My first Kiss...

“Gbedemaaaaaaaah” my mum yelled for the umpteenth time from the Kitchen after apparently calling me all the while. 

“Yes, mum, I’m coming” I responded vulgarly on top of my voice from the room I shared with my kid brother. I was anxiously getting prepared for the big day. It was ‘Our Day’ and I was wearing one of my well ironed gray political suits, humming and forming images in mind about how the day was bound to turn out. At nine years, I had five political suits. I got the first one when I was four years and since then, it had become a ritual to proceed to the only Tailor in the neighborhood for him to take my measurement for eventual designing of a ‘top and down’ for my Christmas and every important function in the coming year until another was sewn in December.

I cherished those moments i walked into the Tailor’s shop with other people practically queued up to take their measurements, and to instruct the Tailor on the kind of style they wanted. Usually, it turns out that nothing has changed about the previous style they sewed, but you can’t blame them feeling all important as they direct him on what he should do.

I quickly zipped up my flap, wore my ‘under green’ canvas and walked out of my room into my mummy’s to watch myself in her vanity dresser. I turned around to see how my back looked like, almost turned around again and was satisfied with my looks. Yes, at nine, I cared about my looks. I had a girl called Dedevi and I was looking forward to showing off my new political suit since it was the first ‘our day’ in the year. I had to, because I knew she was also going to dress-to-kill.

I hurriedly walked into the kitchen to attend to my mummy’s call, but she was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t worried since it wasn’t about her. She called to notify me that she was done, so I got closer to the cabinet where my cane woven basket with a bowl of rice and stew and one bottle of 7up and a Bouna biscuit was neatly arranged and covered with a beautifully embroidered napkin. I knew what to expect since it was the norm but I had to ascertain what was in the basket. 

After certifying the contents of the basket and smiling sheepishly to myself, I carried the basket carefully into the living room and that same care was to characterize the carriage of the basket until everything I had in it was emptied. 

I went towards the living room divider where my mum always placed my pocket money except the money had been doubled today. I pocketed it without checking the sum, because I knew my mum couldn’t lie to me. I walked to the center table, picked my woven basket in one piece and stormed out of the house with the trap door shut behind me.

The atmosphere on campus was euphoric as both boys and girls started hailing me as soon as I went through the gate into the school. I couldn’t help but to sway my head like a pendulum oscillating endlessly. Everybody was immaculately dressed and was looking beautiful in their one-time dresses. Some of my friends were checking out my outfit while others wanted to know the content of my basket as if they were actually expecting anything different from the normal rice and stew. Some had seen my pair of shoes before so the main focus of their inspection was actually on my gray political suit.

They escorted me to one of the rooms where everybody had lodged their basket of food and drink(s), after which I went in search of Dedevi. Most of the pupils were loitering around that particular classroom and won’t go anywhere, because they were protecting their valuables. They couldn’t afford anyone taking or tampering with their baskets

Dedevi was my first love and was one of the reasons why I went to school every day. Untill she became a stumbling block to my studies from our teacher’s perspective. we shared same desk and shared all the candies her mom stuffed her bag with, however, my teacher, Miss. Boamah had to re-arrange our sitting positions because she claimed we were always talking.

I loved Dedevi so much even though I could not express how I felt towards her. Either I didn’t know that I had to convey my feelings to her or I just did not know how to go about it but I knew heavens had even endorsed my love for her and she knew it herself and all our class mates knew. Dedevi was eight years and already had prospects of becoming a very beautiful and a brilliant woman. She already knew how to control her strides, she was already aware of the numerous advances from the other guys in the school, yet I was the only one she warmed up to.

If we were not in love, how come I felt moody when she was caned in class for getting some of her class exercises wrong? Why do I feel good when I was teased that she was my girlfriend? Why do I secretly watch her play ampe with her friends when I should be playing football with my friends? Why was I worried if she got herself in trouble and practically followed her everywhere?

Loving Dedevi compared to what I have come to know now was blissful and turned out the best. All I had to do to satisfy Dedevi and put smiles on her face was to look into her eyes. I needn’t take her to the movies, rivalry from other guys where she would be trying to choose from other alternatives was non-existent, and I needn’t take her to any fanciful eatery to get her attention neither must we drive around town just to spend much time together. Loving Dedevi came without stress.

