (drilling rights, control etc) in exchange for the few tangibles dangled before our eyes. Yes, we have oil now, but we must start praying over that region – see the nonsense that is happening in Nigeria more and more often? Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa as well, and how the lack of any kind of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the industrial practices of Shell in Ogoniland led to unrest and murder of the 9 Ogoni martyrs. May they rest in peace. Let’s learn from our continental neighbors – learn from their mistakes, and watch out for the big boys in the yard – China, India, Russia, and then the traditional bullies too – Uncle Sam and co. Be wary, Ogyakrom! Be wary of your friends!

You know what just came to mind … hmmm, is it mere coincidence that a US-based company did the drilling in the Western Region, and the US is trying to draw closer as friends of Ghana and is seeking to establish a military base in the Western Region? Hmm … … Perhaps there’s no connection whatsoever, but I don’t trust Uncle Sam ooh, abi; I no dey trust am one sef. Hmm. Remember Ogoniland, Viequès in Puerto Rico. Remember also the island of Diego Garcia. If you don’t know about these places, go to news.google.com and look them up. Just keep an eye on the witches in the oil region, lest they decide to fry atwomo or ewur’efua (fish) with this newfound oil. I rest my case.

Okay, I wanted to keep this entry short, but the AU – union government dream is biting me, and so lemme get it out of the way for now. Here’s my stand on this united states of Africa business. First of all, our leaders should all be deeply ashamed that they have no original dreams and visions for this beloved continent and it’s only dreams and visions from Nkrumah and co. of yesteryears that continue to stand. You know, I have deep respect and admiration for the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and a few others even including Castro (the sidelined-pillar firmly planted in Cuba). You see, here’s what these leaders have in common – they dared to dream and to have their own visions, regardless of what was going on around them. They had visions, and sadly, since we don’t have visionaries leading us anymore, we only rely on old dreams. Thank God those are sound dreams, and so are eternally worth following.

You see, this idea of a united Africa was good then, and is still good now, but it was more feasible then than it is now. And mind you … it doesn’t have to be a replica of any other body such as the EU, as Prez. Kuf-kuf said, or like the US of A, our beloved Atlantic partners. It must be framed within the African context by Africans with a vision for Africans. What about the United Federation of Africa? The Union of African Republics? … we don’t have to carve our reality based on other people’s reality and history, you know … You see, the idea is good, but now let’s consider how this will work out in practice. I actually wonder whether given our context, Nkrumah would still maintain his vision the same way it was in 1957. One fundamental problem we have is that we have come too far away from the formative stages of nation statehood to pursue the dream of the single African state the same way it was conceived by Nkrumah. That is where you have the likes of Qhaddafi (I’m never sure of the spelling of the dude’s name. Please pardon me, Brother Muammar) advocating that we proceed as we should have, about 50 years ago. I recognize the reality that newly independent states may not have been willing to cede their independence to a single state back then, but that was the ideal time to unite, and then begin crawling together bit by bit, and then as more countries gained independence, they would also join the single state. That era is gone. Fast forward into the present >>> There’s been a lot of talk-talk about this union government business, and that is what makes some like Big Brother Muammar want to see some action now! However, teaching an old dog new tricks is difficult. With that logic, I’d say get a new dog, let it learn and gain wisdom from the old dog, and then eventually ease the old dog out of the system, and teach the new dog new tricks before it becomes an old dog ;-).

I know I’m meandering my way slowly through this, but fear not – just think along with me and enjoy the ride. When I get millions from our newfound oil, I’ll share it with you. I agree with the fact that we have more leverage to gain if we unify. Of course! When it comes to world trade, and especially the way our markets are being forced open (remember the rape imagery I previously raised? Ok), with cheap goods flooding the markets and displacing and killing local industries, I’d say unity – regionally, continentally – whatever it takes. Practically, how will we achieve a unified government if we can’t even properly govern single states? I was listening to a Joy program recently – the super morning show, and a pan-Africanist grandpa was in the studio to defend Nkrumah’s ideal. I consider myself to be a pan-Africanist at heart, but that dude did us a major disservice. When the presenter (who I must add does a great job – I also noticed we both think alike) asked him to explain how a union government would practically be formed – where and how do we begin, he had nothing concrete to say – just spewed out lots and lots of oold rhetoric – the kind of talk-talk we’re tired of hearing. This is the root of the problem – all rhetoric and no concrete plans. There are serious issues to consider paa oh. It’s too complex for my little head to worry about.

