Kufuor Chases Obasanjo's Record

While we in Nigeria are flagellating our President for his international wanderlust, Ghanaians are also raising alarm over the inability of President John Kufuor to sit down and face his work. On Tuesday, August 6, THISDAY wrote one of the best frontpage editorial comments I have read in recent times giving the tragic details of the consequences of President Obasanjo Obasanjo's over 100 foreign trips in three years. It included going to Britain to attend his daughter's wedding, when the white man husband of this Nigerian damsel should have come down to Owu in Abeokuta to submit himself to all the rituals that go into marrying a Yoruba lady. We would have liked to see that white man at Obasanjo's feet on a dobale routine.

Ghanaians are lamenting that in just 18 months, Kuffour has travelled over 40 times to foreign countries. In fact, as at the time of filing this story, he was away for two weeks on a six-nation tour of the world. According to Ghanaians, before you could say: "Welcome, Mr. President", Kuffour is already climbing an aircraft ramp waving you goodbye on another jaunt. Kuffour's excuses are the same as those of Obasanjo: he is chasing goodwill and foreign investment.

So, take heart, Nigerians. It's also happening in Ghana.