WINTER IN GHANA?

The word winter was first heard when I was in Class four. Yeah, the good old days! Since then, I read and heard about this stunning season experienced in Europe and America.

From all the readings made on winter, it is experienced mainly within the months of December, January and February and in Europe and America. During this time, there occurs the shortest of days, intensive snow, lowest temperature, blizzard, ice fog and the coldest of weather cannot spare them. Aliens find it very difficult and nearly impossible to cope with these situations on those continents. However, kudos to acclimatisation, with the passage of time, my good folks, the self imposed aliens on those continents, are also able to adapt to those nerve-wracking conditions just like the indigenes. How they do it? Merely by wearing things they won’t come close to were they in their home continent-the ever rich Black Continent of Africa.

It is not by chance to see both the white and their coloured counterparts (to the uninitiated, that refers to Blacks!) in woollen materials, thick gloves and equally thick socks and boots and not forgetting those highly knitted and compacted hats and caps. Oh! No, I learnt some even cover themselves with blankets during this intriguing moment. But hey! Life goes on.

Yeah! This reminds me of that day. After having the best of my vacation holidays since entering the University, I considered it yet another momentous event when asked to go to Ho on a mission on the eve of reopening school for this semester-the 1st semester of 2009/10 academic year. I thereof started my journey to the Capital town of my home region. While about to go, I decided to use the Adidome-Ho route. In fact, I was “honoured” to use this same road being used by some “big” men and women in society not excluding the “roads master”. After having journeyed some few kilometers from Adidome, I noticed something strange. You know what? The other passengers on board wore double attires with the women in double hair gears and a single hair gear (actually handkerchiefs!) for the men. Having been fascinated at this, I kept this strange sight to myself and only waited patiently to see what happens next. No sooner than I ever thought, dried and weightless dust particles started blowing and entering into the bus. “Oh! My God! How come I didn’t know this earlier”? was my thought. “Aha! This is why these people were in double attires”, I reflected. The journey continued with the incessant inward bound dust particles but who am I to complain. It went on till we crossed the main Dzodze to Ho road. My neatly ironed short sleeve shirt with a pair of trousers matching it just turned into something else. Frankly speaking, my handsome “chocolate” skin and black hair just metamorphosised into an “ofridzeto”. The exoderm (my good friends the amateur scientists that is the outermost part of the skin) of my arms could easily passed for a writing board for my unlucky, underprivileged dear ones in the neglected hamlets of my country. Having entered Ho, I dusted myself but still I couldn’t feel normal. The thought of buying new attires to wear kept criss-crossing my mind but Charlie, where de money dey? Those with their “winter clothes” on only took them off and bingo! away they left. I stood there perplexed and clueless. After some time, I dashed off to where I have been sent since I can’t keep on crying over spilt milk.

My curiosity of knowing more about that part of my Region compelled me to use the Ho-Akatsi route back home. Indeed, this was rather disheartening. I was alarmed at the nature of this road too. In fact, it’s a senior in terms of level of worseness to the earlier one I used.

Folks, interestingly, despite the bad nature of these roads in this area, flyers of my “big” men and women who want to represent my good people also found their way on these roads. Are they really roads? Only God knows. But hey! These areas are not the only places in such conditions in the country.

My “Big” men and women from these areas, we don’t and may not ever experience winter in Ghana. This is the time to change the living conditions of my people for in only two days after now, your thought of doing it tomorrow would have been yesterday. Rise up, my “Big” men and women for this is your time to serve humanity, to meet the humble desires of my people.

Folks, your thought today can make the world better tomorrow.

(www.danielegbenya.blogspot.com).

THE EX GRATIA: A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE.

One of the commonest newly discovered words in the lexicography of most Ghanaians in 2009 undoubtedly is ex gratia not withstanding capricious, bogus and hit the road running expression. Its commonest usage is reflected at almost all meetings especially when a person is asked to perform a task. This 2nd semester on our various campuses could not be excluded from the usage of this new jargon. Almost all out-going executives of social or students associations on campus at one time or the other had asked for his or her ex gratia at meetings.

According to the Macmillan English Dictionary, “ex gratia payment is made because you are generous, not because of a legal obligation”. Does that therefore means fulfilling this all-time appreciated thing is not compulsory after all or is it that the act is being given the wrong label in Ghana?

