Friday, February 26, 2010

Bloggers gossips!

I usually spend my Thursday evening either reading obituaries published in the on-line version of the Economist magazine or simply courting troubles with friends at obscure places. Obscure places? Sure, but not what you might be thinking.
However on Thursday 25th February, 2010 I got an invitation from a Swedish friend of mine, Kajsa, who is a lecturer at Ashesi University to sit in a meeting of bloggers. Bloggers? Yeah bloggers.

I must say blogging is something alien to most people in this country. I’ve got friends who might be tempted to unleash a hefty slap on my solid cheeks if I’m to turn up in any of our old school’s meetings informing them I’ve taken up blogging as a full time job. Blogging for a living, what crap is that? It’s strange but that is the reality on the ground. Blogging is something alien to our system.

However, the trend appears to be changing. There are lot more young folks who are coming to appreciate the essence of blogging, even if nobody reads what they write. They just write and post anything at all that comes to mind: It could be John Mills expunging that stupid medallion Former President J. A. Kufour awarded to himself. I’m still not clear the heck that motivated him to go the 50 Cent style.

A bit of presidential foolishness, I guess. Thank God Mills has scrapped that crap off the national honours list. He could do us all a favour by asking Kufour to bring that stuff back. And what the heck was Mills talking about in parliament during his address.

That yeah he is going slowly but surely? That is absolutely rubbish. People are hungry and you are telling them slowly but surely? 2012 is just around the corner and unless he wants to be a term president, which I want to believe he doesn’t, he should sit there and pamper himself.

Things are not properly working right on the economic right, though inflation is said to have dropped. But who is going to eat inflation figures?
What the hell does inflation figure mean to the guy handing out newspapers at a public toilet? Or the commercial Trotro driver who is always on the road even during those odd hours when myself and others queued up to be carted home.

Back to my issue. Kajsa sent me an email and later met with the group. It was at Smoothy’s one of the eateries thrusting its name in the minds of the so-called upper and middle classes in Ghana.

The place is normally cold due to small giant air conditions stashed at the corners. However on the said Thursday, a blackout in some parts of Accra which affected Osu(and are we not getting tired of this erratic power supply in this country) rendered the air-cons useless. We just sat behind joint tables in the smouldering heat talking about ourselves, blogs and the topic ‘Citizen Journalism.’

One of the bloggers called Kofi,a brilliant photographer(hope I got your name right) set the tone. He told us about how they are training some inexperienced but determined guys to undertake some photojournalism job. His remarks set the stage for a debate. I really enjoyed the discussion. There were fertilised ideas from almost everyone and people made their point forcefully. It was Donald who brought up the issue of the chap who lost a finger at work and yet told by the supervisor to return to work. How inhumane could that be.

During the discussion, somebody raised the issue of the legal wranglings involved in our attempts to write.I have no knowledge in law, though I have always said I might end up someday as a lawyer, but I tend to have problems with the long arms of the law being used to cajole all of us into playing it safe.

Fuck the law! Fuck the law? Yeah fuck the law! That’s how most of us respond anytime the law is used to kind of, again, cajole all of us into dancing to a hiop-hop tune when it's that of reggae. It’s a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of the law. Your life will be be miserable.

Go ask editor of the Enquirer Raymond Archer. A court in Accra recently asked him to apologise and stop publishing materials in an on-going trial involving former foreign minister Akwasi Osei Agyei who stupidly forgot his diplomatic duties and rather chose to import rice. Sorry if I have erred on the side of the law by mentioning that.

I see the meeting as an opportunity to share ideas and discuss issues of national importance. I’ll be looking forward to learning from almost everyone. Just being a bit demonic but the issue of gender balance was clear. I’m not sure if it does matter to the women!

.

I must say blogging is something alien to most people in this country. I’ve got friends who might be tempted to unleash a hefty slap on my solid cheeks if I’m to turn up in any of our old school’s meetings informing them I’ve taken up blogging as a full time job. Blogging for a living, what crap is that? It’s strange but that is the reality on the ground. Blogging is something alien to our system.

However, the trend appears to be changing. There are lot more young folks who are coming to appreciate the essence of blogging, even if nobody reads what they write. They just write and post anything at all that comes to mind: It could be John Mills expunging that stupid medallion awarded Former President J. A. Kufour awarded to himself. I’m still not clear the heck that motivated him to go the 50 Cent style.

A bit of presidential foolishness, I guess. Thank God Mills has scrapped that crap off the national honours list. He could do us all a favour by asking Kufour to bring that stuff back. But what the heck was Mills talking about in parliament during his address.

That yeah he is going slowly but surely? That is absolutely rubbish. People are hungry and you are telling them slowly but surely? 2012 is just around the corner and unless he wants to be a term president, which I want to believe he doesn’t, he should sit there and pamper himself. Things are not properly working right on the economic right, though inflation is said to have dropped. But who is going to eat inflation figures?