Many cite the advantages, but if we can’t have free, fair and proper elections in one country, how will we achieve that on a larger scale? When we have corruption eating our leaders and the rest of the society up, how do we intend to unify and pool our resources together? How will we control the ‘brain drain’ of talent to South Africa for example? Who will stay in those countries losing talent to fix it? We haven’t finished dealing with rural-urban migration within individual countries – how will we deal with intra-continental imbalances in migration? How do we control the spread of crime and overcrowding? And what about the spread of diseases? Why should DRCongo agree to provide hydro power for the rest of the continent as the pan-African infrastructural group has suggested (group of private investors looking to provide shared infrastructure across the continent) ‘cos the DRC apparently can afford to do so without even a minor headache? How do we assure them that they’re sacrificing for the greater good, and will benefit as a result of some other arrangement? Why should a Rwandan or Batswana be willing to sacrifice the stable political leadership they have, the economic progress they seem to be making, the moral courage that seems to propel them (Rwanda, especially) for some Qhaddafi-ish figurehead. I’d say put the talking aside. Set referenda first about what the people on the ground want. Secondly, set benchmarks to keep. If past plans and declarations have not worked, perhaps it’s not that those were useless plans, but that we did not follow them. At the regional level, set agendas, set up a periodic peer review system, monitor progress, and ease political unity and economic unity as you move ahead. I have nothing against unity – in fact, I’d love to see it, but would like to see it done properly. Until we deal with border control issues, corruption etc in individual countries … …

Hmm. The AU Summit itself was something else. Lemme preface this by saying that after returning from Uganda, I appreciate Ghana a whole lot more. We still have a long way to go, but by grace, we have come farther than many other African countries. As I looked at the Summit publicity, I couldn’t help but think of this … … what do Rawlings and Kuffour have in common? They both brought visibility to Ghana one way or the other. They both also had larger governments that what they came to meet. They also are darling boys of the West. They also … … never mind. Both have strengths and weaknesses, sins and some good behavior, so all I’d say is work hard to moving the nation forward whether in a private/personal or official capacity.

There was sooo much pomp and fanfare – an occurrence that is not uncommon in African countries. Security around Accra was tighter than apuskeleke jeans, and as for the blaring sirens and motorcades, … galore! Logistics of the event, especially as it concerned media houses and journalists was poor at the beginning. Embarrassing that journalists were not allowed to go inside to cover the opening of this big Summit even though they had received prior clearance. Guess why … … our beloved presidents came with large entourages (The Brother came with the entire Libya in his 50/100-car motorcade that trekked here from the desert, stopping in villages and towns for undeserved fanfare). Apparently the leaders did not stick to the numbers they said they’d come with, so things were tighter in the conference hall, and there was no more room for the tons of reporters who poured in from all over the world. You know … … Hmm. Never mind. … not worth getting a heart attack over. I mean … … why? They came gliding in these our beloved Ghana@50 cars, sat in there and dozed half the time from all the talking, threw temper tantrums, clogged our streets with the porrpeeh sirens, and then went back home. Only in Africa, do we slow traffic so our politicians can pass with ease, and then they go wherever they’re headed and do rien. Zilch. Niet. Hwee. Nothing. Nada. You see, till politicians feel the pain of the masses … forget it. You have power outages, they have generators; you have potholes, they have fresh cars with good shock absorbers; you have traffic jams, they are sped through traffic… … so where on earth will they get to experience what we go through?

Hero worship, is killing us in Africa oh, I tell you no lie! I don’t want to go on about Africans and titles, but I must say that one thing that kills me is the way we hold on to titles, especially politicians. “Honorable” is used for politicians who don’t know their constituents, have done nothing but spend unearned money, and who go about demanding respect through their use of titles without earning it. It’s so annoying and frustrating to listen to them on the radio. Some even go as far as introducing themselves as “the honorable” so-and-so. In fact!!! Mother of all ironies! Lemme get off this one, or else … there’ll be a volcanic eruption.

Alright, lemme leave this alone for now. There’s redenomination and other stuff to talk about. You know, the pace of life here is crazy, maan. Who ever said things are slow down here in Ogyakrom? Charley, there are so many things I’d love to write about, but I can’t even find the time to! I have to discipline myself and put all this extra-curricular stuff aside for a bit – got research to do. I will continue later – my restless fingers and keyboard will see to that. Watch out for the next drumbeat from Ogyakrom!

Part II from Kampala - my final take

2007-07-07T00:55:00.000Z

Okay, so here are my final thoughts on Uganda ... ...

Uganda is so lush and fertile – it’s amazing. That explains the abundance of huge and juicy mosquitoes. It is not uncommon to see that many people use mosquito nets out there. That certainly had me thinking … … how come over all these years, we have been waiting for a malaria vaccine that seems to be elusive, to say the least. Hmm.. I’m glad the Malaria Consortium seems to be working on that – this is where responsible African governments who know that malaria can slow the working population down, kill many young children etc etc will invest in young people who are interested in medicine – specifically, tropical medicine. You take some of those young brains, and then you give them the best training in research in tropical diseases, build a laboratory, equip it, and support them enough to find solutions to some of our problems. It is costly, yes, but it is needed. As I keep saying – sure, we can do without the donor money if we manage what we have and stop sending 100 people to accompany our leaders to summits and conferences, scale back the corruption, let’s look forward and develop our processing and refining capacity and export finished products etc etc etc…. generate money from within to support R & D.

