The lady from the International Centre for Journalists who was chauffeuring me was excited about my safe arrival and naturally was interested in reports about my flight from Accra and about conditions in Ghana. But seriously there was nothing comfortable to say about floating on clouds for well over 10 hours from Kotoka to the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. After four hours of waiting at JFK, there was a one-hour connection flight to Washington DC, where the journey for the day terminated.
From the Dulles International Airport, we hit the four-lane asphalt road towards the city centre. The roads continue to multiply in various directions as we near the city centre. This is nothing strange. This is Washington DC, the federal capital of the United States of America (USA), the world’s richest and most powerful country, and one should not expect anything less.
Strangely, Washington DC, like many other major cities in the USA, has vast stretches of forests which give it certain naturalness. The city has many monuments and museums to satisfy curious visitors and numerous parks and gardens to break the monotony of concrete and steel.
Almost every previous occupant of the White House has a monument built in his honour in Washington DC. Some of the places of historical importance include the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol Building, the museum where in one huge multi-storey building, one could come face to face with the power and magic of the media, the Science and Space Museum, which is a storage house of historical achievements in science and technology, including the various stages of space exploration and landing of the first man on the Moon and of course the Washington Monument, which set the standards for the height of buildings in the federal capital.
As I continued to savour the beauty of this city of five million people, its broad and well-paved, neat and brightly lit streets, its drains that have not opened their mouths for the public to fill with garbage and human waste, its fluid public transport system, I refused to forget where I had come from.
Immediately my thoughts took me to Kotoka International Airport and the first traffic light a visitor encounters on arrival in the country. This traffic light most of the time does not work and the first-time visitor, if not lucky, would be stuck in suffocating traffic for hours. I remembered the almighty Spintex Road where construction work has been going for ages without any sign of ending — the Spintex Road that has become the nightmare of many motorists heading towards or from Tema and its various communities, Nungua and Ashaiman.
I could picture Tema, the nation’s once beautiful and well-planned port and industrial city that had been allowed to deteriorate over the years and stripped of its glory.
I could not forget the jungle called the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange, which has compounded the traffic situation at that end of the Accra-Tema Motorway. The motorway, the only road, that come closest to international standards has no inner and outer markings to guide motorists, especially in the night. As I noticed the traffic situation in Washington DC and other US cities I visited, I shuddered at the thought of the situation at home, when commercial vehicles in the full glare of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service have turned the shoulders of our roads into speedways, call it the fifth lane with regard to other motorists and pedestrians.
Some of us do not have any evidence of different creations, but since we have gracefully accepted the tag of ‘Third World’ country, we have more than given credence to the fact that ours is a different world, different from those that have achieved so much as against ours which is actually stagnating.
Should it remain so? Ours seriously, is not about lack of resources. We just lack the men and women in political leadership with the vision to galvanise us into action. We lack a media that would set a development agenda for the nation instead of creating the platform for characters parading as politicians and social commentators to make careless statements that have the potential of creating unnecessary tension and endangering national stability.
A friend said we are lost, but I want to believe that there is only one world but with different people. If you come to think that China, which has assumed the position of the world’s second largest economy, and other countries like South Korea, Brazil, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore and others are still labelled as Third World countries, then we cannot afford to take consolation under that tag because seriously speaking, it is misleading. We need to begin to get our act together instead of wasting precious time talking too much on issues that at best could be brushed aside and stay focused on more serious issues.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
AWAY WITH ROUNDABOUTS (JULY 13, 2010)
By Kofi Akordor
Sometimes I wonder whether those who have taken it upon themselves or been put in certain positions to take care of our needs as a nation see the things the rest of us see or feel the same way as we feel when we are confronted with very unpleasant situations.
When the Accra-Tema Motorway was opened to traffic in the 1960s, it was easy to count the number of vehicles plying our roads. In those days, only a few individuals were in competition with the government and companies in vehicle ownership. Therefore, the roundabout at the Accra end of the Motorway, until recently the Tetteh-Quarshie Roundabout, and the one at the Tema end were adequate, both in design and construction, to carry the traffic that plied the road.
Things have changed over the years and the traffic on the Accra-Tema Motorway has multiplied several times and cannot in any way be compared with the lean traffic it carried in the past. Unfortunately, typical of us, we have not been able to expand and improve upon facilities in tandem with population growth or ease pressure on existing facilities.
The Motorway, seriously speaking, never saw any development except for the occasional weeding of the sides and filling of craters with bitumen. Apart from our zeal and eagerness to collect tolls, the four-lane road has remained what it was more than 40 years after its construction, without any expansion or modernisation. Seriously, it has, over the years, deteriorated into a death trap because of the numerous craters, the absence of inner and side markings to guide motorists and the darkness that engulfs it at night.
The road, which in the past passed through no human settlement, now virtually cuts east and west Accra into two. New communities, both prime and slum, have developed along the Motorway, making it dangerous for commuters who struggle daily to use unapproved entry and exit points to reach their destinations.
The communities on the western side include East Legon, Adjiriganno, Trasacco Valley, Adjei-Kojo and Ashaiman, while on the eastern side there are the vast residential and industrial estates along the Spintex Road Tema Communities 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Apart from the congestion and insecurity on the Motorway, the Spintex Road, which runs parallel to it and which carries heavy traffic from the new Tema communities mentioned earlier, Ashaiman, Tema Main and the many other vast residential and industrial properties, has not been developed and upgraded to effectively play the strategic role it has assumed.
Our biggest failure, so far as using the motorway is concerned, can be seen in the two roundabouts at the Accra and the Tema ends. The Kufuor Administration attempted to improve things by constructing an overhead bridge at Ashaiman to connect traffic from Tema and Ashaiman to the Motorway.
It also developed the Tetteh-Quarshie Roundabout and renamed it the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange. Incidentally, this was where that government failed the people of this country most. The Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange has nothing to boast about. It has no beauty and has done nothing to improve upon the traffic situation in that part of the nation’s capital.
Today, apart from Tetteh-Quarshie, which needs a lot of serious redesigning and reconstruction, the roundabout at the Tema end of the motorway needs serious and very immediate attention. The traffic situation at that place is not only unnerving but also an eyesore for our proud Port City of Tema.
This roundabout connects the Accra-Aflao-Lome-Cotonou-Lagos international road, the Accra-Akosombo-Ho road and beyond which carries traffic to the northern parts of the country. Finally, this is the roundabout which connects the Tema Port to Accra and the country’s Eastern Corridor, which is the gateway to Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
Accra is our capital city and we need to upgrade the roads to reflect its international status and reduce the stress on driving in Accra. It is for this reason that those roundabouts or circles which dominated Accra’s landscape in the last 50 and more years should give way to fly-overs and interchanges.
These would not only make vehicle distribution in the city easier but would give Accra a new facelift to befit its status as a capital of a country that has declared itself as the Gateway to West Africa and also the new oil giant in the sub-region.
The circles which incidentally bear the names of some of the most illustrious sons of the land include the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle, the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Danquah Circle. All of them are on the Ring Road and contribute a lot to traffic congestion in the city.