What the hell does inflation figure mean to the guy handing out newspapers at a public toilet? Or the commercial Trotro driver who is always on the road even during those odd hours when myself and others queued up to be carted home. Back to my issue. Kajsa sent me an email and later met with the group. It was at Smoothy’s one of the eateries thrusting its name in the minds of the so-called upper and middle classes in Ghana.

The place is normally cold due to small giant air conditions stashed at the corners. However on the said Thursday, a blackout in some parts of Accra which affected Osu(and are we not getting tired of this erratic power supply in this country) rendered the air-cons useless. We just sat behind joint tables in the smouldering heat talking about ourselves, blogs and the topic ‘Citizen Journalism.’

One of the bloggers a photographer called Kofi(hope I got your name right) set the tone. He told us about how they are training some inexperienced but determined guys to undertake some photojournalism job. His remarks set the stage for a debate. I really enjoyed the discussion. There were fertilised ideas from almost everyone and people made their point forcefully. It was Donald who brought up the issue of the chap who lost a finger at work and yet told by the supervisor to return to work. How inhumane could that be.

In the course of the discussion the issue of legality came in. I have no knowledge in law, though I have always said I might end up someday as a lawyer, but I tend to have problems with the long arms of the law being used to cajole all of us into playing it safe.

Fuck the law! Fuck the law? Yeah fuck the law! That’s how most of us respond anytime the law is used in such discussion but try and be caught on the wrong side of it. It’s a dangerous thing to fall into hands of the law. Life will be miserable.

Go ask editor of the Enquirer Raymond Archer. A court in Accra recently asked him to apologise and stop publishing materials in an on-going trial involving former foreign minister Akwasi Osei Agyei who stupidly forgot his diplomatic duties and rather chose to import rice. Sorry if I have erred on the side of the law by mentioning that.

I see the meeting as an opportunity to share ideas and discuss issues of national importance. I’ll be looking forward to learning from almost everyone. Just being a bit demonic but the issue of gender balance was clear. I’m not sure if it does matter to the women!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Communique on Niger crisis

WACSOF DECLARATION ON THE
UNFOLDING SITUATION IN NIGER

We, representatives of civil society organisations in West Africa, after learning of the military coup d’Etat carried-out on the 18th of February, 2010 in Niger;
Already Preoccupied by the autocratic drift initiated and sustained by President Tandja Mamadou through the unconstitutional referendum of August 4, 2009 and the ultimate dissolution of some of the most democratic institution in Africa as was observed in the Abuja Declaration, during the symposium organised by WACSOF with the support of OSIWA on Democratic Transitions from July 31-August 1, 2009;
Concerned that coups d’Etat of any kind whatsoever, constitute a flagrant violation of democracy and human rights;
Further concerned that such an undertaking is a serious breach of the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of ECOWAS, signed and ratified by Niger;
Determined to oppose any resort to force to accede to and remain in power;
Convinced that only democracy and popular consultations are the paths for saving our states;
Further convinced of the interdependence of member states, an interdependence which is reposed in ECOWAS for the realisation of our aspirations as contained in its Vision 2020;
• Denounce the military coup that was orchestrated in Niger as a means of resolving the political crisis;
• Holds Mr. Tandja Mamadou solely responsible for the impasse that created an opportunity for the use of arms as the only way to resolve the ongoing political crisis until February 18, 2010;
• Deplore the casualties that occurred during these events;
• Reaffirm our commitment to democracy and the republic and to the respect of the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, 2001;
• Take note of the speech by the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) in its Communiqué No. 001, of February 18, 2010, concerning the restoration of democracy, while at the same time maintaining our view that the role of the junta is to create the conditions for the return to democratic processes and not to address issues of poverty and corruption;
• Launch a vibrant appeal to the democratic forces of Niger and to ECOWAS Member States for a transitional process within the shortest time possible, with the sole agenda of organising free and transparent elections to ensure the stability of the institutions of the Republic of Niger, self-reconciliation and its reinstatement within ECOWAS; and
• Welcome the positions taken in this regard by ECOWAS, the AU and the international community.

WACSOF recommends as Follows:

To Civil Society and Media of West Africa
Continue to support and work towards the achievement of genuine democracy in Niger, while maintaining their role as watchdogs in the ECOWAS region, especially in an era where the stakes of power are major obstacles to normal democratic processes.

To ECOWAS,
Take all the necessary steps and measures to get the CSRD to withdraw from politics in Niger through general consultations as well as free and transparent elections within the shortest time frame;
Maintain an uncompromising attitude and vigilance for the respect of the founding texts of the Community, and
Encourage a spirit of unity and solidarity of member states wherever the signs of authoritarian excesses are detected;

To the African Union
In line with the Constitutive Acts that recommend the suspension of any power that is not achieved through democratic and constitutional means, ensure rapid return to normal constitutional order in Niger;

Implement and enforce the provisions of the last Summit held in Addis Ababa on unconstitutional changes.

To the International Community, Technical and Financial Partners
Encourage and accelerate the restoration of democracy that has been confiscated since August 4, 2009, in Niger.


