Good job. I loved reading it. What we should also think about today is peace in Africa. Frieden über alles.
Good job. I loved reading it. What we should also think about today is peace in Africa. Frieden über alles.
Kojo T 7 years ago
Unfortunately that puts paid to the theory of some haters that I Kojo T is Togolese But I do not mind as I am an African .As Thabo Mbeki says its rivers and mountains , seas and valleys run thro ... read full comment
Unfortunately that puts paid to the theory of some haters that I Kojo T is Togolese But I do not mind as I am an African .As Thabo Mbeki says its rivers and mountains , seas and valleys run through my vein Yes I am an African
Kofi Amenyo 7 years ago
Ooops!!!
I've only now seen it. Oh no, the Berlin conference did not go on for 40 years!!! That would be too long...
It was a typo. The type of thing you see after you've sent the article to the webmaster.
The confer ... read full comment
Ooops!!!
I've only now seen it. Oh no, the Berlin conference did not go on for 40 years!!! That would be too long...
It was a typo. The type of thing you see after you've sent the article to the webmaster.
The conference was 1884-85.
Sorrioooo...
GHANAMAN THE REAL 7 years ago
Interesting historical narrative but the FACT IS THAT THE GERMANS LOST, PERIOD! So, nothing changes as far as Ghana goes. The Northern bit of the TVT will never want to be part of Togo so what is this irrelevant history in ai ... read full comment
Interesting historical narrative but the FACT IS THAT THE GERMANS LOST, PERIOD! So, nothing changes as far as Ghana goes. The Northern bit of the TVT will never want to be part of Togo so what is this irrelevant history in aid of?
Sam 7 years ago
Very long but nice to read
Very long but nice to read
G. K. Berko 7 years ago
Sam, we must develop liking for long but very informative and useful articles. Sometimes, such is how we learn about new things that a whole book might otherwise be needed for.
The one-liners, often laced with insults, a ... read full comment
Sam, we must develop liking for long but very informative and useful articles. Sometimes, such is how we learn about new things that a whole book might otherwise be needed for.
The one-liners, often laced with insults, are not the best use of this useful forum. Don't you think?
Long Live Ghana!!!
james 7 years ago
fellow Ewes lets us unite and seperate from Ghana, and it should be now. No fears
fellow Ewes lets us unite and seperate from Ghana, and it should be now. No fears
yanks 7 years ago
good riddance
good riddance
kk 7 years ago
Well done Kofi. I enjoyed reading this.
A proper understanding of history will help us do away with some of the myopic and ignorant viewpoints peddled around.
Thank You.
Well done Kofi. I enjoyed reading this.
A proper understanding of history will help us do away with some of the myopic and ignorant viewpoints peddled around.
Thank You.
DIAMOND 7 years ago
Simple answer:
We would today have Ghana (English) to the west, Togo, including TVT, (German) in the middle, and Dahomey (French) to the east. That's it!
And by mutual influence, we would probably have super-quality roa ... read full comment
Simple answer:
We would today have Ghana (English) to the west, Togo, including TVT, (German) in the middle, and Dahomey (French) to the east. That's it!
And by mutual influence, we would probably have super-quality roads and bridges in the sub-region today.
DIAMOND 7 years ago
1. "what would we call the African countries that use German as their official language?"
TEUTOPHONES.
2. "In nearby Ghana, German would have been one of the languages studied at O Levels or WASSCE and a popular one at ... read full comment
1. "what would we call the African countries that use German as their official language?"
TEUTOPHONES.
2. "In nearby Ghana, German would have been one of the languages studied at O Levels or WASSCE and a popular one at the Languages departments of the universities".
YES, because of Togo and Kamerun, which, we were taught, is also in West Africa.
3. "Would the vaunted German work ethic have been instilled into the people of this country?"
NO, not Ghana. Why would it be instilled in Ghana when Ghana, less TVT, did not come out of German administration? It would exactly be as it is today.
YES, perhaps in the post-independence former German colony of Togo (present-day Togo + TVT).
Even that, you can't bet on on it because Africans are lazy in their own countries.
4. "And would the Bundesliga be more popular in this country than the English Premier League?"
NO, EPL more popular in Ghana, just as it is today.
YES, Bundesliga more popular in the unified Togo (present-day Togo + TVT).
DIAMOND 7 years ago
Correction: AMENYO
Correction: AMENYO
Kofi Amenyo 7 years ago
Teutophones - that's interesting.
I admit I never thought of that. Perhaps because when the British say Teutonic, they are thinking of all the negative aspects - the bellicosity, the brutality...
But, yes, we would be ... read full comment
Teutophones - that's interesting.
I admit I never thought of that. Perhaps because when the British say Teutonic, they are thinking of all the negative aspects - the bellicosity, the brutality...
