Ghana’s entertainment industry has witnessed some rejuvenation in recent times albeit the attendant excesses. Indeed, the verve introduced by some good film and music video directors within the last 4 years cannot be over emphasized. Ghana’s film and music industry today is rubbing shoulders with their counterparts in sister nations and even beating them up to it.
A recent African Movie Award ceremony held in Nigeria, saw many young and budding Ghanaian movie stars, directors and musicians winning awards. This is testimony to the reforms and changes that the industry has witnessed thus far. Besides the soccer teams of Ghana, I am of the view that the entertainment industry is another strong marketing tool the nation is yet to benefit from.
In spite of these successes, recent developments in the sector leave much to be desired. Our stars in the entertainment industry are either heading for destruction or assuming lifestyles that they can obviously support and thus forcing them into all manner of social vices including armed robbery, theft, cheating, drug abuse and sexual immorality.
From the Goodie’s cocaine smuggling syndicate, his arrest and subsequent imprisonment to the ongoing trial of Ibrahim Sima, of Exopa fame; the imprisonment of Ramzy; a finalist in the Stars of the Future fame, to the theft case against Miss Nasara, winner of TV3 Ghana’s Most Beautiful and her subsequence loss of the crown, the fracas between Miss Confidence Heugan and a hiplife artist, Ayigbe Edem over a million dollar Mobile phone theft; the death of Santo, a popular Akan movie actor after he was busted for swallowing some quantities of cocaine with the purpose of transporting them to the United States of America, just to mention but a few cases.
A few days ago, another Music Star, 31 year old Richard Cobbina, popularly known as Shaka Zulu, of the 4X4 fame, was arrested at a popular drinking spot at Adabraka on Monday night after he had been identified by another robbery suspect. The report, according to Ghananewslink.com, stated that Shaka Zulu allegedly confessed to taking part in robbery with some Nigerians on the Spintex Road.
This incident will go down as another blow to Ghana’s entertainment industry which has been saddled with negative publicity lately. I remember walking into a chop bar in Ashalley Botwe, a suburb of Accra, for launch one hot afternoon, only to be joined by some young Hiplife Musicians. Just after taking their seats, I realized something was wrong somewhere. I could not believe the sight that held me spellbound. This young man was heavily drunk and had to be virtually fed to the embarrassment of the owners of the joint and to the amusement of other patrons.
This is a young man whose group and their performance had won them and Ghana an international award for a song they made way back in 2006. Immediately it dawned on me, that what we watch on TV might be a creation of a world of these young men and women who are bent on copying blindly from the West and other culture so as to be accepted in society. For many of them who cannot afford living this high society lifestyle, they are quick to resort to unorthodox means of financing their greed via the drug trade, armed robbery and other social vices.
In their videos, life is always and will forever remain a party. Blings, big boots, expensive clothes, exotic cars, etc are what is portrayed as the life of the man behind the microphone, while in the secrets of their homes, the wear themselves down on drugs, booze among other social vices.
A serious challenge to our Stars, (soccer, music, movie or media) is that the image they cast for themselves today might haunt them in future. In some countries, entertainment and soccer stars have found themselves in public offices as members of parliaments and even attempting the highest office of President.
The dashed dreams of Wycleff Jean, the International HipHop Raggae Artist, in his quest to contest the Presidential elections of his country Haiti is a call on our Stars to live a life worthy of testimony and emulation.
I have heard some radio presenters who host reggae programmes on a number of radio stations across the country sing the praise of marijuana, a banned substance. Some even go to the extent of calling for a legalization of the drug. That is the extent to which we have allowed the entertainment sector the free hand to engage in all manner of social vices that has the tendency to derail our campaign towards greater discipline and morality.
Just watch our movies, music videos, live shows and other TV Reality Shows lately and you will appreciate the fast rate to which morality is fast becoming a stranger in the sector. In their music videos, nudity, smoking, drinking of hard liquor, riding in exotic cars, exotic tastes for clothes, jewelry and even the very language that they use to express themselves is sounding more American than Ghanaian!
The challenge is upon all of us to call our stars to order and ensure that they do the right thing to protect the moral fibre of our society. While it is common knowledge that many groups condemn publicly actions of politicians and call them all manner of names in their bid to deter them from engaging in some action or the other, we are dead silent on the very terrible things happening in the entertainment sector.
There are many of these Stars who are flying high the national colours in their chosen fields and there are others who are disgracing our country by their acts.
