Currently, one of my favourite ways of enjoying Wednesday evenings is to watch the “Zain Africa Challenge”. It’s a quiz organised by Zain and it’s for selected Universities in Africa. The quiz master of the show is great and leaves an “indelible mark” on his audience – a good enough reason to make a date with him every week on the show.
This quiz is based on general knowledge with topics ranging from history, science, African culture, geography, literature, music and current affairs.I don’t think any syllabus is given so the student’s performance depends on their understanding of what’s happening around them and how knowledgeable and versatile they are when it comes to issues covered on the show.
The quiz started with 5 Ghanaian Universities and before long, four were evicted during the 1st round leaving only one that made it to the 2nd stage. As to how they got there it was a miracle. At the 2nd stage, the final Ghanaian university was evicted.
Looking at Ghanaian universities today, it is hardly a surprise that they were eliminated so early? I for one think that our Universities are now places encouraging rote learning, rather than places where ingenuity is rewarded.
The issue here is whose fault is this? Is it the faults of students, lecturers or government? A lecturer who takes over 600 students for one course has no option than to let the class answer “fill in questions”, true or false and mostly objective questions that merely require you to reproduce what the lecturer has taught you. Even these responses can be found in handouts that the lecturers themselves have produced. There is no room for a student to research on any topic unless the student is in a class of less than 100 students and the lecturer is prepared to take the time to mark, or the student loves studying and has a hobby of reading, but for the average student…When even an assignment or a term paper is given that requires students to research, how many students get the papers back?
In my days at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, it was rare to see the “Junior Common Room” full with diligent students. In face, whenever you saw the Common Room full then you will knew there was a football match on. On “normal” days, the common room was a place for playing pool. Students prefer reading novels (that is if they read) to reading newspapers and prefer watching movies to watching the news.
In my opinion the subject of quality university education in Ghana is a challenge to the nation as a whole and it behoves on each and every individual contribute to making our educational system better.
Where do we start from and how do we do it?
Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Aging: What are your thoughts on it?
Over the weekend, I attended the final funeral rites of a close relative at one of the suburbs in Accra. Unfortunately for me, most of the activities during the church service were in Ga, the local language spoken by the people of Accra for which I neither speak nor understand. So to while away the time, I decided to do what I do best when I am bored; observe my surroundings and watch those coming in and leaving the church. This funeral was for an 80 year old man, and so quite a number of those who attended the church service were octogenarians. What struck me as I observed most of them slowly walking towards the entrance were the different forms of age associated disabilities that they had.
Some used walking sticks while others used sigma frames as walking aids, and a few others were held by the arm and directed to their seats.
As I observed these senior citizens, I was reminded once again of the fact that life indeed is a journey and throughout the long journey aging is one of the certainties that every one will come face to face with.
In our youth we sometimes forget about the fact that a time will come when we will be unable to do some of the things we love to do because we will be weak, deaf, dumb, frail, and blind, or have physical and mental disabilities as a result of aging.
This is what Maya Angelou, one of my favourite all time writers wrote in her book “ Even the stars look lonesome” on Aging: “At sixty my body, which had never displayed a mind of its own turned obstreperous, opinionated, and deliberately treacherous. The skin on my thighs became lumpy, my waist thickened and my breasts- its better not to mention them at all except to say that they seemed to be in a race to see which could be the first to reach my knees.”
I am only in my mid thirties and in the past decade I have seen my own body undergo various forms of transformation; my waist of course has thickened and as for my breasts I will not describe them at all.
The physical changes in the body as one age is very obvious and I think for women it is even more difficult because directly or indirectly, society puts a lot of emphasis on our physical attributes as a measure of our worth. Sometimes I wonder whether that is the reason why a lot of women shy from mentioning their correct age as if it is a crime for women to grow old.
I personally think that aging is a reminder to us that our life on earth will certainly end one day. The question is “how do we live our lives so that the end is full of memorable adventures”. My recipe for a fulfilling life journey includes;
• make the best out of every situation
• live your life to the fullest
• plan your retirement as soon as you start working
• take good care of your body both physically and spiritually.
• try new and exciting things and
• above all do not forget your creator.
Nobody should waste time grieving about growing old. Instead, begin another exciting chapter of your life today because you and only you hold the key that can make things happen. Are you still afraid of aging?
