The Nkrumahist Who Transformed Ignorance Into Bliss

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NA CRAZE DE MAN CRAZG 8 years ago

HahahA hohohheehehee. Somebody help igo die oo the man lorgogi over heah ova deah. No fi find him way take him head an mouf ago nst gbogbo lorgorligi worm dey comot in brain pon Ghanaweb ooh. Hohohs hahaheeheee hohsaha.

HahahA hohohheehehee. Somebody help igo die oo the man lorgogi over heah ova deah. No fi find him way take him head an mouf ago nst gbogbo lorgorligi worm dey comot in brain pon Ghanaweb ooh. Hohohs hahaheeheee hohsaha.
Mahmoud 8 years ago

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
Volume XXIV, Africa, Document 244
________________________________________
244. Telegram From the Embassy in Ghana to the Department of State1
Accra, March 2, 1964, 5 p. ...
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Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968
Volume XXIV, Africa, Document 244
________________________________________
244. Telegram From the Embassy in Ghana to the Department of State1
Accra, March 2, 1964, 5 p.m.

717. Talked nearly hour with Nkrumah this morning, opening with presentation along lines my instructions.2 I stated I had two conversations with President Johnson, was speaking on his behalf. President and other top officials regard relations between USG and GOG as in grave condition. Nkrumah interrupted to say he also regarded situation as serious. I said American Government and people tending believe GOG does not wish maintain even tolerable relations with US and point to accusations of rumor-mongering, demonstrations, deportation American professors.

With respect rumor-mongering, I said everyone in Ghana had heard rumors. Ironically, I had cautioned staff on two occasions re repeating them and had expressed doubt their truthfulness. Nkrumah said he appreciated this. Mentioned he was particularly upset about rumors now going around re his perfectly healthy baby, that it “half animal, half human.” I said every figure in public life subjected to rumor, though these latter below contempt. I was sure American community discreet.

Re demonstration, I said it clearly government-inspired. CPP were acting officially and workers brigade of course directly under GOG. Nkrumah tried to excuse CPP action as “independent enthusiasm,” but said now that Ghana has one-party system CPP is same as government. He conceded there no excuse for workers brigade. I pointed out he might as well have had police demonstrating. He did not dissent, said there were two Cabinet members present but they just curiosity seekers.

Re deportations, I said GOG had right dismiss anyone it chose. We not trying to tell GOG what to do. But manner in which GOG acted was unfriendly. I had checked background of men in Washington and none had ever been even remotely connected with USG intelligence.

I then described feeling of American Congress and people, pointed out President subject to public opinion. If situation continued, we could not continue what we were doing here. Nkrumah agreed that something must be done. He referred to editorial in Los Angeles paper which he said “recommended assassination.” I deplored editorial but said we had free press, and that hostile feeling of press was consequence of Ghanaian press and Ghanaian activity. Nkrumah agreed that nothing could be done about US press and that it would improve when Ghanaian attitudes improved. He asked me whether I had noticed Ghanaian press on my return. I said I had; it was better. He claimed it would take time but would change even more, said he had issued instructions against any broad attacks. I made point that merely shifting attacks UK and Free World was unsatisfactory. He argued that he cannot renounce his principles, must oppose South Africa and UK action in southern Rhodesia. But said from now on attacks will be specific and he will maintain greater control. He said by way of example he was meeting with press immediately after our conversation and would tell them to stop using “Hitler” and “Nazi”; will call Verwoerd’s performance a form of fascism.

I stressed view Ghanaian press is Soviet-Bloc enterprise. Bloc almost never criticized. We not seeking such criticism but Bloc must make mistake on some occasion. I gave African student incident in Moscow as example, saying that although it was front page news all over world it suppressed here. Nkrumah became riled at this point (for only time during discussion), though he had nothing to say in rebuttal. He commented that he was planning to maintain closer control over students in Soviet Bloc countries and described mission he has sent to set up CPP branch parties among students in Bloc. Emphasized this will give him control. Said when he first proposed doing this, Soviets strongly objected but he threatened pull students out and Soviets finally agreed. (Note: CPP official setting up branches is notorious pro-Communist Kweku Akwei.)

Nkrumah digressed to discuss his growing concern at extent corruption in Ghanaian public life. Gave example of man he now trying to catch up with who had substantial sum of money deposited abroad. Said European—but not UK or US—firms made practice of signing contracts for Ghana pounds 3 when worth only Ghana pounds 1, paying off GOG officials. He said he announcing seven-year plan soon and will make policy statement against corruption.

I then told Nkrumah I would like to take up question of CIA. He said he was glad I brought up matter; he had mentioned CIA in letter sent via Ribeiro to President Johnson. I told him I had discussed possibility of letter with President Johnson and that latter would welcome it. I said [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] that I am in full control of all US Government activities in Ghana. I could assure him without hesitation that during my incumbency absolutely nothing has been done by any US agency which could be construed in any way as being directed against him or his government. Nkrumah replied with words to effect “I will take your word for it,” [11–1/2 lines of source text not declassified].