Our stars must project themselves as role models for our young generation. The way we dress, the way we speak, the way we even react to problems as young people is heavily influenced by what we watch on TV and in music videos.
Lately, the craze is about poolside and bikini parties. These parties are sustained by an array of hard booze, nudity and hard drugs. Worse of all, there are no restrictions as to the ages of patrons. I understand in other countries, some form of identification is needed before one is admitted into such parties and concerts but in Ghana, I doubt if we even concern ourselves about the age factor as many of the organizers busy themselves with bagging in their profits than caring too much about who attends.
It is sad that our entertainment industry is being infiltrated by hoodlums, criminals and drug addicts and it behooves you and I to work hard to clean it up if we are really interested in building a this nation.
I do not sympathize with these goons. The law must deal with them.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
So Long, Mr. President!
Hello Mr. President,
In fact, we miss you back home in your beloved country Ghana. In your absence, your trusted Vice President and Acting President has been doing just fine and working tirelessly to sustain the momentum of the successes of the Better Ghana Agenda.
These are indeed good times within our great party and we appreciate the team work that you have built in your government and the good rapport between you and your able Vice President. I must confess that Ghanaians are really appreciative of your meticulous decisions and progress of work done thus far and we expect more upon your return soon. I am convinced that you will not return home empty handed but you are coming back with good investment deals, bilateral agreements, relationship and investment packages that you might have negotiated along the side of your holidays, like a good father who never returns home empty-handed.
Your Excellency, great things are happening in your absence and I cannot help but to draw your attention to the good news.
The first that is worth mentioning is the work of His Excellency the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama. Aside a dozen programmes that he had honoured in your stead, as Acting President, he launched the much awaited National Youth Policy, as a working tool for youth development and capacity building of the youth of Ghana towards national development. I remember the last time you came to my village on a campaign trail, you promised that under your administration, you would deliver to the youth of Ghana, a national policy within which youth related activities and development programmes would be coordinated. I am glad to see this day and the launch of the policy.
Additionally, our traditional rulers have expressed their gratitude in advance to a recent announcement you have communicated via your able Vice President, about your commitment to strengthening the chieftaincy institution by reviewing the allowances paid to our chiefs. The Vice President said you have decided to pay same allowances to out Queen Mothers, an action that is unprecedented in our history.
Your Excellency, following the Public Utilities Regulation Commission’s decision to adjust utility tariffs, which your administration heavily subsidized by almost 50%, there had been some anomalies in the implementation of the new tariff regime. There had been wide spread concerns that the implementation process had been fraught with some inconsistencies. There were some attempts by labour unions and industry to go on the streets on peaceful demonstrations to back demand for reduction of the newly implemented increases in utility tariffs. I must admit that this is an area of major concern of industry and the good people of Ghana who believed, still believe and are continually keeping faith with you and your promise to improve on their quality of lives. I understand a meeting was called by the Vice President in the Castle to bring on board all the power brokers in the energy sector to find an amicable solution to the matter.
Your Excellency, as I write, credible information reaching me indicates that a truce has been reached and all parties concerned are very comfortable with the agreement reached and they have pledged their commitment to support the PURC and government to do more in their various sectors to push the development process of Ghana a step further.
Mr. President, a few days ago, your Vice President again commissioned a fleet of Yutong Buses via a Private Public partnership agreement for the transport Unions in the country. This is a good development for the transport sector. I understand there is an elaborate plan to remove old, worn out and potentially dangerous vehicles off the road and replace them with these modern buses to promote the local transport industry and at the same time supporting the tourism sector. That is a good move and may I suggest that steps must be taken to begin a programme of importing spare parts, brand new tires among others to guarantee the safety, and maintenance of these buses on our roads. The beneficiary companies, including the Metro Mass Transport Company (MMT), The State Transport Company (STC), The Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) among others would not have difficulties servicing the new buses on the roads while repairing the old and damaged ones. It is obvious that many of the Metro Mass buses are off the road due to difficulties in securing spare parts and maintenance challenges.
As regards our farmers, your Excellency, I understand a new variety of cereals have been introduced to them and that is very intriguing. My information indicates that the new varieties are drought resistant and they can thrive within short harvest time. I crave your indulgence that the Agriculture Ministry takes this news closer to the doorsteps of the farmers so they as many can benefit from this initiative to support our food safety and security. This is a good addition to the subsidized fertilizer policy that you have brought to our hard working farmers.
