Thanks, Professors Assensoh and Akuran-Parry for your reactions. I'm sure you've been watching with amusement how Nigerians have eclipsed every other African country on the USA-Africa Dialogue. So, the opportunity to discuss Ghana is a welcome distraction. Please, be assured that I didn't intend to demean Ghana; instead, my "evening of Ghana" was based on some objective realities, unlike, say President Fox of Mexico and President Rawlings
Besides, I hope we don't get so worked up about this "evening" thing because those who go to equity/justice must go with clean hands. My Ghanaian pals all know too well that their country would probably have done better if they weren't so obsessed with ad nauseam and schizophrenic claims about "we're not like Nigeria ... " that's on the lip of most Ghanaians, even though Ghana is as much a cemetery as Nigeria, albeit a less boisterous one.
A few days ago, former strongman, JJ Rawlings was lamenting how some corrupt Pastors in Ghana were abusing the name of God. Rawlings was speaking when the Association of Nurses and Midwives paid a courtesy call on the former first family. As usual, he had to draw a distinction between Nigeria and Ghana's vaunted exceptionalism" as follows:
"Look at the corrupt nonsense that is even happening in the name of God: watch those things just to see how far we are degenerating as a people. Even characters like Obasanjo of all people, instructed when he was in office that none of these things will be featured on TV unless it could be proven to be scientifically true…otherwise when you show it on TV, you are perpetuating the wrong…Are we crazy as a people?"
If you reckon that Nigerian investments in the financial services and insurance sectors alone amount to about 10% of Ghana's annual budget (a sort of veto bloc); segments of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) derive over 80% of their earnings from Nigerian consumers (hence, they supported the government's signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union over the objections of the Economic Justice Network of Ghana and other groups); Ghana's GDP is less than a quarter of the economy of Lagos; more than half of Ghana's universities will close shop without cash infusion from Nigerian students; up to 65% of Ghana's budget is financed with donor funds (because Osagyefo's country is "blessed with HIPIC [highly indebted poor country] status); Ghana's total imports and exports (including those going to its landless neighbors up north!) are less than the economic activities of the Southeast geo-political zone of Nigeria, yet they claim to be "the Gateway to West Africa"; up to 4,000 Ghanaian refugees in Togo still really can't go home because of inter-tribal wars in the north of the country; President Aliyu Mahama is accused by NDC (his ruling party--especially the faction led by Nana Agyeman-Rawlings) and opposition NPP of being more corrupt than most of his counterparts in the sub-region; etc., etc., then, it's really not out of place to qualify reasoned references to Ghana with "even..."
As you probably know, I've been spending almost all of my summer breaks in Ghana since 2007; and I was a member of the Governing Council of one the country's newest universities from 2010-2013. I actually love the country and its people, not for any infantile dreams about "exceptionalism" (see also what's happening to their oil sector), but for different set of reasons -- the lingering effects (or path-dependency) of "the good white man" in Ghana [cf. Gov. Gordon Guggisburg] vs. the stench of the booty-hunters and profiteers that founded modern Nigeria [cf. George Goldie and Fredrick Lugard).
Regards,
Okey
A Lot Of "Corrupt Nonsense" Happening In The Name Of God—JJ Rawlings
http://www.modernghana.com/news/601935/1/a-lot-of-corrupt-nonsense-happening-in-the-name-of.html
By StarrFMOnline
Some corrupt Pastors in Ghana are abusing the name of God, former President Jerry Rawlings has said.
"Look at the corrupt nonsense that is even happening in the name of God: watch those things just to see how far we are degenerating as a people," Mr Rawlings said when the Association of Nurses and Midwives paid a courtesy call on the former first family.
Mr Rawlings said: "Even characters like Obasanjo of all people, instructed when he was in office that none of these things will be featured on TV unless it could be proven to be scientifically true…otherwise when you show it on TV, you are perpetuating the wrong.
"…Are we crazy as a people?" the former Military leader thundered.
This is not the first time Mr Rawlings has taken a swipe at Pastors for corrupting the word of God for their selfish purposes.
In November last year, he launched a public attack on Bishop Daniel Obinim and Prophet Nicholas Osei, popularly known as 'Kumchacha', for misusing the name of God and exploiting the ignorance of their followers.
