LEGON IDDI AMIN

“You can have your freedom of speech, but freedom after speech I cannot guarantee”, and so the famous Iddi Amin proverb reads, funny isn’t it? Well as to whether or not he actually said that, nobody knows.But it appears Legon might have found their own Iddi Amin in the shape of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, at least that’s what the Herald Newspaper says. And so don’t be surprised one of these days when you hear a replica of the above Iddi Amin proverbs that says, “You can have the freedom to demolish my toll both but freedom of entry after demolishing I cannot guarantee”. 

This is actually the situation happening in the UG now. The University has now introduced or re-introduced as some would have us say because they believe it something that has been there all this while, a policy that seek to restrict access and entry of motorists into the University campus. Well it appears these days the Vice Chancellor is really making the news but unfortunately for the bad reasons.

 The draconian policies are really getting the better of the general public. First it was an illegal and discriminatory tollbooth system and thankfully to the National Security Coordinator (may his actions be condemned though) the structure was demolished and then subsequently we all heard that the government has promised to refund the loan the University used to construct the road. So we thought it was all over. But the rather controversial VC would have none of that, he turns round and slaps the whole thing back in our face but this time with a different name and approach.

 I have heard some say he doesn’t take such decisions alone and it’s a council decision. Fair enough but it is obvious he is leader of the University and so it is absolutely fair when we want to criticize him on that. The reasons given for this policy as we are told is that, the University wants to reduce vehicular movement on campus, ensure security and promote a more serene atmosphere for academic work. But I am afraid that cannot be the case. Fact is, this policy doesn’t really intend to control anything be it traffic or security because should everybody decide to pay the rather ridiculous amount involved, then of course nothing changes. I believe it is just a smart attempt by the University to re-introduce a new road user fee mechanism, this time not with tollbooth, so that we would wake up one day to see it demolished by some National Securities apparatchiks.

 Funny enough I have heard people liken this to the current health insurance system operating here in Ghana. Prior to this system, there used to be what we called the ’cash and carry system’, where you paid money every time you visited the hospital but now all you need to do is pay a premium amount and you are covered for a whole year. That’s exactly what Legon Iddi Amin is doing. It used to tolls fees (u pay, you enter), now you pay for the whole year before you enter. Smart isn’t he?

 I really do not like repeating the Iddi Amin name you know, but when it is that you implement such a ridiculous and rather discriminatory policy and also make it seem like you are smarter than everybody, then of course you force me to keep referring to you as Iddi Amin. Discriminatory because, just like the unsuccessful toll charges, University workers and lecturers alike were exempted and students had to fully bear the brunt. Now University workers and lecturers are exempted again, while students are being asked to buy the stickers that would allow them entry at any point, even though at reduced fee. Fact is reduced or not, that is very unfair. Where lays the logic, between students who pay school fees, development levies and all other ridiculous –but- not -talked -about -fees and University lecturers and workers who have their money already, get salaries and allowances some of which are from these fees students pay, who should really pay before he gets access to the University? In any case are students not stakeholders of the University community? Why should we be subjected to such discrimination? Why should we pay and somebody else not? The case is even worse for some of us who don’t have cars because what it means is that commercial drivers would only have to increase their charges and they are good to go. In the long run, we would be the ones bearing the full cost.

 Away from all that, another issue that goes to really define how autocratic the VC can be, hence his name Iddi Amin is the idea of introducing biometric gates in the various halls starting from the Commonwealth Hall (of course he knows if he succeeds there, he would everywhere but trust the Vandals to oppose). The argument he makes, at least that’s what am told, is that he wants to promote security. Such concern for our safety is admirable I must say but then it all comes down to priorities. The last I checked, biometric machines run on electricity. So when lights run out and on like nobody’s business to the extent that evening lectures always have to end abruptly anytime the lights go out, then how possibly should anyone put biometric gates first over securing reliable electricity. Besides I doubt if biometric gates alone can magically ensure security. The real security issues have nothing to do with biometric gates. I advice he seeks advice from Gbevlo Lartey.

 The serious water issues and the fact that I would have to leave my hall or room and walk far away to my department and elsewhere in order to access Wifi internet services etc are equally worrying. So when you have a Vice Chancellor who overlooks all these and want to implement biometric gates, and want his decisions to be regarded as gospel free from any opposition then you wouldn’t be surprised if the likes of Herald Newspaper give him the title of Legon Iddi Amin.

