Not being very well of late, I have been reflecting on my life, a great deal. As a patriot who loves his country, my dying wish, is that our nation will be led by men and women, who are truly decent human beings - who have the vision, to transform Ghanaian society, with the revenues expected from Ghana's oil find.
The idea that our oil wealth might end up enriching only a powerful and greedy few - as it has done in Nigeria - has set me thinking about the nature of political power, in our homeland Ghana: and the ends to which it ought to be put.
In my view, Ghana ought to follow the example of Venezuela (and the other nations that have nationalised their oil industries), in managing its oil find - by nationalising it: and compensating the companies currently drilling for oil here, fairly!
It will be far better for our nation, to use the business model, of a joint-venture partnership, between the Ghana National Peteroleum Corporation, and the biggest and best-resourced, of China's state-owned oil companies (on a 70%-30% basis, with the bigger stake going to GNPC - and its shares paid for, from future profits!), to exploit our oil deposits. Ditto with the Russian state-owned gas-giant, Gazprom, to exploit our natural gas deposits. And we must be prepared to think the unthinkable, in many areas of our national life, to ensure just such an outcome.
There is no doubt that the 4th Republic, is a creature designed specifically, to suit the leadership style, of the man who led the military dictatorship, which preceded it: and to enable the dictatorship of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to continue wielding political power, by metamorphosing into a civilian democratically elected constitutional regime.
It follows a priori, that the political party, used as the vehicle, to attain that end, is a fraudulent creature too, does it not, dear reader? And I find the idea, that because of this fraudulent creature, progressives will most probably not succeed in winning power in the December elections, simply intolerable.
Why should the Left pass up the best opportunity they have ever had, of returning to power, since the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah - just because the arrogant "owner" of that creature, does not have the humility, and the wisdom, to understand, that he must be prepared to disolve it: if that will help the right conditions to be created, to enable the fragmented Left in Ghanaian politics, to reunite, before it is too late; and prevent a terrible disaster, from striking us, in December 2008? A return to power again, at this critical juncture, in our nation's history, by the incompetent, tribalistic and greedy hypocrites, now in power, simply doesn't bear thinking, dear reader!
But before we proceed any further, we must pause: and ask ourselves a few questions, dear reader. Was the the coup of 31st December, 1981, an act of treason? And was it led by a man, who once led a regime, which came into being, as a result of an armed uprising, by junior military officers, and the other ranks? And did that regime execute senior military officers (some, top-ranking generals, who had once been heads of state), because they had previously staged coup d'etats?
If those who are elected to power in the December 2008 elections, turn out to be just as hypocritical and as greedy as those currently ruling our nation (and those who handed over power to them in January 2001), and proceed to rip our country off, in the provision of infrastructure: by delivering projects, which are not built according to design specifications - because their kickbacks have had to be factored into the cost of the project by the contractors: resulting in poor quality roads and public buildings with inherent structural weaknesses, then it would be in the national interest, to remove them from power - and by force of arms, if necessary.
For, under no circumstances will Ghanaians tolerate the appropriation of Ghana's oil wealth, by men and women with greedy ambitions - at the expense of ordinary people. If that were to happen, it will be necessary to take extreme measures, to safeguard our oil revenues, so that they can be used, to bring about social transformation, in Ghana.
I posit, that it will not be treasonable, under those circumstances, to take up arms, to bring the fraudulent 4th Republic to an end: in order to try for treason, those who illegaly removed from power, the elected regime of the late Dr. Hilla Limman, of blessed memory (and bring to a halt, once and for all, the affront to our dignity as a people, represented by that continuing illegality - protected by those outrageous constitutitonal clauses, known as the "transitional provisions"- which we have had to tolerate, since 1992), and replace it with a new 5th Republic: which will be created under conditions of true freedom, and the hallmark of which, will be a constitution, which will have clear separation of powers, between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
It will also make provision for funding the legislature and the judiciary - as well as the institutions created to fight corruption and the abuse of power, such as the Serious Fraud Office and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice - from the consolidated fund - to ensure their independence.
We will simply not permit the frittering away of our oil wealth, by a greedy and crafty political class, which, some 51 years after our independence, has not even had the nous, to ensure a quality of life for ordinary Ghanaians, which at the barest minimum, makes it possible for them to have uninterrupted supply of treated drinking water; constant supply of electric power; affordable health-care, available within reasonable distances; to live in a society in which public safety is assured; live in a nation in which all families, not just wealthy ones, can afford to send their children to university if those children have the aptitude to study to tertiary level; and above all, to live in a nation that is not slowly being engulfed in filth!
A democracy, which does not ensure a good quality of life for all its citizens, after 51 years of independence, is certainly not one worth preserving - particularly if it becomes obvious to all discerning individuals, that it only provides a legal framework, for clever crooks, to come to power, and enrich themselves: at the rest of society's expense.
The use of our oil wealth, for the sole purpose, of bringing about social transformation, in our homeland Ghana, is non negotiable - and ordinary Ghanaians will never allow those who come to power to enrich themselves at Ghana's expense, to lay their dirty, greedy hands, on our oil wealth - and use democracy as a protective cloak, to enable them " chop Ghana, small." Never again. Period.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
AFTER KENYA'S NEAR-DISASTER: GHANA'S TRADITIONAL RULERS MUST ADAPT TO NEW AFRICAN REALITIES!
To paraphrase the famous American novelist and social critic, Upton Sinclair, we don't have to be satisfied with our country as we find it. We can change it. Compared to many an African country, Ghana is a marvellous oasis of peace and stability, in a continent, in which both, are in short supply. And in spite of the many mercenaries in the media (beholden to both the ruling party and the parties in opposition), we have one of the most vibrant media landscapes anywhere in Africa - and although we often condemn our rulers, Ghana is governed relatively more transparently, than most nations in Africa: for, in the main, our national institutions work: even if some do, only feebly!
The forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, will be the most important, since Nkrumah's overthrow, on 24th February, 1966 - for, for the first time since we gained our independence, we will, if our rulers have the wisdom to recognise, and understand, that singular fact, have the wherewithal to enable us transform Ghana, from an impoverished nation, into a prosperous society: one that exists for the common weal.
For that to happen, we must, at all costs, make sure that we devise strategies, which will ensure that our oil wealth, unlike our gold and other mineral resources, is never allowed, to enrich the shareholders of foreign oil companies, in the main, to our nation's detriment - but that rather, every pesawa of it, is harnessed, to transform Ghanaian society: and turn it into one, in which all Ghanaians, not just a powerful few, with greedy ambitions, live well: and none of our people, falls below an agreed minimum standard of living.
It is incumbent on all the political parties in Ghana, to work closely, together with the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure that all the necessary measures are put into place, so that at the end of the day, the results of the December 2008 elections, will, actually reflect the true wishes, of the people of Ghana. The events in the aftermath of the Kenyan elections, show clearly, just how fragile the stability of nations, which were created, in effect, by the bringing together, of many different tribal groupings (some of which had been ancient rivals), into nation-states, which did not enjoy, the total loyalty, of many of their citizenry, can be.
It is in this vein, that painful though it is, to many Ghanaians, we must, nonetheless, and of necessity, point it out plainly, and clearly, to those of our traditional rulers, who constantly hark back, to the pre-colonial traditional feudal era, that for the sake of the unity of mother Ghana, they can never be allowed to revive the past glories, of their predecessors - as that can only be done at the expense of the peace, stability and cohesion, of our homeland Ghana: something ordinary Ghanaians are simply not prepared to countenance or compromise over. Period.
The time has therefore come for progressives in Ghana, to make it absolutely clear, to all Ghana's traditional rulers, that the unity of the Ghanaian nation-state, is a non-negotiable issue - and that we are prepared to bring the 4th Republic to an end, if need be: and create a new 5th Republic, which will make the Leviathan that is the enterprise Ghana, one, in which, like the Federal Republic of India, Ghana's equivalent of India's Maharajahs, our traditional rulers, play no official role whatsoever, in our national life.
It is in the light of this, that we must sound a note of caution, to those traditional rulers, who seek to force traditional rulers in other regions, to bend to their whims and caprices. It does not matter to us one jot, whether a traditional ruler's predecessors (be they erstwhile kings of pre-colonial era Dagbon; Ga Dangbe; Anlo; Denkyira; Fante; Asante; or Akwapim; or Mamprussi; etc. etc.), had empires, which were the biggest, humankind has ever seen: or that their predecessors were the mightiest rulers who ever walked on the surface of the planet Earth - it is all history, as far as Ghana's progressives, are concerned: and does not impress us, one bit.
This is a Republic, in which no kingdoms exist - and all Ghana's traditional rulers must accept that bald fact. We may respect them, but we love our country, even more, than we hold them in high esteem - and we will never tolerate any attempt to roll back the sovereign national territory, of our Republic. Period. If any Chief appoints Chiefs across regional boundaries, they must simply make room for them to sit in their own regional house of Chiefs - and not seek to impose those Chiefs on other regional houses of Chiefs, regardless: and in the process stir up ancient tribal rivalries; which could set our country ablaze - as tribal hatred, nearly destroyed Kenya, only just recently: but for the wisdom of our own Busummuru Kofi Annan! A word to the wise.... --
The forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, will be the most important, since Nkrumah's overthrow, on 24th February, 1966 - for, for the first time since we gained our independence, we will, if our rulers have the wisdom to recognise, and understand, that singular fact, have the wherewithal to enable us transform Ghana, from an impoverished nation, into a prosperous society: one that exists for the common weal.
For that to happen, we must, at all costs, make sure that we devise strategies, which will ensure that our oil wealth, unlike our gold and other mineral resources, is never allowed, to enrich the shareholders of foreign oil companies, in the main, to our nation's detriment - but that rather, every pesawa of it, is harnessed, to transform Ghanaian society: and turn it into one, in which all Ghanaians, not just a powerful few, with greedy ambitions, live well: and none of our people, falls below an agreed minimum standard of living.
It is incumbent on all the political parties in Ghana, to work closely, together with the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure that all the necessary measures are put into place, so that at the end of the day, the results of the December 2008 elections, will, actually reflect the true wishes, of the people of Ghana. The events in the aftermath of the Kenyan elections, show clearly, just how fragile the stability of nations, which were created, in effect, by the bringing together, of many different tribal groupings (some of which had been ancient rivals), into nation-states, which did not enjoy, the total loyalty, of many of their citizenry, can be.
It is in this vein, that painful though it is, to many Ghanaians, we must, nonetheless, and of necessity, point it out plainly, and clearly, to those of our traditional rulers, who constantly hark back, to the pre-colonial traditional feudal era, that for the sake of the unity of mother Ghana, they can never be allowed to revive the past glories, of their predecessors - as that can only be done at the expense of the peace, stability and cohesion, of our homeland Ghana: something ordinary Ghanaians are simply not prepared to countenance or compromise over. Period.
The time has therefore come for progressives in Ghana, to make it absolutely clear, to all Ghana's traditional rulers, that the unity of the Ghanaian nation-state, is a non-negotiable issue - and that we are prepared to bring the 4th Republic to an end, if need be: and create a new 5th Republic, which will make the Leviathan that is the enterprise Ghana, one, in which, like the Federal Republic of India, Ghana's equivalent of India's Maharajahs, our traditional rulers, play no official role whatsoever, in our national life.
It is in the light of this, that we must sound a note of caution, to those traditional rulers, who seek to force traditional rulers in other regions, to bend to their whims and caprices. It does not matter to us one jot, whether a traditional ruler's predecessors (be they erstwhile kings of pre-colonial era Dagbon; Ga Dangbe; Anlo; Denkyira; Fante; Asante; or Akwapim; or Mamprussi; etc. etc.), had empires, which were the biggest, humankind has ever seen: or that their predecessors were the mightiest rulers who ever walked on the surface of the planet Earth - it is all history, as far as Ghana's progressives, are concerned: and does not impress us, one bit.
This is a Republic, in which no kingdoms exist - and all Ghana's traditional rulers must accept that bald fact. We may respect them, but we love our country, even more, than we hold them in high esteem - and we will never tolerate any attempt to roll back the sovereign national territory, of our Republic. Period. If any Chief appoints Chiefs across regional boundaries, they must simply make room for them to sit in their own regional house of Chiefs - and not seek to impose those Chiefs on other regional houses of Chiefs, regardless: and in the process stir up ancient tribal rivalries; which could set our country ablaze - as tribal hatred, nearly destroyed Kenya, only just recently: but for the wisdom of our own Busummuru Kofi Annan! A word to the wise.... --
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
FREMAA BUSIA'S LAMENT FOR GHANAIAN DEMOCRACY!
Ohemaa, on the day of the anniversary of the overthrow of our founding father, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, I could not help, but reflect, on the Ghana of today - especially coming as it did, in the wake of the visit to Ghana, by the leader of the very nation, which was at the forefront of the duplicitous and self-seeking alliance of neo-colonialist regimes that engineered Nkrumah's overthrow.
That intervention directly led to so many wasted decades - those tragic years during which our nation has been a vassal of the neo-colonialists. Their local lackeys have, in the meantime, run our nation strictly in their and their foreigner sponsors' interests, since that day of infamy (and abomination), when tragedy befell mother Ghana so cruelly and so brutally: February 24th, 1966.
I have filed the many examples, of the disgraceful fawning on Mr. "Thats-Baloney-Bull-Dubya" Bush: on display so glaringly and irritatingly, during the visit of the American leader, under the title: "Begging-bowl Diplomacy's Superpower Fetes Leader of World's Only Remaining Economic and Military Superpower!" in the "organic computer" in between my ears.
Those visual irritations will forever be etched in my mind's eye as manifestations of the deadly virus, known as: "lack-of-self-belief " which afflicts so many of the members of our ruling elite!
Yes, you are so right, Ohemaa: future generations will not forgive Nkrumaists, if they fail to unite, in order to win power again - and ensure that the bestowing of a second-chance opportunity at nation-building on our homeland Ghana by Providence, which the discovery of large deposits of high grade crude oil and natural gas off our coastline represents, is not squandered, by those ever-profligate members of our political class.
You mentioned the lamentations of Fremaa Busia - but weep not for her, Ohemaa: for, her father, like the few powerful tribal supremacists who dominate the hypocritical crowd now in charge of our nation, was, in essence, a ghastly fuedalist who was beholden to, and enthralled by, the elitist English philosopher Edmund Burke.
They are all unreconstructed "Devine-right-to-rule"
And ordinary people are indeed right to be wary, Ohemaa, for they are being asked, simply on blind faith, to trod a well-worn path in today's Ghanaian politics: and grope their way through the miasma of unfathomable greed, which is enveloping a nation in which public discourse has become an obstacle course in ethics - and speaking the truth has morphed into the intellectual equivalent of finding one's way out of a particularly fiendish and complicated maze of deception, called: "The-super-smart-BNI-
And it is carefully maintained at great public expense: using the outsourcing business model, by our secret services - which deploy their lackeys in the media for that purpose.
And a motley team of prevaricating; over-zealous; and largely dim-witted regime guard-dogs, busy themselves day after profitable day feeding fat on hard-pressed taxpayers' money.
And our secret services apparently regularly funnel zillions of the public funds, to countless media houses: most of them without credibility; and scores of buffoonish-hacks, full of over-blown ideas about themselves: exhibitionist and garrulous spin doctors, laying siege to decency and freedom of expression, on a daily basis, on our airwaves and television screens - shameless men and women, with neither conscience nor principle!
I gather she calls our hypocrite-in-chief a "dictator" - hmmm, aye asem o, Ohemaa! Her scholarly father, and his ideological bedfellow and soul-mate, Dr. J.B.Danquah, made lucrative careers out of dazzling sundry racist neo-colonialists with verbal picture-portraits, some framed masterfully. They created mental murals made with magical words, that are forever entombed in the hallowed pages of big-tomes and hallowed repositories for antiquities.
They assiduously painted a picture of an apparently sophisticated and exotic "noble-savage-world". That reality was that of an unjust feudalistic African society, aspects of which were evoked so vividly, by the writing skills of the erudite and scholarly Kwame Anthony Appiah's New York Times article, published on March 18, 2007.
The few powerful tribal supremacists who dominate Fremaa Busia's father's political progeny today, so completely: and whose actions apparently occasioned her lament for Ghanaian democracy, could have come straight out of the absurd feudal world, portrayed in that article.
Their world is the same cruel and vain world - and it is full of the same absurd individuals, in that Nerw York Times article: caricatures in a barren landscape, which is an intellectual backwater full of self-important philistines; a feudal social jungle of meanness presided over by a narrow-minded ruling elite.
Remarkably, they share a mindset and a world-view, very similar in kind to the absurd mental-outlook, of the haughty and ridiculous men and women who fancied they were "well-born" natural rulers, in the pre-colonial feudal age. By Divine right, they had to be at the apex of what passed (laughingly, true egalitarians would say, Ohemaa!), for the cream of "high society" during the golden age of Oseikrom's tribal supremacists (our local version of the Western world's odious white supremacists!).
Yes, it is a pity we have only just stumbled upon that article, Ohemaa. But we can still point out a few home truths to the author, about the Ghana of today: One of them being the fact that were his illustrious Asante warrior forebear, the military general, Akroma-Ampim, to be alive today, he would definitely not be a man feted for his war-time exploits.
On the contrary, he would probably be cooling his heel, in a prison cell, somewhere in Holland - awaiting his turn to face the same judges now trying Liberia's former leader, Charles Taylor, for crimes against humanity!