According to him, some of the claims often made by Obinim and Kumchacha on TV are not real.
Mr Rawlings at the time asked managers of TV stations and the media to stop giving airtime to Kumchacha, Founder and Leader of the Heaven's Gate Ministries; and Obinim, Founder of the International Gods Way Church, to deceive the public.
Addressing a durbar to crown the 2014 Amu (brown rice) Festival of the chiefs and people of the Avatime Traditional Area at Avatime Gbadzeme in the Volta Region, Rawlings advised TV stations to rather dedicate the time they give to the two men, to promoting Ghana's rich culture, traditions and festivals.
"Many too often as we watch our TVs, I don't think we are putting enough efforts into showcasing some of these cultural traditional festivals – the activities that are going on around the countryside – and yet so much time is spent giving airtime, precious airtime to people like these two prophets I've been talking about of late: the one in Tema, called Obinim and the other one called Kumchacha," he bemoaned.
"…They are so brave in the kind of things they purport, the kind of things they do. Ladies and gentlemen, when people watch things like this, knowing very well that they are not achieving what they claim they are doing, we end up perpetuating the ignorance and the grip of these people on the ignorance of our people," Rawlings said.
He added: "The misuse of God's name is the worst form kind of corruption that we can talk about…and we are paying the serious price for it, and we will continue to do so till we wake to the reality of what is scientifically possible, plausible and doable."
On Sun, Mar 8, 2015 at 3:54 PM, Kwabena Akurang-Parry <kaparry@hotmail.com> wrote:
I am just rephrasing this:
"When they want education for their children, they go to Europe, America, an Canada," 'EVEN Ghana.' Yes, even Ghana because there are "hundreds" if not "thousands" of Nigerians attending universities in Ghana. That is "evenizing" Ghana! Yes, we are just "evenizing."
Kwabena Akurang-Parry
University of Cape Coast
From: aassenso@indiana.edu
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
CC: anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk; osafoaku@indiana.edu; eobekoe@gmail.com; abiolairele@gmail.com; doyinck@gmail.com; szalanga7994@msn.com; iaduah66@yahoo.com; okeyiheduru@gmail.com; ovaughan@bowdoin.edu; ogundimu3@gmail.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA IS A CEMETERY
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2015 15:03:29 +0000
Brother Okey:
Just as our philosophical Brother Folu underscored briefly but aptly in his usual few axiomatic words, you did say it all and also well for many of us about many rich Nigerians spending their riches overseas (or outside Nigeria) but returning home (to Nigeria) to die and to be buried at home (often with funerals that my dear Baba Ijebu would describe as with "theater and pomposity"), thus making your axiomatic question saying it all: Is Nigeria a cemetery?
However, several brothers and sisters from Ghana (who read your words below) are asking for the hidden meaning or what you meant with the caveat "even" in your reference to Ghana, indeed in your otherwise beautiful poetic words? The line of concern is quoted here: "When they want to host weddings for their children, they go to Dubai, Malaysia, South Africa, and even Ghana."
Why does "even" worry these Ghanaians? Well, a few years ago, back in Ghana, a Journalist colleague told me how a Japanese Ambassador to Ghana felt seriously offended by then President Jerry John Rawlings' use of "even" in referring to his country (Japan), when mentioning several countries that used to be less significant, but today Ghanaians were looking up to them technologically and, by implication, saying "even Japan"! The Ambassador reportedly registered a strong protest!There you have it, as VC Aluko would beautifully say!A.B. Assensoh.
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Folu Ogundimu [ogundimu3@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2015 8:08 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA IS A CEMETERY
Okey:Very thoughtful, you said it all. It is a sad commentary on what counts for elitism and leadership in Nigeria. Keep us thinking.
F.
Sent from my iPhoneWhen they want to stash away their loot, they go to London, Monaco, Cayman Islands, and Lichtenstein.When they want to "rest at home", they go to London or Houston.When they want education for their children, they go to Europe, America, an Canada.When they want to host weddings for their children, they go to Dubai, Malaysia, South Africa, and even Ghana.When they are sick or want medical check-up, they go to India and Europe.When they want to see the real God in His Majesty, they go to Mecca, Rome, or Jerusalem.But, when they're about to die or want to be buried, they go back to Nigeria.
Is Nigeria a cemetery?
--
Okey Iheduru,
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