I repeated that there had been no conceivable activity on our part to subvert or overthrow him. I pointed out how inconsistent our entire aid effort, aimed at assisting and strengthening his government, is with wild accusations in Ghanaian press that US acting against him. I added that, speaking frankly, our main intelligence effort is to keep an eye on his Soviet and Chinese friends, whose activities are really large scale. I added that it was common over world that good part of so-called Soviet diplomatic personnel were actually intelligence agents. Nkrumah replied he understood this to be so and keeps eye on them himself.

Nkrumah brought up matter of his “socialism.” Saying that Western press always jumps down his throat when he mentions socialism. He claimed that he was not talking about Soviet or Chinese forms of socialism, but about Ghana’s own type of socialism developed from Ghana’s communal traditions. His socialism is evolutionary, not revolutionary, and specifically provides for private sector and foreign investment.

I commented that just as he resented attacks on his socialism, we resent his press’s uniform condemnation of capitalism, which has changed radically in recent decades. Nkrumah replied that he understood changed nature of capitalism, and said that present economic system of US might better be termed “enlightened capitalism.”

Nkrumah agreed with me that we had not talked enough. I said that although I did not wish to burden him, we should get together at regular intervals, so that we could be in touch and be in position to iron out difficulties before they are acute and led to public embarrassment. I suggested semi-monthly meetings and urged him to call me on any occasion. Nkrumah agreed with alacrity to idea of regular meetings, even throwing out idea that we might meet weekly. I told him that we ought try semi-monthly meetings at first and see how they worked out. We left it that I would telephone his secretary twice each month for specific time.
In course of conversation, Nkrumah mentioned that he planned to move back to Flagstaff House soon.

Speaking of Chou En-lai visit, he volunteered that joint communique had caused him great difficulty, and that Soviet had “come down hard” on him for it. He said that now he is having trouble with his friend Tito and that it seems impossible to please everyone.

As I took my leave I repeated that I must say in all candor that President Johnson and my government regard relations between our countries as grave. I had not given up; I had come back to make honest effort to improve relations. Nkrumah agreed that we should make every effort.

As we parted he gave me copy of his letter to President Johnson (dated Feb 26; telegraphed separately)3 and bottle of rum and bitters which he had received from Prime Minister Williams of Trinidad.

Comment:
1. Nkrumah was as friendly as I have ever seen him. Only new element was tendency speak very rapidly, making him at times hard to understand. He seemed extremely anxious to please. It was evident from conversation that he realizes some eating of crow necessary. He in fact did so to some extent.

2. He is aware of and concerned by serious state of our relations, although he seems to feel an upward turn has already begun.

3. He has made and will probably continue to make efforts to moderate his press. Although I have no illusions that Nkrumah has basically changed, I believe that likelihood of a period of tolerable peace, of unknown duration, has been strengthened by our conversation.

4. Our personal relationship has been warmed and an opportunity created for more helpful talks.

5. Beginning has been made in effort to dispel some of Nkrumah’s misconstructions on role of CIA. Will follow-up.

6. Pressure should be kept up. Washington could contribute by parallel talk with Ribeiro.

Mahoney
C.Y. Andy-K 8 years ago

Philip Kobina Baidoo is now the head of all the lunatics on Ghanaweb followed directly by Francis Kwarteng with Prof Lungu and Kojo T. as their co-idiot.

We cannot of course forget their best friend, the idiot of all idiot ...
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Philip Kobina Baidoo is now the head of all the lunatics on Ghanaweb followed directly by Francis Kwarteng with Prof Lungu and Kojo T. as their co-idiot.

We cannot of course forget their best friend, the idiot of all idiots, the Ewe, J.K. Bokor, a claimed Ph.D. holder.

You can count yourself how many stupid fools we have on Ghanaweb.
MARCUS AMPADU 8 years ago

Yes Onuah Baidoo I do wonder a great deal why you " do use insulting language so much".
You claim you are livid " about the retrogressive ideology of people like Mr. Kwarteng & Prof. Sakyi who are supposed to know better, a ...
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Yes Onuah Baidoo I do wonder a great deal why you " do use insulting language so much".
You claim you are livid " about the retrogressive ideology of people like Mr. Kwarteng & Prof. Sakyi who are supposed to know better, and well recognized intellectuals like Carson, Chomsky, Gore, Keynes, Ehrlich and others.

You said that these people take us backward.

To put it mildly, Baidoo, you are rather taking the people of Ghana backwards with your illogical, outdated, and cynical talking points on the merits of capitalism. I hope Prof. Sakyi doesn't swallow the bait & get sucked into a bogus debate that does little to solve the humongous challenges facing our nation.
Nana Ansah 8 years ago

So Phil so claim to be in the know but cannot explain such simple Bible verse like ---- it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Phil, what this verse ...
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So Phil so claim to be in the know but cannot explain such simple Bible verse like ---- it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Phil, what this verse is about is that you cannot pay or bribe your way to heaven no matter how rich you are - or pay your own ransom to God. So wealth is not being denigrated here but righteouness is being highlighted.