Some used walking sticks while others used sigma frames as walking aids, and a few others were held by the arm and directed to their seats.
As I observed these senior citizens, I was reminded once again of the fact that life indeed is a journey and throughout the long journey aging is one of the certainties that every one will come face to face with.
In our youth we sometimes forget about the fact that a time will come when we will be unable to do some of the things we love to do because we will be weak, deaf, dumb, frail, and blind, or have physical and mental disabilities as a result of aging.
This is what Maya Angelou, one of my favourite all time writers wrote in her book “ Even the stars look lonesome” on Aging: “At sixty my body, which had never displayed a mind of its own turned obstreperous, opinionated, and deliberately treacherous. The skin on my thighs became lumpy, my waist thickened and my breasts- its better not to mention them at all except to say that they seemed to be in a race to see which could be the first to reach my knees.”
I am only in my mid thirties and in the past decade I have seen my own body undergo various forms of transformation; my waist of course has thickened and as for my breasts I will not describe them at all.
The physical changes in the body as one age is very obvious and I think for women it is even more difficult because directly or indirectly, society puts a lot of emphasis on our physical attributes as a measure of our worth. Sometimes I wonder whether that is the reason why a lot of women shy from mentioning their correct age as if it is a crime for women to grow old.
I personally think that aging is a reminder to us that our life on earth will certainly end one day. The question is “how do we live our lives so that the end is full of memorable adventures”. My recipe for a fulfilling life journey includes;
• make the best out of every situation
• live your life to the fullest
• plan your retirement as soon as you start working
• take good care of your body both physically and spiritually.
• try new and exciting things and
• above all do not forget your creator.
Nobody should waste time grieving about growing old. Instead, begin another exciting chapter of your life today because you and only you hold the key that can make things happen. Are you still afraid of aging?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
26 years on and still flaming hot
Scrolling the contacts list on my phone last week, I realised there was this “Old man” friend whom I have not spoken to for about two weeks (which was quite unusual). This man is 65 year old and a German has been my friend for close to 6 months. I tried calling him, but his phone was switched off. I persisted, but still I couldn’t get through to him.
Incidentally, he called me today and after explaining that I have been trying to speak to him for so long he told me where he had been and what he had been up to and guess what? This man who has been married for over 26 years had taken a vacation with none other than his wife. I was sooooo impressed that he has been able to keep the flame of his marriage burning all these years! He proudly said it is something he does at least every 6 months.
After the call I started asking myself questions; why my friends who have been married for as short as 5 years are now bitter enemies and at a personal level, why I have not been taking time to relax. I sat down to ponder, especially over the last question and I have to admit that my life is so much calculated and ordered that things naturally fall in place each day and week and nothing new and exciting is happening to me at all.
Prior to my moving to Accra from Takoradi, I used to love spending time in ‘solitary confinement’ in my room and going to the beach. Spending time at the beach gave me such joy and inspiration from admiring nature and putting aside all my fears and cares. But since I moved to Accra I have come up with a number of excuses not to continue with the occasional beach breaks: traffic jams on the way to the beaches, for example.
After my conversation with my German friend, I decided on an additional ‘New Year’ ‘resolutions, which considering the period I should appropriately call ‘a mid -year resolutions. And these are, to come out of my “shell”, be proactive and at least once every quarter of the year have some fun with my friends.
So in case I don’t pick a call or my phone is switched off any one of these weekends, you should know where I am.
Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant
Incidentally, he called me today and after explaining that I have been trying to speak to him for so long he told me where he had been and what he had been up to and guess what? This man who has been married for over 26 years had taken a vacation with none other than his wife. I was sooooo impressed that he has been able to keep the flame of his marriage burning all these years! He proudly said it is something he does at least every 6 months.
After the call I started asking myself questions; why my friends who have been married for as short as 5 years are now bitter enemies and at a personal level, why I have not been taking time to relax. I sat down to ponder, especially over the last question and I have to admit that my life is so much calculated and ordered that things naturally fall in place each day and week and nothing new and exciting is happening to me at all.
Prior to my moving to Accra from Takoradi, I used to love spending time in ‘solitary confinement’ in my room and going to the beach. Spending time at the beach gave me such joy and inspiration from admiring nature and putting aside all my fears and cares. But since I moved to Accra I have come up with a number of excuses not to continue with the occasional beach breaks: traffic jams on the way to the beaches, for example.
