Afenyo Martins commissions Ghana's silly season!

 The silly season is here, clearly!

Alexander Afenyo Markin has officially declared Ghana's electoral silly season opened!

I mean, how else does one explain how a State Of the Nation Address debate in Parliament so degenerated into the newly named Majority Leader going into such an illogical attack on Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang. 

Speak of ageism! Gendered ageism! That all of the glaring nuances in this very problematic speech were lost on a sitting MP, NPP's Leader in Parliament, shocking!

Listen, Dear Sir, Parliament is not the place for loose talk. Keep such unsavory destructive thoughts to your living room. Not our house of Parliament! And not about Prof! Ghana's first female Vice Chancellor of a public University. Distinguished politician. Amazing all round woman. A stateswoman who stands tall as a symbol of hope for Ghanaian women.

What is baffling is that this is coming from an MP whose President is in his eighties. How rich! The only way this adds up is if you consider that he may have been throwing shades at his own boss, the President, as has become fashionable these days in this "it wasn't me, blame Akuffo Addo" narrative that's being pushed. Speaking to God by pretending to speak to the wind. We see you Honorable!

Everything else that was said was just as illogical. 

That she didn't make impact in the last elections? Please, check the records. Numbers don't lie. If you're tone deaf and do not know what time it is, certainly, you can appreciate basic mathematics.

To say Prof performed abysmally at the Education Ministry and then proceed to speak about the construction of the E-blocks in the same sentence can only be disingenuous at best; as Leader of a side whose government is responsible for this nightmare of an educational system we're grappling with!

In a country where notoriety pays, sadly even in politics, one can see why in his new role and eager for some attention, Afenyo Markins made this unfortunate choice. So sad!

Small piece of advise though ... This election is far too important for juvenile popularity games. So much rests on this election for us as Ghanaians and your politics of illogicality would not be countenanced! Not this time. Not when our country needs saving. Not at the dawn of our historic first female VEEP!

BISHOP ACKUN SAID YES!

Many many years ago, while still a student at The University of Ghana, Legon, and before two of my uncles became a Pastor and a Priest, I went to visit my "old" Church - Victory Bible Church International, Kokomlemle.  After the service, I waited to say "hello" to my "old" Pastor, Pastor Ackun. He was happy that I had made Church that day but he wanted to know why he was not "seeing" me in Church anymore. I told him it was the distance. That the journey seemed a bit much so I went with my mum to the Methodist Church which was nearer home. He said he understood. Then, he did something which has since stayed with me - he gave me money! So this is not about the money, I can't even remember how much it was. I can remember clearly however that I was shocked. He said to use it for transportation ... buy fuel ... just try to visit once in awhile.

I am not sure even he realised the impact of that simple gesture on me. Here was a man of God, a Pastor, sitting down with me, genuinely happy to see me and asking about my welfare, talking about mundane stuff like school ... not witchcraft or spiritual attacks or anything like that. And then, digging into his pocket and giving me money to facilitate my attending Church. How very practical! How kind! How human! Isn't this what Christianity is supposed to be about?

As I drove back home that Sunday, I said to myself, when the time comes for me to exchange vows with that person whom I willingly give the power to make or break me, it has to be Pastor Ackun officiating. He has to be the one interceding on my behalf on that all important day.

You see, I don't take these things lightly. For me, the significance of that ceremony on a life needs an intermediary you trust to have a real relationship with God, a good heart, somebody who has your welfare at heart and will atleast occasionally remember you in prayer. A wedding, at least for me, has to be meaningful - there will be plenty opportunities for "show" later, no? Should it not be a gathering of well wishers in celebration? Ok, we may not be sure of the intentions of our "well wishers" (maybe I've seen too many Nigerian movies) but, we can atleast be sure of the one administering the vows! The one officiating this "journey of no return".

That day I thanked God for providing the Pastor and reminded him about the "groom".