 Actually I would not encourage that name for him, I mean Legon Iddi Amin but if he keeps exhibiting such autocratic tendencies and continues to blatantly disregard the views of the general public on such issues that affect a large number of people because he is the Vice Chancellor of Legon, then am afraid there is nothing I can do……………. Or better still yes!!!!! I can do something, I would say; “It serves him right”

KARIM HOW ARE YOU?

Karim how are you, a friend asked. I am doing amazingly well my brother, I replied with such confidence and optimism. But then I realized he was surprised and so he proceeded to ask, in these hard times? Then the surprised look all of a sudden changed to my side and asked instead, why were you expecting something different?

That is what happens when you pretend you are in America. As for me I have come to terms with the situation. I have lowered the standards and have kept my head under waters and that’s how come am doing fine.

I am on the 3^rd floor of the Alexander Adum Kwapong Hall in the University of Ghana where I school, I have to climb up and down almost everyday just so I can get a bucket of water to bath or perhaps a cup to brush my teeth basically because Ghana Water Company for one reason or the other cant pump water through my pipeline in a country where we can literally get water from hitting a rod on a rock (Moses’ style). I am used to it so I only take relief in smiling and accepting that’s the standard. Let those little school children in the village who have to travel 2 kilometers daily to fetch water before they go to school cry.

For about three weeks now one of my lectures, which start from 5:30 to 7:20pm, has been ended abruptly and consistently because now ECG decides when my lecturers teach and when they should not. As if the case is only so in the evening, lectures scheduled for 1:30pm where the sun is shining and all the lecture rooms have abundant lights also end all the time because PowerPoint presentations cannot go on. Its always funny how my Sociology lecturer, a lady with such calm and tender voice always has to shout on top of voice just so she can make sense to the over 300 students in her class every Wednesday at 3:30pm. And so I don’t get surprise when after 45 minutes she would eventually say in a rather tired voice, see you next week. 

That means more than an hour is lost.

My best friend in the University, my beautiful Binatone rice cooker, these days would refuse to respond to me for obvious reasons, dumso dumso. Normally what happens is after filling it with some whitish stone-like particles; I would run around and come back after 15 minutes with smiles to see them turned into some beautiful, soft and tender teeth-like particles. I would open the basin and see these whitish particles with beaming smiles (cooked rice) waiting to be consumed but unfortunately the story is different now.

And then the president would go to the church and accuse us of having short memories because after he halted dumso dumso temporarily, we failed to say thank you. Perhaps he was expecting us to organize a concert with Shatta Wale and Samini and possibly have Sarkodie and the rest playing along so that we would announce dumso dumso is over. He forgets we have given him all our resources to fix our problems. Now few months later we are back to square one. By now he should be biting his lips for such a reminder because we surely wont be so forgetful this time.

The most annoying part of it all is that the ECG has gotten the impetus and impudence to carefully articulate a rather ridiculous load shedding time table for us. Interestingly annoying isn't it?. Sad thing is they don’t even follow their own time table. God save Ghana.

Well it is not my intention to give the real State of the Nation address here; I am only giving the reasons why I am amazingly living comfortably. Because it is obvious that going by what I have clearly stated above, if I am to worry myself so much about them, I would probably die before my time. You can call it mediocrity or whatever you like, be not as charitable as I have been, my advice is follow my lead, reduce the standards, expect little and you wont be worried about anything.

My name is Karim, and I am doing perfectly fine.

A LETTER TO NANA ADDO

Dear Nana Addo,

I was filled with so much joy upon knowing that you are back after about 6 months away in what people have termed ‘political leave’. First and foremost I want to thank God for your life and good health.

Well I believe that by now you know what almost every Ghanaian is expecting from you, that is whether or not you would contest in 2016. Arguably I believe it is the most anticipated announcement in Ghana now.

I believe you are aware that most of your party faithful would want to see your face on the ballot sheet for the third time come 2016, at least judging by the response and reception you received in Kumasi recently. But I guess you are equally open to the possibility that others would oppose such a move. It would only be fair, I guess. Well for some of us, we are in the middle.