Phil, since you live in England most probably London I would ask you to take the tube to Bank or Monument; there you find the Bank of England on the Lombard Street. The Lombard street is named after Italian Bankers who brought banking London and who God knows are racketeers. The Bardis have a track record 419ners of their era. The whole Banking System has a fishy background. Even in medieval times there were bank Crash but each time managed to get on its feet due to the following principle. Profits are capitalized and huge losses are socialized. It is the tax payer who always bears the brunt of capital losses. Get your hand on any book on the merchants, Bankers and Insurers of the Lombard street. It is not per coincidence that Barclays, LLyods and and GPO all had their HQ here until the 1990's.

By the way, it was Karl Marx who coined the word Capital so you can better understand that German scholar from Trier best when you read his CAPITAL without taking away or adding your last word to it. In order to make our world a better place to live there must be some sought of equilibrium. Mother earth has been around for over 4.5 billion years and it does just that. Nature teaches us that!

"However, the wily and unconventional behaviour of a small group of people have poisoned our perception of money for millennia. Even the bible teaches that it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. The latter biblical statement tends to denigrate wealth. I will not broach the logical conclusion of that statement, but is poverty something to be celebrated? I beg to differ." PKB

Really! Is it right that 3% of the population own 97% of the wealth in the world whilst 97% of her populace scrumble for 3%? Baidoo are OK up there?!!!!!

The blackman is already corrupt but when he becomes a ruthless capitalist that will be the end of the world.
YAW 8 years ago

Another fact. The ancestors of the Duke of Westminster were highwaymen. Robbing travellers from Wales to Chester.

Another fact. The ancestors of the Duke of Westminster were highwaymen. Robbing travellers from Wales to Chester.
MINOR CASE 8 years ago

The fact of the matter is the black man is his own enemy. If it had not been for capitalism and the white man, the black man will still be walking from the north to the coast. So many years after independence we still blame t ...
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The fact of the matter is the black man is his own enemy. If it had not been for capitalism and the white man, the black man will still be walking from the north to the coast. So many years after independence we still blame the white man's capitalism for our woes not to talk about Africa being the most endowed of all the continents. Granting the white man dessimated our continent , making our countries not economically viable , what are we doing about it ? We sit on our ass and blame the whiteman's capitalism. The Euopeans have seen the wisdom of coming together to form an economic block to be more ompetitive. What is Africa doing ? Ecowas has been in existence for many decades ,what has it achieved ? The irony is that those book long people who come here to write the white man's language in big words to condemn the whiteman's capitalism , live in the capitalist countries gleefully eating the crumps that fall of the table. Is that not hypocrisy in the highest order? Look at the comedy going on in Zimbabwe. A man in his dotage and probably with Alzheimer's disease clinging on to the presidency even though he lost the elections . And recently Burundi. We disgrace our selves to the whole world and turn around to blame others for our woes.
YAW 8 years ago

The people in the Amazon forest of modern day Brazil are not begging the "capitalist loggers" for the wanton destruction of their habitat, are they?

The people in the Amazon forest of modern day Brazil are not begging the "capitalist loggers" for the wanton destruction of their habitat, are they?
GORGORDUTOR 8 years ago

Dude you are past funny. Did you study history. It is un disputable fact that the so called age of exploration that is the European invasion of other continents resulted in the retardation economically of many areas that prio ...
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Dude you are past funny. Did you study history. It is un disputable fact that the so called age of exploration that is the European invasion of other continents resulted in the retardation economically of many areas that prior to 1480 were economically and technologically at par with or more advanced than Europe. To give you an idea what I mean. When the Dutch Portuguese etc arrived on the western coast of Africa according to their records they found state with cities bigger than any in Europe eg Benin city, further these cities had better drainage and sanitation then current in Europe, further the general population were well dressed and foot wear was worn by most of the population!! Following the destabilization wrought by the many wars concomitant with the slave trade and colonialism, Africans were not to be well shod until after political emancipation in the 1950's and 60's. Bloviating blowhards such as yourself have no idea of the facts and just submit yourself to imperialist and robber capitalist propaganda hook line and effing sinker. Continue wallowing in your ignorance just as a captive pig is compelled to wallow in its excrement. Another AFRICANIS SUBJECTIS IGNORIENSIS. pardon my pig Latin!!
MINOR CASE 8 years ago

These blockheads still do not get it. Since your so called emancipation in the 50s and 60s, what have you done. Keep on blaming others for your ineptitude till kingdom come.Since independence, you still shit on the beach and ...
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These blockheads still do not get it. Since your so called emancipation in the 50s and 60s, what have you done. Keep on blaming others for your ineptitude till kingdom come.Since independence, you still shit on the beach and you blame capitalism for that.Just like the captive pig you are compelled by your laziness to wallow in your excrement blaming the capitalistfor for plight. Another communist fool.
Kwame 8 years ago