But, yes, we would be "teutophones". We would create the term if it didn't exist
Thanks for your interesting input
fact facter on march 6'2017:05'44 7 years ago
so is high time we stop tribalism and stand together truthly.because their doing everything to come back and recolonize again. Alshabab alkaida Boko haram isils in fact all the conflicts around mid least and Africa is disign ... read full comment
so is high time we stop tribalism and stand together truthly.because their doing everything to come back and recolonize again. Alshabab alkaida Boko haram isils in fact all the conflicts around mid least and Africa is disign to distablise and recabture. and we are divided by religion and tribal so thats our weak point.you see Boko haram is attacking Nigeira cameroon chad and Niger.alkaida in Mali and part of Niger and iverycoast there is some problem and some of their fighters are in uperwest region in Ghana. and in Jibotey America France Britain Israel have dump too much arms there in Nigeiran and Ghanaian waters american forces are surround with heavy war heads. so now is to finish with Arabs first. after that our selves are soft target thats why NATO started surrounding Russia so that if they start with Africa it ll be dificault for us to get assistance from anywhere. and they push soudi Arabia against Yemen so let's pray for allmighty God to fail them otherwise more bad to come. west are the founders sponsorers trainers of terroris. they conive with soudi Arabia but soudis own days will come. unless God the owner of us all rescue the world from the evil plans of their.may God save us. Amiin amen
Anfoega 7 years ago
I also had a German friend . When I told him about the name of a cousin of mine called Hector from Jasikan, he exclaimed 'that is a very old German name that nobody uses anymore in Germany'!
I also had a German friend . When I told him about the name of a cousin of mine called Hector from Jasikan, he exclaimed 'that is a very old German name that nobody uses anymore in Germany'!
francis kwarteng 7 years ago
Thanks for another beautiful, wonderful piece.
Very educative. Gives (and leaves) much for nostalgic and serious intellectual reflection.
Excellent piece of work though, My Good Brother.
Enjoyed it greatly.
Keep ... read full comment
Thanks for another beautiful, wonderful piece.
Very educative. Gives (and leaves) much for nostalgic and serious intellectual reflection.
Excellent piece of work though, My Good Brother.
Enjoyed it greatly.
Keep up the good work.
Write more if you can, please.
Thanks.
Akwasi (London) 7 years ago
lets be honest.German colonization was not humane. examples:
a) In the 1920s a group of Africans from now Namibia were kept caged at Berlin Zoo as exhibits
b) Again in Namibia when the local people rebelled again ... read full comment
lets be honest.German colonization was not humane. examples:
a) In the 1920s a group of Africans from now Namibia were kept caged at Berlin Zoo as exhibits
b) Again in Namibia when the local people rebelled against German rule they were systematically killed and expelled from their lands ethnic cleansing mass starvation and imprisonment were common throughout German colonies.
c)In Togo the local governor in the north of Togo shot and killed his Togolese wife because she dared to have an affairs with another woman
d) In Togo,Cameroons and in other German colonies in Africa the Germans built more prisons than schools.
I can go on and on. By providing these few examples I am not implying that German Colonialism was any worse than the British or French or the Portuguese etc. Africans suffered immense cruelty at the hands of all their colonizers. The article wants to whitewash German colonial history.
Kofi Amenyo 7 years ago
The article is very long. You probably didn't read it all.
Note in particular the paragraph that starts "What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?".
It details the German brutalities and mentions the thing ... read full comment
The article is very long. You probably didn't read it all.
Note in particular the paragraph that starts "What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?".
It details the German brutalities and mentions the things you talked about in your comment.
I also tried to distinguish the activities of the missionaries from those of the the colonial administrators.
I don't think I wanted to whitewash German colonial history.
Kofi Madrid 7 years ago
Very deep, I love this priceless piece.
Very deep, I love this priceless piece.
VETERAN JOURNALIST 7 years ago
How can I thank you for this wonderful piece? I have drank sufficient knowledge from your fountain. Keep replenishing the pool.
How can I thank you for this wonderful piece? I have drank sufficient knowledge from your fountain. Keep replenishing the pool.
him 7 years ago
nice
nice
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pkmj 7 years ago
Wow! I have learnt much from this piece. Very informative! Congrat
Wow! I have learnt much from this piece. Very informative! Congrat
ADRO-CHOPPERS 7 years ago
My Bro Kofi, you are RIGHT. Most Most Ghanaians you will meet in Germany are AKANS. Lots of them entered there using TOGO Passports and then CHOPPING ADRO. They are the same types you see here insulting Ewes at the least oppo ... read full comment
My Bro Kofi, you are RIGHT. Most Most Ghanaians you will meet in Germany are AKANS. Lots of them entered there using TOGO Passports and then CHOPPING ADRO. They are the same types you see here insulting Ewes at the least opportunity. They are Hypocrites.
Dziko Kwame 7 years ago
Fo Kofi
Since you were three months old in Trans-Volta, you surely are sixty one now and my big brother you are.
I wish to share some thought on what you say. I will put my points in BLOCK LETTERS.
PARA 7
“The ... read full comment
Fo Kofi
Since you were three months old in Trans-Volta, you surely are sixty one now and my big brother you are.
I wish to share some thought on what you say. I will put my points in BLOCK LETTERS.
PARA 7
“The French kept their part of Togoland as a unit on its own and administered it as such. The British added their portion to the Gold Coast but observed the mandatory status of the new acquisition”. THIS CAN’T BE TRUE
PARA 8
The Norddeutsche Mission, (“Bremen mission” or “Brematorwo”) started its activities in Keta in the 19th century and spread Christianity among the Ewes in Peki and Ho. They worked without the protection of the colonial power.
THE EWE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STARTED FAR BACK IN 1847 IN EWELAND. THAT WAS LONG BEFORE ANLO WAS DEFEATED AND PLACED UNDER BRITISH RULE AFTER 1876(?).