As for his dear and shy "Auntie" living as a lonely and unwanted spinster in one of his wealthy family's many houses, in Oseikrom, perhaps it escapes our philosopher that since we are all descended from apes, any close and detailed examination of her DNA and that of the descendants of his illustrious forebear, "General" Akroma-Ampim, would doubtless reveal that indeed, she had absolutely no reason to feel any less human, than any of those so-called well-born relations of her dear and kind "nephew" : as they are actually all blood-relations, who hail from different branches, of the same bushy and extra-tall, family tree! Hmmm, Ghana, aye asem o, Ohemaa!
Ohemaa, we must endeavour to find the email address of the current headteacher of the Nyaduom village primary school, whose inhabitants are apparently now promoted to be "ethnically" Asante " - "if they are anything"( one gathers from our philosopher!).
We must inform him that far from allowing the nonsense on bamboo stilts, that their status is "one of hereditary inferiority to free Ashanti," to persist, the people of Nyaduom must always remember that they are proud and free citizens of the modern African nation-state called Ghana: and that it is a democracy in which all citizens are equal before the law - and no one is anyone's slave!
And furthermore, we must tell them to ponder the fact that if the boot had been on the other foot, so to speak, and by a quirk of fate their ancestors (who were merely defeated in a single battle, by a more brutal and murderous foe, after all), had had to face an Asante army, which suddenly and mysteriously became afflicted with an epidemic of diarrhea conjured by the powerful juju of a compatriot of theirs, who had been a herbalist of renown in his time, who also doubled as a fetish priest and military general, during wartime, the story would have been so different - as the "ahenema" sandals of slavery, would have been firmly on the "well-born" feet of that snooty crowd!
And the "forever-gossiping-lackey" and spy, of Kwame Anthony Appiah's family, the old man, who felt ashamed that the world would think that he was an inhabitant of Nyaduom (and consequently, always prefaced his endless and arrogant drivel with a reminder that Nyaduom was not his actual hometown - it being a village of slaves - but that he merely resided there), would today proudly be beating his chest every time the opportunity presented itself: and boldly inform the world that he was from a village called Nyaduom, which was full of conquering heroes! And such, are Africa's tribal supremacist snobs created, Ohemaa. Simply amazing!
The people of Nyaduom today, are incredibly fortunate: for, the very "history" for which their absurd "well-born" distant relations in Oseikrom's high society (who apparently so love having fancy dinner parties in massive drawing-rooms in posh mansions at Mbrom, and look down on others with such disdain!), despise them with such unrelenting and unceasing fervour, could turn out to be a lucrative drawing-card in community-based eco-tourism. For, Nyaduom is a fascinating eco-tourism destination, unique in African social and cultural tourism: because hitherto, it had been a garrison town settled by the 'slaves' of the celebrated Asante military hero, 'General' Akromah-Ampim! Hmmm, aye asem o, Ohemaa!
They could literally play host to millions of "back-to-roots" Africans from the Diaspora, over the coming years: each one of whom will pay handsomely for the privilege of enjoying a once-in-a- lifetime holiday experience, enjoying a self-tailored tour package, the highlight of which would be: "a 3-day pilgrimage home-coming home stay tour trip, with authentic ancient Asante families in Nyaduom" - thus empowering them economically in a sustainable manner. Hmmm, they may yet have the last laugh, Ohemaa!
And can you believe the absurdity of those disdainful beings, who people the ridiculous world of the so-called "well-born" in the 'high society' of Oseikrom: which spawns absurdities such as the bestowing on an African equivalent of a Queen consort in the 'civilised' world, with the title: "Lady" - simply because Diana, Princess of Wales, once upon a time was known as Lady Diana Spencer? Hmmm, aye asem o!
Do you not think, Ohemaa, that because of their penchant for constantly meddling in affairs of state at the highest levels, perhaps the time has now come for certain facts to be pointed out to them?
Perhaps we ought to point it out plainly to them, the existence of that singular legal fact of life in the Ghana of today: the fact that the Ghanaian nation-state, founded by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is a unitary republic in which all Ghanaian citizens are equal before the law (in a nation in which the rule of law is said to prevail!)?
Ought we also not make it clear to them that that bald legal fact of life, in the Ghana of today, has many consequences - a major one being the fact that our country has no room for "mickey-mouse" 'kingdoms' of any size or shape, in any spot in the landmass of the sovereign nation-state called the Republic of Ghana?
And that it implies, therefore, for example, that hypothetically, were any sitting Kumasihene to be caught conspiring with some of the tribal supremacists currently ruling Ghana (at any point in time, going forward: after the current ruling party loses the December 2008 elections and is turfed out of power from 7th January, 2009), to try and get a part of our nation to secede from Nkrumah's Ghana, technically, all of them, including whoever that particularly unwise Kumasihene might be at that point in time, would be put before the law courts?
Progressives in the Ghana of today, would not hesitate to put traditional rulers caught engaging in such treasonable acts, on trial: and if found guilty, and sentenced to death, have them locked up literally for life. Period.
Such tribal supremacists would be wise to understand that Ghanaians of today, Ohemaa, are certainly not the slaves of any people, anywhere, on the surface of the planet Earth! Ohemaa, asem ebaba debi o, hmmmm. Do stay blessed, fellow Nkrumaist and pan-Africanist! May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana always. Long live freedom! Long live Ghana!
That intervention directly led to so many wasted decades - those tragic years during which our nation has been a vassal of the neo-colonialists. Their local lackeys have, in the meantime, run our nation strictly in their and their foreigner sponsors' interests, since that day of infamy (and abomination), when tragedy befell mother Ghana so cruelly and so brutally: February 24th, 1966.
I have filed the many examples, of the disgraceful fawning on Mr. "Thats-Baloney-Bull-Dubya" Bush: on display so glaringly and irritatingly, during the visit of the American leader, under the title: "Begging-bowl Diplomacy's Superpower Fetes Leader of World's Only Remaining Economic and Military Superpower!" in the "organic computer" in between my ears.
Those visual irritations will forever be etched in my mind's eye as manifestations of the deadly virus, known as: "lack-of-self-belief " which afflicts so many of the members of our ruling elite!
Yes, you are so right, Ohemaa: future generations will not forgive Nkrumaists, if they fail to unite, in order to win power again - and ensure that the bestowing of a second-chance opportunity at nation-building on our homeland Ghana by Providence, which the discovery of large deposits of high grade crude oil and natural gas off our coastline represents, is not squandered, by those ever-profligate members of our political class.
You mentioned the lamentations of Fremaa Busia - but weep not for her, Ohemaa: for, her father, like the few powerful tribal supremacists who dominate the hypocritical crowd now in charge of our nation, was, in essence, a ghastly fuedalist who was beholden to, and enthralled by, the elitist English philosopher Edmund Burke.
They are all unreconstructed "Devine-right-to-rule"
And ordinary people are indeed right to be wary, Ohemaa, for they are being asked, simply on blind faith, to trod a well-worn path in today's Ghanaian politics: and grope their way through the miasma of unfathomable greed, which is enveloping a nation in which public discourse has become an obstacle course in ethics - and speaking the truth has morphed into the intellectual equivalent of finding one's way out of a particularly fiendish and complicated maze of deception, called: "The-super-smart-BNI-
And it is carefully maintained at great public expense: using the outsourcing business model, by our secret services - which deploy their lackeys in the media for that purpose.
And a motley team of prevaricating; over-zealous; and largely dim-witted regime guard-dogs, busy themselves day after profitable day feeding fat on hard-pressed taxpayers' money.
And our secret services apparently regularly funnel zillions of the public funds, to countless media houses: most of them without credibility; and scores of buffoonish-hacks, full of over-blown ideas about themselves: exhibitionist and garrulous spin doctors, laying siege to decency and freedom of expression, on a daily basis, on our airwaves and television screens - shameless men and women, with neither conscience nor principle!
I gather she calls our hypocrite-in-chief a "dictator" - hmmm, aye asem o, Ohemaa! Her scholarly father, and his ideological bedfellow and soul-mate, Dr. J.B.Danquah, made lucrative careers out of dazzling sundry racist neo-colonialists with verbal picture-portraits, some framed masterfully. They created mental murals made with magical words, that are forever entombed in the hallowed pages of big-tomes and hallowed repositories for antiquities.
They assiduously painted a picture of an apparently sophisticated and exotic "noble-savage-world". That reality was that of an unjust feudalistic African society, aspects of which were evoked so vividly, by the writing skills of the erudite and scholarly Kwame Anthony Appiah's New York Times article, published on March 18, 2007.
The few powerful tribal supremacists who dominate Fremaa Busia's father's political progeny today, so completely: and whose actions apparently occasioned her lament for Ghanaian democracy, could have come straight out of the absurd feudal world, portrayed in that article.
Their world is the same cruel and vain world - and it is full of the same absurd individuals, in that Nerw York Times article: caricatures in a barren landscape, which is an intellectual backwater full of self-important philistines; a feudal social jungle of meanness presided over by a narrow-minded ruling elite.
Remarkably, they share a mindset and a world-view, very similar in kind to the absurd mental-outlook, of the haughty and ridiculous men and women who fancied they were "well-born" natural rulers, in the pre-colonial feudal age. By Divine right, they had to be at the apex of what passed (laughingly, true egalitarians would say, Ohemaa!), for the cream of "high society" during the golden age of Oseikrom's tribal supremacists (our local version of the Western world's odious white supremacists!).
Yes, it is a pity we have only just stumbled upon that article, Ohemaa. But we can still point out a few home truths to the author, about the Ghana of today: One of them being the fact that were his illustrious Asante warrior forebear, the military general, Akroma-Ampim, to be alive today, he would definitely not be a man feted for his war-time exploits.
On the contrary, he would probably be cooling his heel, in a prison cell, somewhere in Holland - awaiting his turn to face the same judges now trying Liberia's former leader, Charles Taylor, for crimes against humanity!
As for his dear and shy "Auntie" living as a lonely and unwanted spinster in one of his wealthy family's many houses, in Oseikrom, perhaps it escapes our philosopher that since we are all descended from apes, any close and detailed examination of her DNA and that of the descendants of his illustrious forebear, "General" Akroma-Ampim, would doubtless reveal that indeed, she had absolutely no reason to feel any less human, than any of those so-called well-born relations of her dear and kind "nephew" : as they are actually all blood-relations, who hail from different branches, of the same bushy and extra-tall, family tree! Hmmm, Ghana, aye asem o, Ohemaa!
Ohemaa, we must endeavour to find the email address of the current headteacher of the Nyaduom village primary school, whose inhabitants are apparently now promoted to be "ethnically" Asante " - "if they are anything"( one gathers from our philosopher!).
We must inform him that far from allowing the nonsense on bamboo stilts, that their status is "one of hereditary inferiority to free Ashanti," to persist, the people of Nyaduom must always remember that they are proud and free citizens of the modern African nation-state called Ghana: and that it is a democracy in which all citizens are equal before the law - and no one is anyone's slave!
And furthermore, we must tell them to ponder the fact that if the boot had been on the other foot, so to speak, and by a quirk of fate their ancestors (who were merely defeated in a single battle, by a more brutal and murderous foe, after all), had had to face an Asante army, which suddenly and mysteriously became afflicted with an epidemic of diarrhea conjured by the powerful juju of a compatriot of theirs, who had been a herbalist of renown in his time, who also doubled as a fetish priest and military general, during wartime, the story would have been so different - as the "ahenema" sandals of slavery, would have been firmly on the "well-born" feet of that snooty crowd!
And the "forever-gossiping-lackey" and spy, of Kwame Anthony Appiah's family, the old man, who felt ashamed that the world would think that he was an inhabitant of Nyaduom (and consequently, always prefaced his endless and arrogant drivel with a reminder that Nyaduom was not his actual hometown - it being a village of slaves - but that he merely resided there), would today proudly be beating his chest every time the opportunity presented itself: and boldly inform the world that he was from a village called Nyaduom, which was full of conquering heroes! And such, are Africa's tribal supremacist snobs created, Ohemaa. Simply amazing!
The people of Nyaduom today, are incredibly fortunate: for, the very "history" for which their absurd "well-born" distant relations in Oseikrom's high society (who apparently so love having fancy dinner parties in massive drawing-rooms in posh mansions at Mbrom, and look down on others with such disdain!), despise them with such unrelenting and unceasing fervour, could turn out to be a lucrative drawing-card in community-based eco-tourism. For, Nyaduom is a fascinating eco-tourism destination, unique in African social and cultural tourism: because hitherto, it had been a garrison town settled by the 'slaves' of the celebrated Asante military hero, 'General' Akromah-Ampim! Hmmm, aye asem o, Ohemaa!
They could literally play host to millions of "back-to-roots" Africans from the Diaspora, over the coming years: each one of whom will pay handsomely for the privilege of enjoying a once-in-a- lifetime holiday experience, enjoying a self-tailored tour package, the highlight of which would be: "a 3-day pilgrimage home-coming home stay tour trip, with authentic ancient Asante families in Nyaduom" - thus empowering them economically in a sustainable manner. Hmmm, they may yet have the last laugh, Ohemaa!
And can you believe the absurdity of those disdainful beings, who people the ridiculous world of the so-called "well-born" in the 'high society' of Oseikrom: which spawns absurdities such as the bestowing on an African equivalent of a Queen consort in the 'civilised' world, with the title: "Lady" - simply because Diana, Princess of Wales, once upon a time was known as Lady Diana Spencer? Hmmm, aye asem o!
Do you not think, Ohemaa, that because of their penchant for constantly meddling in affairs of state at the highest levels, perhaps the time has now come for certain facts to be pointed out to them?
Perhaps we ought to point it out plainly to them, the existence of that singular legal fact of life in the Ghana of today: the fact that the Ghanaian nation-state, founded by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is a unitary republic in which all Ghanaian citizens are equal before the law (in a nation in which the rule of law is said to prevail!)?
Ought we also not make it clear to them that that bald legal fact of life, in the Ghana of today, has many consequences - a major one being the fact that our country has no room for "mickey-mouse" 'kingdoms' of any size or shape, in any spot in the landmass of the sovereign nation-state called the Republic of Ghana?
And that it implies, therefore, for example, that hypothetically, were any sitting Kumasihene to be caught conspiring with some of the tribal supremacists currently ruling Ghana (at any point in time, going forward: after the current ruling party loses the December 2008 elections and is turfed out of power from 7th January, 2009), to try and get a part of our nation to secede from Nkrumah's Ghana, technically, all of them, including whoever that particularly unwise Kumasihene might be at that point in time, would be put before the law courts?
Progressives in the Ghana of today, would not hesitate to put traditional rulers caught engaging in such treasonable acts, on trial: and if found guilty, and sentenced to death, have them locked up literally for life. Period.
Such tribal supremacists would be wise to understand that Ghanaians of today, Ohemaa, are certainly not the slaves of any people, anywhere, on the surface of the planet Earth! Ohemaa, asem ebaba debi o, hmmmm. Do stay blessed, fellow Nkrumaist and pan-Africanist! May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana always. Long live freedom! Long live Ghana!
Friday, 15 February 2008
Dr. Richard Annane Not Fit For Government!
Soon the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) gravy-train will make an unscheduled stop at parliament, to pick up yet one more hypocrites for its jam-packed first class carriage - reserved specially for the cleverest and most ruthless of the NPP's high net worth hypocrites. Incredible.
The question, dear reader, which many an astonished and decent-minded Ghanaian is asking is: Just what signal does Ghana's current leader think that he is sending out to the world, about morality in Ghanaian public life, in re-appointing a known philanderer of the very worst kind - in a nation wracked by HIV/AIDS but which alas is in denial?
The time has now come for all decent-minded people in our country to make their disapproval of the loose morals of so many public officials in Ghana, absolutely clear to our ruling elite. Period.
What public officials do in their private life, does have a bearing on the way they conduct themselves in office - and should therefore be a matter of some concern to all of us.
In a nation in which at least ten citizens are said by some to be infected by the HIV/AIDS virus every day, the sexuality of the men and women who Ghanaians elect into office, should be a matter of public concern - particularly when they are so reckless that they are prepared to risk their own lives and that of their innocent partners by being unfaithful: in a nation, awash with HIV/AIDS, and in which chastity has become a rare virtue.
Clearly, in life one is either honest, or one isn't - for, honesty is not a virtue that can be compartmentalised: such that an individual is honest in one particular area of his or her life but thoroughly dishonest in yet another area of his or her life.
And if you consider the practicalities involved in cheating on a partner: the duplicity and the endless lying it entails, it soon becomes obvious that you do not want characters like that to be in charge of your country, if you are someone with principles who leads a decent life on a daily basis.
But alas, when you live in a society in which people from the highest echelons of leadership can even be involved in scandals in which pornographic videos, which depict the most torrid and lurid sexual acts being performed (and which apparently circulate freely!), what can one expect, dear reader?
One of the most important qualities of any leader, is that he or she is someone who always has a truthful nature. And in a nation, in which many people are on the fiddle, in one form or the other, the importance of having leaders, who are totally honest, cannot be overemphasised.
Dr. Richard Annane's infidelity to his wife, was particularly reprehensible: for, he broke his marriage vows, at a period when he had travelled overseas, at the hard-pressed Ghanaian taxpayers' expense, to represent his country, in a conference to discuss the scourge of HIV/AIDS: a health condition, which used to pose the single most dangerous threat, to the very survival and continued well-being, of the Ghanaian nation-state, but now ranks second, after the threat posed to our country, by the impact of global climate change.