Nana, while you were away, I took to facebook like I always have and I prayed that while you were out there interacting with your Lord –The Battle is The Lord’s - , like you always say, the response would be; “My son, you have fought a good fight, now you can take a rest”. But it appears my prayers might not have been answered and that the Lord said otherwise. Of course you have not spoken on the matter since your return but Mustapha Hamid – your right hand man- has. And I must say my fear has been intensified.  I am told you plan to break your silence on the matter on Thursday. Well between now and then I believe you have enough time to consider what I have to tell you too.

Sire, much as I would love to see you become President of this country, I believe respectfully that you should not contest in 2016. I say this not because I smell doom, far from that. I have clearly thought through and weighed both sides carefully and believe that there is no point in you running again for President. Honestly, I do not think you have anything to prove to anybody in this country again. You have seen it all and you have done it all. You have been there at every point in our democratic journey, through the struggle to where we are today. Today if Ghana is still called the bastion of African democracy then I think you own a share in that achievement. From the time of “kumi preko”, through to the end of military rule, to the fight for transparent election, to the struggle for transparent ballot boxes, the request for biometric machines, you name it; a certain Akuffo Addo has always been mentioned. Your legal prowess is still one that’s admired by many especially your enemies.

And respectfully I do not believe it is your birth right to be President despite your father being one; hence it is not something you should be so desperate for. Besides it wouldn’t in any way make you a failure. Again I don’t think you hold a magic wand in your hand such that you can transform Ghana in a second. And so I believe you would go through the same system as anyone has, the same corrupt officials, the same corrupt politicians, the same mediocre citizens and what have you. Therefore it’s not so much about you or who is the president, it’s about all of us, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do a good job though.

Honestly you are a really strong person. Your credibility has always been questioned but the strong Nana Addo has always come clean. The drugs allegations, your enviable school life etc have all been challenged but you have always been firm and focused. The recent was your ‘violent nature’, so they said, giving various meanings to your harmless ‘All Die Be Die’ and wearing it war regalia and stocking it with arms just so they would be vindicated. But what happened? You proved everybody wrong; you turned to the law like you always have. In the end you lost, but you made sure peace and the democracy of Ghana won. For that, the world all over applauded and commended you. And so my little advice would be to leave the stage when the applaud is loudest.

Nana all that said, I believe that your decision not to contest would be in the best interest of your party as well. It is obvious there have been divisions in recent times and there still is. I think this is the time for you to settle. As selfless as you have always been I expect you to step down and openly declare your support for any candidate the party nominates and I assure you the results would be worth it. I honestly believe the power to unite your party currently is in your hands and yours alone. You can do it now or forever deepen the rift in your party.

I am aware you have never been afraid of defeat, at least I know that of every great leader and certainly you are one. But a third defeat, I fear would not be too easy to accept especially when it happens like it did in 2012, so many electoral challenges. The sad truth is, not so much would change in 2016.

Well we can all pretend we don’t care about your age, and go about singing the ‘age doesn’t matter’ song, but the truth is it does. It really does. You would be 71 by 2016 I guess and we all know you may not be as strong as before or perhaps now. So I believe it is in your interest and the interest of your party and Ghanaians at large that you do not contest. If it is just about service to your nation like I believe it is, then I guess you can still do that on the sidelines even though I concede it is best done leading the park.

…..Considering what I have said so far Sire, may you do me the honor of reading this for me come Thursday,

 “ Fellow Ghanaians, I have carefully thought about my political future. I have spoken to my Lord and have consulted a few, I am aware some people would want to see me retire from politics. But I am also delighted and fulfilled that a good number want to see me contest in 2016. I want to say a very big thank you to everybody. We have all made Ghana a better place. It has always been about service to this great nation and I think I have done just that. I know this is hard and difficult but I believe that is where we have come today. I have decided that I would stand down and allow somebody else to represent our party come 2016 and I have every hope that the NPP would come back to power in 2016. I entreat all of you to fully support whoever is chosen by the party.

I want to thank everybody for the support and encouragement and most importantly I want to thank God for how far He has brought us.

KUKRUDOOOOO!!!!!!! KUKRUDOOOOOO!!!!!!”

I am hopeful my letter would be duly considered. I would equally be disappointed if you read anything to the contrary on Thursday.

