I was a teenager walking the corridors of Prempeh College in the mid-sixties. Like many, I was buoyant with enthusiasm, joy and a feeling of gratitude to the Almighty God for having made it possible for me to enter those magnificent walls of mother Prempeh - the high school with the beauty and serenity of a University campus.
Prempeh College was barely twelve years old then, and yet, it felt as if she had been around forever. Compared to schools like Achimota and Mfantsipim, Prempeh was a baby and yet she exuded so much confidence, poise and maturity that one would think, even then, that she was much older.
To put things in perspective, my class met the last European Headmaster of the school, Mr. Arthur Clark. By my second year, the then Assistant Headmaster, Mr. T. A. Osae, had assumed the position of the first African Headmaster of Prempeh College.
The impression I got when I entered Prempeh was the sense of decency, discipline, pride and utmost respect for authority that existed on the campus at the time. There was no room for buffoonery or hooliganism either within or outside the walls of the school. We were there to study to become the best and that was all that mattered.
The European Headmasters before Osae had set the tone and the standard in the school. So, for me, when the last one, Arthur Clark, was leaving I was very much circumspect of what might happen later on. Ghana was barely emerging from the tentacles of colonization. In fact, I am referring to a period that is within five years of Ghana’s independence. Theodore A. Osae was even more a disciplinarian than his predecessor, Arthur Clark. He was firm and resolute but kind. It would appear that he had been trained rather very well to assume the mantle that was inevitably going to fall on him as the first Ghanaian administrator of the school.
The first axiom that was impressed upon us even before we got settled was, “Only the best is good enough for Prempeh College.” This maxim, I believe, was initiated during the first few years of the school’s existence and it was drilled into us like a sharp nail throughout our stay on that campus. The headmaster, the teachers and the students lived it to the letter. Osae selected the best students on the list of admissions to the school, and it wasn’t a matter of who could pay the highest bribe. He chose the best teachers whether they were from Legon, Britain, France, Canada or the USA. In return, we the students had to strive to be the best in sports, academia and behaviour.
President Kufuor is a former student of Prempeh College. He had left the school a few years earlier when my class entered its walls. But, we learnt of him, especially, when he entered politics in the sixties. This is because, Prempeh, being such a young school at that time, did not have many such people to look up to, if any, at all. We all took pride in his achievement and those of a few such old boys whose careers were beginning to blossom at that time.
Each man is the quintessence of his life’s experiences. What we learn and experience in our youth and in our schools shape what we become. President Kufuor, like many of us, learnt to become the best of what he could be within the walls of mother Prempeh and those qualities have stayed with him and will continue to guide him and Ghana will be the beneficiary.
The character of a nation, to a large extent, reflects that of its leader. The United States of America in President Bush’s era, for example, is seen in a different light, in the eyes of the world, from that of President Clinton. Likewise, Kufuor’s Ghana is much different from Rawlings’ Ghana.
I know that those people on this forum who might be tempted to second-guess President Kufuor’s motives as he goes about running the country, would do so because they don’t know the man. I am certain that those who will have the opportunity to meet him eyeball to eyeball like I have, will have nothing but love, respect and admiration for him because he is an embodiment of all of those. President Kufuor means well with his zero tolerance for corruption, his golden age for business and his special initiatives. Ghana will be the better for it when his efforts start to bear fruits.
He wants only the best and will do only the best for Ghana and I do not expect anything short of that. So, as people talk about his numerous travels around the world, they should bear in mind that he is seeking the best for Ghana because he learnt very early in life that “only the best is good enough” for him and for Ghana.
AGYEMANG RAWLINGS - A Woman You Would Want For a Wife.
“Wotan okwaduo a na w’ayi n’amirika.”
In 1991 when Mr. S.K. Boafo, the current Ashanti Regional Minister, came to Toronto to sew the seeds of what is today Canada’s Chapter of NPP, my wife would not even have anything to do with him because he was going to drag me into politics. Later on, when the Chapter was being inaugurated, she did not show up at the function because she would not in any way, shape or form, show encouragement for the career that she thought I was about to embark upon. Her face was like puss when I left for meetings and remained so till I got back home. I managed to serve my term of office to the completion of the 1992 elections and then I relinquished my position to another person. In fact, I quit active politics mainly because of the attitude I received at home.