Your Excellency, as of the time you took over office, I remember inflation was hovering around 20% in spite of all attempts by your predecessor to keep it down. For the past eighteen (18) months, however, we have witnessed a steady and consistent decline of inflation from that point to a single-digit and still dropping! This is another campaign promise that you have honoured and we cannot help but to commend you for the successes you have chalked up in less than two (2) years of your administration.
Coming events they say, cast their shadows. Ghana cannot wait but to expect more of these success stories under your leadership especially at this time that the Single Spine Salary Structure and the STX Housing deal has come as a lifeline to motivating our security personnel and our hardworking civil and public servants to do more for our nation.
As for the good news, Mr. President, there is more to say but I am limited by time and space, but I guess you have noticed the substantial gains the Ghana Stock Exchange (now international), has made in the past weeks. Our cedi has strengthened against all major currencies and that is definitely good economic pointer for many businesses in Ghana.
Mr. President, we thank God Almighty that he delivered your wife, the Second Her Excellency Naadu Mills from an accident that could have broken our hearts and cut short your leave. She is doing good and well by God’s Grace and we are continually supporting you and your family in prayers to grant you long life and wisdom to execute your good plans for mother Ghana.
Your Excellency, we have had some unpleasant developments in court over the Ghana@50 trial. In fact, the presiding Judge ruled that your government, our government and our nation for that matter, cannot hold these men accountable purely on procedural grounds. Personally, I found the Judge’s argument quite misleading and I cannot wait to see the Attorney General, Madam Betty Mould Iddrisu back to court to appeal the decision of the Judge. The furore generated by not just this but the Asamoah Boateng case and the Maame Dorkunu trials, have been quite disturbing especially due to some misleading reports in the public domain. Many are calling for the removal of the Attorney General, but I presume that her competence and her commitment to the course of your government and the National Democratic Congress cannot be questioned. I guess such set backs are part of life. I remember in one of your speeches, you admonished us that “Life without Challenges is not worth living”. This is just , but a challenge which must be surmounted with your full moral support to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Mr. President, I would want the Attorney general to stay on her job and fight this case to its logical conclusion. Such reactions are normal, and expected, but since cases are not tried in the media but rather in the law courts, I trust in your sound judgment that you will grant the Attorney general all the support she needs to make sure that the case is reopened and the trial is initiated all over again. I know she has won more cases for Ghana than she has been branded to have lost in recent times. I will not rule out saboteurs who will want to collapse her professional and political career for whatever reasons. The media propaganda against her and her job is just an attempt to break her spirit, intimidate your government and to deter you from prosecuting the social justice upon which you were elected as President of the Republic.
Your Excellency, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) is in trying moments and your intervention is paramount. Apart from the havoc that the rains had caused within the year, our Northern neighbours, La Cote D’Ivoire, served notice that they were going to spill water from their Bagri Dam again! It is heartbreaking that our farmers, their cotton, millet, livestock, homes, lives and property would be lost annually to the effects of the spillage from this dam. I would suggest some diplomatic arrangements to solve this problem once and for all. I will make my suggestions known to you in a separate letter pretty soon.
Mr. President, I cannot end without mentioning the election of Nana Akuffo Addo as Flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party. In fact, hours before the election, Ex President Kufuor advised the party to elect a candidate with “moral authority” to contest you in 2012. Well, it is Nana Addo that they got now, who I cannot beat my chest to say, has that “moral authority” to outstrip your values and qualities. It was even interesting that just days after his election, Ex President Kufuor granted audience to the Press to deny his amorous relationship with Madam Gizzle Yadji. Some commentators saw the move as a clear attempt to divert the discussion from Nana Addo to J.A Kufuor , knowing too well that he never supported Nana Addo’s bid, let alone his election. It is their albatross and they must deal with it. In an interesting twist however, Nana Akufo Addo, decided to call you “Professor Do-little” in the foreign media. Knowing how humble, and God Fearing you have always been, I know you have ignored his tantrums, like those of a recalcitrant child who never learned lessons from his failures.
Your Excellency, just before I go, Rt Rev. Dr. Antwi Asante, the immediate past president of the Methodist Church used his pulpit to say some rather untruthful things about your administration. He did that when Nana Addo went to his church to worship.I know you smiling this one off already. The Reverend has been "taken care of" and reminded of his duties as a man of God. I guess he has regretted what he did and I won't be surprised if he calls upon you demanding your forgiveness one of these days. I know you have already forgiven him as the good father you have always been.