Thus the purported re-appointment of Dr. Richard Annane, is most unfortunate - and every decent-minded Ghanaian, ought to condem it, and urge the members of the vetting committee of parliament, to reject him: for, he has clearly shown, by that singular act of betrayal, of his wife, that he is not a trustworthy individual. Period.
There are many decent-minded Ghanaians who feel strongly about the lack of morality in our public life - and are thoroughly fed up with the way things currently are in that respect.
For many Ghanaians Dr. Annane's re-appointment reflects and illustrates perfectly the sorry pass to which our nation has come.
Such Ghanaians object to Dr. Richard Annane returning to government, in the strongest possible terms - and urge the members of the appointments committee of parliament, to reject him: for the sake of all those decent Ghanaian women cheated over the years, by their duplicitous and unfaithful partners (and vice versa!).
It is precisely the prevalence of low moral standards at the highest levels in government, dear reader, which enables women with questionable characters, like the Julia Cottons and Gizzelle Yadzis of this world, to come into our country, and succeed in embroiling high public officials, in financial scandals - because leaders in charge of our country, expected by the citizenry, to be principled and high-minded, could not keep their pants down, when confronted with the wiles, of those pretty-faced Jezebels.
And if we are all agreed that one is either honest or one isn't because there can be no "halfway-house" in the matter of truthfulness, then obviously, as a people, we cannot be expected to tolerate those whom we elect to govern our country, to be individuals who are honest in one set of circumstances, when it suits them, and be dishonest, in a different set of circumstances, when it suits them - particularly when it comes to taking kick-backs, on government infrastructural projects, from contractors!
One is either honest or one isn't: And in breaking his marriage vows, on the occasion he did, Dr. Richard Annane showed that he is not trustworthy - and is consequently not fit to hold the high office of government minister.
Those charged with the responsibility of vetting individuals nominated by the president to serve their country in various areas in our national life, must reject Dr. Richard Annane - to send a clear message that men or women with loose morals, will not be allowed to serve in government. Period!
The question, dear reader, which many an astonished and decent-minded Ghanaian is asking is: Just what signal does Ghana's current leader think that he is sending out to the world, about morality in Ghanaian public life, in re-appointing a known philanderer of the very worst kind - in a nation wracked by HIV/AIDS but which alas is in denial?
The time has now come for all decent-minded people in our country to make their disapproval of the loose morals of so many public officials in Ghana, absolutely clear to our ruling elite. Period.
What public officials do in their private life, does have a bearing on the way they conduct themselves in office - and should therefore be a matter of some concern to all of us.
In a nation in which at least ten citizens are said by some to be infected by the HIV/AIDS virus every day, the sexuality of the men and women who Ghanaians elect into office, should be a matter of public concern - particularly when they are so reckless that they are prepared to risk their own lives and that of their innocent partners by being unfaithful: in a nation, awash with HIV/AIDS, and in which chastity has become a rare virtue.
Clearly, in life one is either honest, or one isn't - for, honesty is not a virtue that can be compartmentalised: such that an individual is honest in one particular area of his or her life but thoroughly dishonest in yet another area of his or her life.
And if you consider the practicalities involved in cheating on a partner: the duplicity and the endless lying it entails, it soon becomes obvious that you do not want characters like that to be in charge of your country, if you are someone with principles who leads a decent life on a daily basis.
But alas, when you live in a society in which people from the highest echelons of leadership can even be involved in scandals in which pornographic videos, which depict the most torrid and lurid sexual acts being performed (and which apparently circulate freely!), what can one expect, dear reader?
One of the most important qualities of any leader, is that he or she is someone who always has a truthful nature. And in a nation, in which many people are on the fiddle, in one form or the other, the importance of having leaders, who are totally honest, cannot be overemphasised.
Dr. Richard Annane's infidelity to his wife, was particularly reprehensible: for, he broke his marriage vows, at a period when he had travelled overseas, at the hard-pressed Ghanaian taxpayers' expense, to represent his country, in a conference to discuss the scourge of HIV/AIDS: a health condition, which used to pose the single most dangerous threat, to the very survival and continued well-being, of the Ghanaian nation-state, but now ranks second, after the threat posed to our country, by the impact of global climate change.
Thus the purported re-appointment of Dr. Richard Annane, is most unfortunate - and every decent-minded Ghanaian, ought to condem it, and urge the members of the vetting committee of parliament, to reject him: for, he has clearly shown, by that singular act of betrayal, of his wife, that he is not a trustworthy individual. Period.
There are many decent-minded Ghanaians who feel strongly about the lack of morality in our public life - and are thoroughly fed up with the way things currently are in that respect.
For many Ghanaians Dr. Annane's re-appointment reflects and illustrates perfectly the sorry pass to which our nation has come.
Such Ghanaians object to Dr. Richard Annane returning to government, in the strongest possible terms - and urge the members of the appointments committee of parliament, to reject him: for the sake of all those decent Ghanaian women cheated over the years, by their duplicitous and unfaithful partners (and vice versa!).
It is precisely the prevalence of low moral standards at the highest levels in government, dear reader, which enables women with questionable characters, like the Julia Cottons and Gizzelle Yadzis of this world, to come into our country, and succeed in embroiling high public officials, in financial scandals - because leaders in charge of our country, expected by the citizenry, to be principled and high-minded, could not keep their pants down, when confronted with the wiles, of those pretty-faced Jezebels.
And if we are all agreed that one is either honest or one isn't because there can be no "halfway-house" in the matter of truthfulness, then obviously, as a people, we cannot be expected to tolerate those whom we elect to govern our country, to be individuals who are honest in one set of circumstances, when it suits them, and be dishonest, in a different set of circumstances, when it suits them - particularly when it comes to taking kick-backs, on government infrastructural projects, from contractors!
One is either honest or one isn't: And in breaking his marriage vows, on the occasion he did, Dr. Richard Annane showed that he is not trustworthy - and is consequently not fit to hold the high office of government minister.
Those charged with the responsibility of vetting individuals nominated by the president to serve their country in various areas in our national life, must reject Dr. Richard Annane - to send a clear message that men or women with loose morals, will not be allowed to serve in government. Period!
Friday, 8 February 2008
WHY PRESIDENT BUSH IS NOT WELCOME TO GHANA!
Over the years, since Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966, progressive pan-Africanists on the continent (a group that includes most Nkrumaists ), have learnt to be extremely wary, of the American Establishment.
A widely-held view amongst Nkrumaists, is that the US Establishment, has always gone to great lengths, to identify and provide support, for local lackeys, of neo-colonialism: through whom they actively work, to achieve the imperialist agenda, in nations like Ghana.
However, nothing strikes more fear, in the hearts of neo-colonialists, than the vision of a united Africa, led and peopled, by progressive pan-Africanists - who have the type of political awareness, which makes them protectors of Africa's interests: as opposed to being stooges for neo-colonialism.
The frightening spectre of an African continent, full of such new Africans, who could not be relied on, to allow, and even help, in the continued plunder, of the resources of the continent, concentrated the minds of the neo-colonialists, wonderfully, during the Nkrumah era.
And the urgent need to eliminate the brilliant and progressive Nkrumah, who was raising the consciousness of Africans, all the time he was in power, was made clear, by the then British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Snelling, who said, inter alia, in a dispatch, sent on the 15th September 1961, to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (and to MI5): "His knack of giving expression to the feelings of so many Africans, who are all the time rapidly becoming more politically conscious, is exasperating.....We shall be be better off without him."
Thanks to declassified C.I.A and US State Department documents, we all now know, dear reader, that to achieve that end, Ghana's economy was callously and deliberately strangled, throughout the 1960's, in a determined bid, to make Nkrumah unpopular amongst the masses, by Western nations: acting in concert, to deny desperately needed financial aid, to the Nkrumah regime - whiles their two-faced diplomats accredited to Ghana, spoke with forked tongues, to continuously assure Nkrumah, that they would come to his aid, during their meetings with him: chief amongst them, being the duplicitous US ambassador to Ghana, at the time, Amassador Richard D. Mahoney: whom Nkrumah considered a personal friend.
And so it came to pass, that on the 24th of February 1966, having received payment of the princely sum of US$ 13 million, from the C.I.A., to overthrow Nkrumah (and promised even more, if they succeeded in murdering him!), a group of traitors in Ghana's military and police, staged a bloody coup d'etat, to bring to an end, Nkrumah's vision and mission, of ushering in the new African Renaissance.
In a subsequent briefing paper to President Johnson, on March 12 1966 (declassified document 260) the then acting special assistant for national security affairs, Mr.Robert W. Komer, in assessing the Ghana coup, noted: "The coup in Ghana" he wrote in jubilation, "...is another example of fortuitous windfall. Nkrumah was doing more to undermine our interests than any other black African. In reaction to his strongly pro-communist leanings, the new military regime is almost pathetically pro-Western. "
And that, dear reader, is how the tragedy of the modern Ghanaian nation-state's continued dependence, on the Western world, began: and has turned our country, into a superpower, in begging-bowl diplomacy.
And today we have come full circle - and our nation is yet again in the firm grip, of the lackeys of neo-colonialism: and the US Establishment is actively using them, to promote its own interests here - at the expense of Ghanaians and their nation.
Nothing has changed: the political progeny of the military regime of 1966, which overthrew Nkrumah, the current regime of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is just as pathetic, in its pro-Western stance - and is probably despised, in equal measure, by the neo-cons in the current US administration, for being such enthusiastic stooges for neo-colonialism: and assiduously helping self-seeking foreign interests, in the plunder of our nation's wealth!
And it is for that reason, amongst many others, that the visit of President Bush is not welcomed by progessives in Ghana. For, they regard it as a subtle attempt, by the US Establishment, to influence the course of the December elections, in favour, of today's stooges for neo-colonialism - on whom they are depending, to ensure access to West Africa, for America's war machine: on which the US Establishment ultimately depends, to secure our oil reserves ( a la Iraq-stlye, if need be!). Hmmm, Ghana - aye asem o!
A widely-held view amongst Nkrumaists, is that the US Establishment, has always gone to great lengths, to identify and provide support, for local lackeys, of neo-colonialism: through whom they actively work, to achieve the imperialist agenda, in nations like Ghana.
However, nothing strikes more fear, in the hearts of neo-colonialists, than the vision of a united Africa, led and peopled, by progressive pan-Africanists - who have the type of political awareness, which makes them protectors of Africa's interests: as opposed to being stooges for neo-colonialism.
The frightening spectre of an African continent, full of such new Africans, who could not be relied on, to allow, and even help, in the continued plunder, of the resources of the continent, concentrated the minds of the neo-colonialists, wonderfully, during the Nkrumah era.
And the urgent need to eliminate the brilliant and progressive Nkrumah, who was raising the consciousness of Africans, all the time he was in power, was made clear, by the then British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Snelling, who said, inter alia, in a dispatch, sent on the 15th September 1961, to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (and to MI5): "His knack of giving expression to the feelings of so many Africans, who are all the time rapidly becoming more politically conscious, is exasperating.....We shall be be better off without him."
Thanks to declassified C.I.A and US State Department documents, we all now know, dear reader, that to achieve that end, Ghana's economy was callously and deliberately strangled, throughout the 1960's, in a determined bid, to make Nkrumah unpopular amongst the masses, by Western nations: acting in concert, to deny desperately needed financial aid, to the Nkrumah regime - whiles their two-faced diplomats accredited to Ghana, spoke with forked tongues, to continuously assure Nkrumah, that they would come to his aid, during their meetings with him: chief amongst them, being the duplicitous US ambassador to Ghana, at the time, Amassador Richard D. Mahoney: whom Nkrumah considered a personal friend.
And so it came to pass, that on the 24th of February 1966, having received payment of the princely sum of US$ 13 million, from the C.I.A., to overthrow Nkrumah (and promised even more, if they succeeded in murdering him!), a group of traitors in Ghana's military and police, staged a bloody coup d'etat, to bring to an end, Nkrumah's vision and mission, of ushering in the new African Renaissance.
In a subsequent briefing paper to President Johnson, on March 12 1966 (declassified document 260) the then acting special assistant for national security affairs, Mr.Robert W. Komer, in assessing the Ghana coup, noted: "The coup in Ghana" he wrote in jubilation, "...is another example of fortuitous windfall. Nkrumah was doing more to undermine our interests than any other black African. In reaction to his strongly pro-communist leanings, the new military regime is almost pathetically pro-Western. "
And that, dear reader, is how the tragedy of the modern Ghanaian nation-state's continued dependence, on the Western world, began: and has turned our country, into a superpower, in begging-bowl diplomacy.
And today we have come full circle - and our nation is yet again in the firm grip, of the lackeys of neo-colonialism: and the US Establishment is actively using them, to promote its own interests here - at the expense of Ghanaians and their nation.
Nothing has changed: the political progeny of the military regime of 1966, which overthrew Nkrumah, the current regime of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is just as pathetic, in its pro-Western stance - and is probably despised, in equal measure, by the neo-cons in the current US administration, for being such enthusiastic stooges for neo-colonialism: and assiduously helping self-seeking foreign interests, in the plunder of our nation's wealth!
And it is for that reason, amongst many others, that the visit of President Bush is not welcomed by progessives in Ghana. For, they regard it as a subtle attempt, by the US Establishment, to influence the course of the December elections, in favour, of today's stooges for neo-colonialism - on whom they are depending, to ensure access to West Africa, for America's war machine: on which the US Establishment ultimately depends, to secure our oil reserves ( a la Iraq-stlye, if need be!). Hmmm, Ghana - aye asem o!
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
NPP'S ASTONISHING AND SHAMEFUL CYNICISM!
The cynicism of our political class never ceases to amaze me. Not too long ago, I remarked to a friend, in reference to our rather well-spoken and cultured (unlike the "bush" tribal supremacists in her crowd!), minister for information and national orientation, Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, that the policies of the regime of which she is an apparently much-favoured member, amounted to the political equivalent, of pinning mother Ghana down, to facilitate the gang-rape of our country (by sundry apparently 'respectable', high net worth oligarchs, whom, if the bush telegraph is to be believed, are nothing more, than politically well-connected white collar criminals!).
It appears that that criticism stung some of the female supporters, of the unimaginative regime, which we are currently lumbered with: including, one gathers (although I cannot personally vouch for it!), the minister for information, who is the very embodiment, of quintessential Ghanaian middle class chic!
And as is typical of a regime full of politicians, of the kind, a neighbour of mine once uncharitably described as: "...well-educated geniuses, who also happen to be "chew-and-pour" (learning by rote, to the uninitiated!) 'imbeciles' with Ph.D's," our rulers have dreamt up what they probably think will mollify, a nation, outraged, by the glaring inequalities in wealth, in the Ghana of today.
The government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) apparently now proposes to hand out taxpayers' money, to selected "very poor families" in Ghana - as a response to the criticism that the masses are poorer today, than they were yesterday: at precisely a period when the rich have seldom been better off, in Ghana.
And this, in a nation in which nursing mothers with new-born babies, are routinely detained, in maternity wards of hospitals, across our nation: because those poor women are unable to pay for their hospital fees. Why not fund our hospitals properly instead - so they can cater for the very poor, who deliver babies in their maternity wards, without exhausting their minuscule budgets?
And grown-up government ministers, are apparently agog with excitement, because they are convinced that in coming up with this insane measure (which makes a complete nonsense, of the fiscal discipline they are so proud of), they are under the illusion they have discovered the holy grail of Ghanaian politics: the biggest "big idea", yet - guaranteed to enable Government lead the masses up the garden path, without them ever cottoning on, to that grand deception!
Where, dear reader, is the free money for the "very poor", going to come from? And how long can this lunacy last? And above all, precisely how many of the "very poor", exist in Ogyakrom? And this pure nonsense on bamboo stilts, the bright "big idea", is apparently emanating from the very heart of a regime, which, when it first assumed power, said it was coming to create an environment, in which business would so thrive, that future generations, would come to refer to their period in office, as the golden age of Ghanaian business.
You would think, dear reader, would you not, that to lift the very poor out of poverty, the government would seek to also create an environment, which would enable the very poor, too, to have access to (unsecured!) micro-credit: and pull themselves out of poverty, through their own personal initiative, and individual effort? So much for the lackeys for neo-colonialism's "less government, not more government" mantra! Like many things about our local neo-cons, that too, is a sham: just another "the-end-justifies-the-means" falsehood, amongst many falsehoods: mere conveniences, parroted endlessly, to cloak a Machiavellian ruthlessness - and determination to hang on to power, at all costs!
Those who suffer daily in it, often refer to Ghana, as "Ogyakrom": the hell on earth, created in Nkrumah's Ghana, for ordinary people, as a result of the unthinking adherence, by all the post-Nkrumah era regimes - but none more so, than the ruling NPP, and before it, the previous regime, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to the strict monetarist economic policies, so beloved, of the doctrinaire neo-cons, who stalk the corridors of power, in the Washington offices, of the Bretton Woods multilateral financial institutions.
And over the years it has resulted in the impoverishment of millions of ordinary Ghanaians - who often wonder, how it came to pass, that they were bypassed, so completely, by the economic 'boom', which has enabled Ghana to experience GDP growth rates of close to between 3 and 4% in real terms, on average, for the past few years.