I had the opportunity to visit Bujagali waterfalls and go to Jinja to see the source of the river Nile. I will share pictures later – it was heavenly! Lush and green and beauuutiful. Truly beautiful country that has so much potential to do better kraa. The stories I’ve heard about the fertility of the Nile Crescent began to make a whole lot of sense to me after visiting the area. Was also exposed to the abundance of street children and harsh levels of poverty. We have a long way to go oh, hmm. On the way to Jinja, we were told that our options for emptying our tanks were limited – use the “bush toilet.” A rude shock for those not accustomed to life in these parts. On the way, since there are no rest areas along the way, buses would stop so people could walk into the bush to handle their business. That had me thinking … … if I had money, that’s one thing I’d invest in – provide rest areas with bathrooms, food etc etc along the main trunk roads, and charge a fee for the use of services. This would be most helpful between Accra and Cape – Takoradi – Axim, or Accra – Nsawam – Kumasi – Sunyani – Tamale, or Accra – Ho, or … just place them at intervals along these main roads. Besides providing an option for travelers to stop and relax, it would also designate places where buses can stop rather than stopping whenever the driver needs to use the “Bush T”, or when a passenger has a running stomach. We would have to hire people to keep out hawkers and ask the public to help us by not patronizing the roadside hawking option. Perhaps locate these places in areas where there are no immediate villages etc. Anyway, there’s an idea for someone to pick up on. If and when you do build these, do give me credit for raising your interest in it, okay? Heheheh. If I had the money to do things eh, … … there are so many projects I have in mind! If you have money to invest in a creative young mind with tons of great ideas, please get in touch, and let’s work some miracles to save the motherland! (wink, wink, hehe).

Talking about roadside hawking – I was impressed to see that to avoid impostors trying to sell to travelers, hawkers along the trunk road to Jinja were all given numbers, which were put on blue vests they all wore. That way, if someone run away with your change, then you would be able to trace him or her using his/her number. Then also, you would be able to monitor the number of legitimate sellers by issuing the appropriate number of vests. I just thought hmm … now that’s a form of progress, you know.

Besides the crazy driving, roadside markets, South African–owned businesses etc, we do have a lot in common with each other on the continent. The good, the bad and the clueless. We are all bombarded with Spanish soap operas (old ones too oh) on our television stations. We are all fans and patronizers of Nollywood. Ei! As for the influence of Nollywood dieh e no be small kraa oh. Hwee! These movies are so common, and although I think the themes are so tired and used, I am proud of what the Nigerians are doing. Their acting has improved as the industry has grown – in terms of quality and quantity. Their actors speak with their ‘Nigerian’ accent, and they don’t try to ‘slang’ their way through with LAFA the way we see our Ghanaian actors doing. By the way, LAFA = Locally Acquired Foreign Accent. They have so many movies with the same direction – gangs, adulterous relationships and revenge, witchcraft and curses, etc etc etc… The popularity of Nollywood is what made the victory over the Nigerian Eagles (soccer team) even more sweddet! I was happy for the Cranes (Ugandan soccer team). They did well, and it united the country in a good way. Sadly, they were beaten by Lesotho, and I wonder how far they went … … Soccer is huge in Uganda – specifically, European soccer – Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool, … u name it, and they’re crazy fans! Na wao! Interesting – the power of marketing.

Another shared problem we have is the role of foreign companies in managing the big, income-generating businesses in our countries. The South Africans are firmly planted on the ground there, just as we have them in Ghana – MTN (telecom company that is very similar to Spacefon) Shoprite, Game etc etc.. A South African company actually provides and distributes electricity to Ugandans. Ei! They have power outages (Uganda moments), just like we on this side have our ‘Ghana moments.” There was a neat article I saw in the papers (New Vision) about biofuels, and the possibility of using geothermal energy – power derived from high-pressure hot springs that rise from the core of the earth. That was neat. You see, I strongly believe in getting Africa to a level where what works in a particular region etc is what is used. Solar energy is an option for us all, and like I keep saying, it’s an investment that’s worth exploring and developing. If we had a higher demand for solar panels, we’d have more producers entering the market, and after a while, we would have more affordable prices. Energy – Africa’s biggest headache needs new approaches and solutions. The excuse of R&D being too expensive should no longer be an excuse. It’s only through R & D that we can find out what works and what doesn’t, and find customized/contextualized solutions for our problems. For me this approach is sooo obvious that it drives me nuts that our governments don’t seem to see it. If they can’t invest in R & D, then the least they can do is to provide support – logistic, financial, moral etc for such initiatives. If I had money (listen up, those of you reading with deep pockets), I would set up a national endowment fund for R&D and sponsor research in any and every area possible – from archeology to zoology. I would lend extra support to research projects that attempt to find solutions to problems by learning from our neighbors in the global south. It’s very, very important and must be prioritized!!!

