Open Letter to President Obama Part 3

Dear Mr President

The other pressing problem you face has to do with Afghanistan an Pakistan.

I am not convinced that military force is the answer to the problems over there. Before too much damage is done therefore serious consideration ought to be given to thinking out other options.

There is a development unfolding in Iran which may provide some insight of how best to approach the problems in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And this is to allow the citizens of those countries to lead the change in their own countries. Pakistanis are capable of doing this with the right policies to embolden them . Even in a traditional society such as Afghanistan this must be possible

So much damage has been done to the authority of the present rulers of Iran because of the difficulties they have created for themselves about these last elections, that it has undermined their legitimacy to rule. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has lost his international aura.

The moral authority of the Mullahs has also been severely damaged as we have seen how “men of god” can also, it seems, behave very badly, in suppressing their fellow citizens. What is Shia teaching about the disadvantaged and the suppressed? Or the responsibility of governments towards their own people ? Are they not transgressing these by their actions?

In the long run, this cannot be good for the continuation and survival of the type of government the Mullahs have introduced. It is a matter of time before a change is brought about by people of Iran ,who are very educated and informed. Things cannot continue as they are if the rulers do not change their ways.

Essentially then to deal with Afghanistan and Pakistan, their own people must be allowed to ferment the change. The military option must be paired down particularly when it is led by foreigners. What this means is therefore that there must be a lot of investment in other policies that will be championed by the peoples in these countries that, ultimately, would undermine the influence and effectiveness of the work of the Taliban. It is a long process

Mr President Barack Obama would be chairing the Security Council in this 64th session of the UN about Nuclear non proliferation

The immediate concerns are with the positions of Iran and North Korea about their efforts to acquire the technology of enrichment which will ultimately help them to make nuclear bombs. If they want to

North Korea it seems already has the bomb.

There is a lot of sound and fury about Iran’s chances of also getting this bomb. Thinking about it in the round , one must ask why there is so much fuss about Iran having the bomb when other nations already have it and in the region, Israel also has it and has not signed the treaty of non proliferation.?

Why is therefore so much distrust of Iran as a nation by the West. Is it because, in the region, it is the only country which seems to want to go its own way? Or is resistant to Western hegemony?

The position of Israel about the Iran is hypocritical and untenable. Here is a country which already possesses the bomb and is determined to prevent others from the region Iran, in particular, from acquiring it .It should be obvious that it is a decision which is calculated to. entrench its supremacy as the top dog in the region. Turkey and the Arabs have allowed this situation to develop. Iran it seems is the only country that is unwilling to accept this and is contesting to match the military strength of Israel. It is too much for Israel to bear so it must be stopped. What Israel wants it must have.

For the United States and other nations to be seen as fair by the international community, when opposing Iran about the matter, they must distance themselves from Israel and make an independent case as to why Iran should be discouraged from having the bomb. Aligning themselves with Israel makes them seem to be once again protecting Israel’s supremacy and condoning and conniving at its “buga buga” ways.

In any case Iran is insistent that that it is not after the bomb. As an independent nation it is entitled to acquire any technology it wants to . Or the West and Israel think it should not when it comes to nuclear technology?

These are only a few of the issues with international implications I can touch upon in this open letter. The other major issue is climate change which is so huge that it requires a separate letter.

I have deliberately refrained from mentioning Darfur and the Sudan. Western Sahara, a former Spanish Colony which Morocco has forcibly annexed and is determined to hold unto and which it keeps out of international headlines is another fault line which may explode in Africa

Open Letter to President Obama Part 2

Dear Mr. President.

There are others in different parts of the world that are looking to you and your administration for new approaches in the conduct of international relations. You have assumed this challenge and signalled this by defining the USA approach in your speeches so far and also in your speech to the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly. The United States cannot be anymore a “Nee Bonney” Divide it self into two, twice, or three, thrice: be here, there and everywhere. It is global responsibility sharing time of responsibilities. The United States would do its bit. It is expected of other nations that they would also do their bit.

