Kibi Goldfields: New Chiefs' palaces great - but empower local youth with alternative livelihood skills courses too to incentivise them to protect forests

 Kibi Goldfields has built a befitting palace for the Odikro of Akyem Juaso. Whoever succeeds the late Barimah Kofi Osei (who had been Akyem Abuakwa's longest serving Chief, when he died in harness, as Akyem Juaso's Odikro), will be the first occupant of that marvellous palace. Bravo to Kibi Goldfields. We the ordinary community members, express our gratitude to that gold mining company.

Yet another stakeholder-benefit that will redound to the benefit of local youth, in the fringe-forest cocoa farming communities of Akyem Juaso,  Akyem Saamang and Osino, would be for Kibi Goldfields to pay for community forest guards, all of whom it must sponsor to attend alternative  livelihood skills development courses (such as snail farming, mushroom farming, the  rearing of giant rabbits and  grasscutters).

By paying the Forest Research Institute (FRI), of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), for example, to provide young people in the three aforementioned fringe-forest communities, with such alternative livelihood skills courses, Kibi  Goldfields, will in effect, be empowering local youth to bootstrap their way out of the brutish-hellish-trap of extreme rural poverty.

The lack of economic opportunities for the younger generations, blights life in  most of Akyem Juaso, Akyem Saamang and Osino, and has led to  the growing incidence of criminality  (which the rampant and egregious forest-illegalities, such as bushcut chainsaw lumber production, and galamsay,  represent), today.

Above all, Kibi Goldfields must move swiftly, to begin a company-sponsored smallholder agroforestry initiative, which (aside from the planting of tree-seedlings to replace trees felled by the bushcut chainsaw lumber producers), will also  enable community industrial hemp plantations to be developed, on parts of its concession's mined-out zones, which must by law be reclaimed,  and returned, to the original owners (reason for that choice being that the industrial hemp will detoxify such mined out areas, naturally).

So, yes, the building of splendid new Chiefs' palaces by  Kibi Goldfields, is great - but empowering local youth with altenative livelihood skills courses,  to bootstrap their way out of the trap of extreme rural poverty, to better futures, is by far the best way to incentivise fringe-forest comunities to protect the remainder of Akyem Abuakwa's forested areas, for future generations.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources: Take swift action to force the Forestry Commission to halt Akyem Juaso's thriving bushcut lumber production

The time has now come for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor,  to force the Forestry Commission to take swift action to end Akyem Juaso's thriving illegal bushcut lumber production industry.


The question is: How come that for decades now, the criminal elements in what is a small fringe-forest cocoa-farming community, with only one route connecting it to the towns of Akyem Saamang and Osino, to join the Accra-Kumasi highway at Osino Junction, consistently evacuate bushcut chainsaw lumber that they produce mostly at night (allegedly mainly from the 14-square mile privately owned freehold upland evergreen rainforest property of the P. E. Thompson family), successfully, consignment after consignment, without their ever being arrested, prosecuted and jailed, thus far?


Furthermore, who are the masterminds behind it? Are they untouchable? Or are local Forestry Commission officials benefitting from this egregious gang-rape of a rainforest property that is part of an area in the Atewa Range designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA)?


Finally, even as we speak, the bushcut chainsaw lumber producers are hard at work in the P. E. Thompson estate's upland evergreen rainforest property, and apparently have consignments ready for market. Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, please act now - and force the   Forestry Commission to take immediate action to stop this brutal gang-rape of Mother Nature at a time when climate change is impacting rural Ghana so negatively. Haaba.

A quick note to Kofi Boakye-Yiadom - on why there is no place like Ghana on the surface of the planet Earth

One gathers, from bush telegraph sources, that you are contemplating moving to  Rwanda to live.  Sure, it is a well-ordered society now. Question is: What happens when its widely-acclaimed leader's alloted timespan on this plane, finally ends (as it will for all humans presently alive)?

Yes, Ghana may be frustrating in the extreme. And, the nation-wrecking  greed of the big-thieves-in-high-places (who control both our biggest political parties by bankrolling them, and are forever  robbing Mother blind, in broad daylight), might be unequalled in the annals of human history - and, yes, it  has indeed messed up our system, for the rest of Ghanaian society,  unfortunately.  

But, this is nation in which those of us who fear no one, and speak our minds freely to the powers that be (regardless of what our leaders in governments of the day,  threaten us with),  know that if we are careful enough about our personal security, at day's end, we will not be murdered, oooo, favourite nephew.  Can't say that about many nations on the continent of Africa, ooooo.

And, as it happens,  don't  you live like the king-of-hedonism, that  your substantial earnings from your innovative green entrepreneurship, have turned  you into, without a care in the world? That's pretty cool, wai,  Massa.

Furthermore, who in this country, who is an environmental activist, isn't aware of your  penchant for playing as  hard as you work: boggying, partying, chilling endlessly,  and,  cycling across Ghana, winning road race after road race - with  all the  said activities strictly reserved for the hours after imbibing the daily dose of your legendary focused-hardwork, delivering adventure park experiences, for thousands? That is impactful impirical evidence proving that saving nature can be financially rewarding (and gives mental freedom paaaaapabi, to boot, too, wai). Cool.  

Massa, there is no place, quite like Ghana,  anywhere, on the surface of the  planet Earth oooo - despite its many frustrations, wai.  Yoooooo...

How can America become an even greater nation, an unrivalled superpower and unequalled global economic-giant?

For those of us who respect and admire America's democratic system of government, from afar, Donald Trump's unsuitability, for occupying the office of President and Commander-in-Chief, of even the world's worst banana republic, let alone that of the United States of America, is so obvious.  One therfore never ceases to be amazed that so many good and decent American conservatives, actually hero-worship Trump. Incredible. 

The tragedy of it all, is that soon after Trump's second-coming, as President, finally arrives, and his fascist-dictatorship consolidates its power,  tens of million of millions of his most ardent MAGA adherents, will quickly become disillusioned - as his capricious tyranny starts repressing and terrorising ordinary people, after gobbling up Trump's most vociferous elite-enablers, who made his second bid for power a success.

It is at that terrifying juncture,  that most of Trump's acolytes  will wake up to the harsh reality that they exchanged rule by politicians committed to the good governance principle of fidelity to the Constitution, for a precarious and frightening existence, in their own home country - because they made a fatal error of judgement, in opting to freely  hero-worship a gross, capricious,  narcissist and  tyrannical fascist leader,  who thinks he is above the law.

It will be too late then, of course, for them to do anything about their situation, alas.  That is why it is vital that the born-again-Christian demographic, across America, look instead, to the genuine and sincere politicians for whom an America whose politics is bedrocked  on the constitutional principle, of separation of powers, is a patriotic duty and a moral obligation.  

They must all understand clearly, that far from being the saviour who will make America (a nation that is already the world's greatest ever power), great again, Donald Trump is rather a clear and present danger to  American democracy, who must never be allowed to return to office, again, as America's next President, and Commander-in-Chief, of it powerful armed forces,  after President Joe Biden's term ends,  at all costs.

America does not need Trump to lead it ever again - for it  is already a great nation. Full stop. In the final analysis, the United States of America is in reality, the world's  greatest nation ever. 

 

In that light, it is widely recognised by its many admirers, as a wealthy and prosperous country, which only needs to improve its system  -  in order to make it a more equitable and diverse society, able to harness the energies, gifts and talents, of a significant proportion of its total population, who currently face systemic-prejudice on account of their skin-hue: and thereby become an even greater nation, which is an unrivalled superpower, as well as an unequalled global economic-giant. Case closed. Cool.

The world ought to commend China's wise leaders for not escalating the stand off over Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit beyond bellicose rhetoric

Many around the world, heaved a sigh of relief, that the tension that preceded the Taiwan visit by House Speaker,  Nancy Pelosi (now safely out of Taiwan and headed for Japan her next stop in her  trip to the Asia Pacific region),  was not escalated beyond bellicose-rhetoric.



Clearly,  China's ever-wise and mature leaders (who have seen and obviously  learnt lessons,   from the disaster wrought by modern wars: in the example of the foolish and ill-judged invasion of Ukrainian territory, by the shortsighted and narrow minded ruthless-tyrannical-kleptocrats, who currently lead Russia), merely wanted to try it on, so to speak, and had all along decided to refrain from attacking Taiwan.

The West ought to be equally wise, and super-intelligent, about not doing anything that will result in the destabilisation of  a huge and important power, on which virtually the whole world depends on, for all kinds of products, like China. Chaos in China will be disastrous for the smooth running of global supply chains, across sundry industries, in the extreme.