Done in Abuja, this 19th Day of February, 2010

For WACSOF


Prof Oumar Ndongo,
General Secretary,
WACSOF

IMF's John Lipsky's rantings

John Lipsky, the first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), received severe criticisms from civil society groups in Ghana following his argument during a visit to Ghana that subsidies are not always good. According to him, it must not be encouraged because it mostly goes to benefit only the rich.

His statement was not taken kindly at all- especially when Ghana’s economic woes have, partly, been blamed on the IMF and its sister, the World Bank. When he met Parliamentarians later however, Mr. Lipsky defended the Fund’s past actions saying; “loans are tailored closely to member-country’s needs, so that we can disburse low-cost funds quickly when a country has a temporary, urgent needs, or we can set up arrangements for disbursement over several years when this is appropriate.”

The IMF deputy MD said the Fund’s approach to how individual countries manage public borrowing today has given countries flexible options especially with “strong macroeconomic and public debt performance and with well developed debt management institutions.”

He mentioned that Ghana has benefited from such a policy, adding that one of the Fund’s operations on the African continent last year was the $600 million package spread over a period of three years for Ghana. Cameroon and Tanzania are the other beneficiaries.

“The conditions on our financial arrangements have also been made more flexible.”
According to Mr. Lipsky, the Fund’s goal is to focus its conditionality on reforms that would yield economic success “while ensuring that countries have the opportunity to follow policy approaches that are appropriate for their circumstances.”

“We want to work with our members to explore a variety of options for economic reforms that will generate real progress.”

He said the IMF is also encouraged by the many African countries, including Ghana, who have been able to survive the economic meltdown and are now doing better than most countries in the world.

“In considerable part, this is because of the earlier strengthening of monetary and budget polices, as well as structural reform in many countries.”

He said,” African central banks started the crisis with stronger international reserve positions than in the past, providing a cushion against balance of payments shocks.”

Again, he said the Fund also played a crucial role in this regard by offering debt relief because, according to him, it freed up resources that could be used to improve the business environment, invest in infrastructure, and support the poor.

“But with a legacy from the global recession of sluggish growth and higher poverty, it will be critical for African countries to raise their growth performance further, to help accelerate job creation and boost incomes.”

However, Mr Lipsky said an improved business climate and macroeconomic management will equally be essential in this regard.

Touching on the Ghana’s relationship with the IMF, he said the country turned to the Fund because of the public debt snowballing and the depreciation of the cedi, as well as high inflation. He said the three year programme centred on fiscal adjustments and on reforms to budget management to prepare Ghana for “the transition to oil producer status.”

“Not everything is rosy, of course. The deficit is still far too high, and public debt is still rising. Large-scale government borrowing is keeping interest rates high, which means more out-of-pocket costs for repayment.”

Friday, February 19, 2010

We gave contract out of sympathy – Mpiani

Former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani has told Citi FM that an energy contract signed between the former Government and the Former Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Craig Murray was done as a humanitarian favour to help Mr Murray deal with his financial constraints.

Mr Mpiani says Mr Murray came lamenting to former President John Kufuor about his financial difficulties and virtually groveled for a contract to save him from bankruptcy in his home country, Britain.

Mr Mpiani confessed that an energy contract was thus signed between the Government of Ghana and Mr Murray’s company, Atholl, as a favour.

“He came to see President Kufuor about difficulties he was facing; he had been sacked by his government and his newly wedded wife was pregnant at that time and if he doesn’t get anything doing he would be declared bankrupt in his country so he came to see the president for support…this was the time we were looking critically at the energy sector in this country and he came in and said he could supply these turbines or generators and we talked to the ministry of energy on his behalf to see if they could help.” He said.

Mr Murray, in a recent article on his website, chronicled a number of corruption allegations in a number of contracts signed between Ghana and energy companies such as Balkan and Zakhem.

In that same article, Mr Murray admits he is the Chairman of several companies, including Atholl Energy. He said Atholl had a contract with the NPP government which has been honoured by the NDC government, because the company carried out its work “diligently and honestly.”

Mr Mpiani however discredits Mr Murray’s apparent selflessness in the manner he appears to be pushing the anti-corruption crusade against Balkan and Zakhem.

“When I met Craig and he was talking about people, about countries, about his own government and I realized that this is somebody who thinks that everybody else is wrong except him…he was behaving like a person who was so much concerned about Ghana and therefore went round to see what was going wrong to enable him report on that but that was not so."

Credit: Citi Fm.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Pentecostal declaration: Come to church ‘All Ye’ in Jeans and dreadlocks,

You are no more going to be banished from the church for leaving your hair uncovered, so please come to church, senior officials of the Church of Pentecost have said, as the church seeks to increase its membership drive.

In a surprise communiqué issued by the church on Tuesday and signed by the Chairman of the church Apostle said women wearing dreadlocks are also allowed to come and fellowship with the church.