After my conversation with my German friend, I decided on an additional ‘New Year’ ‘resolutions, which considering the period I should appropriately call ‘a mid -year resolutions. And these are, to come out of my “shell”, be proactive and at least once every quarter of the year have some fun with my friends.
So in case I don’t pick a call or my phone is switched off any one of these weekends, you should know where I am.
Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
PREMISES FOR RENT
The African Women’s Development Fund announces the availability of premises to rent. Details are as follows:
A five bedroom house located at Plot no. 78, Ambassadorial Enclave East Legon, Accra, Ghana (near Galaxy international school)
Rent is negotiable
All interested persons should contact Grace Amenyogbeli, Administrative Manager, via telephone +233-21-521257; 233-21-923626; 233- 28-722006 or e-mail grace@awdf,org
A five bedroom house located at Plot no. 78, Ambassadorial Enclave East Legon, Accra, Ghana (near Galaxy international school)
Rent is negotiable
All interested persons should contact Grace Amenyogbeli, Administrative Manager, via telephone +233-21-521257; 233-21-923626; 233- 28-722006 or e-mail grace@awdf,org
Grantee Focus: Mbaasem announces the "Ghana Women Writers Forum"
Are you a female novelist, poet or playwright? Have you attempted writing any short stories, novels, poems or plays? Do you need guidance in writing and publishing your own work? Are you a member of the Mbaasem Writers’ Club? Then Mbaasem Foundation is inviting you to join the Ghana Women Writers’ Forum for a wonderful evening of interaction.
Venue: The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) House, Roman Ridge , Accra
Date: Thursday 23rd July 2009
Time: 5.30 pm
This interaction will be the first of a series of meetings that will be aimed towards helping established and aspiring writers to write and publish their works. The meetings will also offer women writers the opportunity to collaborate and network with each other. All interested women are cordially invited.
Contact: 024 345-1003, mbaasem33@yahoo.com
Venue: The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) House, Roman Ridge , Accra
Date: Thursday 23rd July 2009
Time: 5.30 pm
This interaction will be the first of a series of meetings that will be aimed towards helping established and aspiring writers to write and publish their works. The meetings will also offer women writers the opportunity to collaborate and network with each other. All interested women are cordially invited.
Contact: 024 345-1003, mbaasem33@yahoo.com
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
THE AFRICAN GRANTMAKERS NETWORK IS LAUNCHED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Ghana, Accra–15 July 2009: “The African Grantmakers Network will change the face of global philanthropy. And it will happen right here in Africa”, said Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes at the African Women’s Development Fund, at a meeting organized to establish a network of African grantmakers.
After years of careful planning, preparations, consultations and meetings, the AGN was launched in Accra at a meeting convened by the African Women’s Development Fund, TrustAfrica and the Kenya Community Development Foundation—and attended by key African grantmakers. “The establishment of an African Grantmakers Network is well overdue”, was the opening line of a discussion document circulated at the meeting.
“This has been a long overdue dialogue that has now finally taken shape. I want to express my wish that this network will grow and become sustainable in order to develop a strong, collective voice for Africa and her needs in terms of development—from Africa, for Africa”, said Christine Delport, Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation.
And TrustAfrica’s Executive Director, Akwasi Aidoo, emphasized that the AGN’s main function will be to “change the narrative of Africa as helpless and hapless, tilt the balance of stories, and increase the visibility and knowledge of Africa”. He went on to say, “this is a network with a solid net across our continent and lots of good work for its people”.
The AGN will also:
Serve as a platform for peer learning and good practice to enhance good standards and practices;
Ensure an amplification of local voices in development discourse and African perspectives in global platforms;
Reinforce the tradition of African philanthropy;
Advocate for long-term and sustainable mechanisms and resources, including investments and endowments for philanthropic institutions in Africa;
Serve as a reference point for Africans in the Diaspora and a point to affirm the identity of African philanthropic institutions;
Cultivate good relations with other civil society formations in Africa and increase networking for effective advocacy around the aid agenda and the legal environment, including the tax regime; and
Conduct pertinent research, capacity building and advocacy roles.