Philip Kwabena Baidoo your political economy is poor, deprived of life and locomotion. We shall apply the principle of dialectics here again. In nature an organism that is healthy and not contagious is that which humans and ...
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Philip Kwabena Baidoo your political economy is poor, deprived of life and locomotion. We shall apply the principle of dialectics here again. In nature an organism that is healthy and not contagious is that which humans and other animals live with. In nature most animals which could not protect themselves from carnivorous animals seek refuge in a less carnivorous one - man.
Capitalism is an economic predator thus is carnivorous in society, thus does not defend the economic welfare of all its members, some are the game that the hounds chase, both internally and externally.
ohenenana 8 years ago

dear Kobby though I do share your frustration with our learned friends you have to understand that insulting language has no place in civilised minds who live in civilised societies where some of us have been lucky to have ha ...
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dear Kobby though I do share your frustration with our learned friends you have to understand that insulting language has no place in civilised minds who live in civilised societies where some of us have been lucky to have had our education. Your arguments with mr kwarteng have been illuminating, devoid of the insults its been very good write-ups.
G. K. Berko 8 years ago

Thank you, Marcus! If these exchanges between Kwarteng and Baidoo would serve any good for the reading Public, they would have to be compelling intellectual thoughts devoid of insults and condescending attitudes.

What I w ...
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Thank you, Marcus! If these exchanges between Kwarteng and Baidoo would serve any good for the reading Public, they would have to be compelling intellectual thoughts devoid of insults and condescending attitudes.

What I would like Baidoo to begin thinking about is that Capitalism could not necessarily be the final stage in Humans' Economic development. Even Capitalism could evolve.

We were long bogged down with just what had been fed us for decades by our contemporary Economists who only imbibed and stored for regurgitation what had been produced by the early Economists like Adam Smith, Karl Marx and others. They would always attempt to explain every economic scenario we enter into by the same principles, even though clear unexplained anomalies continued to exist, and would not consider any new thoughts.

Then came along the likes of Paul Krugman, Richard Wolfe and others who have been able to explain many of the hitherto unexplained economic events and propounded new and better ways to handle those situations for better Economic outcomes. Some of these newer principles expounded have made cases for revamping the Capitalist system to accommodate irrefutable realities of our Modern World. Many, unfortunately, see such new principles as threatening the Capitalist status quo, and therefore reject them without any better alternative ideas to solve the problems growing under that old Capitalist paradigm. Such is what I see Baidoo to be part of. He is an adamant 'Refusenick' with no answers to problems his beloved System creates. His kind fears any change, however positive it could be.

I thought Capitalism was more malleable, dynamic and adaptable to absorb such new principles as have been expounded for the correction of such dramatic hoax of an economic policy as Reaganomics. The trickle-down philosophy has long been shot down and sunk. Yet, the likes of Baidoo would curse their way to H*ll to stand by it.

The rest of the World is not waiting but moving on. Europe has recognized that and adjusting accordingly. It is only a few static thinkers there and in USA who are bent on forcing to stay put with them, even as they increasingly restrict the flow of Wealth within the Capitalist system.

Long Live Ghana!!!
Philip Kobina Baidoo 8 years ago

Hello Mr Ampadu, you guys sometimes behave as if you owe the patent to sarcasm and insults, but when someone returns in kind he becomes illogical. When Mr Kwarteng started you were all cheerleading without any reprimand, beca ...
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Hello Mr Ampadu, you guys sometimes behave as if you owe the patent to sarcasm and insults, but when someone returns in kind he becomes illogical. When Mr Kwarteng started you were all cheerleading without any reprimand, because he was singing your tune. It would have been nice of you to play your referee role without any bias. Thank you.
Philip Kobina Baidoo 8 years ago

I meant own not owe. Thank you

I meant own not owe. Thank you
JATO KWASHIVI RAWLINGS 8 years ago

THE ANTI CAPITALISTS WHO COME TO GHANAWEB TO THROW DUST INTO THE EYES OF GULLIBLE GHANAIANS SHOULD MOVE FROM THE COMFORTS OF THEIR WESTERN NATION HAUNTS AND MOVE TO NORTH KOREA, WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMUNIST NATION ON EARTH TO ...
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THE ANTI CAPITALISTS WHO COME TO GHANAWEB TO THROW DUST INTO THE EYES OF GULLIBLE GHANAIANS SHOULD MOVE FROM THE COMFORTS OF THEIR WESTERN NATION HAUNTS AND MOVE TO NORTH KOREA, WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMUNIST NATION ON EARTH TODAY. THEY SHOULD STOP THE BASELESS ACADEMIC EXERCISE OF CONDEMNING CAPITALISM, YET WOULD NOT GO AND LIVE IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO SATISFY THEIR COMMUNIST ROMANTICIST EGOS.
Kwame 8 years ago

Jato Kwashivi Rawlings you sound infantile if you are not a criminal many people commit crime in the society in which you live, thus with this world outlook you do not have a place in this world unless you are a criminal.