In the long run,  democracy will triumph over autocracy,  for the simple reason that regardless of race, the yearning for individual freedom,  and life in free societies bedrocked on the rule of law,  not  on the whims and caprices of mentally unstable despots, of Putin's ilk, beats in the hearts of all humans (and is wired into human DNA), worldwide. In the meantime,  nothing must done by the West that will result in widespread  civil strife in a China in which law and order breaks down (perish the thought).

Whatever its sins, the Chinese Communist Party deserves the respect of the world, for lifting tens of millions out of extreme poverty,  and propelling their nation into a mighty industrial power, which acts as an engine for global growth.

Perhaps, in the final analysis, eventually, China will make Taiwan, part of new federal state,  where those in the mainland who don't like to live in a country run by communists, can go to live permanently. Above all, the whole world ought to commend China's leaders for their wisdom in opting not to escalate the stand off, with the U.S., over Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit, beyond their  bellicose rhetoric. Brilliant strategy.  Cool.

A visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi must not start a war of aggression against Taiwan by mighty China

Those privileged to lead mighty China, today (at a point in time, when it is growing increasingly prosperous and becoming ever more influential globally,) must eschew the little-mindedness, which led Putin's Russia to undertake its disastrous invasion of Ukraine, in their unhelpful and shortsighted bellicose attitude towards Taiwan.


The question is: What has a great and civilisedl nation like mighty China got to fear, about what it says is part of its sovereign territory's desire to hold on to its freedom to chart its own course? Gentle persuasion is what will eventually conquer Taiwanese separatism, not a war that could end up humiliating China's military.


China'a far smarter leaders, ought to learn from Russia's current leaders' murderous military doctrine of scorched-earth-incompetent-barbarism, which has turned Putin & Co into potential war criminals, who will all be held to account, one day, when they appear before the International Criminal Court, in the fullness of time.



The bald truth is that the Russian military has shown that it is not as fearsome as it would have Russians (and the rest if the world) believe.


Ukraine is where Russia, a great nation with a long and proud history, which ought to be a force for good, in a troubled world, will eventually be so humiliated (as sure as day follows night), that all demographics in Russian society will rise up and demand an end to what is a kleptocratic dictatorship - that has no conscience and are unequalled in the annals of the history of leadership-grand-larceny, in global politics. 

 

Surely, China's far smarter leaders don't want to suffer the same fate? China must play the long game with Taiwan. Ageing beauty Nancy Pelosi going to Taiwan, should not start a war of costly-aggression that might lead to China's military being humiliated -and suffer the same demoralising-fate Russia' military is now suffering at the hands of Ukrainian forces. A word to the wise...

Food for thought for patriotic Americans?

No nation will continue to remain great, if systemic-prejudice, makes it impossible for it to harness the gifts and talents of a significant proportion of its total population - so, strategically, racism is an existential threat to the U.S. remaining the world's premiere nation.

And, is being a born again Christian and a racist, a contradiction in terms?

Finally, is today's murderous police brutality and hostility to coloured people, across America, a throwback to the slavery-era lynching-mentality?

It is definitely an unfortunate phenomenon of egregious-backwardness, sadly currently blighting the U.S.A., the world's most powerful nation, and, paradoxically, the planet Earth's most generous society - in terms of charitable-giving, at times when natural disasters strike around the world.

An ignoramus with a befuddled-mind seeks clarification from sundry Ghanaian experts

Grateful if any Ghanaian experts could tell one, what disaster, exactly, would befall Mother Ghana, were the following security agency organisations to be merged, to form the 4th armed service in the Ghana Armed Forces, The Homeland Force, to be tasked with responsibility for ensuring internal security, are a time when Islamicist-terrorism is inching closer and closer to our beloved country:


1) The Ghana Police Service.


2) The Ghana Immigration Service.


3) The Ghana Prison Service.


4) The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service of the Ghana Revenue Authority.


5) The Ghana National Fire Service.


Furthermore, it would be interesting to know how our nation would be disadvantaged, in the era of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), if the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation was merged to form an African energy sector unicorn (with Goil petrol filling stations across the continent having shops selling Ghana made products), with the following state-owned entities:


1) The Ghana Oil Company Limited (Goil).


2) Tema Oil Refinery.


3) Ghana Gas Company Limited.


4) Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited.


Above all, grateful if any Ghanaian experts, could also tell this uneducated old fool, how Ghana partnering Guinea and Liberia, to establish an integrated aluminum industry (for the AfCFTA- era), would negatively impact our beloved homeland Ghana (especially as it would save the Atewa Forest Reserve from being destroyed by bauxite mining)?


Finally, this ignoramus wishes to thank, in advance, all the sundry Ghanaian experts, who will be patient enough to respond to this piece from a befuddled-mind. Cool.

Food for thought: To ensure food security should we not convert Ghana's agricultural sector to organic food production?

One hopes that the current global supply chain challenges, for supplies of wheat and fertilisers, caused mainly by Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Russia and Ukraine both being major fertiliser and wheat  producers), will force our nation's hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, to finally wake up - and understand, clearly, the reason why we must be self sufficient, in the production of organic agricultural inputs, to ensure year-round food security.


In light of of the ongoing global shortages of wheat and fertilisers, it is now obvious that it is in our own national-self-interest (if we are to guarantee year-round food security), that a wise and aspirational African people, like Ghanaians, must quickly begin the process of converting all farming in Ghana, to produce food organically.


To make that highly desirable goal, a reality, as soon as practicable, the Ghana Import Export Bank, ought to be encouraged by today's  government-of-the-day (which says it sees the private sector, as the engine of growth, for our national economy), to fund the construction of three state-of-the-art giga-factories, in Tema, Kumasi and Tamale, to produce Apostle Kojo Sarfo Kantanka's innovative organic growth-medium, as well as his incredibly effective organic pesticides, to help boost Ghanaian agriculture.


In so doing, we will also help boost the immune systems of all Ghanaians, who will, at long last, have access to cheap organic agricultural produce, daily - just like their ancestors ate, regularly:  before the first Europeans stepped on our shores, in the 15th Century, and began laying the foundation for their eventual occupation of our nation, as colonialists. A word to the wise...

A quick note to Issa Ouedraogo - on why defeating Moringa will be a victory for people and planet

The reason why  I didn't comment on that shared viral-video,  about the perfidy of the developed nations' industrial farming giants' lock on global agriculture, and their devastating impact on Africa,  was mainly because I did not want to depress you.  

Your innovative  agrisector  social impact business model, which encourages its value chain's smallholder  farmer-stakeholders to convert to organic farming,  is a real threat to the Cargills of our imperilled biosphere - and the iniquitous system they have created globally, is actually responsible for most of the challenges you have faced, since your work became well known, alas.

If it is any comfort to you,  in the longterm, agrisector social impact  entrepreneurs, like you, will eventually defeat the Cargills of our biosphere - because it is a way of farming that benefits both  humans and our endangered planet Earth.

That is why I am keen for you to withdraw from the forum where criminality isn't   judged, the Ghana Arbitration Centre  (GAC),  and return to the properly constituted forum that adjudicates on criminal matters, the law courts - where it is, that revelations of the Banque Edmond de Rothschild Group, and African Development Bank (AfDB) funded Moringa's unethical and criminal-tactical-maneuvering (the gathered-incontrovertible-evidence  of their serial-lying  communicated to Ghanaian officialdom,  and forgeries,  to enable them deprive you of your life's work, and legacy, B-BOVID), will enable you to defeat those perfidious washed-out French rogues, and get your social impact agribusiness  back: and score a sweet victory for people and planet. Cool.

Turn all state-funded SHS boarding schools into world-class day schools

Ghana's transformative  free SHS education initiative, is in a perilous state, at the moment, sadly.  Without a shadow of doubt,  it  will eventually become unsustainable, unless all government funded SHS boarding schools, are turned into world-class day schools - finally giving nationwide access to quality SHS level education fit for the digital era: which leverages the metaverse (amongst other digital tools), to educate students across Ghana.

The shortage of funds to provide boarding SHS students with adequate and nutritious meals, three times daily, is a  clear indication that it will be far less expensive, for government to fund day SHS schools, nationwide, instead - a creative idea whose time has finally come: and must now be embraced by Ghanaian society, generally, as a whole.

As a wise and aspirational African people, we need to end the baleful influence, on our national life,  of government funded boarding SHS school alumni associations, in order to  halt the nation-wrecking  nepotism, and high-level corruption, which that  breeds, in our democratic society.