When I finally saw Dedevi with her two best friends; Tutua and Joan at where I thought I would see them, it was almost time to assemble for the program to start. The bell for assembly rang and everybody fled towards the assembly grounds. 

To be or not to be….

I put one and one together and stopped Dedevi in the way, ask her to meet me behind the headmaster’s office since it was the best place we could have our privacy. I calculated that, all other things being equal, no one will dare be around that location and it was the last place someone will be looking out for deviant pupils. She gladly followed me to the corner.

Here we were, looking into each other’s eyes and panting. I didn’t know what to do next. I was just standing there, clueless, with so many thoughts running through my mind. I thought I had carefully planned this in my mind. 

We had just gotten there but it seems like eternity, as we heard the grumpy voice of the Headmaster who was noted for instilling discipline into any pupil who will play the buffoonery.  I was now edgy and torn between making a false move and pulling her away from the headmaster’s office to the assembly ground. I chose the latter, so I stretch my hand for hers so we can leave, and that was to be the gesture that changed everything. She thought I wanted to embrace her, so she walked into my arms instead and embraced me too and all I could manage then was to roll my eyes. 

I still did not know how she did it, but that was when she tilted my chin and planted her lips on mine and kissed me. Dedevi had just kissed me and it felt good and all I could think at that time was how to break the news to my friends instead of returning her kiss. i was awashed with elation and that was when it dawned on me about where we were and how politically incorrect we were acting and as If on cue, we heard some footsteps approaching our direction.

A hopeful Ghana at 56

It’s the 6^th of March and Ghana is going to be aglow with merry-makers amidst pomp and pageantry. We would go gay because it is the day the Lord has made for us. It is the day our forefathers, led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah fought and won Independence for us and as usual, we will be commemorating this feat in style, but I have a different notion about this day. I really would like it set aside as a brainstorming day where we would all come together like was done in the market squares in the days of old, because we are caught up in the middle of the road. 

I am not happy about the state of our nation and the direction in which we are headed. More so, I am not happy about the leadership steering the affairs of the nation and this cut across board; right from the sectorial Managers in the various departments to the Presidency. They lack a plan and if they do, then, it’s not working.

The state of the nation is sham, the majority of our populace seems clueless and the rest feeling vulnerable except a few like me who is penning my thoughts down and if you are wondering why I feel apart from the aforementioned category, it’s not because I am perfect, but, fact that I can only give approval of myself. You would have to speak for yourself too.

The leaders have failed us, spent our monies on frivolities and have nothing to show for. They beg for aid only to party with it with their girlfriends, they buy shiny rimmed Cars they drive at night to stay disguised and stash the tax payer’s money in a faraway country where he really never gets to enjoy. The people we thought responsible thus mandating them for higher offices only sleep on the job and take home fat salaries. Their negligence results in judgement debts and no one sanctions them. When they steal, they call it embezzlement or misappropriation, yet the common man attracts names like burglary and armed-robbery. They have lost touch with the people.

Given the platform, all they talk about is the achievements of our illustrious son, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who wrestled Independence from the British and his plans which could best be described as idealism. Don’t we all have ideals? What are we going to say about this crop of leaders? That, they went for loans in saloons abroad? That, they were stashing monies under their beds? That, they got rich overnight? That, they were irresponsibly having illicit sex when they went abroad with our monies or fact that they were living like Kings?

If they were not sleeping on the job, how come we are having erratic power supply, knowing that power drives a nation’s industry? Did somebody not see it coming? Is it the Personnel or lack of equipment? Is it lack of funds and if it is, how can we get some? All of the answers to these questions can at least make the Ghanaian appreciate the situation.

Its 56 years since Ghana attained Independence and you would ask yourself that, after Governor Gordon Guggisberg’s 7year accelerated development plan that saw the construction of some major railways, expansion of the health sector and educational curricula (which is miseducating anyway), what major achievements have we added up to these things after a ‘poli-poli’ 56years of managing our own affairs?