Practically, you have not disappointed and have plunged immediately on taking office, into tackling some of the long standing conflicts such as in Palestinian, where fundamentally it is a conflict between a people (the Israelis) who are engaged in implementing a project to establish a homeland for themselves as Jews (although they may be already nationals of other countries), among a people ( the Palestinians and the Arabs ) who are unwilling to accommodate it. Sometimes we in West Africa think about this in our terms. What would we do if African Americans , 75 per cent of who , we are told ,are originally from our shores, come back to claim a piece of our land as their home?

The initial project was started sixty two years ago . Prime Minister Netanyahu, of present day Israel, referred to this in his address to the 64th Session of the General Assembly. The League of Nations awarded a piece of Palestine under Article 22 of its covenant , “in favour of the establishment. of a national home for the Jewish People, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. Palestine was then under a League of Mandate 1922, to the British.

The formal objective of the League of Nations Mandate system was to administer parts of the defunct Ottoman Empire (of present day Turkey), which had been in control of the Middle East since the 16th century "until such time as they are able to stand alone. The system also of course, embraced the former German Colonial territories which under the Treaty of Versailles (1920 ))Germany had renounced all claims to.

For purpose of clarification, in the Middle East, Britain received mandates for Mesopotamia which was later renamed Iraq and became Independent in 1932;and Palestine Palestine was later divided into Palestine and Transjordan (later renamed Jordan ) Jordan attained its independence in June 17th 1946.

France received Syria, which was later divided into Syria and Lebanon. Both attained their independence in 1943

In Africa, Britain received Tanganyika which is now part of Tanzania,( union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika); Both Britain and France were given parts of the Cameroons and Togoland.. All these countries are now independent

Togoland was split into British Togoland and French Togoland. British Togo became part of the present day Ghana after a referendum with the French part going on to become an independent Togo of today.

Belgium received Ruanda-Burundi,which split into becoming two independent States of today of Rwanda and Burundi.

The Union of South Africa (now called Republic of South Africa) got German Southwest Africa (now called Namibia, an independent country) .

In Australasia, Japan was given German islands in the North Pacific Ocean. Australia received German islands in the South Pacific, including the north eastern section of New Guinea and Nauru. New Zealand received Western Samoa,

On 18 April 1946, the League of Nations was succeeded by the United Nations (UN). Under the Charter which established the UN , provision was made: for the establishment of international trusteeship agreements under Article 75 for the former mandated Territories that had not become independent

Taking into account the formal objectives of the mandate the question has to be asked of the British and the Allied nations how they came to interpret this as conferring on them the power to award a parcel of Palestine for other purposes.

It is fact Britain, France and Imperial Russia at the height to World War 1, had been scheming, wheeling and dealing and reaching understandings and making commitments to and with a myriad and diverse interest groups about the possessions of the Ottoman Empire in anticipation of its demise. One such secret understanding between France and Brattain was the Sykes- Picot agreement which was concluded in 1916 for the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire.

Another of such understanding or commitment to an interest group by the British led to the creation out of Palestine of a Trasjordan State which later on became Jordan gaining independence in June 1946

In the case of the “smaller Palestine” itself ,the Balfour declaration found its way into British administration of the mandate . Instead of the British government limiting themselves to "the rendering of administrative assistance and advice to the people" the mandate was subjected to the "Balfour Declaration" issued by the British Government in 1917, expressing support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". In 1947 this was formalized into the creation of an independent State of Israel. At about the time British mandate came to an end leaving a messy situation all around in that area.

France of course had also created greater Lebanon for mainly maronite Christians taking it one step further to establish a seperate Lebanon State which it administered as part of its Syrian mandate . Both were taken to independence in 1943.

I think for this purposes it is best not to go further into the history. It suffices for our purposes to note that the State of Israel is with us covering more than an area that far outstrips what the original League of Nations disposition stated.. In arguing their case for peace and recognition Israelis should perhaps take this into account and stop going on about what they are prepared to be “generous” in giving away.

It was an African American, Ralph Bunche, who building on the work of the UN Chief Palestine Peace Negotiator, Folk Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat, who was assassinated in 1948, by the Stern Gang ( Lehi Fighters for the Freedom of Israel- it is a conflict which seems to have bred a lot of assassinations of opponents or those deemed to be so), was able to negotiate an armistice in1949. Legendary Moshe Dayan headed the Israeli negotiation team.