On the whole, there is general agreement, in the country, that this sustained growth, has benefited only a privileged few - who can only see the upside, of an era of sustained economic growth, from which they alone have profited (and how mightily, too!), such as: the stabilisation of our currency; the creation of a boom in our capital markets; enrichment of sundry stock-brokerage firms, at the speed of lightning - and the earning of mega-salaries, by their fast-living, and grossly-overpaid employees; the accumulation of vast fortunes by the founders and owners of private sector non-banking financial services corporate entities - and above all, the empowerment, of the scions, of politically well-connected family clans, to become tycoons, overnight: enabling spectacularly dull middle-aged men and their siblings, previously not well-noted for financial brilliance, to metamorphose, into the owners of US $10 million-dollar hotels!
The bind, in all this, for the party in power today (which appears to be totally bereft of original thinkers!), is that it faces their party with a conundrum, at election time: how do you convince the impoverished masses, that as a result of the nation experiencing growth rates, of between 3 and 4%, on average, for the past few years, and thus ensuring, year after year, the constant pointing of the fundamental economic indicators, in a positive direction, quarter after quarter, and reporting year after reporting year, the ordinary person is consequently better off today, under the NPP's tenure, than he or she was, yesterday, under the tenure of the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime - when those same Ghanaians, insist, that the quality of their lives has deteriorated: and that they, do not feel the prosperity, which those in power trumpet so loudly, and endlessly, in their near-empty pockets?
Furthermore, irritatingly, and to the complete befuddlement of our super-clever rulers, those same 'ungrateful' ordinary people, seem to take for granted, the many impressive infrastructural projects, completed over the years, during the tenure of the party in power - and point out, rather sensibly, in my view, that that is the primary responsibility of all governments, elected to power, in our nation: and that in any case, it was taxpayers' money that was utilised for same: not the vast private fortunes, accumulated so rapidly, during their tenure, by our rulers!
The patent failure of the expensive sophistry, employed by this regime, to try and delude Ghanaians that they are experiencing the feel-good factor, is obvious to all, but the dullest, in our nation. For, despite the trillions of taxpayers' money spent by our secret services to date, during the NPP's tenure, thus far, there has been very little return, on that massive investment - in real terms!
Yet, it has involved the recruitment of a whole army of individuals and organisations, which have all sold their consciences for a handsome profit, and are actively engaged in pro-government propaganda, on the NPP's behalf.
Sadly compromised in this sophisticated scheme, designed to kill press freedom by stealth, have been: a dazzling array of media professionals; countless sycophantic media houses; as well as scores of dim-witted, praise-singing, serial callers (male and female!) - who constantly crucify the English language, as they attempt to justify the unjustifiable, subjecting decent people in the process, to a stock of parroted drivel, from the "political-deceivers-handbook": drilled into their tiny brains, by over-paid secret service handlers, tele-guiding them by text messages, on our television screens and airwaves! Hmmm, Ghana, aye Asem o!
Let me humbly point it out, dear reader, to the masters of the universe, currently in charge of Ghana, that selecting a number of poor people, and handing over hard-pressed taxpayers' money to them, for no reason, other than that Government wants them to feel they are sharing in the prosperity they see around them (some of it in the shape, for example, of a state-owned fleet, of some of the most expensive luxury vehicles in the world; and the long convoys of expensive spanking new SUV's, which move the small army of security personnel, who have to accompany our leaders, in order to protect them - from only heaven knows what!), is a cynical and unethical way, for any democratically elected government, to proceed.
For, what our nation rather desperately needs, is social transformation, which will make it possible for ordinary people too, to enjoy the following basic necessities of a civilised life: the right not to have to put up with living in a nation whose public space is drowning in filth, because no one in authority has the courage, to dismiss the incompetent buffoons, appointed in the distribution of political patronage, as district chief executives, and as municipal and metropolitan assembly chiefs; have access to good quality housing, at affordable rental rates; be provided with efficient and affordable utility services; have access to good public schools, from primary to tertiary level; live in a nation in which public safety is assured; and above all, become the citizens of a nation, in which taxpayers' money, is not frittered away, by unscrupulous politicians, in dubious vote-buying schemes, designed for the primary purpose, of giving bribes to a section of the voting public, to entice them to vote their benefactors, back into office.
Power, it is said, corrupts - and their long years in power, appears to have corrupted the minds, of some of those in power, today. Who, in heaven's name, came up with such a mad and bad idea: to dispense charity to a proud and honest people, who want well-paid and sustainable long term jobs - not demeaning cash handouts from the Ghanaian nation-state?
Is this not the political equivalent, of giving the very poor in Ghana, fish: instead of teaching them to fish, themselves, and providing them the wherewithal, to buy netting and canoes - to enable them to go fishing, on a regular basis, to catch fish with: and earn regular income to improve their lives with?
Has it not struck those who claim to have come to power to bring about a golden age for Ghanaian business, by creating an enabling environment, for business to thrive, that if the state were to provide rural banks with sufficient funds to enable them make micro-credit available to groups of poor people, without demanding collateral from them, that is far more likely to empower the youth?
And would we not consequently witness the flourishing of youthful enterprise - enabling many young school-leavers from the poorest homes, for instance, to buy tools, to enable them work as self-employed carpenters, electricians, welders, vulcanizers, etc. etc.; acquire market stalls; buy taxis; trotros; open electronic repair shops; hairdressing salons; tailoring workshops; barbering shops, etc. etc.?
And if this regime was to be creative enough to let the APEX Bank enter into a joint-venture with internationally well-respected and innovative micro-credit institutions, such as the experienced Australian micro-credit organisation, Opportunity International, would it not make it possible for rural and community banks in Ghana, to make credit and training in managing micro-enterprises, available, for poor families up and down our country, and enable them free themselves from poverty, by their own bootstraps?
The masters of the universe who dominate the NPP, must not insult the intelligence of the poor, in Ghana - for, the poor will never forgive such an insult from the party of those, who have so enriched themselves (and their cronies), and become so breathtakingly wealthy, in the relatively short period, in which this myopic regime has been in power for, that some of them were able to finance their individual bids to realise their presidential ambitions, with billions.
Were most decent-minded Ghanaians not astonished, dear reader, that a brace of seventeen wannabe presidents, collectively spent trillions of the useless old cedis, the bulk of it used to bribe their party's, mostly poor, and largely forgotten, foot soldiers - to ensure and facilitate positive outcomes, for their personal presidential dreams? What astonishing and shameful cynicism! In the NEPAD era, are these our apostles of African peer-reviewing, good governance? Hmmm, Ghana, aye asem o!
It appears that that criticism stung some of the female supporters, of the unimaginative regime, which we are currently lumbered with: including, one gathers (although I cannot personally vouch for it!), the minister for information, who is the very embodiment, of quintessential Ghanaian middle class chic!
And as is typical of a regime full of politicians, of the kind, a neighbour of mine once uncharitably described as: "...well-educated geniuses, who also happen to be "chew-and-pour" (learning by rote, to the uninitiated!) 'imbeciles' with Ph.D's," our rulers have dreamt up what they probably think will mollify, a nation, outraged, by the glaring inequalities in wealth, in the Ghana of today.
The government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) apparently now proposes to hand out taxpayers' money, to selected "very poor families" in Ghana - as a response to the criticism that the masses are poorer today, than they were yesterday: at precisely a period when the rich have seldom been better off, in Ghana.
And this, in a nation in which nursing mothers with new-born babies, are routinely detained, in maternity wards of hospitals, across our nation: because those poor women are unable to pay for their hospital fees. Why not fund our hospitals properly instead - so they can cater for the very poor, who deliver babies in their maternity wards, without exhausting their minuscule budgets?
And grown-up government ministers, are apparently agog with excitement, because they are convinced that in coming up with this insane measure (which makes a complete nonsense, of the fiscal discipline they are so proud of), they are under the illusion they have discovered the holy grail of Ghanaian politics: the biggest "big idea", yet - guaranteed to enable Government lead the masses up the garden path, without them ever cottoning on, to that grand deception!
Where, dear reader, is the free money for the "very poor", going to come from? And how long can this lunacy last? And above all, precisely how many of the "very poor", exist in Ogyakrom? And this pure nonsense on bamboo stilts, the bright "big idea", is apparently emanating from the very heart of a regime, which, when it first assumed power, said it was coming to create an environment, in which business would so thrive, that future generations, would come to refer to their period in office, as the golden age of Ghanaian business.
You would think, dear reader, would you not, that to lift the very poor out of poverty, the government would seek to also create an environment, which would enable the very poor, too, to have access to (unsecured!) micro-credit: and pull themselves out of poverty, through their own personal initiative, and individual effort? So much for the lackeys for neo-colonialism's "less government, not more government" mantra! Like many things about our local neo-cons, that too, is a sham: just another "the-end-justifies-the-means" falsehood, amongst many falsehoods: mere conveniences, parroted endlessly, to cloak a Machiavellian ruthlessness - and determination to hang on to power, at all costs!
Those who suffer daily in it, often refer to Ghana, as "Ogyakrom": the hell on earth, created in Nkrumah's Ghana, for ordinary people, as a result of the unthinking adherence, by all the post-Nkrumah era regimes - but none more so, than the ruling NPP, and before it, the previous regime, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to the strict monetarist economic policies, so beloved, of the doctrinaire neo-cons, who stalk the corridors of power, in the Washington offices, of the Bretton Woods multilateral financial institutions.
And over the years it has resulted in the impoverishment of millions of ordinary Ghanaians - who often wonder, how it came to pass, that they were bypassed, so completely, by the economic 'boom', which has enabled Ghana to experience GDP growth rates of close to between 3 and 4% in real terms, on average, for the past few years.
On the whole, there is general agreement, in the country, that this sustained growth, has benefited only a privileged few - who can only see the upside, of an era of sustained economic growth, from which they alone have profited (and how mightily, too!), such as: the stabilisation of our currency; the creation of a boom in our capital markets; enrichment of sundry stock-brokerage firms, at the speed of lightning - and the earning of mega-salaries, by their fast-living, and grossly-overpaid employees; the accumulation of vast fortunes by the founders and owners of private sector non-banking financial services corporate entities - and above all, the empowerment, of the scions, of politically well-connected family clans, to become tycoons, overnight: enabling spectacularly dull middle-aged men and their siblings, previously not well-noted for financial brilliance, to metamorphose, into the owners of US $10 million-dollar hotels!
The bind, in all this, for the party in power today (which appears to be totally bereft of original thinkers!), is that it faces their party with a conundrum, at election time: how do you convince the impoverished masses, that as a result of the nation experiencing growth rates, of between 3 and 4%, on average, for the past few years, and thus ensuring, year after year, the constant pointing of the fundamental economic indicators, in a positive direction, quarter after quarter, and reporting year after reporting year, the ordinary person is consequently better off today, under the NPP's tenure, than he or she was, yesterday, under the tenure of the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime - when those same Ghanaians, insist, that the quality of their lives has deteriorated: and that they, do not feel the prosperity, which those in power trumpet so loudly, and endlessly, in their near-empty pockets?
Furthermore, irritatingly, and to the complete befuddlement of our super-clever rulers, those same 'ungrateful' ordinary people, seem to take for granted, the many impressive infrastructural projects, completed over the years, during the tenure of the party in power - and point out, rather sensibly, in my view, that that is the primary responsibility of all governments, elected to power, in our nation: and that in any case, it was taxpayers' money that was utilised for same: not the vast private fortunes, accumulated so rapidly, during their tenure, by our rulers!
The patent failure of the expensive sophistry, employed by this regime, to try and delude Ghanaians that they are experiencing the feel-good factor, is obvious to all, but the dullest, in our nation. For, despite the trillions of taxpayers' money spent by our secret services to date, during the NPP's tenure, thus far, there has been very little return, on that massive investment - in real terms!
Yet, it has involved the recruitment of a whole army of individuals and organisations, which have all sold their consciences for a handsome profit, and are actively engaged in pro-government propaganda, on the NPP's behalf.
Sadly compromised in this sophisticated scheme, designed to kill press freedom by stealth, have been: a dazzling array of media professionals; countless sycophantic media houses; as well as scores of dim-witted, praise-singing, serial callers (male and female!) - who constantly crucify the English language, as they attempt to justify the unjustifiable, subjecting decent people in the process, to a stock of parroted drivel, from the "political-deceivers-handbook": drilled into their tiny brains, by over-paid secret service handlers, tele-guiding them by text messages, on our television screens and airwaves! Hmmm, Ghana, aye Asem o!
Let me humbly point it out, dear reader, to the masters of the universe, currently in charge of Ghana, that selecting a number of poor people, and handing over hard-pressed taxpayers' money to them, for no reason, other than that Government wants them to feel they are sharing in the prosperity they see around them (some of it in the shape, for example, of a state-owned fleet, of some of the most expensive luxury vehicles in the world; and the long convoys of expensive spanking new SUV's, which move the small army of security personnel, who have to accompany our leaders, in order to protect them - from only heaven knows what!), is a cynical and unethical way, for any democratically elected government, to proceed.
For, what our nation rather desperately needs, is social transformation, which will make it possible for ordinary people too, to enjoy the following basic necessities of a civilised life: the right not to have to put up with living in a nation whose public space is drowning in filth, because no one in authority has the courage, to dismiss the incompetent buffoons, appointed in the distribution of political patronage, as district chief executives, and as municipal and metropolitan assembly chiefs; have access to good quality housing, at affordable rental rates; be provided with efficient and affordable utility services; have access to good public schools, from primary to tertiary level; live in a nation in which public safety is assured; and above all, become the citizens of a nation, in which taxpayers' money, is not frittered away, by unscrupulous politicians, in dubious vote-buying schemes, designed for the primary purpose, of giving bribes to a section of the voting public, to entice them to vote their benefactors, back into office.
Power, it is said, corrupts - and their long years in power, appears to have corrupted the minds, of some of those in power, today. Who, in heaven's name, came up with such a mad and bad idea: to dispense charity to a proud and honest people, who want well-paid and sustainable long term jobs - not demeaning cash handouts from the Ghanaian nation-state?
Is this not the political equivalent, of giving the very poor in Ghana, fish: instead of teaching them to fish, themselves, and providing them the wherewithal, to buy netting and canoes - to enable them to go fishing, on a regular basis, to catch fish with: and earn regular income to improve their lives with?
Has it not struck those who claim to have come to power to bring about a golden age for Ghanaian business, by creating an enabling environment, for business to thrive, that if the state were to provide rural banks with sufficient funds to enable them make micro-credit available to groups of poor people, without demanding collateral from them, that is far more likely to empower the youth?
And would we not consequently witness the flourishing of youthful enterprise - enabling many young school-leavers from the poorest homes, for instance, to buy tools, to enable them work as self-employed carpenters, electricians, welders, vulcanizers, etc. etc.; acquire market stalls; buy taxis; trotros; open electronic repair shops; hairdressing salons; tailoring workshops; barbering shops, etc. etc.?
And if this regime was to be creative enough to let the APEX Bank enter into a joint-venture with internationally well-respected and innovative micro-credit institutions, such as the experienced Australian micro-credit organisation, Opportunity International, would it not make it possible for rural and community banks in Ghana, to make credit and training in managing micro-enterprises, available, for poor families up and down our country, and enable them free themselves from poverty, by their own bootstraps?
The masters of the universe who dominate the NPP, must not insult the intelligence of the poor, in Ghana - for, the poor will never forgive such an insult from the party of those, who have so enriched themselves (and their cronies), and become so breathtakingly wealthy, in the relatively short period, in which this myopic regime has been in power for, that some of them were able to finance their individual bids to realise their presidential ambitions, with billions.
Were most decent-minded Ghanaians not astonished, dear reader, that a brace of seventeen wannabe presidents, collectively spent trillions of the useless old cedis, the bulk of it used to bribe their party's, mostly poor, and largely forgotten, foot soldiers - to ensure and facilitate positive outcomes, for their personal presidential dreams? What astonishing and shameful cynicism! In the NEPAD era, are these our apostles of African peer-reviewing, good governance? Hmmm, Ghana, aye asem o!
Sunday, 3 February 2008
EXPEL SUDAN FROM THE AU, NOW!
For many ordinary Africans across the continent, watching television news programmes, showing clips of their leaders being driven to and from the AU headquarters conference centre, in expensive luxury vehicles, at the recent AU heads of state meeting, was akin to watching a film, of a conclave, of the well-heeled capos, of a ruthless, continent-wide African mafia family, each of whom, has the power of life and death, over the lives of Africans, on our continent.
For me, a particularly odious member of this mafia: a most brutal, cunning and totally dishonest ruler of human beings, this continent has ever had the misfortune, of allowing to wield political power, is the ruler of Sudan. This is a man, whom many thinking Africans, feel, is a black clone, of the infamous and evil German genius, the mass murderer, Adolf Hitler.
Black Africans in the West, often have to put up with the outrageous racism of Western societies, suffering indignities on a daily basis: in which no matter how cultured; highly educated; and proud a possessor of decent human values an African might be, the most uncouth and ill-educated white-skinned racist, has the effrontery and temerity, to consider him or her, an inferior being - simply on account of the skin-colour of the African: not because of the character of the African.
For the thinking African, who has had to put up with years of being treated with disrespect and been discriminated against in the West, because of their skin-colour, the idea that a sly and dishonest monster, like the Sudanese leader, Omar Bashir, who would also be treated with similar disdain by white-skinned racists of the Western world, were he to live there, actually leads a regime on the continent of Africa, which looks down on fellow black Africans, is simply intolerable.