For all intents and purposes, leadership is the science of influencing and ensuring that the conditions of a person or group of persons who agrees to follow a leader are made better. This, political leadership is no exception.

Undoubtedly, the greatest leader ever to live on earth is Jesus Christ (or Holy Prophet Mohammed as the case may be). This is a leader-servant who did everything possible to attain the basic tenet of leadership-bettering the lives of one’s followers. Despite the many heroic accolades he enjoyed from wherever he either went or mention was made of his name, he always persevered to achieving this fundamental pillar of his chosen endeavour-leadership. Yes, I absolutely agree that he was a spirit-physical being. How about the many selfless and industrious nationalists whose names have been written not only in the cerebrums of the current generation but also on tabloids located in the minds of generations yet unborn? Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, Mohandas Gandhi, and the many unsung heroes and heroines who worked 24/7 just for three reasons: bettering lives, bettering lives and bettering lives were at least humans just like us. These were people who one can conclude that their ids were insensitive even if they had it.

It is a fact that even in serving (leading as we often see) your people, you cannot run the race on an empty stomach. I believe with conviction that once a person makes the decisive intention to serve his or her people, s/he must be amply content with the “many” facilities available to the chosen office. Again, I cannot but re-echo that leadership is absolutely about sacrifice. That is the sole reason that upon hearing the words of our National Anthem being sung, our gallant men and women everywhere: in the field of sports, on the battlefield, on the farm or in the office beat against all odds to rise and defend the good name of Ghana.

As humans as we are and will forever remain, we will always honour those who serve us. But should this be to the detriment of the many youth who throng the streets of our towns and cities doing “nothing”, the many pregnant women, old men and women who defied all odds and waited in long queues in the ever scorching sun to exercise their franchise just of the view that it will make their lives better, the many Ghanaians who not by any fault of theirs happen to share brownish coloured water with cattle and other farm animals? To this, I say absolutely NO! Indeed, who am I to object honouring our leaders (oh no our servants!). Yes, a nation which does not honour her heroes and heroines is not worth dying for. But how do we honour them?

Please just a minute and let me refresh your memory: lump sum payment of US$ 400,000, US$ 1,000,000 for the establishment of a foundation, 2 fully furnished residences, 3 saloon cars, 2 cross country vehicles and 1 all-purpose vehicle (6 vehicles in all) to be maintained, insured, fuelled, chauffeur driven, police guards, couple to travel overseas once a year for not more than 65 days with 3 personal assistants and security detail, entertainment package, 24/7 security guard, free medical attention, and an ex gratia award equivalent to 18 months consolidated salary, and an additional resettlement grant. All these are to be provided to the Ex Prez. J.A. Kufuor by Ghanaians including the tired and restless looking “Kayaye” striving on the pavements of Makola (Yes, “Kayayes” pay taxes!). For the MPs, let’s keep it for another day but remember, the value is the same (“shame”!). How about this: US$ 191,000 pension, couple’s secret service protection, paid travel expenses with 2 assistants, a private fund to establish a library and free medical care for the couple and nothing else! This is the retirement package for Ex Prez. G. W. Bush. Sh! Close your mouth else that flying housefly gets into it! Worthy to know is the fact that both leaders went out of office nearly the same time. Both are gentlemen in their own rights and of high reputation. Lest I forget we borrowed and were also given some “coins” by this same gentlemen’s country! Have you forgotten the MCA and all the other doles which they dolled out to us? During all these times, a question kept criss-crossing my mind: is it that we are richer than the US or we know how to appreciate our ex servants better than the US or it’s sheer affluence? So God help us.

Has the current threats to embark on various forms of industrial strikes has any root in the proposal and payment of ex gratia to the politicians? Has the politicians (government officials and MPs) ever went on strike? If no, is it that they “love” the nation more than any other person?

I wish to suggest that the constitutional review that is currently being proposed by almost all stakeholders should as a matter of national priority review the provision of the Articles relating to the retirement packages of ex government officials. There should be a befitting package for all national servants not all politicians but also the public and civil servants which will stipulate such items to be given out both in quality and quantity irrespective of who and when the recipient is to receive it.

Also, the hullabaloo surrounding who, where and when the bill was passed suggests that certain “sensitive” bills must not be allowed to go through the House at the last minutes before the dissolution of the House. Let us make integrity and the love of one’s country the guiding principles.