For his efforts, Ralph Bunche was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1950 . In 1963, he received the Medal of Freedom from President John F Kennedy.

Your commitment in seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians is, in one sense, a follow up in the footsteps of this African American, Ralph Bunche. Perhaps history would record that it is an African American again, this time yourself, President Barrack Obama, who has been able to help bring about long lasting peace between Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs, and perhaps also to change the fortunes of that region for the better, permanently. It has been a region afflicted by too many wars and conflicts that has drained away from the peoples enormous resources that could have gone into improving their social and economic conditions.

Is it possible that one day there would be a union between all the peoples of the region including the Arabs, Turkish and the Iranians intended to overcome ancient rivalries.? Such a Union can only be good for the peoples as it would unleash untold opportunities in economic development and bring about immense prosperity to the people.. We should all be encouraging it.

Europeans have formed a Union to overcome their ancient rivalries. It has brought a lot a confidence, stability and prosperity to their peoples. It started with small beginnings, so perhaps one day, it may also happen in the Middle East region

The difficulties are however immense as within some of the countries in the region there are conflicts that require to be resolved . Turkey for example, would have to think out a peaceful solution to its conflicts with the Kurds and also reach out to its long term foe, the Armenians. In almost all the countries there are minorities and religious beliefs that require to be accommodated in more than tolerant ways in the political and social systems.

The political system in Lebanon, for example , recognizes at least eighteen religious communities based on a 1932 census and accords each and every one of them a role in governance This is not in tune with modern ideas about political systems that require legitimacy to be conferred on governments by one person one vote franchises. The whole political system in that country requires modernization in order to ensure peace and stability of the country.

Let us hope your message of “change we can” would permeate into the minds of the leaders of these countries and embolden them to make changes.

The path to peace between Israelis and Palestinians is very difficult and frustrating.

You have rightly decided, therefore,to entrust the task of the detailed work to former Senator Mitchell, as you have other commitments.

In the eight months or so that you have been in office, it does not seem that a lot of progress has been made in influencing positions.

You have, in your visit to the United Nations General Assembly, opted to ignore this rigidity and encouraged a meeting between, the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. Whether anything comes out of this meeting only time will tell.

It is a conflict that has consumed a lot of time of American Presidents, some of whose personal intergrity and reputations have been adversely affected by it .

As Africans, we are keen that you, personally, and your administration are seen as fair, just and equitable and remain solidly so throughout the period of your office. And that your period of office should really make a differecnce to Americans and mankind.

Our wish is therefore that you would handle this Palestinian conflict with a lot of patience and wisdom, aware of what others such as Jimmy Carter have achieved, and mindful of the frustrations of Secretaries of State such as James Baker at the intransigence that can be on show, and the limitations of efforts by the last President George Bush Jnr. and his Secretary of State Dr.Condoleezza Rice The most disconcerting fact to emerge on analysis about Dr Rice’s many visits to Israel, was how she seemed to have been dribbled around by Israeli leaders. They were only, it seemed, willing to have her around as an ornament.

If necessary, therefore let there be a tactical pause to allow all parties time to think about their positions. during which time your facilitator, Senator Mitchell can also recharge his engines. In all cases Presidential interventions should be made only when they are deemed to be necessary and to make positive contributions. The Condelleeza strategy must be avoided for they help to parade the impotence of the Presidency and destroy the integrity of the holder of the office.

Sometimes it might be best to refrain from any action and also to say very little considering that every action or word spoken would be analysed and quoted as in support of one position or the other.

Under no circumstances must the Israeli Palestine conflict be allowed to define the fortunes of your administration..

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA Part 1

Dear Mr. President,

As Africans and citizens of the world, we applauded your election to the highest political office of the United States of America, that of the Presidency. You are, as a result, the 44th President of that country.

A few days ago you were addressing the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the first African American President of that country to do so. Dr W.E.B Dubois, Dr Martin Luther King Jnr., Prof. Ralph Bunche, Kwame Nkrumah, Sylvester Clerk, George Padmore, Julius Nyerere, and present day African leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu would all, I am sure, be mighty proud.

The 64th session of the UN General Assembly has been meeting in the month of five score and twenty years of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Ghana who was an inspiration to the emancipation of Africans from colonial rule. Scores of leaders of these countries were in the audience to listen to your address that set out the policy goals of your administration which in very simple terms, is to seek justice and prosperity for Americans and citizens of the world.