I have had the opportunity to discuss this issue with many in politics or those who attend political meetings and the story is the same. Many wives display a lukewarm attitude, at best, while most show complete displeasure towards the career of their political husbands. But, is it any wonder why Ghanaian wives loathe their husbands’ political careers? As my wife put it then, “What happened to Kwame Nkrumah’s Fathia, Mrs. Christiana Achampong, Naa Morkor and Mrs. Linman to mention a few? What happened to their husbands and their children?” Many Ghanaian political husbands have died disgraceful deaths in prison or in exile leaving their wives to fend for the young ones alone and in poverty. Is it any wonder why a Ghanaian wife would try to put cold water on a husband’s political ambitions?
It is in this light that I cite Mrs. Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as one contemporary political wife of a different breed. Most political observers would note that Mr. Rawlings received a great deal of encouragement from his wife even when he was in prison after his first failed coup attempt. She was by his side during the infamous June 4th era and it is widely speculated that Mr. Rawlings became an elected President because his wife’s persistent prodding to become one. Mrs. Rawlings carried herself as an outstanding first lady. While many will classify her as overly ambitious and her character bothering on ubiquity, she, unlike many political wives, was a pillar of strength for her husband from May 1979 until now. And that is a rare quality among the wives of Ghanaian politicians.
I would wish that Mrs. Rawlings would make her knowledge and experiences available to Ghanaian womanhood by setting up some kind of a training school for political and would-be political wives (and women, in general) to train them in how to support their husbands careers in politics and other spheres of life. Every man needs encouragement for all endeavors, especially, from the person closest to you – your better half.
When the President-to-be was touring North America asking for our moral and financial support, the most frequently asked question was, “What will your Government do to forestall a coup?” He magnanimously assured us that he was keenly aware of the propensity for coups. He told us his party had strategies in place to prevent coups. However, for security reasons, he would not elaborate, in public, his administration’s plans to rid the country of coups or to nib potential coups in the bud.
I had almost forgotten about the infamous word, “coup” but for the attempt in Haiti against President Aristide’s Government. It just reminded me, and hopefully President Kufuor, of that constant danger looming over our heads.
The NPP Government should not rest on its laurels. They should not be complacent. They should not ever believe that it cannot happen. Coup makers are like thieves who sneak in while you are away or asleep. We must be constantly awake and be aware that they can strike any day, any time. The country cannot afford another blow against its young democratic institutions and the rather unstable economy that is just beginning to show signs of recovery. It is easy to forget that the four-letter dirty word even exists. Some of us think that it is an anathema to even mention that word. However, history should teach us better.
Our first real attempt at democracy was derailed when Acheampong toppled Busia’s Government barely two years into his administration. By all standards, Busia’s Government was doing fine and did not deserve to be overthrown. The second attempt was also derailed barely two years after President Linman was sworn in. While a few people in his administration were misbehaving, I cannot in earnest say that his Government deserved to be overthrown, either.
On the eve of the end of President Kufuor’s first year in office and the beginning of his second year, we must all be on our toes and be keenly conscious of the danger of a coup or a possible attempt by some disgruntled elements within us who may want to throw away the good of Ghana for their own selfish ends. Even a failed attempt will send an irreversibly damaging signal to our benefactors and economic allies. We have to impress upon the people that even an unsuccessful attempt at a coup in Ghana will set the country back another fifty years.
Coups are generally conceived, planned and executed by people who either see no other legitimate means of ever ascending to political power or by those who believe they have a better and quicker way to bring progress to the people. In either case, history has taught us that no one can rush a turtle. We cannot rush Ghana any faster than it is prepared to move. No matter how well-meaning they may be, coup makers have not positively affected the well-being of the average Ghanaian in any material way.
May I take this opportunity to suggest that the public is invited by radio and TV stations to debate and discuss coups to mark Kufuor’s first year in office. We must openly discuss all the various coups in our history, why they came about, the impact they have had on our economy and what we have to do to prevent any coups in the future. All the various institutions, the politicians, the military, students, farmers and all stakeholders must take part in this exercise. After the exercise, all Ghanaians must go on a peaceful march against coups to fore warn any people who may be hatching one to shelf it permanently.