A Steering Committee was elected comprising;
Bisi Adeleye FAYEMI: Chair (African Women’s Development Fund, Ghana)
Janet MAWIYOO: Co-Chair (Kenya Community Development Foundation, Kenya)
Akwasi AIDOO: (TrustAfrica, Senegal)
Christine DELPORT: (Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation, South Africa)
Neville GABRIEL: (Southern Africa Trust, South Africa)
Ezra MBOGORI: (Akiba Uhaki Foundation, East Africa)
John Ulanga: (The Foundation for Civil Society, Tanzania)
After the launch, Neville Gabriel, Executive Director of Southern Africa Trust, stated:
“The creation of the African Grantmakers Network is a historic moment in the development of African institutions that truly belong to the continent. It’s been created by grantmaking organizations that are rooted in Africa, out of their own felt need for such a network, and through their own commitment to create such a group. The network will therefore be a key platform to improve the way in which funding towards effective development results is channeled to African organizations”.
And Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, Executive Director of the African Women’s Development Fund, summarized the launch as follows:
“The story of Africa’s development has been told many times over with great reference to the disasters but little if any to the contributions of Africans who work to create change, to shape a new historical narrative of hope, dignity, peace and prosperity to all of the continent’s citizens. The AGN is born of these efforts. It seeks to build on the rich tradition of philanthropic giving in Africa”.
Contact:
The AGN Secretariat
Lot 87, Sacré Coeur 3
Pyrotechnie x VDN
BP 45435
Dakar-Fann
Sénégal
Tel: 221-33-869-4686
Fax: 221-33-824-1567
E-mail: info@trustafrica.org
Website: www.trustafrica.org
Ghana, Accra–15 July 2009: “The African Grantmakers Network will change the face of global philanthropy. And it will happen right here in Africa”, said Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes at the African Women’s Development Fund, at a meeting organized to establish a network of African grantmakers.
After years of careful planning, preparations, consultations and meetings, the AGN was launched in Accra at a meeting convened by the African Women’s Development Fund, TrustAfrica and the Kenya Community Development Foundation—and attended by key African grantmakers. “The establishment of an African Grantmakers Network is well overdue”, was the opening line of a discussion document circulated at the meeting.
“This has been a long overdue dialogue that has now finally taken shape. I want to express my wish that this network will grow and become sustainable in order to develop a strong, collective voice for Africa and her needs in terms of development—from Africa, for Africa”, said Christine Delport, Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation.
And TrustAfrica’s Executive Director, Akwasi Aidoo, emphasized that the AGN’s main function will be to “change the narrative of Africa as helpless and hapless, tilt the balance of stories, and increase the visibility and knowledge of Africa”. He went on to say, “this is a network with a solid net across our continent and lots of good work for its people”.
The AGN will also:
Serve as a platform for peer learning and good practice to enhance good standards and practices;
Ensure an amplification of local voices in development discourse and African perspectives in global platforms;
Reinforce the tradition of African philanthropy;
Advocate for long-term and sustainable mechanisms and resources, including investments and endowments for philanthropic institutions in Africa;
Serve as a reference point for Africans in the Diaspora and a point to affirm the identity of African philanthropic institutions;
Cultivate good relations with other civil society formations in Africa and increase networking for effective advocacy around the aid agenda and the legal environment, including the tax regime; and
Conduct pertinent research, capacity building and advocacy roles.
A Steering Committee was elected comprising;
Bisi Adeleye FAYEMI: Chair (African Women’s Development Fund, Ghana)
Janet MAWIYOO: Co-Chair (Kenya Community Development Foundation, Kenya)
Akwasi AIDOO: (TrustAfrica, Senegal)
Christine DELPORT: (Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation, South Africa)
Neville GABRIEL: (Southern Africa Trust, South Africa)
Ezra MBOGORI: (Akiba Uhaki Foundation, East Africa)
John Ulanga: (The Foundation for Civil Society, Tanzania)
After the launch, Neville Gabriel, Executive Director of Southern Africa Trust, stated:
“The creation of the African Grantmakers Network is a historic moment in the development of African institutions that truly belong to the continent. It’s been created by grantmaking organizations that are rooted in Africa, out of their own felt need for such a network, and through their own commitment to create such a group. The network will therefore be a key platform to improve the way in which funding towards effective development results is channeled to African organizations”.
And Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, Executive Director of the African Women’s Development Fund, summarized the launch as follows:
“The story of Africa’s development has been told many times over with great reference to the disasters but little if any to the contributions of Africans who work to create change, to shape a new historical narrative of hope, dignity, peace and prosperity to all of the continent’s citizens. The AGN is born of these efforts. It seeks to build on the rich tradition of philanthropic giving in Africa”.
Contact:
The AGN Secretariat
Lot 87, Sacré Coeur 3
Pyrotechnie x VDN
BP 45435
Dakar-Fann
Sénégal
Tel: 221-33-869-4686
Fax: 221-33-824-1567
E-mail: info@trustafrica.org
Website: www.trustafrica.org
Friday, July 10, 2009
Obama’s Visit: Is He Promoting Good Governance In Ghana?
It is well known that President Obama chose to visit Ghana because of its track record in governance and democracy. Not all of us who live here are convinced that we are such a good model for governance and democracy but that is a subject for another blog.
This morning Joy FM (Ghanaian local radio station) interviewed a journalist who had been assaulted by some staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as he tried to report a demolition exercise that was being carried out by the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra (Ghana’s capital). The AMA officials were destroying the shacks and tables used by street hawkers. The AMA officials did not want this journalist to report the story. According to the journalist in question (Cyrus De-Graft Johnson, a Joy FM journalist) he was physically assaulted and robbed of his belongings including his mobile phone, recorder and a wallet. A fellow journalist who tried to come to his aid was also severely beaten up. All this was done whilst armed and unarmed policemen who were there to protect the task force watched on.
I initially heard this report at about 8.3oam, by midday Joy FM reported that President Mills had ordered an immediate investigation into the assault of the journalists and had personally spoken to the journalists. The head of the AMA, Mr Vanderpuye also said he had retrieved the personal effects taken from the journalists.
Is it a coincidence that President Mills rang the two journalists on the same day that President Obama is arriving in Accra or am I merely being a skeptic when I suspect a linkage? After all it will not do for there to be media reports about assaulted journalists on the same day that the 44th President of the United States of America visits Ghana, to hold the country up as “a model of good governance and democracy” in Africa.
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communication
P.S: I am a member of Ghana Blogging.com and this post is my contribution for our universal blogging day
This morning Joy FM (Ghanaian local radio station) interviewed a journalist who had been assaulted by some staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as he tried to report a demolition exercise that was being carried out by the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra (Ghana’s capital). The AMA officials were destroying the shacks and tables used by street hawkers. The AMA officials did not want this journalist to report the story. According to the journalist in question (Cyrus De-Graft Johnson, a Joy FM journalist) he was physically assaulted and robbed of his belongings including his mobile phone, recorder and a wallet. A fellow journalist who tried to come to his aid was also severely beaten up. All this was done whilst armed and unarmed policemen who were there to protect the task force watched on.
I initially heard this report at about 8.3oam, by midday Joy FM reported that President Mills had ordered an immediate investigation into the assault of the journalists and had personally spoken to the journalists. The head of the AMA, Mr Vanderpuye also said he had retrieved the personal effects taken from the journalists.
Is it a coincidence that President Mills rang the two journalists on the same day that President Obama is arriving in Accra or am I merely being a skeptic when I suspect a linkage? After all it will not do for there to be media reports about assaulted journalists on the same day that the 44th President of the United States of America visits Ghana, to hold the country up as “a model of good governance and democracy” in Africa.
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communication
P.S: I am a member of Ghana Blogging.com and this post is my contribution for our universal blogging day
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
An Open Letter to President Obama
8th July, 2009.
Dear President Obama,
You are expected in our beloved country this Friday and already Obama-mania has taken over Ghana. To be fair Obama-mania is not solely because of your impending visit. Obama-mania began when you became the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. On that fateful day in November when you were voted into office many Ghanaians did not sleep. I was one of the unfaithful who went to bed but I instinctively woke up during the night and checked CNN to find that you were going to become the 44th President of the United States of America. I guess it is only fit that we as Ghanaians felt so involved with the American electoral process. After all, your country is the “World’s Policeman”. At least that is how it feels some of the time…
I know you are travelling with your wife, Michelle but the whole country appears to be excited about YOU and not the First Lady. Hmm, I wonder if the levels of excitement would have been the same if she was President.