Sometimes these traffic congestions give us the false impression that ours is a wealthy country with many people owning vehicles. That is not the case. We simply do not have good roads in the city.
Accra has outgrown these circles which have pushed our national capital many years behind other capitals in the world. We may complain of lack of funds for these projects. But what we should realize is that the state of our infrastructure and the level of development in our cities have psychological effects on those who want to come and do business here.
Dirty and poorly-developed roads, choked with traffic is very frustrating and time-consuming and cannot serve as an attraction to any serious-minded business person. They would come and go to return no more without offering any explanations.
According to experts, two overheads need to be constructed on the Motorway to ease traffic from the Spintex Road area and the East Legon, Trasacco Valley and Adjiriganno to the Motorway, Accra Central and the Beach Road linking Accra to Tema through Teshie and Nungua.
These projects should not be abandoned on the grounds of lack of funds because where there is the will, there is the way. Our leaders should be more proactive, imaginative and responsible and move out from the shadows of poverty. We are stagnating and not moving as a nation.
The perception that we admire and worship mediocrity should be erased from our minds If we do not confront development issues with greater determination, we may only succeed in putting money in the pockets of a few if even we are handed billions of dollars in oil money while still dancing around the real issues.
Accra, whether we like it or not, in comparative terms, is gradually developing into an overgrown village and not the dazzling city we would be proud of. Some may look behind them and come to that comforting conclusion that we are doing well. But the best thing to do in a race is to look ahead. If we should do that, we would realise that we have a long way to go.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Editor’s Note:
The column: ‘From my Rooftop’ , takes a break while the writer participates in an Advanced Journalism programme at the International Centre for Journalists, Washington, DC, USA.
Sometimes I wonder whether those who have taken it upon themselves or been put in certain positions to take care of our needs as a nation see the things the rest of us see or feel the same way as we feel when we are confronted with very unpleasant situations.
When the Accra-Tema Motorway was opened to traffic in the 1960s, it was easy to count the number of vehicles plying our roads. In those days, only a few individuals were in competition with the government and companies in vehicle ownership. Therefore, the roundabout at the Accra end of the Motorway, until recently the Tetteh-Quarshie Roundabout, and the one at the Tema end were adequate, both in design and construction, to carry the traffic that plied the road.
Things have changed over the years and the traffic on the Accra-Tema Motorway has multiplied several times and cannot in any way be compared with the lean traffic it carried in the past. Unfortunately, typical of us, we have not been able to expand and improve upon facilities in tandem with population growth or ease pressure on existing facilities.
The Motorway, seriously speaking, never saw any development except for the occasional weeding of the sides and filling of craters with bitumen. Apart from our zeal and eagerness to collect tolls, the four-lane road has remained what it was more than 40 years after its construction, without any expansion or modernisation. Seriously, it has, over the years, deteriorated into a death trap because of the numerous craters, the absence of inner and side markings to guide motorists and the darkness that engulfs it at night.
The road, which in the past passed through no human settlement, now virtually cuts east and west Accra into two. New communities, both prime and slum, have developed along the Motorway, making it dangerous for commuters who struggle daily to use unapproved entry and exit points to reach their destinations.
The communities on the western side include East Legon, Adjiriganno, Trasacco Valley, Adjei-Kojo and Ashaiman, while on the eastern side there are the vast residential and industrial estates along the Spintex Road Tema Communities 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Apart from the congestion and insecurity on the Motorway, the Spintex Road, which runs parallel to it and which carries heavy traffic from the new Tema communities mentioned earlier, Ashaiman, Tema Main and the many other vast residential and industrial properties, has not been developed and upgraded to effectively play the strategic role it has assumed.
Our biggest failure, so far as using the motorway is concerned, can be seen in the two roundabouts at the Accra and the Tema ends. The Kufuor Administration attempted to improve things by constructing an overhead bridge at Ashaiman to connect traffic from Tema and Ashaiman to the Motorway.
It also developed the Tetteh-Quarshie Roundabout and renamed it the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange. Incidentally, this was where that government failed the people of this country most. The Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange has nothing to boast about. It has no beauty and has done nothing to improve upon the traffic situation in that part of the nation’s capital.
Today, apart from Tetteh-Quarshie, which needs a lot of serious redesigning and reconstruction, the roundabout at the Tema end of the motorway needs serious and very immediate attention. The traffic situation at that place is not only unnerving but also an eyesore for our proud Port City of Tema.
This roundabout connects the Accra-Aflao-Lome-Cotonou-Lagos international road, the Accra-Akosombo-Ho road and beyond which carries traffic to the northern parts of the country. Finally, this is the roundabout which connects the Tema Port to Accra and the country’s Eastern Corridor, which is the gateway to Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
Accra is our capital city and we need to upgrade the roads to reflect its international status and reduce the stress on driving in Accra. It is for this reason that those roundabouts or circles which dominated Accra’s landscape in the last 50 and more years should give way to fly-overs and interchanges.
These would not only make vehicle distribution in the city easier but would give Accra a new facelift to befit its status as a capital of a country that has declared itself as the Gateway to West Africa and also the new oil giant in the sub-region.
The circles which incidentally bear the names of some of the most illustrious sons of the land include the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle, the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Danquah Circle. All of them are on the Ring Road and contribute a lot to traffic congestion in the city.
Sometimes these traffic congestions give us the false impression that ours is a wealthy country with many people owning vehicles. That is not the case. We simply do not have good roads in the city.
Accra has outgrown these circles which have pushed our national capital many years behind other capitals in the world. We may complain of lack of funds for these projects. But what we should realize is that the state of our infrastructure and the level of development in our cities have psychological effects on those who want to come and do business here.
Dirty and poorly-developed roads, choked with traffic is very frustrating and time-consuming and cannot serve as an attraction to any serious-minded business person. They would come and go to return no more without offering any explanations.
According to experts, two overheads need to be constructed on the Motorway to ease traffic from the Spintex Road area and the East Legon, Trasacco Valley and Adjiriganno to the Motorway, Accra Central and the Beach Road linking Accra to Tema through Teshie and Nungua.
These projects should not be abandoned on the grounds of lack of funds because where there is the will, there is the way. Our leaders should be more proactive, imaginative and responsible and move out from the shadows of poverty. We are stagnating and not moving as a nation.
The perception that we admire and worship mediocrity should be erased from our minds If we do not confront development issues with greater determination, we may only succeed in putting money in the pockets of a few if even we are handed billions of dollars in oil money while still dancing around the real issues.
Accra, whether we like it or not, in comparative terms, is gradually developing into an overgrown village and not the dazzling city we would be proud of. Some may look behind them and come to that comforting conclusion that we are doing well. But the best thing to do in a race is to look ahead. If we should do that, we would realise that we have a long way to go.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Editor’s Note:
The column: ‘From my Rooftop’ , takes a break while the writer participates in an Advanced Journalism programme at the International Centre for Journalists, Washington, DC, USA.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
END THOSE UGLY NOISES (JULY 6, 2010)
ONE of the benefits of the 1992 Constitution is the guarantee of media freedom. This is not only the freedom of media professionals or institutions to operate without hindrance but the bigger freedom of the citizenry to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
In any pluralistic environment, the media become the leg on which democracy stands, for which reason media freedom is synonymous with the right of the individual to freely express himself/herself on matters of public interest.