We are even struggling to maintain what has been bequeathed to us and it’s a shame!

You out there reading, for how long are we going to keep on ranting and musing about what these leaders have done to the state? For how long are we going to allow these people to stay unaccountable for their stewardship? For how long are they going to be alienated from us with their grandiose lifestyles? For how long are we going to stay in fear for being castigated and labeled as arrogant or disrespectful for asking the right questions?

My dear youth, if we are the future leaders, then we have to be responsible ahead of time, even before the baton is handed to us. We have to be acting before assuming total responsibility otherwise; we would be lost when the day of reckoning beckons us.

This nation will not grow without our output. Every Individual must be involved in building this nation. We need pragmatic governance ably supported by responsible opposition and then, the worker who reads news items all day will stop and the guy who litters the street will also put an end to it. The citizenry will shed off that ‘i-don’t-care’ attitude and work with the hindsight of living a legacy behind for the generations to come like we tout Dr. Nkrumah to be. We need sustainability in all our endeavors and it is time we all shut our mouths and start acting.

Attending school and earning enough in a reputable company afterwards is not enough for Mother Ghana. Having multiple degrees and not doing anything to outlast you when you are dead and gone is just good for you and perhaps your family but not enough for Mother Ghana. Being a law-abiding citizen is not enough for mother Ghana, you also have to go a length further to report a wrong doer. The Police intimidating and extorting money from the citizenry at most only exhibits the corrupt nature of our institutions and that is also not good enough to propel the nation to the Utopian state we all complain and project.

Evidently, everybody has a good intention, but how are we going to make it materialize? How can we make manifest of all those good intentions? We have to get to work with alacrity because we have no more options to choose from. We are left to work, work and work.

Like they say, the past, the now and the future belongs to the Artisan. Are you an Artisan? Just sitting behind your computer and touting your Chartered Accountancy credentials does not make you one, because you are practically leaving nothing behind when you are dead and gone. Write a book or teach someone those accounting skills and it is only when, you would have contributed to building Mother Ghana. Even when Parliamentarians allots and approves budgets, it’s the Artisan who designs and constructs the projects. 

Once you become an Artisan, you will create and probably employ yourself and become employable. The nine to five is not enough unless the content of the 9-5 is all about creativity, otherwise, find time to create something. Everything you use is as a result of someone’s brainchild. Let’s try to relieve the government of creating jobs for us because even that, it will require our craftsmanship to create the said jobs. 

We all have to become Artisans. Artisans draw myriads of images in their minds; be it the writer, the musician, the poet, the architects, Masons, Carpenters, the Caterer and many more of this class envisage images in their mind before they are manifested and once we all become Artisans, we will start drawing vivid and ideal images of Ghana in our mind and that will become the turning point, the revolutionary factor to a better Ghana. We all have to be up and doing. We all have to do something for Mother Ghana and like one Qouphy Appiah Obirikorang will say, “If we must march on this 6^th of March, then we all have to march”.

Ghana's 56th Dependence bash

It’s once again that time of the year where most Ghanaians will go frenzy all in the name of Patriotism. Yes, patriotism in the Ghanaian way.  Patriotism the Ghanaian way, may be wearing anything that has red, Gold and green in it or any party T-shirt, especially that of the ruling party’s. Patriotism the Ghanaian way, can also be criticizing anything to the loudest decibels without a stroke of a suggested solution.

Its 6^th march, marking Ghana’s Independence Day and all is set to celebrate the 56^th anniversary since the Whiteman packed bag and baggage from the shores of our Motherland, Ghana. I couldn’t bring myself to say, since we attained Independence and Freedom, because physically, we may not see our Colonial masters meddling in our everyday affairs but at least it is evident that they are the virtual Bosses parading the corridors of power influencing every decision and policy we enact as a nation.

It is sad that as a nation, we cannot boast of some very basic amenities that can go a long way to boost the general health and well-being of the citizenry. Communities cannot get access to potable water and are left to struggle with cows and other animals to have access to the only stream that runs through the town, yet they also go to the polls every four years. 