Thank you so much for all that you have been to this country and our great party. We love you and we will continue to support you spiritually, morally and physically to achieve every promise you made to the good people Ghana.
Indeed, you are the man we trust and our faith in you is unflinching. God richly Bless you.
Your friend,
Mawulolo
In fact, we miss you back home in your beloved country Ghana. In your absence, your trusted Vice President and Acting President has been doing just fine and working tirelessly to sustain the momentum of the successes of the Better Ghana Agenda.
These are indeed good times within our great party and we appreciate the team work that you have built in your government and the good rapport between you and your able Vice President. I must confess that Ghanaians are really appreciative of your meticulous decisions and progress of work done thus far and we expect more upon your return soon. I am convinced that you will not return home empty handed but you are coming back with good investment deals, bilateral agreements, relationship and investment packages that you might have negotiated along the side of your holidays, like a good father who never returns home empty-handed.
Your Excellency, great things are happening in your absence and I cannot help but to draw your attention to the good news.
The first that is worth mentioning is the work of His Excellency the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama. Aside a dozen programmes that he had honoured in your stead, as Acting President, he launched the much awaited National Youth Policy, as a working tool for youth development and capacity building of the youth of Ghana towards national development. I remember the last time you came to my village on a campaign trail, you promised that under your administration, you would deliver to the youth of Ghana, a national policy within which youth related activities and development programmes would be coordinated. I am glad to see this day and the launch of the policy.
Additionally, our traditional rulers have expressed their gratitude in advance to a recent announcement you have communicated via your able Vice President, about your commitment to strengthening the chieftaincy institution by reviewing the allowances paid to our chiefs. The Vice President said you have decided to pay same allowances to out Queen Mothers, an action that is unprecedented in our history.
Your Excellency, following the Public Utilities Regulation Commission’s decision to adjust utility tariffs, which your administration heavily subsidized by almost 50%, there had been some anomalies in the implementation of the new tariff regime. There had been wide spread concerns that the implementation process had been fraught with some inconsistencies. There were some attempts by labour unions and industry to go on the streets on peaceful demonstrations to back demand for reduction of the newly implemented increases in utility tariffs. I must admit that this is an area of major concern of industry and the good people of Ghana who believed, still believe and are continually keeping faith with you and your promise to improve on their quality of lives. I understand a meeting was called by the Vice President in the Castle to bring on board all the power brokers in the energy sector to find an amicable solution to the matter.
Your Excellency, as I write, credible information reaching me indicates that a truce has been reached and all parties concerned are very comfortable with the agreement reached and they have pledged their commitment to support the PURC and government to do more in their various sectors to push the development process of Ghana a step further.
Mr. President, a few days ago, your Vice President again commissioned a fleet of Yutong Buses via a Private Public partnership agreement for the transport Unions in the country. This is a good development for the transport sector. I understand there is an elaborate plan to remove old, worn out and potentially dangerous vehicles off the road and replace them with these modern buses to promote the local transport industry and at the same time supporting the tourism sector. That is a good move and may I suggest that steps must be taken to begin a programme of importing spare parts, brand new tires among others to guarantee the safety, and maintenance of these buses on our roads. The beneficiary companies, including the Metro Mass Transport Company (MMT), The State Transport Company (STC), The Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) among others would not have difficulties servicing the new buses on the roads while repairing the old and damaged ones. It is obvious that many of the Metro Mass buses are off the road due to difficulties in securing spare parts and maintenance challenges.
As regards our farmers, your Excellency, I understand a new variety of cereals have been introduced to them and that is very intriguing. My information indicates that the new varieties are drought resistant and they can thrive within short harvest time. I crave your indulgence that the Agriculture Ministry takes this news closer to the doorsteps of the farmers so they as many can benefit from this initiative to support our food safety and security. This is a good addition to the subsidized fertilizer policy that you have brought to our hard working farmers.
Your Excellency, as of the time you took over office, I remember inflation was hovering around 20% in spite of all attempts by your predecessor to keep it down. For the past eighteen (18) months, however, we have witnessed a steady and consistent decline of inflation from that point to a single-digit and still dropping! This is another campaign promise that you have honoured and we cannot help but to commend you for the successes you have chalked up in less than two (2) years of your administration.