PARA 14
The British half of the former German colony of Togoland became a bona fide British possession, at least until the time the Gold Coast became independent. The plebiscite was held on May 9, 1956. On December 13, 1956 the unification was formally put into effect and TVT ceased to exist. NO, TRANS-VOLTA DID NOT BECOME “BONA FIDE” BRITISH COLONY. IT BECAME A trustee COLONY.
PARA 31
There is the story that the British had promised a review after 50 years. Prof D. E. K. Amenumey, who has written a lot on these things, maintains there was absolutely no such promise. The documents from the 1950s that I have also seen say no such thing. If the craving is based on ties to Germany, there is nobody today who remembers the German times. Besides, the northern parts of TVT voted to join Gold Coast even with allowance made for rigged votes. These people are not Ewes and do not have the Ewe spirit of ethnic belongingness. They are the ones now crying for a separate region just so they can cut themselves off from the Ewes.
INFACT, IN 2006, WHEN THE “NOISE” STARTED ABOUT SOME FOLKS REQUESTING THE REVIEW OF THE UN DECLARATION OF 1956, I WAS SHOWN COPIES OF DAILY GRAPHIC OF THOSE TIMES. THAT NKRUMAH USED CPP TO INFILTRATE TRANS-VOLTA, CONVINCING EWES “TO LIVE TOGETHER”, CONVINCING AKANS “TO LIVE TOGETHER”, CONVINCING DAGOMBA (Chief City is Yendi in Trans-Volta and Commercial City is Tamale in Gold Coast) TO “LIVE AS ONE” INFURUATED OUR PEOPLE.
THE PLBESCITE RESULTS DID NOT FAVOUR CENTRAL EWELAND WHO VOTED “NOT TO BECOME PART OF GOLD COAST”. THAT WAS WHY LEADERS LIKE THE REVEREND AMETOWOBLA WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE UN (the sailed, mind you). THE UN FOUND REASON WITH THEIR AGITATION; THAT WAS WHY IT GRANTED THE EWELAND LEAERS TO “TRY UNION WITH GOLD COAST FOR 50YEARS”.
VERY FRANKLY, THIS WAS WHAT WAS SHOWN TO ME IN THE DAILY GRAPHIC OF THOSE YEARS. I SAW SEVERAL COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE EWELAND LEADERS, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, AND THE UNO ITSELF. I THEREFORE STRONGLY REFUTE WHAT YOU CLAIM HERE, THAT Prof AMENUMEY MAINTAINS THAT “NO SUCH PROMISE ABSOLUTELY WAS”.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NO FAN OF THE CALL FOR A REVIEW OF WHAT THE QUEEN DECLARED IN 1956. IT IS INDEED A RIGHT CALL, BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE TO TRY SOMETHING FOR 50YEARS.
BUT BY THE WAY, I KNOW HPW MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME THAT GOLDCOASTERS "ARE SMART ADIDRITORWO" THE GOLDCAOSTERS KNEW HOW TO CHEAT USING PEN. IT WAS FOR THAT GERMAN SPIRIT THAT MY GRANDFATHER WAS DETAINED IN 1921 NOVEMBER, HENCE HE NEVER "FORGAVE" ADIDIRIWORWOR THAT, ACCORDING TO HIM ONE WOULD NEVER SEE UNDER THE GERMANS.
I love your writings, Fo Kofi. Try and be on the look-out for news from TANYIGBE these days and kindly pay a visit, if you have time.
God bless us all.
Kofi Amenyo 7 years ago
Thanks a lot, Etsenye Kwame, for taking the time to read this long piece carefully and pointing out some details for discussion. I know this is a topic dear to your heart too…
Well, it was not that I was three months old ... read full comment
Thanks a lot, Etsenye Kwame, for taking the time to read this long piece carefully and pointing out some details for discussion. I know this is a topic dear to your heart too…
Well, it was not that I was three months old in TVT. I wrote that I was for three months a Gold Coaster - between the time the agreement came to effect and the time of our independence. All Trans-Volta Togolanders were Gold Coasters for those three months. Indeed, I was a Trans-Volta Togolander for longer than three months…
2. PARA 7
“The French kept their part of Togoland as a unit on its own and administered it as such. The British added their portion to the Gold Coast but observed the mandatory status of the new acquisition”. THIS CAN’T BE TRUE
You have not indicated what is not true about this. The French did not add their part of Togoland to Dahomey which was their colony. They let their part stand on its own. That is what is today's Togo. The British didn't do the same for their part. They named it TVT and administered it together with the Gold Coast. But they kept the status of the TVT as a territory mandated to them by the League of Nations and later as a trustee of the United Nations. That was why there was the need for a plebiscite when Gold Coast was about to get independence. Remember there was no plebiscite in Togo (no need) but there was one in the part of Cameroon that the British added to Nigeria – just like they did to us. In their case, half voted to go back to Cameroon and the other half voted to stay on with Nigeria. And either side got their wish. I suspect they learned from what happened to us.
Para 8. I think this is a minor point. The fact is still that the missionary activities started in the 19th century. Remember Keta is a coastal town and these guys came down by sea. By EWELAND, you mean somewhere in Ho or Peki (or where) - but as opposed to Anloland, huh? Ok. Thanks.