It would be recalled that Kwame Nkrumah had before you, addressed the General Assembly in the 1960s when the United Nations,under Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden ( Sweden acquired another Secretary General by the name of Kofi Annan through his marriage to a Swedish lady) , failed to help to consolidate the national integrity of the newly independent Congo under Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.

The future development of Africa is, as you have rightly pointed out in your speech to the Parliament of Ghana, in Accra, during your last July visit , is entirely a matter for Africans. America is however ready to help if called upon to do so. This was confirmed as the cornerstone of your policy, by your Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on her own tour of several African countries, recently,

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at the heart of Africa . It has several frontiers with many African countries: Angola and Zambia in the South; Rwanda, Burundi. Tanzania and Uganda in the East; Central African Republic and Sudan in the North and Republic of Congo in the West. Its predicament is therefore a worry to many informed Africans.

Its myriad of problems mirror the problems of many an African country. Your Secretary of State on her recent visit to that country was made aware of some of the effects of these problems on the womenfolk of that country.

It is country that when stabilized and is at peace with itself, has an immense potential to provide a lot for its peoples and the rest of African countries which surround it and perhaps also far a field in other African countries where economic opportunities may be limited

Our appeal to you, although not as citizens of that country, is to depart from the restrictions of your policy and reach out to that country in a very big way and help stabilize it. This would in part be to make up for the role your country played in its early destabilization. And also as a matter of demonstration of your concern for justice and prosperity of others

They require help in all the sectors of the economy. By being positive and taking a bold action such as by setting up of a USA and DRC Economic and Social Development Commission, your government and the government of the DRC should be able to identify priority areas where assistance is required and that call for action.

Initially the steps may be small. It is however, the initiative to start which should signal that the problems of that country and its long term stability and prosperity are of interest and concern to you and your administration.

Another country which calls for help is Somalia. This requires you and your administration to set side your suspicions about what in your terms are the “Islamists” and to try and bring them into the fold, as they are, and not as you prefer them to be, reformed “moderates” or any others. Any one sided approach to use only the “moderates” can only prolong the agony of that country and its people.

Efforts must also be made to reach out to that part of the country called Somaliland which was formerly a British colony that has declared its independence from Somalia since the disintegration of Somalia started. In fact Somaliland has managed to preserve some peace within its borders for over decade.

They are all nationals of the country of Somalia first and foremost and as such must be considered interested in social order and economic stability of their country. Attempts to bring them together with divide and rule policies can only be negative.

The Weekend that Was

How are you feeling to day? I ask because for some unknown reason I seem to have come out of bed this morning, full of energy and rearing to go There are so many ideas running through my mind I am not sure where to start.

Has it something to do with what I did with myself yesterday and last night? Perhaps? Or may be or may not be.

For me it is not only the events that appeal. The occasion, as a whole, provide an opportunity to see and meet people who, one can never hope to see or meet in the city centre or at events on any other days, weeks or years. These are people who have abandoned the city centres for one reason or the other.

The BBC Big Band concert is such an event so also the Royal Ballet performance with the CBSO. Regular patronisers to these events know that the people one sees and sits with, tend to be the same faces year in and year out., I have tended therefore to opt for other international concerts which tend to attract new faces. The free arts events of this week end, not only publicise but also hopefully, would bring new faces to events and performances.

This event, and the Frankfurt Christmas Market, coming later in the year, are highlights for many in the city They help revive community events; encourage community participation, enjoyment and spirit.

This of course reminds me that I should mention that we are in the middle of the Ramadan. which is a festival of fasting for Muslims.

In other western towns and cities Ramadan seems to be creeping in as an occasion to be celebrated by non Muslims and for other than purely religious reasons.

Once a year and for period, that may coincide with Ramadan, they make it a period when one reflects on one’s life in order perhaps to chart a different course thereafter, or when one abstains from a habit which has become a daily unthinking ritual such as watching television, drinking or smoking? Or to do something different such as making a positive contribution to arrest climate change or to participate in community activities or to know about other religions or races or simply to visit another part of the city in which one lives. It not be should be a surprise to many to know that city or town dwellers tend not to visit other parts of their own cities or towns.