Another similarity is our ‘religiosity/religiousness’- whichever sounds better. There are many Christian stations on radio and TV, and there are many US-originated programs. Some of the local Christian programs were peppered with the ‘typical’ southern US Baptist preaching style with organ and drum action in the background etc. Interesting. With regards to programming, one other thing that I noticed was the extensive use of music video fillers on TV. I like the rhythms in their music – nice flavor. Oh, and my adorable nephews taught me all about Boby Wine – a very popular musician who sees himself as a social critic. His latest release is called Kiwani (pronounced with ‘ch’ sound – chiwani), in which he talks about disguises/masks.... forgotten the explanation I was given. hehehe. He also has a song about polythene bags that litter and pollute the environment – the ‘wiase ye sum’ bags that are used all over the place for any and everything – from packaging purchased goods, food and sadly for human waste as well, in areas where there are no toilets. Na wao!

I found it interesting that in speaking English, “me” precedes “I” very often … me I need to go now, me I think it’s a good idea, me I don’t know … … This, I think may be a general eastern African thing. While lounging around on my first night in Kampala, I watched a TV program about domestic violence. In this show, the man raped his wife, leaving her with a lot of bruises etc... She complained to her best friend neighbor about it, and her friend’s response was that it probably wasn’t that bad or didn’t hurt because she doesn’t scream. If you don’t scream, then it doesn’t hurt. You know, sadly, this kind of attitude is not unheard of in these parts. We make excuses and dismiss sexual violence against women. The attitude is that he’s a respectable man (on the outside), and so that makes it difficult to think that he’d do such a thing. The victim was told to basically just deal with it. It is not uncommon to hear people comment on provocative dressing as a factor that creates fertile ground for rape. That is absolute nonsense! I am not condoning ‘apuskeleke’ dressing, but come on! … we can’t use such crass excuses to shift our focus from the fact that rape, regardless of why it occurs is wrong, full stop! This is not limited to Africa though – stories from around the world abound. And then also you have all these weak sentences. I say any man who rapes a child should be castrated. Yes, I did say castration. He doesn’t deserve to keep the weapon of assault – he’s abused the rift to have it, to take it away. If I were president … … rapists, run for your life – whether you’re perceived as big shots, ‘good’ husbands/fathers, wealthy, old or … whatever, just run for dear life. Okay, moving right along…

Talking about me being president – each time I asked people about their opinions on Museveni and how he’s doing, I almost always got the same ‘seemingly scripted’ response that he’s ‘trying.’ There seemed to be this level of political ‘husfulness’ where everyone either said he was trying, or said nothing at all. It said something about freedom of speech. After forcing a few people to open up, I learnt that though he hadn’t brought much progress, the country had come very far from where it used to be, so some feel he’s not been that bad of a leader. All the same, many share the same lamentation – that so much money has been poured into Uganda to support different causes – AIDS, education, poverty in general etc etc, and all of it has disappeared into thin air (better still, all the money has been transformed into the hot air that politicians seems to let out in all their talk-talk). Oh well … what else is new?

It was interesting to note that a few people truly see Ghana as a beacon of hope for Africa. Someone told me how she’d heard that the roads in Ghana were in great shape, and she’d heard that in Ghana there are good roads, and infrastructure in general is excellent. I smiled … I realized that other people (she’s not the first I’ve met) on the continent look up to Ghana as the nation that is setting the pace and championing African excellence, for real. Wow. Honestly though, … I returned to Ghana with a new appreciation for what we have here, even though we still have a looong way to go. Many of the roads in Kampala were under construction - for her eyes only. The construction was all in anticipation of the queen’s arrival. Now this is one thing that bothers me to no end! We sit in the filth, poor infrastructure etc, and then we only ‘beautification’ our cities when foreign dignitaries are visiting. So this basically means that we deserve the poor infrastructure etc… This is the African’s lack of self-respect and dignity that kills us oh! Read one of my earlier blogs – I think it was the 2004 or 2005 one in which I share the story of how I went to face a Catholic priest about why we worship a Caucasian Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes. The man was neither Caucasian nor African, but we are created in God’s image, so Christ is Indian, Ghanaian, Colombian, American, Swedish, Australian, Chinese, Malaysian, Ugandan, Chilean, etc etc etc…. If somebody paints Christ according to his likeness, why can’t I, the African do the same? …. This feeds into how we revere white folks and have the mentality that they are such amazing people who can do all these things in technology etc. One phrase I constantly here is “ei, abrofo ho ye hu oh”, meaning white people are amazing oh. I’m not trying to diss white folks – aren’t we all children of God? Yes we are, so I treat all equally – I’m an equal opportunity commentator. I’m not trying to cause any ruckus, but to force us to really consider, reconsider and re-reconsider how we see things. I tell you, a good 99% of our problems start from our mentality.

Talking about foreigners running the show, … someone explained to me that the AIDS crisis really wiped out a generation of Ugandans, and though it’s now under control, that phase in their national life brought about the importing of foreign talent to do the work in the private sector, and even more so in the nonprofit sector. We passed by Mabira forest on our way to Jinja - where an innocent Indian boy was killed by a mob protesting the government’s intentions to release a lot of the Mabira forest to an Indian company for tea plantations. Most of the tea plantations and other income-generating industries are controlled by Indians, and has instigated antagonism on the part of the Ugandans. The new foreign wealth controllers across the continent come from 2 areas of the world – Asia (China, Malaysia etc) and South Africa. Sometimes we do have to be realistic though – some of the foreigners have been with us for generations – so long that they’re Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan etc like us in the sense that Africa – the country they grew up in is all they’ve known and called home. The only difference is that they may sit at the top of the socio-economic ladder 99% of the time. Mugabe can’t try to kick them out the way Amin did, or harass them in the manner he’s chosen. I do believe in redistributing the wealth that some of these wealthy families and companies have amassed, but it can definitely be cone more humanely.

