THE NEW LEGON OBSERVER 
5" 1\ .. . A I AJ4-r;:; 
r'" ... ' J Our Perspective (l ( (I As We Celebrate 
50 Years of Ghana's Independence ... 
As We Celebrate 50 Years 
of Ghana's Independence 
Ghana ians have spent a large part of thi s 
• •• • 1 
year in a celebra tory mood. Indeed for 
, many the celebrations began when the Ghanaian Politics: . Black Stars did well a l the last FIFA World 
Confronting the Curse of * 
Sisyphus Cup tournament held in Germany_ The 
Yaw Saffu • 4 better-than-expected performance was seen 
as a sign of good things to come as the 
How is the Economy of country prepared for its 50th birthday_ 
Ghana Doing after 50 
Years ~ The Problem with The main celebrations, held in March this 
Comparing Ghana to O ther year, were the high point fo r the 
Countries Government, the people and our guests. 
Ernest Aryee ley • 8 Some people grumbled about not having Freedom and Justice Arch 
been made to feel a part of the public 
The More Things Change, the celebrations, but as Ghanaians, we have scient ific cul ture to aid our broader 
More They Stay the Same managed to put all of that behind us. development efforts. Pro fessor Ivan Addae-
Akosua Darkwa • 14 M ensah' s lecture probably left many 
One of the things we are particularly happy Ghanaians embarrassed about the near-
Governance Structure (or 
aboul, as we celebrate 50 years of Ghana 's absence of eth ical behaviour in our 
Science and Technology in educa tional ins titution s. He practically sa id 
Ghana - 50 Years after independence, is the fac t that the 
celebrations also provided an opportunity that cheating has become a way of life for Independence 
Ivan Addae-Mensah • 17 for serious stock-taking and self-assessment. 
many Ghanaians in a strong bid to get 
The organisa tion of regular Golden Jubilee ahead o( o thers. The lesson that one might 
draw from the various lectures is that all is 
Towards a Meeting Point o( lectures by the Ghana@50 Secre tariat and 
programme organisers at the Ghana not well w ith Ghana. Victory - Plenary Keyno te 
Address at the Conference International Con fe rence Centre has 
on "Global Conversations: provided an opportun ity for a number of Despite the not-sa-positive assessments of 
A Festival o( Marginalised learned personalities to inform and educa te our achievements over five decades, we are 
Languages" the publ ic about many issues relevant to a very hopeful people. Democracy is 
Ngugl Wa Thlongo . 22 national development. For example, even definitely taking root after several years of 
though most of us knew about the pervasive po lit ical instability. Even though we may not 
A(rica at a Crossroad: nature of corrupt ion in our society, it took like the stories we have been trea ted to, the 
W ill Ghana Show the Way? carefu l analys is by Lawyer Reginald recent revelations at the meetings of the 
Goblnd Nankani . 2S 
Bannerman at one of those lectures to make Public Accounts Committee of Parl iament 
us appreciate the scope of the problem and have assured many Ghanaians that the 
Two Schools o( Taught (sic) 
what drives it. institution is still a relevant part o( our 
(Power In the Nallon's national development. Tha t makes us very 
Discourse) 
In another lecture recently, we were treated hopeful about the future of our institutions. Ebow Damel • 29 
by Professo r Marian Ewurama Addy to a 
good apprecia tion of the huge challenges While the performance of Our economy 
thai we face while trying to develop a may not be spectacular, the last five years 
.... 2 
Founding Members of the have been different from the previous five years, and there 
Ghana Society for Development Dialogue are clear signs of improved stabilit y. Our spirits have also 
been buoyed lately by the discovery of oil in commercial 
quantities on our shores. We recognise the possibil ity of 
Emmanuel Ablo Francis Dodoo 
Ernest Aryeetey Djabanor Narh over-sell ing this discovery and the danger of being led to 
Alfred Teddy Konu Korantema Adi-Dako experience a natural resource curse. But the significance of 
Gobind Nankani Adwoa Steel this discovery and the new opportunities it implies should 
William Steel Ivan Addae-Mensah encourage us to think of how best to manage the new find 
Kafj Anyidoho Ishmael Yamson and avoid the difficulties and embarrassment that others 
Clifford Nii Soi Tagoe Albert O sei 
Ellen Bortei-Doku Aryeetey Joseph Alsu Ayee have experienced in th is venture. • 
Kweku Appiah Charles Egan 
Isabella Quakyi Anthony Matthews Again, we observe the renewed confidence that 
Yaw Nsarkoh Tony Oleng-Gyasi development partners are showing in us, giving us more aid 
Helen Nankani Charles lebuni than they are giving our neighbours, and speaking very 
Abena O. Oduro Raymond Atuguba 
positively about Ghana generally. Ghanaians, to some 
Ken O(ori·Atta Doris Able 
Angela Lamensdorf Oferi-AHa Yaw Saffu extent, are more confident today about the future than they 
Nana Yaa Ofori-Atta Franklin Manu were some 20 - 30 years ago. 
As we look to the future, our perspective on all of the pluses 
The New Legon Observer creates a plat form for the 
and minuses that Ghanaians have experienced is that we 
discussion of broad development policy issues and 
matters of public in terest. The ar ticles are expected to be cou ld more easily find solutions to our development 
current and on relevant themes. It is owned by the challenges if only we listened to, and showed greater 
Ghana Society for Development Dialogue (GSDD). tolerance for one another. It is when we have built 
institutions that foster knowledge-sharing and actually use 
The society is a registered company limited by guarantee them, that we will find answers to development questions. 
and is independent of the management of the University 
of Ghana, Legon. The members of the society come 
from diverse professional backgrounds and are Development is about making the right choices as a nation 
motivated solely by the need to develop a vehicle for the in order to give societies and individuals more opportunity 
articulation of diverse but well·researched views on for self-fulfilment. The right choices stem out of dialogue, 
Ghana's development. debate, discussion, etc. Societies that do not tolerate debate 
and discussion seldom make the right choices. Their 
choices often reflect the ambitions of a small minority w ith 
Editorial Board access to political power. With time, they lead to conflict as 
Chairman: Kofi Anyidoho others fight for inclusion, and eventual stagnat ion. That is 
Acting Editor: Ernest Aryeetey why we see the Golden Jubilee lectures as being indicative 
Editorial Consultam: Korantema Adi-Dako 
of our wi llingness as a people to engage in new discussions 
Economy: Charles Jebuni, Emmanuel Ablo, Abena Oduro 
Politics: Yaw Saffu, Alsu Ayee of "what went wrong?" But they also suggest that through 
Society, Culture & Education: Ellen Bortei-Doku Aryeetey, the celebrations we are eager to discuss "what can we do 
Rev. Sam K. Adjepong and Kwesi Yankah right?" for the next 50 years. 
Science and Technology: Ivan Addae-Mensah, Isabella Quakyi 
International Affairs: Gobind Nankani This is where the Ghana Society for Development Dialogue 
(GSDD) comes in. As its name suggests, the society has 
been set up by a number of well.meaning people to provide 
Design Team a platform for discussing how best to bring development to 
Charles Tachie--Menson, Frederick Mante, Nicholas Kotei Ghanaians. The society has decided to launch the New 
All correspondence may be addressed to: Legon Observer as the medium to be used by interested 
The Acting Editor persons for discussing relevant development issues, and 
New Legan Observer other matters of public interest. 
P.O. Box l G 490 
Legan The Ghana Society for Development Dia logue is made up 
Tel. 512503 Ext. 109 Fax. 512504 of professional men and women from diverse backgrounds 
Email: newlegonobserver@ug.edu.gh who share some common values. The members of the 
2 
society are committed to inclusive and Development Dialogue owes a huge expressed their opinion publicly on 
accelera ted development in Ghana, debt of gratitude to the members of the matters of national development. As 
relying on the inherent potent ia l of all Legon Society on National Affai rs who this issue is dedica ted to the subject of 
persons and on the contributions that have provided very valuable ce lebra ting Ghana@50, the articles 
they can make. They believe very information about their operations from reflect largely the views of the 
st rongly .n democrat ic princip les many years ago and useful advice on individual authors on the themes of 
underpinning development. how to run a paper like theirs. It is the politics, economy, society, science and 
intention of the archi tects behind the technology, law and cultu re, and 
Such principles must be reflected by New Legon Observer to emulate the international development, as relevant 
freedom of speech and expression for good example set by its predecessor. to the broad subject. 
• aiL They see roles for both the public 
and private sectors in the development The New Legon Observer IS a It also contains a satirical piece to 
enterprise. They do nol seek to direct ly fortn igh tly paper tha t should be of celebrate the launch of this paper. The 
• 
influence government policy in Ghana, Immense interest to all Ghanaians and art icle by the celebrated Kenyan writer 
but provide government an opportunity others. It is designed to fi ll a niche in Ngugi wa Thiong'o is his contribu tion 
to know what different people think the marke t for papers, addressing the to the launch of the New Legon 
about different issues. demand from people who would like to Observer and was originally written for 
see analytical pieces on matters of a conference held in California in 
The society does not believe in development and public interest. It is October 2007. Each subsequent issue 
excluding persons or groups from not, and will not, become the of this journal \vill be structured to 
participation in the development policy mouthpiece of anyone group of tackle the same themes for different 
dialogue on account of politics, gender, people. subjec ts. 
religion, ethnicity or any other critenon. 
Its membership is therefore structured It will not be driven by narrow political Clearly, there is a double celebration 
to reflect these values. Membership of interests. It provides an opportunity for here. As we celebrate SO years of 
the societ y is not restricted to all persons who have very well thought· Ghana's independence, we would like 
Ghanaians, but drawn also from out ideas to express them, with a view to invite all persons interes ted in 
persons who wish to contribute to to engaging a wider public in participating in effective development 
Ghana's development. Its activities are construct ive debate and dialogue. It is dialogue for a more positive deve· 
also not limited to only persons living in expected tha t all art icles published here lopment outcome in future to join us in 
Ghana. will be properly researched, be very celebrating the launch of the New 
mformative and educative. The paper Legon Observer. 
The New Legon Observer has been has no ideological biases. 
inspired by the Legon Observer which We look forward to your reading the 
was owned by the Legon Society on In this maiden edition, the Edi toria l paper regularly, and we also hope you 
National Affairs and ceased publication Board has invited articles irom a will join the development debates by 
In July 1983. The Ghana Society for number of persons who have often writing articles, reviews and letters. 
3 
POLITICS 
GHANAIAN POLITICS: 
CONFRONTING THE CURSE OF SISYPHUS 
Yaw Saffu ' 
The Ghanaian Sisyphus Independence, the reverse of the On that question, in a nutshell, I intend 
projected direction in that confiden t to say that we now have an electoral • 
To discourse on the political economy 
picnic song has been the more democracy and an inchoate liberal 
of post.independence Ghana, I cannot 
enduring rea lity in this country of ours, democracy and that, until relatively 
help but reflect on a famous sixteenth 
in the polity, as in the economy and recently, we had had very little of either 
century painting by Titian, of Sisyphus 
society_ We do not have to invoke the fI1 our independent statehood, 
Jt work on his interminable, ultimately 
seriously unflattering. even shameful Furthermore, democratisation has 
self-infl icted and 
and sickening comparison been accompanied by, and has even 
self-induced 
with the paths trodden by helped to induce, o ther positive 
pointless pain 
Sou th Korea or Taiwan or changes in our politics. 
and frustration. 
Malaysia over the same 
No analogy is 
period, since 1957, But a more pertinent question, as far as 
perfect. But in to conclude that there has I am concerned, and as far as the 
Greek mytholo- been something tragically future is concerned, and the future is 
gy, as a punish- self-defea ting.. Sisyphian, what really matters, is the following. 
ment for his I . _ about our aspirations and 'What has to change in Ghanaian 
trickery, deceit- - • attainments.  politics for us to have a realistic chance fulness, avarice of consolidating and sustaining a 
and also possi- The high degree of genuine liberal democracy as well as 
bly his indis· instabi lity generated by replacing our weak stale with a 
cretion , Sisy- military interventions and genuinely developmental state?' 
phus, an extrem- attempted interventions 
ely well connec· and the unaccountable, These terms have to be defined. By 
ted and high- incompetent and corrupt genuine liberal democracy, I mean a 
achieving king Regional map of Ghana governance we have politi ca l system where: (i) freedoms are 
of Corinth, was cursed to roll a massive experienced for the most part of the real, because the high levels of grinding 
boulder up a hill. period have to be the primary causes poverty, mass illiteracy and indiscipline 
of our poor performance. However, I (both elite and mass) that tend to 
In the context of primitive technology, believe our Sisyphian tragedy can be render those freedoms nugatory have 
the boulder kept rolling back down the confronted and overcome if we, and been significantly reduced or elim· 
hill, despite his apparent dedication especially our leaders, are serious. inated; (ii) executive accountability and 
and best efforts. So, his punishment competence are significantly guaran· 
was, in effect, for eternity, unless he Questions To Be Addressed teed, because both the threat and 
could have chosen to take advantage 
The invitation to contribute an article reality of institutional, legal, cultural or 
of modern knowledge of science, 
to the inaugural issue of the New conventional restraints and sanctions 
technology,organisational psychology, 
Legon Observer indicated tha t w hat really do work, whether instantly or 
human resource management, and so 
was required of me was an expatiation ultimately, 
on. 
on the question: 'What has changed in 
In the heady days of our pre- Ghanaian politics?' A clear-sighted Specifically for Africa, by a 
Independence nationalism, a CPP analysis and explanation of what has developmental state, I mean one that 
(Convention People's Party) ditty preceded the present is, undoubtedly, has shed ils neo-patrimonial, 
promised a march of 'Forward Ever, a useful, even necessary, preamble to patronage-based style of politics III 
Backward Never'. But I believe it would future correc tive policy, Therefore. that favour of transparent decision-making 
now be universally agreed that, Since question will be addressed. and implementation processes that 
.... 5 
y~w Silffu is a Profes~or or Poli ticill Science and an Intcrnation(ll Consult'lIlt in Democratic Govemancc. 