It is commonly observed that the few businesses operating in our community are
very small indeed - Mom and Pop African Grocery Shop, one-owner Hairdressing
Salon, Bookkeeping Company, Body Shop, a Mechanic Shop or even a Lawyer's office.
We also know that such businesses, generally, do not thrive,
especially after the owner passes on. Our community is not known to pull
resources - human and financial - together for the general good. Even on
the continent, we exhibit the same problem, while foreigners dominate our
stock markets.
In some of the other communities, many people are able to come together to
form reasonably large organizations, by contributing capital and sharing the
responsibility of running the company, while assuming the risks associated
with running any enterprise.
Cursory discussions with business owners in the African community have
unearthed a perennial problem - the propensity for partners in our community
to fight or argue and thus break up the business or partnership. This article
discusses the principles of human relations and how they can be applied within
our community.
THE STORY OF THREE LITTLE BIRDS
An ancient African story tells of three birds that formed a singing group. The
littlest bird has a very small voice and cries "TINTIN, TINTIN." The
medium sized bird has a medium voice and cries "TANTAN, TANTAN." The
largest bird has a deep voice and sings "TIKIDON, TIKIDON."
The birds would gather together and do their song - "TINTIN, TANTAN,
TIKIDON; TINTIN, TANTAN, TIKIDON." They made such beautiful music together
that the children gathered around to listen to them and feed them. They had
plenty to eat and were a happy bunch. Soon, the biggest bird became swollen
headed and conceited. "These children come to see us because of me. Without
me this group is nothing." he said boastingly. An argument ensued with
each bird claiming that the group depended on his talent for their daily
bread. They split up.
The next morning the littlest bird went alone and started singing, "TINTIN,
TINTIN, .TINTIN." No one gathered around and no one fed the poor little
bird. The next day, the second bird went alone and sang "TANTAN, TANTAN,
TAN." Again, no one stopped to listen. The largest bird then said to
them, "You see, so it was I that made all the difference." He went by
himself and sang in his deepest voice he could muster - "TIKIDON, TIKIDON,
..TIKIDON." To his amazement no one stopped either. He also went home
that day hungry and very disappointed.
The three birds decided to sing together again. So the next day all three went
together singing, "TINTIN, TANTAN, TIKIDONTINTIN, TANTAN, TIKIDON." All
the little children in the neighbourhood gathered around, cheered them on and
fed them.
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
A famous African by the name of Dr. Aggrey who lived in Ghana in the late
1800's said that, "You can make music by playing only the white or black
keys of the organ. However, you can make better music by playing both the
black and white keys of the organ." The Bible is probably the best teacher
when it comes to human relations. "Where two or three are gathered in my
name, there I am in their midst." God is present in harmonious
relationships. When two people come together to do something positive, there
is always an invisible third force helping and urging the two along. There is
an African homily that says that, "One man cannot take counsel all by
himself." Two is better than one and yet coming together brings about so
much human problems. Many of the problems in organizations, associations,
churches and businesses stem from relationship difficulties at the top between
two partners, the President and the owner or the President and his vice. Even
the simplest form of co-habitation brings about problems - a man and his
wife, a younger and older brother, two friends or roommates. An African
proverb rightly states that "Two trees have to be close together to rub
together." Whenever two people are involved in doing something together,
there is bound to be friction.
TIPS ON HOW TO RELATE IN GROUP SITUATIONS
We have to be vigilant and anticipate potential relationship problems,
whenever two or more people come together for any worthwhile purpose. This
vigilance may be the only way we may hope to ward off any potential problems.
As a guideline, the following warning must be studied and applied on a
consistent basis.
1. Make God the head of your business. Dedicate everything you do to God. Pray
together every morning. Partners who pray together stay together.
2. Be cautious, be alert, watch for potential problems and avoid them.
3. Watch your words - not only what you say but also how you say it. As the
saying goes, "It is not what enters a man that defiles him, but what
proceeds out of his mouth."
4. Put your partner's interest first. Avoid using "I" and practice using
"We" in your speech.
5. Avoid arguments.
6. Very early in the game, draw up a flexible but fair partnership agreement
you can live with for a while. Re-visit the original agreement six months,
then a year later to address any oversights, omissions or unforeseen problems
that have cropped up. No agreement is cast in stone.