The communiqué which was issued after the end of the church’s annual prayer meeting in Accra, admitted the compulsory wearing of headscarves has no foundation in the bible and, it was time women break free from the tradition.

The church has been very vocal about members wearing scarves before entering the church to worship, and most members who had objected to the practice have been openly sacked from the church, labelling them ‘unholy’ elements who are not pure to come to the thrown of God.

The church has also frowned on members especially the women marrying from outside. However, the latest twist has come at a time when most churches in the country have become very lenient with their members about their mode of dressing, though they stress that decency should not be lost on any of them.

Among other things, the communiqué said; “ the issue of head covering, which has been the source of embarrassment to female visitors to the Church over the years, has no categorical biblical foundation as a requirement for salvation and should, as such, not be imposed on church members or visitors to the Church’s worship services.”

The church said having examined the book of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, which spoke extensively on hte issue, it has become clear that the import of the message has been lost on the church.

“That, a critical examination of the historical records, such as circulars of successive Chairmen of the Church from 1953 to 2007 revealed that the forefathers of the Church, particularly the Founder,
Rev. James McKeown did not discourage or encourage the covering of the head by women; but that he had rather admonished the Church through a circular letter of August 7, 1967, that the leaders should not meddle in the private affairs of church members by prescribing dress codes for them. He had taught that church members dress decently and modestly.”

The communiqué also said the practice of women covering their heads before entering the church was something that emanated from the kingship settings in Africa.

“The practice of head covering might have crept into the Church’s practices from the fact that it was traditionally required of women in Ghana to cover their head before speaking to their kings and this might have led foundational women of the Church to insist on appearing before the Lord, the King of kings, with their head covered;

the communiqué said the

The church said studies conducted over the socio-cultural situation in the country, indicate that though Ghanaian women were traditionally expected to cover their hair at a certain age, the practice has long been done away with.

The church also said some churches in the country equally have similar challenges and the best way of addressing the issue is to allow people to dress the way they want, but should be decent.

“The entire membership of the Church consider the issue of the covering of head by women in the spirit of Christian maturity so as not to offend anybody with regard to this controversial matter, which appears to have defied theological and hermeneutical agreement.”

“ Female visitors who attend church services without a head covering should be accepted as they are, without being either turned back or offered a head covering, since head covering does not subtract from a person’s salvation,” the communiqué read.

Again, the church also reminded strong adherents of the church who might find it difficult to come to terms with the new directive not to condemn those who come to worship at the church as lacking spirituality. However, it advised such women to respect the ethics of decency and be modest in their dressing so as to please God.

“That, church members appreciate the progressive changes in the socio-cultural environment in which the gospel is preached in order to make the gospel relevant to its hearers.”

The church, through the communiqué, also cautioned against the wearing of “seductive or sexually-provocative dress” to the church.

The communiqué concluded by calling on all members of the church to “accommodate one another in love, unity and for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:23-33), and joins Apostle Paul in stating: “Give no offence, either to the Jews, or to the Greeks or to the church of God (1 Cor. 10:32).”

Monday, February 15, 2010

Kwaku Sakyi-Addo unveiled.

An award-winning Ghanaian journalist can say in all modesty that he has seen it all and more so he is the monarch of all that he has surveyed, and no one can begrudge him.

This fact is incontestable especially when he has been twice awarded the journalist of the year aside many other coveted prizes in his chosen field
Currently he hosts front page on JOY FM and Kwaku one on One on TV3, and has put him in a good stead to interview some of the most prominent news makers from different disciplines. And the beauty of it all is the fact that he keeps re-inventing himself, and this is so important especially when you live in the country like Ghana where people are fetish about the shelf-life of TV and radio personalities.

There is a Ghanaian proverb which states literally that; “if you know how to wash your hands, you eat with elders,” the moral of this saying is not lost on Kwaku at all. He has mastered his craft very well, metamorphosing into a strong brand, to the extent that his equity keeps appreciating anytime he sits behind the JOY FM console or the TV3 lights are beamed on him.

His insightful, intelligent, and straight-to-the-point line of questioning endears him to his endless list of admirers. His nice and boyish looks, could easily deceive one to think that he must be in his 40s, and his solid command over the English language, are some of the qualities that have earned him a place of among his many admirers. And these are qualities that even his bitterest critics as well as his enemies will attest to.

When I pointed out to Kwaku Sakyi-Addo that he’s spoken to some of the prominent people in the world from different background in a head to head interview, he said to me: ‘I have not spoken to Barack Obama.’ That is true but I’ll not be surprised if the next time I hear he’s had the opportunity to interview the US President.
Some of the personalities he’s interviewed include current United Nations boss Ban Ki Moon and his two predecessors: Boutros-Boutros Ghali and Kofi Annan. He has also interviewed not only the current Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf but her predecessor, Charles Taylor-currently answering charges of war crimes at the Hague, Holland.

