The Legacy of Dictatorship

My introduction to the words termites, acres and plantation was as early as 4years old. They were mentioned to me because according to the story, my grandpa, Benjamin Kojo Yemoh, a first generation industrialist had been punished by Rawlings to weed a 100-acre termite infested sugarcane plantation at age 62 as part of his punishment for being successful. Kojo Sardine, as he was most popularly known, has so many folktales around the origins of his moniker. He was no saint, but by any sensible account, he was an avid industrialist who was employing multitudes and was responsible for their livelihoods. This is not intended to be a deep dive into the man’s nickname or canonize him.The source of his wealth was no mystery. In fact, it was obviously verifiable in the monumental factories which currently stand as withering skeletons of their former vibrant productive operations. ICAP Pharmaceuticals – manufacturing world standard medicines. Labone Weavers Ltd – manufacturing textiles/fabrics. Labone Blocks & Tiles – supplying sand, stone and real estate construction. Woodwork Furniture Company – manufacturing furniture. An employer of over a 1,500 workers was suddenly detonated. For what?

When you’re young, you just believe and accept the information passed on by your parents and family elders as facts and law. As you get older and able to process the information and context of the history, you can be more assertive and deductive about facts vs sentiment. If I’m to believe the many stories, Rawlings was friendly with our family prior to seizing power. Which made the charges against grandpa seem deeply personal and envious. The official charges against B.K Yemoh were for tax evasion and importing yellow corn during the famine. He was beaten, thrown in jail and all his life’s work confiscated illegitimately by this rogue regime terrorizing everyone who they decided was richer than was reasonable by their estimation. Sure, my grandad was wealthier beyond normal Ghanaian standards but the source of his wealth was verifiable. That didn’t stop the dictator from brutalizing him, stripping him of all physical dignity, rendering his family homeless and destitute, him eventually dying at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital of complications from the turmoil of the treatment he had been dealt at the hands of this illegal and merciless regime. The record shows, that in a court of law, under a democratically transitioned PNDC to NDC government, Mr. Benjamin Kojo “Kojo Sardine” Yemoh was found innocent of all the crimes he was accused of and killed for. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice – CHRAJ, found no basis for his arrest, imprisonment and confiscation of his entire estate. The courts awarded an unprejudiced victory to my family after a most daring and daunting challenge of this injustice while the NDC was still headed by Rawlings. That in itself is an affirmation that, the wheels of justice cannot be denied those who steadfastly commit to due process and the rule of law in a civilized society not handicapped by fear of a strongman dictator. Make no mistake, attempts were made to foil this overturning of the PNDC rulings but turned out against all odds as one of the strongest repudiations against the military regime that took power and wielded it so brazenly against innocent citizens.

My introduction to the words oil paint, scars and military raid was because of the story of my father Shammy Davis “Big Boy” Yemoh being told to me by my grandma, my late grandpa’s widow, Mrs. Felicia Kwakye Yemoh who is still with us today even if the horror of Alzheimer’s ravages her. She told of a military raid at our home in Aboormi-La one early morning that had soldiers jamming the back of their rifles into my dad’s chest, dragging him out of the 5th floor apartment while my mother’s shrieking cries and screams deterred none of these heartless men in uniform. Apparently my siblings and I were weeping and confused at what was actually happening to our dad. It is said that they dipped his face in a gallon of white oil paint and shackled and detained him to some remote location in Teshie. This is why somehow, as a kid I naively and stupidly thought my dad’s white beard strands were the remnants of the white oil paint applied to his face by these soldiers. At Teshie he was at some point in line for firing squad, sentenced to die without trial. This is also how I learned about the phrase “big fish”. My father recounted being described as a “big fish” by the soldiers. Miraculously, one of the soldiers would come to his rescue and help him escape at the dark of dawn. His crime was resisting and refusing to cooperate with the regime in giving up the relevant documents to his father’s estate. These experiences rather emboldened the man to dedicate all of his prime as a man in a relentless pursuit of justice, not only to clear his late father’s name but, in his own principled way, echo the ideal that a people must have their day in court to redeem or defend themselves from any accusation brought up against them.

A Copy of a threat written to my father, referred to as “big brother” as a misspelling of his nickname “Big Boy”.

My grandpa and dad’s stories are not unique. They’re simply examples of a perverse use of power during this atrocious period of our national history. My sense of patriotism and kinship with Ghanaians are because of the memories and stories of my father and grandfather who managed to thrive in this beloved country against all odds. Patriots who loved this country like anyone you could put forth. I doubt Rawlings is more passionate about Ghana than my ancestors were until their dying days. My grandad was a patriot and loved his people, this Ghana. The evidence of his patriotism has its footprints all over Accra and beyond in the countless number of people who share their various stories of how he’d been extremely impactful and generous to their lives. My father was a patriot and loved Ghana unbelievably even after everything he’d lost and suffered at the hands of one of its governments. Even when it made sense to leave the country for a safer and more prosperous destination, he stayed put right here until his last breath. These are true stories. Real stories of the devastation and havoc one man’s unjustified sense of importance was able to do. There are generations of my family and the families of the Generals, Judges, Market women, Business owners and countless number of Ghanaians who are still traumatized and lives disrupted by the arbitrary actions of one man and his regimes’ estimation of who was responsible for Ghana’s economic challenges of the 70’s and early 80’s. The bloodshed remains a stain on the conscience of this country until we acknowledge the suffering. The murdering of those judges is one of the most harrowed acts in our entire history as it earthquaked the very core of order in a society. If Judges can be murdered so callously and no one ever held accountable, the very foundation of our democracy is broken. The regard for the rule of law, due process and citizens respecting the custodians of our judicial process must never be under threat. The legacy of this disregard may be reflected in the Muntiie 3 case — apples not falling too far from the tree?