I 4 I 
POLITICS 
have as their primary objective the term development plans, especially ticularly at the constitutional and 
transformation of the economy in those requiring the deferral of the institutional levels, does not have much 
order to raise the standard of living of pleasures of consumption or in common with the one-party and 
citizens. A developmental slate is disciplined belt·tightening. despotic military regimes that have 
necessarily a strong sta te (but no featured so prominently in our past, 
necessary relationship with authori- Democratic governmen ts have to with their authoritarian, unaccountable 
tarianism) because it has to be able to negotiate with, rather than suppress or governance and their egregious abuse 
• Implement its own laws vigorously and repress, interest groups which feel of human rights. As far as the 
control society without fear or favour adversely affected by changes. observance of constitutional regu· 
for the sake of progress. These are Democratic governments often feel lations concerning the protection of 
projects a weak slale (the direct compelled to abandon prudent the cen tral tenets and elements of 
opposite of a strong sia le) does not economic policies in election years, liberal democracy is concerned, it has 
even aspire to target because, frankly, it usually offering fiscally inappropriate, to be emphasised that we have come a 
is incapable of achieving them. inflationary 'bribes' instead, m long way, in a relatively short time, 
exchange for votes. effectively only since the 1996 
To rephrase the second question, wha t 
elections. 
changes In the way we currently Therefore, everywhere else, liberal 
conduct our politics and conduct 
democracy has followed rather than Institutions, processes and activities 
ourselves in politics must we, as 
Jed the take-off stage to sus tained that seem so natural now, so much a 
Ghanaians, insist on and pursue, in 
development. However, our own part of the present political landscape 
order to create a dynamic 
experience, and experience practically as to suggest they have been with us 
developmental slale instead of the 
all over Sub-Saharan Africa, would for generations, are nevertheless of 
weak state that continues to be 
suggest that the politics of liberal only very recent origins. We can count 
embedded in an essentially neo-
democracy, with competitive elections among these an Electoral Commission 
patrimonial system? The short answer 
and the aggregation of criss-crossing with valid claims to independence and 
to that question, 1 suggest, is to push 
interests that have to be sa ti sfied competence; a multi-party system with 
for a further and faster deepening of 
openly, is in the long run the best and Opposlllon parties that are not 
liberal democracy, given the evident 
most reliable antidote to the politics of intimidated; an electorate that is 
mabilit y of our several past 
patron-client systems and the evidently not afraid to show the red 
authOritarian rulers who, with the 
incompetence, corruption, pover! y card to insufferable high and mighty 
plenitude of untrammelled power they 
and injustices that they invariably politicians and peacefully change the 
accumulated, far more concentrated 
breed. party in power; a judiciary that has 
power than they needed to restructure 
learned to assert its independence in 
the economy and modernise society, 
Ghanaian Politics Today: What Has the protection of liberties; the 
nevertheless failed to initiate any 
Changed? existence and functioning of other 
sustained development, unlike their 
South-East Asian counterparts. independent consti· 
It would be flying m the face of tUlional offices, 
everyday evidence to say that 
It may seem rather strange to advocate such as the 
nothing has chan-
more democracy as a way of ensuring Commission 
ged in Ghanaian 
rapid structural transformation seeing for Human 
politics since In· 
that, hIstorically, ciuthoritarian and pre- Rights and 
dependence, or 
democratIc regimes have presided 
even since 1993, 
over, and have been responsible for far 
the beginning of 
more fundamental economic and 
our current dis· 
societal transformations than can be 
pensation under 
credited to democracies. Indeed, the 
the Fourth Re· 
logic and practice of democracy 
public. The cur-
should ohen make it antithetical to 
rent regime, par-
steadfast, dogged, adherence to long-
K",ame Nkrumah Mausoleum. Accra 
-+ 6 
5 
POLITICS 
Administrative Justice (CHRAj), the liberal democracy, such as the even genuinely God-fearing pastors. 
alional Media Commission (NMC) a Parliament, perform as well as they have more 10 contribute to the 
genuinely vibrant, pluralistic and free should. But already, some significant discussion on what needs to change, 
media environment; and so on. As a liberal democratic dividends from the and especially how this can or should 
result of all these, the exercise of changes that have transpired can be be done. than political scientists. 
governmental power is far less arbitrary pointed to. For instance, the 
and brutal now than it has ever been OppOSition's persistent questioning in How do we change a cu lture that, 
• 
since the beginning of our inde- Parliament was undoubtedly a primary instead of teaching people to stand on 
pendent statehood. fa ctor in the Government's eventual prinCiples and speak their minds freely, 
abandonment of some proposed seems to prescribe a 100 forgiving 
The proliferation of civil societ y dubious loan arrangements wi th shady attitude towards political and 
organisa tions, non-governmental orga- international corporations and char· economic 'criminals ', teaching and 
nisations of all types and descriptions, acters. encouraging them to cringe and flatter 
is another feature of our polilics and in the hopes of obtaining crumbs from 
politica l e nvi ronme nt that has Media scrutiny, such as it is, w ith only the very people they should despise? 
changed, on the whole, for the beller. patchy investigative effort s that How do \ve eliminate extreme, 
Whatever drives citizens to participate somehow manage 10 give really w idespread povert y, make a significant 
in elections, an 80 per cent turnout, as sign ificant issues of lack of trans· dent in the staggering statistics on the 
in the 2004 national elections, should parency in government dealings the exlent of illiteracy, and tram the 
be regarded as const itutin g a widest of berths, must nevertheless be thousands of middle class professionals 
considerable affirmation of regime something that only the most reckless required to make the economy and the 
legitimacy. politicians will not seriously consider society perform as they should? How 
before they act. Similarly, while there is do we discourage behaviour that 
These phenomena allest to the no accounting for what a mad military undermines trust, a necessary, indis-
presence of cit izen se lf-confidence that adventurer mi ght fantasise to do, pensable ingredient in any modern, 
is equally manifest in the forcefulness civilian con trol of the mHitary is now large· sca le o rganisa tion, but which 
wi th which opinions, even flawed almost certainl y the most assured it has appears to have van ished completely 
opinions, are expressed on the FM ever been since Independence. This is from our societ y? How do we tackle 
stations. Such cilizen confidence has thanks to all the above changes in our the glaringly outrageous and costly 
no t always been allowed to flouri sh. It political institutions and in our opinions indiscipline that is evident in every 
is not too long ago that " the cu lture of which, as periodically reported by nook and cranny of our socie ty? 
silence" was regarded virtually as an Afrobarometer surveys, are very 
However. eventually, all the above are 
aspect of the national culture. As most strongly suppo rti ve of liberal 
polilical and must be the concern of 
observers will agree. there is still a long democracy. But we must be thankful 
politica l leaders who are ultimately 
way to go to make key ins titutions of also for the vastly heightened 
responsible for all authoritative 
opposit ion on the inter-
decisions made in a state. Reforming 
national scene to military 
the basis, the ends and processes of 
usurpations of power. 
decision·making in the stale is a 
What Needs To Be political issue that impacts upon 
Changed? everything, including the success or 
otherwise of poverty alleviation 
Superficially, most of the programmes and the extent of illiteracy 
fundamen tal determinants o f and indiscipline. Further, there are 
our politi cs that need to issues abou t public sec tor per-
change would appear to lie formance. baSically of ethics and 
outside the realm of political compe tence, but also of remuneration, 
institutional reforms. It that lie squarely in the political realm 
would seem economists, and that seem to have remained 
sociologists, educationists, recalcitrant to all attempts at reform. 
-+ 7 
6 
• 
POLITICS 
In a functional liberal democracy, the governments they have had from deepening of liberal democracy. This 
where elections are genuinely free, the the above. means, at leas t, consti tutional and 
electorate must also bear some institutional changes. Therefo re, the 
responsibility for the kind of politics The sad truth is that until we get rid of second answer to the famous leninist 
that predominates in the system, for the neo-patrimonial system that question 'What is to be Done?' is to set 
the type of leaders they help put into continues to be the bedrock of our about amending the Constitution: to 
power. The basis of electoral choice po li tics, such are the sort s of free up democratic forces, particularly 
• 
does not appear to have changed very government we shall continue 10 have . at the Distric t Assembly level; reduce 
much in 50 years, except that the role Patron-client relati onships w ill con tinue the ex tent of the preSidential 
of monetary and o ther material to predominate. Policy and, especially, patronage in appointments; enable 
inducements and the role of ethnic personnel wi ll be chosen with an eye Parl iamen t to play a more vigorous 
considerations, via the political part y, more on pri va te and parti san oversight role, checking and balancing 
are probably going up rather than advantage rather than on the dictates the executive more effecti vely; tear up 
down. The minimal role that policy of the public good. Enforcement and proviSions of Official or State Secret 
Issues and assessments of personal implemen tation of laws and Acts and open up the processes of 
competence and integrity of regulations w ill continue to be hostage governance w ith appropriate Bills; 
candida tes appear to play in the to the same considerations. empower more and link cons ti-
calcu lation of electoral choice is a tutionally the funding of key 
drawback that needs to be addressed. So, What Is To Be Done? constitu tional bodies, such as CHRAJ, 
BUI whereas the people, the led, can First, we must grow the economy 
to growth in government revenue or 
conSistently at fa ster rates to fund all expenditure; es tablish the office of an perhaps plead diminished respon-
the programmes that need urgent independent state prosecutor and Sibil ity, on account of their poverty and 
enforce a genuine l eadership Code; 
illiteracy, they can claim further, unlike funding. I do not pretend to be an 
the leaders, that they have not economist and so I will leave to my 
and so on. 
obtained control over sovereign economist friends the question of how Technica lly, these are relatively simple 
deciSion-making and the allocation o f we go about achieving high average constitutional amendments and bill s. 
the resources of the country on the growth rates in the economy over a All they require is the political w ill that, 
basis of promises to confront national reasonably long period. But what I do unfortunately, has not been in 
challenges, clean up the way we do know are: (i) poverty remains a great abundant supply so far. But sustained 
things and raise standards of living_ cha llenge to the deepening of a public pressure can make leaders 
Political leaders do not only have a sustainable democracy. Poor people acquire, and perhaps even make them 
greater moral obliga tion than anybody usually canno t and do not exercise claim they have and love, political w ill . 
else in the state, to perform 10 their political and civil rights. They are As Mr. Osekre of Achimota School 
el iminate the sou rces of under- too vulnerable and, thus, probably library, lambasting po lit icians and 
development. they have the legal highly susceptible to the demagoguery arguing the superiorit y of multi-part y 
power and the aUlhorit y of office to of populists and anti-democrats. (ii) the democracy even in the far more 
ma"'e a decent attempt. economy cannot, and will not, grow at illi terate Ghana of the late 1950s and 
anything like the required rates 
What has been clear so far is that full withou t substantial changes, 
throttle efforts aimed solely at moving both institut ional and att itudi-
the nation forward have been generally nal, in our politics, to end the 
absent. The attempts have been ei ther current patron-client system of 
dynamically misplaced, or extremely politics tha t has so conspicu-
Incompeten t, or actuated by se lf- ously failed us. 
preservation, meanness, envy, revenge 
and personal enrichment, or strangely The attitudinal changes 
half-hearted, even bordering on the required, partICularly on the 
casual, or all of the above. Ghanaians part of leaders, will have to be 
should ha\.e no difficulty In identifying forced on them by a further Accra Inlernallonal Conief('nc.e Cenlre 
~ 8 
7 
• 
POLITICS 
early 19605, used to conclude in his political parties should jOintly sponsor Unfortunately, self-regulation does not 
dis tinc tive, heavil y Ga-accented a Bill to strengthen and empower the appear 10 be an option in Ghana; It 
articulation in English: " ... You canno t Electoral Commission to monitor and does nol seem to \\oork. Therefore, 
fool all of the people all of the time", enforce a law regulating private independent, cons titutionally establi-
He was right. Wi th the free flow of funding of parties and limits on political shed Boards and Counci ls, to provide 
information and competition among part y and candidate spending on necessary overSight and enforce 
nearly equally - matched political election campaigns. regulations and discipl ine, need to be 
parties, people wi ll learn, hopefully not streng thened across the board, • 
In a truly functioning liberal 
100 slowly, or only little by little, that including for the Police and the 
democracy, no party retains po\\er 
the patronage-based system does not Judiciary. It wi ll be a new dawn in this 
forever. The NDC (National Demo-
really benefit the majorit y and that country when members of these two 
cratic Congress) failed to appreciate 
fluid, constan tly changing. issue-based key institutions in the struggle to 
this simple historical fact when its 
majorities, that can force alternation of en throne the rule of law can agree with 
leaders rejected the Elec toral Commis-
parties in government, wi ll begin to call the publishers of the Old Legon 
sion 's pleas for public funding of 
the shots. Observer that 'Justice Delayed is 
political parties. 