Yours faithfully,

Karim, Unda Gh

TUG OF FREE SHS

I have carefully followed the fallout of the President’s state of the Nation address and just like I anticipated, the President’s promise of a “Progressive free SHS in 2015” has taken the Centre stage of the issues currently under discussion.

The main opposition party NPP has called the President’s intention as a theft of their headline policy in the 2012 election campaign-funny isn’t it?

The NDC too has maintained and in fact the president has recently said that the NPP and Akuffo Addo as a matter have no patent right over the implementation of a SHS programme in this country. Oh yeah - that’s true. Article 25 of 1992 constitution clearly calls for this policy and so I believe no individual can lay claim 

over the policy.

But then I come to the argument with a whole different direction and thinking. Sincerely speaking I still have a difficulty as to whether the president’s announcement of free SHS in 2016 was necessary in this year’s state of the Nation address at all. I will come to the merits of the issue and whether it is any different from what the NPP promised of which the President and the NDC vehemently opposed in the run-up to the 2012 election.

First and foremost, I doubt if apart from the attempt to take our attention off the hardships of the economy and the real state of the Nation, this announcement of free SHSwas meant for anything at all. We have so many issues to deal with currently and I think that if the president really has such will to implement this, then he should have waited and allowed us to fully concentrate on fixing this coma-struck economy rather than bringing in such distract announcement. Besides we have enough time between now and 2016.

Moreover I am most astonished by the sheer hypocrisy displayed by the president and the NDC at the recent turn of events. After almost rubbishing and condemning the initiative of NPP 2012 flag bearer to implement SHS with series of advertisements and commentaries that sought to create the impression that free SHS is not only impossible but an attempt to kill the education sector, I couldn’t hold my jaw from opening wide as I listened to the president in shock talking about free SHS.

I will now at this time run by you some of the commentaries by the president and senior NDC communicators and officials alike.

The president in the run-up to election posted as usual on his Facebook wall; “Free SHS is a misplaced priority if primary school pupils still pay school fees. Let us make that free first.” I doubt if anything has magically changed in 2 years of his administration. Oh Ok!!! It might by 2015.

Funny enough the Veep at a rally in Kade said something similar, also eluding to the claim that it is 

impossible.

 Well ….Perhaps you should see what Kwadwo Adu Asare former MP,Adenta said; “Free SHS is impossible and unrealistic”  The list can go on and on, with Okudjeto among others saying similar things.

Interestingly JH Mensah in the floor of parliament reminded us all why it cannot and should never be called free in the first place, saying that it would definitely be from our tax and that our priority should be on quality and access.

You remember the famous Pastor Mensah Otabil tape? SmH, where many NDC communicators capitalized on it to run-down Nana Addo’s free SHS? That education can never be free, that we pay taxes and should not be happy if any politician promises us free education, that free things do not guarantee quality?

In fact there are allegations by Kweku Baako and Nana Akomea that people from the ministry of information then, paid for that sound bite to played as adverts. Interesting!

But despite all these I have heard the communicators say that it would be unfair for some of us to call them hypocrites because the issues are not really the same…And that one is “ Free SHS now” while the other being the NDC is “Free SHS progressively”. But even with that, I struggle to find the difference. Per the speech, the government intends to roll out the policy in 2015, that is a year away I think. Funny for anyone to think, that limited period changes the status from the” NOW” to “PROGRESSIVE”.

Besides the 2012 manifesto of NDC called for access and quality first. I ask has any been achieved yet. The answer is negative. Even the 50-day senior high schools projected for the first year, a quarter of the president’s 200 senior high schools promised, was not achieved.

For quality, I would not go there. It is obvious. Some basic schools in the North are now recording 0% pass in the BECE. Last year in the Volta region only eleven BECE candidates had ‘6 Ones’. And also I am now tempted to believe that apart from an unnecessary attempt to make it seem like “we are crippling the campaign message of our opponents”, the president’s announcement of a free SHS in 2015 can best described as mischievous and hypocritical.

The sudden turn around and the haste in even trying to implement something that even the most sympathetic NDC communicators said could only be possible in the next 20 years, just under 3 years leaves me with the question;” what has changed?”

The basic requirement they put forth as necessary in an attempt to fully implement free SHS, that is ‘access and quality’ have yet been achieved. The economy is still in a deplorable state and I doubt if it is going to recover any time soon.