The one man most responsible for the lasting damage to the psyche of the nation refused to ever acknowledge what his regime and reign had done to many Ghanaians. Not once did he express remorse or regret, a simple sorry or in retrospect, an “I would have approached things differently given the opportunity.” He was rather indignant and unapologetic. He took no responsibility for any of the atrocities carried out in the name of his regime. He rather negotiated into our constitution that he would never be liable or prosecutable for any of the actions of his AFRC & PNDC regimes. Now think about that! A man confident to bring arbitrary and extrajudicial justice upon those he estimated as guilty of whatever charges he manufactured was diligent enough or rather so terrified of his actions being examined by any inquiry to enshrine in our constitution that his actions were never to be probed under our democratic court systems. His mantra was probity and accountability for everyone else except him and his cronies. In light of the reasons he listed to demonize, torture, maim and kill people, everyone that served with Rawlings’ regimes are currently multi-millionaires living lavish lifestyles. The question must be asked, how did they acquire their wealth? Are they B.K Yemohs, Poku Transports, Boakye Matresses and countless other business owners and industry titans? Listing the names of political appointees and their personal financial advancement since wrangling power so bloodily would be petty but it begs asking, how did they muster the conscience to loot mother Ghana so brazenly after murdering scores of her citizens in the name of cleaning up corruption and kalabuley?

In 1979, army officers set bombs to the Accra market to disrupt the businesses of market women who were accused of ruining the economy because of the profits they were making on their goods. Our grandmothers and mothers were stripped naked in the streets, beaten, raped and chased out of town for what? The looting of Ghana’s resources by Rawlings, his wife and political cohorts is monumental. They”re notorious for forcefully or nefariously conniving to acquire state owned property as personal property and the proof is littered across the country. I point these things out for contrast, clarity and consideration by all those who have any integrity to examine. How did the movement of probity and accountability that had killed and destroyed so many businesses and families for the perceived crime of owning more than one toilet plunder with such gusto? How could they lavishly be flying public aircrafts to teach their kids how to pilot or travel to Europe shopping for curtains and living room accessories? How was this conscionable or possible for the usurper that executed Rear Admiral Joy Kobla Amedume for owning a car he bought on a bank loan, be rumored to have the most extensive collection of Jaguars?

The list of ailments caused by the cancerous reign of Rawlings’ regimes cannot be completely expoused by any articulation in speech or writing. It has never been fully accounted for or researched and that is a travesty and stain on the national conscience. The PTSD that survivors live with, some died with, the shifting of the national psyche towards success and those who work to earn what they have, all these psychological and social effects have never fully been assessed and addressed. Kudos to His excellency, J.A.K for at least trying with the National Reconciliation Commission. We do not seek retribution or compensation beyond what is owed but rather an acknowledgement by all our institutions that those brutalized, killed, had their businesses and lives destroyed is not justified collateral damage in the name of nation building. We did not sign up to be the sacrifices that so many comfortably reduce our trauma to. There is no “for the greater good” about Rawlings’ reign. He’s no martyr because he sacrificed nothing and yet gained everything material in his lifetime and enjoyed the proceeds of corruptly acquired national resources. The lesson of his legacy must be about teaching progeny the dangers of having a Messiah complex that lead to dictatorship, where justice and the rule of law is not defined by strong institutions but rather the whims of a collective of rogue vigilantes believing they alone have the solutions to our national challenges.

It is understandable for those not personally or directly affected by Rawlings’ regimes to be opposed to the kind of zero sum assessment of his impact on our society by those who were. His willingness allowed, however under duress and western institutional pressure they may have been, tthe transitioning of Ghana from military style authoritarian rule to our 4th republic. A military rule he had imposed nonetheless. Our economy was stagnant and underdeveloped but stable. There was some sense of general discipline in the country that is nostalgically overstated in retrospect but still relevant to the current climate of chaotic corruption we seem saddled with. We must understand how polarizing he is and it is fair to give some credence to the reality that, many Ghanaians find him charismatic, passionate and a pillar of patriotism whose impact on Ghana cannot be dismissed. A balanced view of his legacy must be taught from the perspective of reinforcing that, the atrocities and mayhem that came with it was NOT warranted. It must be established that, leadership must not be so deeply flawed in its excesses in order for a nation to progress. An example of the ineffectiveness of his legacy is shown in that one episode that he himself had to get out of his vehicle to direct traffic in February, 2019. On the surface and at its core, it was very much the J.J that won over many hearts with populist actions. However, the strength and lasting impact of any philosophy, ideology or school of thought is the ability to transcend any one man or leader. That is, it must live and thrive through our public institutions and the culture of society such that it can withstand the forces of chaos that seek to derail the ideals of civility. Leadership and civilization is messy and involves many complex challenges and conundrums. What we must aspire to as a basic standard is to never allow the concentration of power and opinion to be singularly controlled by one man or regime. The basic rights of everyone must be upheld regardless of the wrangling and agitation of stronger desires to achieve change or progress at any cost, however defined. May we never stop learning from all sides of this monumental legacy in our history.

I write this with no intention to disrespect the sanctity or sacredness of death but rather to remind us that, if one of us suffers an injustice meted out by our government, all of us must feel and share that injustice. That is what citizenship is or should be, a collective sharing of responsibility in being our brother’s keeper. The golden rule as stated; “do unto others how you’d like done unto you” is the most sacred of principles. If we cannot aspire to this ideal, then at least let’s acknowledge the sins we commit in the name of patriotism against one another. We must strive for a better republic, one that recognizes the rights of every citizen, not just that of those in power and their affiliates. We can be better and must be better. I am respectful of my own history and the story of my family but it was not necessary in order for those affected or Ghana for that matter to fulfill destiny. My uncles, aunties, siblings, cousins and extended family were robbed of the tutelage of one of the most industrious men in our national history in my grandpa and so were many of those who worked and could have worked for him. The country is worse off for his loss than it would ever be better off for it. That is not a singularly unique truth about my grandpa but for every life that was carelessly and callously disposed of by a self-righteous regime that inflicted soul-crushing wounds to generations.