“Charles Taylor is an interesting subject; he makes good news in quote from a journalistic point of view, the kind of guy who will give you a story anytime. He creates the news,” he said about Mr. Taylor
Then a correspondent for the BBC Focus on Africa programme, Kwaku said his last encounter with the former Liberian president was here in Accra during the summit of African leaders.

Mr. Taylor had been indicted by the UN war crimes. He risked being arrested so he left the summit to get back to Liberia in good time. Before leaving, Kwaku said he waited for him to get an interview on what he thinks about the indictment for his arrest.

He thrust the microphone to Mr. Taylor’ face but “he wouldn’t talk and ‘Focus’ had started and I described what was happening to him.”
Kwaku said he sat in one of the convoys in tow of Taylor’s and described what was happening. Incidentally, Mr. Taylor who was listening to the programme became enraged at Kwaku’s behaviour.
“So when we arrived at the airport, I got out of the car and he also got out of the car and he then came face to face to me wagging his finger saying to me, ‘Kwaku, that was very unprofessional.”

His bodyguards nearly ruffled him when he subsequently attempted taking pictures of Mr Taylor entering the aircraft. It took the intervention of former Vice President Aliu Mahama then close to the scene to prevent any further scuffle.
“I got my job done and it was interesting encounter, and that was the last time I’d spoken to him,” he said though he’s spoken to Taylor’s ex-wife Jewel and lawyer Courtney Griffiths.

He has written for The Economist, Newsweek, the Washington Post, the British Guardian, Telegraph and the Mail. He has also reported for CNN.
He worked for the BBC for a period of thirteen years and in between worked for Reuters News Agency for eight years, leaving the two jobs three years ago.

Kwaku said his first interview for the BBC was with fashion designer Oswald Boateng. Oswald was on his way to Ghana with a number of journalists from the UK to do a fashion show. The interview did not turn out as well as he wanted it to go.

“I think we might have talked for four hours and I was recording everything... and I couldn’t edit it....so I completely lost the plot and nothing good came out of the interview. I was clearly told why it could not be used. The sound quality was bad. But I learnt from that experience.”

Kwaku’s journalism career started more than two decades ago.
“I have been in journalism for 25 years since 1984. Initially for about eight years for Ghana News Agency and subsequently acting editor for the Ghanaian chronicle for about a year.”

It was at the Ghanaian Chronicle that his column the “Animal Farm” won the Columnist of the Year prize in 1994. The idea for the column started during his time at the United States, where he had gone to study at the World Press Institute at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Kwaku’s host at the institute was the American actor Harry Morgan who incidentally hosted Kofi Annan, during his time at the institute. During a Republican Party’s Convention Kwaku said Mr. Morgan had encouraged him to speak to Condoleezza Rice, then an adviser to George Bush, Snr- because she was somebody to look out for in the future.

Mr. Morgan also hosted Kofi Annan during his stay at the institute.
Upon his return to Ghana, he changed the name ‘the American Postcard’ to ‘Back to Kokokmlemle’ where he was living at the time. He later settled on “Animal Farm” as a platform to addressing the many injustices in the system at the time.
The twenty-five years as a journalist has taken him around almost everywhere in the globe, where he had shared the same platforms with the likes of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Funnily enough, Kwaku said he wanted to become either a lawyer or diplomat but poor A-Level results helped bury that dream.
“I stumbled upon journalism because I write poetry and at the time I didn’t do well in my A levels, I was distrusted, so when I wasn’t able to go to University and appear to have an interest and some skill in writing, I was advised to try journalism,” he said.

His love for current affairs even at a very tender age was good enough to shape up his writing skills.

“I remember when I was 12, 13, 14 I was reading Newsweek from cover to cover, my father subscribed to Newsweek. So I have always been interested in national affairs, in international issues about Africa so that combined with my writing skill, I was advised to try journalism. “

He said he felt like “fish in water” when he entered journalism school in 1981.
Kwaku said he had never been attacked in his journalism career though an encounter with the then notorious Salifu Amankwah’s guards in 1985 still hangers at the back of his mind.

“There was a boxing match at the holy gardens. And there were people standing on top of the bridge watching the match. And Salifu Amankwah’s guards were ruffling them up, driving them away from the bridge and I intervened. I told them but you can’t stop people from standing on the bridge.”

“These guys attacked me, beat me, ripped my necklace handed to me by my grandma to my mother to me. I was cooked up in the place with two others. We managed to escape because we had to. The thought that the next morning we would be made to crawl on the streets or go and sweep a gutter was too much, so we managed to escape.”
Kwaku said he later met Salifu Amankwah who had just been released from prison and they patched things up.

“I asked him if he knows me and he said of course, and I said ‘how you remember me. He said you were the man who got attacked by my boys, you lost your necklace in the process.”

Kwaku’s life is not all about interrogating guests on his radio or television shows.
“I go to the gym, I lift weight, I have been in body building for almost 17 years,” He is also into Tae Kwondo and holds a senior belt. He said he’ll be taking his examination this month for the Red Belt and later Black Belt.