7. Don't plan on being richer than your partner.
8. Don't start another project by yourself or with another person without
your partner being involved unless you are a silent partner.
9. Seek first to understand. If your partner breaks one of your rules,
patiently find out why. Maybe, there was something wrong with the rule in the
first place.
10. Set aside time to talk with each other - both business and personal
stuff.
11. Recognize that your partner's business is your business, his problems
are your problems, and his joys are your joys.
12. Watch what you say to your wife or husband or friends about your partner.
13. Find a good mediator or consultant early in the partnership to mediate any
impasse.
14. Little things are the big things in relationships. Show appreciation. Say
thank you to a partner for a job well done even though it is his duty to do
it. Remember to say "Please" before you give instructions.
15. You must let your partner know where you are at all times. If you are
going to be late, call in. If you have a car problem or a family emergency,
call and let him know.
16. Forgive, forgive and forgive some more.
17. Be the first to say, "I am sorry." Recently, a man and a wife had an
argument. The wife said, "Since we got married, you are the only one who
always says, "I am sorry." "That tells me that you are the one who is
always in the wrong." The man said to the wife, " Maybe, it is time you
said, "I am sorry for a change."
18. Watch your pride. Do not allow your pride to get in the way. Be humble.
19. Don't tell the world that without you the company cannot function, even
if it is true. Don't say that you are the brain behind the company. Don't
allow your friends to convince you into believing that you are better than all
your partners are. Remember that, "the brain is useless without the neck"
an African proverb.
20. Trust - trust your yourself. Trust your partner absolutely.
21. Don't be greedy. Don't take the lion's share. Don't cheat.
22. Listen to your partner's point of view and incorporate his ideas into
your decisions.
23. Don't pass on blame. Don't say, "I told you your idea will not
work."
24. Avoid suspicion - "What is this guy up to?"
25. Beware of negative minded so-called friends who will concoct stories to
try to destroy you and split you up out of envy.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to draw on Paul's letter to the Philippians,
Chapter 2 Vs 3 & 4.
Vs 3: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.
Vs 4: Do not merely look out for your personal interests but also for the
interests of others.
Thank you and may the God of Africa bless all of us.
For a young country that is trying to modernize its financial sector, the last
thing it
could have done is to close a
bank not alone two. Closing a bank has very serious short and long term
repurcusions. It
took the country
many years to get over the stigma associated with the seizure of bank accounts
and the
50 cedi notes in the
earlier part of the insurrection. Just as we were getting over that, Bank of
Ghana
closed down several Forex
Bureaus for one alledged reason or another. And now, Bank for Housing and Ghana
Co-operative Bank have been closed down.
Depositors with other banks will feel uneasy about their funds in those banks
and may
precipitate droves of withdrawals. Even if depositors at BHC and GCB do not lose
their
deposit, the confusion, delay and frustration that will ensue before they
retrieve their
funds will be enough to deter them and others from using any bank for a long
time to
come. They will prefer to stach their funds under their pillows than leave them
at a
bank. The cost to depositors, the banking system and the entire nation for this
action
is unquantifiable and far reaching, indeed. It is so far reaching that some one
could
use it as a research base for a PhD desertation - THE AFTERMATH OF BANK
CLOSURES: THE
IMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.
The stock markets will also feel the short and long term implications of these
closures.
The active investors in the already weak stock market may pull their funds,
spelling
another spiral of capital flight. This is because they may interpret the
closures as a
sign of impending danger and/or uncertainty in the financial markets.
I find the closure of Bank for Housing, in particular, as a move in the wrong
direction.
Real Estate/Mortgage Funds are in short supply in the economy. This is the
underlying
reason why a young company like Home Finance has done so well in such a short
time.
Considering the acute shortage of housing units in Ghana; housing starts being a
leading
economic indicator, in fact, the engine that runs any economy, we should rather
be
seeking ways to revamp BHC than closing it down.
In future, we should be looking at our options critically when we face financial
or
other problems because most problems do have solutions. They do not always have
to end
by death or economic castration. Some of the options in this case would be
re-structuring using Government resources, workers, the stock market and other
banks.
All these could have gone on without affecting daily business transactions at
the two
banks. It is easier to heal a dying bank than to resurrect a dead bank.