That’s also true for all the other industrialists, business people, market women and citizens whose lives were upheaved by the AFRC/PNDC. I am hoping that at least, Rawlings’ descendants and the custodians of his legacy find the wisdom in taking a reconciliatory approach towards those who were irreparably marred and scarred by the actions of their patron by acknowledging the truth of his legacy and history.. That alone will be a huge step in some healing and contentment for some. May God keep blessing this beloved country of ours and keep showing us the path to civility and tolerance of each others differences rather than one that pits us against each other for expediency. No one man alone loves the country more than the rest of us and that should be a guiding light in our national discourse – economical, social or political. I wrote this piece in December and thought it appropriate decorum to give the moment it’s space to be to everyone what it is. In hearing the tributes of the children, the most striking irony of it was the profound sense of love they felt towards their father even to the oblivion of celebrating things he did for them that his regime murdered others fathers and mothers for. It’s not to pass judgment but rather hoping it serves as a point of inflection and reflection. I genuinely pray they find the right way to grieve and still love and honor their father while being able to properly appreciate what he’s impacted on our collective realities.

THE FALLEN

All the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunties. The citizens who were directly and indirectly affected by this dictatorship of a regime, you are not alone. The forces of the universe recognizes your pain and the evolution of our collective spirit will eventually find healing. Shalom.

Change the National Convo

How do you get people to believe they’re having terrible pizza if their only frame of reference for what it should taste like is Papa’s pizza? It’s an impossible conversation in the same way that discussing bad sex with a person who got married as a virgin and has only their spouse as their point of reference. There’s simply no way. So how do we navigate progress in a society where a state official can convincingly state that a donation of one canoe will be an economic stimulant for the community? The canoe was invented between 8200-7600 BC if wikipedia is to be trusted. That’s for context. A V8 Landcruiser driving minister of state is unabashedly touting this is an economic stimulant! It’s the ease with which we’re lied to by those who definitely know better that is heartbreaking and unconscionable. The standard is so low and the majority of the voting population are suffering beyond mustering the appetite for demanding anything meaningful from their elected officials, and these politicians are aware and fully exploit it to their short-sighted ends. The common politician is small minded and scrambling to get a piece of the decreasingly small pie instead of growing the pie. Ghana’s pie keeps shrinking and we the people are letting them get away with murder. The dialogue has stagnated for decades and sides have been chosen. This blogpost is to speak on it at a macro level. We must find purpose. Some of our issues are quite silly when we stand back to assess them. Here are some dynamics that need to change.

There is a condition in our country that needs naming. No suitable one comes to mind. It’s the divide between Ghanaians who have had the opportunity of living in a different society and Ghanaians with limited exposure to what an organized society can look like or be. I suspect the desire for better is mutual but the expectation for what the baseline should be is starkly different. This is not a judgment on either side of the divide. The blame isn’t on one side, rather on both for the lack of appetite to collaborate with respect in achieving an organic progress engineered specifically for our society. “Diasporans” or as some have named themselves “Ahasporans” are guilty of a brash disposition that smacks of elitism and disdain for how issues are handled by those who have spent the majority of their adulthood living and contending with a system that gives very little room for recourse or innovation to the issues that affect us all. We’ll not get into the silliness of delineating one’s self from your fellow countrymen by virtue of living abroad and feeling the desperate need to distinguish yourself by that fact. Unfortunate. Living abroad may be an advantage in exposure but not a reason to feel superior to your own countrymen. Those who have committed their lives to living in Ghana for the most part or entirely also exhibit a kind of defensiveness that may be interpreted as insecurity or exhaustion with the opinions/proposals of those who have moved back home from living outside. There must be a way we can work together or maybe it’s an impossible expectation?

What brought about this article, after years of abstaining from blogging is a deep concern for the nature of the dialogue for progress in the country. We all agree that things are not as they should be, The solution may be in starting with our integrity or lack thereof. In no other terms, the country runs on a default dishonesty among the general populace. Ghanaians lie with impunity on demand or even in regular conversation. We just have to lie. That is detrimental to the national discourse. If we can’t be honest about what is wrong, how can we truly fix up? We lie in business, in social interaction, in official capacity, about our reasons for making certain decisions, in intimate relationships, when we make appointments, when we take on jobs, how we tell our history and those of our loved ones who pass on, in almost every aspect of life we find the lie to tell. May be it’s a coping mechanism for the harsh challenges we face but it’s perverse and pervasive. It’s quite rare to engage with like-minded folks because it feels that our egos surpass the reality that we must work together to achieve sensible and meaningful change. May be there isn’t enough of an appetite for change?

It’s election year and the frenzy is already manic. From registering voters through the pandemic to debating who has developed more infrastructure for the country, our politics is mundane and juvenile. The conversations/campaigns from both sides are not innovative or even stimulating. What are we voting for? The bare minimum? The issue with the conversation on a fundamental level, is a disagreement of what proper governance should be. What these parties are offering is not a deviation from the redundancy of nation building post-Nkrumah. Their expertise is in looting the national purse, both parties. The youth, 40 and under need a long and deep reflection in the mirror to examine the future we’re interested in. Our elders have failed us miserably over the past few decades. In our lifetime, we haven’t had leadership that has ever prioritized the youth of this county, the very life blood of our survival as a nation. The youth have been ignored, undermined and dismissed for so long, most 40year olds(middle aged citizens even though that for us is 32 since life expectancy is 64 in Gh) don’t have any meaningful voice in the society. Unless they’re aligned with the corruption of the system and heavily sucking up and kissing ass.