You can’t imagine the fuss your impending visit has caused. Let me tell you some:
Listening to Ghana’s Joy FM yesterday, it was reported that the chiefs of the Ogua Traditional Area in the Central Region had declared that no funerals are to take place on Saturday the 11th of July. The Chiefs in their wisdom and foresight anticipate that the Obama motorcade will drive through their municipality and they want no hindrance in the President’s way. Instead the Chiefs plan to hold a durbar which Obama may view as his motorcade speeds by. I am wondering if they have not heard that Obama’s helicopter will be transporting him to Cape Coast direct from Accra. I also feel sorry for all those who have been planning funerals for months (in some cases even years) and scheduled the funeral for Saturday. In Ghana, funerals are a big deal. We definitely do not subscribe to the notion, “let the dead bury the dead”.
A new organisation called “Friends of Obama” seems to have sprung up overnight. Seriously you will be impressed with the efficiency of this organisation, no one seems to know where they sprung up from but they have erected posters, bill boards and banners all over the country welcoming you “home”. Please make sure you take time to look out of your speeding motorcade and you are sure to catch some of their handiwork. This group has easily spent several hundred thousand dollars to celebrate you. I caught the tail end of an interview with the coordinator of “Friends of Obama” and she says all the money spent on the billboards, etc was raised from friends and individuals. How I wish some of these individuals would donate some of their dollars to my organisation (The African Women’s Development Fund)
If I am to continue listing all that is being done in your name – songs have been produced, special flags featuring your face, there are even some who think that the fuel shortage is because your advance party has emptied our stock – this will become “So Long a Letter” so let me get straight to the point of this letter.
A few weeks ago an enterprising journalist visited the offices of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). His mission? To find out what the impact of Michelle Obama’s visit to Ghana will be for women’s rights organisations. Our first reaction (a colleague and I) was amusement. What? He was expecting impact after a flying visit by the First Lady of the USA? Impact on the women’s movement in Ghana? After I had ceased to be amused I began to see the possibilities. Imagine if Michelle Obama paid a visit to AWDF? The world’s eyes would be on us. We could invite our grantees and she could dialogue with them about the work they do, more people would become aware of AWDF and our grantees…her visit needn’t be long. Even 5 minutes would suffice. But alas it is not to be.
Trust me, AWDF has tried to get on the Obama’s schedule, we have sent letters to all those that we need to contact, lobbied those we can lobby and called those we can call but so far it has been to no avail.
I haven’t given up yet which is why I am writing this open letter to you President Obama. I know that your priorities (according to the rumour mill) are seeing the Slave Castles in Cape Coast/Elmina (and I do understand why) but if you or Michelle want to make an impact to women in Africa during your visit to Ghana, please take 5 minutes to visit AWDF. This is my official invitation to you.
Yours Sincerely,
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications
P.S: I am relying on the viral powers of the Internet to get this message across so if you know anyone who knows anyone who may have a connection to the 44th President of the USA please forward this letter.
Dear President Obama,
You are expected in our beloved country this Friday and already Obama-mania has taken over Ghana. To be fair Obama-mania is not solely because of your impending visit. Obama-mania began when you became the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. On that fateful day in November when you were voted into office many Ghanaians did not sleep. I was one of the unfaithful who went to bed but I instinctively woke up during the night and checked CNN to find that you were going to become the 44th President of the United States of America. I guess it is only fit that we as Ghanaians felt so involved with the American electoral process. After all, your country is the “World’s Policeman”. At least that is how it feels some of the time…
I know you are travelling with your wife, Michelle but the whole country appears to be excited about YOU and not the First Lady. Hmm, I wonder if the levels of excitement would have been the same if she was President.
You can’t imagine the fuss your impending visit has caused. Let me tell you some:
Listening to Ghana’s Joy FM yesterday, it was reported that the chiefs of the Ogua Traditional Area in the Central Region had declared that no funerals are to take place on Saturday the 11th of July. The Chiefs in their wisdom and foresight anticipate that the Obama motorcade will drive through their municipality and they want no hindrance in the President’s way. Instead the Chiefs plan to hold a durbar which Obama may view as his motorcade speeds by. I am wondering if they have not heard that Obama’s helicopter will be transporting him to Cape Coast direct from Accra. I also feel sorry for all those who have been planning funerals for months (in some cases even years) and scheduled the funeral for Saturday. In Ghana, funerals are a big deal. We definitely do not subscribe to the notion, “let the dead bury the dead”.