“I listen to music. I love African music and reggae and Jazz more Malian, Senegalese, southern African, I don’t do r and b, it doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t do for me, it’s noise, they all sound the same.”
Though he appreciates the creativity in hiplife, he doesn’t think it fits into his life as a 51 year old.

Kwaku is married to Georgette Barnes and, they have three children; Akua Ofeibea, Ohene Kofi and Nine months old Abena Oforiwa Baawa.
He is the second of six siblings. He comes from Akropong in the Eastern Region. His father turns 86 next month.

He was educated at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, School of Communications Studies, and University of Ghana, Legon, University of Wales in Cardiff, the International Institute for Journalism in Berlin, Germany.
He has just completed an MBA in ‘Leadership and Governance’ from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration-GIMPA.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Jerry John Rawlings, does the grayhair mean anything to him?

Telling Jerry Rawlings to shut will sharply contradict my belief in free speech. He has the right to speak his mind, as the constitution of this country, which he supervised to come to being in April 28, 1992 after a referendum. Despite all the reservations people had at the time, Ghanaians still voted for the constitution and ensured the hands of military dictatorship are over the country’s pie.

It has been a decade since he left office but he’s given his opponents the reason to believe he’s suffering from withdrawal syndrome. Soon after leaving office in 2001, he gave the new NPP government hell, calling them very serious names. He lambasted to the extent that he called the then sitting President Kufour Ataa Ayi-a notorious criminal now suffering life sentence in Nsawam prison.

He did not limit his insult of the then president to Ghana alone but abroad. Every single opportunity provided him with the opportunity to hit him with barrages of insults. It was an unfortunate spectacle, to say the least. The government responded by stripping him off his privileges. It was a foolish decision for them to have done that.

That is a position I still hold on to. In the run-up to the Second Round of the 2008 elections, I went to interview Mr. Rawlings-together with journalists from the New York Times and AIT, from Nigeria. I was doing some work with a reporter from the French channel, 24. The interview took place at his residence. It was my first time of coming face to face with him in such a manner, though I have attended press conferences at his residence in the past.

It was a real privilege and after more than three hours, he requested we came back again. He is a nice man. He’s got warm personality, jovial and lover of nature. We took some nice pictures with him and I still have mine, though I have not framed mine yet. I hope to do so anytime soon. I admire him for his frankness but as an elder stateman and having served 19 years as head of state, I think the time for him to observe from afar is now.
Since his government came to power, he has never failed to insult the sitting president. How on earth does a former president of his calibre describe members of the current administration as ‘bastards?’ I didn’t believe it the first time I read that report. I thought it was the usual tabloids who are scheming things up. I was however shocked to realise he’s indeed made the statement. So what at all does Rawlings want from Ghanaians?

That seems to be the question people including his own party members are now asking. It is a shame that a former president of his calibre will be using every opportunity to insult the very president Ghanaians had elected into office. If he thinks he doesn’t like the president, he should wait for four years. If that happens he can then go and vote against him.

This senseless attitude of always wanting everybody to believe he is the single most important thing in life is foolish. Mr. Rawlings should remember that he had the highest periods in terms of reign in Ghana and, the only thing he can do for those of us in Ghana is to keep his mouth shut. I listened to his recent comments and I said to myself ‘this man is chipping’ the respect people have for him. It is important for those always screaming his name to let him know that he’s no larger than life.

He is not a messiah and that should be told to him. His time as president did not change the fortunes of Ghana to anything good. His children are well educated; can the same be said about the many people whom he promised to bring the needed change? He has always been going about this thing of ‘accountability, integrity’ etc and yet he is not. Mr. Rawlings should remember that Ghanaians voted for Mills and not him.

He can’t be president again. If he knows anybody at the civil service who is an NPP person and working against the interest of the state, he should point those people to us. What kind of foolishness is this? Is Rawlings the only sensible person in this country who has the solutions to every single problem? Was he not the same man accusing people of having more than a toilet? How many does his household have?

He should come and tell Ghanaians and stop this sick mentality. This primitive mentality of arresting or chasing out political opponents as practised by former president Kufour and his cohorts. Ghana is not a primitive state Mr. Rawlings must get that into his head. He’s greying and its important those around him tell him something good.

He has greyed but that hasn’t come with enough wisdom.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Time with Swede’s Emilie Persson.

Somewhere last year, I got a message from a Swedish leader. The message was sent via my Facebook page. Her name was Emilie Persson. She is from the Swedish town of Visby. She had read an article I had written and published in a Swedish newspaper, Omarvalden.

The article was on the importation of cheap poultry products from the European Union and how that has suffocated the local industry. It was published ahead of a European fair. She told me she was coming to Ghana and would like to get in touch. I wrote back to her-informing her what I do for a living.

Ms. Persson said she was coming to Ghana to undertake research work which forms part of her education. That was the last time I heard from her. I logged into my page one early morning and I saw a comment from Ms. Persson. It was there I realised she’s in town. She had made a comment on my status and I quickly replied to her. She subsequently began commenting on my status and from time to time she’ll write something.