Well I would love to see that day when SHS will be free irrespective of who is implementing it, progressively or otherwise. What I would not love to see is a politics of double standards, and a politics of hypocrisy.

THE SHOPLIFTING BROUHAHA

 I have clearly followed the developments after the recent shoplifting incident at the Mr Price shop at Accra mall. It appears there is unison in the call for justice for those girls.A lot have condemned the act by the security men, I have even heard that the said security men and the shop manager have been called by the police for questioning... interesting. 

A friend has even considered replicating the act of the girls just so he can also gain some fame....hahahahaha.....that was on a lighter side but sincerely speaking this shoplifting thing has really shot these girls to fame. Recently I heard a press release from the office of the former president of the republic of Ghana Flt Lieutenant Jerry john Rawlings condemning the act by the security men. Various prominent Women and Human Right groups have equally voiced their condemnation as well. 

The girls have virtually been seen everywhere in this country and beyond...well not for good reasons though but we cannot dispute how popular they've become now, perhaps only second to the TWEAAAAAA MCE. 

Anyway while I would not advice that friend of mine to replicate this act, I believe his argument about how these girls have shot to fame in no time is not entirely false. How many of us can get the former president to speak for us.

 But then I come to this whole saga with a different twist, a different angle, one that most people have overlooked for reasons best known to them -perhaps they are too busy being diplomatic and appearing all gentle-, that is equally important though. But knowing very well how controversial my views may seem, I think its important to state my position on the issue. I am in no way supportive of the inhuman treatment,as some would call it, meted out to the ladies at the mall. 

 The constitution is very clear on what should be done in cases of this nature. Therefore I find this action no different from lynching alleged thieves or robbers on our streets and as such should not be countenanced. 

That said, let me ask you these questions. Sincerely what would you have preferred? Making a mockery of you, making you crawl, taking video footage of you, and allowing you to leave without the usual slaps that normally accompany such arrests-well none sounds interesting I know - OR? Being arrested and sent to the stinky smelly police cells around, staying there for more than the constitutionally accepted 48 hours as has become the norm, being subjected to worse treatment by police officers compared to what would be offered by the mall security officers, and finally being taken to court and heckled to and fro for months because of the snail pace of our judicial system,amidst all the unwanted media coverage, I can imagine the headlines of major newspapers reading "Court adjourns Mr price shoplifting case sine dire(indefinitely)", others; "Girl thieves remanded in police custody" etc and given the fact that they(the three ladies) conceded to stealing, you might end up being made to pay some moneys or possibly go to prison.....the details of that you know already (Ghanaian prisons) are not so nice to talk about.

 Sincerely speaking most of us would have chosen the former, because if you weigh the damages carefully, the so-called constitutionally accepted procedure poses worse dehumanizing threats. Let us all for once get out of our hypocrisy and look at issues critically and objectively. Instead of sounding all diplomatic and behaving like this is the worst act of injustice we have ever seen, we should be looking at why somebody would go behind the laws and do things his own way or why somebody would be content with another taking the law into his hands and punishing him when he's wrong like it happened with those girls. Why should outsiders and NGOs be the ones calling on the girls to report to the police? Why, did the ladies say they have a difficulty finding the location of one? Are they even complaining themselves? They are satisfied with the punishment because they know what happens to people in the hands of our policemen. 

06. Please let's stop this act of hypocrisy and stop crying more than the bereaved and look at why things like this happen in the first place. We need to fix our institutions, we need to put trust in them, we need to make them work well, we need to give people even offenders reasons why they should choose the police and the courts first.

 It is only when we do that, that we can stop some of these things from replicating itself. We should be learning from this, it gives us clues why people prefer to keep domestic violence and rape cases at home. While we are busily condemning this and letting the world know how law abiding we are, we should not forget the good lessons it teaches us. Besides it is equally important that as we condemn the mall security officials for taking the law into their own hands,we don't create the impression that 'go and steal and if anybody dares do anything to you we would come to your defense'. No! That would equally not be right. 

 The security men didnt do well but we should look beyond that and look at why the girls would choose their punishment over the police cells. ......and I dare challenge anyone to show me one person who would prefer the police station to the punishment given to the girls at the mall ( crawling) and I'll buy him the sea.