The idea that the members of an African regime, made up of fellow Africans, only of a slightly lighter hue, than the average African, are today actively tele-guiding the evil para-military force, the Janjaweed, as they carry out a pogrom in Darfur and parts of Chad, is rather difficult to take in, for thinking Africans.
How can Africans in the 21st century, permit mass murder, mass rape, and the destruction of whole villages and towns, in a scorched-earth policy, which is designed to wipe out the black African population of Western Sudan, to be carried out, with such arrogant impunity?
How can it be that a regime on African soil, and formed by Africans, such as that of the Omar Bashirs, who although only of a slightly lighter hue than the rest of us, but are blacks too, nonetheless (as they would soon discover were they to live in the West!); thinks that the black African people of Darfur, are less human: just because they are of a slightly darker hue, than their fellow so-called "Arab" compatriots - those offensive and murderous monsters, who now rule Sudan?
Why should thinking Africans tolerate the nonsense on bamboo stilts, the ridiculous, absurd, and outrageous notion, that somehow, the African Omar Bashir, and his gang of murderers, who now rule Sudan, and think they are the cleverest people on the continent of Africa, are superior, to the black Africans of Darfur - on account of the lightness of the hue of their black skins?
Should the AU continue to accept in its midst, an African regime, which is busy committing genocide, in the 21st century information and technological age, on the basis of a foolish, ignorant, fanciful and misguided sense of racial superiority, and which is driving them to commit the most dastardly crimes against humanity, ever seen on this earth, since Hitler's Nazi Germany, set about systematically wiping out, all those, they considered not Aryan enough, in Europe?
The irony in all this, is that it appears that it has not dawned on the smug black leaders of Africa, attending the AU summit meeting, that were they to be living in the Darfur region of Western Sudan themselves, Omar Bashir and his gang of mass murderers, now in charge at Khartoum, and who laughingly delude themselves, by proudly calling themselves "Arabs" (slaves of Arabs, would probably be a more apt description, of their outrageous and misplaced sense of superiority, many a thinking African, will say!), would treat them worse than animals, on account of the dark colour, of their presidential skins!
The time has come for African leaders to expel Sudan from the AU - and to help the international community to gather evidence, to enable prosecutors of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, to indict Sudanese government members, in preparation for their trial, at a future date, for crimes against humanity. For, their unspeakable crimes in Darfur, are no different, from some of the many crimes of mass murder, which were committed during the second World War, by the evil Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.
And in addition to supervising, by "remote control" those unspeakable and abominable acts of brutality, Sudan is now adding insult to injury, by aiding Chadian dissident leaders, to recruit and arm a conventional force, which has now been deployed to invade Chad, in a three hundred-vehicle convey, to overthrow the legitimate government of Chad - for the sole purpose, of sandwiching the people of Darfur, who have sought refuge near the Chadian border, between forces Sudan controls: and make the final annihilation, of the inhabitants of Darfur, easier, that way.
How can the international community tolerate such outrageous actions by this regime of impunity? And when will Africa's leaders act to expel Sudan from the AU - and ask the International Court of Justice to indict the murderous Omar Bashir and the members of his crafty regime: which uses deception as a national policy, when it comes to the issue of Darfur, in its relations with the international community? Why, does the world not understand that the Sudanese regime should be held responsible for Africa's equivalent, of the Jewish Holocaust?
Decent and thinking Africans condemn the mass murderers now ruling Sudan, in the strongest possible terms - and call on the international community to invade Western Sudan, to protect the the black African inhabitants of the area.
It is the citizens of nations who are sovereign - not the men and women who constitute, at any given point in time in a nation's history, the regimes, which rule over the land mass that make up the territory of given nation-states: so the world must not entertain the protestations and intransigence of the Sudanese regime, when it makes the absurd claim that in refusing to allow international troops into Sudan, it is protecting Sudan's sovereignty.
Would the Western allies, who invaded Hitler's Germany, to end his evil and tyrannical rule, have rid the world of the Nazis, if they had prevaricated, instead of acting decisively to invade Germany, simply because Hitler was invoking the doctrine of sovereignty - the self-same absurd claims, which the murderous and racist buffoons, who now rule Sudan, make today?
The world must not tolerate genocide in Darfur, because murderers seek to hide behind the doctrine of sovereignty. In invading Western Sudan, the world will be rescuing a people being slaughtered by their government - which then seeks to stop the world from decisive action to rescue Darfurians, by the monstrous lie that the West is seeking to recolonise Sudan: and that allowing Western troops into Darfur, would therefore be tantamount to allowing the recolonisation of Sudan? What absolute drivel.
The time has come for sanctions to be imposed on all the leaders of Sudan and their immediate families. Their overseas banks accounts ought to be frozen; their relations living in the West must be deported; and they should all be denied visas to travel to the West. All African nations must break off diplomatic relations with Sudan en masse, immediately. The continued membership of Sudan of the AU, is an affront to all black Africans. Period. The AU must act to expel Sudan from membership of the continental body, now!
For me, a particularly odious member of this mafia: a most brutal, cunning and totally dishonest ruler of human beings, this continent has ever had the misfortune, of allowing to wield political power, is the ruler of Sudan. This is a man, whom many thinking Africans, feel, is a black clone, of the infamous and evil German genius, the mass murderer, Adolf Hitler.
Black Africans in the West, often have to put up with the outrageous racism of Western societies, suffering indignities on a daily basis: in which no matter how cultured; highly educated; and proud a possessor of decent human values an African might be, the most uncouth and ill-educated white-skinned racist, has the effrontery and temerity, to consider him or her, an inferior being - simply on account of the skin-colour of the African: not because of the character of the African.
For the thinking African, who has had to put up with years of being treated with disrespect and been discriminated against in the West, because of their skin-colour, the idea that a sly and dishonest monster, like the Sudanese leader, Omar Bashir, who would also be treated with similar disdain by white-skinned racists of the Western world, were he to live there, actually leads a regime on the continent of Africa, which looks down on fellow black Africans, is simply intolerable.
The idea that the members of an African regime, made up of fellow Africans, only of a slightly lighter hue, than the average African, are today actively tele-guiding the evil para-military force, the Janjaweed, as they carry out a pogrom in Darfur and parts of Chad, is rather difficult to take in, for thinking Africans.
How can Africans in the 21st century, permit mass murder, mass rape, and the destruction of whole villages and towns, in a scorched-earth policy, which is designed to wipe out the black African population of Western Sudan, to be carried out, with such arrogant impunity?
How can it be that a regime on African soil, and formed by Africans, such as that of the Omar Bashirs, who although only of a slightly lighter hue than the rest of us, but are blacks too, nonetheless (as they would soon discover were they to live in the West!); thinks that the black African people of Darfur, are less human: just because they are of a slightly darker hue, than their fellow so-called "Arab" compatriots - those offensive and murderous monsters, who now rule Sudan?
Why should thinking Africans tolerate the nonsense on bamboo stilts, the ridiculous, absurd, and outrageous notion, that somehow, the African Omar Bashir, and his gang of murderers, who now rule Sudan, and think they are the cleverest people on the continent of Africa, are superior, to the black Africans of Darfur - on account of the lightness of the hue of their black skins?
Should the AU continue to accept in its midst, an African regime, which is busy committing genocide, in the 21st century information and technological age, on the basis of a foolish, ignorant, fanciful and misguided sense of racial superiority, and which is driving them to commit the most dastardly crimes against humanity, ever seen on this earth, since Hitler's Nazi Germany, set about systematically wiping out, all those, they considered not Aryan enough, in Europe?
The irony in all this, is that it appears that it has not dawned on the smug black leaders of Africa, attending the AU summit meeting, that were they to be living in the Darfur region of Western Sudan themselves, Omar Bashir and his gang of mass murderers, now in charge at Khartoum, and who laughingly delude themselves, by proudly calling themselves "Arabs" (slaves of Arabs, would probably be a more apt description, of their outrageous and misplaced sense of superiority, many a thinking African, will say!), would treat them worse than animals, on account of the dark colour, of their presidential skins!
The time has come for African leaders to expel Sudan from the AU - and to help the international community to gather evidence, to enable prosecutors of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, to indict Sudanese government members, in preparation for their trial, at a future date, for crimes against humanity. For, their unspeakable crimes in Darfur, are no different, from some of the many crimes of mass murder, which were committed during the second World War, by the evil Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.
And in addition to supervising, by "remote control" those unspeakable and abominable acts of brutality, Sudan is now adding insult to injury, by aiding Chadian dissident leaders, to recruit and arm a conventional force, which has now been deployed to invade Chad, in a three hundred-vehicle convey, to overthrow the legitimate government of Chad - for the sole purpose, of sandwiching the people of Darfur, who have sought refuge near the Chadian border, between forces Sudan controls: and make the final annihilation, of the inhabitants of Darfur, easier, that way.
How can the international community tolerate such outrageous actions by this regime of impunity? And when will Africa's leaders act to expel Sudan from the AU - and ask the International Court of Justice to indict the murderous Omar Bashir and the members of his crafty regime: which uses deception as a national policy, when it comes to the issue of Darfur, in its relations with the international community? Why, does the world not understand that the Sudanese regime should be held responsible for Africa's equivalent, of the Jewish Holocaust?
Decent and thinking Africans condemn the mass murderers now ruling Sudan, in the strongest possible terms - and call on the international community to invade Western Sudan, to protect the the black African inhabitants of the area.
It is the citizens of nations who are sovereign - not the men and women who constitute, at any given point in time in a nation's history, the regimes, which rule over the land mass that make up the territory of given nation-states: so the world must not entertain the protestations and intransigence of the Sudanese regime, when it makes the absurd claim that in refusing to allow international troops into Sudan, it is protecting Sudan's sovereignty.
Would the Western allies, who invaded Hitler's Germany, to end his evil and tyrannical rule, have rid the world of the Nazis, if they had prevaricated, instead of acting decisively to invade Germany, simply because Hitler was invoking the doctrine of sovereignty - the self-same absurd claims, which the murderous and racist buffoons, who now rule Sudan, make today?
The world must not tolerate genocide in Darfur, because murderers seek to hide behind the doctrine of sovereignty. In invading Western Sudan, the world will be rescuing a people being slaughtered by their government - which then seeks to stop the world from decisive action to rescue Darfurians, by the monstrous lie that the West is seeking to recolonise Sudan: and that allowing Western troops into Darfur, would therefore be tantamount to allowing the recolonisation of Sudan? What absolute drivel.
The time has come for sanctions to be imposed on all the leaders of Sudan and their immediate families. Their overseas banks accounts ought to be frozen; their relations living in the West must be deported; and they should all be denied visas to travel to the West. All African nations must break off diplomatic relations with Sudan en masse, immediately. The continued membership of Sudan of the AU, is an affront to all black Africans. Period. The AU must act to expel Sudan from membership of the continental body, now!
Thursday, 31 January 2008
EMAIL TO AN OVERSEAS FRIEND!
Of course you are absolutely right on both counts, Ohemaa. Democracy, with all its faults, is the best system of government known to man - and the yearning for freedom is universal: it beats in the hearts of Africans, no less strongly, than it beats in the hearts of people of other races. Kenya looms large in my thinking, these days - for, this is an election year, here, too. And the situation there, before the post-election violence, bears an uncanny resemblance, to our own situation, here.
The party in power, has favoured one particular tribal Chief, a man whose overweaning ambition and megalomania, offends many fair-minded people in our country - because of his meddling in affairs of state, at the highest levels. The impression one gets, is that as far as the few tribal supremacists (our local version of the odious white supremacists of the Western world!), who dominate the ruling party are concerned, no other traditional ruler matters in our country - a nation of diverse ethnicity. Then there is the unfathomable greed of our ruling elite - which has produced such huge disparities in wealth, in our country.
That beautiful nation could disintegrate if Odinga and Kibaki don't rise above selfish ambition. Most of the other tribes feel excluded and resent the domination of the Kikuyu. I feel particularly sad about the turn of events there, because I lived there for a period, during the late 70's, and have an affinity for Kenyans.
Such has been the rape of our nation by our ruling elites over the years, that ordinary Ghanaians must take drastic measures, if necessary, to ensure that our oil wealth is used for the sole purpose of bringing about social transformation, in our homeland Ghana. The regime in power today has tried to divide our nation, with its blatant and shameful tribalism - because it sees that as a useful weapon to help it stay in power.
But if it were to try to repeat the events that have led to the tragedy we see playing out in Kenya, in order to enable it hang on to power, or conversely, if the opposition NDC were to resort to violence, in order to deny whichever political party, won a majority of the votes in truly free and fair elections, from assuming power, there are enough patriotic young military officers, who will step in to save our country from being set alight, by the greedy ambitions of the hypocritical men and women, who have excersised power since 1992, and many of whom seem to think ordinary Ghanaians are fools. Hmmm, Ohemaa, let either the ruling NPP or opposition NDC, dare try to toy with the lives of ordinary people, by engaging in a violent fight for political power, after the coming elections in December - and "we will see!" ( as local parlance has it.)
And neither will we allow either of them to fritter away our oil wealth either, under any circumstances. We will never allow the windfall that our oil deposits represent, to enrich just a powerful few - the very people whose selfishness, dishonesty and greedy ambitions, has resulted in the impoverishment of Ghanaians and their beloved nation, over the years, since Nkrumah's overthrow, in 1966. Period.
Ordinary people don't want much, Ohemaa - all the average Ghanaian wants is decent and affordable accommodation; access to efficient and reliable utility services; an environment in which public safety is assured; decent and well-paid jobs; access to education and health-care; the right to live in peace in a nation devoid of political violence; and to be citizens of a nation in which officialdom is held accountable: both the career civil servant and elected politician varieties, i.e.
My initial reaction to your previous email was crafted in rapid-fire time - and might have been couched in intemperate language, I agree. But it did inspire the latest posting on my blog, Ohemaa - for which I am eternally grateful to you. A muse is always a treasure for a writer - even one living in far away England!
You must always remember that Africans have no illusions about Chinese intentions - and in their outrageous racism, they are no different, from those who colonised Africa, all those centuries ago and drew arbitrary boundary lines, which dismembered tribal homelands: and turned members of the same extended families, into the citizens of different nations.
The importance of China to the African who thinks, is that they offer investment in infrastructure, on terms we will never get from those Western nations that have made us empty promise after empty promise, in countless G8 summit pledges, which never materialise.
For the thinking African, adding value to the continent's raw materials, by setting up joint-ventures with the very best of the Chinese companies, is the way forward. Ghana, for example, has ambitions to regain its position as the world's number one cocoa producer.
However, thinking Ghanaians would rather that instead of exporting 1 million tonnes of cocoa beans, we struck deals with the Chinese to set up as many processing plants as are needed to add value to the cocoa here, and help get a surplus in our balance of payments, that way.
And rather than getting the Shells and ExxonMobils to rip us off, as the gold mining companies have done over the many decades they have taken wealth out of our country, we would rather our nation set up joint venture deals between our state-owned oil company and China's state-owned oil companies - and get better value from our oil that way.
Gold has been mined here for centuries, yet to date, none of the towns in the gold mining areas of Ghana remotely looks anything like Johannesburg. We will not let foreigners profit from the windfall that our oil deposits represent - and walk away when it is finally depleted: with Ghanaians and their nation, having nothing to show for it.
Ohemaa, we are pitted against a soulless monster, called Capitalism that has not an ounce of pity in it, as its seeks to satisfy the unfathomable greed that drives it. It has charm in abundance in the shape of the smiling Tony Blairs, charming EU presidents, and the countless smoothtalking carpetbaggers, out to seek their fortunes at our expense , by ripping Africa off - but none of the antics of neo-colonialism, fools the thinking African.
Never underestimate Africa and Africans, Ohemaa - the South African Boers, who believed they were the masters of the universe, and thought we were mere draft animals, put on this earth to serve them, no longer hold sway there. We (the thinking Africans!) will prevail in the end - and the African Renaissance will benefit all of humankind - not just Africans: for, we are neither selfish nor racist, as a people.
Stay blessed, dear friend, and write again, when you are not too busy!
Warmest regards,
Kofi.
The party in power, has favoured one particular tribal Chief, a man whose overweaning ambition and megalomania, offends many fair-minded people in our country - because of his meddling in affairs of state, at the highest levels. The impression one gets, is that as far as the few tribal supremacists (our local version of the odious white supremacists of the Western world!), who dominate the ruling party are concerned, no other traditional ruler matters in our country - a nation of diverse ethnicity. Then there is the unfathomable greed of our ruling elite - which has produced such huge disparities in wealth, in our country.
That beautiful nation could disintegrate if Odinga and Kibaki don't rise above selfish ambition. Most of the other tribes feel excluded and resent the domination of the Kikuyu. I feel particularly sad about the turn of events there, because I lived there for a period, during the late 70's, and have an affinity for Kenyans.
Such has been the rape of our nation by our ruling elites over the years, that ordinary Ghanaians must take drastic measures, if necessary, to ensure that our oil wealth is used for the sole purpose of bringing about social transformation, in our homeland Ghana. The regime in power today has tried to divide our nation, with its blatant and shameful tribalism - because it sees that as a useful weapon to help it stay in power.