Since the promulgation of the 1992 Constitution which ushered in the Fourth Republic, the media landscape has registered tremendous activity, and if numbers are the measure, we may add progress.
The Constitution dismantled the monopoly of the state over media ownership and brought on board numerous newspapers and radio and television stations. The multiplicity of media ownership created the platform for varied opinions and made it possible for members of the public, no matter their social, religious or political persuasion, to express themselves freely without let or hindrance.
The new order has also rendered very difficult any attempt by governments to control information. This is because if they do not give out information freely, other means will be adopted to get it in its adulterated or saturated form which, in any case, will make the government the loser.
Democracy thrives on information, since a well-informed citizenry is better disposed to make informed choices. The people are also better able to hold the government accountable on account of the fact they have various sources of information and are better able to determine the truth from falsehood.
The repeal of the Criminal Libel Law by the Kufuor administration further strengthened the position of media practitioners and gave them a more relaxed atmosphere to operate.
In all, society is the greatest beneficiary if media practitioners exhibit good conduct as professionals and exercise their discretionary powers with utmost care and caution.
Of course, these benefits did not come without a price. Like a crawling baby that has suddenly found himself on his feet and taking his first steps, there was overzealousness in the free media environment, which resulted in abuses. They included sensationalism, mudslinging and deliberate distortion of facts, over-politicisation of issues, outright insults and excessive use of profane language.
Some of the innovations introduced to involve many people in public debate and bring the media closer to the people include newspaper reviews on radio and television, media encounters and phone-ins to make it possible especially for those who otherwise would have been cut off from the formal communication process to get on board.
As was to be expected, all those innovations were seriously abused. Notwithstanding that, the general expectation was that with time, the media would adjust to their newly won freedom and practitioners would overcome the initial euphoria which overwhelmed some of them to allow professionalism to prevail.
As the days roll into weeks, months and years, there are no signs that the media will mature and assume their legitimate role as the fourth estate of the realm. Instead, in the main, they have become conduits for people to put into the public domain the worst forms of their animalistic characteristics.
There is no doubt that the media need to be combative if they are to keep the government on its toes and play their watchdog role effectively. However, what we have now, which is the platform given to people to launch unjustified attacks and heap insults on their political opponents, rake old wounds and fan tribal and ethnic sentiments, cannot be said to be in the best interest of Ghanaians.
The electronic media have a lot of influence over the public, especially for their dispersion and language flexibility. The television has an additional advantage of actuality, both in audio and video forms. Therefore, it has become an effective tool for reaching a wide range of audiences simultaneously.
It is for their potency that programmes telecast on radio and television should be carefully packaged, so that they do not create any discord in the minds of the people. Unfortunately, media platforms designed to involve as many people as possible in the governance process have become more or less an extension of political campaigns where narrow party interests, instead of the national interest, have dominated discussions and public contributions.
The viewing and listening public has been fed with vile propaganda, insults and reckless display of ignorance where they expect sober and dispassionate discussions on serious matters of national interest. There seems to be no improvement in the situation, apparently because the more traits of arrogance and indiscipline displayed by a party representative on radio and television, the more he/she is regarded as a strong and loyal party member.
This is buttressed by the fact that many of these radio and television commentators end up with juicy appointments whenever their parties are in government. Therefore, party activists are stampeding one another to prove who could be at his/her insulting best.
Ideally, the phone-ins offer governments the true measure to access their performance and determine their policy direction because of the opportunity they give a very large segment of the population to express themselves in any language of their choice on national issues.
Unfortunately, because callers can seek refuge under anonymity, these programmes are the most abused of media platforms. People phone in not to offer healthy and constructive contributions to the issues under discussion but to heap insults on perceived opponents and muddy the political waters.
Those who do the radio and television discussions on newspaper headlines also prefer picking political stories, to the neglect of several stories on other issues of national importance. We may pride ourselves on our political stability and democratic credentials, but we should be the first to admit that this country, considering its vast resources, has achieved very little in its 50-plus years of independence. Critical issues such as poor infrastructure, inadequate health and educational facilities, child delinquency, youth unemployment and massive corruption in public service are relegated to the background, replaced by discussions on frivolous and mundane matters that have very little to do with national development.
The recent confrontation on television between a New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist and an aide to the Vice-President of the Republic has brought into serious question the relevance of some of these radio and television programmes.
The amount of foul language spewed out by both parties and the cacophony of insults which followed from various quarters in support or condemnation of the two cannot be described as being the best for our democracy.
If it were an isolated case, one could have taken it for granted and considered it as part of man’s weaknesses. Unfortunately, it has become the norm, instead of the exception, whereby people use these media platforms to exchange unprintable words in the name of exercising their right to freedom of expression or practising democracy.
It is about time we brought to a halt what, by all indications, is tantamount to abuse of media freedom. The media owners and their agents must be told that if the objective is to encourage public discourse in national affairs and strengthen democratic governance, then they must be selective in the type of people they bring to their stations, other than that our democracy is better off without most of these operatives who have dominated our airwaves with their pollutants.
The notion that if you can speak English or any of the local languages then you can host or moderate a programme on radio or television is a fallacy. Journalism has moved beyond the apprenticeship era of bygone years. It is now a sophisticated profession and one needs a lot of talent and training to manage programmes. Seriously speaking, we cannot say that of many of the people who operate in the media, especially on radio and television, these days.
Once we have chosen the path, and once we have a Constitution which guarantees the freedom of expression, we shall continue to endure open discussions and expressions in the media.
However, we cannot afford the luxury of careless and irresponsible speech; we cannot afford insults and attacks on personalities; we cannot waste precious time discussing irrelevant matters bordering on narrow interests.
We need to focus on the real issues and discuss them dispassionately, without any political coloration. The media must set the agenda and carry the public along with them. But that can come from a media that are well-informed and understand the real issues.
That is why this nation will benefit a lot if we get well-groomed professionals and well-informed and level-headed politicians to handle programmes on radio and television, instead of opportunists and ugly noise makers who are having a field day on the airwaves.
In any pluralistic environment, the media become the leg on which democracy stands, for which reason media freedom is synonymous with the right of the individual to freely express himself/herself on matters of public interest.
Since the promulgation of the 1992 Constitution which ushered in the Fourth Republic, the media landscape has registered tremendous activity, and if numbers are the measure, we may add progress.
The Constitution dismantled the monopoly of the state over media ownership and brought on board numerous newspapers and radio and television stations. The multiplicity of media ownership created the platform for varied opinions and made it possible for members of the public, no matter their social, religious or political persuasion, to express themselves freely without let or hindrance.
The new order has also rendered very difficult any attempt by governments to control information. This is because if they do not give out information freely, other means will be adopted to get it in its adulterated or saturated form which, in any case, will make the government the loser.
Democracy thrives on information, since a well-informed citizenry is better disposed to make informed choices. The people are also better able to hold the government accountable on account of the fact they have various sources of information and are better able to determine the truth from falsehood.