Justice Denied', instead of hauling 
Among the shots to be ca lled, the th ird 
them before their Lordships for 
should concern how the largest three The fourth and final item on the 
contempt of court. To my non-legal 
political parties, the governing party agenda for what is to be done should 
albeit trained mind, that headline 
and the two largest OPPOSit ion parties be an insistence on the rule of law in all 
embodied a self-evident truth. 
at any particular time (using the si tuations. Not only is compliance with 
percentage o f votes ob tained at the this insistence necessary to reassure 
Long may the NEW LEGaN 
latest national elections) should be potential im estors, the justice it is 
OBSERVER survive to reitera te such 
funded to the same limited extent, with calculated to deliver is a necessary 
home truths, for the sake of a renewed 
increased funding every fourth year, 12 safeguard for national cohesion and 
Ghana. GHANA REDIDIVA! 
months before the national elections, so lidari ty. Several reforms will be 
to ensure more equal competition. In necessary to entrench the rule of law in 
exchange for public funding, the the collective psyche. 
ECONOMY 
How is the Economy of Ghana Doing after 50 years? 
The Problem with Comparin g Ghana to o ther Countries 
Ernest Aryee tey' 
Introduction 
O ne question that I often get asked economies". But have oft en 
many times at social functions is "So, restrained myself from doing that and 
how is the economy doing"? My would often say something like " things 
response has often depended on my are ok, but It depends on where you 
mood. If I got asked that question by a stand and where you want to go". Is 
total stranger at a wedding reception that a meaningless or silly response? 
on Christmas Eve, my instinct would be No, it is not. It is quite loaded, 
to respond like this: "Look, I came here depending on how ~'ou look at it. You 
to enjoy myself, not to assess probably might be thinking this is one 
Erne~t Aryeetey IS a Professor of EconomiCS and Director of the Inshtu1e of Sta11SIKal, Social and EconomIC Research (ISSER ) -+ 9 
8 
ECONOMY 
of those economists who always say, who keep extending the list really But le i us go back to the subject of 
" it depends" to everyth ing. There you understand their signi ficance. The measuring economic performance and 
would be wrong, because it really challenge, I guess, is usually how to comparing countries with these. The 
demystify economics and make some 
would depend on the question you growing list of th ings to look out for 
of those indicators relevant to every-
asked me! day application. when comparing countries is obviously 
That reminds me of 
• In the course of my professional the experience of a 
development 1 have come to learn tha t very senior govern-
there are many more ways of judging ment official trying 
the performance of an economy than to explain the per-
simply looking at the usual indica tors, formance of the 
includin g vanous measu res of Ghanaian economy 
to a large group of 
economiC outpu t, consumption, 
se lec ted people in 
Inflation, employment, etc. Quite often Kumasi some years 
in making those assessments we want ago. After he had 
10 compare the situation in our country gone o n and on 
to the one elsewhere. Sometimes, the abou t how the 
point may simply be that Ghana is not gove rnment 's Takoradl Fishmg Harbour 
policies were lead· 
doing as well as it could. At ano ther 
ing to significant drops in inflation, influenced by the number o f th ings 
lime the point becomes that Ghana is somebody in the audience who that the economies are expected to 
doing much better than Sim ilarly described himself as a chief farmer 
achieve, and those things are 
placed countries. Usually, however, asked innocently in Twi: "what at all is 
many Ghanaians want to tell whether a thi s inflation that you keep 
increasing very fast as the problems 
particular government did belter than mentioning"? The government o fficial 
that people fa ce change almost daily. 
then responded in Twi as follows: "just These days many of the economic 
another or whe ther the situation is 
imagine that you have only 11 100 (one targets have been given international 
changing over time. hundred cedis) 10 spend in a year and dimensions. I appreciate the fa ct that it 
These days, as 1 listen to development this amount can buy only one egg. And is useful and nice to compare Ghana's 
practitioners, development managers, then in the following year you observe 
that your 11100 can buy only one half GOP (gross domestic product) at any development partners and deve-
lopment analysts speak about Ghana, of an egg. It means inflation has risen time to that of some other countries in 
the list of performance indica to rs by about 50 per cen t for the year". order 10 make a point. While many 
keeps getting longer and longer, and While I was beginning to think that the would have liked to compare 
one begins to wonder whether those response defied every thing I had unemployment rales, these are difficult 
learned about the 
to delermine in our part o f the world, 
measurement of in-
flation as a student, and nobody seems particularly anxious 
the chief farmer to overcome the cha llenges involved in 
showed that he changing the status quo. I have noticed 
knew even better increasingly that many public officials 
w hen he retorted like to focus on the inflation figures as 
that "in my whole 
the true test of a government's 
life I have never 
come across half an performance, and I hope they have 
egg". 1 am sure you learned from the senior government 
can imagine the wild official's experience. There are also 
laughter that fol· many, including my good sel f, who pay 
lowed from the more attention to how growing GOP 
audience. 
Adome Bridge· Alompoku rates translate into poverty reduction, 
.... 10 
9 
ECONOMY 
more about why Did we share in his dreams? That is one 
Ghana IS not question I have had greal difficulty 
Malaysia and how answering. I am qui te sure most 
different people, not Ghanaians al the time wan ted the 
necessarily econo- same things as he did, part icularly in 
mists, make that terms of the outcomes. There is, 
assessment. however, evidence of vast differences • 
in opinion about how to approach the 
The Promise of the dream, and the fact that agreement 
Early Pos t-Indepen- could not be found on th is probably 
dence Period explains a lot of the political and 
economic problems that Ghana has 
At independence, had in Ihe past 50 years. 
the stakes were very 
lema Oil Refinery 
high, and so were Turning Dreams into Real i t y: The 
and this is becoming the norm in the people's expectations. They had Hard Options 
comparing coun tries. Thus I find more been made to believe that "as soon as 
and more people ta lking about how the white man left, things would be Nkrumah's dreams were translated into 
much poverty has fa llen in one country better". They were expecting jobs in large numbers of poorly run state-
versus another, and which growth is modern factories because these were owned enterprises (SOEs) as we 
pro-poor and which is not. I would like known to pay far more than farming sought to industria lise. I have never had 
to see more government officials in did. They were expecting tarred roads any ideological quarrel with the state 
Ghana, including those at Bank of to their towns and villages because owning enterprises, unlike many of my 
Ghana, pay more attention to these they had learned that the reasons for colleagues. There are many instances 
developments. not having them included the fact they of countries pursuing 'dirigis te' forms 
had no exportable commodities to of government. My point of departure 
As Ghana celebrates SO years of 
interest the colonial economy. There has often been that the state does not 
independence, the comparison that 
were many looking for beller housing have to manage the enterprises it 
one often comes across is thai to 
in poor urban areas since the residents owns. 
Malaysia. There is no doub t tha t 
regard less of what performance had been deliberately deprived by the 
jndicators one chooses, Malaysia has colonial government that chose to pay As we pursued the early dreams, what 
attention first to where its own kindred comparisons emerged? There was of 
moved into a completely different 
lived and then work on the areas for its course the famous wager between 
situation from where it was 50 years 
"collaborators". All the things tha t we Nkrumah and Houphouet-Boigny. It 
ago, whi le Ghana has not made that 
had been deprived of would be was common in the 1970s and 1980s 
impressive a move (see Figure 1 ). Even 
restored to us! to hear Ivorian claims of success. These 
though I only know Malaysia from a 
days I find the claims more tamed, and 
couple of hours spent at the airport in Many have acknowledged the fact that 
Ivorians a far less confident people 
Kuala Lumpur while in transit, I have our first leader, Kwame Nkrumah, was 
than Ihey used to be. So maybe Ghana 
come to appreciate enormously its a good dreamer. He was the one who 
did not come out too badly after all . 
achievements from reading about it wro te "and I can see and hear 
But, of course " depends on how you 
and from studying as much data as I springing up cities of Ghana, becoming 
look at it ! May be, we should use 
have been able to assemble on its the metropolis of science, learning, 
some of the usual performance 
economic performance over the 50 - scientific agriculture, industry and 
indicators 10 judge. We find that the 
year period. But this article is not about philosophy". 
Ivarian per capita GOP IS slill more 
Malaysia and its achievements. It 's 
than three l imes larger than thai of 
... 11 
I 10 
ECONOMY 
Ghana But the gap has na rrowed largely military officers w ith no also our coustns In Nigeria. So much 
considerably in the last decade. And management ski lls, and those w ho had been expected of us, and we had 
now Ghana is growing somewhat could gain access to them. Indeed we managed to destroy all that by not 
faster than C6te d' ivoire (see Figure 2) unleashed unnecessary hardship on being able to develop a link be tween 
and the social indicators show far ourselves, similar to w hat our frien ds in our dreams and our capabilities, and 
fewer differences than they did two Zimbabwe are doing to themselves then refUSing to dream after that. Many 
• decades ago. But you see, I am not today, for no apparent reason. were those who could not vote wi th 
particularly interested in who won the their voices and hands and so voted 
wager, as I believe they bo th losl. I While we talked about promoting with their feet, as if that could solve the 
don't think their coun tries are today Ghanaian businesses we crea ted even problem. 
what they both expected 50 years ago. more 50Es than Kwame Nkrumah did. 
When it comes to the Malaysia We started requiring licenses for every Coming 10 Terms w ith the Real World 
compar ison there is the fac t thai economic activity withou t agreed 
Tunkur Abdul Rahman shared a similar el igibili ty criteria. That allowed rent- By 1983, it was obvious that muddling 
vision as our own Kwame Nkrumah, seeking and corruption to grow much through was becoming suicidal for the 
but both he and his people rea lised faster than ever before, turning our collective good. It must have been 
much sooner that they were not society into one in which merit did not quite a humbling experience for the 
moving fast enough. That brought count. In effect we undermined both new politica l elite to put aside all that 
about change in governance and the state and the market without any they stood for and go searching for aid 
strategy, giving foreign capi tal specific sense of when things would get better from anywhere. When ideological 
roles to play, often in partnership with after making sacrifices. friends did not provide needed 
domestic capital holders and also the support, the World Bank and the IM F 
state. We never gave ourselves the Of course our frustrations as a people were encou raged to step in. That 
chance to re-assess the situation. grew. They grew enough to make us, as brought w ith it a w hole new Aid 
students and professional bodies, defy Industry to Ghana, and now to all of 
Dealing w ith Earl y f ailures: the military e!>tabl ishment and protest Africa. That experience also forced us 
frustrations of a People openly. That allowed o thers to take the to come to terms with the rea l world . 
mailer even further and initiate all In the real world, small open 
1t took us an awful long time to come manner of poli tical changes, we ll economies like G hana are shaped 
to the realisation that we were not beyond our w ildest imaginations. I am largely by how they in teract w ith the 
going anywhere with our deve· fully aware of the fact that the link rest of the world. In that real world they 
lopment. After Nkrumah, and for a betvveen economics and politics is a have tvvo choices: they can either 
long time, we simply lacked an very strong one, and tha t is why I decide to take their destiny into their 
approach. I have elsewhere described expected people who desired poli tical own hands o r hand it to their 
the years 1966 - 1983 as years for power to have credible economic development partners to manage for 
muddling through. We muddled programmes. I saw people struggle for them. 
through, doing what the young political power and then turn to look at 
mechanics at Adabraka refer to as 'ma each other and wonder what next. So Those who opt for the first often study 
fry ma kwe' (I w ill try and see, in Ga). our fru strations continued and we the way the world operates and then 
We tried to feed ourselves and our became far more desperate than our determine how best to engage that 
industries after it became obvious that neighbours. world. That is what many of the South-
if we did not repay our debts nobody East Asian economies did in the 1970s 
was going to feed us on credit. We We indeed became the humiliated and 80s. In this real world, economic 
destroyed the en tire financial system people of Africa, the subject of jokes management is about using resources 
trying to make it finance the activities among Africans, especially our quite wisely, trying to get as much out 
that benefited only the ruling elite, Togolese and tvorian neighbours, and of limited resources as possible. The 
... 12 
11 I 
• 
ECONOMY 
countries that move ahead Of course, with more aid and 
of others are those that are other transfers il can get even 
willing to take initiative and - beller. The Bank of Ghana is 
are innova ti ve. They are obviously \ ery happy with 
those that look for markets / the inflation situation even 
and sirategise how best to though there are worries 
.~---------------------------f/c -----------
enter them. They are not about the link to the • ~/V 
afraid of trade; they master exchange rale; but the only 
it. When they borrow, they 
use the resources as -- --...... - ----
people worried are the 
exporters. I am not very sure 
efficiently and effectively as --- - about the employment 
possible. Indeed they do situation but the number of 
not borrow first and ask people I see at the large road 
'wha t sha ll we do with il '? Figure 1: Per Capita GOP in Ghana, intersections is growing. 