Turning all state funded boarding SHS schools, into world-class day schools, will help speed up that desirable end. Full stop. Let the private sector provide SHS boarding achool education, for parents who can afford it,  and devote resources thereby saved, by so doing, into transforming  all government funded SHS boarding into world-class day schools, across the entire territorial landmass of Ghana. Simple. Yooooooo...

Father Joop Visser: Only a miracle will save America from a coming-certain-catastrophe: a Trumpian Hitlerite-tyranny

Father Joop Visser,

What is happening in that great nation, the United States of America,  today, is a tragedy for Christendom in particular, and humanity generally, oooo, Sage. Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii, oooo.

In the fullness of time, the true nature of Donald Trump, will  become clear - after his faction of the Republican Party, wins  the presidency, and captures both the Senate and the House of Representatives (in the coming two years).

Once his Hitlerite-tyranny consolidates its power, and begins to eat up its own champions, one by one (as and when they incur the displeasure of the whimsical new American Emperor, Donald Trump),  fear will then grip all today's vociferous born-again-Christian Trumpian-enablers - who are now busy fanning his massive ego: as they realise, to their horror, that they forsook a constitutional democracy, which protected their rights, for a perilous existence, under a monstrous tyranny. It will be too late, then, of course, Sage.

The question for all born-again American Christians to ponder over is:  How can any great nation, continue to remain great, if racial prejudice prevents it from harnessing the talents and gifts, of a significant proportion, of its total population?

Is that not akin to a top-rated heavyweight boxer, in a championship fight (for a unified world heavyweight title), stepping into the ring with one hand tied behind his or her back, anaaa, Sage? Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii,  oooo.

It is amazing how simple  commonsense has disappeared from today's born-again-Christian demographic, in America. As it happens, only a miracle, will rescue America's  gernerous-hearted citizenry,  from a coming-certain-catastrophe: a second Trump presidency. Pity.

Wanted: UBS whistleblowers aware of the over US$100 billion in the Oman Ghana Trust Fund account in Switzerland

UBS whistleblowers aware of the over US $100 billion in the UBS Oman Ghana Trust Fund account, in Switzerland, need to do the right thing, and expose UBS for trying to hide the existence of the said account - and salve their individual consciences, in so doing. Simple.

 Ghana will be happy to pay rewards of US$ 20 million, to each of the first three whistleblowers, to surface - who publicly expose all the different cohorts of UBS's top management, who, for decades, have deliberately allowed a toxic deep-fakery-narrative (that it is a hoax, and that no such account exists), to persist. Shame on all of them. 

 

The question to ponder over is: Were they not aware that they, personally, and the giant bank that they led, UBS, actually owed Ghana and its hapless citizenry, a duty of care? Haaba. Monsters. 

As it happens, a credible living witness (Mr. Charles Reindorf who is in the orbit of Ghana's current President), who read a UBS letter to then Finance Minister, Hon. Kwesi Amoako-Atta, in the 3rd Republic, admitting the existence of the Oman Ghana Trust Fund account, with UBS, can confirm this. The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, ought to take this matter up, on Ghana's behalf, asap. Today. Not tomorrow. Enough is enough. Haaba.

Let us put factionalism aside and unite to get our homeland Ghana working again for all demographics in society

There is no doubt that Sri Lanka's economic meltdown, must have concentrated minds at the heart of the presidency - and jolted President Akufo-Addo into suddely realising the unsustainability of the policies of his economic management team: which has left Ghana with a massive debt mountain, unfortunately.

Perhaps it is fear of Ghana eventually experiencing the catastrophic and tragic events now unfolding in Sri Lanka,  which has created such panic amongst our  ruling-elites  - to the extent that Ken Ofori-Atta's smoke-and-mirrors economics (of piling on debt upon debt, which - allegedly - coincidentally earns him, and his cronies, fat professional fees and juicy commission-cash), has now finally been jettisoned, in favour of the government embracing the idea of holding discussions with the International Monetary Fund  (IMF).

Hopefully,  President Akufo-Addo, who is now widely awake, politically (we hope), will send Ken Ofori-Atta, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Nana Asante Bediatuo and Yaw Osafo Marfo, abroad as ambassadors, and put in place, a new team of individuals, who have stellar track records of solid on-the-ground-achievement to their names, who will manage both the presidency, and our nation's economy, and execute policies that will enable the private sector to  create wealth that remains locally,  and generate jobs galore for our younger generations. Whatever be the case, we must put aside factionalism, and unite to get our homeland Ghana working again, for all demographics in society.

Food for thought for the IMF negotiators currently holding discussions in Ghana

Pandemic-era SME bailout-cash, advanced to business owners, in Ghana, to keep their enterprises operational, ought  to be made available to individuals and families too (digital GHC25, 000 to individuals, and digital GHc 75,000 to families), to enable them survive the cost-of-living crisis, which we are currently experiencing.

Such citizenry bailout digital monies, must be dispensed through digital bank accounts at the Bank of Ghana - opened specifically for that purpose, and meant to be spent only in our national economy's digital ecosphere (including telco mobile money platform cashout transactions): as a policy requirement.

Such post-pandemic citizenry  digital bailout money, for all those who require it, to enable them to survive today's unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, will boost tax revenues, considerablly by widening the tax net painlessly,  and also expand the digital economy's footprint, in the real world  - and, above all, would help speed the move towards a cash-lite system in Ghana.

It will also enable telco mobile money platforms to recover the vast sums owed them by dishonest mobile phone subscribers, who take offered-loans, and then move to rival telco mobile money platforms, to escape repaying such loans.

Finally, dear reader, such recovered sums will also boost the tax revenues from the telco industry in Ghana, as a direct result  of more  strengthened sector-balance-sheets. All the above ought to be food for thought, for the IMF negotiators currently  holding discussions, with our hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, in Ghana. Cool.

Should all importers and exporters open digital accounts at the Bank of Ghana - and pay taxes and levies directly into them?

When faced with an economic meltdown, such as the one we are currently experiencing, nothing should be sacred in our system - and all state revenue generating and collecting agencies that are abused by those they employ (to enable them dupe Mother Ghana, by pocketing state revenues), ought to be candidates for axing: to help end the endemic corruption slowly destroying our homeland Ghana. Simple.

Speaking as an uneducated old fogey, given the anecdotal evidence of the unfathomable greed that apparently drives so many staff members, of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), stationed at our nation's ports, harbours and border posts, the zany idea that comes readily to mind (and leads one to ponder over), is the question: As it will end the diversion of state  revenues into private pockets,  why does the state not simply ask all importers and exporters, to open digital accounts with the Bank of Ghana (BoG), into which they can then pay all due taxes and levies, directly? Enough is enough. Haaba.

Furthermore,  can any of our country's many book-long PhD economists tell this uneducated old fool, Kofi Thompson, what disaster, exactly, would befall Mother Ghana, were legislation to be passed by Parliament, making such a policy possible? Hmmm, ey3asem, oooo.

Our  homeland  Ghana will never thrive, if the diversion of state revenues at our ports,  harbours and border posts, due the nation, by public officials, isn't curtailed  -  now that we face an economic-existential-threat. Opening digital bank accounts at the Bank of Ghana, for all importers and exporters to pay due taxes, and levies, into, is a creative idea whose time has come. Simple.  Hmmm, ey3nsem, piiiiii, oooo, Ghanafuo. Eiiiii, Oman Ghana - enti y3wieye, paaaa, enei? Asem kesie, bi, ebeba debi ankasa, oooo. Yooooooo...

Why do NATO and the EU not replicate the post- Word War11 Marshall Plan across Africa?

Both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and the European Union (EU), have belatedly realised that strengthening democracies worldwide, is in their own best interests, if the relentless march of fascism and totalitarianism around the globe, is to be halted. Better late then never. Excellent. Cool.

So serious have they become about facing up to today's tyrannical regimes, that that they are apparently now prepared to abandon their parsimony towards struggling democracies in Africa, such as Ghana - and are thus willing to allocate resources towards that noble end: because they are aware that poverty is the bitterest enemy of democracy.

Luckily for all concerned, the yearning for freedom, is universal, and beats in the hearts of all humans, regardless of race. That makes the task of executing a digital-age equivalent, of the post-World War11 Marshall Plan, which the US used to help speed up Europe's reconstruction, a great deal easier.

The same zeal, and innovative thinking, by NATO and the EU, in the digital age, can help stop the relentless march of fascism and totalitarianism, around the globe, today - especially in Africa: where the influence of China and Russia is growing steadily.