It’s tempting to want-in and join the looting because every aspirational human wants to do well and that seems the more viable option in a country where access to advancement is so closely tied to political affiliation. There are others making a head way in the private sector but those are a handful if that. Most of those few come from some sort of privilege or if you dig deep enough, took advantage of “an opportunity or opportunities” that won’t hold up under the scrutiny of any ethical searchlight. If you speak loudly, you create enemies and put an indelible target on your back. Here’s the deal; we must stand for something, beyond material gains. A system that future generations can rely on their education and a profession to move up in achieving their dreams with integrity. We can’t repeat the patterns since we gained consciousness enough to understand politics and expect our politicians to improve their act. We can’t partake in the corruption, public or private sector and then hold each other accountable. These politicians count on our docility and or complicity as a collective and our nonsensical enchantment and alignment with the two-party option that we won’t force or demand different norms and standards. The times are demanding of our generation to take a hard stand. We must decide what is important for us and progeny. Every aspect of our daily lives is subpar for the regular Ghanaian. Our schools, health system, economy, communities, entertainment and civil service need innovation and change. Decent housing is impossible for the youth and working class to afford. This blogpost is intended to serve as the conscience of the youth. What is our collective conscience as the youth? Do we know? It’s uncertain but the hope is that we can rise up for a higher purpose. The hope is that we challenge a system that suffocates and snuffs out so many for the most basic of needs; food, shelter and health. We need a new agreement, a new conversation, a new genuine sincerity. This is the calling of our generation. What is scary is how dangerously the underprivileged live on the brink in poverty and the possibility that one day they snap. It’s an alarmist and simplistic explanation that wreaks of desperation to get attention or is it? When you hear the challenges most people face, it doesn’t feel alarmist to expect them to eventually start fighting back violently if things don’t change. Then again, if this post is to be believed in the discussion, Ghanaians can not be believed so maybe we’re all doing exceptionally great and just hiding our comfort with a mask of poverty and suffering.

If the cycle must be broken, we must be willing to break it. We must be willing to want more for our future, for our society, for our children. A better Ghana is possible and easily within reach if our leadership will be held accountable and to different standards. It’s our right to participate in voting and it is also ok not to when we don’t see any worthy option as individuals. It’s a valid form of political protest and civil disobedience. When you’re to choose between death by firing squad or death by drowning, your refusal to choose is a valid protest. We must demand something more for our society. We must demand better representation in every aspect of our society. We must demand more from ourselves in our standards and individual constitutions. We must make these demands of ourselves and our society. Let’s demand firmly before the affected demand it violently. Peace & Love.

PS – So many specific issues to complain about and so many solutions to these challenges but the spirit of this article is intended to inspire NOT preach. I think a good start is honest conversation. You’re challenged to start the honest dialogue in your group chats and social interactions, virtual and physical. We can rise to a different reality if we want it bad enough. The hope is that we do.

For My Brothers Review by 80Griots.

 

Oldhead alert. Still a fan of the culture so I’m compelled to have thoughts when a project like this Kojo Cue debut “For My Brothers” drops. Took a minute but I circled back to it because the fan and activist in me still has blood flowing through the arteries. We can call it perspective or choose to frame it as wisdom when confronted with the challenges life presents especially in a system that disenfranchises so many that disappointment is as palpable like the sweat tracing the backs of the street hawkers shuffling a quarter mile just to miss the sale anyway because the totro couldn’t slow down enough for them to catch up. The backdrop of our music is our reality and Kojo scores above the crowd of artists by attempting to address these realities.

The task of examining the lives of our parents with our appraisal pads is a cautionary revelation in the Akan proverb “wu b3 yin ab3 tu”. So it’s with so many real and relatable emotions and thoughts that I receive Rich Dad, Poor Dad — the opening track. The sincerity and generosity of pulling back the curtain into your real life vendettas, regrets and traumas in the name of art is commendable. Manhood has been on trial my whole generation and to hear the culmination of it in this trial of our fathers on this record has me wrestling with the concept of good fathering. Is the role to provide the environment for kids to thrive or is it to give them financial wealth? Has the present, involved and engaged  father failed if he doesn’t achieve wealth? That’s the question our generation of men have to answer. In the era of women empowerment and so much education on feminism constantly trending on our relevant platforms, it is refreshing to hear a brother reclaim some of the narrative because left to social media warriors, manhood ain’t nothing but a bed of roses and privileges. It gets real dark when Cue spits “Mi papa bor mi dua”. The soft and balanced advice from momma contrasted against the harsh and blunt reprimanding of his pops sets the tone for the supposed lesson in mom’s style being constructive and pops’s destructive. There’s an interesting opportunity to observe the evolution of these relationships and dynamics throughout Cue’s career and I’m here for it. The first two tracks heavily set the tone for the entire record and a serious conversation about Cue filling the void left by legends of kasahari like Obrafuor.

Cue is serving a full dish on this record plate and words can’t do justice to the effort put into making this album. Sonically a dark and soothing production for a  record covering adolescent male transitioning to manhood struggle with the social dynamics of success, responsibility, love and inadequacy to depression and subject matter so dense and uncommon in the current musical landscape that it’s tempting to proclaim it a classic as I go through the motions of giving a sincere assessment of the project. Dzo is just the vibe of our ancestors descending in the fractal spaces that built our old civilizations written off by history. Worlasi provides the most haunting hook on this incredible piece. Smiling is a question to the status quo — what does our vote matter? On Muddy Story, Mayaa(love you! :)) is a lovely addition to the feature-lite project and this record definitely stands to be a monumental presentation for now and posterity. Wo Nsa Be Ka is highlife stepping out bare chested and screaming at us that we can’t deny our origins. Listen to the record, replay value is through the roof so for fear of taking away the essence of listening to the record  and processing the vibes authentically, I exercise brevity.

For My Brothers is a record for the ages. Cue is making a very compelling case for the album in an era of throwaway singles made for the clubs and the hype. Survivor’s Guilt, Shii the Song…… BBnZ and the production team on this album have an offering that is one nuanced approach to the realities of the Ghanaian condition. I smoked a little and drank a little cos the moods are heavy on this piece. “Nananom mungyinsa” for speaking through a griot in Cue in our evolution. 5Mics.

Defending the Defensible

“Dr. Otabil is a thief!” “All those who attend his church are zombie, mindless Christians incapable of realizing they’re being lied to and cheated by this money-hungry criminal behind a pulpit.” “All the ills of this country are because of men like him!” The outrage is justified, the frustration is also justified. Ghanaians live with a system that holds no one accountable and this seems like a situation where a small group of banking charlatans are going to get away with exorbitant amounts of taxpayer Cedis. We must demand accountability, it is our duty as citizens, however, we’ve singled out one man, to unload our frustrations on, our disrespect and vitriol on. I am here to unpack why.