Cote d' lvoire and Malaysia since 1960 
They also do no t share 
Figure 1 however suggests 
cakes that they have nol yet baked. would like to take the first option after caution in celebrating achievement. It 
two decades of libera l reforms, but 
On the other hand those who make the shows clearly that the people of 
there is considerable ri sk aversion in 
second choice may be seen to be M alaysia have done far better than their 
thei r ranks and too much self-interest 
playing it safe, w hich is not necessarily com patriots in Cote d ' ivoi re and 
among those offering advice, benefiting 
a bad th ing. Their budgets are likely to Ghana, which we have known (or a 
immensely from the relationship with 
be financed even if the thresho ld long time. Ghana's perfo rmance in 
the development partners. We have not 
remains too low to deal with the major terms of per capita GOP has been quite 
yet developed mechanisms that reward 
problems facing the economy. They flat, while that of our Ivorian neighbours 
innovativeness and initiative. 
constantl y turn to their ' friends' for first wen t up and then fell. The 
advice and endorsement. Ministers' So, Is Ghana Doing Well or Not? II narrowing of the gap in more recent 
speeches are written by consu ltan ts Depends ... times is more due to their decline than 
hired by deve lopment partners. our nse. 
Na tional deve lopment programmes Clearly, the indi-
have to be 'approved ' by the same cators are cur-
• 
partners and particu lar expressions rently looking bet-
have to be present in order to show that • ter for Ghana after 
, I 
o fficial s of Finance ministries are well many years of Ai' l\,tp. 
informed. Whether the economies are .1"" 1* ~ r-A difficulty, part i-
doing well or not is often determined cu larly compared • , ' \1 .. '(j ''II'" rv t'''' , / .. \'1 ~" 
1 
by the development partners and not to ot her African , \ 
by the coun tri es themselves. Effectively -countries. The in-
•• 
the countries' economic managers cidence of po-
learn to become extremely risk averse • verty at 28.5 per 1 5 2!'1lIMt - .1 
and latch on to any new ideas that may cen t is comin g 
be associated wi th the next big aid down much fa ster Figure 2: GOP Growth Rates in Ghana, Cole d' ivoire 
programme. And there are many such than In most and Malaysia since 1960 
examples in Africa today. count ries, and the most recent annual 
GOP growth o f 6.2 per cent is as good As Figure 2 shows, the growth 
II is my view that Ghana is somewhere 
as it can get under preva il ing structures. achievement is indeed not spectacular 
between the two. Economic managers 
~ 13 
12 
ECONOMY 
today? I honestly cannot tell you. ThIS is 
because it does not simply depend on 
who is in power in Ghana and who the 
economIc managers are. Being a small 
open economy without very strang 
institutions and structures yet, a lot stIli 
• depends on how Ghana's develop-
ment partners respond to it and what 
happens in the rest of the world. 
I would like 10 see the next decade 
devoted to developing Ghanaian 
initiatives and greater Innovativeness In 
the management of the economy_ I 
Preparing plnedpple exports 
would like to see greater determination 
but II looks much better today when outcomes of the re-denomination to influence the structure of the 
one compares it to the very unstable exercise. Somehow the citizens do no! economy and make it more robust. For 
situation before 1984. And indeed it seem to be complaining, as they are example, I would like to see a Ghana 
!lhows that we are growing in a more using both the old and new currency thai decides that it must have a China 
stable fashion than Cote d' ivoire. simultaneously". I must confess I was policy as part of its industrial 
not sure of what the reference to prtces development strategy with a view to 
PUlling aside all that I said earlier about really meant within the context. taking advantage of the new fastest 
performance indicators, I have learned growing market in the world. That 
that the most objective opinions about Anara 's article was concerned about means, In 10 years Ghana should not 
whether Ghana is doing well or not are \vhat he ~aw as Ghana pO::'lltoning be exporting raw cocoa beans and 
those made by foreigners. and here I itself lor a leadership role in the We::,! timber mainly but a much more 
do not mean World Bank or IMF Afncan Sub-Region. Clearly, Ghana is diverslfted set of processed and 
offiCials. In the November 5, 2007 doing something that some Nigenans manufactured Ih?ms. That is '..vhal a 
Issue of Busmess Day newspaper In admIre. Indeed there are many mature economy should do. 
igeria, there was an interesting article Africans who ask me constant ly what is 
written by Blessing Anaro. The title of going on in Ghana, full of admIratIon. 
the article was "Ghana 's re- They have heard positive things about 
denomination: A competitive edge Ghana and are trying to understand it. 
mer Nigeria"? Among other thmg!" The dliferent languages and accent.'> I 
Anoro \Hlle~ thai J retent .. 1511 10 hear at the ne\\< shoppIng m.llh 01 
Ghana reveals the gains the country's Accra suggest to me that many more 
economy has made from Its last re- Africans are as impressed as Mr Anaro. 
denomination exercise ... Besides the 
fact that the currency seems to have In sum, there is no doubt about the 
added 'more weight', it has given the fact that the economy of Ghana is 
country's economy more confidence". more stable today than it was a decade 
He writes further: "for now, the ago. And this is very commendable. 
standard of Itving. including prices of Ghana also has a much more stable 
goods In Ghana, has gone up economy than its neighbours. But will 
notIceably. 0 doubt, this is one of the it be equally stable two years from 
13 
SOCIETY 
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME 
Akosua K. Darkwah' 
For those of us whose parents had not efficient, profit-making rail service In Nelson Mandela is often quoted as 
even mel when Ghana gained Ghana was hard to believe. saying "education tS the most powerful • 
independence in 1957, the numerous weapon you can use to change the 
activities undertaken this year to mark On the other hand, some clippings in world". Ghanaian politicians' belief in 
the Golden Jubi lee of Black Africa's the book tell very familiar stories. In the va lidit y of this statement is evident 
first independent nation have provided fact, these stories are so 
us with many opportunities to learn similar to our p",<tlily now 
about Ghana's history. One such that I find myself double 
activity that I have enjoyed immensely checking dates to make 
is the compila tion put together by sure that the incidents 
employees al the Daily Graphic thai described there indeed 
chronicles some of the major occurred many years 
happenings in Ghana over the last five ago. Take our efforts at 
decades. These news clippings decongesting the Central 
provide a window into life in Ghana Business District of Accra 
over the last 50 years and show us the for example. Apparently, 
extent to which Ghanaian society has goods for sale competing 
changed in the past half century. with pedestrians for 
space on the sidewalks of 
In reading these news clippings, I have Makola market is not a 
been st ruck by both the sense of new phenomenon at all. Hawkers in the fact that since independence, as 
familiarity and dissonance that these were being asked to quit the noted by Ivan Addae-Mensah in his J.B. 
news items evoke. Some of the items pavements as far back as 1968. Oh Danquah Memorial Lectures of 2000, 
tell stories so dramatically different yes, Stanley Adjiri-B lankson has his job each successive government has spent 
from our reality in Ghana today thai I well cut out for him if he intends to no less than 30 per cent of the national 
simply cannot relate to the incidents permanently clear Makola market of budget on education. In addition, 
described. Imagine my surprise for the congestion on the pavements. This each Constitution of this nation has 
example when I read that the Ghana is apparently a 40-year old problem! enshrined the right of every Ghanaian 
Rai lways and Harbours Administration child to basic education. 
made a profit of one million pounds How then do we judge just how much 
sterl ing in the year 1961 ! social change has occurred in Ghana Since independence, a number of 
over the course of its existence as an major reforms have taken place in this 
My only image of a train in Ghana is a independent state? To illustrate this, I country, all in the ultimate effort to 
loud, o ld, rusty train teaming with will look at the educational sector ensure that Ghanaians have access to 
hordes of people both inside and which has been the primary process by education which would ostensibly 
outside the train. Yes, people hanging which we have attempted to effect transform us first as individuals and 
on for dear life. These hangers on no social change in this country. eventually the society as a whole. 
doubt ride for free, which partly Education allows an individual to These efforts began with Ghana's first 
explains why we do not have shiny, develop his or her fullest potential. It president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. With 
gleaming, trains transporting uS allover provides individuals an opportunity to the establishment of the Ghana 
traffic-choked Accra. Indeed, for some expand their horizons, understand the Education Trust, he set about 
of us, the only means of transportation world around them and acquire skills increasing access to education by 
we can easily identify with is road that they can use to improve the building more schools in different parts 
transportation. Reading then about an communit y in which they live. As of the country. In addition, the 1961 
J Akosua K. Darkwah is a lecturer at the Department of SOCiology, the University of Ghana, Legon .... 15 
I 14 I 
SOCIETY 
Education Act enshrined the idea that place; the Ghana School Feeding also, student enrollment almost tripled 
public basic schools would provide Programme w hich fed more than between 1986 and 2004 with the 
almost free education. The only bill 200,000 school ch ildren in selected numbers going from 27,000 to 90,000 
parents with wards in public schools districts across the cou ntry last year over that period. A similar story can be 
received was for fees for tex tbooks. and most recently, the transition to the told at the tertiary level. In 2005, 
Ju nior/ Senior H igh School model. thanks to the increase in public 
In the 19705, other major education which among o ther cha nges, has universities and the establishment of a 
• policy documents and reforms added an extra year to the number of dozen private universities, the number 
Included the Dzobo Report, which years students wi ll spend in secondary of tertiary students hit the 100,000 
served as a precursor to the 1987 school. mark. Dr. Nkrumah, I am sure is happy 
curricula reforms and the Ghana about this. However, these numbers 
Education Service Decree of 1974. Of all the changes that have taken do nol tell the whole slory. The rate of 
The major reform which took place in place in our educational sec tor since increase in access has not matched our 
the 19805 was the" b verhaul of school independence, the reforms of 1987 are population growth rate over the last 50 
curricula in 1987. OUf more home- perhaps the reforms most closely tied years. In real terms then, whi le the 
grown Junior Secondary School/Senior to the goal of transformation. Access numbers have gone up, in terms of a 
Secondary School model technically to education can be granted to all ratio to the population of school-going 
sought to take better account of our citizens but w ithout an education that individuals at each level of education, 
rea lity and needs as a developing takes cognizance of the context in we have made very little progress. 
country. We needed less highly trained which we live and is relevant to the Only 14 per cent of secondary school 
professionals and more people w ith needs of our society, our educational going age children are actually in 
basic training. Vocationa l skills, were sector will be ineffective in changing school and only 5 per cent of 
also given far more prominence than our society for the better. In terms of secondary school leavers actually get 
had been the case with the Briti sh access, at the primary level, the into tertiary institutions in Ghana. 
styled Ordinary and Advanced Level numbers are encouraging. With gross 
system of schooling. Some major primary school enrollment rates Secondly, as ably demonstrated by 
changes that took place in the standing at 91 per cent in 2006, Ghana Ivan Addae-Mensah In his J.B. 
educational sec tor in the 1990s might well surpass the Millennium Danquah Memorial lectures of 2000 
included the crea tion of the Ghana Development Goal of achieving aptly titled " Education in Ghana: A 
Education Trust Fund (GET Fund) with Universal Basic Education before the Tool for Social Mobility or Social 
a portion of the proceeds from value deadline of 20 15. AI secondary level Stratification?" access, particularly at 
added taxes as well as the tertiary level is limited 
the Capitation Grant to a selec t few, who 
Programme, both of happen to attend the right 
which are intended to kinds of secondary 
improve the infrastruc- schools. In the late' 990s, 
ture available in primary, - data collected at the secondary and tertiary University of Ghana, 
institutions. Also, In Legan showed that 
fulfillment of Ghanaian although there were 504 
children's cons titutional Senior Secondary Schools 
right to an education, at the time, between 60 
there has been the per cent and 92 per cen t 
adopt ion of the Free, of students admitted into 
Compulsory Universal the universit y to read 
Basic Education (FCUBE) va riOus courses came 
policy. Since the millen· from the 50 schools 
nium, two other major classified as well·endowed 
changes have Female head porter · 'Kayayoo' taken by the Ministry of Edu· 
.. 16 
15 
SOCIETY 
cation. 43 percent came from 18 of society as a whole. The numbers of 6 per cent of students in public primary 
these schools which have consisten tly Ghanaians going to school is schools. The situation was no different . 
excelled in the National Science and meaningless if the quality of education in Mathematics. While 40 per cen t of 
Mathematics Competiti on. A similar that they receive is questionable. And the students in private primary schools 
story was eviden t at the Kwame on this score, we have made very little reached mastery in Mathematics, only 
Nkrumah University of Science and progress. The emphaSis on quantity 3 per cent of students in public primary 
Technology (KNUST). has not been matched with an equal schools had atta ined mastery in 
• 
emphasis on qualit y. As a teacher who Mathematics.~ I doubt that a decade later, the 
finds it difficult teaching 500 plus 
evidence would be any different. Even 
students in a manner that I can Perhaps, the best way to judge just 
without mentioning any of the names how much difference all the tinkering 
of these schools here, I am sure that guarantee would ensure that each 
student learns, I find it hard to imagine with our educational system has made 
every reader would be able to name 
how my colleagues at the secondary in the last 50 years is to reflect on the 
correctly at least five of the schools potential of our public schools (basic, 
that are included in this list of 18 top and particularly primary school level 
can cope with teaching our children secondary and tertiary) to transform 
schools. Entry into these top schools is 
undoubtedly also shaped in large part the fundamentals of Mathematics, 
our children who spend years in that 
English, Science and Social Science system. I am not simply interested in by the kind of primary school one 
attends. Un like what pertained half a when they have 50 plus wide-eyed 
how many of them would pass the 
children in front of them. Ghanaians' requisite national certificale 
century ago, attending a public 
lack o f faith in the quality of our public examinations but also those who can 
primary school in a rural area makes it 
education system is evident in the read and write grammatically correct 
almost impossible to attend any of the 
numerous opportunities that have sentences, think logically, argue 
top 18 schools. A man who graduated 
been crea ted and taken up by parents cogen tly, understand basic concepts in 
from one of these schools exactly 50 
who can afford to do so to ensure that Mathematics and Science and have 
years ago once shared with me the fact 
their wards avoid having to go through some understanding of the world 
that he went to that school from a rural 
the public school system in the around them. Above all, how many of 
school in the Eastern Region with four 
country. them can draw on the knowledge and 
other colleagues. However, these skill s acquired over the years to 
days, students from that same school Numerous private schools have been contribute to the transformation of our 
cannot even make it into the nearest set up that offer both a different society? That, after all is the ultimate 
Senior High Secondary School, less pedagogical approach (the Montessori purpose of education. While we have 
than an hour's journey away. - style) and/ or different content (the made a lot of changes in our 
International Baccalaureate). This lack 
Clearly then, while on the surface of it, educational sys tem, ultimately I dare 
of faith is not unfounded. On average, 
access to education in Ghana has been say then that very little has changed. 