Jato Kwashivi Rawlings you sound infantile if you are not a criminal many people commit crime in the society in which you live, thus with this world outlook you do not have a place in this world unless you are a criminal.
MINOR CASE 8 years ago

You hit the nail right on the head baaaam. These smelly skunks have no shame . They always think somebody owes them. They give excuses upon excuses for the blackman's failures encouraging us to sit on our butts and do nothing ...
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You hit the nail right on the head baaaam. These smelly skunks have no shame . They always think somebody owes them. They give excuses upon excuses for the blackman's failures encouraging us to sit on our butts and do nothing.
YAW 8 years ago

Material wealth is not the only source of contentment. Jose Murjica, the former socialist president of Uruguay is a living testament of that.The "dynastic autocracy" being practised in North Korea is not socialism.Cut the cra ...
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Material wealth is not the only source of contentment. Jose Murjica, the former socialist president of Uruguay is a living testament of that.The "dynastic autocracy" being practised in North Korea is not socialism.Cut the crap!
G. K. Berko 8 years ago

Just two illogical Baidoo's assertions from the start suck up all my interest in reading further this Article. But I can't help alerting the reader with those on how he argues his cases, often dismissing competing arguments w ...
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Just two illogical Baidoo's assertions from the start suck up all my interest in reading further this Article. But I can't help alerting the reader with those on how he argues his cases, often dismissing competing arguments with gross condescension.

The assertions are: 1). "Money is what makes the division of labour possible." ---Wrong!!!!

2)."The development of money was a spontaneous evolution as the organisation of human societies became very complex." ---Simply illogical!!!

The first assertion of Baidoo's above is factually inaccurate, since division of labor had long been established before the introduction of money into human activities. Human history of collaboration long precedes the concept of money. Money was developed as a facilitator of exchange of goods and services whose production had been characterized by division of labor and specialization, even in the simplest of Societies.

The mere fact that people built their settlements cooperatively with other members of the Societies they lived in, distributing different functions on a project, often simultaneously, and traded under the battering concept, far ahead of when Money was invented, underscores the existence of division of labor and specialization. The concept of division of Labor to have a job done at the earliest possible time, preceded the Economic accentuation of that principle in Manufacturing to both serve a larger demand and increase profits. Wealth accumulation did not just emerge with the invention of Money. Money made it easier.

Baidoo's second assertion indicated above, also depicts a certain excess liberty he takes with imparting knowledge to his readers.

One must note the hifalutin hyperbole Baidoo contaminates his otherwise compelling arguments with, as in his contradictory logic of Money's invention being "a spontaneous evolution".

By all intent and purposes to dramatize the introduction of Money as a spectacular achievement of Humans to help entrench Capitalism, Baidoo resorts to the irrational oxymoronic claim that Money's introduction into society was an 'Evolution' and 'Spontaneous'. By definition of those two words, they cannot both occur in the same breath.

That shows the underlying farce in Baidoo's belief about Money's origin, or at least, the extent to which he is conflicted with himself on this topic that he has so long taken up to project himself as some staunch, unabashed Capitalist. Without delving into the established historicity of Money that many folks already know about, I would only invite the reader to remember that it was the deliberative consideration of all the factors we know contribute to the benefits of Money, from Humans' experience in commerce, that caused idea of Money to evolve. As Baidoo, himself concedes, while some used cow-shells as a currency, others in other areas used other things of rare quality and measurable attributes for the same purpose. Such usage of different items for Money around the World, overlapped in time, and we must not forget that before Cash Notes (Bills, as some call them in the USA), Humans had also used gold dust, and coins only for Money.

Today, we have other paper monetary transactions and digital exchanges, all of which serve for the purposes of Money. That indicates an 'Evolution', not 'Spontaneity'.

Long Live Ghana!!!
Philip Kobina Baidoo 8 years ago

Hello Mr Berko, I thank you for your comments, however, I have to point it out to you that you have taken my statement out of context and made a mince meat out of it. Nevertheless, if you honestly believe that real wealth can ...
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Hello Mr Berko, I thank you for your comments, however, I have to point it out to you that you have taken my statement out of context and made a mince meat out of it. Nevertheless, if you honestly believe that real wealth can be created through trade by barter that is good for you, though I strongly beg to differ. The fact that division of labour existed before money doesn’t mean that division of labour in itself expedited the creation of wealth. Money is what made division of labour efficient to create wealth. My problem is you couldn’t even factor into your deliberation the doctor profession I offered as an example. The division of labour opened the door for the doctor to specialise in his trade to become more professional and available all the time to the community he served. His specialisation curtailed the length of incapacitation of his clients, which enables them to get back to productivity to continue the creation of wealth. Well, if you will ignore all that and indulge in your zeal to demolish my argument who am I to haggle.
Now, on your second accusation you could have done us a favour by defining the words under contention. And since you did not do that can I conclude that you took it for granted that your readers know the meaning of those words as you understand it. At least, if you meant business you could have asked me to clarify myself. You are definitely wrong in the assessment of those two words in the context they appear. The definition of spontaneous according Merriam Webster is:
1. Proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint
2. Arising from a momentary impulse
3. Controlled and directed internally
4. Produced without being planted or without human labour.
5. Developing or occurring without apparent external influence, force, cause, or treatment
6. Not apparently contrived or manipulated
I hope you get my drift of using the Merriam Webster? From the above you can see that there are multiple usages of the word you just chose the second and decided to take me to the shed and club my head. I hope you will take back the word oxymoron, because it doesn’t fit in.
Thirdly, you accused me of being illogical with my argument, but you are also exhibiting the same illogicality. I don’t see any pomposity in my argument as you eloquently put it. You should know that I am writing a rebuttal, and it should be measured based on that yardstick. Thank you.
G. K. Berko 8 years ago