PARA 14
The British half of the former German colony of Togoland became a bona fide British possession, at least until the time the Gold Coast became independent. The plebiscite was held on May 9, 1956. On December 13, 1956 the unification was formally put into effect and TVT ceased to exist. NO, TRANS-VOLTA DID NOT BECOME “BONA FIDE” BRITISH COLONY. IT BECAME A trustee COLONY.
Perhaps you misread me there. We are talking of the time AFTER the plebiscite. The TVT was a trustee territory right from after the first world war, (it is stated in the article) through the second world war until December 13th 1956 the day the unification was effected. From that day, it became a bona fide British possession (I didn't even write colony but I could) until our independence. For the three months from December 13, 1956 to March 1957, the territory you and I come from was no longer a trust territory. It belonged to the British. It was no longer called TVT but Gold Coast into which it was integrated. It was just for a period of three months.
The 50 year review. I think what Prof Amenumey was stating is that there is no legal agreement signed anywhere that there would be a review after 50 years. I wonder if what you saw in the old Daily Graphic was talking of a signed agreement of a review and whatever terms that would be. I find this 50 year review thing a bit troubling. How can someone promise you to agree to become part of another country for 50 years after which there will be a review? And our grandfathers agreed on such a promise, without anything written down when they knew they would be dead by the time of the review?
Perhaps they were really deceived by the British and their adidri... They took their word of mouth as truth. You couldn't do that with the tricky Brits (lol)
Yes, our grandparents told us some positive things about the Germans and their insistence on truth and plainness. No tricks or deceptions - like the British...
I will surely look out for news from TANYIGBE. I will also check out if some new borborbor has come from there... You were a musician too, Dziko, alo?
Thanks and cheers. Let’s continue the discussion.
Dziko Kwame 7 years ago
Fo Kofi
Duty was a bit tight today to enable me get along enjoyably.
Infact I did say that in 2006, I travelled to Ghana and was introduced to this subject by my cousin who was an Ewe Tutor at Mawuli, and was on Pension ... read full comment
Fo Kofi
Duty was a bit tight today to enable me get along enjoyably.
Infact I did say that in 2006, I travelled to Ghana and was introduced to this subject by my cousin who was an Ewe Tutor at Mawuli, and was on Pension.
I read every copy of the documents “The Homeland Study Group” had in their possession. This is why I do not agree with your comments here.”
“……The 50 year review. I think what Prof Amenumey was stating is that there is no legal agreement signed anywhere that there would be a review after 50 years. I wonder if what you saw in the old Daily Graphic was talking of a signed agreement of a review and whatever terms that would be. I find this 50 year review thing a bit troubling. How can someone promise you to agree to become part of another country for 50 years after which there will be a review? And our grandfathers agreed on such a promise, without anything written down when they knew they would be dead by the time of the review? ….”
I would have called home, or prefer getting home from work to look through my archives and state only the FACTS. By facts, I mean that:
THE PEOPLE WHO FELT “CHEATED” IN THE PLEBISCITE DID NOT TAKE KINDLY TO THE ANNOUNCED RESULT. THEY INSISTED AND DID NOT ACCEPT THE OUTCOME, ALTHOUGH WE LOST TO THE LARGE PROPAGANDA BY THE CPP-COLOURED CAMPAIGN. AS A RESULT OF OUR RESISTANCE, OUR LEADERS TRAVELLED TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO PRESENT THEIR PROTEST. I AM NOT VERY SURE THAT THESE WERE THE LEADERS: S.G ANTOR, AMETORWOBLA AND CO.(IF I COULD GET HOME BEFORE CONTINUING THIS PIECE, THEN THAT CONFIRMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDY).
THE UNITED NATIONS LISTENED TO AND ACCEPTED OUR PLEA. THAT WAS WHY THE UN ADJUDICATED THAT THE BRITISH TOGOLAND “TRIED A UNION WITH THE GOLD COAST COLONY THAT WAS SET FOR INDEPENDENCE IN 3MONTHS, FOR 50YEARS”. Sir Kofi Amenyo It was not like a CONTRACT that our leaders signed with the United Nations. These documents were physically sighted and read by me in 2006 in Ghana.
I AM PERSONALLY CONVINCED THAT THESE SAME DOCUMENTS WOULD STILL BE ARCHIVED IN THE UN SYSTEM AND AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually saw them, Sir. THEY WERE NOT deceived BY THE BRITS. IT WAS NOT BETWEEM OUR EWELAND LEADERS AND THE BRITS PER SE, IT WAS AT THE UNITED NATIONS HQ IN NEW YORK, ACCEPTED BY HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT TOO.
ABOUT GERMANS, I AM A LITTLE DISMAYED THAT YOUR ARTICLE SEEMED TO ME TO DOWNGRADE THE GERMAN PRESENCE, COMPARED TO THE BRITISH. WELL, MY FATHER’S FATHER WAS A LOCAL COCOA AGENT WHO DIED AT 105 YEARS IN APRIL 1978. HE DID NOT TELL ME ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE BRITS, ALTHOUGH HE WALKED TO AKROPONG IN 1899, BREAKING THE “HARD” BARRIER TO GOLD COAST, LIVED THERE AND FROM WHERE HE CAME BACK TO TANYIGBE TO ELOPE MY GRANDMOTHER EWVUI BACK TO AKROPONG. I ALSO WISH TO ASK THAT YOU LOOK FURTHER FOR WRITINGS OF THE REVEREND LORENZ WOLF WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE “BREMEN MISSION AND OSOFO KOFI MALLET”.