The repeal of the Criminal Libel Law by the Kufuor administration further strengthened the position of media practitioners and gave them a more relaxed atmosphere to operate.
In all, society is the greatest beneficiary if media practitioners exhibit good conduct as professionals and exercise their discretionary powers with utmost care and caution.
Of course, these benefits did not come without a price. Like a crawling baby that has suddenly found himself on his feet and taking his first steps, there was overzealousness in the free media environment, which resulted in abuses. They included sensationalism, mudslinging and deliberate distortion of facts, over-politicisation of issues, outright insults and excessive use of profane language.
Some of the innovations introduced to involve many people in public debate and bring the media closer to the people include newspaper reviews on radio and television, media encounters and phone-ins to make it possible especially for those who otherwise would have been cut off from the formal communication process to get on board.
As was to be expected, all those innovations were seriously abused. Notwithstanding that, the general expectation was that with time, the media would adjust to their newly won freedom and practitioners would overcome the initial euphoria which overwhelmed some of them to allow professionalism to prevail.
As the days roll into weeks, months and years, there are no signs that the media will mature and assume their legitimate role as the fourth estate of the realm. Instead, in the main, they have become conduits for people to put into the public domain the worst forms of their animalistic characteristics.
There is no doubt that the media need to be combative if they are to keep the government on its toes and play their watchdog role effectively. However, what we have now, which is the platform given to people to launch unjustified attacks and heap insults on their political opponents, rake old wounds and fan tribal and ethnic sentiments, cannot be said to be in the best interest of Ghanaians.
The electronic media have a lot of influence over the public, especially for their dispersion and language flexibility. The television has an additional advantage of actuality, both in audio and video forms. Therefore, it has become an effective tool for reaching a wide range of audiences simultaneously.
It is for their potency that programmes telecast on radio and television should be carefully packaged, so that they do not create any discord in the minds of the people. Unfortunately, media platforms designed to involve as many people as possible in the governance process have become more or less an extension of political campaigns where narrow party interests, instead of the national interest, have dominated discussions and public contributions.
The viewing and listening public has been fed with vile propaganda, insults and reckless display of ignorance where they expect sober and dispassionate discussions on serious matters of national interest. There seems to be no improvement in the situation, apparently because the more traits of arrogance and indiscipline displayed by a party representative on radio and television, the more he/she is regarded as a strong and loyal party member.
This is buttressed by the fact that many of these radio and television commentators end up with juicy appointments whenever their parties are in government. Therefore, party activists are stampeding one another to prove who could be at his/her insulting best.
Ideally, the phone-ins offer governments the true measure to access their performance and determine their policy direction because of the opportunity they give a very large segment of the population to express themselves in any language of their choice on national issues.
Unfortunately, because callers can seek refuge under anonymity, these programmes are the most abused of media platforms. People phone in not to offer healthy and constructive contributions to the issues under discussion but to heap insults on perceived opponents and muddy the political waters.
Those who do the radio and television discussions on newspaper headlines also prefer picking political stories, to the neglect of several stories on other issues of national importance. We may pride ourselves on our political stability and democratic credentials, but we should be the first to admit that this country, considering its vast resources, has achieved very little in its 50-plus years of independence. Critical issues such as poor infrastructure, inadequate health and educational facilities, child delinquency, youth unemployment and massive corruption in public service are relegated to the background, replaced by discussions on frivolous and mundane matters that have very little to do with national development.
The recent confrontation on television between a New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist and an aide to the Vice-President of the Republic has brought into serious question the relevance of some of these radio and television programmes.
The amount of foul language spewed out by both parties and the cacophony of insults which followed from various quarters in support or condemnation of the two cannot be described as being the best for our democracy.
If it were an isolated case, one could have taken it for granted and considered it as part of man’s weaknesses. Unfortunately, it has become the norm, instead of the exception, whereby people use these media platforms to exchange unprintable words in the name of exercising their right to freedom of expression or practising democracy.
It is about time we brought to a halt what, by all indications, is tantamount to abuse of media freedom. The media owners and their agents must be told that if the objective is to encourage public discourse in national affairs and strengthen democratic governance, then they must be selective in the type of people they bring to their stations, other than that our democracy is better off without most of these operatives who have dominated our airwaves with their pollutants.
The notion that if you can speak English or any of the local languages then you can host or moderate a programme on radio or television is a fallacy. Journalism has moved beyond the apprenticeship era of bygone years. It is now a sophisticated profession and one needs a lot of talent and training to manage programmes. Seriously speaking, we cannot say that of many of the people who operate in the media, especially on radio and television, these days.
Once we have chosen the path, and once we have a Constitution which guarantees the freedom of expression, we shall continue to endure open discussions and expressions in the media.
However, we cannot afford the luxury of careless and irresponsible speech; we cannot afford insults and attacks on personalities; we cannot waste precious time discussing irrelevant matters bordering on narrow interests.
We need to focus on the real issues and discuss them dispassionately, without any political coloration. The media must set the agenda and carry the public along with them. But that can come from a media that are well-informed and understand the real issues.
That is why this nation will benefit a lot if we get well-groomed professionals and well-informed and level-headed politicians to handle programmes on radio and television, instead of opportunists and ugly noise makers who are having a field day on the airwaves.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Exposed by the rains
By Kofi Akordor
From their contorted faces, one could easily read the agony of motorists as they meandered their way through potholes, trenches, ponds and mud after the heavy rains. Not that most of our roads are vehicle-worthy all-year round. Most of them have been death traps, in spite of numerous assurances by the authorities to put them in good shape.
After last year’s rains, there were promises to reconstruct what was left of the roads in Accra and other major towns in country. Tema, the country’s main port city, virtually had all its main roads unmotorable and it was a pity seeing motorists struggling to commute within what was once the pride of the nation.
Unfortunately, whether due to the proverbial lack of funds, bureaucracy or a combination of both, most of the roads remained in their deplorable state until this year’s rains set in and made a bad case worse.
This year’s problem has been compounded by the heavy rains which are unprecedented in recent times. The rains and the consequent floods have rendered most of the roads in Accra dangerous for vehicular traffic. So bad is the situation that before one leaves the house, one has to plot his/her movement, trying to choose between the lesser of two evils.
We know the problems but we are hard up when it comes to the solutions. We know that most of our roads are poorly constructed with shallow drains which get flooded at the slightest rain. We know our drains are choked with refuse and waste but we are unable to do anything about it. We know that a lot of unauthorised structures have sprung up all over the city but any attempt to rectify the situation is either heavily politicised or done half-heartedly.
Whichever way one looks at it, the city authorities cannot escape blame. Why should they allow most of these illegal structures to assume permanent homes before trying to demolish them? It is also an open secret that some unscrupulous workers of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and organs such as the Tema Development Corporation and the Town and Country Planning Department indulge in criminal activities and assist in the construction of some of these illegal structures.
Unfortunately, none of such officials has been made to face the law, a situation which create room for more of the illegalities. We are used to seeing “Stop work, produce permit” printed on buildings in Accra and other places. But work never stops but continues to completion, not because a permit has been produced or the building is not interfering with the original plan of the area.