With all said and done, the words of one of the greatest leaders, Mohandas ‘Great Soul’ Gandhi, reverberate in my mind that, “time monuments to the great are not statutes of marble, bronze or gold”. The best monument cannot but be remembered about caring for humanity.

THE “MFODWO” MONSTER.

The thought of an impending examination is so striking and startling that neither the core of the examinee’s heart nor the marrow of his or her bone is excluded from the jolting experience. After the many nightmares of what may or may not happen during the exams, alas ! the D-Day is here.

Examination, according to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary refers to “a formal test of knowledge or proficiency in a subject area or skill”. As defined above, it involves the determination of one’s dexterity in a specific area of study. How involving? One’s dexterity? I just remembered a chemistry master back then in the days when I was in High School ( or no Secondary School!) whose favourite expression was that nobody not even the so acclaimed scholar that you are seeing yourself can boast of being an arsenal of knowledge in any field of study. To him, a question pose on the area of study under consideration by someone out there has but one potency –to­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ expose your colossal ignoramus!

More often than not, people develop panic reactions towards examinations maybe due to the much dreadful stuff they had heard or perhaps the grandeur importance associated to such an activity. This runs through all levels of the educational system. Some examinees at times record the highest levels of their adrenalin readings during these times. Eheeeei? Undoubtedly, this unusual feeling has the tendency to lead to a psychological disorder that may be perilous if early and remarkable steps are not taken to terminate its continuity.

My experience of examination times on the campus of the nation’s Premier University, University of Ghana (‘Glory’) is really intriguing. The first half of every semester is really enjoyable for almost everyone with the introverts inclusive. The reason? Charlie, bey you know? Exam is far away! About six weeks to the end of the semester, the race starts with the “antisos” setting the pace for the imminent gruelling encounter. A week after this, the atmosphere is completely changed. How sudden? Reading places which hitherto were virtually empty start to fill to capacity. Interestingly enough, the ingenuity of my comrades come into play. New and “comfortable” reading centres like staircases (or no walkways!) are created. This tells you the seriousness that is attached to examinations. But this bring to fore the inadequate (too small) number of reading rooms on campus for our use. After forcing your way through a well packed entrance to a reading room which is about blowing up due to the over population, the more upsetting and enthralling the episode unravels.

Great minds are seen studying with the highest possible zeal. In fact, many are times when a person reaches his or her elastic limit and even about exceeding it hence about breaking after the next seconds but will not leave and relax for some few minutes outside. This may be accounted for by the thought of not getting a place again should s/he go out for a second and come back. All ‘sorts’ of behaviours are displayed during this time: yawning, sighing, stretching of arms and body, whispering, ‘shouting’ and many other attention-grabbing attitudes. Yes, thank you my memory! I just remembered a friend who after taking a course in abnormal behaviour started to “diagnose” some personality disorders among these people. Or was it a psychotic behaviour?

“Mfodwo” as it is affectionately called on campus (yes, affectionately because in this way it may extend some favours to us) is indeed fearful to many. Vandals can’t but go on a procession christened ““Mfodwo” Escort” with but one main reason: to rucksack the ‘monster’ from human neighbourhood. Can’t you grab the inkling from the songs used for the procession? So, are they also afraid after all?

After the frightful moments are over for some ‘fortunate’ students who happen to have their last paper taken before the official date for the end of the examinations, here comes the who is who contest. These students come to reading rooms with a lot of books numbering at least twenty per student and begin to depict those actions they did when the ‘monster’ was right before them and even exaggerate them. They do this even in the presence of those who still have the ‘monster’ to face. How annoying?

Is “Mfodwo” really a monster? Should it be continued as a way of evaluating learners? I will provide you with answers to these and many other bewildering related issues like the origin of the name “Mfodwo” for exams on my campus when we meet again. Until then, stay alert taking in recognition that prior preparation prevents poor performance and that prior preparation is the only way that leads to spectacular achievement despite it is unspectacular because the “Mfodwo” monster still reigns.

THE LEADER WORTH CELEBRATING.

For all intents and purposes, leadership is the science of influencing and ensuring that the conditions of a person or group of persons who believes in the potential of the leader are made better. This, political leadership is no exception.