Coming events they say, cast their shadows. Ghana cannot wait but to expect more of these success stories under your leadership especially at this time that the Single Spine Salary Structure and the STX Housing deal has come as a lifeline to motivating our security personnel and our hardworking civil and public servants to do more for our nation.
As for the good news, Mr. President, there is more to say but I am limited by time and space, but I guess you have noticed the substantial gains the Ghana Stock Exchange (now international), has made in the past weeks. Our cedi has strengthened against all major currencies and that is definitely good economic pointer for many businesses in Ghana.
Mr. President, we thank God Almighty that he delivered your wife, the Second Her Excellency Naadu Mills from an accident that could have broken our hearts and cut short your leave. She is doing good and well by God’s Grace and we are continually supporting you and your family in prayers to grant you long life and wisdom to execute your good plans for mother Ghana.
Your Excellency, we have had some unpleasant developments in court over the Ghana@50 trial. In fact, the presiding Judge ruled that your government, our government and our nation for that matter, cannot hold these men accountable purely on procedural grounds. Personally, I found the Judge’s argument quite misleading and I cannot wait to see the Attorney General, Madam Betty Mould Iddrisu back to court to appeal the decision of the Judge. The furore generated by not just this but the Asamoah Boateng case and the Maame Dorkunu trials, have been quite disturbing especially due to some misleading reports in the public domain. Many are calling for the removal of the Attorney General, but I presume that her competence and her commitment to the course of your government and the National Democratic Congress cannot be questioned. I guess such set backs are part of life. I remember in one of your speeches, you admonished us that “Life without Challenges is not worth living”. This is just , but a challenge which must be surmounted with your full moral support to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Mr. President, I would want the Attorney general to stay on her job and fight this case to its logical conclusion. Such reactions are normal, and expected, but since cases are not tried in the media but rather in the law courts, I trust in your sound judgment that you will grant the Attorney general all the support she needs to make sure that the case is reopened and the trial is initiated all over again. I know she has won more cases for Ghana than she has been branded to have lost in recent times. I will not rule out saboteurs who will want to collapse her professional and political career for whatever reasons. The media propaganda against her and her job is just an attempt to break her spirit, intimidate your government and to deter you from prosecuting the social justice upon which you were elected as President of the Republic.
Your Excellency, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) is in trying moments and your intervention is paramount. Apart from the havoc that the rains had caused within the year, our Northern neighbours, La Cote D’Ivoire, served notice that they were going to spill water from their Bagri Dam again! It is heartbreaking that our farmers, their cotton, millet, livestock, homes, lives and property would be lost annually to the effects of the spillage from this dam. I would suggest some diplomatic arrangements to solve this problem once and for all. I will make my suggestions known to you in a separate letter pretty soon.
Mr. President, I cannot end without mentioning the election of Nana Akuffo Addo as Flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party. In fact, hours before the election, Ex President Kufuor advised the party to elect a candidate with “moral authority” to contest you in 2012. Well, it is Nana Addo that they got now, who I cannot beat my chest to say, has that “moral authority” to outstrip your values and qualities. It was even interesting that just days after his election, Ex President Kufuor granted audience to the Press to deny his amorous relationship with Madam Gizzle Yadji. Some commentators saw the move as a clear attempt to divert the discussion from Nana Addo to J.A Kufuor , knowing too well that he never supported Nana Addo’s bid, let alone his election. It is their albatross and they must deal with it. In an interesting twist however, Nana Akufo Addo, decided to call you “Professor Do-little” in the foreign media. Knowing how humble, and God Fearing you have always been, I know you have ignored his tantrums, like those of a recalcitrant child who never learned lessons from his failures.
Your Excellency, just before I go, Rt Rev. Dr. Antwi Asante, the immediate past president of the Methodist Church used his pulpit to say some rather untruthful things about your administration. He did that when Nana Addo went to his church to worship.I know you smiling this one off already. The Reverend has been "taken care of" and reminded of his duties as a man of God. I guess he has regretted what he did and I won't be surprised if he calls upon you demanding your forgiveness one of these days. I know you have already forgiven him as the good father you have always been.
Thank you so much for all that you have been to this country and our great party. We love you and we will continue to support you spiritually, morally and physically to achieve every promise you made to the good people Ghana.
Indeed, you are the man we trust and our faith in you is unflinching. God richly Bless you.
Your friend,
Mawulolo
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