As long as I can remember, I have decried the religious dogmatism that literally impedes productivity in Ghana and Africa by extension. The fact that Duncan Williams commanded the Cedi to rise in prayer when it was in free-fall, or that we sent pastors to lay hands on the Akosombo Dam in lieu of a technological solution to dumsor are all prime examples that make religious dogmatism one of our main obstacles to progress. However, let’s be honest for a moment. Christianity has become the default punching bag for intellectuals looking for an upheaval of this social conditioning that allows the citizenry to avoid taking responsibility for their actions but also absolves government of its duties to the nation and citizenry. We’ve all been appalled by the antics of the Obinims and Kumchachas of our society. We’ve been angry with religion for so long because our struggle and lack of access to upward mobility has become so stifling that we were primed to lay blame on any dodgy behavior coming from a prominent member of the Christian fold. Here we have Rev. Dr. Otabil’s head on a spike!

I’ve been hesitant to speak on this publicly because I wanted to fully examine the facts, truly understand what I was feeling and thinking and eliminate all bias in trying to properly express what we’re experiencing as a nation and a youth who are sick and tired of the non-functioning system. A country that disregards the rule of law so regularly that corruption is an inherent part of our daily lives. We participate in it so willfully that our suspicion antennas are absolutely heightened and receptive, we can’t afford to give anyone the benefit of doubt in any situation involving the public purse. We will vilify, denigrate, insult and disparage anyone and whoever, regardless of their record because even “a man of God” has many a time proven to be corrupt, a womanizer, occultic or engaging in one too many nefarious activities so why should Dr. Otabil be exempt from the wrath of the masses?

Here’s why; As far as the public record shows, Dr. Mensa Otabil has been exemplary in character. He has been a leader that even non-Christians have pointed to as a truly upright man in his moral code. He has often contributed to the national discourse as one of the reasonable men who have held government accountable through his sermons. His contributions to the lives of many is not indicative of a greedy character. I am not aware of any misconduct on his part, publicly or privately that bordered on immoral or illegal. Until this scandal(yet to be determined illegal but has quite the makings of immoral if the Reverend is complicit). I will say this, the PR  from the Reverend and the Church about the matter has been inadequate and disappointing. Initially the silence was deafening, then came the poorly-worded press statement and the icing on the cake of “God is good” repeated three times without any real content on the first appearance behind the pulpit since the case burst into flames. A better approach to the press release would’ve been: “As board chairman of Capital bank, my duty was to provide oversight and leadership in guiding the institution to remain solvent and profitable for all stakeholders.  I wasn’t successful in that capacity but I assure you it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The matter is currently being investigated by the authorities. In respecting that process and to enable a fair and thorough investigation, I have submitted myself  to all necessary and relevant investigation by the authorities. I will no longer be making public statements about this matter until the conclusion of the process in order to focus on my primary purpose, which is leading the Church of God.”

Behind the pulpit: the context of “God is good” is lost on those who don’t follow the faith so it seemed gimmicky or the words of someone trying to avoid discussing an uncomfortable matter. However, the discerning mind knows the meaning of “God is good” is based in scriptural principles that eschews a concept of being fallible while only God is ultimately good. There are multiple scriptural examples that will justify the use of this simple phrase to avoid having a lengthy explanation for a conversation that frankly doesn’t belong there and aligns with the public statement. I would hate to turn this into a list of Bible quotes and lessons ultimately irrelevant to my issue. However, just because Dr. Otabil has not presented his statements the way “we” would prefer does not make him automatically guilty.

For my good friends and artists Mensa, Mutombo and Wanlov who I’ve come to admire, I believe in their right to artistically express how they feel about the scandal just as much as I believe it’s my duty to speak up in contrast to their message or conclusions. I think it is healthy discourse to have differing opinions if our true aim is to arrive at solutions to the problems we collectively face. I do believe that the public outcry and disrespect of Dr. Otabil is an attack on the Christian faith and mostly unwarranted. A lot of us have grown weary of the religious-hold that entraps this country but let’s not pretend that Christianity is the only culprit here. It is the easiest one to attack and disrespect but not the only culprit in dogmatism. I have never heard any of the people denigrating Pastors use the same energy towards Imams or Fetish Priests. They also collect money for their services, let’s not kid ourselves.  Prosperity gospel may be on the most public display but certainly not the only one creating dogmatism or collecting money for miracles. As a person who identifies with the faith, I get sick and tired of those who don’t share the same faith wanting to impose their expectations on Christians until I remember Christians have also done this to the masses for centuries. At some point we have failed to truly engage the concept of separation of Church and State and respecting everyone’s right to “belief”. In understanding that our social policy and religious practice are two separate parts of our public interaction and don’t have to interlink. I believe this anger towards Christianity is partly fanning the flames to single out Dr. Otabil for public denigration. The fact is, he was the chairman of the board NOT the CEO. The board chairmen of UT, Unibank et al have not even been mentioned let alone held responsible. I haven’t heard diss songs for them or the CEO’s of the other failed banks either. UT and Unibank squandered significantly more of the public purse yet no public shaming for them. I am simply saying that, it is obvious that Dr. Otabil is the preferred target for those in the public arena mainly because he’s a Christian Leader(granted we should maybe hold him to a higher standard but there is no merit in doing so in the banking sector) and I think it is plausible to point this out.

Here’s my conclusion. My aim isn’t about absolving or excusing Dr. Otabil’s role in the collapse of the bank. My aim is to point out that he was singled out for all the disrespect and insults primarily because he’s a Pastor and also a target for those who are opposed to Christianity. I believe in holding our leaders accountable in as much as we hold ourselves accountable. I have been guilty of being disrespectful as well in the past in addressing my frustrations with how things are done in this country and I realize that it’s a staple of our public discourse to not only jump to conclusions but to be very insulting and disrespectful in our our dialogue. If our aim is to win the “insult olympics” then we should carry on BUT if our real goal is to bring solutions and respect for order and due process to our national fabric, we the generation claiming to know better should do better. The reality is people we disagree with will always be defensive and closed minded if our approach in trying to reach their ears is insulting and disrespectful. I know it’s fun and I sometimes miss the rush of quipping wittily and insultingly at people I disagree with but maybe my multiplying grayhairs is aiding a bit of the wisdom I’m learning by being more compassionate and observant in the dynamics that motivate our society. Full disclosure, I am recently back to attending Church at-will and still finding my place with my faith(a sacred journey that no human should be subjected into feeling threatened by their choice of belief system) and I do choose to listen to Rev. Dr. Otabil because I find him to be a learned educator of the Christian Faith. In my opinion, based on his history and public record, he has at minimum earned the right to the benefit of doubt and certainly does not deserve the gross disrespect. When the facts after the investigation say otherwise, I’ll be happy to admit it. Gracias.

