Yesterday – 06 March 2006 – Ghana celebrated its 49th year of independence from the yoke of colonialism. All congratulations are due!
Ghana has had the odd military coup, the odd dictatorship and a new constitution for some 15 years, but still remains a poor developing country that has just managed to have a huge amount of debt written off by the “developed” countries. (aka Taxpayers of those countries)
The “senior citizens” brigade is reported to have blamed the country’s woes on Greed. They listed some interesting facts:
Dr, Kwame Nkrumah was the country’s first president. Aha! So that’s where the name comes from for the big traffic circle in Accra.
Three plans were launched from 1957 – 1964 which were to boost the country’s infrastructure. Needless to say – it was a crash and burn!
The main reason for the crash and burn was Nkrumah’s government been tossed out by a military junta on Feb 24th 1966. They accused the Government of dictatorship and leading the country into economic chaos. They quote promptly became a bunch of dictators and led the country into economic chaos.
Nkrumah quite happily detained his detractors and threatened evictions where people did not agree with him. The military Junta did the same – except the also shot a whole lot of people in the process.
So 49 years on – Ghana – the 3rd largest gold producer and largest cocoa producer in Africa – continues to be plagued by poor infrastructure, high unemployment and low wages/productivity. Education is poorly supported and politicians are wealthy by “right”.
Today’s Graphic – my newspaper of choice – has a wonderful picture of the President lighting the “perpetual” flame. I did a second take as it was not made clear why the perpetual flame needed lighting. Evidently it was not as perpetual as people thought.
Loads of parades etc marked the day – which for us poor souls in the working class was just another working day where the hourly paid lads get paid 3 times their hourly wage to work half as hard.
The newspapers like any good newspaper in Africa contains page after page of “adverts” congratulating the country on their independence. We did not partake in meeting the newspapers annual advertising budget.
An interesting article in the Trade Fair section was headed “Banks complain of Poor Patronage”. The banks were bemoaning the fact that poor patronage of their stand was hampering the full realization of their objectives.
Maybe someone should have told them that people who use their banks do so out of reluctant need. Their piss poor service, charges that border on criminal, profits that are in the region of 35% of turnover, Interest rates for the average soul in excess of 33% - when prime is at 21% - contribute more to people not been interested in the banks then them having 3 people handing out leaflets.
Oh it could also be that banks are lobbying for the introduction of a law which enables them to execute collateral without resorting to the courts first. The lad who is the MD of CAL bank bemoans that the default rate is too high. The 35% net profits do not show this Mr. MD. And in my book – good old fashioned “credit control” is a banking requirement.
More fun news was that the Ghana Journalists Assoc. have – wait for it – established their own restaurant. Hummmmmmm – Do they only serve gin and tonics from 8 am – 4:30 pm?
Oh yes!
As an update to a previous blog re. Ghanaians living overseas been able to vote. The bill was passed unanimously and signed into law the following day. The unanimous vote was assisted by the opposition MP’s continuing to boycott parliament.
More updates on previous blogs.
Remember the MP that got nicked in the USA with a few kg of heroin secreted in some Vases. Well said MP still remains in the USA, eating prison food and making friends with Bubba and his mates.
The big question was what would happen to the MP as obviously he was not going to be able to attend sittings of parliament. The laws of parliament state if you miss 15 days, you are liable to get booted out.
Well it appears that’s not the case. All it takes is a letter to the speaker mentioning you had been “detained” in the USA and will not be able to attend sittings. The speaker can then give you permission to miss more than 15 days. You still remain an MP and still get an MP’s salary deposited into your account every month.
The speaker uses the old statement of “innocent until proven guilty” to support his permission slip to the somewhat detained MP. Now said MP is a member of the ruling party. One assumes the same courtesy will be shown to an opposition MP when such a case arises. (so to speak).
No mention is made of who is doing his job while he is away.
In South Africa the Zuma rape as continues to be news here as well. Pity the poor woman who is now forced to expose her previous sexual activities to all and sundry. Pity the poor woman who is subject to all sorts of abuse from Zuma supporters and mores the pity by exposing her to this “abuse” will mean fewer women will be inclined to confront their rapists in court. We have a funny justice system that will protect the accused more than the accuser.
HOWEVER!
If – and lets be honest, it is a big if – Jacob Zuma actually did rape the woman, the fact that she is an HIV Activist and by her own admission HIV positive, there may be some justice in this case after all. Assuming a condom was not used.
(although lets be honest – you know a woman is HIV positive and you rape her? There are a few sandwiches short in that picnic)