The question is: Why do NATO and the EU not select Ghana - a unique African melting-pot society, made up of a wise and aspirational citizenry, from different ethnicities, who are mostly  united, by marriage and ties of consanguinity, in extended family clans nationwide, and are famous for their welcoming nature and peace-loving disposition - for a pilot economic transformation initiative that they can replicate across Africa, if successful?

Should Ghana leverage the EU's Belt-and-Road initiative to expand and modernise its infrastructure?

The European Union (EU) is countering China's growing global influence, with its own Belt and Road programme, to help democracies survive and thrive, around the world - in turbulent times. It is very good news: a splendid  idea whose time has now come - as democracies face existential threats, worldwide, from fascists and  populist-totalitarian-elements. Cool.

The question is: What stops Ghana's hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, from engaging the EU, for it to repay SinoHydro, the US $2 billions it contracted to loan Ghana - after which the EU then gives our country a longish moratorium, to start paying it back, as an interest-free 30 year loan?

Will the world come to an end, if our leaders ask the EU to do so, and, in the proces, help save Ghanaian democracy from being destroyed - were the ticking social time bomb, to finally explode: if the suffering of the masses is allowed to continue, unchecked?

Let our leaders put that idea on the table, in their discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff, who are  now in Ghana, to help extricate us from the unholy mess we are currently in, economically.

Our leaders must put their thinking-caps on, for once, and  be creative,  for a change. They ought to  leverage the EU's Belt-and-Road initiative to expand and modernise Ghana's infrastructure on generous terms. Simple.  Haaba.

Ghana's mainstream media must commit to promoting climate-resilient green growth policies

It is becoming more and more obvious that our hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, just don't think of the longterm consequences, of the destruction of the natural environment for short-term gain, by a powerful and greedy few. Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii,  ooooo, Ghanafuo.

Little wonder, then, that today,  our elites are mostly  beholden to the big-thieves-in-high-places, and Ghana's current cohort of super-ruthless regime-crony-tycoons, who now dominate our country - and all of  whom are determined to send their personal net worth to stratospheric heights: at society's expense, come hell or high water.

Never has it therefore been more critical, in our post-independence history, for the more responsible sections of Ghana's mainstream media, to support  communities nationwide, which instinctively  understand clearly that our nation's remaining natural capital,  is actually priceless  and must be protected by ordinary people  themselves.

As we witness the ecocide resulting in poisoned rivers, groundwater and soils nationwide, by the extractive industries, across vast swathes of the Ghanaian countryside, it is now becoming clear to communities across the nation that at a time when climate change is impacting Ghana negatively, natural capital, is, in reality, much, much more valuable, than all Ghana's mineral resources combined.

The stand being taken by the Chiefs, Elders and youth of the Awutu traditional area, against plans to mine lithium there, is a case in point.

That is why (if they understand their watchdog-role in our democratic society, properly, that is),  the more responsible sections of Ghana's mainstream media, ought to start giving their unflinching  support  to  Ghana's best green entrepreneurs, such as the CEO of the Legon Botanical Gardens, Eugene Kofi Boakye-Yiadom, and the founder of the agrisector social impact business, B-BOVID, Issa Ouedraogo, as well as local environmental activists, who campaign against environmental degradation, and the conservation-focused organisations they collaborate with, such as A Rocha Ghana and Eco-Conscious Citizens Group, on a regular basis.

As the anniversary of the day on which Ghana became a Republic (1st July,  1960),  approaches, the more responsible sections of the Ghanaian media, ought to commit to being at the forefront, henceforth, in the campaign to promote state  policies designed to engender  climate-resilient green growth - as the common-good and equitable-end, which  we must seek as a wise and aspirational African people: in creating wealth that remains locally, and generates fulfilling-jobs, galore, across the entire  landmass, of the sovereign territory, of the Republic of Ghana. Full stop. Case closed.

Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo: Obiara eny3 obi ewor Ghana ooooo

Like all his fellow  citizens,   Honourable Yaw Osafo Marfo, is also entitled to his views, in our democracy - which is a free and liberal society bedrocked on tolerance amongst a mostly peace-loving people, for whom living in harmony with neighbours, actually matters.  

 

Unlike the vast majority of Ghanaians,  however,  Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo  is a powerful individual, whose voice carries a great deal of weight, in the regime currently in power, in what is a multi-ethnic African society, in which virtually all extended family clans are made of individuals from different ethnicities,  who are united by ties of marriage, and consanguinity, in a country founded on the Nkrumahist-principle that no tribe is superior or inferior to another in modern Africa.

The question we ought to ponder over is: Should politicians holding antediluvian views on the issue of ethnicity, be allowed to remain in government, when their repugnant tribal-supremacist views, come to light, anaaa?

Speaking personally,  I have Akyem blood coursing through my veins. The females in my family, are eligible to be nominated to be Queen Mothers of Akyem Osiem, and I am proud of my Akyem roots.

However,  the idea that somehow Akyems are special, and that the descendants of Okyenhene Nana Ofori-Atta 1, and Dr. J. B. Danquah, are superior beings, is ridiculous - and it is crucial that those in that demographic, who are arrogant for that laughable and absurd reason, put their abhorrent superiority-complexes, in deep-freeze-storage, pronto, ooooo. Yoooooooo...

For their information, the past is a different country that's not worth visiting, koraaaa.  Ancient glories count for nought in today's digitised world. The Yaw Osafo Marfos in our midst must belt up - and keep their ridiculous tribal views to themselves. Full stop. Obiara eny3 obi ewor Ghana, ooooo. Yoooooooo...

A quick note to Nana Afua Frema Busia - on why despite its many challenges Ghana is still a fantastic place

Ohemaa Paaapabi Nana Afua Frema Busia, I can see why for the most part, because of our nation's many challenges, it's well nigh impossible for the average person to see what is so fantastic, about our homeland  Ghana.

The question we ought to ponder over is: Is there civil war raging across Ghana, as we speak?  Certainly not. And that's  the wonder of our nation, oooo, wai, Ohemaa Paaapabi Nana Afua Frema Busia. Cool.

Fact is, this is an aspirational African  society, kept afloat by  a pragmatic, hardworking  and honest middle-class demographic (made up of good people like you, Ohemaa Paaapabi), full of dignity, which eschews do-nothing-cynicism,  and rather focuses on getting things done, regardless, instead, as successful private sector players, making the most of what unquestionably is a very, very frustrating environment.

Ohemaa Paaapabi Nana Afua Frema Busia,  it is that wise and pragmatic  middle-class demographic's  live-and-let-live philosophy of life,  which has managed to keep Ghana relatively stable and peaceful, thus far - despite its many challenges: particularly the nation-wrecking grand-larceny enabling our country's powerful big-thieves-in-high-places, to send their net worth to stratospheric heights: when their political parties take turns to rule Ghana.

Ohemaa, the fantastic bit about Mother Ghana, can be observed in the said wise and honest middle-class demographic's (that is  keeping Ghana on an even keel),  celebration of life's traditional rites of passage, their love of serious-chilling, their enduring friendships and their charitable-giving meant  to empower those who aren't as privileged as they are lucky to be,  to bootstrap their way out of the brutish-hellish-trap of extreme poverty.

Finally, speaking personally, all the above  (plus the blessing that virtually all extended family clans, across the territorial landmass of the Republic of Ghana, happen to be metaphorical-melting-pots, consisting of different ethnicities, united by marriage, and ties of consanguinity, coexisting peacefully), result, in my humble view, in making the splendid African  destination called Ghana, such a fantastic place.  Simple. Cool.

Ensuring food security in Ghana

Food security has become a global issue, as a result of the war in Ukraine, a leading producer of wheat. That is why as a wise and aspirational African people, we must now highlight the efforts of the most successful and innovative  farmers, in our homeland Ghana - and none comes close to what  B-BOVID Farms Limited's founder, Issa Ouedraogo, has achieved in less than twenty years.

Issa, an orphan who went abroad to study in Germany, then worked overseas and saved enough (US $800,000) to enable him return home to  invest in his dream:  establishing an agrisector  social impact  business, with a value-chain of empowered oil palm smallholder  farmer-stakeholders, as a way of giving back to society, for his good fortune in escaping from the poverty-trap.

As it happens, today, the world has finally embraced the idea of business impacting both society and the natural environment, positively, by bedrocking  the ethos that guides its operations on good governance principles that result in a C-Suit  management-culture focused on diversity and environmental stewardship in all the communities they serve worldwide.

That is why the Issa Ouedraogos in our midst, ought to be embraced - for, their innovative  agrisector social impact business model, empowers its value-chain's smallholder farmer-stakeholders to bootstrap their way out of the brutish-hellish-trap of extreme poverty, successfully, generates jobs galore across rural Ghana, and also helps to green our country, because tree-planting is an integral part of their operations.