FO KOFI, MAY I PLEASE URGE YOU TO PLAY THE HO KPODZI E.P. CHURCH CHOIR SONG DUMEDEFOR THAT WAS RECORDED IN 1982 (?) IN GERMANY, AND SEE HOW THE CHURCH PAID TRIBUTE TO GERMANIATORWO.
You were a musician too, Dziko, alo? LOCALLY, YES, I PLAY ANY DRUM AND I DO HANDLE THE NYIDU-KPE (The horn of Ivory used in Ateteben). But career-wise, I am in metals.
Fo Kofi, I hope you will enjoy this.
Kofi Amenyo 7 years ago
This visit to the UN thing is made up of different stories not all of which are documented. Some people said before the TC people could contribute enough money to send the delegates to the UN, time had passed and the issue wa ... read full comment
This visit to the UN thing is made up of different stories not all of which are documented. Some people said before the TC people could contribute enough money to send the delegates to the UN, time had passed and the issue was almost dead.
Yes, our parents fought a good fight to overturn the results. But the bottom line is that they did not succeed.
This thing about a 50 year trial period doesn't seem to be in the history books irrespective of what you read in the Daily Graphic.
Yes, all documents will be archived. Following my first article on this issue some years ago to which you reacted very strongly, I was sent some of these documents by someone, well educated, who was trying to convince me that I was wrong and that I should be supporting the issue of re-opening the old wounds.
But, Kwame, I don't think I want the old wounds re-opened. I don't think you also want the old wounds reopened again. I don't believe anything good will come out of it. But, of course, we can seek out the truth for historical purposes and for our knowledge.
All my youth my grandfather, (the Ferdinand in my story), told us wonderful stories about the Germans. He saw the Germans and also the British. It was when I grew up that I realised my grandfather may have been too kind to the Germans. He didn't talk much about their brutality. Perhaps he thought of it just as great discipline - which we were all told.
As I stated in my article, the German missionaries were of a different kind from the administrators. They did great work and their presence was felt positively. I know the DUMEDEFOR album very well (when I wrote about the Ho Church singing the German anthem, I had them in mind) and the church paid tribute to the German missionaries. They didn't pay tribute to the German political administrators who were caning their grandparents publicly and imposing forced labour on them.
But, Kwame, no need for Sirs...
Dziko Kwame 7 years ago
Tsitsia, Fo Kofi
Indeed I also love the whole purpose solely for my interest in current affairs. Not support or interest in the "Homeland Study Group" or their motives, not at all!
Oopppss, I did not only see DAILY GRA ... read full comment
Tsitsia, Fo Kofi
Indeed I also love the whole purpose solely for my interest in current affairs. Not support or interest in the "Homeland Study Group" or their motives, not at all!
Oopppss, I did not only see DAILY GRAPHIC, I saw UNO Documents. I saw HER MAJESTY's OFFICE's documents. I saw very supportive of "knowing", Fo Kofi so I went deep and my cousin, 80years this year 2017 gave me files upon files which I read one by one. That was in 2006.
Anyway, you gave me a knock-out here. The Ho-Kpodzi EP Choir did not sing to praise the German Political Administrators, but rather the Missionaries. Right.
Fo Kofi, it is a FACT, that the United Nations,based on the strong voice of the Eweland Leaders, did request Her Majesty's Goverment to consider the case of the Ewelanders. Hence it is TRUE that TVT was allowed to join Gold Coast -BUT which our leaders resisted and accepted only on PAPER to try a Union with Gold Coast for fifty years.
This TRUTH remains.
Long live the lively debate looo.
Amegaxoxo 7 years ago
Dziko seems to have cravings for the status-quo-ante but alas the dream is dead and buried.First,the Akan speaking people of the Volta Region as well as the brethren in the Northern Regions who belonged to the TVT would not s ... read full comment
Dziko seems to have cravings for the status-quo-ante but alas the dream is dead and buried.First,the Akan speaking people of the Volta Region as well as the brethren in the Northern Regions who belonged to the TVT would not support the dream. My brother Kwame and the "Homeland Study Group" dreamers should advise themselves and direct their energies towards supporting the efforts of the elders and populace in fighting for development in the area. Thank you.
Sikaman 7 years ago
Successionist crap.
Use your energy to develop your villages as others are doing.
Successionist crap.
Use your energy to develop your villages as others are doing.
Campus Ministry Report 7 years ago
This is very nice an article. I have not finished reading it yet.
God bless you.
This is very nice an article. I have not finished reading it yet.
God bless you.
kkk 7 years ago
Hope to have corresponding with you both. Will certainly look for your contacts. Continue with the hard work. Kudoos.
Hope to have corresponding with you both. Will certainly look for your contacts. Continue with the hard work. Kudoos.
Obed Adore 7 years ago
A Great article! Thank you..
A Great article! Thank you..
LONTO-BOY 7 years ago
Efo Amenyo, this is a well written, educative and informative piece. Very interesting indeed.
Efo Amenyo, this is a well written, educative and informative piece. Very interesting indeed.
lipualipua 7 years ago
A big "Thank you" for an enlightening write-up. Cheers.
A big "Thank you" for an enlightening write-up. Cheers.