I write this article with a lot of apprehension. This is because
religion is a touchy subject. Most of us would rather not question the
essence, logic or lack thereof of our religious beliefs. We accept it
just as it has been handed over to us from the generations.
Religion and Wealth
I believe that a person's earthly wealth is directly proportional to his
belief in God, Jesus, Budha, Muhammad or any religious figure of his
choice. The belief in God or some deity opens a person's mind to his
surroundings. When you become aware of the power of God, you become
aware of your own power. This awareness of self is, most often, all you
need to become wealthy. If you do not belief the relationship between
religion and money, take a closer look at the lifestyle of religious
leaders the world over. I entreat you to take a look at the lifestyle
and the surroundings of the likes of the Pope, Dr. Robert Schuller,
Odiyifo Nkansah, Ida Hosa and infact, any others you may know and it
won't take you long to realize that religion and wealth are very closely
intertwined.
Black poverty and White Jesus
If religion and wealth are closely related then it also makes sense that
whom you believe in has an influence on your earthly wealth as well. I
have often wondered why, everywhere, black people, in general are the
underdogs. Even, in predominantly black Africa, the black man is not the
one who controls the wealth of the continent. My question is why?
I just returned from a short visit to my native Ghana. While there, I
met the Presbyterian Pastor of my village. During our conversation, the
pastor told me that a few miles from our village is a gold mine. The
gold mine belongs to the whites, of course. He (the pastor) went on to
tell me that, when he visited the mining grounds, he observed a
remarkable difference in the lifestyle of the white miners viz-a-viz the
black mine workers. In his words, the difference was like "night and
day." This comment gave me the ammunition to put forward to the pastor,
a theory that I had haboured for a very long time. I asked the pastor,
"what do you think is the reason why the white miners you saw lived in
such beautiful surroundings and in affluence while your black brothers -
those to whom the land belongs - live in poor surroundings. The pastor
retorted, "We must be stupid or something close to that." I asked the
pastor to follow me to his church. Lo and behold, on the wall of the
church, close to the pulpit and facing the congregation was the effigy
of Jesus - a long haired blond, blue eyed white man with a pointed
British nose. I pointed and said to the pastor, "this is the reason."
The pastor looked at me with a shock on his face. I did understand the
expression on his face. In his mind what I just said was blasphemous.
How dare I question the image of Jesus, of God. I do not have anything
against Christianity, Jesus or God. I asked the pastor, "When you kneel
down and close your eyes in prayer, what is the image that comes to your
mind? Whenever you have a mental image of Jesus, does he not in your
mind resemble this white man on your wall? If you asked a black child to
draw a picture of Jesus, what picture would you get? What if you asked
the same child to draw Satan, what would you get? Can you understand why
such a boy would grow up to become the President of a black nation and
would see the white man as the one who can save his people? Would it
make sense to you now why this Minister/President would give the best
things in his country to the white man while denying his fellow black
man the same opportunity? We need to have faith in something spiritual
to be able to make some sense out of this seemingly senseless world of
ours. This something spiritual, we call God. To me, Jesus, God, the Holy
Spirit are all Spirit. They have no human image. And even if they did,
it would not likely be that of a blue-eyed white man with long grey
beard and hair.
Christianity came to Africa by way of white evangelists. If these white
evangelists saw God in their image, that's fine with me. But that does
not preclude me, as a black man, to see God, Jesus or any deity in my
image - a broad nosed, kinky haired, brown eyed black man. The bible
says that, "God created man in his image." Of course, this "image" that
the Bible talks about is not that of a physical one. It is far more
encompassing than a physical image. Human nature being what it is, we
love to see, feel and touch something physical. This is why the Roman
Catholic Church keeps physical "images" of Jesus, Mary etc. in their
churches, even though it is God's commandment not to. It is for the same
reason that our forefathers made physical images of God and worshipped
them. If we want or need to see the physical side of God, one would not
be wrong if he thought of God as a Black man. God can take on any image
He wants. I am afraid that we black people could meet God or the Christ
and not recognize Him because we are looking for a White man.
Recent discoveries in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Somalia show that man have
existed in these areas for some two and a half million years. In his
speech, when he visited Ghana, President Clinton admitted that he
believed that the first man, in fact, walked on the African soil. The
Bible, which is a much later occurrence, appears to indicate that life
began around the Middle East. Even if that were to be true, Jesus could
not have been a long-haired blonde with blue eyes and a pointed nose.