But if it were to try to repeat the events that have led to the tragedy we see playing out in Kenya, in order to enable it hang on to power, or conversely, if the opposition NDC were to resort to violence, in order to deny whichever political party, won a majority of the votes in truly free and fair elections, from assuming power, there are enough patriotic young military officers, who will step in to save our country from being set alight, by the greedy ambitions of the hypocritical men and women, who have excersised power since 1992, and many of whom seem to think ordinary Ghanaians are fools. Hmmm, Ohemaa, let either the ruling NPP or opposition NDC, dare try to toy with the lives of ordinary people, by engaging in a violent fight for political power, after the coming elections in December - and "we will see!" ( as local parlance has it.)
And neither will we allow either of them to fritter away our oil wealth either, under any circumstances. We will never allow the windfall that our oil deposits represent, to enrich just a powerful few - the very people whose selfishness, dishonesty and greedy ambitions, has resulted in the impoverishment of Ghanaians and their beloved nation, over the years, since Nkrumah's overthrow, in 1966. Period.
Ordinary people don't want much, Ohemaa - all the average Ghanaian wants is decent and affordable accommodation; access to efficient and reliable utility services; an environment in which public safety is assured; decent and well-paid jobs; access to education and health-care; the right to live in peace in a nation devoid of political violence; and to be citizens of a nation in which officialdom is held accountable: both the career civil servant and elected politician varieties, i.e.
My initial reaction to your previous email was crafted in rapid-fire time - and might have been couched in intemperate language, I agree. But it did inspire the latest posting on my blog, Ohemaa - for which I am eternally grateful to you. A muse is always a treasure for a writer - even one living in far away England!
You must always remember that Africans have no illusions about Chinese intentions - and in their outrageous racism, they are no different, from those who colonised Africa, all those centuries ago and drew arbitrary boundary lines, which dismembered tribal homelands: and turned members of the same extended families, into the citizens of different nations.
The importance of China to the African who thinks, is that they offer investment in infrastructure, on terms we will never get from those Western nations that have made us empty promise after empty promise, in countless G8 summit pledges, which never materialise.
For the thinking African, adding value to the continent's raw materials, by setting up joint-ventures with the very best of the Chinese companies, is the way forward. Ghana, for example, has ambitions to regain its position as the world's number one cocoa producer.
However, thinking Ghanaians would rather that instead of exporting 1 million tonnes of cocoa beans, we struck deals with the Chinese to set up as many processing plants as are needed to add value to the cocoa here, and help get a surplus in our balance of payments, that way.
And rather than getting the Shells and ExxonMobils to rip us off, as the gold mining companies have done over the many decades they have taken wealth out of our country, we would rather our nation set up joint venture deals between our state-owned oil company and China's state-owned oil companies - and get better value from our oil that way.
Gold has been mined here for centuries, yet to date, none of the towns in the gold mining areas of Ghana remotely looks anything like Johannesburg. We will not let foreigners profit from the windfall that our oil deposits represent - and walk away when it is finally depleted: with Ghanaians and their nation, having nothing to show for it.
Ohemaa, we are pitted against a soulless monster, called Capitalism that has not an ounce of pity in it, as its seeks to satisfy the unfathomable greed that drives it. It has charm in abundance in the shape of the smiling Tony Blairs, charming EU presidents, and the countless smoothtalking carpetbaggers, out to seek their fortunes at our expense , by ripping Africa off - but none of the antics of neo-colonialism, fools the thinking African.
Never underestimate Africa and Africans, Ohemaa - the South African Boers, who believed they were the masters of the universe, and thought we were mere draft animals, put on this earth to serve them, no longer hold sway there. We (the thinking Africans!) will prevail in the end - and the African Renaissance will benefit all of humankind - not just Africans: for, we are neither selfish nor racist, as a people.
Stay blessed, dear friend, and write again, when you are not too busy!
Warmest regards,
Kofi.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
KENYAN LESSONS: THINK THE UNTHINKABLE?
Hello Ohemaa, thanks for your email. Hmmm, my dear friend, all we need do in Africa, in order to free ourselves, from domination by ill-intentioned foreigners, is simply to trade more amongst ourselves - and allow ordinary Africans to live anywhere they want to, on the continent. It will make a huge difference to the situation of Africa, believe me.
As regards our homeland Ghana, yes, the endless and obscene toadying to the West often engaged in by our clueless and forever-genuflecting leaders, is costing us dearly, indeed. For example, instead of striking joint-venture partnership deals between the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and China's largest state oil company - and going to ask Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to show us how to safely rid ourselves of the predatory oil firms from the West, the Oxford-educated master of the universe currently in charge here, is apparently looking to "Norway and the UK," "for best practise," to quote him.
Of course if one understands the code language deployed in such circumstance by our too-clever-by-half ruling elite, what it actually means, is that they are scheming to set up a sovereign wealth fund, into which the oil revenues will be put (reference to Norway!), and clever and super-greedy merchant bankers and hedge fund managers, from the City of London, asked to manage same for Ghana (reference to UK).
But of course, those masters of the universe in the City of London, reeling from the sub-prime debacle, and impoverished by evaporating values of esoteric financial instruments, such as SIV's (special investment vehicles) and CDS (credit default swaps), of the loosely regulated "shadow banking market" (the so-called "light touch" of the financial services authority FSA!), will make minced meat of us, in no time at all. Hmmmm, Ghana!
It goes without saying, of course, that huge kickbacks will go to those appointing the UK fund managers, courtesy their cronies amongst our super-greedy and hypocritical oligarchs: the favoured high net worth influence peddlers, who will secure for the foreign merchant bankers, the juicy role of "financial advisers to the Government of Ghana."
Well, our political class must be careful not to attempt to do a Kenya here, before, during, or after, the December 2008 elections. For, a Ghana with proven deposits of oil and gas, soon to come on stream, is perfect and ripe for plucking, by determined and super-intelligent military officers, cast in the AFRC-mould.
A strike by the military, against our largely kleptocratic political class, were there to be the slightest whiff of election-rigging or post-election violence, to ensure that our country remains peaceful and stable: and does not suffer the Ivory Coast and Kenyan tragedies too, will be welcomed by the vast majority of of ordinary people - especially were all our politicians to be promptly arrested and probed by the military.
A majority of Ghanaians will give everything, for Ghana's oil wealth, to be placed under the stewardship of truly honest and sincere idealists, determined to use it for social transformation, in Ghana.
And were they to hear, for example, that the state was going to build 1 million good quality housing at affordable rental rates, for ordinary people, by the establishment of a joint-venture between the State Housing Corporation (SHC) and China's biggest government-owned builder, as well as indigenous real estate developers, in a transparent public private partnership (PPP), between competent parties, would they ever pine for the clever rogues, who have looted Ghana over the years, under the 4th Republic? Ohemaa, I doubt it!
Personally, if I was to make a wish-list for Ghana's well-being, the following would be some of what I hope would be the policies of our next leaders: First of all, let them scrap the 4th Republic - for, it is a fraudulent creature established for the sole purpose of enabling those who overthrew an elected regime in 1982, to metamorphose from a military dictatorship, which answered to no one, into an elected democratic regime, which often acted with impunity. We must replace it with a new 5th Republic.
I would also hope that we would use our oil wealth to provide free education from kindergarten to university for all Ghanaian children; build well-equipped modern hospitals in all the nearly 120-plus districts.
And to make for a more secure nation, one would hope that they would increase the size of the armed forces to 500,000 men and women by making it a largely conscript military force, and expand the police into a paramilitary force of 150,000 men and women.
And by decreeing compulsory military service for 2 years, for youth aged between 19 and 21, discipline will be instilled in our youth, who are our future; and I would urge them to give free internet access to all Ghanaians - and ensure an explosion of young local talent in ICT, to effectively compete, with the rest of the world - and create yet more wealth for ordinary people.In addition I would also bring down corporate tax rate to 10% to encourage enterprise; abolish personal income tax, to enable working people to benefit from their sweat; scrap the 4th Republic, and try, on a charge of treason, and jail for life, the super-sly man, who overthrew an elected civilian regime in 1982.
And one would then proscribe the fraudulent vehicle set up by his clever acolytes, to enable both themselves and him, to metamorphose, from a military dictatorship unanswerable to no one, to an elected civilian democratically-elected regime, given to acting with impunity: something that today it conveniently forgets.
One would then order a probe of all public servants and elected officials: And set about ridding Ghana of corruption, by trying all politicians and public servants who are known to have stolen public money through corruption - after forensic audits; and one would also set up a constitutional commission to draft a new constitution in readiness for a new 5th Republic, in which there will be clear separation of powers between the three arms of government - each of them independent financially: and paid separately from the consolidated fund.
And I would also strengthen all the bodies set up to deal with corruption and white collar crime by big wigs; nationalise all land in Ghana held by traditional rulers in trust for their people (and pay those bloodsuckers and confusionists, fair compensation at prevailing market prices); and above all, abolish that tribalistic and anachronistic institution - for good!
For, it is an institution that has only succeeded in keeping a majority of our people, chained mentally, to that pre-colonial world-view, underpinned by superstition and an adherence to tradition, and which from time immemorial, has only encouraged the preservation of a social milieu that frowns on innovation - and which, today, has made ours, a stagnant society, bereft of original thinkers: and full of self-seeking sycophants.
And the incredible thing in all this, is that we are at precisely a point in time in Ghana, and in our history, when an honest, super-intelligent, and sincere military man, a philosopher-king type of soldier, can do for Ghana, what Kamel Attaturk, was able to do for modern Turkey - because we will have the wherewithal to transform Ghanaian society, for the benefit of all Ghanaians, not to enrich just a few well-connected individuals and their families.
The fact of the matter Ohemaa, is that today, even the most unintelligent child in the Ghana of today, knows, that because of our anticipated oil wealth, Ghanaians have, for the first time in their history, as a united and modern African nation-state, enough money, to enable badly needed social transformation, to be undertaken!
Hmmm, dear friend, it is such a pity I am no longer an angry young man.I shall support any super-intelligent and sincere soldier, who seizes power after the December 2008 elections - if that is what is needed to save mother Ghana from a fate similar to the tragedy that has befallen Kenya!
Indeed, one can argue that in such circumstances, our military have a patriotic duty to stop our greedy and hypocritical political class, from plunging our homeland Ghana, into civil war and chaos, after the December 2008 elections.
Who, in Ghana today, does not know that there is no real difference, between the policies pursued by the two major political parties, during their two-term tenures? One has done a little better economically, because it is the only regime to have had our previous large external debt cancelled.
It then set about to dissipate wealth in the most outrageous ways, ever imagined.We must never allow our political class to let what has happened to Kenya, to occur here, too. That is why we must think the unthinkable, if necessary - for mother Ghana's sake! May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana always. Long live Ghana! Long live freedom! Kofi Thompson can be reached by email at: peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk and by SMS text message on: (233) 745 3109.
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
LETTERS TO A FRIEND IN INDIA
Hello Nitin,
How very kind of you to remember me - thanks very much, indeed. Well, let me also take the opportunity, to wish you, personally, a merry Christmas - and a very happy 2008! I must say, I admire your commitment to your community, very much indeed.
The determination of so many young people like you, Nitin, across the globe, to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they live, gives one hope for the future.
Whenever I come across determined and idealistic young people like you, my faith in the future is restored - and I am able to hope again, that my grandchildren, living in far away London, as well as all the grandchildren of the rest of my comtemporaries, around the world, just might have a chance, to inherit a world, in which all of humankind, is united, in protecting our planet: and the peoples of the world, care about each other, and see themselves as one.
And that will happen, because your generation of Nitins, cared enough about your fellow human beings, and about the natural environment too, during your stewardship of the planet Earth - unlike my generation, whose greed has resulted in global climate change; international catastrophes like Iraq; and the tragedy of young boat-people from West Africa, risking their lives every day, crossing dangerous oceans, in flimsy boats, to find a better life, elsewhere.
And why are they leaving their own shores to go abroad: to nations where they are despised and not wanted? Because, Nitin, the wealthy EU, has deliberatly closed its eyes firmly, to the crimes against humanity, committed on a daily basis, with arrogant impunity, by thousands of rampaging fishing trawlers, from Europe.
These trawlers are fishing illegally, in the 200-mile economic zones, of nations, too poor, to police those waters. Incredibly they are from the same nations which despise our young people, who, having lost their livelihoods, as a result of the depletion of fish stocks all around the coastline off West Africa - which used to provide them with their livelihoods, have now become desperate. It is the need to feed their families and secure their futures, which drives them to make those suicidal journeys, across dangerous ocean waters.
The rape of the oceans off the West African coastline, by trawlers from Europe, which the criminal activities of those boats represents, can be stopped by the EU today, if they chose to do so: and it is typical of the hypocrisy of the EU, in much of its economic relations, with sub-Saharan Africa.
Europe just doesn't care: and it is a pity that it does not realise that it is in its own interest to help the nations of the West African sub-region protect their fish stocks and the 200-mile economice zones, off their coastline. A booming local fishing industry in the nations of West Africa, will end the waves of boatloads of economic refugees, seeking a better life in the EU.
But, sadly blind and short-sighted (in this instance!) Europe, just doesn't care: for, it brings valuable fish that provides protein for European consumers - and dazzling wealth for the owners of the European fishing fleets, ruining West Africa, and destroying the futures of its next generation, daily.
It is the combined effect of the actions of millions of the caring and sharing Nitins, Nitin, in scores of Vadgams, all over the planet we inhabit so precariously, which will save humankind, in the end! Stay blessed, Nitin - and continue to care about your fellow human beings - for, in so doing, you are also saving yourself, our planet, and safeguarding the very future of your children, and their children!
Best wishes,
Kofi.
Posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/23 23:01 (With slight changes for this blog on: 2007/12/25 8:49)
Hello Nitin,
Yes, all of us have a lot to thank Siegfried Woldhek and the organisation, which his far-sighted vison, has produced. And it is concievable, Nitin, that Nabuur.com, may very well win the Noble Prize for peace, at some point in time, during your lifetime! Have you noticed the many cross-cultural friendships, which are being formed in the various villages, at http://www.nabuur.com/?
Nitin, India has made tremendous progress since its Independence, and today, it has a woman as its president. I hope that one day, the caste system, will disappear from Indian society - and that your nation, will consequently be enriched, by the unleashing, of the huge potential, of the outcasts: fellow humans, such as you and I. It is scandalous that any human being is labelled an "untouchable".
Just think of the numbers of potential brilliant inventors; medical doctors; computer scientists; visionary politicians; space explorers; Noble Prize-winning research scientists, etc. etc. that India is missing - because a part of India, is excluded from participating actively, in the mainstream of your national life, and regarded as outcasts.
I am sure it is an uncomfortable subject for many Indians, including you; but one must always be open to new ideas, Nitin: I am sure that we have learnt a thing or two, from each other, and have been enriched by our friendship across the oceans, thousands of miles from each other - but still able to connect with each other, through http://www.nabuur.com!/
Why don't Vadgam's young people, start that journey of a thousand miles, to equality amongst all the peoples of your great and dynamic nation, known as India: by making friends with some untouchables? Stay blessed, dear friend!
Best wishes,Kofi.
PS In time, I shall send your club, some organic papaya seeds, to grow. When they start bearing fruit, you can share it with visitng cricket teams - and tell them it came from an old African man, from Jawalal Nehru's good friend Kwame Nkrumah's, Ghana!
Posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/25 0:36 (With slight changes for this blog on: 2007/12/25 8:51)
Hello Nitin,
Thank you so much for agreeing to my posting slightly modified versions, of our conversations, on my personal web blog! That really is is very generous of you.
It is kind of you to say you are learning a few things from our conversation - but you must always remember, Nitin, that we are all of us, learning all manner of things, from each other.
The same enriching personal experiences, are occuring, in the many conversations, which are going on, in the various village projects, on the http://www.nabuur.com/ online volunteer platform!
It really can be a very rewarding journey of discovery - if one is broadminded: and willing to open up to people from different races and cultures!
Well, I am sure I can manage to get the hang of using the messenger chat facility in my Yahoo mailbox, somehow! So you can contact me by email at:peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk, and we can then have conversations in real time - which will make a nice change!
The papaya seeds will be selected, dried and sent to the ministry of agriculture, to obtain a phytosanitary certificate - to enable us send it to you, Nitin. I do hope we can get all that done by the end of the first quarter of 2008, at the very latest!
Now that the Gujarat state elections are over and done with, I am sure you will try and get hold of your elected representative - and get them to partner you and the organisations that Poonam has succeeded in contacting. Do ask Poonam to let me have copies of her correspondence with the ones I recommended to her, if that is acceptable to all of you.
Based on the contents of the correspondence, I will be able to help you draw up a memorandum of understanding (MOU), for a three-way public private partnership (PPP) between your community-based organisation; the cross-cultural organisations Poonam has contacted; and the relavant local government department, which supports community-based projects, like yours. Thank you once again, Nitin - you are a real sport!
Best wishes,
Kofi.
(First posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/25 17:57)
How very kind of you to remember me - thanks very much, indeed. Well, let me also take the opportunity, to wish you, personally, a merry Christmas - and a very happy 2008! I must say, I admire your commitment to your community, very much indeed.
The determination of so many young people like you, Nitin, across the globe, to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they live, gives one hope for the future.
Whenever I come across determined and idealistic young people like you, my faith in the future is restored - and I am able to hope again, that my grandchildren, living in far away London, as well as all the grandchildren of the rest of my comtemporaries, around the world, just might have a chance, to inherit a world, in which all of humankind, is united, in protecting our planet: and the peoples of the world, care about each other, and see themselves as one.