 

 

LAST ELECTION RANT

 

 

 

My last rant about the elections

I want my fellow black people to understand a few things:

1. We are a minority – 13% to be exact. A good number of that percentage can not vote because of felonies.

2. Even if we all had the ability to vote and we all banded together to support our appointed representative, we could not win on our own.

3. Alliances are important. Compromise is important. Above all, being savvy is extremely important.

4. Sexism is a deadting man! It’s appalling.. It really deprives us all of accessing the best talents among the human race.

Politics is not a pursuit of sainthood, which is a horrible parallel if you think of how immoral those pursuing sainthood have been shown to be. The world is never going to be perfect, where oppression and discrimination disappears because of some movement that we start. It is highly important to align ourselves with those who at minimum publicly say they agree with our struggle. Then our job is to put ourselves in positions where we can influence the positions they take in power. Standing on the sideline and refusing to vote, or supporting a candidate who has no real chance of winning and therefore is powerless, or critiquing our allies for their choices and policies from 15-20yrs ago, regardless of the fact that they have renounced those actions and publicly stated that they want to work to reverse the effects of their bad policies from decades ago will not help our cause. You can’t excuse yourself from the process of choosing our leaders then complain about how society disenfranchises us based on race.

It was a disgrace that Hillary Clinton, outside of her qualifications and expertise in governing, lost this election due to innuendo and unproven accusations made to seem true by the media and people’s lack of appetite for details and research. It is a shame that minorities sat out and let her lose. It is a shame that white women in their majority, voted for someone who as it appears on public account, has shown himself to be misogynistic at best and dangerous to women’s health issues at worst regardless of whatever reasoning these women used.

Lastly, it is a shame that in 2016, a woman still has to deal with overt sexism that blatantly denies all the professional hard work invested in a career over decades and lose a job promotion to the most unqualified novice of an opponent because male privilege and authority apparently trumps a woman’s proven skills, professionalism, know-how and experience. Our world has a long way to go in eliminating not just glass ceilings but the most fundamental aspects of what sexism deprives our collective society of. Women, as much as men, have to let go of the sexism that holds professional women back from their rightful places in our workforce or we would continuously deprive ourselves of using the most qualified and talented members of our society to help us inch closer to the ideal of a much more productive and effective society.

The Politics of Ethics

There’s an article circulating Ghanaian social media that’s making serious accusations at an individual who has somewhat of a public presence. There are few crimes, maybe only murder that should be considered more heinous than rape. Not just in Ghana, but the world over, rape victims are constantly asked to prove they were victimized whilst the assailants are typically held unaccountable. Rape victims are stigmatized unjustly and we as a society have to become better educated at ridding ourselves of the perceptions that allow us to feel comfortable demanding rape victims to prove their own rape.

That’s what conflicts those people who aim to champion the fight against victim blaming and bring an end to the persecution of those who are victims of rape, the majority being women and girls. It’s tragic. To feel imprisoned by the crime committed against you has to be one of the most challenging traumas any one has to live with and it is our duty to create a safer space for victims to come forward and seek justice against their assailants without fearing any repercussions,  implied or stated.

That is why I am so conflicted in voicing this opinion about seeking justice through the court of public opinion. On one hand, I can appreciate the relief it may bring to some in being able to share their stories as a step in the process of reaching some level of healing. However, it is counter intuitive for us to trample on others right to due process by estimating that, trying such happenings in public serves justice to anyone. If anything at all, it breeds skepticism, doubt and innuendo and gossip. No one wins. it is potentially a dangerous path that can leave an irreparable reputation for the small percentage that may be falsely accused. It sounds like a worthwhile sacrifice in the grand scheme of things if it results in the greater good but the essence of justice is to protect the defenseless. For so long, we have allowed our sense of good morals to be dictated by what the majority believe instead of protecting the ideal of “innocent until proven guilty”. If we had that kind of time, I’d expand on why that principle is the most important tenet in a truly just society but not today.

Here’s the point. One can accuse another of anything and blurt it out in public to gain approval and support even if the accusations are wrong. The idea that the writer was conflicted and pondered the ethics of making a public accusation of that magnitude without telling both sides of the story is shallow at worst and grossly irresponsible by any truly ethical estimation. If she’s ethical enough to want to protect the victims’ identities, the same ethics should have applied in protecting the accused’s identity. The fact that this did not happen then suggests a bias that encourages the sort of skepticism that has unjustly plagued rape victims for so long and her article is doing nothing to bring long lasting justice to rape victims who she seems to sincerely want to help. It begs noting that, this article was written in spite of a threat of legal action against her from the accused’s lawyer which implies that the accused is denying the accusations in that capacity. To go ahead and publish said article and lace it with screenshot private conversations which show no evidence of actual rape but insinuations and meanderings of a very needy guy did not achieve any type of justice. The victims are still in hiding and have not used their story to bring healing to themselves or warn others as the article bravely suggests. It reduces such a heinous crime to petty Twitter and groupchat gossip while missing an opportunity to actually galvanize these victims for a greater cause. This could have been a true moment of activism for the writer since she by all personal accounts is fervently supportive of womens rights issues.

Writing was a way to create awareness and learning in our culture where a lot of issues were branded off-topic and taboo. Blogging became an outlet for so many voiceless people and that’s a great turning point for our progress. However, blogging has become our destination for resolving our problems with the status quo. It has given us this false sense of actual activism when in fact we are not doing shit to solve the issues we wail about. This moment could have been used to bring a case against the accused in court. By providing and raising the resources to get a competent lawyer and investigative team to bring the man to trial. That will be justice. That would have been true activism. Here we are, blogging about it and leaving it at that while patting ourselves on the back, meanwhile nothing was solved. For the sake of justice and a a hope for a society that doesn’t victimize our rape victims, we should encourage those accusers to seek their recourse through the courts. And for the accused, anything short of bullishly defending your innocence if you are in fact innocent will be a disservice to yourself and the innocent. If you are in fact guilty, everything that is coming to you will not be enough until you pay for the crimes you are accused of and that will be justice.

