Opinions of Wednesday, 15 March 2006

Columnist: Amankwah, Nana Kofi

Kufuor, Playing Games with Asanteman

In Ghana, Kumasi is the only urban place that represents the whole nation. It?s a place where all the ethnic groups in the country have their own constituencies. It is a one of the places that gives the country history more prestigious recognitions internationally on educational level, where people who are studying African civilization such as Asante kingdom, and its resistance to colonization terror? In many countries particularly the United States where high schools, colleges and universities, and African-Americans, whites and other ethnic groups are studying this history. As a result of this, many students and other individuals patronize Ghana and visit these areas. The tourists who are visiting these places are spending money towards the economy. They are learning something from us. Instead of John Agyekum Kufuor improving infrastructure and the image of Kumasi that stands for the history of the country and cultural internationally, he is playing tribal politics and games with Nana Otumfou Oseitutu 11 and the people of Ashanti region. This is a shame to Kufuor, and the people of the Ashanti region who voted for Kufuor. They have exhausted their vote for nothing.

The Asantehene should have used his resources to develop Kumasi and lift up the image of his kingdom but he didn?t. Instead he set up an education foundation with his resources to enhance education for poor Ghanaians children who cannot afford the secondary and college tuitions. The Generous King has to organize his citizens to clean up Garden City, to improve living conditions for his citizens and tourists who come to improve the economy. While kufour goes around and give empty promises and play games in an area that can improve the economy.

It is depressing that society has to relinquish their rights from the law of nature to the states of nature, where politicians make decision for mankind, but not the Kings who seems to care extra about their citizen welfare. This example can be seen in the United Kingdom?s constitution where the sitting prime minister has to meet the Queen every week to brief her on the status of the nation.

Statistically, since Kufuor came to power, fifty new hotels have been created, but due to his failures of properly management and demand of accountability to monitor Ghana air- ways, Kufuor took his own draconian measures to disallowed Ghana Air ways fights from Accra to New York, Baltimore, Germany and London. Since these dilemma started tourism appearance in the country has continued to decline by 16.9% .

If John Agyekum Kufour knows how to create huge revenue in tourism to improve the countries economic position he will focus his attention on Kumasi, Cape Cost and Elmina and make greats innovations and improvement in such places as an effective tourism business for the nation.

Agyekum Kufuor thinks developing roads is the only good strategy for his administration, but when the former president reorganized the road from Osu leading to circle, and the road from the airport to Accra, this falls between redemption circles. He did not send any body to have community meetings before acting, he awarded the contract immediately and made overhead pass to resolve the economic dilemma. John Agyekum Kufour believe sending his Anane to Kumasi and give them Sweet talks will continued his game theory, talk is cheep, what we need is investments but not empty words

Nana Kofi Amankwah (New York)

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