And that will happen, because your generation of Nitins, cared enough about your fellow human beings, and about the natural environment too, during your stewardship of the planet Earth - unlike my generation, whose greed has resulted in global climate change; international catastrophes like Iraq; and the tragedy of young boat-people from West Africa, risking their lives every day, crossing dangerous oceans, in flimsy boats, to find a better life, elsewhere.
And why are they leaving their own shores to go abroad: to nations where they are despised and not wanted? Because, Nitin, the wealthy EU, has deliberatly closed its eyes firmly, to the crimes against humanity, committed on a daily basis, with arrogant impunity, by thousands of rampaging fishing trawlers, from Europe.
These trawlers are fishing illegally, in the 200-mile economic zones, of nations, too poor, to police those waters. Incredibly they are from the same nations which despise our young people, who, having lost their livelihoods, as a result of the depletion of fish stocks all around the coastline off West Africa - which used to provide them with their livelihoods, have now become desperate. It is the need to feed their families and secure their futures, which drives them to make those suicidal journeys, across dangerous ocean waters.
The rape of the oceans off the West African coastline, by trawlers from Europe, which the criminal activities of those boats represents, can be stopped by the EU today, if they chose to do so: and it is typical of the hypocrisy of the EU, in much of its economic relations, with sub-Saharan Africa.
Europe just doesn't care: and it is a pity that it does not realise that it is in its own interest to help the nations of the West African sub-region protect their fish stocks and the 200-mile economice zones, off their coastline. A booming local fishing industry in the nations of West Africa, will end the waves of boatloads of economic refugees, seeking a better life in the EU.
But, sadly blind and short-sighted (in this instance!) Europe, just doesn't care: for, it brings valuable fish that provides protein for European consumers - and dazzling wealth for the owners of the European fishing fleets, ruining West Africa, and destroying the futures of its next generation, daily.
It is the combined effect of the actions of millions of the caring and sharing Nitins, Nitin, in scores of Vadgams, all over the planet we inhabit so precariously, which will save humankind, in the end! Stay blessed, Nitin - and continue to care about your fellow human beings - for, in so doing, you are also saving yourself, our planet, and safeguarding the very future of your children, and their children!
Best wishes,
Kofi.
Posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/23 23:01 (With slight changes for this blog on: 2007/12/25 8:49)
Hello Nitin,
Yes, all of us have a lot to thank Siegfried Woldhek and the organisation, which his far-sighted vison, has produced. And it is concievable, Nitin, that Nabuur.com, may very well win the Noble Prize for peace, at some point in time, during your lifetime! Have you noticed the many cross-cultural friendships, which are being formed in the various villages, at http://www.nabuur.com/?
Nitin, India has made tremendous progress since its Independence, and today, it has a woman as its president. I hope that one day, the caste system, will disappear from Indian society - and that your nation, will consequently be enriched, by the unleashing, of the huge potential, of the outcasts: fellow humans, such as you and I. It is scandalous that any human being is labelled an "untouchable".
Just think of the numbers of potential brilliant inventors; medical doctors; computer scientists; visionary politicians; space explorers; Noble Prize-winning research scientists, etc. etc. that India is missing - because a part of India, is excluded from participating actively, in the mainstream of your national life, and regarded as outcasts.
I am sure it is an uncomfortable subject for many Indians, including you; but one must always be open to new ideas, Nitin: I am sure that we have learnt a thing or two, from each other, and have been enriched by our friendship across the oceans, thousands of miles from each other - but still able to connect with each other, through http://www.nabuur.com!/
Why don't Vadgam's young people, start that journey of a thousand miles, to equality amongst all the peoples of your great and dynamic nation, known as India: by making friends with some untouchables? Stay blessed, dear friend!
Best wishes,Kofi.
PS In time, I shall send your club, some organic papaya seeds, to grow. When they start bearing fruit, you can share it with visitng cricket teams - and tell them it came from an old African man, from Jawalal Nehru's good friend Kwame Nkrumah's, Ghana!
Posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/25 0:36 (With slight changes for this blog on: 2007/12/25 8:51)
Hello Nitin,
Thank you so much for agreeing to my posting slightly modified versions, of our conversations, on my personal web blog! That really is is very generous of you.
It is kind of you to say you are learning a few things from our conversation - but you must always remember, Nitin, that we are all of us, learning all manner of things, from each other.
The same enriching personal experiences, are occuring, in the many conversations, which are going on, in the various village projects, on the http://www.nabuur.com/ online volunteer platform!
It really can be a very rewarding journey of discovery - if one is broadminded: and willing to open up to people from different races and cultures!
Well, I am sure I can manage to get the hang of using the messenger chat facility in my Yahoo mailbox, somehow! So you can contact me by email at:peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk, and we can then have conversations in real time - which will make a nice change!
The papaya seeds will be selected, dried and sent to the ministry of agriculture, to obtain a phytosanitary certificate - to enable us send it to you, Nitin. I do hope we can get all that done by the end of the first quarter of 2008, at the very latest!
Now that the Gujarat state elections are over and done with, I am sure you will try and get hold of your elected representative - and get them to partner you and the organisations that Poonam has succeeded in contacting. Do ask Poonam to let me have copies of her correspondence with the ones I recommended to her, if that is acceptable to all of you.
Based on the contents of the correspondence, I will be able to help you draw up a memorandum of understanding (MOU), for a three-way public private partnership (PPP) between your community-based organisation; the cross-cultural organisations Poonam has contacted; and the relavant local government department, which supports community-based projects, like yours. Thank you once again, Nitin - you are a real sport!
Best wishes,
Kofi.
(First posted at http://www.nabuur.com/ on: 2007/12/25 17:57)
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
NKRUMAISTS: TIME TO UNITE AND LET A NEW CPP RISE AGAIN!
I am amazed that Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey, one of the cleverest and few truly world-class political figures in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), seems to have been taken aback by the huge numbers who took part in the recent Accra Yewuo demonstration organised by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) - a potent sign of disgruntlement with the status quo if ever there was one.
Apparently, he now recognises the depth of dissatisfaction amongst ordinary people, with the government of the NPP: and has consequently warned his party not to be complacent about the coming December 2008 elections. Wise words, indeed - but a bit too late in the day to be of much help in rescuing his party from its dwindling fortunes.
How did it come about that a man as astute as Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, came to believe in the propaganda of his own party: to the extent that he apparently believed the fantasy put about by the well-funded NPP spin-doctors that ordinary Ghanaians were actually experiencing "positive change" in their individual lives?
Fact is, dear reader, Jake Obestebi-Lamptey and Co must understand that Ghanaians have come to realise that apart from no longer having to look over their shoulder when condemning the unfathomable greed of some of our leaders, there is absolutely no difference between the NPP and the previous regime of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which preceded it.
Yes, there have been those who have had positive change in their lives: as can be seen by the vast fortunes being expended by some of the most ambitious ones in his party, to win them the right to become his party's candidate for the December 2008 presidential elections.
And then of course there are the eternal Busia-Danquah beneficiaries of that party's propensity for Kokofu-football pork-barrel politics, chief amongst whom, are: the leader of Jake's party; his immediate and extended family clan, and the coterie of regime-favourite roguish businesspeople who appear to have a stake in virtually every lucrative deal going.
Then there are the infernal, sly and greedy high net worth oligarchs, in whose collective pocket our number one hypocrite was when he first assumed power as Ghana's leader: until his own family suddenly mushroomed into one of Ghana's (and Africa's) wealthiest families - and he took to calling those who pointed it out as being envious: forgetting that not all of us are driven by greed, and furthermore, that many ordinary people operate on the basis that a good name is better than tainted riches.
And, above all, those who have prospered the most under this regime, are the insufferable, greedy, ruthless and totally amoral tribal-supremacist traditional rulers: to whom Jake's hypocritical leaders are so beholden - and who clearly call the shots in his party: which is why a clever man like Alan Kyremateng can openly suggest, the pure nonsense on bamboo stilts, that he will include "Chiefs" in "his government." Unbelievable. It is an open invitation for an equally clever young military man to promptly overthrow his government, for the sake of Ghana's unity - and swiftly call for fresh elections to usher in a new 5th Republic: were the clever Kyremateng to be so foolish after winning power.
Well, Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey and his crowd must understand that poverty is the worst enemy of democracy - and that their mistake was to slavishly follow neo-liberal economic policies: without considering the social consequences of those policies.
Their so-called private sector-led model of economic development, has led to the developmental equivalent of a gilded-road-to-nowhere: a tiny high-walled gated cul-de-sac community, which is an enclave of unimaginable "waa-waa" wealth surrounded completely by a vast slum that is literally, a seething cauldron of extreme anger and mobrowa discontent. Welcome to the real Ghana, Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey.
And just to let them know how their lack of original thinking has dearly cost our nation, dear reader, let me pass on a few figures about Singapore: a clever nation whose far-sighted and selfless leaders have used the Nkrumaist model of economic development to create a dynamic nation, whose citizens' standards of living has increased progressively since independence.
That tiny city-state, dear reader, happens to be the 17th wealthiest nation in the world, in terms of GDP per capita - and astonishingly, has foreign reserves of over US$ 145 billion. Yet, at one stage, the masters of the universe currently in charge of Nkrumah's Ghana, were crowing over foreign currency reserves of a little over a mere US $ 1billion - made possible, largely, due to the lifeline thrown our country by debt relief.
Similar to the direction taken by Nkrumah's Ghana, and using the model of state-led industrialisation, dominated by state-owned entities like Temasek, and boosted by foreign direct investment, Singapore has succeeded in creating a highly successful and modern economy. And today it is powering ahead with an efficient and transparently-managed, dynamic economy: which is based on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services - besides its centuries-old entrepot trade.
Our national tragedy today, is that the progeny of those who were used by the imperialists and neo-colonialists to overthrow Nkrumah (those treacherous coup leaders of 24th February,1966, were paid US$13 million by the C.I.A. to overthrow him - with even more to come if they murdered the Osagyefo in the process), have not learnt any lessons over the years.
They still do not understand that no African nation can be turned into a prosperous nation-state, if it does not replicate Singapore's model of development: state-led industrialisation managed by honest, competent and gifted leaders - who do not blindly accept the strictures of self-seeking foreign powers and neither copy the West blindly, nor kow-tow to foreign interests!
In other words, you will never hear, for example, a defence minister of Singapore seeking to be its leader, telling reporters that: "America is too powerful" - and consequently obliges every whimsical demand it makes. And unlike Ghana, you will most certainly not see traditional leaders who were once rulers in pre-colonial times, daring to poke their noses into affairs of state either - for, Singapore is the quintessence of a meritocracy: not a kleptocracy dominated by a few pride-filled tribal-supremacists, some with absurd pretensions to past feudal grandeur.
One only hopes that the Convention Peoples Party (New CPP), now led by Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, will take Ghana along that same "Sankofa-path" to sustainable growth, which Nkrumah took, after his liberal policies practised before 1960, spectacularly failed to lift ordinary Ghanaians out of poverty.
The New CPP must also learn from the mistakes of the Nkrumah regime: it must not tolerate corruption within its ranks and it must always deal ruthlessly with those who mismanage state entities - and must stay committed to a free society: to ensure a cross-fertilisation of ideas to help propel our homeland Ghana forward.
And above all, they must offer Ghana principled leadership: One that is full of honesty; is and puts Ghana, not their personal interests, first, at all times; eschews personal greed, nepotism and cronyism; deals ruthlessly with family members who think that the entering into public service by their kith and kin, who are in government, is their family's golden opportunity and a passport to amass untold wealth at Mother Ghana's expense.
In short, those who now lead the great party founded by Nkrumah, the New CPP, must always remember that Ghanaians expect them to be completely different from the regimes of the NPP and the NDC. They must improve on, and build upon, the very solid foundation that was laid by Ghana's greatest ever leader, our brilliant founding father Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory - for, clearly, Ghana cannot survive yet another greedy and incompetent regime after December 2008.
The leaders of the New CPP must make it clear to all Ghanaians that their regime will be totally different from Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey's party leader's dreadful regime: which thinks that creating a climate in which selfishness and disdain for the less fortunate thrives (a society in which you exploit others, including the vulnerable, ruthlessly - in order to become super rich), is somehow the way that one builds a harmonious and prosperous African society. Nkrumah did not seek office in order to acquire wealth - and they must also not come to power to acquire wealth, but to serve Mother Ghana instead, by creating a caring and sharing society for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Some of us may be ardent Nkrumaists, but we will will not spare them from criticism, if they do not clearly spell out the Nkrumaist vision of a modern and united African nation-state, in which the Ghanaian nation-state proclaims that it will not allow any Ghanaian to fall below a minimum standard of living: to enable ordinary people see clearly what their lot will be like in a Ghana run by a New CPP regime.
For, equitably sharing Ghana's wealth, and refusing to allow it to be appropriated by the greedy ambitions of a ruthless and powerful few, is the only way to enable all Ghanaians to be able to lead dignified lives - in a united, prosperous and humane society. And, above all, it is a message that will resonate with ordinary Ghanaians.
May God bless our homeland Ghana always. Long live freedom! Long live Ghana!
Kofi Thompson can be reached by email at: peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk and by SMS text message on: (027) 745 3109.
Apparently, he now recognises the depth of dissatisfaction amongst ordinary people, with the government of the NPP: and has consequently warned his party not to be complacent about the coming December 2008 elections. Wise words, indeed - but a bit too late in the day to be of much help in rescuing his party from its dwindling fortunes.
How did it come about that a man as astute as Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, came to believe in the propaganda of his own party: to the extent that he apparently believed the fantasy put about by the well-funded NPP spin-doctors that ordinary Ghanaians were actually experiencing "positive change" in their individual lives?
Fact is, dear reader, Jake Obestebi-Lamptey and Co must understand that Ghanaians have come to realise that apart from no longer having to look over their shoulder when condemning the unfathomable greed of some of our leaders, there is absolutely no difference between the NPP and the previous regime of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which preceded it.
Yes, there have been those who have had positive change in their lives: as can be seen by the vast fortunes being expended by some of the most ambitious ones in his party, to win them the right to become his party's candidate for the December 2008 presidential elections.
And then of course there are the eternal Busia-Danquah beneficiaries of that party's propensity for Kokofu-football pork-barrel politics, chief amongst whom, are: the leader of Jake's party; his immediate and extended family clan, and the coterie of regime-favourite roguish businesspeople who appear to have a stake in virtually every lucrative deal going.
Then there are the infernal, sly and greedy high net worth oligarchs, in whose collective pocket our number one hypocrite was when he first assumed power as Ghana's leader: until his own family suddenly mushroomed into one of Ghana's (and Africa's) wealthiest families - and he took to calling those who pointed it out as being envious: forgetting that not all of us are driven by greed, and furthermore, that many ordinary people operate on the basis that a good name is better than tainted riches.
And, above all, those who have prospered the most under this regime, are the insufferable, greedy, ruthless and totally amoral tribal-supremacist traditional rulers: to whom Jake's hypocritical leaders are so beholden - and who clearly call the shots in his party: which is why a clever man like Alan Kyremateng can openly suggest, the pure nonsense on bamboo stilts, that he will include "Chiefs" in "his government." Unbelievable. It is an open invitation for an equally clever young military man to promptly overthrow his government, for the sake of Ghana's unity - and swiftly call for fresh elections to usher in a new 5th Republic: were the clever Kyremateng to be so foolish after winning power.
Well, Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey and his crowd must understand that poverty is the worst enemy of democracy - and that their mistake was to slavishly follow neo-liberal economic policies: without considering the social consequences of those policies.
Their so-called private sector-led model of economic development, has led to the developmental equivalent of a gilded-road-to-nowhere: a tiny high-walled gated cul-de-sac community, which is an enclave of unimaginable "waa-waa" wealth surrounded completely by a vast slum that is literally, a seething cauldron of extreme anger and mobrowa discontent. Welcome to the real Ghana, Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey.
And just to let them know how their lack of original thinking has dearly cost our nation, dear reader, let me pass on a few figures about Singapore: a clever nation whose far-sighted and selfless leaders have used the Nkrumaist model of economic development to create a dynamic nation, whose citizens' standards of living has increased progressively since independence.
That tiny city-state, dear reader, happens to be the 17th wealthiest nation in the world, in terms of GDP per capita - and astonishingly, has foreign reserves of over US$ 145 billion. Yet, at one stage, the masters of the universe currently in charge of Nkrumah's Ghana, were crowing over foreign currency reserves of a little over a mere US $ 1billion - made possible, largely, due to the lifeline thrown our country by debt relief.
Similar to the direction taken by Nkrumah's Ghana, and using the model of state-led industrialisation, dominated by state-owned entities like Temasek, and boosted by foreign direct investment, Singapore has succeeded in creating a highly successful and modern economy. And today it is powering ahead with an efficient and transparently-managed, dynamic economy: which is based on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services - besides its centuries-old entrepot trade.
Our national tragedy today, is that the progeny of those who were used by the imperialists and neo-colonialists to overthrow Nkrumah (those treacherous coup leaders of 24th February,1966, were paid US$13 million by the C.I.A. to overthrow him - with even more to come if they murdered the Osagyefo in the process), have not learnt any lessons over the years.
They still do not understand that no African nation can be turned into a prosperous nation-state, if it does not replicate Singapore's model of development: state-led industrialisation managed by honest, competent and gifted leaders - who do not blindly accept the strictures of self-seeking foreign powers and neither copy the West blindly, nor kow-tow to foreign interests!