MIGHTY MAN 7 years ago
Imagine Ghana and Togo were colonized by German now. Auf wiedersehn! Ich gehen nach Munchen.
Imagine Ghana and Togo were colonized by German now. Auf wiedersehn! Ich gehen nach Munchen.
Ola Nordmann 7 years ago
Hei Kofi,
A very educating article and a nice ride down memory lane. I had always thought the German occupation of TVT ended with the WWII since when growing up between Ho and Jasikan l met old people who still had German na ... read full comment
Hei Kofi,
A very educating article and a nice ride down memory lane. I had always thought the German occupation of TVT ended with the WWII since when growing up between Ho and Jasikan l met old people who still had German names and remenbered some german. So your piece actually got me re educated on the issue. How little we know about our own history. I know so much about European history from Ur to Rome and from the Napoleonic wars to the end of WWII but virtually know nothing about how we bacame part of present day Ghana. My grand uncles and aunts were actually divided between Ho and Assahoun in today Togo. So when l started the University l was frequenting that village to visit some of my uncles and aunts and met for the first time a new lineage of second cousins some of whom l could have fallen in love with without knowing we were related.
Once more thanks for the article. I will keep a copy for references and will of course appreciate some relevant references.
Samuel A.Blay 7 years ago
I like your style of writing. Very educative. Perhaps one of the best Ghanaian-authored articles I've read.
I like your style of writing. Very educative. Perhaps one of the best Ghanaian-authored articles I've read.
GT 7 years ago
Well, the writer waxes with nostalgia for what? A brutal German legacy in Africa? Imagine if Hitler had won. Your forebears would be slaves at best.
Well, the writer waxes with nostalgia for what? A brutal German legacy in Africa? Imagine if Hitler had won. Your forebears would be slaves at best.
Sikaman 7 years ago
Thank you Yaa Asantewaa for standing up to colonialists
Thank you Yaa Asantewaa for standing up to colonialists
KB 7 years ago
The writer was not born during the German times, how can he have nostalgia for what he has never seen? Imagining what could have been is not the same as wanting that thing to be.
The writer was not born during the German times, how can he have nostalgia for what he has never seen? Imagining what could have been is not the same as wanting that thing to be.
Joe Pasasa 7 years ago
One of the best historical and educative article. I have enjoyed reading this and have also enjoyed the academic debate that ensured between Fo Kofi and fo Kwame. This shows the level of maturity and understanding some of us ... read full comment
One of the best historical and educative article. I have enjoyed reading this and have also enjoyed the academic debate that ensured between Fo Kofi and fo Kwame. This shows the level of maturity and understanding some of us are yearning for on Ghanaweb. Kudos to our senior brothers! Happy 60th Independence anniversary to you all! Cheers!!
abdallah mex 7 years ago
What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?
The germans thought them handy works such as carpentary,masonery,steel bending to mention just a few...though i hate germans for their racism,they thought their coloni ... read full comment
What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?
The germans thought them handy works such as carpentary,masonery,steel bending to mention just a few...though i hate germans for their racism,they thought their colonis how to work even when it was as slavery and imprisonments..unlike the french and english who never wanted their colonies to know anything and this is our lives in ghana...we only know how to speak bigger english but lack the technical know how....talking of nkrumahs yes or no campaigne,nkrumah and the british conived to lure the people into joining ghana not because they loved the people but they had plans on the volta lake...so volta lake was the main reason unkrumah helped the british...i have yet many to say on to this
Kofi Amenga Etego 7 years ago
What a wonderful masterpiece. Let those tribalism so and bigots agitating for that bogus succession read this
What a wonderful masterpiece. Let those tribalism so and bigots agitating for that bogus succession read this
Atsu Mansa 7 years ago
Thanks Prof for the enlightenment. I now know the agitators can never prove their claim in any court of law. But the debate is good so far as it gives opportunity to make things even clearer that there is no claim at all, jus ... read full comment
Thanks Prof for the enlightenment. I now know the agitators can never prove their claim in any court of law. But the debate is good so far as it gives opportunity to make things even clearer that there is no claim at all, just plain old nostagia
Joseph 7 years ago
will be good if we have more of this articles on Ghanaweb rather than the mediocre politics we have in this country.
thanks a lot.
will be good if we have more of this articles on Ghanaweb rather than the mediocre politics we have in this country.
thanks a lot.
KOFI. 7 years ago
Thanks Kofi Amenyo for great work done....keep it up, we will like to read more.
Thanks Kofi Amenyo for great work done....keep it up, we will like to read more.
G. K. Berko 7 years ago
I commend Kofi Amenyo for this well-written, easy-to-read historical narrative that also poignantly questions the real motives of the so-called secessionists in the Volta Region. Sometimes sentiments erupt from false or scant ... read full comment
I commend Kofi Amenyo for this well-written, easy-to-read historical narrative that also poignantly questions the real motives of the so-called secessionists in the Volta Region. Sometimes sentiments erupt from false or scantily informed premises, and are then fed to deepen the anguish of their holders by flimsy unfortunate misunderstandings also misconstrued.
But we must be mindful of one common thread of most secessionists: the perception that they are being looked down upon, unfairly treated en mass, and not receiving due share of the national cake.
In the case of the Voltarians, hardly any of these is the case beyond the usual bantering with the Akans, especially, Asantes, for some illusive ethnic superiority clout.