Phillip, why did you stop at defining only 'Spontaneous'? If the Dictionary definitions were so important that I should not have passed them in my response, you should have fully filled in the omission by also defining the wo ...
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Phillip, why did you stop at defining only 'Spontaneous'? If the Dictionary definitions were so important that I should not have passed them in my response, you should have fully filled in the omission by also defining the word 'Evolution'. But you conveniently stopped short of doing so by defining only 'spontaneous'.

I guess you did not want to lay both words side by side because that would have proven my point of 'oxymoronism'. Nevertheless, I would like to assure you that my use of that word, 'oxymoronism' was not meant to be insulting to you. It is for the sake of proving the logic in your argument.

Meanwhile, I did not want to even remotely assume the average reader didn't understand the two words discussed. That is why I didn't reproduce the Dictionary meanings of those words. In the context that you used the words, all but the first meaning of 'spontaneous' as you produced from Merriam Webster's would appropriately invoke the kind of skepticism that I suggested about your usage of them. Even the very first on the list of meanings, when more deeply analyzed would fit the same critique.

However, suffice it to say that your assumed position that Capitalism is the 'Holy Grail' of Human Productivity Methodology is tantamount to philosophical asphyxiation of our ingenuity to improve on our Economic paradigms.

I have always maintained that it is very unproductive simply to haggle back and forth on the merits and demerits of both Socialism and Capitalism without empirically assessing how each impacts on our special Social, Economic and Moral circumstances and expectations.

We cannot simply adopt the American style Capitalism wholesale without seriously considering the irrefutable fact that some massive social intervention, the scale of which only a Government could initiate, would be necessary for any significant acceleration of elevating our Society out of eternal poverty. It is obvious that in order to do so, we would have to make certain decisions that would limit our supply of cheap resources to sustain the West. Hence, the exceptional umbrage the West has with all our nationalist Politicians who would have none of their impositions and contrivance to get the better of us.

For most of Nkrumahists and others share sympathies with the late President's unfulfilled cause, it is more of the underlying resistance of the West to such nationalism as is associated with Nkrumah and other Pan-Africanists (and even developing Nations' leaders), than what Economic paradigm is most fitting for us that has been gnawing at our progress.

But for many like you, you consider the Socialist versus Capitalism plate as a more delectable choice to fight over because that is how you justify any Western support to defeat your local political foes. Sadly, this conundrum is largely what has denied all stakeholders a genuine and most appropriate assessment of what we really need to advance.

As I referred to elsewhere, the work of Paul Krugman and others in his league proves Capitalism leaves much room for adjustment and improvement and even adoption of Socialist features to best provide for our fast changing World. On the other side of the issue, the fact that China and Vietnam still remain politically unabashed Communists, at least in theory, but have bagged significantly better Economic achievements than in the Western Economies, lately, suggests that any adherence to some stringent Socialist or Communist principles would be a disservice to us.

This is why the so-called Scientific Socialism that Nkrumahists have been advocating deserves some critical evaluation in this modern context of Capitalist drag on the global economy. I wonder if such a System were to be called a different name, it might appeal to you more.

Let us keep the discourse clean, intelligent, respectful, responsible and humble. We would be doing for ourselves what the Western overlords have long refused to do for us to advance. We need to keep an open mind, even as we disagree. Our arguments must not simply have to based on just what other outside intellectuals have written about and for us, but more of what we know and can HONESTLY learn about ourselves.