I remember one status I posted which did not go down well with her. I had jokingly written that commercial sex workers had reduced their rates as part of the yuletide. I had to quickly clarify the statement. She took that in her stead and we moved on from there. She is feminist, according to her own statement on her page. I saw her again on Facebook this past Wednesday afternoon (3rd February).

The chat this time was lengthy. She was coming to Accra partly to enjoy some ‘fika’ or coffee and then head off to Tema, the port city, to attend a friend’s birthday party. We planned to meet at Osu because I’m there most of the Fridays. But which direction to give her...that was my headache. She had no idea where Asanka Local or Pierre Cardin (clothing shop) was-so any direction that will help her locate me will be out of place. Asanka Local-an eatery- could do the trick.

Later in the afternoon I received a text message from her. The bus had delayed and will be arriving after 4pm for a ‘short chat.’ Upon getting at Ring Road central in Accra, she sent me another text asking if we could meet at Smoothys, another joint at Osu popular for its drinks. I wrote back to her for us to meet inside my office. Thankfully she came.

She was dressed in batik-tie and dye top with trouser. The under appear to be hanging somewhat-I may be wrong on this, though. She wore a very warm but broad smile. We later went upstairs to the newsroom where the rest of my colleagues were. She handed me some potato (that was really a surprised, Emilie).

I had told her to get me some potatoes-though I meant for it to be a joke. But she was generous to hand me the plastic bag with the potatoes. We sat down to talk about almost everything that came to mind. We talked about my time at the University of Cape Coast, the township, journalism and how I got to know the Omarvalden chaps.

I don’t recall how long we spent chatting but it was more than 20 minutes. We talked about politicians and corruption. I told openly that our leaders are nothing but idiots. Then there was a bit about the IMF and the World Bank and how their crazy policies have destroyed our economies.

There was also a bit about privatisation and I told her my piece of mind. They have all been bogus, I said. ‘Not even one has worked? She asked. Yes, not even one, I replied.

I cited the privatisation of water to make my case. She agreed. My colleagues started giving me some fake fans for whatever reason. It continued for sometime until our conversation ended. She comes across as a very smart and open minded woman with some cultural vibes She loves hiphop and r&b.

Before we departed we snapped our fingers for the camera. She is in a relationship with a Ghanaian chap somewhere in the central region.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A certain Baby Ansabah.

I have heard so many things this week. Some relate to journalists, others relate to Ghana’s participation in the just ended Angola 2010 and an MP irresponsible musings. As some of you may have read, a chap called ‘Baby Ansaba, a newspaper editor of a certain ‘Punch’ has been making some revealing confessions. He is reported to have confessed most of the stories he wrote against the current president, then a candidate, were fabricated.

He admitted his conscience has not allowed him to be free especially when the very president he wrote the false report about was generous enough to offer him a travelling opportunity to the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago.
I couldn’t agree with him more when Kwame Karikari of the media foundation for West Africa described him as a ‘fraud.’ I sincerely associate myself fully with his statement. Those seen as icons in the journalism field have today become nothing but bootlickers.

When Kufour was President a little over eight years ago, several journalists who had never even written a story before found where their note pads were, and jumped to cover the assignments. Some even had had their birthdays celebrated for them on such trips. Especially in far off Japan, one of such praise singers and bootlickers got Mr. Kufour to organise a birthday bash for him.

The newsstand is washed with sea of newspapers-some of them simply crap. They churn out nothing but garbage. I remember even at the time that I was living in the ghettos and attending nature’s call in the open and even at public toilets; I relied heavily on the use of newspapers to wipe the ‘shit’ off.
I’m not sure any of these papers in the system will even have the privilege of mine using them to wipe off the ‘shit.’

Today on several radio stations, hangers-on have stripped themselves off objectivity and are doing their master’s bidding. They parade ‘official’ documents around and defend the government or opposition parties with vigour than appointed state officials. They are the unofficial spokespersons.

Mr. Ansabah was pissed with Kufour for not travelling with him on those 187 trips despite using his brains and energies to destroy his opponents –notably the current president. I remember somewhere in 2004, a newspaper that is in bed with the then opposition and now in government described sitting President Kufour as ‘Mad.’ I felt sorry for the headline and the reporters who work under the editor.
Similar things were also said about Jerry Rawlings and now Mills. They destroy their political opponents with vigour and passion.

Caution or ethics has been thrown to swines.

People are calling for his expulsion but I doubt if the Ghana Journalist Association, the main supervision body, has the solid pairs to take action against this man. Is yellowish journalism not the norm in the Ghanaian side of the profession today? Check the headlines of most newspapers today and what their slants are.

The GJA itself has been pushed to an awkward corner partly because it sat down and watched especially in the past and even presently, while complete rubbish, in the name of ‘objective’ reports, was and continue to be published by a ‘bad’ number of media houses. On Monday afternoon I had the privilege of listening to a newspaper review programme on ‘Asempa’ Fm’s’ ‘Eko See Sen, a late afternoon show.