One country we can learn from is Rwanda. Oh, and Botswana too. I have heard so much about Rwanda, and I’m really eager to go and visit. The discipline there is apparently incredible, and Kagame seems to be doing a great job. Perhaps not initially too straight (Ugandan entanglements, army connections etc), but he sure seems to be getting the country on its feet. Though I have not yet visited Rwanda, I use it as an example in my numerous ‘conscientization’ campaigns whenever I sit in taxis. I have adopted the strategy of moving the nation forward, one mind at a time, so I try to conscientize people I meet to do what is right and have an interest in seeing the nation do well. Many cab drivers I chat with have the common Ghanaian mentality that all good things dwell in the west – discipline, lack of corruption, etc etc. I now use Rwanda, sharing with them the fact that in Rwanda, the place is clean, and they enforce the law – if you litter the streets, you get fined or sent to ‘counterback’. They find it difficult to believe. I also tell them ‘wiase ye sum’ polythene bags have been outlawed, so there’s actually an AFRICAN nation that is taking the development agenda seriously and is moving forward. I always try to use my conscientization opportunities to share the good things happening in other parts of the continent (not easy to find, but possible).

Oh well! … overall, my trip to Uganda was good. It opened my eyes to a part of Africa I didn’t know, and taught me to appreciate Ghana with all its issues. More importantly, it really fueled my desire to return to that part of the continent – to Rwanda and Tanzania. This is my latest source of fascination. So! If you have a plane ticket to spare, do send it my way, and I’ll always be grateful for it. Hehehe. Take care, stay blessed and watch out for my journal from Ogyakrom proper! Ghana finds oil. Hmm. Walahi! United States of Africa? Ei! Does Brother Khaddafi have an ulterior agenda? Armed robberies in Accra, gender-based affirmative action and more … …

3rd Installment from Ogyakrom - actually, Kampala, Uganda

2007-06-29T20:43:00.000Z

Arrived in Addis Ababa, and was somewhat impressed with the layout – better than what I’ve seen of Accra and Lagos from the air. Looks like there’s some kind of urban planning that may have started, but fell apart somewhere along the line. Modern looking landscape from the airport – the little that I see. Okay, so I had to transit in Addis, and I was appalled by the common habit of passengers walking off with airline blankets even though the flight crew mentioned specifically that we should leave them behind. (why did I expect more from the Afro-brethren?). You see, we’ll disrespect our own airlines so much, and yet, put our behinds on a European flight, and we’ll behave slightly better. Hmm. These loud-mouthed traders were so belligerent and couldn’t be bothered at the ruckus they were causing in taking the blankets away just because they’d connect to another Ethiopian Airlines flight, and so would return them later. Why we disrespect our own people and institutions, only God knows.

I met a very interesting lady on the flight, also on her way to Kampala – president of the Ghana Rugby Association. Rugby is seen as a rough men’s game, but the GRA is trying to introduce it in our sports curricula. Interesting. If you’d like to hear more, look out for a new Health and Fitness Magazine coming out soon - longevityghana.com – I might be writing an interesting piece on them, so be on the lookout. Alright, so I got to Kampala, and the first most visible foreign presence I saw was the United Nations. They have bases near the airport, from which they run their operations in the nearby conflict states of Rwanda, Congo etc…

The first thing I noticed were the hills. Kampala is a city set on seven hills. The little hotel where I stayed my first night was set up on some hill in Bunnamwaya, and I noticed that most of the roads heading uphill are vertical (uphill) and then branch horizontally for a bit, and then go straight uphill. Made me realize how easily stick-shift drivers would slide backwards if they didn’t get their ‘half-clutch’ right. Most of the cars are automatic, and they drive on the left side (what one American called the ‘wrong’ side). Indeed. Ethnocentricity says the ‘wrong’ side of the street, and Openness says the ‘other’ side of the street. As for their roads, … hmm. Walahi! E no be small oh – perhaps the best way of describing them are … Ghana over a decade ago. Roads are narrow, lots of red laterite roads, and as for the driving, hehehe. Ghana taxi driver style paa oh. Hwee. Overtaking on narrow roads is common just like we have in Ghana, ‘cos people try to avoid potholes. What they call “taxi” is what we call trotro – theirs are all white with a spotted blue stripe along the side.

Another common mode of transport is the motorcycle, aka “boda boda.” This is the funniest and most dangerous oh. The weave in and out of traffic with little regard to their safety, and they can carry any and everything under the sun, I tell you! On the way to the airport, I saw one carrying some sort of either chicken coop or wooden cabinet. The seats on these bikes are long, and so imagine anything set on it and strapped in place, and you’ll find it in Kampala – plantain, mattresses, cartons etc. You could find a nicely dressed lady sitting comfortably on the back of one with her stilettos etc. My cousin says they are so adept at riding these bikes that they could drink a cuppa tea on there without spilling a drop.