students from public schools 
improved with the provision of more 
conSisten tly perform worse r-------------,------., 
school buildings, in reality access 
than those from private 
particularly at the higher levels of 
schools on the criterion-
education is limited to the select few 
referenced tests used to 
whose parents/ guardians ensure that 
ascertain mastery in English 
they attend the right kinds of primary 
and Mathematics. In 1997, 
schools which will get them into the 
for example, while 69 per 
appropriate secondary schools. 
cent of students in private 
Even more importantly, going to school primary schools reached 
is not wor thwhile if it does not mastery in English, the 
transform the individual, let alone same could be said for only Ghan.llan street scene 
• These statistics also show that private schools in this country also have some way to go to ensure 
that all the children enrolled in those institutions reach mastery level in both English and MathematiCs. 
16 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY • , 
IN GHANA· 50 YEARS AFTER INDEPENDENCE 
• Ivan Addae - Mensah\ 
INTRODUCTION socia l development has been 
• emphasised in several major world 
One of the major roles of the Ghana forums and documents. In a 2004 
Academy of Arts and Sciences is to act United Nations report en titled ••  
as a think-tank to Governmen t in Inventing a Better Future: A Strategy for 
accordance with the Act that Building World·Wide Capacities in 
establIshed the Academy 48 years ago. Science and Technology, prepared by 
In fulfillment of this Jspeci of the the Inter.Academy Panel (lAP), made 
Academy's mandate. it recently went up of 90 of the world's Academies of 
into dialogue with the Council of Stale Science including the Ghana Academy 
on the question of Science and of Arts and Science, it was clearly 
Technology Governance. This article is sta ted that 
based on the deliberations with the "all n<'H/ons, whether mdustrialised Africa. The declaration concluded that 
Council of State and the memorandum or developing. face a broad array of 
that emerged from these interaction s, challenges that will require the "without embedding science, 
which has been submitted to application of up·fo·date scientific technology and innovation in 
Government through the Council of knowledge and technology. No development, we fear that 
Stale. nation can now afford to be without ambitions {or Africa will {ail". 
access (0 a credible, INDEPENDENT 
My objeclive In this article is to Science and Technology (5& T) All governments of Ghana since 
articu late some of the concerns of the research capacity that would help it independence have acknowledged in 
Ghanaian scientific community, to develop informed policies and principle, the pivota l role of Science 
including the Academy, and bring the rake effecti\'e action in these and and Technology in the country's 
issue of Science and Technology other areas". economic and social development. 
Governance to public notice so as to The Seven·Year Development Plan 
generate the necessary debate to Another report from the Inter-academy (1963 .. 1970), the new educational 
enable the country fully understand Council (lAC) and the Inter-academy reforms, the Medium Term Deve-
these issues and try to find appropriate Panel (lAP) has underlined the fact that lopment Plan (1997 - 2000) and e'ven 
solutions. No science and technology no African country can develop its the new Ten-Year De'velopment Plan 
policy can make any meaningful agriculture, ensure iood security and currently m preparation by the 
impact on society if the governance produce a surplus for export withou t a National Development Planning 
structure at the highest level is weak. massive and sus ta ined infusion of Commission. all recognise this fact. The 
human and material resources from problem has been with imple-
The modern world economy has been science and technology into mentation. That IS why SO years after 
shaped by scientific and technological agricultural production. Just before the independence, v\e are slill crymg about 
advancement, resulting In the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland in the same Issues that were clearly 
emergence of the Knowledge 2005, which was attended by H.E. the idenllfied in the country's first major 
Economy. No country has been able to President John Agyekum Kufuor, the development plan 47 years ago. 
modernise its economy without Academies of Science of the G8 
reliance on scientific and technological coun lries issued a joint statement with In Part III of the First ,\.tedlum Term 
inpu ts on a massive scale. The the Network of Academies of Science Development Plan (1 997 - 2000) of the 
importance of science and technology of Africa, on the role of Science and Ghana Vision 2020 Development 
as the main tool for economic and Technology in the development of StrategIC Plan, it IS stated thai 
han Addae-Mensah IS Prof('ssor of ChemIstry and a retIred Vice-Chancellor of tht:' Umverslty of Ghana, Legon .. 18 
17 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
"technology and technical expertise are Science and Technology education in in a general lack of appreCiatIon of 
critical factors influenCing the success Ghana is not responding adequately to Science and Technology and ti s 
of small enterprises. Many entre· development needs due to inadequate relevance to de\ elopment. We tend to 
preneurs are either unfamiliar wIth new funding, poor management, obsolete look at issues of de"elopment, not as 
technologies or cannot afford to access pedagogical strategies, and the very challenges that need sober scient ific 
appropriate levels of technology. This weak governance structures that have appraisal for solutions, but as Issues 
problem is often magnified by poor bedevilled our scientific endeavours that can only be solved by di"ine 
linkages between science and since independence. Current resource intervention. • 
technology institutions and industry, allocation to science and technology 
lack of coordination amongst research education is less than 0.5 per cen t of Ghana cannot expect to develop as a 
institutions, inadequate funds for GOP, far below the minimum of , per na tion wi thout devoting subs tan tial 
designing and developing marketable cent proposed in the lagos Plan of human and material resources to 
prototypes, and WEAKNESSES IN THE Action. Advanced countries and some research, development and application 
ADMINISTRATION OF SCIENCE AND of the emerging countries such as of science and technology, and the 
TECHNOLOGY AT POLICY AND IM- Korea, Malaysia and Singapore devote governance structure for achieving 
PLEMENTA TlON LEVELS. as much as from 3 to 10 per cent of these objectives is absolutely crucial. 
GOP to support sCience and 
The document therefore recognises 
technology. Past and Present Science and 
the weak Science and Technology 
Technology Governance Systems 
governance structure of the country as Constraints to the rapid development 
a major obstacle to successful of adequate scientific and techno- During the first republiC, science and 
entrepreneurship. Ghana needs to logical manpower 10 support our technology mailers were directly under 
rapidly train and creale the critical industrial and economic development the President, and all mailers relating 
mass of scientists and technologists to include poor laboratory and workshop to planning were also directly under 
enable her provide and manage facil ities, low enrolment of science and him. The first time the country had a 
emerging industries and take full technology students, weak and fu ll Ministry devoted to Science and 
advantage of the global technological ineffective linkage between training Technology was in the 1979 - 198 1 
explosion with the required human and research institutes and the Government of Dr. Hi lla Limann, when 
capi tal. The country needs to productive sec tor, and a very poor the M inis try of Industry Science and 
modernise and re·equip existing science cul ture in the society, resulting Technology was created. with full 
scientific, technological and industrial Cabinet status. 
establishments to meet current 
challenges and cope with current and Even wi th a full Ministry, with or 
future global trends. without Cabinet status, Science and 
Technology have always been made 
appendages of some other ministerial 
The recent discovery of oil in portfoliO. From "Industry, Science and 
commercial quantities requires that the Technology", the country moved to 
country should immediately, as a Science and Technology, then to 
matter of urgency, set the necessary "Environment, Science and Techno-
processes in motion to train the logy" then to "Environment and 
appropriate personnel to manage and Science", w ith Technology appended 
exploit th is new national natural to ''Communications'' as the "Minis try 
resource, o therwise we shall find of Communications and Technology", 
ourselves being held to ransom by a move which att racted considerable 
foreign expertise, which will siphon off crit icism from the scient ific com-
a vast portion of whatever benefits wi ll munity. The answer to these crit icisms 
accrue from this resource. Quick and was the complete disappearance of 
effective planning towards this goal is Technology from any Ministry, w ith the 
absolutely crucial. Scientific Research 
~ 19 
18 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
creation of the Ministry of Communi- than there were in 1996, yet these are 
cations and the retention of the the institutions expected to train the 
Ministry of Environment and Science. middle level technological manpower 
This was then followed about eighteen for industrial development. 
months ago by the President's major 
These trends are not likely to change to 
cabmet reshuffle which cut down the 
enable the country achieve its 
number of Ministers and Deputy 
economic development objectives if 
• Ministers by about 10 per cent. One of 
the governance structure for science 
the casualties, unfortunately, was the 
and technology continues to be weak, 
Environment and Science Ministry. Now 
fragmen ted and uncoordinated. In the 
we have the Ministry of Environment and 
Academy's view: M.lmpong Plant R~$e.lfCh Institute 
Science totally dismembered, and half of 
tool for the country's rapid economic 
it absorbed into the Ministry of local • The Education w ing of the Ministry development. 
Government and the o ther half absorbed as currently constituted is already very 
Inlo Education. big, with serious budgetary constraints. • Since technology is the in terface 
Adding the Science portfolio to it is 
These frequent permutations and between science and development, 
likely to constrain resources going into 
combinat ions of Science and putting Science under Educa tion, 
that sector, and make Science and 
Technology have not allowed the means that institutions such as the 
Technology an even more deprived 
country to focus adequa tely on Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, 
unit of the sector. 
science and technology as the major the Council for Scientific and Industrial 
1001 for our economic development. Research and all its 13 constituent • The Science Education Unit of the 
Educa tional institutions in the country, research institutes and other affil iate Ministry is limited to only the Primary, 
part icu larly at the tertiary level, centres, etc, w ith mandates that go far Junior and Senior Secondary school 
including the polytechnics, are levels, and does not go beyond beyond just education and manpower 
confronted with limited capacity to curriculum development and promo- train ing, will all now come under Ihe 
enable them take advantage o f the vast huge and inadequately funded and tion of science educat ion at those 
po ten tial created by globalisation In already very complex Ministry of levels. There is little provision for 
the knowledge market. handling the science content of higher Education. This is definitely going 10 
education and matters of high affect their capacity to con tribute to 
Curren t trends seem to suggest that industrial development as outlined or 
scientific and technological research 
our educational institutions, including 
and development. mandated in various Government 
those set up to promote science and documents. Similarly, serious national 
technology educat ion, are drifting • Science and Technology permeates and international environmental issues 
away from their assigned norms. The several ministries, including Trade and are likely to be bogged down by 
poly technics which are supposed to Industry Roads, Rai lways, Harbours, mundane local authorit y issues. 
produce the middle level manpower Aviation and Space Technology, Envi-
for our technological advancement ronment, Energy, Agricu lture, Health, • When one looks at what is going on 
now have more students in marketing etc. It will better serve its purpose by in some African countries such as 
and bUSiness studies than in electrical being given a higher profile, if possible, Rwanda, South Africa and Nigeria, one 
and mechanical engineering. Accor- cannot help but feel extremely worned by existing as a separate Ministry with 
ding to the 2000 Population and about what IS going on In Ghana, and 
Cabinet slatus, to be able to coordinate 
Housing Census special reports, the the rudderless direction that Science all aspects of Science and Technology 
ratio of science to humanities students and Technology continues to receive. for Development 
in our universities has dropped from Nigeria, for example, has se t dear 
43:57 in 1996 to 36:64 in 200 1while • Dispersing the responsibilit y for targets to have ItS own communication 
that In the polytechnics has dropped Science and Technology into other satellite in space by 2015, and have an 
from 55:45 in 1996 to 44:56 in 200 l. ministries does not give the impreSSion astronaut In space by 2025. Nuclear 
In effect there are now more non- of a coherent and focused policy power as an alternative to fossil fuels IS 
sCience students in the polytechnics being vigorously pursued. Whether direction that will aCI as the necessary 
~ 20 
19 
• 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
these are achievable targets or nO I, sought to Implcmentlls provisions over should be a Spetial Ad\ Iser to the 
they consli tu te a national dream being a sustainable period of time. President on Scien(c and Technology, 
directly and vigorously purslIed by the mdependent 01 the Minis try and 
Government under the direct • In the past, ministries responsible for directly respono;;ible to the President. 