The usual philosophy of “man must live” always holds sway and private interest becomes more paramount. A few individuals may go home richer, but when the rains comes it is the whole community that suffers.
Accra has become a huge flood-prone zone because over the years several residential areas have developed without proper layout and officers who should ensure that the right was done will tell you that they have been frustrated in their work by politicians and other powerful persons who should have known better.
This year, as in previous years, has witnessed expressions of concern and the pledge by officials to take steps to avert future floods and their devastating effects. But how long shall we continue with the annual ritual of wading through flood waters, saying words of comfort and sermonising on future plans to avoid such calamities?
All this should give way to lasting solutions.
The answer lies in enforcing building regulations. There is no excuse allowing buildings to reach the lintel level before inscribing useless notices of “Stop Work” on them.
The city authorities must be firm and bold and do the right thing, without fear or favour. Giving the law a human face, as is the norm now, will not help anyone in the long run. That can only be a diversionary measure to escape responsibility.
The rains have once again exposed our lack of planning, the level of indiscipline in the country and our inability to prepare for contingencies.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
From their contorted faces, one could easily read the agony of motorists as they meandered their way through potholes, trenches, ponds and mud after the heavy rains. Not that most of our roads are vehicle-worthy all-year round. Most of them have been death traps, in spite of numerous assurances by the authorities to put them in good shape.
After last year’s rains, there were promises to reconstruct what was left of the roads in Accra and other major towns in country. Tema, the country’s main port city, virtually had all its main roads unmotorable and it was a pity seeing motorists struggling to commute within what was once the pride of the nation.
Unfortunately, whether due to the proverbial lack of funds, bureaucracy or a combination of both, most of the roads remained in their deplorable state until this year’s rains set in and made a bad case worse.
This year’s problem has been compounded by the heavy rains which are unprecedented in recent times. The rains and the consequent floods have rendered most of the roads in Accra dangerous for vehicular traffic. So bad is the situation that before one leaves the house, one has to plot his/her movement, trying to choose between the lesser of two evils.
We know the problems but we are hard up when it comes to the solutions. We know that most of our roads are poorly constructed with shallow drains which get flooded at the slightest rain. We know our drains are choked with refuse and waste but we are unable to do anything about it. We know that a lot of unauthorised structures have sprung up all over the city but any attempt to rectify the situation is either heavily politicised or done half-heartedly.
Whichever way one looks at it, the city authorities cannot escape blame. Why should they allow most of these illegal structures to assume permanent homes before trying to demolish them? It is also an open secret that some unscrupulous workers of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and organs such as the Tema Development Corporation and the Town and Country Planning Department indulge in criminal activities and assist in the construction of some of these illegal structures.
Unfortunately, none of such officials has been made to face the law, a situation which create room for more of the illegalities. We are used to seeing “Stop work, produce permit” printed on buildings in Accra and other places. But work never stops but continues to completion, not because a permit has been produced or the building is not interfering with the original plan of the area.
The usual philosophy of “man must live” always holds sway and private interest becomes more paramount. A few individuals may go home richer, but when the rains comes it is the whole community that suffers.
Accra has become a huge flood-prone zone because over the years several residential areas have developed without proper layout and officers who should ensure that the right was done will tell you that they have been frustrated in their work by politicians and other powerful persons who should have known better.
This year, as in previous years, has witnessed expressions of concern and the pledge by officials to take steps to avert future floods and their devastating effects. But how long shall we continue with the annual ritual of wading through flood waters, saying words of comfort and sermonising on future plans to avoid such calamities?
All this should give way to lasting solutions.
The answer lies in enforcing building regulations. There is no excuse allowing buildings to reach the lintel level before inscribing useless notices of “Stop Work” on them.
The city authorities must be firm and bold and do the right thing, without fear or favour. Giving the law a human face, as is the norm now, will not help anyone in the long run. That can only be a diversionary measure to escape responsibility.
The rains have once again exposed our lack of planning, the level of indiscipline in the country and our inability to prepare for contingencies.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Lessons from Milovan’s posture
By Kofi Akordor
The rapturous explosion of joy which was triggered by the Black Stars’ victory over Serbia in the World Cup match last Sunday, contrasted sharply with the gloom on the face of Milovan Rajevac, coach of the national team.
In the full glare of hundreds of television cameras, Coach Milovan snubbed Mr Kwesi Appiah, his deputy on the technical bench, and he walked away, crestfallen. Probably this is the first time that a coach of a victorious team felt so defeated, disappointed and even ‘wild’ when he should have been all smiles, dancing and hugging the technical team and players.
Various explanations came up. One was that the coach did not want to jump the gun to celebrate too early when there are many more hurdles to clear. Of course this could not make sense; otherwise no team would celebrate goals until the last whistle. Another, which came closer to the truth and which is the subject of this article, was that the coach did not want to be seen jubilating over the defeat of his country.
Nobody was expecting Coach to be ecstatic about Serbia’s defeat. But is snubbing the most reasonable thing to do? At least as a coach of a winning team, a polite shake of hands would do and as Ghanaians, we would understand the conflicting emotions stirring within the Serb.
Coach Milovan’s agony began when Serbia was drawn in the same group as Ghana at the group stages. The question then was which comes first — professionalism or nationalism?
Meanwhile Coach Milovan continued to assure Ghanaians that his heart was with the Black Stars and that he was not going to allow any nationalistic feelings to cloud his professional judgement. But what we saw last Sunday was a complete betrayal of an inner feeling that was hard to suppress. Perhaps Coach Milovan was counting on a draw so that duty to country and job would have been satisfied before Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty strike made the difference.
The disappointment was evident in the post-match conference when Coach Milovan declared; “Perhaps we (Ghana) got more lucky than them (Serbia), because we scored one goal, and we obtained the three points today. I hope Serbia can pick up six points from their next two games”. Serbia had since plucked three points from Germany and perhaps will add another three from Australia.
The important question is what happens if destiny should smile on Ghana and Serbia and the two should meet again in the tournament; say in the final? We may not be second time lucky and history is there as a guide.
In 1974, a Yugoslav coach led then Zaire to be slaughtered 9-0 by the then Yugoslavia in a World Cup match. In 1990 in Italy, Cameroon lost by a 4-0 margin to the then Soviet Union when it was being coached by a Soviet. This was a time when Cameroon was showing a lot of promise on the world stage. In 1998, Nigeria suffered a similar fate, when under Coach Bora Milutinovic of Yugoslavia; they went down 3-0 in the hands of Yugoslavia in France. In 2002, Cameroon again lost 2-0 to Germany when they were under Coach Winfried Schafer, a German. You may say these are cruel coincidences since Frenchman Bruno Metsu led Senegal to beat France in 2002 in a World Cup match.
But the question which continues to pop up is, when shall we, as a sovereign nation, begin to take up the mantle of leadership in all spheres of our national life? Shall we begin to beat the inferiority trap and see merit in our own selves? What have foreign coaches got up their sleeves which our local coaches do not have? Most of these coaches have language problems which affect their ability to communicate effectively with the players, as is the case with our current coach who uses the services of an interpreter to communicate with the players.