Replicated nationwide,  agrisector social impact businesses will enable Ghana to ensure food security, and increase its natural capital as agroforestry projects. Our ruling-elites really ought to focus on incentivising our national economy's private sector's most innovative agripreneurs, with tax breaks and seek their views on how to create wealth that remains locally, and generate meaningful jobs for rural Ghana's younger generations, while ensuring food security for Mother Ghana, above all.

A quick note to the U.S. SEC's Climate and ESG Enforcement Task Force

The U.S SEC has jurisdiction over the Banque Edmond de Rothschild Group. If that is so, then surely,  the clear-cut evidence showing that Moringa, Banque Edmond de Rothschild Group's African fund manager's unethical company culture in Ghana (the gathered-incontrovertible-evidence, which includes  egregious law-breaking, communicating serial-falsehoods to Ghanaian officialdom  and fraudulent alteration of official documents deployed to enable it hijack B-BOVID from its brilliant founder, Issa Ouedraogo), is proof positive that,  actually, Moringa does not qualify to be lawfully classified as agroforestry social impact  investors, in B-BOVID's country of domicile, Ghana, and must therfore be investigated by the SEC'S Climate and ESG Enforcement Task Force, as a  matter of some urgency?

The question is: If Moringa (which owed Issa Ouedraogo a duty-of-care, from day one, when they first contacted him by email), falsely claimed to be agroforestry social impact investors, initially, should that deliberate-mislabelling, by definition, not  attract the attention of investigators from the SEC's Climate and ESG Enforcement Task Force?

Moringa stands condemned by the catalogue of their abominable buccaneering-activities in Ghana (including deceiving Issa Ouedraogo  that they were social impact investors - a ruthless-ruse that enabled them to get away with devaluing Issa's original investment - and avoiding a proper evaluation of B-BOVID's value/worth).

Furthermore, if Ghana is an African investment destination in which they have not provided even one tree seedling, to any of B-BOVID's value-chain's smallholder farmer-stakeholders,  to diversify their income streams, is that  failing not at variance with the African Development Bank's (AfDB) core-reason for its provision of funds to Moringa,  and giving it stewardship of earmarked  agroforestry funds for Africa, I ask?

In light of all the above, surely, while an investigation by the U.S. SEC'S Climate and ESG Enforcement Task Force, is pending, should the Ghana Arbitration Centre  (GAC) case between Moringa and Issa Ouedraogo,  not now be suspended?

Finally, amongst issues that might be resolved from such an SEC investigation, would be whether or not the bulk of the money Moringa has put into B-BOVID, thus far, came from the  Agroforestry Technical Assistance Facility - and whether or not such philanthropic funds can be morally parleyed into an acquisition of majority shares in B-BOVID, lawfully. Case closed.

Why nothing can justify a military coup in Ghana

Nothing, not even the egregious grand-larcerny now being revealed in the wills of some of our dearly departed big-thieves-in-high-places, can justify a military coup in Ghana. Do we not have the right to vote out ruling political parties that disappoint us, every four years, I ask? 

 

Has the government of President Akufo-Addo not got two more years to redeem itself? Haaba. Those discerning and patriotic Ghanaians,  who are now sick and tired of the intolerable-greed that drives some of those who dominate our nation, must be more creative in the fight against corruption. Full stop.

Why do they, for example, not collaborate with online platforms, with a global reach, such as The Intercept, to expose the high-level corruption holding back the transformation of our homeland Ghana - since our ruling-elites fear nothing more than international opprobrium?

Furthermore, why do they not promise to incentivise whistleblowing, by guaranteeing indemnity from prosecution, for all whistleblowers, and, add a 25 percent reward, for whistleblowing, which leads to the recovery of stolen public funds - and campaign to win power, to deploy those selfsame ideas to end high-level corruption in this beautiful and peaceful African nation, lucky to have an aspirational citizenry, committed to peaceful coexistence between neighbours?

 
If those who are now lining up to participate in the ongoing brutal gang-rape of Mother Ghana don't change their evil ways, one boldly predicts that we will eventually begin to see Robin-Hood-terrorism in Ghana, in which the worst big-thieves-in-high-places are regularly assassinated, in reprisals, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yoooooo. 

 

Amongst its many victims, will be judges percieved to be aiding and abetting the project to create a tyranny-of-the-majority, senior public servants amassing inexplicable-wealth, and many, many government ministers, and their private-sector regime-crony-business-cohorts. 

 

Finally, in light of all the above, for the sake of Mother Ghana,  let us all boldly speak out against the bad-faith-maneuvering, now being used to create a tyranny-of-the-majority, which frequently passes egregious rail-roaded-legislation, to legalise self-serving-illegalities, such as the Agyapa  gold royalties SPAC. Military coups only create new jackbooted-tyrants accountable to no one - who will end up being even more corrupt than today's big-thieves-in-high-places, as sure as day follows night, and, worst of all, won't hesitate to kill dissenters, to silence them permanently. Yoooooooo. Ghanafuo: A word to the wise...

Saving Ghanaian democracy from destruction

 A democracy that has morphed into a friends-and-family-kleptocracy, in which the judiciary are seen by the vast majority of ordinary people, as being beholden to the government of the appointing authority, and, to add insult to injury, happens to be dominated by super-ruthless big-thieves-in-high-places, is, by definition, an unjust and inequitable society, which sits on a social time bomb, of epic proportions, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yoooooo...


A society like that, is simply beyond redemption, and must undergo revolutionary change, if a ruinious and destructive civil war isn't to break out, in it. To prevent that, perhaps we must look to aspects of our pre-colonial traditional culture's governance structures, in fashioning a new system bedrocked on good governance and social-equity.


That will enable us to finally replace the 4th Republic, with what will be an elected Monarchy, led by a Ghana Omanpanin, who will be elected by a people, in whom sovereignty is reposed, and are declared-royals, elegible to vote in all national and district elections, and, eligible themselves, to stand as candidates, and be voted for, in elections.


The Ghana Omanpanin will appoint a Prime Minister, to form a government, whose members will not be legislators (from Parliament). And, furthermore, all Chief Executives of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), will be elected for five-year terms, with no term-limits.


Finally, in the interim, the current government would be wise to rally Parliament, to pass a new law, which makes it mandatory for all senior public officials, and government appointees, to publicly publish their assets (as well as that of their wives/husbands/longterm partners), immediately before the beginning of their tenures, and immediately after their tenures end. If that were done we just might be able to save Ghanaian democracy from destruction.

Food for thought for common-good app developers who care about empowering the less privileged in Ghanaian society

Ghana's community of common-good. app developers, could make a huge impact, by helping marginalised Ghanaians to bootstrap their way out of the brutish-hellish-trap of extreme poverty. Three examples of needs that if addressed by  common-good app developers, could immediately help alleviate poverty, nationwide, come readily to mind:


1) An app that makes available information about what is available, free of charge, for the financially-challenged, who use public healthcare facilities nationwide, is sorely needed - as at the moment it appears that poor people have to pay for virtually everything, in our NHIS.


2) An app that helps micro-entreprenuers, such as market women, to do ecommerce, to enable them earn more, would be marvellous.

I know a hardworking Liberian lady, for example, who sells fruits and vegetables, in Gomia Buduburam's Camp Liberia refugee settlement area, in Ghana's Central Region, who wants to sell bitter cola online, whose lifelife would be transformed, immediate, if she went online.  If a partnership between Ghana Post and common-good app developers was established for that purpose , that would be excellent.


Finally, Ghanaian agriculture would see a dramatic transformation, if an app that enables the boundaries of smallholder farms to be mapped, digitally, for very little cash, by participating surveyors, globally could be created. It would make a real difference for rural Africa in an era of extreme weather - and  is consequently a must for Ghana, and the rest of Africa.

From my own personal experience, I do know what a difference having mapped farms in rural Ghana, can have for our national economy's smallholder farming sector. In light of all the above, there is no question that common-good app developers, who care passionately, about empowering the less privileged, in Ghanaian society, could make a real difference to wealth creation in Ghana. No question. Cool.

A quick note to Issa Ouedraogo - on Moringa's stewardship of AfDB agroforestry funds

Massa, if you want the global green social impact investment community, to become aware of Moringa's skullduggery, in Ghana, hold a virtual Twitter Space-presser that focuses on presenting to the world, documentary proof (the gathered-incontrovertible-evidence of communicated serial-falsehoods to Ghanaian officialdom), showing that far from being a genuine social impact investor, it is rather a morally bankrupt, greed-filled and corruption-riddled company, with a vile management culture.