supervision of the Presidency. One Science and Technology have nol This is the case in the more advanced 
may therefore ask, what is Ghana's really articulated what role Science and countries such as Brltam, the USA, 
dream for the next 10 years? What is Technology must play in economic India and Chma. The office of the • 
our vision for Science and Technology development, as the main driving force Science Adviser Will be expected to set 
as a nation? for industrialisat ion. This needs 10 up special task forces that will 
change . articulate the President 's vision and 
• Nigeria is reported to have set up a implement each year, al least one or 
National Raw Materials Research • Evidence-based scientific stud ies on two big ideas or objectives, that reflect 
Foundation under the Office of the specific tasks to assist in policy the President 's vision de\elopment and 
President. A certain percentage of tax deCision-making have been missing 111 advancement. 
is levied on all industrial raw materials SCience and Technology gO\ernance. 
imported into the country. The tax • No mailer wh ich Ministry is charged 
revenue accru ing goes directly to the • Science and Technology ministries With Science and Technology 
Foundation for funding Science and have opera ted as if they only play governance, Government should 
Technology research, especially the supervisory roles for various agencies es tablish a Science and Technology 
development of local raw materials, in as a link to Government instead of Commission or Foundation, indepen-
the country. Research therefore does being the source of ideas and the dent of any Ministry, with an 
not suffer from inadequate funding. Is driving force for using Science and mdependent budget controlled by the 
Ghana thinking of selling up a similar Technology to transform the economy. Ministry of Finance. As an overarching 
research endowment fund? If so wha t institution, its budget of , to 2 per cent 
is the envisaged seed capital and how • The coun tr y started the construction of Ghana's GOP should be apprOved 
is it going to be sustained? of a Science Museum as far back as by Parliament. The Commission should 
1963. It is yet to be completed and be able 10 source for independent 
• It is the considered view of many commissioncd. But we have managed funds from o ther sources, internal or 
scien tists in the country, including the to construct four football stadium" in external, to support Science and 
Ghana Academy of Arts and Scicnces, two years. Are we really serious about Technology Inillatives. The tax on 
that the frequent changes in the applying Science and Technology to imported raw materials to support 
governance structure for Science and our development efforts? Science and Technology research that 
Technology is the main cause of the Nigeria for Instance has instituted 
non-implementa tion of the National Recommendations could serve as an example. The 
Science and Techno logy PollC) • Science and Technology should be Commission w ill be charged w ith the 
Document, prepared as far back a'l given a higher profile and more development and application of 
August 1998. No single mlOi ~try ha ... efft:!lIi\\.. ):;O.l' lo.:mu.: ;'!IL. . ctu;\.. thJn i::, Science and Technology for national 
regarded this document as the basis of presently the case. Ideally, there should de\elopment, and the inculcation of a 
our economic development and be a separate Ministry for Science and scientific culture inlo the general 
Technology \. .. ith full Cabine t status. population. Such a structure obtams in 
The MInistry wi ll be re::,ponslble for South Afnca, the United Kingdom, 
liaiSing between the Research and India, the USA and Malaysia. 
Developmen t institutions and 
Government. • The tendency to shift science and 
technology matters around with every 
• However, whether Science and cabinet reshuffle does not give the 
Technology is given a separate Ministry right impreSSion that the coun try is 
with Cabinet status or continues to be serious about its science, and should 
Salelhle Dish appended to another M inistry, there be avoided at all cosl. 
20 
• 
Winner 
Institutional Investor 
of the year 
Epack Wins African Institutional Investor of the Year (2007)! 
The Epack Investment Fund IEpackl. managed by Databank Asset Management, has been 
adjudged the Best Institutional Investor in Africa in 2001 ! This was awarded by the Africa Investor 
(Ai) Awards on 7th November, 2007 in Lagos, Nigeria. 
The Ai Awards attract the continent's best and brightest contestants and are seen as the 
international benchmark for excellence in responsible investing in Afri ca. Epack was short-listed 
under the category of Institutional Investor together with five others namely; Pan Africa 
Infrastructural Development fund. Public Investment Co-operat ion, Industrial Development 
Corporation, Risk Capital Facifity, Global Commercial Microlinance Consortium and Peregrine. 
And of course, Epack emerged the undisputed proud winner! 
What has Epack achieved? 
Since its inception to date, the number of shareholders has risen from just 5 to over 65,000 whi le the 
value of the Fund has increased from a mere e250,OOO to over e750 billion today! Since the 
beginning of 2007, the share price of Epack has risen by 42.BB% (as at 14'" November, 2007) while 
the average annual return on the fund is over 50%. The cumulative return on the fund from inception 
to date is over B,OOO {B,133% as at 14th November, 2007). In other words, e1 m illion cedis invest ed 
in Epack in 1996, would be worth over eaO m illion today. 
Epack, as a pan-African Equity Mutual Fund has investments in 10 countries across Africa (Ghana, 
Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, South Afri ca, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia, M orocco and Malawi). As a 
long-term fund , Epack invests in under-valued shares of listed companies across African stock 
markets. The minimum initial investment is GHe5.0. Thus, through Epack, Databank has helped to 
expand grassroot access to capital markets in Ghana and many parts of Africa. 
~ Databank Epa¢k 
Leadersllip AJrirn 'J #1 ""l"u/ f lwd 
r_T_ _ KlIMAS! OFFICE TIE ..... OFfICI! ~ SSN,ra.c.~ 
:"~b~"~_""'" _~ -..e7·~ -_l-!lf","'" " 1 r~_ ~'T_ 
(%1:1-2".'4(10 1'0'001'0 '" ""' ,21J.SI,1_' T. ...22 0')1.&311-12 .2,)_2'_,  "'00 Fa.  _:>2_1)0 .:1,7_8111 •1•  -"-443 II-.---  ... 12l3-2".'043 E_ ... ,. , __ _ ~.. ... ,2].).",29100 '. 1»-22 .!030 • IE' ...... _ l..-... ..... __ 
www.databankgroup.com 
21 
• 
LAW AND CULTURE 
TOWARDS A MEETING POINT OF VICTORY 6 
Ngugi wa Thiong'o 
Le i me start by acknowledging the translation. Thus Peter Nazareth, of to the West. The Western gaze on the 
tremendous thought and energy that Ugandan-Asian orrglns bu t now world becomes dominant, sometimes • 
Dr. Colette Atkinson, lynh Tran and teaching in Iowa, talked movingly of making the non-Western look at itself 
Lynh 's predecessor, Chris Aschaan, 'Elvis in the Third World ', looking at this throu gh Western Eyes. But what about 
have put into planning this conference. icon in terms of the margi nali sed the Asian, African, Native American, 
But the conference, of course, would cu ltures of Africa and Asia. Maori Native Pacific gaze at the world? 
not be possible without your expressed intellectuals talked of Shakespeare's Cultures can illuminate and creatively 
desire to participate and now your sonnets in Maori and showed the impact one another to the benefit of 
presence. The conference and its riveting film, Merchant of Venice, set in the human, challenging us all to be 
themes are timely, for, given the speed New Zealand, in the Maori language open to o ther ways of knowing. 
of globalisation and the tensions it is with Maori actors. The 2004 Nobel 
generating, the need for genuine Peace Laurea te, Wangari Maathai From 'Here to There: Languages III 
dialogue between cu ltu res and Conversat ion ', brought together 
languages on the basis of equality and writers work ing in and from margi-
mutual respect has never been greater. nalised languages and cultures to 
discuss the relationship between the 
The idea of the conference itself arose languages of the cultures from which 
out of the activities of the Interna tional they wrote or drew; and the dominant 
Center for Writing and Translat ion language with which they engage, in 
(ICWT). Since its inception five years alliance or opposition. The 'Here to 
ago, ICWT has supported translations There' of the title assumed the normal 
mostly in to English, and language cognitive process of knowledge 
revitali sa tion projects 10 diverse beginning where one is, the here, then 
countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and adding to it, all the way to the there, 
the islands, including Angola, Eritrea, each step being enriched by what has 
Kenya, South Africa, India, Tibet, gone before while clearing the path for 
Martinique, Ice land, Hawai i, Iran, the next, the COnstant mutual 
Indonesia, Italy (Sicily). The Center has illumination of here and there. 
Zulu girl . www. lr;)\.eLmdleisure.com/.lrlides/ zulu-n.ltlon 
also brought to this Campus, Native 
American, African-American, Maori, discussed the environment as the The 'Here and There' are everywhere, 
Samoan, Hawaiian, Caribbean, Korean, language of human life and talked of contained in each other, interlocked 
Indian, Irish, Finnish/ Danish, and multilingualism as reflective of bio- and for all time and space. Applied to 
English writers under its two series: eco-diversi ty. language, it means that for the 
Other Ways of Knowing:The Challenge individual and the communit y of every 
of Cultures in Contact; and From Here Underlying the notion of other ways of culture, the mother tongue is the 
to There: Languages in Conversation. knowing was a question of the starting point of the quest for 
tendency to assume and often act as if knowledge. The 'Languages in Conver-
Under 'Other Ways of Knowing', the there is only one way of looking at sa ti on ' part o f the title is in reference to 
distinguished intellectuals engaged in reality, mostly the way that comes in a the need for languages and cultures to 
issues and varied notions of cultural straight temporal line from the Greeks engage each other, through translation 
.... 23 
• Plenary Keynote Address at the Conference on NGlobal Con"ersatlons: A Festival of Margmahsed Languages" organised 
on Wednesday October 24, 2007 b~ the International Center for Wntmg and Translation (lCWT), the UOI ... erslly of C.lhfornI3, Irvine. 
Ngug, wa Thlong'o is Professor of Comparative Literature and English and Director of ICWT. 
22 
LAW AND CULTURE 
as the common language of all homogenisation. The world of nalised, (or instance, between Gujerati 
languages. We took translation as. languages and cul tures has thu s and Yoruba, Igbo and Zulu, African 
conversation, more as an ideal which become divided into a dominant few and Native American languages, there 
has ye t to be rea li sed, because and a marginalised many. Margina- is almost total silence! 
conversation assumes equality of the lisa lion is a question of power, for the 
interlocutors. Without that assump- languages themselves, no matter the The ICWT programmes were meant to 
• tion, conversation would be anything quantit y of their speakers, are not encourage conversation among lan-
but conversation. It would be a prayer, marginal. Whereas between the guages, among the marginalised 
a lecture, a sermon, a command. In dominant, translation has been a two- themselves and between the margi-
struc tures of the dominating and the way traffic largely, among the nalised as a whole and the hitherto 
domlOaled, languages negate the marginalised, it has become dictation dominant. Our model was 10 encour-
.deals of conversa tion and assume a of the dominant to the marginalised, age a model of relationship thaI made 
relationship of command in a hierarchy with the dominant dictating the visible the genius even in the most 
of power. interflow and terms of the exchange marginalised of languages. 
between them. The 
• result is that many The intellectuals who came here, most 
intellectuals of the of you among them, illuminated many 
post·colonial world aspects of the hvo series, Other Ways, 
have abandoned and From Here to There, and the 
their languages model they tri ed to encourage. They 
altogether to write, also raised other questions. In time we 
theorise and schola- rea lised that although the ICWT 
rise in the domi- touched many languages and cultures, 
nant. They may the intellectuals came here in threes 
argue that they are only at anyone time. Why not bring 
using the borrowed together all the intellectuals who have 
dominant langua· touched and been touched by the 
ges differently, and 
Peasant farmers at work Center, within the Campus, the State, 
this is largely true, the nation and the world, for what 
Nothing illustrates thi s distortion of the but the fact remains that at the end of would amount to a global conver-
ideals of mutual give and take better the day, it is the languages and cul tures sation? In the end, financial and 
Ihan the colonial process during which of the birth of these intellectuals wh ich logistical restraints would not allow us 
the relationships between languages have been deprived. The intellectuals to bring everybody to Irvine. But we 
became one of dictation from the may be excellent spokespeople of their did not give up on the idea of a global 
dominant to the dominated culture. own cu ltures through their mastery of conversation, which is why we are all 
lust as in the realm of economics and the dominant; English for instance may ga thered here from Kenya, Ghana, 
politics, so in cul ture, the world even give them a world stage to display South Africa, Ireland, Spain, India, 
became divided inlo a handful of the the dynamism of their cultures, but this Denmark, Turkey, Germany, and the 
dominant and hundreds of the is a case of the dominant enabling and Americas. But even two people can 
dominated, a situation still reflected in disabling. It enables such intellectuals still initiate a global conversation. We 
the relations between languages today. and the cultures they represent to hope that our discussions In the next 
In more ways than one, the global voice their originality on the world three days will contribute to a vast 
world IS an inheritor of global stage defined by the imperial language, global conversation among cultures 
colonialism. A handful of languages but it disables the voice of those and languages of the Earth. 