❤️

  

Assumptive Narratives Formed from Social Media Activism: Awam Anger

There is a  presumptive way of thinking that we are all guilty of on Social Media. We all have very strong opinions about right or wrong. The power we have now is unprecedented because, everyone has an outlet for their opinions in the public sphere. It’s a great tool that can be used by all to express themselves. This creates room for all of us to feel aggrieved on every single major or minor topic, irrespective of context or intent. There are people who are also willing to only present one side of a story to pillar their narratives.

I was gonna let this go because sometimes silence is good response to false accusations but then I thought of it and realized– if I remain silent while having the ability to express the truth and shed light on an issue that sorta shapes the narrative, I’m doing those involved an injustice. So this is about the Charity event held by BBnZ to feed homeless children on October 3rd which drew cynicism from certain people on Social Media. By the way, I get annoyed when people act like social media isn’t an integral part of our public lives. As if it exists in a different realm. That said, the outspoken Twitter user – Obaa Boni, self appointed defender of the defenseless– presumably, wrote an article intended to tear down the privileges afforded by “The Patriarchy” to one fat guy who she  made sure to point out was not exactly in the position to call others out because he was fat while simultaneously stating she wasn’t trying to fat shame him in the same sentence. I’m fat and Bay is fat, we both need to be working out more than we eat so I don’t need someone to be sensitive to my feelings. That’s a subject for another article but let me say this, just because you tell people to shape up doesn’t make it fat shaming, it’s called love and concern for the person’s health. Anywho, Bay’s crime was; he offended @f_aggrey and the world  of women by being harsh and brash with a Twitter user who cynically and disrespectfully questioned the motives of the Charity while mocking the event with a few incendiary tweets. How this even spiraled into an issue about feminism is confusing but yeah… The lack of objectivity in that article is an example of how overzealous we can become when we have just a bit of power, in this case the power to have an audience.

F. ‏@f_aggrey Oct 3
You give people who can’t afford food cooked rice today so that tomorrow they live off their imagination eh. 

F. ‏@f_aggrey Oct 3
@BBnZLive are you gonna do the food donation event every year or it’s just a one time thing to look cool?

How are the above tweets to be considered objective inquisition by any standard?

This is where the articles obvious bias and lack of objectivity blows me. A company ran by young Ghanaians, who have a vision and for the better part of their existence sort to be trailblazers in the hopeless economic challenges faced by Ghanaian youth decided to take on a charitable endeavor to feed homeless children and all non-doers are worried about is the motive? First of, are they collecting the childrens’ intestines after they feed them for instrumentals or selling their skin for leather? How is feeding a hungry child received with cynicism on any level? If by virtue of this charitable deed, BBnZ gains more business, fucking awesome! We should all be happy for that. But noooo, let the intellectuals, those who are great at making theoretical arguments about every human endeavor put their lenses on  and microscopes out to scrutinize every grain of rice served to these hungry kids. The tweeter @f_aggrey lacked decorum in the context of her questioning and tweets pertaining to the charity event. She was brash and disrespectful, trying to antagonize and belittle good work for her own personal attention drawing self. It was for the damn retweets or else she would have been better mannered in her questioning. How do I know this? Read her timeline, she’s actually a decent person with the ability to tweet with positive inquisition.And any deduction from this to suggest that asking her to be well mannered is patriarchal or sexist is pure fuckery, yes preemptive strike cos I’m tired of the BS labeling on demand. This idea that you can say whatever you like however you like for the cause you believe in but expect respect from those you offend is just wishful bratty behavior.

Honestly, I should go on about how wrong Obaa Boni is in her assertions because she neither bothered to contact BBnZ for clarification on their intent or position regarding this supposed concern for their intents but why bother, it feels like she is most interested in stirring things up rather than resolving issues. For people on either side of this argument, I’d suggest that being abrasive towards each other is never a solution for progress. BBnZ is under no obligation to explain themselves to anyone. Charity is not a requirement. The concerned tweeter, wondering which air the children would eat the next day, did not even ask or offer to volunteer to be a part of the event when she found out about it, she rather took to twitter to sarcastically disparage the organizers in the name of being cool too.  So yes, Deezy came for her neck, not exactly a great approach, no matter how witty, but he met force with force and that’s typically how the world works. Those of us who write on blogs, should never confuse what we do to be the equivalent of actual work done i.e. activism. Doers like BBnZ should be applauded, especially in our part of the world where wicked men and women are our leaders, Not to be melodramatic but our president was proud to supply 2,ooo kids with made in China sandals and got media coverage. Private citizens feeding homeless children is welcome any day of the week in my book, regardless of their intentions or motives. Applaud them.

As for the quotes for or against Charity, we can all have our pick of the litter.. Here’s one I like:

We leave you a tradition with a future.
The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.
People even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed.
Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. ~Sam Levenson~

NINJA GAIDEN

A tuna sandwich. Damn Good Advice. Granite kitchen countertop. Zeppelin Air and NINJA GAIDEN. This is the setting where I paint my thoughts about KiddBlack’s first official body of work.

I’m on my 17th full listen, in 3-months. I’m trying to finger this record’s place in my rotation. Music has a wider reach than when I first fell in love with HipHop.. In ’92, Benzino mattered; Elliot Wilson mattered, in the hiphop fan landscape even more so for kids in Ghana lusting after hiphop. Their opinion was the benchmark of dopeness. Custodians and curators of the culture so to say. It mattered what they thought and how many mics an MC got. No more.