The argument usually goes that the foreign coaches command the respect of the players. That is where the inferiority complex syndrome becomes more manifest. Why should we be running with our tails between our legs at the command of a strange white man but fail to respond to the same command because it is coming from a fellow Ghanaian?
What impression do we create in the minds of players if we are prepared to pay so much to a foreign coach to do a job a Ghanaian is capable of doing and even better, while the Ghanaian coach is paid a pittance? Immediately, we have declared our own man inferior and, therefore, does not deserve the respect accorded a foreigner. The players are Ghanaians and would not think differently from the thinking of the rest of us.
We are a sovereign nation with a common destiny. So unless it becomes necessary, we must realise that our destiny lies in our own hands. There are many who when confronted with a choice between nationalism and professionalism would choose the former and it is natural. That is why Coach Milovan’s posture last Sunday should not surprise anybody. He could have done worse.
We need coaches who will celebrate our victories not as a duty well-performed, but as shareholders in the collective fortunes of the state, just as they will mourn our loss, not as a personal failure, but as that of a proud sovereign nation.
Even though it is still early yet, there is no evidence so far to prove that the African teams with foreign coaches are putting up any exceptional performance in South Africa. This is a clear indication that the growth and survival of football on the continent should be the business of Africans themselves.
FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, the man who has done so much for African football, emphasised this point when he said most of the so-called top class coaches who come to make millions on the continent are not fit to be college coaches in their home countries. He also reiterated the point that it is time Africa began seeing its progress in the sport on the continent.
All said and done, it would be said that at the end of the day, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the national cause would be the greatest motivation for victory. Last Sunday was an experience we should learn from — that it is time to stand on our own feet.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
The rapturous explosion of joy which was triggered by the Black Stars’ victory over Serbia in the World Cup match last Sunday, contrasted sharply with the gloom on the face of Milovan Rajevac, coach of the national team.
In the full glare of hundreds of television cameras, Coach Milovan snubbed Mr Kwesi Appiah, his deputy on the technical bench, and he walked away, crestfallen. Probably this is the first time that a coach of a victorious team felt so defeated, disappointed and even ‘wild’ when he should have been all smiles, dancing and hugging the technical team and players.
Various explanations came up. One was that the coach did not want to jump the gun to celebrate too early when there are many more hurdles to clear. Of course this could not make sense; otherwise no team would celebrate goals until the last whistle. Another, which came closer to the truth and which is the subject of this article, was that the coach did not want to be seen jubilating over the defeat of his country.
Nobody was expecting Coach to be ecstatic about Serbia’s defeat. But is snubbing the most reasonable thing to do? At least as a coach of a winning team, a polite shake of hands would do and as Ghanaians, we would understand the conflicting emotions stirring within the Serb.
Coach Milovan’s agony began when Serbia was drawn in the same group as Ghana at the group stages. The question then was which comes first — professionalism or nationalism?
Meanwhile Coach Milovan continued to assure Ghanaians that his heart was with the Black Stars and that he was not going to allow any nationalistic feelings to cloud his professional judgement. But what we saw last Sunday was a complete betrayal of an inner feeling that was hard to suppress. Perhaps Coach Milovan was counting on a draw so that duty to country and job would have been satisfied before Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty strike made the difference.
The disappointment was evident in the post-match conference when Coach Milovan declared; “Perhaps we (Ghana) got more lucky than them (Serbia), because we scored one goal, and we obtained the three points today. I hope Serbia can pick up six points from their next two games”. Serbia had since plucked three points from Germany and perhaps will add another three from Australia.
The important question is what happens if destiny should smile on Ghana and Serbia and the two should meet again in the tournament; say in the final? We may not be second time lucky and history is there as a guide.
In 1974, a Yugoslav coach led then Zaire to be slaughtered 9-0 by the then Yugoslavia in a World Cup match. In 1990 in Italy, Cameroon lost by a 4-0 margin to the then Soviet Union when it was being coached by a Soviet. This was a time when Cameroon was showing a lot of promise on the world stage. In 1998, Nigeria suffered a similar fate, when under Coach Bora Milutinovic of Yugoslavia; they went down 3-0 in the hands of Yugoslavia in France. In 2002, Cameroon again lost 2-0 to Germany when they were under Coach Winfried Schafer, a German. You may say these are cruel coincidences since Frenchman Bruno Metsu led Senegal to beat France in 2002 in a World Cup match.
But the question which continues to pop up is, when shall we, as a sovereign nation, begin to take up the mantle of leadership in all spheres of our national life? Shall we begin to beat the inferiority trap and see merit in our own selves? What have foreign coaches got up their sleeves which our local coaches do not have? Most of these coaches have language problems which affect their ability to communicate effectively with the players, as is the case with our current coach who uses the services of an interpreter to communicate with the players.
The argument usually goes that the foreign coaches command the respect of the players. That is where the inferiority complex syndrome becomes more manifest. Why should we be running with our tails between our legs at the command of a strange white man but fail to respond to the same command because it is coming from a fellow Ghanaian?
What impression do we create in the minds of players if we are prepared to pay so much to a foreign coach to do a job a Ghanaian is capable of doing and even better, while the Ghanaian coach is paid a pittance? Immediately, we have declared our own man inferior and, therefore, does not deserve the respect accorded a foreigner. The players are Ghanaians and would not think differently from the thinking of the rest of us.
We are a sovereign nation with a common destiny. So unless it becomes necessary, we must realise that our destiny lies in our own hands. There are many who when confronted with a choice between nationalism and professionalism would choose the former and it is natural. That is why Coach Milovan’s posture last Sunday should not surprise anybody. He could have done worse.
We need coaches who will celebrate our victories not as a duty well-performed, but as shareholders in the collective fortunes of the state, just as they will mourn our loss, not as a personal failure, but as that of a proud sovereign nation.
Even though it is still early yet, there is no evidence so far to prove that the African teams with foreign coaches are putting up any exceptional performance in South Africa. This is a clear indication that the growth and survival of football on the continent should be the business of Africans themselves.
FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, the man who has done so much for African football, emphasised this point when he said most of the so-called top class coaches who come to make millions on the continent are not fit to be college coaches in their home countries. He also reiterated the point that it is time Africa began seeing its progress in the sport on the continent.
All said and done, it would be said that at the end of the day, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the national cause would be the greatest motivation for victory. Last Sunday was an experience we should learn from — that it is time to stand on our own feet.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
LESSONS FROM MILOVAN'S POSTURE (JUNE 22, 2010)
The rapturous explosion of joy which was triggered by the Black Stars’ victory over Serbia in the World Cup match last Sunday, contrasted sharply with the gloom on the face of Milovan Rajevac, coach of the national team.
In the full glare of hundreds of television cameras, Coach Milovan snubbed Mr Kwesi Appiah, his deputy on the technical bench, and he walked away, crestfallen. Probably this is the first time that a coach of a victorious team felt so defeated, disappointed and even ‘wild’ when he should have been all smiles, dancing and hugging the technical team and players.
Various explanations came up. One was that the coach did not want to jump the gun to celebrate too early when there are many more hurdles to clear. Of course this could not make sense; otherwise no team would celebrate goals until the last whistle. Another, which came closer to the truth and which is the subject of this article, was that the coach did not want to be seen jubilating over the defeat of his country.