’The station is one of the fleets under the multi-media family of Joy Fm, Adom Fm, Nyhira, Luv and now Multi-TV. One of the papers the host of the programme reviewed was a certain ‘Daily Searchlight.’ The paper had published names of people its purported to be Ewes who have been given governments appointment. The paper mentioned several people it claimed were Ewes who had been handed out positions because of their tribe-Ewes.

Out of parochialism and pettiness the paper, without cross-checking the facts, included in the ‘Ewe list’ persons who have no Ewe connection. It was a dangerous piece of journalism, for my mind. The Rwanda experience is still fresh in our minds and I’m surprise how Ghanaian journalists have quickly forgotten that. The story of Rwanda is there and I don’t intend to bother you, my friends.

Inasmuch as I blame the paper for this useless piece of journalism that has serious ramification for the destiny of this country, I also fault the editorial department of Asempa Fm. The little I know from this profession, since taking up this columnist job, is the exercise of editorial discretion over stories that are brought to the news room for publications.

I have seen the editorial management of this paper throw away or even called reporters to defend stories they have written before finally landing in the main publication. That is what I call responsible journalism for nation development.
And here, Asempa Fm woefully failed to do that. In their quest to achieve sensationalism, just like the newspaper, the station went ahead to review the paper, a toxic reportage as such. The buyer of the stolen goods is as guilty as the thief, we are often told. The station blatantly went ahead and reviewed the paper just to create sensationalism.

Radio is a powerful and whatever use it’s put into, the results are always enormous; positive and negative. But does anyone blame the likes of Asempa Fm? It’s common to find all manner of characters mounting radio platforms and just speaking ‘by heart.’ I hope for once the Ghana Journalist Association will show enough pairs and call to order members are gradually taking this country into the abyss.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Arsenal’s heartbreaking diary.

It was the usual Sunday afternoons where soccer fans gather at any pub around the country to watch their respective clubs (referring to the English clubs) play each other for the day’s fixtures. This past Sunday (31 January, 2010) was unique in may ways: Ghana was playing Egypt in the final of the 27th edition of the African Cup of Nations. At the same time, English club Arsenal was also playing host to rivals Manchester United. It was a crunch match and highly anticipated one.

I headed off to a pub owned by Reggie Rockston, one of Ghana’s finest rappers. His pub, The Office, is well known in the capital, Accra. Especially for those night revellers it’s a place for perfect hangout. It was my first time of being there. It was not as big as I had envisaged but was great atmosphere. It had three giant screens stashed on the walls, providing football fans a great viewing opportunity.

Soccer fans mostly dressed in Ghana colours were present. The whole atmosphere was filled with smoke from cigarettes from some of the soccer fans. Accra based Joy Fm was also providing live feeds from there. In the middle of the noise and the smoke, the sports team of Joy provided in-between analysis of what was happening.

I was dressed in full Arsenal t-shirt with my name written boldly at the back. I was one of two guys dressed in Arsenal t-shirt and we were confident the club was going to win the game. So here I was watching the final between Ghana and Egypt and still keeping taps on the outcome of the game between Arsenal and Manchester United. I was confident Arsenal was going to win because the last time we met them in their own back yard, we were cheated. So I was confident Emirates will be Manchester United’s waterloo.

However after playing for about 35 or so minutes, a gentleman holding a mobile phone and monitoring the scores via the internet began to mentioned the score. “Man U is up by a goal,” he said to a loud applause and claps. I was surprised but not down. I was confident Arsenal was going to bounce back, equalise and then win the game.

He then came out with another goal for Manchester United. At this time I was devastated. I refused to follow the game any further and instead concentrated on the Ghana-Egypt game. Things were going pretty well, at least for Ghana. Though I was watching the finals, my mind was on the Arsenal and Man. United game.

Ghana lost after 85 minutes. I must confess though I didn’t support them, I was impressed by their performance. But not that of Arsenal. Later in the evening, I headed out to ‘The Honeysuckle, a pub and restaurant owned by some British expats. The atmosphere inside the bar was heavily laced with cigarette. I sat there and had a bottle of mini-star.

After few minutes of settling down to have my drink, the match between Arsenal and Man. United was played back. It was really heartbreaking to watch the game, though I made very conscious efforts not to watch the game, but I couldn’t. Here I was sitting there and watching the game. The goals then began to pour in. Arsenal played as if there was nothing at stake. I felt bad and heartbroken.

The Arsenal that had so much recovered from a game after losing out to Chelsea in November at the same Emirates had been induced. I was heartbroken as I made my way out of the bar to catch a taxi home. I still love Arsenal despite the loss but I think it’s important for the coach, Arsene Wenger, to change his youthful policy.

Five years without a trophy? That is too much for a club of Arsenal’s quality.
Time for the guns to blaze especially against Chelsea this weekend. Are we to let that also slip through our fingers?

Goooooooners wake up!