NDC DOKON – AHABAN NKOTSEE!! By Nana Oben



During the last 4 years, the cost of Kenkey, the very staple food of our country, has featured prominently in the political discourse and debates of our dear Ghana It is used as a yardstick of our country’s ever rising cost of living.



See (a) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomerPage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=230774 Date: 2012-02-27

(b) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomerPage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=230821 Date: 2012-02-28

(c) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomerPage/politics/artikel.php?ID=231370 Date: 2012-03-07

(d) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomerPage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=241771 Date: 2012-06-13



Of course the opposition (NPP in this case) is using the RISING COST OF A BALL OF KENKEY as a reflection of the average cost of living, while the ruling party (NDC in this case) touts the stability of this price index as a measure of a stable or improved standard of living.



During a chat with the current headmaster of my alma mater, I was appalled to learn that the ubiquitous half-ball of kenkey, the saviour (with or without sugar) of many a hungry student, that used to accompany our lunch and dinner IS NO MORE!!



He said NOT ONLY HAS THE PRICE OF A BALL OF KENKEY SHOT UP FROM 20 PESEWAS IN 2008 TO THE PRESENT 60 – 100 PESEWAS; THE ACTUAL FOOD INSIDE THE LEAVES IS NOW ABOUT HALF WHAT IT USED TO BE IN 2008.



You see, kenkey is a ball of corn meal wrapped in a leaf (for the Akan or Fanti version) or corn husk for the Ga version), and boiled. Traditionally, the amount or layer of leaves is just enough to hold together the soft corn meal in its uncooked state. IT IS NEVER ECONOMICAL FOR EITHER THE KENKEY MANUFACTURER (SELLER) OR THE CONSUMER (BUYER)TO HAVE TO WADE THROUGH MOUNDS OF COVERING LEAVES, UNLESS THE SELLER INTENDS TO DEFRAUD THE BUYER.



UNFORTNATELY,THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO OUR DEAR KENKEY DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS UNDER THE NDC ADMINISTRATION. WHILE SELLERS HAVE BEEN CHARGING BETWEEN 60 TO 100 PESEWAS FOR SIMILARLY SIZED BALLS OF KENKEY WHICH SOLD BETWEEN 10 TO 20 PESEWAS IN 2008, THE ACTUAL MEAL INSIDE THE LEAVES HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY 50% -70%. THE UNSUSPECTING BUYER PAYS GHc 1.00 FOR A REASONABLY SIZED BALL OF KENKEY, ONLY TO GO HOME, PEAL OFF MOUNTAINS OF INEDIBLE LEAVES, AND BE LEFT WITH A TINY MEAL OF KENKEY.



“Senior, the NDC dokon ye ahaban nkotsee” translated “Senior, the NDC kenkey is mostly leaves”. I can’t feed kenkey leaves to my students. That’s why we stopped.” Concluded the headmaster.



Fellow Ghanaians, as you head to the polls on 7th December, REMEMBER that for the past 4 years, NDC’s DOKON AYE AHABAN NKOTSEE!!

THE NDC’S KENKEY HAS BEEN MOSTLY LEAVES