Many many years later, he provided the groom. I said Yes! (Of course 😁) And then I thought about Pastor Ackun. At this time, I had not seen him in years. Still, it had to be him! The boo drove with me one evening after work to meet with Bishop Ackun (now). We asked him together to do us the honour of officiating our marriage ceremony. He said "Yes"! Thank God! And the man who works for him!😊

GLORIOUS GLORIOUS SUN!

It's 21 degrees today.
21 degrees!!
All is well with the world
The realisation just hit home - I've been moody and grumpy for eight months (counting from September when I left home)
This morning I took a little longer to get ready
I wore make up
I left home in heels
Yes! made the walk to the bus stop in heels
I had the best smiles for the receptionist and when she mentioned my happiness, I said to her;
The sun is out!
Did not have a great class
Still, my mood is intact
Cant touch this happiness!
What's the point of this post?
Nothing!
The sun is out ...
It's a blessed world!
Oh! I'm inspired to try to blog again :) 

WHY IS PARLIAMENT EMPTY ??

So I'm watching local television this afternoon and like I always do, I'm constantly flipping channels. No, I don't have a short attention span and I don't think local stations are horrible. I just love to fully enjoy the benefits that multiple choice offers.

I chanced upon a new channel, GTV Govern - love it! I think the channel is dedicated to parliamentary proceedings - perfect! now we actually have eyes in parliament and can "see" for ourselves what our parliamentarians are up to - if only they showed up to work!

Yes! Actually, No! the chairs were empty! in some shots, I could count on one finger the number of MP's seated. No wonder they are always looking for reasons to boycott! they just do not want to show up for work! Where are they and what are they doing that is more important than the business of making laws which is why people queued for hours on end to get them elected so that they could have representation in the process?

When NPP MP's boycotted the vetting process, I was upset. I felt short changed. I felt deceived into believing that parliament will have a minority which is "Oh! so important" in the democratic process of governance. Now I'm upset because it feels like the whole process is a joke, well, at least to the MP's because they cant even be bothered to show up!

There's this belief or perhaps joke that there are parliamentarians who just sit in parliament and contribute NOTHNG all year round. The joke's on us apparently, because we should be grateful for those MP's who at least show up and sit through it, if for nothing at all, they will scream "yeah yeah" at the end of the day! 

I don't know about you, but i'm keeping an eye out for my MP every day! It's time to mark attendance. If you cant be bothered to show up for work in an air conditioned, chauffeur driven, fuel paid for, state of the art vehicle being provided you by the state for your work, I cant be bothered to queue for hours in the scorching sun to vote for you! Stay at home and over indulge in whatever precious thing is keeping you from parliament! Simple!!

AFRICA IS NOT FOR SISSIES

Last thursday was a particularly hectic day. Went from one office to the other in meetings that simply left the throat dry from over exertion - too much talking.
By late morning, I was hungry and tired. It didn't help that I was seated in one of the offices of KFC Ghana - my thoughts were centered on spicy juicy chicken.
And then something on the desk caught my attention. It was a carving of the African map and underneath it was the inscription - "Africa is not for sissies".
My host was on the phone but he noticed my fascination with his carving and got off the phone for a few seconds to say " yes, Africa is not for sissies" to which I replied with a nod, a smile and "true" muttered ever so softly.
These words saw me through the day, the week and perhaps will see me through the year.
Africa is indeed not for sissies! Think about it ...
In our part of the world, nothing works as it should. Structures? institutions? - non existent or all over the place, leaving most things to individual discretion and (good) judgement ... which is asking alot of a system which is still aspiring to understand itself. We do not have the discipline needed to exercise discretion and good judgement, we NEED the structures and institutions.
Simple and mundane things like getting on a bus, buying food, going through registration processes (on campuses, at the National Service Secretariat ...) are a struggle - literally! (I'm talking physical fights).
Education - the frustration and confusion in the system (medical school, law school ...) ...
Or perhaps trying to get a job or worse, trying to establish your own "company" ...
It beats my mind that today, in 2014, giving birth (procreation - nature at it's very core) is still a matter of life and death for a sizable number of the population.
The cost of living is high ... salaries are low ...
How does one survive, not to talk of flourish in these parts? Not by complaining, that's for sure.
Survival of the fittest. That could explain the corruption. I refuse to accept that as the only way.
One has to be fit to survive, yes! It's why we have to keep pushing and knocking and learning and teaching and going the extra mile ... that must be the way!
There has to be a way because this our place, our Africa, it aint for sissies!

