*By Akadu Ntiriwa Mensema, Ph. D.

** I recently spent about two months in Ghana, and the next series of poems will
recount my observations and experiences. Stay tuned!

*** This is not a “tribalistic” poem. I am boldly speaking truth to reckless power
and such altruistic perspectives are shared by a large of number Ghanaians.

Let us put nation first
Let us abort “tribalism”
Ah! Nepotistic brokerages
Oh! No more tribal mortgages

Troubling signs of “tribe”
Petals that will wither
Hmm! Papa Mills’ kids
They are Keta School Boys
They are Paga Crocodiles

Any office you visit
They dominate, rule
The petals of the P/NDC
The seeds of Awonoor
Keta School Boys
Thriving on Nyebroism
Paga Crocodiles
Thriving on Pito-broism
Swaggering with pride
Top on the food chain
Middling the food chain

Hmm! Papa Mills’ kids
Clannish like red ants
Suspicious like rats
Swarming like bees
Alarmed like snakes
Preying like vultures
Hymnal like frogs
Foraging like goats

Hmm! Papa Mills’ kids
His pre-selected kids
Kids of Adze Pa Wo Fie
Ah! The sad Fante joke
Of Adze Bone Aba Fie

JJ loves Mills’ kids of choice
JJ loves Mills’ adoption
Of Keta School Boys
Of Paga Crocodiles
In JJ’s walking life
In JJ’s dreams
JJ has called Mills names
Atta Mortuary, Atta Slow
Atta Snail, Atta Team B
Atta Greedy Bastard
Atta Ungrateful
Atta Fante Dokono
Simpa Atta Mills

JJ has said & foamed all
JJ has said & dreamt all
But JJ has never called Atta
Never Atta the TRIBALIST
Not for Mills’ Keta Boys
Not for Mills’ Paga Crocodiles

Papa Mills! Agya Atta
Our Castled Papa
You have so many kids
But you love only two kids
You love Keta School Boys
Dripping with Nyebroism
You love Paga Crocodiles
Dripping with Pito-broism

All, most state appointments
Have gone to Keta Boys
Have gone to Paga Crocodiles

Go to the Castle
Aides are Keta Boys
Aides are Paga Boys
Akuapems are missing
Denkyiras are missing

Go to Ministries
It is all for Keta Boys
It is all for Paga crocodiles
Akyems are missing
Nzimas are missing

Go to the Armed Forces
Officers are Keta Boys
Officers are Paga crocodiles
Asantes are missing
Wassaws are missing

Go to the energy sector
Officials are Keta Boys
Officials are Paga Crocodiles
Akwamus are missing
Gomoas are missing

Go to Customs
Officials are Keta Boys
Officials are Paga crocodiles
Gas are missing
Krobos are missing

Let us put nation first
Let us abort “tribalism”
Ah! Nepotistic brokerages
Oh! No more tribal mortgages

*Akadu N. Mensema, Ph. D., is a nationalist Denkyira beauty. She is a trained oral
historian cum sociologist and Professor in the USA. She lives in Pennsylvania with
her great mentor and teaches Africa-area studies at a college in Maryland. In her
pastime, she writes what critics have called “populist hyperbolic, satirical”
poetry. She can be reached at akadumensema@yahoo.com