While at the hotel, I chatted for a long time with the hotel manager – a young lady who had much to boss me about. One thing that abounds is schools. Tons of secondary schools in the system, and the boarding school experience seemed similar to what we have in Ghana, only that theirs is tighter – more restrictions etc. (Catholic boarding schools). One similarity is the clout one has or gets, depending on what school they went to. I need to look their literacy rates up – wonder what it is, compared to that of Ghana. At one of the conference sessions, a presenter said Uganda had too many institutes of higher education because the system was finding it difficult to absorb them. Most of the graduates I spoke to were frustrated with the requirement of many years of experience when they were applying for jobs. Now let me digress a bit. The problem is not limited to Uganda, but is seen in Ghana as well. A lot of these companies and agencies are seeking people with at least 10, 15 years etc of experience, and all this does is to reproduce the status quo. Our societies need to be ready to welcome and use young, fresh minds etc. I believe in continuity and stability in any organization, but just replacing the old stock with old stock inhibits innovation, creativity, the ability to take certain risks etc in order to remain competitive. Let me give a concrete example …

Many of the older banks in Ghana – Barclays, Stanchart etc. were doing the traditional things – setting account minimums, requiring certain things before issuing loans – equity etc etc… Well, along come these banks (some of the young fresh ones, esp. the Nigerian banks) with young, energetic, risk-taking people who decide to find new ways of getting more customers. By the way, they face the same challenges as the other traditional banks – uncertainty of how one would track customers and ensure the payment of loans etc etc, since we don’t have a reliable address system. What these new banks do is to go to people’s homes, market their different loan programs etc, and encourage people to apply for them. They take the risk, with the only advantage of knowing where to actually find people ‘cos they come to find you. It may be risky, but then it seems to be opening up the opportunities for people, and the banks are doing well – making money. We see tons of banks, insurance and security firms, shopping centers etc., and all these attest to our growing middle class. I won’t even start talking about the cars of the road etc. I’mma leave it alone. It’s a good thing – our growing middle class, but that means we have to speed things up in reducing the disparity in socioeconomic status – create safety nets for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Anyway … back to Uganda. The place is fertile! Wow! Lots of food – saw so much plantain, bananas, nkontonmire (spinach), pawpaw, corn, cassava etc, and you see these growing all over the place. They export a lot of coffee and tea, and sadly, like in many other African countries, these large-scale income-generative agro-businesses are run by foreigners – in this particular case, Indians. Just like their doing in Ghana, the South Africans are also making money in that system with the shopping centers etc. They actually manage the production/distribution of electricity for the country. Ei! This is where I believe in a restricted market instead of a free market. This is where a forward looking government that knows that many of its brightest minds are living and working to build other nations, and will try to make it easy for them to come back and manage things. Specifically, preference must be given to equally competent native-owned and managed companies to take up some of these procurement and contract arrangements. Find the civil engineers who’ve traveled, and bring them back – give them incentives to come and help in nationbuilding – not mandating that they move totally back home, esp. if they’ve been living out for a long time, but making it easy for them to get involved, and stress high standards and the need to do things well, manage properly etc, ‘cos most likely, wherever they are, they are doing the right things, the right ways, and not mismanaging. This goes back to the African flaw of disrespecting our own and mismanaging our own, while we respect and take good care of others’ business.

Before I move too far away from the issue of food … the staple and most common food in the central region of Uganda is Matooke – pounded green bananas (not pounded to the consistency of fufu, but just mashed), and it’s eaten with sauce. I was disappointed that of all the places I went, there was little variety – Matooke was such a constant fixture that I never got to learn of other foods. Heard of grasshoppers – apparently a delicacy in some parts of the country. I did loooove the way they cook chicken and goat, getting them to be so tender. Mhhmmm! Deliiiicious!

Okay, gotta split for now. Will add some more on Uganda later. So much happening here in Ghana! ... The AU Summit, and Brother Muammar Khaddafi's 100-car entourage. hehehehe. Na wao!

2nd Installment from Ogyakrom ...

2007-06-24T20:40:00.000Z

Okay, so here I am again … Ghana’s been good so far. I’ve noticed the boom in the sale of alcohol, with adverts all over the place etc … kasapreko drinks – kasapak drinks, alcoholic atadwe milk and its variations etc. When I see the volume of these ads etc, I can’t help but think of the plight of Native Americans and Aborigines in Australia, and how alcohol and gambling have taken the place of survival concerns like food, education, health care etc. Very often a case of priorities being mixed up in the midst of bigger problems.

