Opinions of Sunday, 27 March 2016

Columnist: Lungu, Prof.

Are Kwame Nkrumah's offspring now more illiterate?

By: Prof Lungu

In a comment on Ms. Afua Amoadu's article about citizen's ratings of their own political leaders (from Russia to Bolivia, to Ghana, etc.), Mr. Bond, identified a failing he characterized as "intellectual deficiency syndrome". This essay and the series it starts today is about leaders with twisted versions of history and deficit of intellect and critical-thinking skills. It is about intentionally cruel, absent-mindedness about the value of transparency and accountability to the business of the citizens of Ghana that the political and administrative elites claim to represent today.

Much has recently been said, and made, of the error-ridden Ghana @59 Independence Day Anniversary brochure.

As one of the strongest defenders of the Kwame Nkrumah legacy and his promise to Ghana, we've not been able to contain our laughter since reading the "nation-building" explanation was posted on Facebook by Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Ghana's Communications Minister regarding the brochure.

Re-visit any government-sanctioned "communicative instrument" from the Kwame Nkrumah era, from the 1950s, up to February 1966. If you do, you will never find such idiotic mistakes, "murder" of grammar, illogical and misspelled words, and utter inability to relate one idea to another in simple prose.

We are saying the quality, accuracy, and tone of official communicative instruments ought to matter at the highest levels of government, every time!

In that sense, Dr. Omane Boamah's statement on "his Facebook Wall", of all mediums, remains a big joke. Ghanaians are waiting for a better explanation than that by the Executive:

Who knew what?

When?

How?

Why?

How much?

First of all, why did Dr. Omane Boamah use the Facebook Wall to explain?

Is that official Ghana Government resource?

How many Ghanaians were impacted by the joke of the brochure, versus the number of Ghanaians that have capability and access to that "Facebook Wall?

We imagine Dr. Omane Boamah's still want us to know that he:

"...listened to the concerns that have come...(that)...'Several people have made very cogent points borne out of their genuine desires to develop our nation. This epitomises nation building- a nation on the move in the right direction...”.

Does Dr. Boamah also want us to know that Ghana's "nation building" experiment has been a joke since 1966?

What, precisely, is the action in "listening" when it is all contained in the head of "The One", Omane Boamah?

It does not make sense!

To cut to the chase, on this matter at least, we will rather hitch our ride with Dr. Kwesi Nduom. In a recent statement on the matter, Dr. Nduom was reported to have said this:

"...The responsibility goes with one person; the leader of the land. President John Dramani Mahama, he takes all credit, he takes all blame and this is one important huge error... he is the one we must hold accountable...he is the one who appointed all ministers who served or had anything to do with the Independence Day celebration...he is the one who appointed the staff at the Flagstaff House who supervised this work..."

In other words, the errors in the brochure are not for the Leader of Kenya to approve, disapprove, or accept, as Mr. Mahama have sought to transfer acceptance or responsibility.

Hasn't Ghana grown up since some among the leadership elite in the military, academy, and police took up the traitor banner and deposed Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, 59 years ago?

Try harder, Dr. Omane Boamah!

Come again, Mr. Mahama!

So it goes, Ghana!


To be continued!


SOURCES:
1. Afua Amoadu. Mahama listed among 3 top rated presidents in the world - Rejoinder, 20 March, 2016. (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=424636&comment=12807685).

2. Ghanaweb. Omane-Boamah breaks silence on error-ridden brochure, 11 March, 2016, (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Omane-Boamah-breaks-silence-on-error-ridden-brochure-422611).

3. President Mahama must own up - Nduom, (http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/60532-president-mahama-must-own-up-nduom.html).


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©Prof Lungu is Ghana-Centered/Ghana-Proud.
Prof Lungu is based in Washington DC, USA.
Subj: Are Kwame Nkrumah's Offsprings Now More Illiterate?
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