The question that needs pondering over is: Why, if Moringa were genuine agroforestry  social impact investors,  with an ethical ethos, would they be focusing on hijacking B-BOVID, willy-nilly, in broad daylight, to grab its oil palm mill - yet, to date, after four  long years in Ghana as agroforestry investors, have, even as we speak, not provided a single tree seedling, to any of B-BOVID's value-chain's smallholder oil palm outgrower farmer-stakeholders, to enable them diversify their income streams, and enjoy higher living standards? Incredible.  

I am outraged by the Emperor-with-no-clothes-syndrome, pure nonsense on stilts  that Moringa's  exploitation of  Ghana's criminal  justice system, represents. In no other jurisdiction would this nonsense be entertained.

Massa, do you think that if you took EU agroforestry funds, in France, and after four years you still had not provided a single tree seedling,  and went to court to try to use falsification of official documents to change the ownership of a mill, ditto provided false information  to obtain a work permit, as well as use deep-fakery  to unlawfully  secure a bank mandate,  and then proceeded to empty the mill's bank account, you would remain a  free man, to litigate the said mill's ownership, using expensive-to-acquire lawyers, paid small  fortunes,  in hourly professional fee charges?


My advice to you is to use Twitter Space-pressers to expose all the above to the world - so that the global social impact investor community are aware of the egregious ruinous-actions and weaponised-falsehoods, which  Moringa is ruthlessly  deploying in Ghana, in its disgraceful attempt to steal B-BOVID, and its mill, from you, the visionary founder, who executed a  project to transform the lives of value-chain  smallholder outgrower farmer-stakeholders in Ghana's Western Region, to perfection. Cool.


Massa, genuine social impact investors have moral compasses, and operate with company cultures bedrocked on ethics. The question to ponder over is: Why have Moringa done the opposite of all that in their shabby attempt to take your life's work away from you?


Massa,  under no circumstances should  greenwashing-carpetbaggers like that, be given stewardship of earmarked African Development Bank (AfDB) agroforestry funds, wai. Full stop. Enough is enough. Case closed.  Haaba.

A Quick Note To Issa Ouedraogo - Copied To Banque Edmond de Rothschild Group, the AfDB President and the Western Regional Police Command

Yewura Issa, genuine social impact investors are law abiding in all jurisdictions, they operate in, today, oooo, Massa.


So the Ghana Police Service, our nation's principal law enforcement agency, have a legal obligation not to allow Moringa's forceful takeover of the factory, under cover of darkness, using thugs, to persist. This is a nation of laws. Full stop. Haaba.


After alI, would most ordinary citizens not be locked up, in a police station cell, awaiting processing for court the next day - if they tried a caper like that: just to enable them cynically tell a judge hearing a matter they had taken to court that they were in possession of the factory whose disputed ownership the honorable court was hearing (and had recommended recievership for, to protect it, before judgement in the case was passed), in a blatant and outrageous attempt to influence the honorable court's decision?


The Western Regional Police Command is duty bound to order personnel of the Ghana Police Service to take over the task of securing the factory - and ensure that no one has access to the factory: until a court appointed reciever takes over and takes inventory of what's there.


The era of when in Rome do as the Romans do, is over in the corporate world, globally, oooo. Ask the Ericsson executives who are being held personally responsible for the reputational-damaging Ericsson corrupt management culture's actions and inactions in Iraq. Genuine social impact investors are law abiding in all jurisdictions they invest in, today, oooo, Massa - regardless of how corrupt some of those jurisdictions are. Moringa's executives in Ghana, obviously aren't aware of that, the greedy sods. Enough is enough. Haaba.

Nothing can justify mobs attacking police stations in our homeland Ghana

One's thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered in the dreadful  tragedy that occurred at Nkoranza, in the Bono East Region on Tuesday 17th May, 2022 - both civilians and police. However, the point needs to be made that  Ghanaians, a wise and aspiratiinal African people, are a civilised people, and that nothing can justify mobs attacking police stations in our country.  Full stop.

The question we must ponder over is: When, koraaa, will our hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, get it, that we need to merge the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prison Service,  the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the CEPS of GRA, into a new Homeland Force, that then becomes the fourth armed service, of the Ghana Armed Forces  (GAF), if we are to ensure that those tasked to ensure internal security in our nation, are properly resourced - particularly at a time when terrorism is on the ascendancy in West Africa, and such horrible examples of mob violence,  in which police stations are attacked,  by lawless elements, is increasing in frequency?  Haaba.

The  time has now come for the deployment of AI citywide surveillance technology  to protect government installations such as police stations, and the barracks of all our security agencies, as well as all public spaces where large numbers congregate. We must not allow a break down in law and order, under any circumstances, anywhere, in the territorial landmass of the Republic of Ghana, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yoooooo. Enough is enough. Nothing can justify mobs attacking police stations in our country. It is simply intolerable.

Ghanafuo, we can dig ourselves out of the deep hole that our hard-of-hearing, debt-accumulating promise-and-fail ruling-elites, have gotten us into, by championing the cause of Ghana's private sector's most innovative entrepreneurs - the businesses of all of whom ought to be given long tax holidays, and extended super-low-interest longterm loans, to expand their companies. Today, not tomorrow, oooo. Yoooooo...

Ghanafuo, our nation's fledgling green economy, ought to be seen for what it actually represents: the transformative-pillar of our country's future - for it is the creativity, nous and gumption, of the brightest and best Ghanaian green entrepreneurs, such as the CEO of the Legon Botanical Gardens, Eugene Kofi Boakye-Yiadom, and the brilliant founder and CEO, of B-BOVID Farms, Issa Ouedraogo, who, in the post-pandemic era, can create wealth that remains locally, and generate the jobs galore, needed for our younger generations.

If we are to make any headway, as wise and aspirational Africans, members of our nation's political class, ought to take the opinions of the private sector's foremost green entrepreneurs, into account, at all material times - because it is their flair for wealth-creation and generating jobs, which can help us dig Mother Ghana, out of the slippery-walled muddy-hole, which our country's too-clever-by-half politicians, have finally landed us, in, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yooooooo...

Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Must End The Impunity Of Akyem Juaso 's Criminal Syndicates

It is an open secret in Akyem Juaso, a fringe-forest cocoa farming community, in Ghana's Eastern Region, that some members of the P. E. Thompson family, its biggest landowners, are actively collaborating with the criminal syndicates engaged in the production of bushcut chainsaw lumber, and galamsayers, in parts of our freehold 14-square mile upland evergreen rainforest property, off the arboreal slopes bordering the Atewa Forest Reserve (and in the 99.6 acres land we own inside the Atewa Forest Reserve, known in Forestry Commission jargon, as an admitted farm).



The question is: When will the dynamic Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Abu Jinapor, finally act to end the impunity fueling the egregious ecocidal-crimes, of the aforementioned. P. E. Thompson family members, Ghanafuo?  Hmmmm,  ey3nsem, piiiiii, oooo...



At a time when global climate change is impacting rural Ghana so negatively,  is it not vital that the impunity enjoyed by the ruthless and murderous criminal syndicates benefitting from illegal logging and galamsay, even as we speak, at Akyem Juaso, ends, and that those greedy rogues are arrested, prosecuted and jailed - to deter other such criminals across the territorial landmass of Ghana: especially at a time when those responsible for the safety of our Republic, ought to be making food security, a top national security strategic-priority, anaaaa, Ghanafuo? Enough is enough, oooo. The time has now come for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to act to end such egregious-impunity. Now. Not tomorrow. Yoooooo...

Ghanaian politicians: Creating wealth and jobs isn't rocket science. It is simple-commonsensical-stuff

Why do Ghanaian politicians persist with the egregious dissembling-nonsense  that somehow, governments-of-the-day, can create jobs that are fulfilling for those lucky enough to find such government created jobs in Ghana? Are Nabco jobs fulfilling, anaaa, I ask? Do the young people who do those protocol-type-jobs get paid regularly, anaaa? Haaba.

With the greatest respect, it is only Ghana's private sector that can create wealth that remains locally, and decent fulfilling jobs, for those willing to work productively - because smart entrepreneurs across the nation incentivise them, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yoooooo...

One's humble advice to members of our nation's hard-of-hearing political class, is to make the whole of Ghana's agricultural sector, not just the cocoa industry,  tax free - and demand that all farming in Ghana converts to organic farming within the next 5 years.