A new organisation called “Friends of Obama” seems to have sprung up overnight. Seriously you will be impressed with the efficiency of this organisation, no one seems to know where they sprung up from but they have erected posters, bill boards and banners all over the country welcoming you “home”. Please make sure you take time to look out of your speeding motorcade and you are sure to catch some of their handiwork. This group has easily spent several hundred thousand dollars to celebrate you. I caught the tail end of an interview with the coordinator of “Friends of Obama” and she says all the money spent on the billboards, etc was raised from friends and individuals. How I wish some of these individuals would donate some of their dollars to my organisation (The African Women’s Development Fund)
If I am to continue listing all that is being done in your name – songs have been produced, special flags featuring your face, there are even some who think that the fuel shortage is because your advance party has emptied our stock – this will become “So Long a Letter” so let me get straight to the point of this letter.
A few weeks ago an enterprising journalist visited the offices of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). His mission? To find out what the impact of Michelle Obama’s visit to Ghana will be for women’s rights organisations. Our first reaction (a colleague and I) was amusement. What? He was expecting impact after a flying visit by the First Lady of the USA? Impact on the women’s movement in Ghana? After I had ceased to be amused I began to see the possibilities. Imagine if Michelle Obama paid a visit to AWDF? The world’s eyes would be on us. We could invite our grantees and she could dialogue with them about the work they do, more people would become aware of AWDF and our grantees…her visit needn’t be long. Even 5 minutes would suffice. But alas it is not to be.
Trust me, AWDF has tried to get on the Obama’s schedule, we have sent letters to all those that we need to contact, lobbied those we can lobby and called those we can call but so far it has been to no avail.
I haven’t given up yet which is why I am writing this open letter to you President Obama. I know that your priorities (according to the rumour mill) are seeing the Slave Castles in Cape Coast/Elmina (and I do understand why) but if you or Michelle want to make an impact to women in Africa during your visit to Ghana, please take 5 minutes to visit AWDF. This is my official invitation to you.
Yours Sincerely,
Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications
P.S: I am relying on the viral powers of the Internet to get this message across so if you know anyone who knows anyone who may have a connection to the 44th President of the USA please forward this letter.
Friday, July 3, 2009
INVITATION: Towards a United and Just Africa: A Public Celebration of the Life and thoughts of Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem
Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, one of the most irrepressible Pan Africanists of his generation died in Nairobi on Africa Liberation Day, 25 May 2009 on his way to Kigali, Rwanda. Taju has left an indelible mark on all those who had met him, read his weekly postcard or heard him speak.
As part of the celebrations being organized in several parts of Africa and elsewhere in the world, you are hereby invited to a Public Forum Memorial on Sunday 5th July 2009 Aberdares Room, KICC, Nairobi at 2:00pm.
The Public Forum will recollect his life within the context of popular struggles for democracy, social equity and African unity from the eighties through to the present and the future.
There will also be a Cultural Evening on the same day at 7:30pm, Club Galileo's, Museum Hill, Nairobi featuring several leading Kenyan Musicians.
RSVP:
United Nation Millennium Campaign (UNMC)
Contact person: Nardos Hagos
Tel: +254-20-4453440
Email: nardos.hagos@googlemail.com
and The Tajudeen Memorial Nairobi Coordinating Committee
As part of the celebrations being organized in several parts of Africa and elsewhere in the world, you are hereby invited to a Public Forum Memorial on Sunday 5th July 2009 Aberdares Room, KICC, Nairobi at 2:00pm.
The Public Forum will recollect his life within the context of popular struggles for democracy, social equity and African unity from the eighties through to the present and the future.
There will also be a Cultural Evening on the same day at 7:30pm, Club Galileo's, Museum Hill, Nairobi featuring several leading Kenyan Musicians.
RSVP:
United Nation Millennium Campaign (UNMC)
Contact person: Nardos Hagos
Tel: +254-20-4453440
Email: nardos.hagos@googlemail.com
and The Tajudeen Memorial Nairobi Coordinating Committee
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