I was just looking through past writings – Ogyakromian Chronicles, and one issue that’s always been constant is our roads, the accidents etc… This time around, I see some work being done (perpetually, since Adam) on the stretch from the Adenta Barrier to Tetteh Quarshie through Madina and Legon. We’re all waiting for that main artery to be completed. One thing I’ve been curious about is how we build roads without sidewalks. Interesting, isn’t it? It just dawned on me that that explains how in many places on my beloved continent, we all share the same road space – cars, motors, bicycles, people – adults and children alike, goats, sheep, etc. Urban planning ooh, urban planning! It’s so common to see cars driving in the wrong lanes as they overtake, because their proper side of the road is ‘infested’ potholes. A forward-looking government will find students interested in urban planning, sift those who show great potential, and train them thoroughly and using them, set up a task force that will start looking to solve some of these age-old problems. Fresh ideas – fresh talent – fresh skills are what we need, guided by old wisdom! You get the older ones to teach the younger ones their mistakes, and then get the younger ones to carve out new solutions. It may sound utopian, but we have to acknowledge and make use of old wisdom and combine that with fresh new ideas etc. Our MBA mentality (me baa ha akye) doesn’t help us one bit, but we can find the few who are willing to contribute to national development through such an arrangement.

We have an upcoming holiday on July 1^st. you know how we “Ghananians” and our African siblings loove holidays. We take the slightest opportunity to enjoy a day away from work, and yet, on the days we’re supposed to be working, we show up late, take a long lunch break, come back and take personal phone calls on the job, have friends visit, and then close early, and postpone doing the work to the following day. Ei! How will we make progress if nothing is more precious to us, than these ‘awam’ holidays? Hmm. Productivity is the opportunity cost here, and I tell you, we may not see it, but the price we pay for holidays is high.

Talking about people taking personal phone calls on the job – honestly, it annoys the living daylights out of me. It is so unprofessional, and sadly, workers at all levels – big bosses (big fish), medium fish and little fish all do it, and make excuses for it. Take these same people to the U.S. or other ‘western’ country, and they will learn to silence their phones and take only emergency calls. So why do we disrespect ourselves like that? It’s amazing that anybody I’ve mentioned this pet peeve to, makes excuses – ooh, but everybody does it; well, there’s no law or policy against it, etc etc etc. Royal nonsense!!! Absolute nonsense! Are you there to do the work or to carry on with personal business? At least put it on vibrate or something … you don’t interrupt your delivery of services with a loong, loud and annoying ringtone in order to chit chat with your girlfriend who is asking what you’re doing after work, and if you wanna go to Game to look around. You see, this is what I am trying to tackle through my research, and making a case for “conscientizing” the employee across sectors – public, private and nonprofit. Unless it’s an official phone used for work, make your use of it as discreet as possible.

Well, this is also what happens when you have few landlines and cell phones are the most commonly used options. I remember having a discussion with a friend sometime back about how Africa and the global south is trying to move from crawling to flying, without wanting to go through the growing pains. Yes, we all agree that cell phone make people more connected – more than ever before. Thank God for that. We have issues with landlines and the interruption in service when the illegal owners comes for their thing (yes indeed, thieves steel electricity and phone cables), or when it rains and lines get torn (yes, that’s exactly what I said – “torn.” Only in … you-know-where). We still need to have the option of landlines as a basic across the board and not become complacent mainly because people have easier access to cell phones. This is one of the reasons why I strongly believe in national enterprises (call me a socialist … who cares? Yes, I love the likes of Julius Nyerere). I believe that entities like Ghana Commercial Bank, Ghana Telecom and other state-owned utility firms have a social responsibility to serve as a cushion for the people who can’t survive in the corporately-run world. If the focus is on producing a public service, and producing it efficiently and effectively (2 words that are thrown around so often that I get nervous using them, but for lack of better, widely-understood options, gotta use ‘em.). I believe that such enterprises have a role to play, and that role must not be sacrificed as part of generic privatization efforts. Anyway … moving right along before I return to the topic of our unrealistic leap from hydroelectric power to nuclear energy. Tweaa. Moving right along … …

There are a few more interesting topics, so lemme get off that one … … The last couple of weeks brought about the G8 meeting and our royal African ‘beggars’ (forgive my use of such a dishonorable word, but I’m sticking to it) who showed up shamelessly to tell the big boys in the yard to deliver their promised aid. Okay, I have serious issues with that one. First of all, we have no shame in continually begging for aid and make little or no effort to help ourselves. Our leaders plan with aid in mind, and I don’t know how anyone can convince me that that is a healthy position to adopt. We keep getting aid, and can’t account for most of it, or get trapped in all sorts of arrangements that ultimately work against us. SeriouslyE Are we saying, with all our African ‘glory’ that unless we get handouts we cannot or will not move forward? Here’s how I see it … because of the track record of African nations getting aid and not being able to account for it, more often than not, we’re slapped with conditions we have to keep, often to our detriment. Our markets are pried … no, let’s say forced open (forgive the graphic picture here, but it conjures the image of rape), and we’re basically made to accept conditions that will help us create a market for foreign goods, putting our industries etc out of business. If we’re always begging, of course, others will continually tell us what to do, how to do it etc… Why do we keep showing up at these G8 meetings (and we’re especially happy that the big boys found us worthy and invited us to come and sit to listen to their deliberations. Hmm…

I tell you, we can seriously do without some of their help oh – cut down on the amount of money that sinks into political pockets; reduce the number of people in the political entourages who travel the globe like crazy, living in plush hotels etc, at the expense of the rest of taxpayers; cut down on the money wasted in ceremonial events – where we use $20 mil to celebrate, I tell you, we can use less for celebrations and then channel the rest into other areas, cut down on the ‘fringe benefits’, and let’s channel the money where it’s needed the most. Talking about our ‘bloc’ representation at the G8 meeting brings up the issue of regionalism.