literally dommate all the o ther cultures and languages by deprivmg 
languages of the globe. Some them of some of their best minds and We are hoping that the parllcipants 
languages, With all the knowledge they genius. Visibility in the dominant will address many of these Issues and 
contain, are e"en dying under the becomes invisibility III the more, particularly around the several 
pressure for Imguistic and cultural marginalised. And among the margi- Rs: Recovery, Revival, Revltalisation, 
.... 24 
23 
LAW AND CULTURE 
and Restoration leading to grealer instance, have been translated into insights they have gained from years of 
visibil ity of margi nalised languages. Indian languages. In many international linguistic and cultural activism and 
Recovery, Revival and Revitali sa l ion fora, Ihere is often the talk of the share them with the rest of us. That 
take on a more urgent lone when we transfer of appropriate technology way, we shall return to our places, 
realise, as in John Noble Wilford's from where it is most concentrated to strengthened, no longer feeling alone, 
report in the The ew York Times of where it is less endowed. What aboul but part of what many others, all 0\ er 
• 
19 September, that one language falls the transfer of appropriate knowledge the globe, are trying to do. The idea is 
out of use every two weeks; and that of in general from its concentration in to make this a continumg conversation 
the est imated 7,000 languages spoken, dominant languages to the margina- allover the globe, a conversation that 
nearly half are likely to disappear, Ii sed? All this should be a conscious implici tly challenges the hierarchical 
following those that have already been global movement, a global res toration model of the relationship between 
driven to their graves. Restoration is project, calling for a grand alliance of languages and cultures and envisioning 
part of recovery, revival and the committed. a replacement \\ IIh a model based on 
revitalisalion, but here at the I(WT we networking.ln a net".ork, all languages, 
have been using the concept to refer to It is the visibility of the buried voices of big and small, can give and recei\e. 
the process of pUll ing works written in the globe, whether in Africa, Asia, 
a dominant language by intellectuals Europe, Australia, the Americas, that That is why at the Interna tional Center 
from a marginal ised culture, back into will measure the success of such an for W riting and Translations, we have 
the originallangudge and culture of the enterprise. Here among us, are many borrowed, for our inspirational molto, 
intellectual, in effect restoring the work participants who have already taken a line from Aime Cesaire's book 
to its original language and culture advantage of new technologies to 'Discourse on Colonia lism', that 
without interfering in its existence in make the languages they work in, a culture contact is the oxygen of 
the dominant memory, almost like little bit more visible. The use of civilisation. 
helping it return home from exile. technologies to enhance the vision is 
Conceived as a global project, it would one of the themes of th is gathering. Aime Cesaire concludes his celebrated 
affec t quite a number of cultures in There are other issues, for instance, the Poem, 'Return to the Native land', with 
Asia, Africa, Europe and the islands, relationship between the marginalised a declara tion that no race has a 
and it would help in reversing the brain and the dominant and how they can monopoly of beauty and intelligence, 
drain by ensuring that the products of work together creatively. that there is a place for all at the 
that brain drain go back to build the rendezvous of victory. The same could 
local base. We are not talking about a The focus of the conference IS be said of languages; that no language 
new thing: this process has already therefore on activism and learning has a monopoly of beauty and 
started. Some of Wale Soyinka's plays from one another. Most of those intellect, emotion, reason, that there is 
have been translated inlo Yoruba. present have been ac tive players in the a place for all at the meeting point of 
Many works by African writers have drama of languages in their own victory. This global conversation 
been translated into Kiswahili. In India, coun tries. We are hoping that the should be a small step towards that 
100, some works, Rushdie 's for participants will readily draw on the victory. 
24 
, 
• 
INTERNATIONAL 
AFRICA AT A CROSSROAD: Will Ghana Show the Way? 
Gobind Nankani" 
Africa has been experiencing an ings like The Economic Community of with that of other developing countries. 
• economic boom over the last five years . West African States (ECOWAs), and in Between 1975 and 1995, all regions in 
Such high growth rales have not been the AU to help lead African growth and the world except Africa improved 
seen across Africa for four decades. an improvement in the lives of Africans? incomes. Even South Asia, with its large 
Economic growth has averaged over 5 number of poor people, made 
per cent, and has been much higher in , .. , ., , {f. . , t;;- .... -~"~ ';... . impressive strides. And, of course, in 
oil exporting countries. Even the , •. " ~ . "~."fl" East Asia, the word "miracle" has been 
conflict-ridden countries on the used to cap ture their unprecedented 
conlinent have begun to do belter. growth performance. During this same 
Some argue that Africa is at a period, African incomes dedined. Since 
crossroad: there is a new economic -" 1995, African growth has improved, 
renaissance afoot. Others maintain that with income per capi ta growing at 1.8 
these good limes are fragile; that the per cent. Despite this favorable recent 
high commodity prices, driven by high trend, by 2005, income per person in 
growth in the United Sla ies and China, Africa had not yet recovered to the 
... , , It 
may, as they always have in the past, be levels observed in the mid-1970s. There 
'r' ~ "" 
reversed. African countries will there- ~ • < • •• was also much variation across 
fore again see a growth acceleration • countries: a few had high growth, such 
followed by deceleration. as Botswana and Mauritius; many 
. . regis tered modest growth, such as 
Ghana is, rightly or wrongly, seen as Map of Afnca Ghana; and others-such as the 
one of the leading indicators for the rest Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 
of Africa. Ghana turned 50 this year. In this article, we address three C6te d' ivoire, and Zimbabwe 
The celebrations 10 March recalled questions on how to sustain African registered declining incomes. In 
emotional scenes from 1957. Through· growth, using Ghana as a focal point: (I) contrast, growth in all other regions was 
out Ghana, many of Ghana's own how has growth in Africa fared over the positive throughout the post- I 995 
daughters and sons welcomed our last 50 years, and what lessons can be period. 
achievements. Others, casting an eye drawn for coun tri es like Ghana? (II) 
on comparable countries such as what lessons does international A closer look at Africa's low growth 
Malaysia, South Korea, Botswana and experience imply for Africa in general unmasks a strong "stop-go" pattern. 
Mauritius, lamented what might have and Ghana in particular? Finally (III ) The period has been made up of 
been. In much of Africa, Ghana's 50th what role must countries like Ghana episodes of growth accelerations and 
anniversary was acknowledged as of play in the ECOWAS and AU context? decelerations, or by periods of good 
continental significance, a period of times followed by bad times. There was 
reflection: what would the future bring (I ) Growth in Africa: Lessons from the a slightly higher tendency for good than 
for Afnca? Would this be foretold by lasl 50 years for bad times~ This explains the region-
Ghana's experience? Will the future wide average growth of 0.7 per cent 
bring a continuation of the high growth Recent research (Ndulu, Arbache-Page) between 1975 and 2005. Underlying 
of the last five years? Given Ghana's on growth in African countries in the this was an average growth rate of 
current chairmanship and the historic last 50 years is iIIuminaling in three 3.6per cent during the good t.me!;, and 
role played by Nkrumah in the African ways. First, African growth has been negative 2.7 per cent during the bad 
Union (AU), would Ghana play a low. As is well known, the African times. What IS noteworthy is that had 
regional and con llnenlal role in group- growth story compares unfavourably Afnca avoided the bad times, average 
Lohmd N,ml...ml I~ iorl1l('r Vice Presldent for AlrlG! dt the World 8..lnk ,md President of the Global [)eo..eiopment N('I~~ork -+ 26 
25 
INTERNATIONAL 
incomes \\ 'ould have grown by at least performance. Further, i t must do Recen t reviews of the successful 
30 per cent more: growth would have everything possible to preven t growth growth experiences of countries such 
been 1.7 per cen t rather than 0.7 per collapses. Such collapses are ohen as China, India, Botswana, Mauri t ius, 
cen t. Further, accelerations have been due to external shocks i.e. sudden Chile, etc (Rodrik-Hausman, World 
more common between 1995 and changes in commodity prices or Bank) have helped establish both the 
2005, and decelerations between 1975 international recessions with their common principles and the country-
and 1995. This lends credence to the multiple effects. The challenge for specific fundamentals underlying their 
suggestion that something different has African countries is that they need to superior performance. The key lesson 
been happening in Africa over the last manage such shocks better than in the here is: there is no "one-size--fi ts-all" but 
decade. past. Countries can learn to manage it is also not true that "anything goes"; 
shocks better as is clear from com- certa in common principles must still be 
Third, th is "stop-go" pattern has had paring the traumatic 1997 East Asian adhered to. Or, as Rodrik's recen t 
negative economic and social costs. crisis with the minor effect of the book's title puts it: 'One Economics, 
Growth accelerations tend to be current US credit crisis on East Asia. Many Recipes'. 
associa ted wi th higher savings and The Implications for Ghana are 
investments, and hence are more likely identical : find ways to keep the (a) The common principles that each 
to meet an essentia l condi tion for favourable growth of the last few years coun try must stress are: (il macro -
further growth. Foreign direct robust, and prepare in advance to stable macro economic management, 
investments are six times as high manage any ex ternal shocks that may as measured especially by inflation (ii) 
during accelerations. The "slop-go" hit. External shocks are part of a global global - taking aggressive advantage of 
pa ttern harms social indicators. Life economy. it is never a question of the opportunities pro\ ided by global 
expectancy, infant and under five whether they will hit or not, it is just a trade, investments and technology; 
mortality, and the primary enrolment matter of when. VVe therefore need to and (iii) state discretion - interweaving 
ra te are all substantially unfavorable build defenses against them, well in a strong use of markets with a judicious 
during decelerations. Significantly, advance. In this regard, it is com- use of public instruments which are 
during growth accelerations the mendable thai the 2008 budget states effective in the country's institutional 
positive impact on social indicators is an intention to enact a Fiscal context. 
much smaller than the negat ive impact Responsibility law and to se t up a 
during decelerations. Over time, then, Stabilisation Fund. Both are important (b) The country-specific dimensions 
social indicators have tended to instruments in the management of arise because countries need to 
stagnate or in some cases decline. shocks. identify and work on their most 
binding constraints sequentially over 
The upshot of this retrospective on (II) Successful Growth: lessons from time. Growth involves deep changes 
African growth is two-fold: Africa must International Experience for Africa and innovat ions. But it is impossible for 
take advan tage of the recent and for Ghana a country to change everything in one 
resurgence of growth since 1995 to step. Hence, it is necessary, as suc-
Increase its long term growth Since maintaining high growth is an cessful countries have demonstrated, 
essential part of Africa's long term to work on the most binding 
strategy, it is useful to ask: what advice constraints first, deal with those, and 
emanates from the experience of suc- then move to the next set of binding 
cessful developing coun tries, and from constraints, etc. The success of count-
global thinking on Africa? AI the risk of ries like China, India, MalaYSia, etc is 
over-simpl ifying, there are three mes- reple te w ith examples of this kind of 
sages: (a) each country needs to successive attack on selected pro-
follow a few broad principles; (b) also blems. For example, China, Chi le, India 
to discover its country-specific growth and Malaysia continue to reta in 
journey; and (c) African countries face controls on capital inflows, because of 
special challenges that require a their relatively fragile financial systems, 
Ghanaian garment worker complementary global effort. but it is expected that some day these 
... 27 
26 
INTERNATIONAL 
controls will be lifted. Country-specific incomes. More recently, the UN Panel as an example, the macro performance 
approaches also come about in the on Climate Change has emphasised In 2006 and 2007 has been 
ways In which countries choose to that many of the biggest risks from disappointing. Happily, the 2008 
trade and invest. Thus, China today is climate change wi ll hit the poorest Budget calls for a Fisca l Responsibilit y 
the manufacturing centre for the global coun tries the hardest, and especially Act, whose implementation wi ll be 
economy, whi le India has focused on African coun tries. There is ye t no essential. Export performance, in the 
• services (especially software and discussion of what support w ill be non-traditional sector, remains tepid. 
ou tsourcing) and more recen tly is needed to help poorer countries adapt And the "Golden Age of Business" is 
becoming a major exporter of foreign to climate change. W ithin Africa, there still very much at an ini tial stage. Again, 
direct investment in sectors in wh ich it have also been continental effort s to progress is being made on improving 
has deep experience such as steel. In address Africa-wide challenges, such as the investment cl imate and in reducing 
general , the agenda for tackling the NEPAD ini t iative on regional the cost o f doing business. At the same 
binding constraints is often focused on infrastructural investments and on the time, Ghana lags behind many other 
sectors such as energy, transport , African Peer Review M echanism. African cou ntries in attracting the 
finance, trainin& logistics, etc., and pri va te sec tor into the cri sis-prone 
addressing their problems takes careful What are the implicat ions of these energy sector. Ghana needs dlso to 
diagnosis and very effective imple- three messages for Africa and for work much harder on its most binding 
mentation. constraints w hile achieving excellence 
in execution, especia lly in in fra-
(e) Finally there is a general consensus structure, export s, agricu ltural produc-
on the need for additional global tivit y growth and in our China policy. 
efforts to support Africa 's own efforts 
to break out o f its historical poverty From the third message, African 
quagmire (Sachs, Africa Commission countries have begun to recognise that 
Report, UN, A fri can Development these global efforts can, at best, only 
Bank, World Bank, UN IPeC). The be the less crit ical part of the solution. 