Indeed, the greatest leader ever to live on earth is Jesus Christ (or the Holy Prophet Mohammed as the case may be). This is a leader-servant who did everything possible to attain the basic tenet of leadership î º bettering the lives of one’s followers. Despite the many heroic accolades he enjoyed from everywhere he either went or mention was made of his name, he always persevered to achieving this fundamental pillar of his chosen endeavour î º leadership. Yes, I absolutely agree that he is a spirit-physical being. How about the many selfless and industrious nationalists whose names have been written not only in the cerebrums of the current generation but also on tabloids located in the minds of generations yet unborn? Martin Luther king Jr., Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, Abraham Lincoln, John Francis Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Mohandas Gandhi, and the many unsung heroes and heroines who worked 24/7 just for three reasons: bettering lives, bettering lives and bettering lives were at least humans just as us. These were people who one can conclude that their egos were insensitive even if they had it.

It is undeniably factual that even in serving (leading as we often see) your people, you cannot run the race on empty stomach. I believe with conviction that once a person makes the decisive intention to serve his or her people, s/he must be amply content with the “many” facilities available to the chosen office. Again, I cannot but re-echo that leadership is absolutely about sacrifice. That is the sole reason that upon hearing the words of our National Anthem being sung, our gallant men and women everywhere: in the field of sports, on the battlefield or in the office beat against all odds to rise and depend the good name of Ghana.As humans as we are and will forever remain, we will always honour those who serve us. But should this be to the disadvantage of the many youth who throng the streets of our cities and towns doing “nothing”, the many pregnant women, old men and women who defied all odds and waited in long queues in the ever hot sunshine to exercise their franchise just of the view that it will make their lives better, the many Ghanaians who not by any fault of theirs happen to share brownish coloured water with cattle and other farm animals in the villages of which my parents could not be an exclusion, the many hardworking farmers and all other workers of our motherland? To this, I say absolutely NO! Of course, who am I to object honouring leaders (servants!). Indeed, a nation which does not honour her heroes and heroines is not worth dying for but how do we honour them?

The on-going brouhaha about the end of service benefits for our leaders cannot be far from being right. Please, just a minute, let me use only the retirement package for Ex President J.A Kufuor (that of the other beneficiaries like the MPs and the Ministers would be for another day) for a scenario: lump sum payment of US$ 400,000, US$ 1,000,000 for the establishment of a foundation (or a chair in a university as it may be), 2 fully furnished residences, 3 saloon cars, 2 cross country vehicles and 1 all-purpose vehicle (6 vehicles in all) to be maintained, insured, fuelled and chauffeur-driven, police guards, couple to travel overseas once a year for not more than 65 days with 3 personal assistants and security detail, entertainment package, 24/7 security guard, free medical attention, and an ex-gratia award equivalent to 18 months consolidated salary, and an additional resettlement grant. Did I hear people say it is for both current and future former presidents? Please, how about this: US$ 191,000 pension, couple’s secret service protection, paid travel expenses with 2 assistants, a private fund to establish a library and free medical care for the couple. And nothing else! This is the retirement benefits for the recent ex US President. Sh! Close your mouth else that flying housefly gets into it! Worthy to note is that both leaders went out of office at nearly the same time. Both are gentlemen in their own rights and of high reputation. Here we are with the Ex President of the sole superpower nation in the world going home with a retirement package arguably far less than that of his counterpart in the thriving developing country of ours. Lest I forget we borrowed and were also given some “coins” by this same gentleman’s country! In relation to the above, do we really served (or are serving as the case may be) our people or is it the sheer affluence of our beloved country? So help us God.

It is true that our constitution approves of a befitting retirement package and also says in Article 68(9) that “the pension payable to the president and the facilities available to him shall not be varied to his disadvantage during his lifetime” but do not forget that the word itself means gratitude hence can be.......... Some legal experts, therefore, say it cannot be reduced. How about the view that the package is yet to be given to the beneficiary, that is, he is only a would-be recipient and therefore it can be reduced? Ex President Kufuor is a man of his own class; a man of great fame who has won the hearts of many world leaders. H.E JAK, I salute you. You may not like him for reasons best known to you but probably because of different political ideology. May I implore your indulgence Mr. Ex President by suggesting that you agree to the reduction by parliament regardless of any other provision should the need arise. It would be excellent if you take the lead by imploring the august house to do it now or agree to the report of President Mills select committee. If you do this, I believe a reduction in that of the other beneficiaries would also be agreed by them. I say this because I think you and your dependents will in no way be affected should this be done. Well, I stand to be corrected.