There is no citywide event in my town, to mark or celebrate the end of Ramadan, Here is an opportunity which challenges the City fathers to think of an Eid-Ul-Fitr market. After all,the city has a large Muslim population which should make it viable event. I recall picking a up a few bargains at such a market, many years ago, in the Gambia.

The other event which must have helped to put me into the hearty mood this morning must have been the series of football matches I watched on the TV in my local pub to round off the night. There was Ghanaian with his pals who recognized me and came to offer to buy me a drink. I opted for a 125m of Red wine as I was not really there for the wine or other drinks He went back to join his friends while I sat back to watch the games

I watched the two Manchester teams at play against tough opponents, City was playing Arsenal and United were playing Spurs.

Unfortunately all the teams do not have a single Ghanaian footballer in them, I wonder? Are our international players not that good enough for them or it is their policy not to look at them because of what managers in the European and English leagues say is the disruptive influence Africa Nations Cup which is at work ? Chelsea at least has Michael Essien and Fulham is proud of John Paintsill. Wigan has Kingston ( I will not be surprised that very soon he would be on his way to join his mentor , Steve Bruce, who is now at Sunderland- Kingston also played for him when he was the Manager at Birmingham City ).Mensah has anchored at Sunderland

English managers tend to be loyal to their former players. Play for one and you are likely to be his partner throughout your playing career El -Hadji Diouf of Senegal, whose career was rescued by Sam Allardyce when he was manager at Bolton, has followed him from an unpopular period at Sunderland, to Blackburn Rovers.

About the matches proper. Both were enjoyable, skilful and exhibited high quality play by all the teams

Emmanuel Adebayor of City,was a disappointment at ruining very skillfu andl excellent play by his ungentlemanly behaviour .We all know that there was a lot bad feeling between him and the Arsenal fans. He did not have to rub it in by running the length of the Eastlands pitch to taunt the Arsenal travelling fans after scoring City's third goal. I think he has forgotten that there are more of them and they can organize and visit every ground to make life unpleasant for him. He was not very clever at all.

Another dislikeable bit of his character on exhibition, was what appeared to be his effort to rake his studs down Robin van Persie's head, leaving the Dutchman with a gashed face. It was a miracle he did not do him a more serious injury such as to his eye. All in all it was not a very pleasant face of Adebayor. His club should take him in and give him a telling. I am sure the disciplinary committee of the Football Association will review the videos and call him in.

I have always had mixed feelings about Man U. I have felt for the past year or two that the team was held together by Cristian Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Rooney and Edward Van der Sar. The rest were bits and bits part players.

Ryan Giggs, a favourite of the manager, Alex Fergusson, seems to have passed his peak; he wastes too many corners and free kicks. His play has become very predictable to many of his opponents. Yesterday he proved me wrong by scoring from one such a free kick and the team as a whole seem to be picking up to make up for the departure of Ronaldo . To my surprise Anderson also scored. I have not rated his play very highly and have wondered how he came to be in Man U. I shall watch to see how they progress.

Today as write, John Paintsill and his Fulham team will be in action later in the afternoon against Everton, Both teams have been slow starters this season and it is evident each side needs the win to boost confidence. I shall go out to watch it

English Football league games are keenly followed and reported on in the Ghana media because of partly the many Ghanaians players involved in it. It may also be in an effort to improve our game in a country which is football drunk.

It started with Nkrumah’s efforts to make the national team, the Black Stars, into a very skilful team in order to promote his Africa identity project .We have all become sucked into it ,unwittingly, making Black Star games everywhere more than national events. Their recent qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has thus been celebrated as such an event. If they do reach very far or win the World Cup, I would invite readers to just think of what would happen. Think about the unthinkable

Appiah, the Captain of Black Stars, has yet to find a team. My advice to him is to go back to Ghana to play for a local team in order to show case himself all over again. It is pointless hanging around and waiting for a foreign team to come calling. Such an expectation might pressure him into making a bad choice again as he hid by going to Turkey.(Jnr. Agogo must also be regretting departing the English game for Egypt. He is now of course, in Cyprus ). Many Brazilians have gone back home to re-launch their careers. Emulate them, Appiah, Ghana, in football, is the Brazil of Africa.