They will be astonished by how such a policy will result in a dramatic improvement in crop yields nationwide; and be amazed by the jobs galore it will generate - and boost the immune systems of Ghanaians, and make us a healthy people once again: like our forebears were before Africans came into contact with Western civilisation.  

Ditto be incredulous that such a policy results in exponential growth in the processing of agricultural produce; and also be pleasantly surprised to  see how adding value to agricultural produce, through processing, contributes positively to Ghana's trade balance - and actually  strengthens the hapless new Ghana cedi (a more or less worthless currency that sundry dog-collar-charlatans have prayed to God Almighty to strengthen, and stabilise, for yonks - but to no avail, alas:  because God hates stupidity in leaders), a feat which over the years, has eluded policymakers of virtually  all regimes, since the founding of the 4th Republic. Creating wealth and jobs, really isn't rocket science, koraaa, oooo, Ghanafuo. It is simple-commonsensical-stuff, wai. Cool.

A Quick Note To Those Advocating For A Miiitary Coup In Ghana

A military coup in Ghana will set our country back decades, and make us the slaves of soldiers accountable to no one. Life in a Ghana ruled by soldiers, would be akin to living in hell-on-earth conditions. No question. With the greatest respect, what dim-wit  wants such a life, I ask, Ghanafuo?


In that light, instead of advocating for a military coup, why not campaign openly, instead, during the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections,  with a manifesto calling for a new 5th Republic, with a Constitution, which ensures democracy, by mandating the election of heads of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies,  amongst other common-good provisions?



Ditto campaign for a new 5th Republic with a Constitution that bans all forms of media censorship, makes it mandatory for all elected public officials to publicly publish their assets before assuming office, and immediately after leaving office;  makes tax evasion a crime punishable by  mandatory life sentences with hard labour, and  no possibility whatsoever,   of parole, and gives prosecutorial powers to the Auditor General? That will be a great deal more preferable an existence, than living under the jackboots of ruthless soldiers accountable to no one, ooooo, Ghanafuo. Cool.

A Quick Note To Father Joop Visser - On The Benefits Of The Win-Win Social Impact Business Model In Emerging Nations

Father Joop Visser, even in low-wage emerging nations, in which labour laws are weak, and workers mostly aren't unionised, truly honest and wise social impact investors, specifically choose that particulsr business model, because its value-chain empowers local stakeholders to bootstrap their way to financial independence, while their quality of life is enhanced, by the improvement in the health of the natural environment.


That ensures the long-term sustainably of their projects, gives consumers worldwide the satisfaction of knowing that the company's products are authentically green and good for both people and the planet Earth. It's a proven formula for success. Cool.


Above all, the win--win ethos underpinning their project, keeps the business profitable, in the long run, ensuring an eventual exit for the original investors, whicn takes the business forward into the future, with new social impact investors, who come in with fresh ideas to take the business to the next level, so to speak.


Finally, if you want proof of its desirability, and suitability, for Mother Ghana, just ask the value-chain oil palm smallholder farmer-stakeholders of the pre-Moringa B-BOVID, founded and  built by the brilliant Issa Ouedraogo, as well as the incredibly hardworking indigenous Ga Dangbes, of the Songho Lagoon - who over the centuries have won salt there, as a cultural and spiritual activity - whether or not that is the type of win-win social impact investor they dream of daily. Simple, really, Sage. Cool.

 

Diversity and inclusion are good for Mother Africa - so let's embrace them

The yearning for freedom is innate in all humans, regardless of race, gender and class. Amongst Africa's younger generations, today,  it is creating melting-pot-energy, empowering thriving private-sector start-ups, of the continent's most innovative green entrepreneurs.


Above all, it will also fuel an unstoppable movement for social diversity, and inclusion,  in hidebound societies across sub-Saharan Africa - unleashing  a wave of boundless-energy  bedrocking creativity and innovation  that will power the continent to achieve its destiny as a global power, and force for good, in the world, in the process.


Incidentally, we are witnessing the first stirrings of it in Ghana, as victimised  women become bolder, in outing powerful men who engage in sexual misconduct, on social media platforms. It will eventually  bring down many  such men, and end that evil-menace. No question.


As it happens, that selfsame boldness-of-spirit, is driving the many successful ecommerce start-ups led by female entrepreneurs, booming across our homeland Ghana.   Watch this space. Diversity and inclusion are blessings for Mother Africa, so let's embrace them.

Yabr3 Ghana Mpaninfuo Asuodinfuo

The insousiance of our hard-of-hearing ruling-elites, especially the big-thieves-in-high-places ripping Mother Ghana off, so carelessly, in the face of ever increasing hardship being experienced by so many in Ghana, is beyond belief. 

 

Take the stupidity of not realising that social media, whatever its ills, offers a safety-valve for a thoroughly fed-up population, to vent their anger, virtually  -  instead of launching violent attacks on the percieved-oppressors they feel are responsible for the unbearable cost of living crisis ruining countless families across Ghana, today.

In that light, can someone please tell Ghana's current Attorney General that it is those selfsame social media platforms (which he clearly seeks ways and means to shut down, within Ghana, if possible), that ordinary people will leverage, someday, to fight tomorrow's dictatorships? Haaba. 

 

(Talk about an acute case of  the not-seeing-beyond-flat-nose-syndrome that afflicts so many arrogant African politicians.  Hmmm,  ey3asem piiiiii, oooo...)

It is shortsighted, in the extreme, for our hard-of-hearing  ruling-elites, to continue to think that democracy in Ghana,  cannot ever be overthrown, even if political parties governing our country, mess up big time,  at any given  point in time, and turn the lives of the masses of the Ghanaian populace upside down, making them suffer unbearable hardship,  while a lucky few quaff champagne, copiously, regularly, amidst acute potable  water shortages nationwide, oooo. 

 

The symbolism in that should not be lost on  discerning-folk who love Mother Ghana passionately, oooo, Ghanafuo. Yabr3 y3n mpaninfuo asuodinfuo,  oooo.  Yoooooo...

Ghana's ruling-elites must now put their thinking-caps on

Humble suggestion to Ghana's ruling-elites, who have lost their way, and have now been hoisted on their own collective-petard, because of their infernal arrogance: Please put your thinking-caps on, now, and stop the endless skirt-chasing. Ditto end Ghana's dominant kleptocrats' egregious hold on  Ghanaian society, and on our national economy. Now. Yooooooo...

Our leaders ought to ignore the hypocritical-strictures of the West about Huawei being a security threat (aren't its Western competitors in bed with the intelligence agencies of the West, too, I ask?), and approach that brilliant tech superpower, with an idea it has never thought of: becoming a global power in the telco business, starting with a win-win joint-venture partnership with the government of Ghana.

 

Will it not eventually lead to the transformation of AirtelTigo, into the dominant player in the Ghanaian market, offering a world-class service for the benefit of a much-abused industry subscriber-base, now lumbered with steadily deteriorating networks, resulting from the industry's focus on spending zillions attracting yet more subscribers, instead of improving the quality of their sodden networks?

The question we ought to ponder over as an aspirational African people is: Could the nation's share of the profits from such a win-win joint-venture partnership, with Huawei, not fund profitable and innovative tech start-ups, set up by the brightest and best younger generation Ghanaian entrepreneurs, in exchange for stakes in them - that the government could eventually sell on the Ghana Stock Exchange' (GSE), for handsome profits, anaaaa? And, if helps Huawei to become a global mobile money behemoth, too, would our nation not get some of the worldwide profits accruing to Huawei, too, anaaa? Haaba.

For what it's worth, this is a simple idea, paaaaapabi, from an uneducated old fool (considered a public-enemy because he criticises our hard-of-hearing ruling-elites frequently), for free to Mother Ghana, whom he loves passionately, oooo, Ghanafuo. Our ruling-elites need to put their thinking caps on, ooo. Now. Not tomorrow. Yooooooo...

Why Moringa Must Not Be Allowed To Hijack B-BOVID

"If we don't handle our independence very well, colonisers will come back in the form of investors"

    - Simon Kapwepwe (1922-1980)
 

A pivotal bell-weather investment dispute case, will be heard at the Ghana Arbitration Centre (GAC), in the not too distant future. The brilliant and farsighted founder of B-BOVID, Issa Oueodrago, is battling Moringa, which is claiming to own B-BOVID. The most responsible sections of Ghana's mainstream media ought to take a keen interest in the outcome of that particular arbitration case.

At a time when global climate change is impacting the continent so negatively, nations across Africa could empower sundry demographics that are key players in their rural economies, to bootstrap their way out of the poverty-trap, successfully, through the utilisation,  by the private sector, of Agroforestry funding earmarked for Africa, as a COP26-benefit.