The Israelites who served for 400 years in Egypt could not have been
white. The original Israelite was dark-skinned. Why do I say this?
There was no physical difference between an Israelite and an Egyptian.
If there was, Moses, an Israelite, could not have passed for an Egyptian
Royal all his life to the point of almost ascending to the throne of
Pharaoh. It is common knowledge (even though white people would rather
not admit this) that the original Egyptian was black. Jews of today are
light-skinned as a result of wars, exile and the mixing of the races
caused by inter-marriage. The movement of the Turks, the Romans and the
Greeks and also the Holy Wars caused the Europeanization and the
lightening of the skin of the people of North Africa and the Middle
East. And even after all that, the present day Jew has a distinctive
look that makes him neither black nor white; most likely a hybrid of
both races. A typical Jew (and generally, a person from the Middle East)
has kinky-curly hair, broad nose and tanned skin depicting his black
ancestors. Anwar Sadat, a popular Egyptian leader of recent times, was
dark-skinned, depicting his ancestral black African origin.
My point is that, the best way for mankind to view God, Jesus and any
Deity is that of a Spirit. If we would rather see a physical God, then
it is okay for black people to see Him as a black old man/woman as much
as it is okay for whites to see Him in their image.
Psychological Damage
Because the white man has been able to sell the concept of a white
God/Jesus to black people, black people have unconsciously equated the
white man as some deity, the God they seek, serve and kowtow to. In
fact, in black Africa, this image is so strong that the poorest white
man " the homeless kind who eats from garbage dumps" could clean up,
put on a suit, move to Africa and have everything handed to him on a
silver platter by black African politicians and businessmen. In a few
short years, this white man could be richer than the richest African.
This is a psychological problem faced by all blacks "Governments,
Kings, Chiefs and ordinary citizens. In Ghana, it is common practice for
the ordinary citizen to refer to a person he/she admires as "me broni"
(my white man). The sweet and juicy pineapple, pawpaw and mango is the
white man's pineapple,
pawpaw and mango. Meanwhile, pineapples, pawpaw and mangoes do not grow
in any European country. The useless child is the black sheep of the
family. If you make a bad investment you sank your money into a black
pit. Black magic is the bad kind of magic; and the list goes on.
A black African businessman could ask for a contract from a black
African Government and it will be refused. A white man would get the
same thing and more without even asking for it.
Would White People worship a Black God?
If you do not believe that white people have deliberately and
systematically categorized God as white, paint an effigy of a black
Jesus or Mary. Put it in a Catholic Church in a typical North American
city one Sunday and you tell me how many people will step in this church
the next Sunday.
Friends, pastors, church goers, Christians, we all should make a
conscious effort to stop seeing God as white if we ever would hope to
liberate the black man from psychological enslavement and abject
poverty. If we can do this, we blacks will begin to see the good in us.
We would see that we also are God-like. We will seek to do good things
for ourselves and to each other. We would then begin to give the best of
ourselves to our own kind and others.
One early Sunday morning, you wake up turn on the TV/Radio and our President, J.J Rawlings is speaking:
" Friends, Ghanaians, Countrymen. Lend me your ears. I come to you this morning to bury my old self, not to
praise him. 20 years ago, when about 30% of the current generation were unborn or were babies, my
colleagues and I inflicted a very serious blow to this nation of ours. I was young and stupid, like most of my
followers at the time. In my state of naivity, I thought I knew everything. I thought, it was easy running a
country. I thought my predecessors were either stupid or very cruel. I wondered for years why this beautiful
nation of ours was not making any progress. In my stupidity, I thought that the fault was with the leadership at
the time. I believed in my heart then that, if I could eliminate a few of the nation's leaders(nation wreckers, I
thought) and brought in young, uncorrupted, incorruptible and "forward thinking Ghanaians who would imbue
this nation with fresh ideas, we would finally be able to lift the ordinary Ghanaian from the doldrums.
I found, to my chagrin, after barely five years at the helm of affairs that my approach to finding a lasting and
workable solution to our nations problems was not working - indeed, it was a wrong approach. However,
because of the way and manner by which I came and especially, having pronounced a death sentence upon
myself, by telling the nation tha "I am prepared to die, if I failed the nation," I found it profoundly cowardly on
my part to give up.