Rolitical gymnastics of Jerry John Rawlings

Part 11

The NDC has, it seems, other gaps in its Party structure that may have sewn the seeds of divergence between President Mills with his Cabinet and the Party and JJR in particular. All such gaps would have to be scrutinized and closed to ensure unity of purpose from the President downwards and into the grassroots.

For example, there were and are no party guidelines as to how President John Atta Mills was to appoint his Ministers. He was given a free hand to choose any one he pleased. JJR started fuming even at this early stage that President Mills was behaving as if he was independent of the Party.

Listeners to the confirmation hearings of Ministers and Deputy Ministers, must have agreed with JJR about this and that it was not only the President who thought he is independent of the Party, but also, most of the prospective Ministers and Deputy Ministers were of similar minds. This could be gleaned from their responses to questions from MPs. Most of them were saying things like "if I am confirmed as Minister or Deputy Minister, this or that is what I would do.." It was as if all of them were independent agents., Not once did any one of them refer to the NDC programme or manifesto and respond that they would help implement it.

The confirmation hearings of Kwesi Ahwoi, the present Agriculture Minister was the most illustrative of total non mention of the NDC. He of course, is not an MP . Not once did he mention the NDC manifesto. He faced and answered questions from MPs as if he was a free and independent agent which of course he was and is.. It would be recalled that his confirmation proceedings took nearly three days. It seemed that he was presenting his own programme as to what he would do as a Minister of Agriculture.

Incidentally Kwesi Ahwoi's presence in the cabinet ,it seems to me, is one of the appointments that most irks JJR. This was a man who resigned from the NDC and did not campaign for the NDC during the elections. The NDC attains power and he shows up as a Minister? It does not seem to jell with JJR and descent thinking people.If he is man of principles he should have refused to serve in the NDC Cabinet. This by any account makes him a hypocrite par excellence. JJR should have been point blank in fingering him instead of generalizing which has only created confusion. Perhaps he has others in mind who are similarly so. He should have named them all for the public to be the judges.

There are other examples of decisions which are being taken by Ministers and other functionaries of the Administration that are not rooted in NDC ideology or the manifesto, all of which must be worrying to JJR .and informed members of the Party.

The decongestion programme which is in place presently in Accra cannot be found as a manifesto promise of the NDC. It is out of the brains of the Regional Minister and the Mayor (who is an import , a returnee diasporanian). With so many foot soldiers of the Party engaged in the informal sector, it is an exercise which may not be entirely in the interest of the Party, that is, in the form in which it is being presently carried out.

Central to the social democratic ideology of the Party is that people are at the core of its values. Development policies must be designed to benefit them first and foremost or at the minimum empower them to help themselves.

A decongestion exercise that seems to arbitrarily displace traders from lucrative business areas and to locate them in areas that have little business potential cannot be considered to benefit the traders, most of who are at the lower or the bottom ends of the economic and financial ladders. The assumption that the petty traders are ignorant or fools and do not know what is good for them must be banished from policy making.

There are no feedback mechanisms or systems in place by the Accra Municipal Authority (AMA) to assess the impact of the exercise on the traders and perhaps to consider reviews .In short the traders have been left to mind their losses or gains by themselves. The damages to their livelihoods or to that of their families are matters for themselves and of no interest to the AMA

A Social Democratic orientated AMA would perhaps have done things differently such as by consulting and engaging with the people in the exercise. They are people who may also have very useful ideas that will benefit themselves for they are as much interested in progress as the AMA. Alternative arrangements could also have been made to ensure better trading outcomes for them.

The extent to which the Party can be ignored seems to be on show again in this promise by the Regional Minister of Greater Accra ,Nii Armah to demolish Sodom and Gomorrah as reported in Ghana Web of 3rd September 2009. This is a policy that is also not an NDC Manifesto promise. It is his own policy and considered in its entirety may even be illegal.

It is not the responsibility of Regional Ministers to originate policy. Regional Ministers are expected to coordinate central government policies as founded in legislative acts of the national Parliament.Parliament has not, to my knowledge, legislated to demolish Sodom and Gomorrah and it does not seem to me that there is any legislative act which grants the general power to do so to the Minister of Greater Accra.