Nobody was expecting the Coach to be ecstatic about Serbia’s defeat. But is snubbing the most reasonable thing to do? At least as a coach of a winning team, a polite shake of hands would do and as Ghanaians, we would understand the conflicting emotions stirring within the Serb.
Coach Milovan’s agony began when Serbia was drawn in the same group as Ghana at the group stages. The question then was which comes first — professionalism or nationalism?
Meanwhile Coach Milovan continued to assure Ghanaians that his heart was with the Black Stars and that he was not going to allow any nationalistic feelings to cloud his professional judgement. But what we saw last Sunday was a complete betrayal of an inner feeling that was hard to suppress. Perhaps Coach Milovan was counting on a draw so that duty to country and job would have been satisfied before Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty strike made the difference.
The disappointment was evident in the post-match conference when Coach Milovan declared; “Perhaps we (Ghana) got more lucky than them (Serbia), because we scored one goal, and we obtained the three points today. I hope Serbia can pick up six points from their next two games”. Serbia had since plucked three points from Germany and perhaps will add another three from Australia.
The important question is what happens if destiny should smile on Ghana and Serbia and the two should meet again in the tournament; say in the final? We may not be second time lucky and history is there as a guide.
In 1974, a Yugoslav coach led then Zaire to be slaughtered 9-0 by the then Yugoslavia in a World Cup match. In 1990 in Italy, Cameroon lost by a 4-0 margin to the then Soviet Union when it was being coached by a Soviet. This was a time when Cameroon was showing a lot of promise on the world stage. In 1998, Nigeria suffered a similar fate, when under Coach Bora Milutinovic of Yugoslavia; they went down 3-0 in the hands of Yugoslavia in France. In 2002, Cameroon again lost 2-0 to Germany when they were under Coach Winfried Schafer, a German. You may say these are cruel coincidences since Frenchman Bruno Metsu led Senegal to beat France in 2002 in a World Cup match.
But the question which continues to pop up is, when shall we, as a sovereign nation, begin to take up the mantle of leadership in all spheres of our national life? Shall we begin to beat the inferiority trap and see merit in our own selves? What have foreign coaches got up their sleeves which our local coaches do not have? Most of these coaches have language problems which affect their ability to communicate effectively with the players, as is the case with our current coach who uses the services of an interpreter to communicate with the players.
The argument usually goes that the foreign coaches command the respect of the players. That is where the inferiority complex syndrome becomes more manifest. Why should we be running with our tails between our legs at the command of a strange white man but fail to respond to the same command because it is coming from a fellow Ghanaian?
What impression do we create in the minds of players if we are prepared to pay so much to a foreign coach to do a job a Ghanaian is capable of doing and even better, while the Ghanaian coach is paid a pittance? Immediately, we have declared our own man inferior and, therefore, does not deserve the respect accorded a foreigner. The players are Ghanaians and would not think differently from the thinking of the rest of us.
We are a sovereign nation with a common destiny. So unless it becomes necessary, we must realise that our destiny lies in our own hands. There are many who when confronted with a choice between nationalism and professionalism would choose the former and it is natural. That is why Coach Milovan’s posture last Sunday should not surprise anybody. He could have done worse.
We need coaches who will celebrate our victories not as a duty well-performed, but as shareholders in the collective fortunes of the state, just as they will mourn our loss, not as a personal failure, but as that of a proud sovereign nation.
Even though it is still early yet, there is no evidence so far to prove that the African teams with foreign coaches are putting up any exceptional performance in South Africa. This is a clear indication that the growth and survival of football on the continent should be the business of Africans themselves.
FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, the man who has done so much for African football, emphasised this point when he said most of the so-called top class coaches who come to make millions on the continent are not fit to be college coaches in their home countries. He also reiterated the point that it is time Africa began seeing its progress in the sport on the continent.
All said and done, it would be said that at the end of the day, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the national cause would be the greatest motivation for victory. Last Sunday was an experience we should learn from — that it is time to stand on our own feet.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
In the full glare of hundreds of television cameras, Coach Milovan snubbed Mr Kwesi Appiah, his deputy on the technical bench, and he walked away, crestfallen. Probably this is the first time that a coach of a victorious team felt so defeated, disappointed and even ‘wild’ when he should have been all smiles, dancing and hugging the technical team and players.
Various explanations came up. One was that the coach did not want to jump the gun to celebrate too early when there are many more hurdles to clear. Of course this could not make sense; otherwise no team would celebrate goals until the last whistle. Another, which came closer to the truth and which is the subject of this article, was that the coach did not want to be seen jubilating over the defeat of his country.
Nobody was expecting the Coach to be ecstatic about Serbia’s defeat. But is snubbing the most reasonable thing to do? At least as a coach of a winning team, a polite shake of hands would do and as Ghanaians, we would understand the conflicting emotions stirring within the Serb.
Coach Milovan’s agony began when Serbia was drawn in the same group as Ghana at the group stages. The question then was which comes first — professionalism or nationalism?
Meanwhile Coach Milovan continued to assure Ghanaians that his heart was with the Black Stars and that he was not going to allow any nationalistic feelings to cloud his professional judgement. But what we saw last Sunday was a complete betrayal of an inner feeling that was hard to suppress. Perhaps Coach Milovan was counting on a draw so that duty to country and job would have been satisfied before Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty strike made the difference.
The disappointment was evident in the post-match conference when Coach Milovan declared; “Perhaps we (Ghana) got more lucky than them (Serbia), because we scored one goal, and we obtained the three points today. I hope Serbia can pick up six points from their next two games”. Serbia had since plucked three points from Germany and perhaps will add another three from Australia.
The important question is what happens if destiny should smile on Ghana and Serbia and the two should meet again in the tournament; say in the final? We may not be second time lucky and history is there as a guide.
In 1974, a Yugoslav coach led then Zaire to be slaughtered 9-0 by the then Yugoslavia in a World Cup match. In 1990 in Italy, Cameroon lost by a 4-0 margin to the then Soviet Union when it was being coached by a Soviet. This was a time when Cameroon was showing a lot of promise on the world stage. In 1998, Nigeria suffered a similar fate, when under Coach Bora Milutinovic of Yugoslavia; they went down 3-0 in the hands of Yugoslavia in France. In 2002, Cameroon again lost 2-0 to Germany when they were under Coach Winfried Schafer, a German. You may say these are cruel coincidences since Frenchman Bruno Metsu led Senegal to beat France in 2002 in a World Cup match.
But the question which continues to pop up is, when shall we, as a sovereign nation, begin to take up the mantle of leadership in all spheres of our national life? Shall we begin to beat the inferiority trap and see merit in our own selves? What have foreign coaches got up their sleeves which our local coaches do not have? Most of these coaches have language problems which affect their ability to communicate effectively with the players, as is the case with our current coach who uses the services of an interpreter to communicate with the players.
The argument usually goes that the foreign coaches command the respect of the players. That is where the inferiority complex syndrome becomes more manifest. Why should we be running with our tails between our legs at the command of a strange white man but fail to respond to the same command because it is coming from a fellow Ghanaian?