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UNDA GH OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

Its out now. Its official. The much awaited UNDA GH blog is officially launched.
I must say its not been easy .As Barnet and Stubbs (1986) observed and it is true though ;"it is a universal law that given two tasks, one of which is writing, a person will choose the other task", I had to fight hard to overcome the laziness in me to get this done.

I am extremely grateful to the Almighty God for my life and my sustenance.
A very big thank you to all of you(my facebook friends). You guys inspire and motivate me a lot.
To my big brothers I take so much inspiration from Mohammed Yoni Ibrahim, Musah Madiba Ibrahim and the best friends anybody can possibly ask for Solomon,Kesse, and the best cousin on earth Ernestina Asante, I say thank you guys. To Joanna Hassan thanks for your advice.

To Zionfelix.com, bro you are an inspiration too. How can I possibly forget my friend, Otu Tom Tuffour Kwarteng for his contributions(he designed the and blog page *for free*)

It has been said that scholarship is a shared enterprise. I want to therefore give regards in advance to anyone whose work I might quote or learn from one day in my write-ups.

Finally to all who helped in diverse ways but whose names are not captured here, I plead inadequacy of space. I am however convinced that you are amply rewarded as this dream has come to fruition.
Thank you everybody.

you can visit undagh.blogspot.com to read my first batch of write-ups. Comments and criticisms are most welcome.

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THE LAST THREE DIGITS OF MY PHONE NUMBER

 "The last three digits of my phone number though".....to whom it may concern

          
       For whatever reasons I have no idea of, a mention of it brings one thing, just one thing to mind FRAUD. As to why it came up in the first place, I am yet to come across a history book that tells that story. But it appears it is widely accepted at least in this part of the world, the word or should I say the numbers 419 is very popular for all the bad reasons. And so when I bought my mobile phone chip, and made the first call to a friend to let him know my number the response was obvious; "so u turn 419 boy now? " and that was followed with a heavy lengthy laughter. 

         Amidst the confusion and everything I asked what do you mean by that, he said -still laughing- check the last three digits of your phone number. Hahahhahaha I did and it was 419. And so from then the subsequent calls at least for the familiarization period had this preamble or should I say a disclaimer;" please the connotation of the last three digits of my phone is in no way a reflection of my character" and it would proceed with a laughter from both ends before we switch to whatever we had to talk about. Funny isn't it. Hahahhaa but that was not the end of my problem. 

       Till date when I am reading out the number to a new person, I do it with a certain tact and skill such that I would avoid mentioning that last three digits together. And so this is how, I mention the first four together (0548) then (09) then( 34)- and with a long pause- i add (19)......often I get caught anyway. Lol So I say next time when you buy anything, check around it carefully to see because maybe, just maybe there might be a 419 inscription somewhere and the experience with having to explain yourself always is not so nice a thing .

KWASEA BI NTI

 

 In a recent suit won by the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia popularly known as General Mosquito against The Daily Guide newspaper the gentleman in question was heard saying in an interview, that he would use the 250000 Ghana cedis he was awarded by the court as damages to build a house and name it "kwasea bi nti"....lol...how funny. 

The man General Mosquito can't talk without a pinch of controversy, can he? As I sat through the interview I couldn't hold back my laughter. The case was a two year old litigation over allegations by The Daily Guide that during the administration of His Excellency Prof Evans Attah Mills of blessed memory, Mr Asiedu Nketia used public funds to build a storey building somewhere in Kumasi. Funny enough the now realized to be false allegation had gained roots in the suburb where the said house was built to the extent that a popular Bus stop in the area has been named "General Mosquito Bus Stop". 

After a long battle in court the judge finally declared General Mosquito victor and when asked about what he would use the money he said;"I plan to now build a house of my own in the same area and name it "kwasea bi nti" to wit, kind courtesy a foolish person....lol such is the intensity of his sense of humor. 

 That said, I believe it is a wake up call to all of us especially our politicians and people in the media. The habit of perpetuating and peddling falsehood against others in the name of politics should stop. It is important we all learn from this, irrespective of ones political affiliation, such acts are ungodly and unprofessional.

Let us do well to shun from this just so one day we don't end up as the "kwasea" at whose expense somebody will build a house he never would have.

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