Long Live Ghana!!!
Philip Kobina Baidoo 8 years ago

Hello Mr Berko, I think we have resumed our occasional back and forth discussion again. I really cherish it, because I do respect you a lot for actually coming to my defence in the past. Friends are hard to come by, and do no ...
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Hello Mr Berko, I think we have resumed our occasional back and forth discussion again. I really cherish it, because I do respect you a lot for actually coming to my defence in the past. Friends are hard to come by, and do not shut out or throw them to the wolves, especially, those who will point out my faults. And take your comments with the utmost respect, because not many people on ghanaweb write with the sort of clarity you advance your points.
Now, coming back to our little tussle, your beef is that the concept of spontaneity is based on sudden manifestation of whatever observable phenomenon is in contention, while evolution is supposed to be gradual in appearance or expression. I only defined spontaneous because that is where the problem seems to originate, while evolution appears to be quite straight forward.
Of course, you know that evolution has biological, mathematical, philosophical component etc. I am not going to delve in the habit of trying to win these exchanges. However, you can’t just blame only me you could have also provided the definition, but you didn’t. I don’t see how you can claim that the first part i.e. ‘proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint’ could obliterate my refutation. My emphasis for using the word is on external constraint, because of my aversion towards the oppressive arm of government. Anyway we can just haggle back and forth, but the bottom line is they are just words and it can always be stretched.
My problem about socialism is not the safety net that means a lot to you, but government running business. I don’t have any problem with government providing education for all its citizens. Maybe, I can even go with government providing disability benefits to the unfortunate members of our society. I became strident and aggressive with Mr Kwarteng due to the way he dismissed by concerns about the failures of socialism, which is a ubiquitous problem that an honest person like you cannot deny. My problem with education, especially, is that I would like it to be done on the Scandinavian model, which uses market forces to provide that invaluable service. And the most important caveat is that it is delivering wonderful results in those countries. I picked education due to the way it is being destroyed in the country. Mr Berko, I don’t like repeating myself, because I dealt with that humongous problem of government managing how wealth is created in the first two parts of the Nkrumah series.
Nevertheless, let me emphasise at least two examples. Nkrumah set up Ghana Airways and it was destroyed through mismanagement. Just after the demise of Ghana Airways, Ghana International was established from its ashes, and it did not make any waves at all. The tomato factory at Pwalugu was established by Nkrumah. It was run down, and I don’t have to repeat the circumstances. It has been revived, if I am not mistaking, at least twice and it’s all failed. My problem is why do we keep throwing money away? Government delivering of services often gravitate towards partisan politics and worse into tribal divisions. We may wish it away, but it is not that easy. We can curtail the entire emotional trauma and use market forces to create our wealth whereas the created wealth can be distributed based on certain criteria of demographical pattern and perhaps on an acceptable well-defined equitable distribution. Mr Berko, the creation of wealth is my main problem, because in a place like our dear country it is not working. The fact is when you analyse Plato’s criteria for socialism we fail in the most salient points. So it will be very difficult to get socialism to work in Ghana. I personally feel that it will remain an intellectual exercise indefinitely. We will still be struggling in the dark for the ravishing light that will keep receding in front of us. Thank you again Mr Berko, and if you will permit me to repeat your slogan - Long Live Ghana.
G. K. Berko 8 years ago

There is really no need to chase after victory in this heated debate as to which of Capitalism and Socialism is a superior Economic Paradigm.

If we would be honest and fair, both have their strong features and weaknesses. ...
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There is really no need to chase after victory in this heated debate as to which of Capitalism and Socialism is a superior Economic Paradigm.

If we would be honest and fair, both have their strong features and weaknesses. Over time, Capitalists thought nothing could ever be found to be wrong with that concept. Now, the reality is different.

Socialism that also attracted many for its closer resemblance to the core expectation of Christian principles of mutual assistance and magnanimous caring soon proved to have its own loopholes that the selfish cheats easily exploited.

Therefore, it behooves on all of us to realize that none of these in isolation has all the answers to our plight. And it is only when we assiduously brainstorm to find the optimum mix of the two for our circumstances and location, socially, resource-wise, that we would be best served by either.

As pointed out by Stiglitz, a mixed Economy that would reflect appropriately on a nation's location and period and resources would be the best model going forward. And even so, we would have to adjust the system according as we evaluate our level of poverty, education, and productivity capabilities, and relationships with the outside World.

I have always been a fan of the Scandinavian Models. Yet, I could see them as only guides to fulfill our specific needs that would sustain our progressive global competitiveness.

I am glad that your heart seems to be in the right place for finding the best Ghanaians deserve and not just for your personal triumph in advocating a particular ideology.

I entreat you to extend that warm rapport to Kwarteng, and I believe he would also gladly settle to debate you civilly on salient points we could gain a consensus on.

The debate for Ghana's soul should not be marred by personalizing our concepts in the antagonism of our past leaders. I always like to pose this question in situations like this: "Had Nkrumah and Busia and Danquah lived longer till now, would it have been absolutely impossible that they might reconcile in one way or another, even if they retained their various ideological beliefs?"

God works mysteriously. We should not assume to know all the answers to our problems. But we must as well not sell ourselves and faith short by discounting such a possibility.

So, why should take to arms to kill each other over their differences? They all considered their methods were to pave ways for our betterment, not annihilation. They sacrificed for the Ghanaian posterity of which we all part.

We should not despise Capitalism because it is the concept Busia and Danquah preferred; we should not despise Socialism because Nkrumah preferred that concept. Inversely, we should not despise any of them because they preferred a particular ideology. Much water has passed under the bridge since their exit from our midst. A lot has changed that could have induced any of them to shift a little bit towards the other's position. I guess they were wise enough to have recognized that enmity at each other till death was unwise. We ought to celebrate them all and accord them enough dignity to affirm the pride of our common (Ghanaian) humanity.