Countrymen, it is very hard to say, "I AM SORRY." However, I believe today that it is not only the right thing to
do but also the manly thing to do. TODAY SHOULD GO ON RECORD THAT I, JEREMIAH JOHN RAWLINGS,
President of Ghana, cease this opportune time to apologise to the nation for wrongs done inadvertently to the
people of Ghana and specifically to the families of Kwasi Amankwah Afrifa, Roger Felli, ................................
I wish like hell I could bring these people back to apologize to them personally myself. However, since it is not
possible I do so through the grace and forgivenes of God Almighty.
Let it be known to all Ghanaians, young and old, that I have come to realise that the answer to our problems
does not lie in the success of coups. A man is not successful because he was(is) able to organize a
"successful coup." Infact, the success of a man is measured by his tact and his ability to address grievances
through negotiations, not through the barrel of a gun. I have come to laern that a coup is a cowadly act
perpetrated by people who have lost their tact and ability to persuade others to cahnge. It is an act of
desperation.
Once again, countrymen, FORGIVE ME. I WAS YOUNG AND STUPID
Have a wonderful day and may God give us all the peace of mind to go on.
This one may seem trivial. However, I am compelled to write because of an earlier posting by Monk on
December 16 under " Ghana is plagued by the demons of stupidity."
While I will make reference to the Akans in this posting, I would like all of you to recognize that I do so not
because I am being tribalistic. I do so because unfortunately, my frame of reference is Akan and I need to draw
on what I know to explain my point. I am fully aware that the Akans are not the only ones who give day names.
In recent times, we are known as Kofi Tweneboa Kodua, Kwame Sapong Kumankoma and so on. The order of
these names makes Kofi ( the day-name) a first name; Tweneboa, a middle name and Kodua, the last name.
However, in Akan of antiquity, this was not the case.
In Akan of old, a person was known mostly by his given name. In the examples above, the given name is
Tweneboa. Kofi was automatic. You have it just by virtue of your very existence. In fact Kofi, the day-name was
not considered a name at all. It was used as an additional adjective, sort of an additional description when two
or more people happened to be called Tweneboa, say. Even today, in a typical Akan village, our relatives and
friends would rather call us by our given names - ie Tweneboa, Sapong, Agyei, Akyeampong than Kwaku, Kofi,
Kwame etc. This is simply because, those "names" were originally not names at all. We, Westernized Akans
have forced these day- names to become first names.
In the old, a person was Tweneboa Kofi, Agyei Kwame, Osei Kwadwo etc. Tweneboa, Agyei, Osei who were
born on Friday, Saturday and Monday respectively.
There are remnants of this nomenclature in today's Akan tradition. For example, we have Onyakropon Kwame,
Asase Yaa, Okonoro Yaa - not Kwame Nyankopon, Yaa Asase. In fact, in the olden days, people were hardly
called Kwaku Tweneboa, Kwasi Akyeampong etc. Only people of dubious character were called in that order.
A most notorious one being KWAKU ANANSE. While Kwaku Ananse was called KWAKU ANANSE in that
order, the other nicer characters were called simply Ntikuma (note no reference to the day name). Where a
reference was made to a day-name, the day-name followed the given name, ie Aso Yaa ( Kwaku Ananse's
wife), not YAA ASO.
To this day, the Akans in the villages hate to be called by their full name - ie AKOSUA FRIMPOMAA. If you
called someone Akosua Frimpomaa, she would most likely respond very rudely with " Aden na w'atu me din
ase saa?" Frimpomaa, simply, would do for these people. In fact, my mother called me KWAKU TWENEBOA
only when she was angry with me.
Returning to the names I rhimed off at the beginning - ie Kofi Tweneboa Kodua, Kwame Sarpong
Kumaankoma. What appears to be the last name ie Kodua, Kumankoma were originally nick- names
(mmrane). You were called by your "mmrane" only occasionally and only some one in your village or family
wanted to make you feel exceptionally special. Those of us.who wanted to weave such nick-names into our
"officia" names began with hyphenation ie Tweneboa -Kodua etc.
PLEASE CONSIDER AS AN EDUCATIONAL PIECE AND NOTHING ELSE