But which part of Ghana, or which tribal, sub-tribal or ethnic group hasn't been subjected to similar treatment by one other group or another?
We only have to devise a better way of improving our inter-tribal communications and concede we are all better off united as equal Citizens of mother Ghana. No human being is inferior to another just by virtue of where they happen to have been born, or what color or language they happen to own.
Despite few occasional complaints of nepotism, cronyism and tribal packing of Official positions in Government Institutions by a sitting Government, depending on where the President hails from, Ghana has fared well with her diversity Citizenry. Our mutual setbacks with such differences in tribal interactions pales in comparison with other forms of discrimination in even the more advanced Western Democracies.
So, let's have a bold, open discourse that would show the idiocy of perpetuating those flaws among us, instead of whipping up sentiments to gorge deeper wounds to chop up the Nation, Ghana, the bearer of the Black Star of Africa.
Long Live Ghana!!!
kk 7 years ago
Thank you G.K.
Thank you G.K.
Ghanaboy 7 years ago
This is a master piece. A well researched article.
This is a master piece. A well researched article.
Honesty-the best policy! 7 years ago
A great piece worth reading by all Ewes! hank you very much for the effort
A great piece worth reading by all Ewes! hank you very much for the effort
KUKRUDU-USA 7 years ago
MASTERPIECE,VERY INFORMATIVE,THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE !
MASTERPIECE,VERY INFORMATIVE,THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE !
mojasika 7 years ago
beautiful! that's all i have to say and thank you for making history so sweet and beautiful again.
beautiful! that's all i have to say and thank you for making history so sweet and beautiful again.
Xewokui 7 years ago
Very brilliant, man. Well done. I pray that you live long to educate the young and maybe some old. Thank you for your article.
Very brilliant, man. Well done. I pray that you live long to educate the young and maybe some old. Thank you for your article.
Tom Thumb 7 years ago
I enjoyed reading it so much especially since I hail from Worawora. Very educative, congratulations.
I enjoyed reading it so much especially since I hail from Worawora. Very educative, congratulations.
Dr. K. Mantey 7 years ago
Gut geschrieben.You're a goodwriter. Danke Herr Amenyo
Gut geschrieben.You're a goodwriter. Danke Herr Amenyo
pin 7 years ago
WELL DONE
WELL DONE
Theodora Wielmann 7 years ago
Great inspirational article! I also need clarification on the Volta Triangle, which did not come by the latitude-longitude rule. How and when did this area become part of the Gold Coast Colony? I cherish your contributions T ... read full comment
Great inspirational article! I also need clarification on the Volta Triangle, which did not come by the latitude-longitude rule. How and when did this area become part of the Gold Coast Colony? I cherish your contributions Thank you.
Theodora Wielmann 7 years ago
The secessionists and their persecutors must stop causing hysteria with heresies. Exaggeration of events can lead to conflagration.
The secessionists and their persecutors must stop causing hysteria with heresies. Exaggeration of events can lead to conflagration.
KSP 6 years ago
Looks like this story won't go away. There is more to it than meets the eys.
Looks like this story won't go away. There is more to it than meets the eys.
Good job. I loved reading it. What we should also think about today is peace in Africa. Frieden über alles.
Unfortunately that puts paid to the theory of some haters that I Kojo T is Togolese But I do not mind as I am an African .As Thabo Mbeki says its rivers and mountains , seas and valleys run thro ...
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Ooops!!!
I've only now seen it. Oh no, the Berlin conference did not go on for 40 years!!! That would be too long...
It was a typo. The type of thing you see after you've sent the article to the webmaster.
The confer ...
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Interesting historical narrative but the FACT IS THAT THE GERMANS LOST, PERIOD! So, nothing changes as far as Ghana goes. The Northern bit of the TVT will never want to be part of Togo so what is this irrelevant history in ai ...
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Very long but nice to read
Sam, we must develop liking for long but very informative and useful articles. Sometimes, such is how we learn about new things that a whole book might otherwise be needed for.
The one-liners, often laced with insults, a ...
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fellow Ewes lets us unite and seperate from Ghana, and it should be now. No fears
good riddance
Well done Kofi. I enjoyed reading this.
A proper understanding of history will help us do away with some of the myopic and ignorant viewpoints peddled around.
Thank You.
Simple answer:
We would today have Ghana (English) to the west, Togo, including TVT, (German) in the middle, and Dahomey (French) to the east. That's it!
And by mutual influence, we would probably have super-quality roa ...
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1. "what would we call the African countries that use German as their official language?"
TEUTOPHONES.
2. "In nearby Ghana, German would have been one of the languages studied at O Levels or WASSCE and a popular one at ...
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Correction: AMENYO
Teutophones - that's interesting.
I admit I never thought of that. Perhaps because when the British say Teutonic, they are thinking of all the negative aspects - the bellicosity, the brutality...
But, yes, we would be ...
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so is high time we stop tribalism and stand together truthly.because their doing everything to come back and recolonize again. Alshabab alkaida Boko haram isils in fact all the conflicts around mid least and Africa is disign ...
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I also had a German friend . When I told him about the name of a cousin of mine called Hector from Jasikan, he exclaimed 'that is a very old German name that nobody uses anymore in Germany'!
Thanks for another beautiful, wonderful piece.