I believe in regionalism and believe it’s one avenue that has great potential to move us forward. The regional blocs – ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC etc. can be key ways of gaining leverage on the world market. Imagine that Ghana and La Côte D’Ivoire decide to sell cocoa together – 50-50 contribution to vie for one price (details to be ironed out). If they agree on a price, and manipulate economies of scale to their advantage (locally), they can influence the pricing of cocoa more, so that other nations will not have options when it comes to prices – they can’t pit one nation against the other, or flee from one to the other, if they’re selling at the same price. Don’t ask me how the minor details of it will work – perhaps a forward-looking economist can answer that, but from the little I see and know, this would be a much better option. I see the relative strength of the CFA and the Dinar, and I am encouraged that perhaps the ECO will bring some currency stability to the region. For those who don’t know, the Eco is the proposed West African common currency. I believe it may be a very good thing for the region. Most often, people cite potential problems resulting from socio-economic and political globalization such as the spread of crime and conflicts across borders etc … a bullet we must bite. The advantages may outweigh the disadvantages, so we must forge ahead and deal with the change that comes with being a regional bloc.

Talking about crime, it is scary, how armed robberies have spiked. Gone are the days when you saw a thief and all you had to do was shout “e djulor ee!!” and people would come to your rescue. In those days, the thieves were the ones scared of alarms and instant justice would have dealt with them on the spot! I remember that some years back, in Ashaley Botwe, some truly brave thieves decided to steal goats. They lined corn or so up from the animals’ pen aah to the car, and they sat and watched as the animals ate aah and came close enough till they could trap them. After capturing about 3 of them, they started driving off when someone raised the alarm. Oh boy, I was there, and can’t tell you how serious and bloody our local instant justice system was. They were caught and severely beaten, some advocated burning them, but that was eliminated from out list of options, and they were taken to the Madina Police Station. Needless to say that at least one died by the time they got to the station. I remember the toli from Awudome, that thieves would be burnt alive, etc, when caught. In those days, right was might, until guns spilled on to our streets, and might became right. Now the thieves are brazen killers with guns, who frighten people with the guns, so there’s often no need for calling for help. Besides catching and prosecuting offenders, I’d like to see more proactive measures from the police service – asking people to turn guns in for rewards is one option. Some kind of gun control measures are needed oh, before things get out of hand. We don’t want our cities to become like Lagos, Nairobi and other ‘scary’ places. I used to feel so comfortable walking around aah, but ridee, I tread cautiously paa. The stories of people being robbed at gunpoint is a little too common/frequent for my liking. And then also, there are the issues of the police embroiled in all these cocaine affairs. Lord help us! This is why I advocate Civil Service Reform that focuses on HR. Reforming our police service, and entire civil service organ by focusing on HR – not on mechanics, but on the people behind everything!

Talking about our criminal justice stystem brings somebody to mind - Chief Justice Georgina Woode. I’m proud of her! I’m sure the challenges ahead of her – resistance from men etc. will not be easy kraa, but she is a beacon of hope – that women can be chosen for higher positions based on merit. Hope she excels! Kudos to her.

Ooh! I forgot - Aljazeera network via Metro TV is alive and well. There is some variety in our channel line up (GTV, TV3, Metro, TV Africa) ‘cos Metro brings us Aljazeera, while TV3 or GTV brings us Deutsche Welle at certain set times of the day. That helps to give a more balanced helping of the news. I would like to see more support going to stations such as TV Africa, who try to be the positive and ‘conscious’ option among all the others. I have seen all sorts of versions of European and American game and reality shows, and frankly, I’m sick of them. … Mentor, West African Idol, Deal Or No Deal etc etc…

Well, not much else to say. I’ll end here and start preparing for my trip to the Pearl of Africa – Idi Amin contry – Uganda. I have a conference there, and will be there for about a week or so. Will keep you posted! ... ...

PS. The news of Ghana oil broke while I was in Uganda. On my way back to Ogyakrom. Stay tuned for news from Uganda, and for more juice on the oil story as I catch up with local affairs back home. Enjoy ... ...

Note ...

2007-06-23T23:09:00.001Z

I decided to post old blogs from 2003, 2004 and 2005. Interesting to see the things that tickled me then ...

Core issues regarding the nation are unchanged though. Na Wao! Well, enjoy as you browse through. Check out the Soul Kitchen blog as well - that's where the Rhema from above that makes me go ... Eureka! is posted. Stay blessed.