PROFESSOR KOFI AWOONOR

Professor Kofi Awoonor was a celebrated poet and author, a political activist, Ghana's ambassador to the UN, Cuba, Brazil, the head of the committee against apartheid, president of the pan-African writers association, chairman of the council of state, a Pan-Africanist, a traditionalist, a lecturer of African literature in various universities including the University of Cape Coast where he was the head of the English department ... (I could go on)

My first conversation with Professor Kofi Awoonor was at the University of Ghana. He was my lecturer at the English department. I was about to drive out the car park at "Tingis" after a lecture when I heard him ask for a lift to the department, his driver was late. I quickly offered.  I was in awe of the man and didn't want any other student to have that privilege of driving him. My two friends and course mates who were with me in the car were just as excited as I was.

In the car, he asked us our names. I told him I was Maame Ama, my two friends told him they were Maame Yaa and Dokua. He was happy, we all had indigenous Ghanaian names. The interesting thing is, my friends were Herty and Jane.

That was Professor Kofi Awoonor. A man who asked you your name and had you instantly, unconsciously wanting to own your African identity.

If Professor Awoonor taught you, he was not just your lecturer. He was the man who encouraged you to THINK and express those thoughts regardless how much he disagreed with your thoughts (sometimes his class was one big debate with opinions flying all around). I did not go for his lectures because I had to. I did because I enjoyed them.

This is the man who yesterday, while shopping with his son, was shot dead by "Islamic militants" at WestGate mall in Kenya.
Why? because a group of people want some attention.

The tears in my eyes do not fully express the sadness in my heart. That a GENTLEMAN like Professor Kofi Awoonor, for who he is and all his contributions to this society ...
... this is a moment! one of many moments in recent history that show how utterly inhuman the human race is.

THE BUSINESS OF CHARITY

Prince William's wife had a baby. Subsequently, he's left "his job" with the armed forces and announced a new one - protecting African wild life!

Now before we all break into Zulu dances (as I'm sure is expected of "us") let's take a minute to examine motive. Prince William, his Royal Highness, had the whole world to choose from, all the continents at his feet and he chose Africa. Lucky us!

Interestingly, inspite of all the challenges confronting the continent, he chose to extend his benevolence to our wild life. Is it possible that he cares more about the animals than the people of Africa? Or perhaps this has nothing to do with either but simply, a new father's zeal to have a play ground for his son. Far fetched? The man had this to say at a recent interview about raising his new son (sorry if I seem caught up in the fairy tale of a royal delivery, fairy tales are a general weakness :)) "I'll have toy elephants and rhinos around the room ... we'll cover it in lots of bushes ... make him grow up as if he's in the bush."

To be fair, protecting wild life, anywhere, is a good venture and let's face it, where better to protect wild life than the "jungle"? Besides, he doesn't have to do this (his admirers might say) - which is exactly why I'd prefer for Africans to take up the challenge of protecting our own. If this is about a genuine desire to help, Prince William could very easily have assisted those already on the ground undertaking the venture without making this a fun fair.

I liked Prince William. When I was younger, I liked him because he was a good looking prince, the older me continued to like him because he seemed like a nice warm harmless guy and I refused to blame him for his lineage - he had no control over being born a Prince and he certainly had nothing to do with slavery, colonialism or the exploitation of whole continents for natural resources ...

I am not so sure I like him anymore because now, he has alot to do with all I detest - making Africa a charity case, making charity a business and worse, reducing a whole continent's image to a publicity stunt or gimmick.

Thank you, Prince William for your questionable interest in Africa but no thanks, we already have countless royals of our own looking for ways to justify their privilege. Thanks to INDEPENDENCE, we really don't have to tolerate your "benevolence" no more!