Long Live Ghana!!!
Philip Kobina Baidoo 8 years ago

Hello Mr Berko, sorry for the delay; I had to respond to a lot of queries offline so I had to put yours on hold for a while. Anyway, most of the time commentators think that I have a condescending attitude. This is what I wou ...
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Hello Mr Berko, sorry for the delay; I had to respond to a lot of queries offline so I had to put yours on hold for a while. Anyway, most of the time commentators think that I have a condescending attitude. This is what I would say in responds. If I do then I am sorry, however, they are worse. Because they think that those of us who believe in capitalism are selfish. I wouldn’t stand for anybody to label me as selfish in the pejorative sense of the word since I want the best for my country Ghana. I believe capitalism is good; that is what I have discovered and I want to share with my countrymen. If that can be considered as selfish so be it, because I don’t think a selfish person would like to share what makes him feel good or able to bring him all the comforts of life.

Mr Berko you have to understand that I did not come to this conclusion on the hoof. After years of agonising search for answers, which took me through traumatic experiences, I have to break off from what I have imbibed from my mother’s milk that, perhaps, shaped all the cortical structures in my brains – it was not easy. You cannot believe the sort of hatred that I had for Margaret Thatcher. You will be surprised to know that I read her biography just under five years ago; I wouldn’t touch anything of hers. That is how I hated capitalism before I saw the light under very unusual circumstances.

Mr Berko my beef is not about the distribution of national wealth; my concern is about the creation of wealth and socialism is nowhere close to achieving that. The most important things that weigh on the hearts of socialists are all about health and education and these social values do not create wealth – they consume wealth. Even one of the most touted businesses that socialists cannot have enough of – edf energy, France, is not even 100% owned by the French government. They use private mode of wealth creation to run the corporation. The chief executive takes home close to a million dollars a year while the average salary in France is around $32,000. I hope you get my drift. This so called socialist company is being run just like a private company. Wealth creation can only be done efficiently in private hands and not by the government.

On your request regarding Mr Kwarteng, I don’t see how I can get along with that dictator who only sees the world through his eyes. I bet you are shocked about my use of the word dictator. I choose my words very carefully. You realised that I stopped responding to his comments on my series. It is based on my personal principles. He told me categorically during one of our earlier exchanges that I need to read the books he has read to measure up. This for me smacks as a dictator. He was just exhibiting one of the failures of Nkrumah. He has set himself so high on his Ivory Tower he thinks he knows everything. I embarked on the series to prove to him that he does not know everything. His showmanship is just for kids who are easily enthralled and impressed. I have to be honest I do not have room for such self-righteous people.

Mr Berko, you might not like this, but I have repeated several times in my series that Mr Kwarteng is evil. I did not just use that; I meant it. He might think that I just use the word to wind him up. For someone who is able to justify the murder of millions to defend his twisted ideologies I will really have to think twice to have an accommodation with him. He is the kind of guy who wouldn’t hesitate to shop his own parents to the secret police of his god Nkrumah. What is the guarantee that he will not have the justification to eliminate me if I stand in his way for the good of his evil ideology? There are certain compromises which are suicidal. Food and poison cannot compromise; in the event of a deal it is only ‘poison’ that wins. The same applies to good and evil; it is only evil that wins in the event of a compromise. For a person who sees nothing wrong with Nkrumah – a mere mortal – is a dangerous person and I cannot have an accommodation with him. I am sorry Mr Berko. Thank you anyway.
YAW 8 years ago

Trouble is,the headline is more applicable to Mr Wiseacre Baidoo than anybody else. What matchless impudence!

We have seen capitalism in all its glory.From "persemankomya to Kalabule" as well as the careful bullying by th ...
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Trouble is,the headline is more applicable to Mr Wiseacre Baidoo than anybody else. What matchless impudence!

We have seen capitalism in all its glory.From "persemankomya to Kalabule" as well as the careful bullying by the capitalist west. Which section of capitalism are we missing now? You have heaped more insults within the past six months than I have had hot dinners.Sadly, you keep churning out 40% insults, 60% emotional incontinence,sophism and twaddle. I hope Kwesi Sakyi"s reply to you will be "contempt of silence"
MINOR CASE 8 years ago

You are rather infantile for thinking that one has to be a criminal on order to succeed in life. You are the type of misfits dragging our country down because you kind think poverty is a virtue that must be shared by all.

You are rather infantile for thinking that one has to be a criminal on order to succeed in life. You are the type of misfits dragging our country down because you kind think poverty is a virtue that must be shared by all.
KING LOMOTEY 8 years ago

Everything is Minor Case as far as you are concerned, but being treated right without a shred of discrimination by others is a Major Case misfits like you will have a hard time understanding.

Everything is Minor Case as far as you are concerned, but being treated right without a shred of discrimination by others is a Major Case misfits like you will have a hard time understanding.

The Nkrumahist Who Transformed Ignorance Into Bliss

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