Moreover, I suggest that the constitutional provision regarding the retirement benefits for our leaders be amended. A committee involving all stakeholders be set up to design a real befitting package for our national servants irrespective of who and when. This must take into account specific items both in quantity and in quality. Also, the hullabaloo surrounding who, where and when the bill was passed suggests that certain “essential” bills must not be allowed to go through the house at the last minutes before its dissolution. Let integrity always be the guiding principle.

With all said and done, the words of one of the greatest leaders, Mohandas ‘Great Soul’ Gandhi, reverberate in my mind that “ time monuments to the great are not statutes of marble, bronze or gold”. The best monument cannot but be remembered about caring for humanity.

Curriculum vita (CV) refers to educational and work history of a person. In essence, it is the life history of a person. A concise version of the CV is called resume but for the purpose of this article, permit me to use both words interchangeably. “Permission granted”. Thank you Sir.

CV are integral parts of one’s potential of acquiring a decent (yes, decent of course for you dreamed to have it come some day) job. Even before this, the attractiveness of your CV to your prospective employer, places you in a coveted position of being shortlisted for interview. Indeed, your CV is your bargaining power. Period and nothing else! Most employers are very critical of the prospective employee’s CV so as to get a fair knowledge of his or her capabilities of being able to add a sense of positiveness to the direction of his or her company. In job hunting expedition, your inability to write an impeccable and impressive CV safely earns you about 51% of your failure to get into that most desired job of yours. With this, please, why won’t you spend just the next minute or so to read through your CV before placing it before the would-be pot-bellied boss of yours who will make every strenuous effort to see every “misplaced atom” even when his pair of spectacles is just held by the tip of his protruding nose?

Yes, this reminds me of a man who called into a programme during the peak of the political campaigns last year just to ask the presenter why he (the former) should go and wait in long winding queues only to provide another person’s father with a job without even scrutinizing the applicant’s CV. If we fail to retain his hypothesis, Charlie! Let me remind you, you are yet to see more stuffs for the bandwagon job hunting has just begun after one candidate has won the election.

The august representatives of the good people of Ghana have done their quota as far as vetting the nominees is concerned. How you rate their performance to a large extent from my perspective depends on what your knowledge about vetting ministerial nominees is all about. You want to hear my judgment about proceedings so far? Please, do give me a second chance and I will not fail you but do justice to that mind boggling question.

Nevertheless, the many ‘interesting’ happenings during the process cannot be left untouched. One of such has to do with the CV of some nominees. In fact, some of the responses to questions pertaining to inappropriate CV are yet to be fathomed by my ever developing mind. My goodness, are some of the nominees really hunting for jobs? If so, when has CV lost its flagship position in job searching? Please, KSM, why didn’t you tell me in your “Unlocking the job market”? Hey, I said if it is sooooooooooooooo!

The issue of developing a marketable CV prior to appearing before a vetting committee cannot be overestimated. This compelled some of the honourable members to change their title to “CV Specialist”. Despite their consistency in unraveling “manholes” (or no womanholes as well!) in the CV of earlier nominees, subsequent nominees who appeared before the appointment committee continued to commit those serious and “unforgivable” mistakes. Did I hear some of them say, “it is a typographical error”? My goodness! Since when has complete negligence hence omission and commission metamorphosis into so called typographical errors? Let some one answer me. I need an answer. Indeed, these are some of the petty things that make our pipe holes unfriendly to water, our gutters choked, and the host of many others. Does it mean when applying for some work in those ministries and those same mistakes occur, the prospective employee would not be denied a position on the applicants’ shortlist?

Notwithstanding whatever happened during the vetting in relation to some ministerial nominees’ CV, CV still wield an immerse power capable of refusing you your most dreamt about job. So, being an adherent to job seeking principles, do spend some of your priceless moment to go over your CV before submitting it to your prospective employer.

To you the deputy ministerial nominees, please, do well to check the accuracy of your CV before submitting them for some of us are getting disappointed in those so called “typographical errors”. But to you my big man or woman out there, before you complain about my CV, do check yours first for the next moment yours might be required.

Thank you.