The music landscape has grown and become instantly accessible just as it is disposable. All year I’ve only had IYRTITL in constant rotation, then I added Treasurechest’s Heaven and Ojuelegba(surprisingly) — I’m a snob of sorts..When NG  landed in my email, I was ready to listen with a critical ear. Kiddbkack likes a lotta weed and fellatio as an ongoing theme of NINJA GAIDEN and he doesn’t hesitate to tell you in so many stylistic ways. I first heard Kidd’s work 2-years ago and I was stunned. 17yr old from Tema, rapping his ass off and sounding like a New Yorker. It was thrilling even in the hypocrisy of my excitement. There was this conundrum. I love my hiphop authentic, down to the accent. I often cringe at the manufactured accents of some of Kidd’s predecessors and it takes away from the music, even godfather Reggie’s accent was screechy to me. This isn’t an indictment on any of those artists but for me, it was wonderfully thrilling to hear a kid sound this dope, be from Ghana and be on par with the authentic New York HipHop I enjoy.

The sampling and production on the opener, Baby— is synths and soul, a welcoming sound of plowing down in a couch to catch a classic karate flick. Popcorns out. The flow is lethargic good. Kidd flirts with introspective lines that seem to conceal a desire to maintain the toughness of a street dude but shows streaks of sentiment in flashes. 3months is a long time to digest an album or piece of art. Now that the record has simmered down in my mental hard drive, the feeling is Ninja Gaiden is a showcase of an artist trying to merge authentic rap with his own roots and doing a damn fucking awesome job at it. Best Guys is another standout track that presents Kidd holding more than his own in trading verses with one of the seminal artists of this generation  in E.L and it’s anybody’s 10-count on the canvas. By the time the track is over, you can see the shadows of two artists who are aware of their footwork under the microscope of scrutiny and doing what is needed to show flair and spark.

Ninja Gaiden is an aspirational testament to where Kidd wants to go. Literally sleep with your girlfriends, amass a lot of money and take care of his family,– typical rapper tale. However, on the title track and Vibrations, he reveals what makes him potentially the most intricate and sophisticated writer from the African HipHop scene the way he weaves couplets and thoughts to express the emotions of the complexities of what modern youthful love entails.

“This here for a couple niggas love a couple bitches, This here for a couple bitches love a couple niggas. Bitches get they heart broke, fuck a couple niggas. Niggas get they heart broke role a couple swishas.”

This couplet is brash, vulgar and raw but introduces the listener into the heart and minds of two young people in love and wondering what the future is bringing their way. The use of the actual phone conversation  is as personal as any moment for anywho who’s been in a relationship. My personal favorite and it treats HipHop’s glaring chauvinism in the context of art where it’s still safe to be balls in your hand differentiating between ho and wife material. I think it’s important to separate the art from real life advances about respect for the sexes but sometimes I just wanna enjoy the bad ole raw dirty hiphop and that’s as honest as it may be wrong. The record is laced with heavy doses of desire, materialistic and of the big booty variety. It sometimes becomes innundating but the production does well to distract from the monotony in the subject matter.

My takeaway from this record is Kidd is the future of rap from Ghana and Africa. The internet as stated before has made music very accessible and he shows a lot of potential to connect with kids from any corner HipHop that want a fresh sound. My standout tracks are Euphoria Forever, Fun & Games, Best Guys, Ninja Gaiden, Vibrations and Kyushojustsu Flow in no exact order. The future of Gh rap is exciting. On any stage in boardinghouse secondary school, Variety or Entertainment Night was an outlet for us creatives and we tried to put on and showcase our talents as best as we could. They’re but memories that we can only recite and to think that the youth get to nurture their talent and make careers off them more  freely is a welcome dynamic. Mensa was a pioneer, trended off to other forms of artistic expression but in retrospect, Kidd represents what Mensa was to my generation growing up. The nicest MC, spitting like we shouldn’t question his authenticity and that’s trill. Get Ninja Gaiden.

Short and Not So Sweet

The real reasons men don’t want their wives “out there”.

1. Insecurity
2. Trust
3. Competition
4. Peace
5. Control

Some men know what they’re capable of and what they’ve done, what they’re doing in secret and how easy it is to cheat. They fear if their wives are social and outgoing, she’s susceptible to cheating. The insecurity is a reflection of self. Some may also be insecure because they have truly married up. It doesn’t make women innocent or incapable of cheating or prevent it but these are men’s reasons.  It really is that simple. Don’t overthink it. Argue on Twitter or @ me.

A man can be very sensitive to being exposed to the world. Matters of the home, he doesn’t want Nicquey, Malota and Charles knowing his business, his plans, his deals etc. They don’t want their intimate matters; financial, long term plans, health issues or whatever you can think of that can file under “private” out there. They worry that an “out there” woman may slip and tell others, therefore exposing holes in their armor. That’s probably the most important aspect of a relationship–> Trustworthiness, and for what it’s worth most men, are usually trying to preserve the trust.

I don’t wanna hear about the vacation Kasen planned for his wife. I don’t wanna hear about the new kitchen Brian just installed for his wife on a random Wednesday afternoon. I don’t want you questioning my manhood because you heard how Bay’s kids are living. Or that Alvin buys a new car for wifey every 2-years, fuuck thaat! Stay in this house and enjoy our mediocrity. Caroline is now telling your wife how Sheek has been eating the booty like groceries lately. Nah b, I don’t wanna compete with these men.

Old folks used to say in some variation that a peaceful home is a wife’s mandate. For what it’s worth, there is some truth to this based on how society is set up. The women usually sitting around being  housewives and making their boring days go by faster need to find something occupying. It’s only so long before they’re bored with being madam and ordering maids and houseboys to do their bidding. If you don’t want drama, you stay out of peoples business. This isn’t so bad a philosophy except we are not admitting that some of the most terrible gossips are men themselves. Double standard like a dog.

To be in control. That need is the most masculine of masculinity or so it’s been taught. The “putting of the foot down” – Alpha Gbemi.. No one enjoys putting their foot down more than the stereotypical African man. You’d think investments crawled out of the ground as a result as much as they love this pounding of their feet. A dictatorship– ensures a “my way or the highway” life and the economics usually permit this stupid need to control. You want that much control, get a pet. Preferably one that wears a collar you can yank on.