scale and scope of such additional Much more ac tion and effor t are 
global efforts are debated, but not their needed by African coun tr ies 
need. Thus, Sachs has argued that the themselves. This is in part because the 
depth of poverty and some of the rhetoric of our external partners has 
geographic cons traints on many not been matched by ac tions. Thu s, 
African countries require a special aid Ghana? From the fir st message, the 2005 promise of a doubling of aid 
effor t to help meet the Millennium African countries must have a to Africa by 20 10 is already 
Development Goals by 20 tSar as continuing strategy to mainlain acknowledged as off-track. Excluding 
close to that as possible. Easterly does macroeconomic stabi lity, 10 export debt relief, aid to Africa actuall y 
not dispute that aid can be helpful, but more aggreSSively and increase declined in 2006. It is also in part 
is dismissive of the results achieved by competitive investments (domestic and because development experience 
curren t aid efforts, emphasising foreign), and make judicious use of demonstrates that without strong self 
instead, examples of successful self- market and public instruments. From efforts, susta ined success canno t be 
help efforts that are easy to spot on the the second message, they must also achieved. Indeed the experience of 011 
cont inent. Collier has recently argued take on their binding constrain ts exporting countries such as N igeria IS 
that the world's Bottom Billion, many sequentially, even if this goes against instructive: oil, like aid, is an external 
residing in African countries, need a the advice of some of our external in flow, and neither assures a country of 
special dea l not just on aid but also on partners who are particularly inef- success. Thus, African countries need 
trade. He argues for trade preferences fective in harmonising their support . In to complement the reliance on aid 
for all African coun tries, in order to both areas, many African countries wi th a stronger reliance on other 
allow them to compete with East Asia, have made some progress. But there is instruments. We must argue for the 
and to forge a new path of rising much more to be done. Using Ghana trade preferences that CollIer 
.. 28 
27 
, 
INTERNATIONAL 
advocates. We must have a China Africa has the most serious favorable in ternational environment 
policy that ensures ' tha t there are infrastructure deficit of any other and from the high commodity prices 
spillovers from their investments in continent. This is compounded by the for Africa's exports, as ..... ell as (rom the 
mining and oil ; spillovers such as relativel y low population density and increased demand for these products 
employment, subcontracting to local the lack of navigable rivers that lead to from China. Significantly, Africa has 
suppliers, technology transfer, and oceans. Infrastructural investments too, also benefited from the many reforms 
natural resource proceSSing. We must whether in roads, railways, energy, or that African countries have undertaken 
improve our investment climates indeed in health and education, have in the last two decades, which are now 
aggreSSively to facilitate domestic and to be looked at in regional not country bearing fruit. Examples include the 
foreign investments, learning from frameworks. Third, in negotiating with macroeconomic stabi lity tha t is now 
China's own experience on how to get other global bodies such as the WTO, the norm across the con tinen t; 
the best out of foreign investments. the EU, and countries like China, single improvements in the investment 
We must make better use of African coun' -:"s just cannot match the climate; the productivity gains from the 
remittances and find the right human capi tal and experience the introduction of competitive mobi le 
incentives to have them channeled other partners bring to the table. II telephony, etc. On balance though, 
Ihrough the financial system. And we makes sense for groupings such as analysis suggests that at least I per 
must increase domestic revenues, ECOWAS and the AU to take on active cent, and perhaps as much as 2 per 
which will have the added benefit of roles in assisting countries or in cen t, of recent growth may be due to 
making governments more accoun- building the capacity to do so, to the commodity price and volume 
table to domestic constituencies Ihan ensure win-win outcomes for African boom. Should this boom turn into a 
to external partners. The recent AU countries. mi lder boom or a bust, African growth 
decision to se t up an African will be impacted. 
Given these regional challenges, it is 
Infrastructure Fund to help finance 
important for countries such as Ghana Africa's own experience and that of 
NEPAO's projects by borrowing from 
to play strong leadership or other successful developing countries 
Pension Funds around the continent is 
stewardship roles in ECOWAS and the suggest that the best path forward is 
a fine initiative, now awaiting effective 
AU, beyond the minimum that every one with the following features: 
execution. 
African country would contribute. The proactive, country-led, principled, and 
(II I) Regionalism: It will be appropriate decision at the recent AU Summit in 
w ith an appropriate mix of 
Accra to examine and streamline global/regional/continen tal elements_ 
to highlight one more African 
Africa ' s Regional Economic Com- Since the mid-1990s, Ghana, and other 
challenge and its implications for 
munities was a good one, now also countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, 
countries like Ghana. It is now 
awaiting successful execution. Ghana Uganda, etc. have been on a 
accepted that African growth wi ll need 
and other successful African countries transitional path moving closer to the 
another ingredient: regional and 
such as South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, preferred path. The regional bodies 
continental collaboration on selected 
Senegal, Botswana, etc. have a special such as ECOWAS have become more 
projects, especially in infrastructure, 
responsibility to play a regional and active, and the AU is waking out o( its 
and programmes such as trade and 
con tinental role. This is of course in earlier slumber at the continental level. 
investment protocols. The key points 
Africa's interest. But wha t the three But we are not there yet. It is now time 
are: First, Africa 's total GOP is small. All 
regional challenges tell us is that it is to step up to the next challenge and to 
of Africa's GOP is comparable to that 
also in the interests of the potentially demonstrate Ihal Africa too can 
of Belgium. A typical African country 
more successful countries like Ghana produce some examples of successful 
has the GOP of a single large city such 
that they play their supra-national role growth to inspire o ther countries on 
as Chicago or Shanghai. The average 
to the maximulll extent possible. the con tinent. Botswana, Maurit ius and 
African country has a population of 
to some extent South Africa have 
four million. Given Africa's market size, Conclusions begun this process. For it to take root, 
countries must not develop growth 
Yes, Africa is at a crossroad. But the countries like Ghana, Senegal, Tanza-
strategies in isolation from their 
outcome is not a foregone conclusion. nia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Madagas-
neighbors in the sub-region, and for 
The recent upturn in growth in African car, Uganda and others must become 
some matters, the con tinent. Second, 
countries has benefited (rom the Africa's " tigers" . • 
28 
COMMENT 
TWO SCHOOLS OF TAUGHT (sic) 
(Power in the Nation 's Disco urse) 
Ebow Danie l' 
Rising from the ashes of the First No less an empire·lover, Prime Minister 1966, it happened also in 1972, and 
• Republic, the "Legan Society on Harold Macmillan was also less starry- again in 1982; and are we done ye t? 
National Affairs" (lSNA), which eyed. In office, he thought he could 
published the celebrated "Legan see " the Wind of Change" coming. It Flirtation w ith absolute power 
ObserverJ/(LO), soon came to include was, indeed, a tsunami. He st ill made becomes inconvenient only when we 
academics as enamoured of Socialism the right judgement, to run to a safe are ordered to leave our homes on a 
as others were disenchanted. Presu- haven than to be hurt from being in the Saturday to report at a designated 
mably, what each taught in class way. And so taking advantage of the place to de-silt gutters, because the 
depended on the school of thought to changing mood in Downing Street and President is similarly engaged. This is a 
which they belonged. Indeed, "two Whitehall, we set out from the Gold Ghanaian e-..:perience with not just one 
schools" was playfully bandied about Coast to arrive in Ghana in 1957. It government. It is especially inconve-
when the membership of the lSNA was to be furtherer away from the nient when a retiree's car can be 
was in discourse. Queen in Buckingham Palace, that we commandeered for one "operation" or 
proceeded directly to the First Republic another, and never returned. And then 
It IS a deserving tribute to the defunct in 1960. we discover to our consternation that 
LO that, 25 years after being chased restraining the President who has 
away from the stands, another grown too big is difficult while trying to 
magazine seeks to emulate what it dislodge any such is the treasonable 
tned 10 do, to provide a forum for act for which we can be incarcerated 
debate so we do not slip back into or even shol, before trial. 
monologue. In each volume of the LO 
could be found the writing to engage Fist rai sed, "power to the people" is the 
the mind and others to rest the mind, 
slogan that immediately puts non-
the serious and the nol so serious or 
people at ri sk. Blamed for everybody's 
the " unserious", all juxtaposed in one 
povert y, non-people are the legitimate 
document. In tribute all round, in this 
punching bag of the people. So, when 
maiden issue of the new magasine, we 
the enemy of the people hits the 
dare say where power is concerned, 
canvas and power has come where it 
there are two schools of thought , and In spite of our republican aspirations as rightly belongs, who so politicall y 
of taught too! a nation, we have in each village an incorrect wants to extend discourse to 
Odikro, the absolute monarch, to 
"Power corrupts", said lord Acton, handing over of power, to whom? The 
British historian. He spoke as a scholar whom allegiance is personal, before raised fist is no t without significance or 
who had observed power·play in whom we acknowledge our subject advantage. It is fisticuff ready for 
status. From the village, it is a short 
historical settmgs and could see the containment of the awkward question 
corrOSive dynamics. Winston Churchill, walk to go looking for the familiar, in the middle of a people's take-over 
romantiC imperialist politiCian, knew namely, the national overlord who is bid of power. 
diiferently. Not unlike money, power is no less absolute. The yearning for the lord Acton's dictum on the 
Its own attraction. It was the reason he absolute state of affairs shows in the 
was not about to dismantle the British readiness to welcome any who comes 
corruptibility of power was the 
Empire. II \vas not a project to which a dismantling the carefull y crafted 
examination question with which many 
document to preclude the "one-man- a student of history cou ld be Victorian Brlllsh Prime Minister could 
commit. show", to install himself as the " in 
confronted until European history has 
charge" under whatever title. Besides been expunged from the list of thmgs 
Ebow O.mlell~ a retired Reglwar of Ihe Uni\Nslty of Chand. legon -+ 30 
29 
, 
COMMENT 
worth studyi ng in school. Power descended on the capi tal from Ho, the are not there with us at the tro·tro 
corrupts, whom? The Good Book tells people who were going to lead the (local lorr y) station, because they have 
how 10 the Garden of Eden the First beach fights could not be found. One more assured, also more comfortable, 
Lcldy was corrupted from ea ting an of them was fetched from the sea means of transport. Some have gone 
apple. If apple corrupts another, it is afterwards. He preferred going for a about looking after their own in ways 
itself not immune to cor rup tion. As a sWim when Ho came to town! that the Citizens Vetting Committee 
matter of observed fad, under the tree (during revolutionary tlllles) would nol 
where it fa ils, apple undergoes AcceSSing power invites histrionics, approve, for which Ihey have suffered; 
putrefaction, ceasing to be whole- regrettably. We happen also to have or may be not ye t. But, even in reduced 
some. Reflexively or intransitively, apple some very strange ideas abou t w hat circumstances, everybody who has 
corrupts, it rots. must not happen when we are in office. held political office is better off than 
When we have doled out money to before taking to politics. 
Like apple, so like power, capacity to delegates to be elected nagbearer at a 
lay waste others and all. Genocidaire, party congress and performed in mallY The poin t IS that power IS not any 
both the Hutus of Rwanda and the soap operas for the amusement of the burden under which the politICal elite 
Nazis o f Germany forfei ted worldwide electorate at large, to arrive where we labours, 10 their personal detriment. If 
goodwill before long. Isolated, the wan t to be, we must at once become it were so, MPs would not ask to be 
I lulu regime lost out to its Tutsi victims vege tarians or teeto talers? Fami ly returned to Parliament again and again. 
including eigh t hundred thousand dead members must disengage from If there was no two-term limit to the 
over a mere three-month period. business? Because government con· PreSidency, who might not be running 
Similarly, the Th ird Reich wh ich tracts might otherwise come to family again? We heard it before, power IS 
promised itself one thousand years In to fuel perceptions of conflict of del icious, absolute power is absolutely 
o ff ice proved short-lived after mterest? delicious! 
disp.:HChm S six mill ion Jews in a 
pogrom. So discredited, dismembered It is our good fortune that we have To conclude, Lord Acton's letter of 
and atrophied, nei ther regime IS about experienced life under different regimes 1887 to Bishop Mandell Creighton said 
to resume. in the years since 1957. This is how we more than the truncated version 
come to know that socialists, social credi ted him. He wrote, " power tends 
Power IS also honey to the tongue, as democrats, property-owning others or to corrupt. and absolute power 
others have observed. It explains why any kind, civilian or mi litary, nobody corrupts absolutely. Great men are 
engaged in all manner of self-marketing, falls in love with poverty, if they can almost always bad". 
so many in the land now want to be help It. "Charlie Wotee" (rubber fl ip 
President. The "Door-to-Door" engage- flops) or "Afro\ Moses" (sandal made It is food for thought, in particular, 
ment wi th the electorate is the " I Care out of used car tyres) is not anybody' s whether the converse of lord Acton's 
For You" touch. It is refreshingly novel. preferred footwear. Nor does anybody thesis also holds, whether bad men can 
Not so refreshing is the promise to die suffer from itches for wearing imported ever be great. For the present, 
for a power-broker, recalling our subject designer·wear. discourse is all the more engaging 
status. when power as corrupt (or) 15 
It is not known of any of our political contrasted With power as a delicacy. 
" I will die for you" recalls also another ehte who has turned down overseas " two schools ... " ! 
piece o f melodrama in 1966 when, in scholarships for their children because 
the face of threa ts from Guinea, one of there <:Ire not enough to go round for 
us came on television to recite a speech SOCial equity. None is known to have 
laced wi th Churchi llian quotes, "we refused allocation of a hire-purchase 
shall fight on the beaches" and all. estate house from the State HOUSing 
Barely a year on, to be precise, on April Corporation till others in the 
17, 1967, when the Mortar Regiment constituency have had their turn. They 
30 
, • 
w 
~ 
E South Industrial Area, Ring Road West Off GPlp~r$.-Roatl . L P. O. Box CT 4952, Accra Ghana Tef: (233-21) 222.~36 { __,  , 
Fax: (233-21) 228075 Email: info@presligeghana.com www.perftOl ana.com \ 
Moto,CompanyUmlted ACCRA. KUMASI • TAKORADI • HO • TAMALE • B~ ' -" 
, 
.. •<  ,'~_ "".-. '!Ii)o-~-