 
Ghana is particularly well-placed to use such funds to empower its rural economy, because of the current government's policies developed to boost the agricultural sector, to enable its best green entrepreneurs create wealth, generate jobs and help increase Ghana's GDP, that way.


A major impediment to the successful transformation of our homeland Ghana, is the unfortunate tendency of so many of our people, to bend over backwards, to help outsiders from Europe, the Americas and Asia, at the expense of local Ghanaian entrepreneurs, who are in competition with such foreigners.


That colonial-slave-mentality,  will most definitely not help us benefit from earmarked COP26 agroforestry funds, now being eyed by canny Western investors, looking to hoover-up such funds - some of whom are even prepared to resort to commercial-skullduggery to achieve the dark-ends they seek in Africa.



A classic example, is Moringa's shabby attempt to hijack the brilliant and farsighted Issa Oueodrago's B-BOVID (using amoral and unethical local end-justifies-the-means lackeys, prepared to resort to illegalities, and law-breaking, to achieve that evil-end for their paymasters), by exploiting that unfortunate colonial-slave-menality, which makes so many Ghanaians bend over backwards, to assist even the most dishonest whites (to the detriment of their fellow Africans battling such rogue foreign investors or competing with them).



In light of all the above, and, based on available gathered-incontrovertible-evidence, investors with such a vile robber-baron management culture (prepared to bankrupt B-BOVID, by imposing a European employee with a debilitating monthly compensation package amounting to €25,000, who is so corrupt he transfers funds from B-BOVID'S bank account into his personal account), regularly deploying such Mafiosi operational-tactics, are, by definition, anything but social impact investors, who must not be allowed to successfully hijack B-BOVID. Full stop. Case closed. Yoooooooo...

Why the residents of Bogoso-Appiatse must take their destiny into their own hands

In any serious country, in which a truck laden with explosives, had been involved in an accident that wiped out a whole rural community, destroying about 500 houses, an architectural design competition, offering the winner GHc3 million, to design a new model climate-resilient village, made up of 500 homesteads, each surrounded by fruit forest garden compounds, and built using plastic building  blocks, with a network of plastic paving block community roads,  with both sides lined with fruit trees, would have been announced by now.
 
Furthermore, one wonders whether or not the hapless residents of Bogoso-Appiatse, have had any post traumatic stress disorder counselling, yet. Hmmm , eyeasem, ooooo...

Above all, one's humble advice to the residents of Bogoso-Appiatse, is that they ought to take their collective-destiny into their own hands, and contact the public interest the leading Ghanaian legal NGO, Centre for Public Interest Law  (CEPIL), and ask them to collaborate with the U.S. public interest law firm that won compensation for the Ogoni people of Nigeria, in the U.S. law courts, from oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, and sue for appropriately large compensation, from the mining company, whose criminal negligence, has resulted  in the catastrophe, which has turned their lives upside down in such apocalyptic fashion.

Ghana's Supreme Court ought to have been guided by the conventions surrounding the Deputy Speakers of the UK Parliament's House of Commons, not those of the House of Lords

It would definitely have served the longterm interests of Mother Ghana, best, had Ghana's Supreme Court been guided (in its latest ruling on Deputy Speakers' voting rights), not by the conventions surrounding the Deputy Speakers of the House of Lords, of the British Parliament, who can vote on issues, but by the conventions that ensure that like the Speaker of the House of Commons, the UK Parliament's Deputy Speakers, remain politically neutral at all material times, and don't vote on issues before the House. 

To quote an old fogey I know: "Kofi, this Supreme Court has mastered the art and science of giving judgements that give ordinary folk the unfortunate impression that they serve the the people now in power, not the Ghanaian nation-state." Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiii, ooooo...

My response: Now that darkies in the UK can suddenly be deprived of their citizenship, without any recourse to the law, simply because serving Home Secretaries demand that, on behalf of friendly criticism-averse foreign kleptocrats, whom their ruling parties are in bed with, as fellow travellers,  I will not bother myself any longer, responding to such issues, when they crop up.

Suddenly jumping on a plane to fly back to the UK has lost its attraction for cantankerous Grandpa Kofi Thompson. So, let the judges of Ghana's Supreme Court, do their worst. The sods. After all, none of them will be there forever, ooooo, will they, Massa? Yabr3 wormu nyinaaa, aafe. Eeiiii, Oman Ghana - enti y3wieye paaaa enei? Asem kesie, bi, ebeba debi ankasa, oooo. Yooooooo. Cool.

Kevin Taylor: A military coup in Ghana will only worsen matters

Yewura Kevin Taylor, nothing can justify a coup in Ghana, wai - because no matter what  those in power today, do, Ghanaians will still vote the New Patriotic Party  (NPP) out of power in December 2024. Who will hold soldiers with unfettered power to account? Haaba.

Simple question: Which institution in Ghana is free from 'protocol-admissions', I ask? Massa, easy, wai. Some crimes have no statute of limitations protection,  koraaa, wai. Cool.

What we need is consensus that Ghana must become a meritocracy - and, like India, take active steps to get rid of the Chieftaincy institution (the mother-serpant of corruption), to rid Ghana of inherited privilege: which is the greatest enemy of meritocracy. Simple.

It is instructive that India,which set out after independence, to rid itself of the baleful influence of its incredibly powerful Maharajahs,  is a global power today - while resource-rich Ghana, enthralled to Chiefs, because they apparently embody our traditions, has now ended up as  a mismanaged financial basket case: deliberately mismanaged through an orgy-of-borrowing that a powerful few profited mightily  from (in commissions and professional fees). Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii, oooo, Ghanafuo. A military coup will not resolve any of our hydra-headed challenges. It will only worsen matters.

Ghana's ruling-elites must clean up their act fast

Ghana's ruling-elites need to clean up their act fast, to save Ghanaian democracy from being destroyed. One's  prayer, is that God Almighty intervemes in our nation's affairs swiftly, to make that happen.  A nation whose leadership face constant accusations (admittedly mostly unproven) of routinely harassing females, and, incredibly, even face bush-telegraph-sourced accusations  of the serial rape of women, too,  has become a decadent society, in need of change.  

 

(The rumours of egregious-victimisation swirling around Hon. Adwoa Sarfo, encapsulates this nation-wrecking amoral-phenomenon, perfectly, sadly.) 

If one adds the many rumours of sudden unexplained wealth acquired by Ghana's big-thieves-in-high-places, to the toxicity of the mix of serial-philandering and misogyny, and caps it with the destruction of the national economy, by greed for cash, from earned fat-commissions and juicy professional  fees, being made from the orgy of borrowing,  then only God Almighty can save our democracy from entering the realms of the possibility of enforced-regime-change (God forbid!), ooooo, Ghanafuo.

 

That is why it is vital that those amongst our  ruling-elites, who are still principled, and have kept their integrity intact, begin to stand up to their colleagues who engage in  constant-skirt-chasing, ditto compete with each other, in the egregious-pillaging-race to send their personal net worth to stratospheric heights, at society's expense. In light of all the above, Ghana's ruling-elites must clean up their act, fast, if Ghanaian democracy is to survive, ooooo. Yoooooooo....

 

 

 

 

Eeiiiii Abinom Ekaasa Ooooo

Old cynic to me: "Kofi, just how many private jets fly in and out of Ghana, in a typical year? Secondly, are you aware that the international airport in Ghana's capital city, Accra, is recognised,  rightly, as a world-class airport, security wise? Is it not egregious that  nepotistic-elements within the regime now in power, are prepared to risk that world-class status of Accra's international airport  being reclassified,  and downgraded - so as to accommodate a regime-bankroller's slapdash third-rate private jet terminal?"

My response: Yewura,  bush-telegraph sources  allege that the sacking of the asimasi in charge of the outfit overseeing standards etc., etc., in airports across Sikakrom, is yet another example of unelected-arrogant-sods in the Anansekrom presidency, usurping the powers of the Sikakrom Omanpanin, to get rid of a patriotic public servant, who won't kow-tow to the big-thieves-in-high-places, who now dominate Sikakrom. Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii, oooo, Ghanafuo. 

Yet still, perhaps glass-half-full types will opine cheerily that Sikakrom's high-and-mighty, do need a staging-post to enable them send gold, diamonds, foreign currencies and slay-queen-consorts, out of Ogyakrom, in a hurry, whenever the need arises - ditto bring in weapons and munitions by stealth, as and when needed, wai. Eiiiiii, ebinom 3kaasa, oooo. Ebeiiiii. Hmmm...