But of course Ministers are notorious about taking on powers that have not been granted to them by Parliament as was the creation of the new Districts by the Kuffour Administration. It seems this Greater Accra Minister wants to go down on this route. He will have to be stopped.

An NDC Social Democratic orientated policy should have started by consulting and involving the people in any discussions about their future.

There is also what seems to be this policy by the Minister of Agriculture to subsidise tractors to farmers. It does not seem to be a transparent policy which must be a worry JJR .. If it were it would have by now been widely reported in the media and critically scrutinized as not sustainable.. Furthermore, it does not seem to be an NDC policy which perhaps would have been more social democratic orientated in favour of farmers’ co-operatives and plant and machinery hire depots intended to serve them.

The most pronounced and sad NDC un orientated policy is this decision to abandon the 4-year cycle of SHS education. It is tantamount to washing our hands off the future prospects of the children of Ghana. It is as if the government is ignorant about the competitive and challenging pressures that children would face once they are out of the school environment.

Many Ghanaian schoolchildren are coming from rural backgrounds which are not very sophisticated. They come to the SHS programme with weak knowledge, understanding and use, of the official language of the country, which is the English language. The first year in the SHS is intended to repair some of these defects that is before the proper programme of teaching towards syllabus.

As Prof Addae Mensah has also remarked. some of our children are late developers and have to be given more time to reach their potential. The 3 year cycle would not do this

It is a fact and considering the pressures in our higher education system, that so many of the children will not go on into higher or other education or training. The SHS would therefore be their final take, preparation and stepping stone into the practical hard headed world. We owe it to them therefore to use the opportunity afforded them in the system to give them as mush sound preparation that will help them make it when they depart. This cannot be achieved in a 3 year cycle of SHS.

How we design our education system and what it does is a matter entirely for us as a nation. Outside examples can at best, only be guides. Of paramount importance must be the needs of our children that we have identified that have to be met in order to prepare them for life. The government is challenged to think carefully again about these before abandoning the 4 year cycle of SHS

The Minister in charge seems to be floundering and it shows. When he announced that the 3 year cycle will start next year he does not even know that the law has to be changed and syllabus redesigned before the 3 year cycle can be re-introduced. He is a Minister who looks as handsome as President Obama but does not re-assure that he is in charge and is on top of his brief.

Many of the children who will be most affected by what seems to be his “not entirely rounded” decision making will come from the grassroots of Party. We have to fight to rescue them from this Minister. Perhaps with the help of JJR .

Can the possibility be discounted that JJ will in frustration decide to break away?If things continue as they are and JAM and the party do not close the gap and focus on peoples’ needs he might just consider doing so . He would not want to campaign for a lost cause in 2012

Rolitical gymnastics of Jerry John Rawlings

Part 1

This piece is based on another piece written for SIL on 4th of September 2009

John Jerry Rawlings(JJR) is presently visiting Norway where he has called for more Norwegian investment in Ghana. He has also been speaking to an audience from the University of Oslo. He is leading an NDC delegation on a visit to that country.

From the many good things he seemed to be saying about President John Atta Mills,(JAM),one would think that he has no differences with him. But perhaps, being a mature politician ,when he wants to be, he seems to have learnt that such political differences are best kept at home and not be trumpeted abroad and in foreign lands.

JJR is always in the news in Ghana. Of late this has been about his publicly expressed views about President Mills and his administration. Many have interpreted these as coming from a man who is frustrated at not having very much to do at home and in the country. While others have gone further to suggest that he is a man who thinks be is above all others and knows it all .

But are the issues that simple?

JJR is the founder of the NDC. He sees himself as the custodian of the values of the party and as its conscience . There is no doubt that he is the present day “veranda boy” of the NDC, a man busy about town and village, who is common., easy and approachable and who is attuned to the foot soldiers of the party. The grassroots and the foot soldiers of the party and even in other parties seem to be comfortable with him as a champion of their aspirations. When it comes to it, he can campaign very hard and deliver votes in many regions for the NDC. He has demonstrated this admirably, in the last elections.