What impression do we create in the minds of players if we are prepared to pay so much to a foreign coach to do a job a Ghanaian is capable of doing and even better, while the Ghanaian coach is paid a pittance? Immediately, we have declared our own man inferior and, therefore, does not deserve the respect accorded a foreigner. The players are Ghanaians and would not think differently from the thinking of the rest of us.
We are a sovereign nation with a common destiny. So unless it becomes necessary, we must realise that our destiny lies in our own hands. There are many who when confronted with a choice between nationalism and professionalism would choose the former and it is natural. That is why Coach Milovan’s posture last Sunday should not surprise anybody. He could have done worse.
We need coaches who will celebrate our victories not as a duty well-performed, but as shareholders in the collective fortunes of the state, just as they will mourn our loss, not as a personal failure, but as that of a proud sovereign nation.
Even though it is still early yet, there is no evidence so far to prove that the African teams with foreign coaches are putting up any exceptional performance in South Africa. This is a clear indication that the growth and survival of football on the continent should be the business of Africans themselves.
FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, the man who has done so much for African football, emphasised this point when he said most of the so-called top class coaches who come to make millions on the continent are not fit to be college coaches in their home countries. He also reiterated the point that it is time Africa began seeing its progress in the sport on the continent.
All said and done, it would be said that at the end of the day, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the national cause would be the greatest motivation for victory. Last Sunday was an experience we should learn from — that it is time to stand on our own feet.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION EXERCISE MUST NOT FAIL (JUNE 15, 2010)
The end is not in sight for the tortuous journey of the national identification exercise which was set in motion about three years ago. This is a very important national exercise which has in store a lot of benefits for the nation but it is always confronted with what otherwise could be surmountable obstacles.
The latest information released to the public about two weeks ago indicated that the exercise was to be suspended because of lack of funds, an addition to the catalogue of problems that had bedevilled this important national exercise.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, the Head of Public Affairs of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Ms Bertha Dzeble, mentioned that the deployment of field staff to the Brong Ahafo Region had been suspended because the NIA was unable to get supporting funds. She said funding was needed to fuel vehicles to transport field staff, logistics and mobile registration workstations (MRWs) to the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Head of Public Affairs conceded that the postponement would futher extend the exercise which was already behind schedule. What it meant was that the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions were yet to be covered.
In 2007 or so, when the exercise began, it was the expectation of many Ghanaians that it would be executed early enough to serve as a back-up for the national electoral register in preparation towards the 2008 elections. Alas, that was not to be. Right from the onset, the exercise came against numerous obstacles including lack of logistics and funds to pay personnel recruited for the exercise.
At one stage, the exercise created confusion in the minds of the public because it was taking place alongside the revision of the voters register. In all considerations, Ghanaians were expecting that after Election 2008, enough time and resources would be committed to the national identification exercise to bring it to a fruitful conclusion. However, as things stand now, it is not likely that this exercise will come to an end in the immediate future. Already, the Electoral Commission has started preparation towards the re-opening of the voters register, which will grab its fair share of public funds in addition to the use of common facilities such as registration centres.
As would be expected, the government was likely to put more premium on the voters register at the expense of the identification exercise. But should that be the case? The benefits of a national identity card are numerous to be treated in this shabby manner. The most obvious is the establishment of nationality which will in turn help in the compilation of a voters register and registration under the national health insurance scheme which is already battling with many fraudulent deals.
A well-executed identification exercise should be able to help the government to have a reasonably fair idea about the national population, even better than a national census conducted every 10 years could provide. It would also provide all the demographics like gender, age, profession, distribution and others for the purposes of planning and making projections.
The exercise may not come out with a perfect result, but all the same, it may make it easier for the state to determine nationals from non-nationals, especially, in cases where citizens are entitled to certain reliefs such as subsidies on health, education and agricultural facilities.
The security benefits are many for the security agencies, the banks, other non-financial institutions and many other commercial and public bodies that transact business with the general public.
This is an exercise that should not be handled haphazardly under any circumstance and, therefore, should be given every official support to succeed. So far, government response to the requirements of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has not been the best. It gave the impression either rightly or wrongly that the government was not interested in the national identification register and, therefore, could afford to push its success to the background.
The national identification exercise is too important to be toyed with and no amount should be considered too much for its execution. We have spent more frivolously on less important things and the exercise should not suffer because of that common refrain of lack of funds. More than three years into a national registration exercise without an end in sight is not good.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
The latest information released to the public about two weeks ago indicated that the exercise was to be suspended because of lack of funds, an addition to the catalogue of problems that had bedevilled this important national exercise.
Addressing the media in Kumasi, the Head of Public Affairs of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Ms Bertha Dzeble, mentioned that the deployment of field staff to the Brong Ahafo Region had been suspended because the NIA was unable to get supporting funds. She said funding was needed to fuel vehicles to transport field staff, logistics and mobile registration workstations (MRWs) to the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Head of Public Affairs conceded that the postponement would futher extend the exercise which was already behind schedule. What it meant was that the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions were yet to be covered.
In 2007 or so, when the exercise began, it was the expectation of many Ghanaians that it would be executed early enough to serve as a back-up for the national electoral register in preparation towards the 2008 elections. Alas, that was not to be. Right from the onset, the exercise came against numerous obstacles including lack of logistics and funds to pay personnel recruited for the exercise.
At one stage, the exercise created confusion in the minds of the public because it was taking place alongside the revision of the voters register. In all considerations, Ghanaians were expecting that after Election 2008, enough time and resources would be committed to the national identification exercise to bring it to a fruitful conclusion. However, as things stand now, it is not likely that this exercise will come to an end in the immediate future. Already, the Electoral Commission has started preparation towards the re-opening of the voters register, which will grab its fair share of public funds in addition to the use of common facilities such as registration centres.
As would be expected, the government was likely to put more premium on the voters register at the expense of the identification exercise. But should that be the case? The benefits of a national identity card are numerous to be treated in this shabby manner. The most obvious is the establishment of nationality which will in turn help in the compilation of a voters register and registration under the national health insurance scheme which is already battling with many fraudulent deals.
A well-executed identification exercise should be able to help the government to have a reasonably fair idea about the national population, even better than a national census conducted every 10 years could provide. It would also provide all the demographics like gender, age, profession, distribution and others for the purposes of planning and making projections.
The exercise may not come out with a perfect result, but all the same, it may make it easier for the state to determine nationals from non-nationals, especially, in cases where citizens are entitled to certain reliefs such as subsidies on health, education and agricultural facilities.
The security benefits are many for the security agencies, the banks, other non-financial institutions and many other commercial and public bodies that transact business with the general public.
This is an exercise that should not be handled haphazardly under any circumstance and, therefore, should be given every official support to succeed. So far, government response to the requirements of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has not been the best. It gave the impression either rightly or wrongly that the government was not interested in the national identification register and, therefore, could afford to push its success to the background.
The national identification exercise is too important to be toyed with and no amount should be considered too much for its execution. We have spent more frivolously on less important things and the exercise should not suffer because of that common refrain of lack of funds. More than three years into a national registration exercise without an end in sight is not good.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com
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