Very educative. Gives (and leaves) much for nostalgic and serious intellectual reflection.
Excellent piece of work though, My Good Brother.
Enjoyed it greatly.
Keep ...
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lets be honest.German colonization was not humane. examples:
a) In the 1920s a group of Africans from now Namibia were kept caged at Berlin Zoo as exhibits
b) Again in Namibia when the local people rebelled again ...
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The article is very long. You probably didn't read it all.
Note in particular the paragraph that starts "What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?".
It details the German brutalities and mentions the thing ...
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Very deep, I love this priceless piece.
How can I thank you for this wonderful piece? I have drank sufficient knowledge from your fountain. Keep replenishing the pool.
nice
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Wow! I have learnt much from this piece. Very informative! Congrat
My Bro Kofi, you are RIGHT. Most Most Ghanaians you will meet in Germany are AKANS. Lots of them entered there using TOGO Passports and then CHOPPING ADRO. They are the same types you see here insulting Ewes at the least oppo ...
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Fo Kofi
Since you were three months old in Trans-Volta, you surely are sixty one now and my big brother you are.
I wish to share some thought on what you say. I will put my points in BLOCK LETTERS.
PARA 7
“The ...
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Thanks a lot, Etsenye Kwame, for taking the time to read this long piece carefully and pointing out some details for discussion. I know this is a topic dear to your heart too…
Well, it was not that I was three months old ...
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Fo Kofi
Duty was a bit tight today to enable me get along enjoyably.
Infact I did say that in 2006, I travelled to Ghana and was introduced to this subject by my cousin who was an Ewe Tutor at Mawuli, and was on Pension ...
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This visit to the UN thing is made up of different stories not all of which are documented. Some people said before the TC people could contribute enough money to send the delegates to the UN, time had passed and the issue wa ...
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Tsitsia, Fo Kofi
Indeed I also love the whole purpose solely for my interest in current affairs. Not support or interest in the "Homeland Study Group" or their motives, not at all!
Oopppss, I did not only see DAILY GRA ...
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Dziko seems to have cravings for the status-quo-ante but alas the dream is dead and buried.First,the Akan speaking people of the Volta Region as well as the brethren in the Northern Regions who belonged to the TVT would not s ...
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Successionist crap.
Use your energy to develop your villages as others are doing.
This is very nice an article. I have not finished reading it yet.
God bless you.
Hope to have corresponding with you both. Will certainly look for your contacts. Continue with the hard work. Kudoos.
A Great article! Thank you..
Efo Amenyo, this is a well written, educative and informative piece. Very interesting indeed.
A big "Thank you" for an enlightening write-up. Cheers.
Imagine Ghana and Togo were colonized by German now. Auf wiedersehn! Ich gehen nach Munchen.
Hei Kofi,
A very educating article and a nice ride down memory lane. I had always thought the German occupation of TVT ended with the WWII since when growing up between Ho and Jasikan l met old people who still had German na ...
read full comment
I like your style of writing. Very educative. Perhaps one of the best Ghanaian-authored articles I've read.
Well, the writer waxes with nostalgia for what? A brutal German legacy in Africa? Imagine if Hitler had won. Your forebears would be slaves at best.
Thank you Yaa Asantewaa for standing up to colonialists
The writer was not born during the German times, how can he have nostalgia for what he has never seen? Imagining what could have been is not the same as wanting that thing to be.
One of the best historical and educative article. I have enjoyed reading this and have also enjoyed the academic debate that ensured between Fo Kofi and fo Kwame. This shows the level of maturity and understanding some of us ...
read full comment
What was life like for the Africans under the Germans?
The germans thought them handy works such as carpentary,masonery,steel bending to mention just a few...though i hate germans for their racism,they thought their coloni ...
read full comment
What a wonderful masterpiece. Let those tribalism so and bigots agitating for that bogus succession read this
Thanks Prof for the enlightenment. I now know the agitators can never prove their claim in any court of law. But the debate is good so far as it gives opportunity to make things even clearer that there is no claim at all, jus ...
read full comment
will be good if we have more of this articles on Ghanaweb rather than the mediocre politics we have in this country.
thanks a lot.
Thanks Kofi Amenyo for great work done....keep it up, we will like to read more.
I commend Kofi Amenyo for this well-written, easy-to-read historical narrative that also poignantly questions the real motives of the so-called secessionists in the Volta Region. Sometimes sentiments erupt from false or scant ...
read full comment
Thank you G.K.
This is a master piece. A well researched article.
A great piece worth reading by all Ewes! hank you very much for the effort
MASTERPIECE,VERY INFORMATIVE,THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE !
beautiful! that's all i have to say and thank you for making history so sweet and beautiful again.
Very brilliant, man. Well done. I pray that you live long to educate the young and maybe some old. Thank you for your article.
I enjoyed reading it so much especially since I hail from Worawora. Very educative, congratulations.
Gut geschrieben.You're a goodwriter. Danke Herr Amenyo
WELL DONE
Great inspirational article! I also need clarification on the Volta Triangle, which did not come by the latitude-longitude rule. How and when did this area become part of the Gold Coast Colony? I cherish your contributions T ...
read full comment
The secessionists and their persecutors must stop causing hysteria with heresies. Exaggeration of events can lead to conflagration.
Looks like this story won't go away. There is more to it than meets the eys.