In other words, you will never hear, for example, a defence minister of Singapore seeking to be its leader, telling reporters that: "America is too powerful" - and consequently obliges every whimsical demand it makes. And unlike Ghana, you will most certainly not see traditional leaders who were once rulers in pre-colonial times, daring to poke their noses into affairs of state either - for, Singapore is the quintessence of a meritocracy: not a kleptocracy dominated by a few pride-filled tribal-supremacists, some with absurd pretensions to past feudal grandeur.
One only hopes that the Convention Peoples Party (New CPP), now led by Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, will take Ghana along that same "Sankofa-path" to sustainable growth, which Nkrumah took, after his liberal policies practised before 1960, spectacularly failed to lift ordinary Ghanaians out of poverty.
The New CPP must also learn from the mistakes of the Nkrumah regime: it must not tolerate corruption within its ranks and it must always deal ruthlessly with those who mismanage state entities - and must stay committed to a free society: to ensure a cross-fertilisation of ideas to help propel our homeland Ghana forward.
And above all, they must offer Ghana principled leadership: One that is full of honesty; is and puts Ghana, not their personal interests, first, at all times; eschews personal greed, nepotism and cronyism; deals ruthlessly with family members who think that the entering into public service by their kith and kin, who are in government, is their family's golden opportunity and a passport to amass untold wealth at Mother Ghana's expense.
In short, those who now lead the great party founded by Nkrumah, the New CPP, must always remember that Ghanaians expect them to be completely different from the regimes of the NPP and the NDC. They must improve on, and build upon, the very solid foundation that was laid by Ghana's greatest ever leader, our brilliant founding father Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory - for, clearly, Ghana cannot survive yet another greedy and incompetent regime after December 2008.
The leaders of the New CPP must make it clear to all Ghanaians that their regime will be totally different from Mr. Obestebi-Lamptey's party leader's dreadful regime: which thinks that creating a climate in which selfishness and disdain for the less fortunate thrives (a society in which you exploit others, including the vulnerable, ruthlessly - in order to become super rich), is somehow the way that one builds a harmonious and prosperous African society. Nkrumah did not seek office in order to acquire wealth - and they must also not come to power to acquire wealth, but to serve Mother Ghana instead, by creating a caring and sharing society for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Some of us may be ardent Nkrumaists, but we will will not spare them from criticism, if they do not clearly spell out the Nkrumaist vision of a modern and united African nation-state, in which the Ghanaian nation-state proclaims that it will not allow any Ghanaian to fall below a minimum standard of living: to enable ordinary people see clearly what their lot will be like in a Ghana run by a New CPP regime.
For, equitably sharing Ghana's wealth, and refusing to allow it to be appropriated by the greedy ambitions of a ruthless and powerful few, is the only way to enable all Ghanaians to be able to lead dignified lives - in a united, prosperous and humane society. And, above all, it is a message that will resonate with ordinary Ghanaians.
May God bless our homeland Ghana always. Long live freedom! Long live Ghana!
Kofi Thompson can be reached by email at: peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk and by SMS text message on: (027) 745 3109.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
A New Presidential Jet For Ghana?
I was recently accosted by an irate neighbour, who usually calls me, every time I appear on Alhaji Bature's popular Saturday discussion programme,"Alhaji and Alhaji," on Hot FM, to berate me, for "showing gross disrespect" to the current regime - and its hypocritical leader.
So you can imagine my sense of disbelief, dear reader, as I listened to him, telling me, how right he thought I had been about our current president, and the regime he leads, all along : "Awose yedi womu enyina eko prison, Kofi!"
And why was this "my-party-right-or-wrong" fanatic, and relatively well-off stooge for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), hoping that the leaders of his party, would all end up in jail? Well, he had just heard the rumour that President Kufuor had bought a "private jet", which is apparently scheduled for delivery, in 2010 - when he would be out of office.
I tried to explain to this irate NPP foot-soldier, that although it was classified as a private jet, it did not mean that it was President Kufuor's private property - and that if the rumour was true, it simply meant that Ghana had acquired a class of jet, made mainly for private business owners: and that in that sense, the rumour was not strictly accurate. For, the plane would be the property, of the Ghanaian nation-state.
The purchase of the new presidential jet, if true, illustrates perfectly, how our hypocritical ruling elites, constantly pursue their own interests: at the expense of our nation - and its hard-pressed people.
The man, who, at the onset of his tenure, refused to use the Gulfstream 11 presidential jet, acquired by the previous regime, because its purchase was shrouded in mystery (and apparent illegality), is now ending his tenure, with the acquisition of a much more expensive presidential jet: purchased without the approval of our spineless parliament. And only heaven knows what financial skulduggery has gone into the financing of its purchase - knowing the unfathomable greed that motivates our government of waa waa "super-kickback-specialists".
And to add insult to the injury done to taxpayers' pockets by this profligacy, it is apparently being funded by the same foreign bank, which was once successfully sued in the US courts, by Tsastu Tsikata, for giving the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), self-interested (and patently bad!) advice, to invest in derivatives, much to the GNPC's detriment - a case Tsatsu Tsikata won.
And if readers will recall, significantly, shortly after assuming power, the NPP halted a case Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata's GNPC had brought against that self same French bank and some of its roguish executives, in the London law courts - and hastily settled the matter out of court: ignoring the fact that the money they were going to pay out to those French rogues in any possible settlement, was a great deal more, than the legal costs, which they claimed was prohibitive: and were hence ending the case.
And today, some of those who sanctioned this rip off of our nation, are fighting each other ( spending billions in the process!), to have the chance, to become Ghana's next president - in order, presumably, to be able to supervise, personally, from the very top, the continued gang rape of mother Ghana, even more effectively (and profitably for themselves; their extended families; and their greedy favourites, amongst our anachronistic and hypocritical double-land-selling traditional rulers)! Hmmm, eye asem o!
And that, dear reader, is how over the years, our nation has been ripped off by our leaders, acting in concert with foreign carpetbaggers! If the rumour turns out to be true, Mr. Kufuor will have the dubious distinction, of being labelled the most hypocritical leader Ghana, has ever had the misfortune, of electing into office, thus far!
It will certainly be interesting to know the actual details of the loan agreement for the purchase of the new presidential jet, from that greedy French bank, which has aided and abetted our leaders' financial skulduggery since they assumed power, in a number of questionable deals - a prime example being the cynical role they played in the takeover of Ashanti Goldfields (the so-called "merger"!).
The main problem, however, is that the parliament we are currently lumbered with, and which could effectively trace the paper trail that would reveal how this regime financed this outrageous deal, which was clearly entered into without parliamentary approval (and should put those who carried it out in prison, for a very long time, some day: for recklessly causing financial loss to Ghana!), is now showing its deficiencies: and it is being exposed to be the toothless bulldog, which those who gave birth to the 4th Republic, intended it to be - so that their dictatorship could successfully metamorphose into a democratically elected civilian regime, in 1992: and enable them carry on exactly as before, with their high-handed ways!
And if the hypocrites now running our country think that they are being clever, by building a new and modern prison: so that those of them who will be tried and jailed for wilfully causing financial loss to the state, when they are turfed out of power in December 2008, will be able to serve their sentences out in comfortable conditions, they had better think again - for, they will be made to serve their sentences, in the worst of the prisons in Ghana. And they can then experience first hand, the consequences of their years of neglect, of much of our nation's public buildings!
It is clear, that the regime President Kufuor leads, is blithely mortgaging the anticipated oil revenues, of our country - for how else could the apostles of the rule of law, have had the audacity and nerve, to purchase a presidential jet, for nearly US$ 40 million, without parliamentary approval: when we have still not made it possible, for example, for all our law courts to be adequately equipped, with recording equipment and computers, to relieve our judges, of the unacceptable drudgery, of having to write down the proceedings of court cases they are hearing, in longhand (in the 21st century ICT world!)?
President Kufour, and the regime he leads, must remember the Ghanaian saying: "No condition is permanent". They must not think they can continue to find endless clever ways to shortchange Ghana, and get away with it. One fine day, the ordinary people of Ghana, will bring the Rawlings-Kufuor era to an end, by dismantling the creature spawned by the sly architects of the December 31st 1981 military coup: the discredited 4th Republic - and replace it with a new 5th Republic, which we shall create in the current conditions of freedom (one of the current hypocritical regime's few truly significant achievements!), as opposed to the days of silence and fear, that saw the birth of the 4th Republic.
President Kufour certainly has the dubious distinction, of leading the most profligate government, ever elected to power, in our country. Today, the man who began his tenure, telling Ghanaians that as a people, we would have to learn to cut our coat, according to the size of our cloth, is building a new presidential palace complex (which I predict will end up costing over US$150 million, by the time it is completed!), to leave as his main legacy. Perhaps having built himself a palatial home before becoming our leader, he knows what benefits such an obvious outward sign of "achievement" brings.
Apparently (if the bush-telegraph is to be believed!), for years, after he built his own monument of personal success at Airport West, it made it possible for him to project an image of a successful man: even though rumour has it, he had to struggle financially, after making his very public statement of having arrived in society, with the completion of his new mansion! And now to top it all, he is also going to leave another sign of his idea of 'success' as Ghana's leader: by acquiring a new presidential jet, costing the impoverished Ghanaian taxpayer, close to US$ 40 million!
Obviously, the mentality of our current leader and his profligate crowd, is that as long as they can point it out to Ghanaians that an expensive acquisition will not benefit them personally, but rather benefit their successors of the future, they can get away with dissipating as much of Ghana's projected future oil revenues they can get away with, today. But it is flawed and dangerous thinking - for, Ghanaians know who the waa waa kickback-specialists are, in the Ghana today - and they will all be made to pay for the reckless errors of judgement they are making on a daily basis, as they near the end of their tenure!
It is a pity the obtuse gang of ruthless tribal supremacists now controlling Nkrumah's Ghana, appear not to have heard of the new developments in the private jet sector - the very light jets (VLJ): most of which cost less than US$ 3 million: but can do all the things larger and infinitely more expensive business jets like the French-made Falcon, do.
Against that figure, the nearly US$40 million they have spent in acquiring the new Falcon from the French plane maker, positively looks criminal. Hmm, eye asem o, Ghana! Asem abeba debi! May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana always. Long live Ghana! Long live freedom! Kofi Thompson can be reached by email at: http://uk.f264.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk and by SMS text message on: 027 745 3109.
So you can imagine my sense of disbelief, dear reader, as I listened to him, telling me, how right he thought I had been about our current president, and the regime he leads, all along : "Awose yedi womu enyina eko prison, Kofi!"
And why was this "my-party-right-or-wrong" fanatic, and relatively well-off stooge for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), hoping that the leaders of his party, would all end up in jail? Well, he had just heard the rumour that President Kufuor had bought a "private jet", which is apparently scheduled for delivery, in 2010 - when he would be out of office.
I tried to explain to this irate NPP foot-soldier, that although it was classified as a private jet, it did not mean that it was President Kufuor's private property - and that if the rumour was true, it simply meant that Ghana had acquired a class of jet, made mainly for private business owners: and that in that sense, the rumour was not strictly accurate. For, the plane would be the property, of the Ghanaian nation-state.
The purchase of the new presidential jet, if true, illustrates perfectly, how our hypocritical ruling elites, constantly pursue their own interests: at the expense of our nation - and its hard-pressed people.
The man, who, at the onset of his tenure, refused to use the Gulfstream 11 presidential jet, acquired by the previous regime, because its purchase was shrouded in mystery (and apparent illegality), is now ending his tenure, with the acquisition of a much more expensive presidential jet: purchased without the approval of our spineless parliament. And only heaven knows what financial skulduggery has gone into the financing of its purchase - knowing the unfathomable greed that motivates our government of waa waa "super-kickback-specialists".
And to add insult to the injury done to taxpayers' pockets by this profligacy, it is apparently being funded by the same foreign bank, which was once successfully sued in the US courts, by Tsastu Tsikata, for giving the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), self-interested (and patently bad!) advice, to invest in derivatives, much to the GNPC's detriment - a case Tsatsu Tsikata won.
And if readers will recall, significantly, shortly after assuming power, the NPP halted a case Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata's GNPC had brought against that self same French bank and some of its roguish executives, in the London law courts - and hastily settled the matter out of court: ignoring the fact that the money they were going to pay out to those French rogues in any possible settlement, was a great deal more, than the legal costs, which they claimed was prohibitive: and were hence ending the case.
And today, some of those who sanctioned this rip off of our nation, are fighting each other ( spending billions in the process!), to have the chance, to become Ghana's next president - in order, presumably, to be able to supervise, personally, from the very top, the continued gang rape of mother Ghana, even more effectively (and profitably for themselves; their extended families; and their greedy favourites, amongst our anachronistic and hypocritical double-land-selling traditional rulers)! Hmmm, eye asem o!
And that, dear reader, is how over the years, our nation has been ripped off by our leaders, acting in concert with foreign carpetbaggers! If the rumour turns out to be true, Mr. Kufuor will have the dubious distinction, of being labelled the most hypocritical leader Ghana, has ever had the misfortune, of electing into office, thus far!
It will certainly be interesting to know the actual details of the loan agreement for the purchase of the new presidential jet, from that greedy French bank, which has aided and abetted our leaders' financial skulduggery since they assumed power, in a number of questionable deals - a prime example being the cynical role they played in the takeover of Ashanti Goldfields (the so-called "merger"!).
The main problem, however, is that the parliament we are currently lumbered with, and which could effectively trace the paper trail that would reveal how this regime financed this outrageous deal, which was clearly entered into without parliamentary approval (and should put those who carried it out in prison, for a very long time, some day: for recklessly causing financial loss to Ghana!), is now showing its deficiencies: and it is being exposed to be the toothless bulldog, which those who gave birth to the 4th Republic, intended it to be - so that their dictatorship could successfully metamorphose into a democratically elected civilian regime, in 1992: and enable them carry on exactly as before, with their high-handed ways!
And if the hypocrites now running our country think that they are being clever, by building a new and modern prison: so that those of them who will be tried and jailed for wilfully causing financial loss to the state, when they are turfed out of power in December 2008, will be able to serve their sentences out in comfortable conditions, they had better think again - for, they will be made to serve their sentences, in the worst of the prisons in Ghana. And they can then experience first hand, the consequences of their years of neglect, of much of our nation's public buildings!
It is clear, that the regime President Kufuor leads, is blithely mortgaging the anticipated oil revenues, of our country - for how else could the apostles of the rule of law, have had the audacity and nerve, to purchase a presidential jet, for nearly US$ 40 million, without parliamentary approval: when we have still not made it possible, for example, for all our law courts to be adequately equipped, with recording equipment and computers, to relieve our judges, of the unacceptable drudgery, of having to write down the proceedings of court cases they are hearing, in longhand (in the 21st century ICT world!)?
President Kufour, and the regime he leads, must remember the Ghanaian saying: "No condition is permanent". They must not think they can continue to find endless clever ways to shortchange Ghana, and get away with it. One fine day, the ordinary people of Ghana, will bring the Rawlings-Kufuor era to an end, by dismantling the creature spawned by the sly architects of the December 31st 1981 military coup: the discredited 4th Republic - and replace it with a new 5th Republic, which we shall create in the current conditions of freedom (one of the current hypocritical regime's few truly significant achievements!), as opposed to the days of silence and fear, that saw the birth of the 4th Republic.
President Kufour certainly has the dubious distinction, of leading the most profligate government, ever elected to power, in our country. Today, the man who began his tenure, telling Ghanaians that as a people, we would have to learn to cut our coat, according to the size of our cloth, is building a new presidential palace complex (which I predict will end up costing over US$150 million, by the time it is completed!), to leave as his main legacy. Perhaps having built himself a palatial home before becoming our leader, he knows what benefits such an obvious outward sign of "achievement" brings.
Apparently (if the bush-telegraph is to be believed!), for years, after he built his own monument of personal success at Airport West, it made it possible for him to project an image of a successful man: even though rumour has it, he had to struggle financially, after making his very public statement of having arrived in society, with the completion of his new mansion! And now to top it all, he is also going to leave another sign of his idea of 'success' as Ghana's leader: by acquiring a new presidential jet, costing the impoverished Ghanaian taxpayer, close to US$ 40 million!
Obviously, the mentality of our current leader and his profligate crowd, is that as long as they can point it out to Ghanaians that an expensive acquisition will not benefit them personally, but rather benefit their successors of the future, they can get away with dissipating as much of Ghana's projected future oil revenues they can get away with, today. But it is flawed and dangerous thinking - for, Ghanaians know who the waa waa kickback-specialists are, in the Ghana today - and they will all be made to pay for the reckless errors of judgement they are making on a daily basis, as they near the end of their tenure!
It is a pity the obtuse gang of ruthless tribal supremacists now controlling Nkrumah's Ghana, appear not to have heard of the new developments in the private jet sector - the very light jets (VLJ): most of which cost less than US$ 3 million: but can do all the things larger and infinitely more expensive business jets like the French-made Falcon, do.
Against that figure, the nearly US$40 million they have spent in acquiring the new Falcon from the French plane maker, positively looks criminal. Hmm, eye asem o, Ghana! Asem abeba debi! May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana always. Long live Ghana! Long live freedom! Kofi Thompson can be reached by email at: http://uk.f264.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=peakofithompson@yahoo.co.uk and by SMS text message on: 027 745 3109.
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