The nation is plagued by perennial water shortage, no constant supply of power to empower the manufacturing industries, salaries are not forthcoming, unemployment is rife, despair and hopelessness setting in for the youth and the older folks alike and no one seem to care especially the powers that be. 

Ghana has nothing to show for, yet we dole money about and into useless projects that does not have any direct bearing on us. Sometimes, the images of suffering and the state of our nation only make you conclude that these leaders are visionless and insensitive to our plight. 

American’s R & B Celebrated Superstar who is also a multiple Grammys and BET Awards winner; Chris Brown has been invited into the Country to come grace our Independence bash and to also be at the official unveiling of the ‘Hope City project’ instituted by Ghana’s biggest ICT Company RLG which was also to be graced by the President of the republic of Ghana.

Chris Brown is alleged to be paid to the tune of $1million to perform alongside some of the Ghanaian artistes or spend twenty-four hours in a third world Country struggling to clutch at a straw or sometimes go begging with cap in hand for foreign aid. 

Some are of the view that, it’s not our money but that of Roland Agambire or RLG’s and they have the right to use it anyhow they like, and those people are just right. Some are also of the view that regardless of whose money is it is, it could have been channeled into meaningful projects that can go a long way to help the populace or those who bought the RLG till they accrued that much to be given to an American Superstar.

RLG is a progressive Company and doing a lot for mother Ghana already, by providing employment to many Ghanaians and doing a lot, as far as corporate social responsibility is concerned. I am even sure that, they wanted Chris Brown around to boost the company’s name and to also give them a global appeal but methinks contracting Chris Brown to perform within 24hrs at the much, is misallocation of resources.

Granted that RLG has that much to spend or give away for publicity, there still could be many ways to do this especially, now that it coincides with our Independence and Freedom day. 

Our Music industry is an ailing one where an individual writes and composes his own songs, works his ass off to pay for recording time, come up with concepts for the video and now go around selling in the scorching sun. No one seems to care what becomes of an individual’s effort and the effect it can have on the individual and the nation as a whole and all RLG could do was to invite Chris Brown at the tune of a whopping $1million?

RLG can build a very, very big and state-of-the-art recording studio like we see in other advanced countries to help anyone who wants to do music at a cheaper or no fee. They could even assemble all Ghanaian artistes and go on a nation-wide tour where every region can have a feel of the Ghanaian artistes that are only concentrated in the nation’s capital. 

RLG can even build football parks in a couple of regions just to help the youth nurture some skills and unearth their talents but giving out to only one person who will repatriate it out of the country is uncalled for and it doesn’t matter if the money is his or for the nation.

There are other schools of thought who think organizing or paying Ghanaians to perform will still amount to the monies ending up in the US or the UK. They claim our stars will also bleach their hair, draw all over their body, buy the latest range of SUVs with customized chrome wheels or go and spend the money with some girls in the US, so it’s just right for RLG to give it to someone who already is in the US and very well talented. Hmmm

Chris Brown will be performing alongside five of our local artistes, namely Samini, Shereefa Gunu, R2Bees, Efya and D-Black and who are billed to perform and these supporting artistes will just be given enough to last them their effort and still would be gay about it. As much as the artistes have to raise their games, these corporate giants who sponsor such programmes have to treat them well and encourage them to live up to world standards so as to attract invitation to other countries since they will be enjoying global appeal. 

 

Our leaders need to have a long term plan for the nation and it behooves every individual to contribute their quota in achieving this goal of building a sustainable economy for all of us and generations to come, but for now, all we can tell them is one great artiste who beat his girlfriend in the full glare of the public was paid $1million to put up a show in Ghana within 24hrs….

Oh, I just heard the famous Chris brown is already in town as preparations are set for his performance this evening and people getting frenzy already as the euphoria building up is engulfing them because they want to be a part of history in the making. Well, if you would be attending, then don’t dull and make it count, but for some of us, we have our own plans of how to make our own history since everyday counts.

And to all those who would be there, do not be surprised if only a handful of the audiences are having or using RLG phones because I doubt if the programme is targeted at them, no, it is for those who can afford, the LGs, iPhones, BlackBerrys, Ipad, Samsung S series and other sophisticated and user friendly smartphones.