JJR therefore conceives of his role as a link between the Party and the present Administration . It is his responsibility to pass on, what he thinks, are the thoughts of the grassroots of the Party, to JAM and for JAM to take these into account when designing policies. Wise politicians are always advised not to loose touch with their foot soldiers for it is they who, ultimately, are the “king makers”

If JJR is frustrated because JAM seems not to be listening (and he has publicly expressed this in an interview ) this is because there is no party machinery in place, such as a Joint Liaison Forum,(JLF) made up of the President and some members of his administration and the NDC hierarchy, at which both sides can interact and exchange views.Such a forum would help kill rumours and misunderstandings before they start . For example, it may not be entirely correct, as JJR seems to be suggesting that JAM is ignoring his views for JJR would have expressed his views at such a forum, and would have been able to gauge the reactions from close quarters.

It is important to draw attention to the fact that ours is not an American political system where the President and MPs (Congressmen and women and Senators) think of themselves only as nominally members of their respective political parties and can do as they please relying on their individual interpretation of the ideology of the parties.

We can all see a demonstration of this in the intense healthcare reform debate which has been going on in that country during past few months. Some of the Democratic legislators from the Southern States of the country( the blue dogs) have adopted different positions about the reform agenda which the President, who is also a Democrat, is pushing.

Considered objectively, they may have a point. And who can blame them . President Obama has only been pushing abstract ideas about the need for change in health care. He and his advisers have been singularly negligent by not presenting specifics, that is, a coherent designed and drafted bill, embodying his ideas to Congress for consideration..

President Obama seemed to have been expecting that Democratic members in Congress would be magicians who will read his mind and lips and come up with the appropriate bill. As he now knows practical policy making does not work like that. He has to “do something” more. The “do something” is a phrase he must have heard a lot of ,from his praise singers, on his last visit to Ghana. We are now told that he and his administration are “doing something “ by drafting a bill to be presented to Congress. About time too. Better late than never.

In the political system that we operate, modelled on the British political system, the President and MPs are active members of a Party and owe allegiance to it. They are of the Party and are elected on the programmes and platform of the party.

The Party plays a crucial role in our system conferring on party members important rights, duties and responsibilities. In the absence of a JLF, JJR had to go public with his misgivings about JAM and his administration in order to demonstrate to members of the NDC and the grassroots and the foot soldiers of the Party, in particular, that they still matter and that they have someone who is fighting their corner. In the difficult social and economic conditions in which many of them find themselves, this is a very astute political tactic and cannot be dismissed lightly as most have done . In the short term it would embarrass President Mills and his administration. In the long term, however, it would pay dividends as it keeps the grassroots and the foot soldiers on the side of his administration which after all it is an NDC administration

A few weeks ago the NPP was in conference, at which important policy decisions were taken . This was a welcome, moral boosting and bonding event for members of a Party in opposition. Party members must have gone away from the conference knowing that the Party is still in place, functioning and full of ideas, ready and waiting to fight another day, to form a government.

The NDC has not, on the other hand, deemed it necessary to hold a conference to bond its members and to thank them for helping it win the elections . Instead the President, John Atta Mills has chosen to tour the regions to express his appreciation and thanks to members .

Party members have as yet to be brought together at the national level to receive and congratulate the President on taking office and to be assured that the Party programme as disclosed in the manifesto for the elections and other promises made, would be remain the focus of the administration’s policies. At the national level, Party members seem to be feeling the void and that they have been used only for the purposes of garnering votes after which they have been cast aside

For JJR and the Party to be calmed and all encouraged to use the internal machinery of the party to express their views- positive or negative-, the Party must seriously consider holding a national conference as soon as is possible so that the President and Ministers can all present themselves formally to the Party. Some of the Ministers are not Party members so technically although serving an NDC administration, the Party has not embraced them nor conferred legitimacy on them. Their appearance at the conference would help to do so.

Such a conference should also consider setting up a Joint Liaison Forum (JLF) of the President and his Administration and of the Party that will bring together, periodically, the President with some of his Cabinet Members and Senior Party members and officials for head to head meetings. This is so that each side knows what each side is thinking and is doing. It is not enough to use the parliamentary platform for such purposes. The Administration must take it upon itself to mind its back and it is through such meetings that this can be done. It should not be left alone to JJR to hold consultations with JAM.