Category: Blog

Currently, one of my favourite ways of enjoying Wednesday evenings is to watch the “Zain Africa Challenge”. It’s a quiz organised by Zain and it’s for selected Universities in Africa. The quiz master of the show is great and leaves an “indelible mark” on his audience – a good enough reason to make a date with him every week on the show.

This quiz is based on general knowledge with topics ranging from history, science, African culture, geography, literature, music and current affairs.I don’t think any syllabus is given so the student’s performance depends on their understanding of what’s happening around them and how knowledgeable and versatile they are when it comes to issues covered on the show.

The quiz started with 5 Ghanaian Universities and before long, four were evicted during the 1st round leaving only one that made it to the 2nd stage. As to how they got there it was a miracle. At the 2nd stage, the final Ghanaian university was evicted.

Looking at Ghanaian universities today, it is hardly a surprise that they were eliminated so early? I for one think that our Universities are now places encouraging rote learning, rather than places where ingenuity is rewarded.

The issue here is whose fault is this? Is it the faults of students, lecturers or government? A lecturer who takes over 600 students for one course has no option than to let the class answer “fill in questions”, true or false and mostly objective questions that merely require you to reproduce what the lecturer has taught you. Even these responses can be found in handouts that the lecturers themselves have produced. There is no room for a student to research on any topic unless the student is in a class of less than 100 students and the lecturer is prepared to take the time to mark, or the student loves studying and has a hobby of reading, but for the average student…When even an assignment or a term paper is given that requires students to research, how many students get the papers back?

In my days at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, it was rare to see the “Junior Common Room” full with diligent students. In face, whenever you saw the Common Room full then you will knew there was a football match on. On “normal” days, the common room was a place for playing pool. Students prefer reading novels (that is if they read) to reading newspapers and prefer watching movies to watching the news.

In my opinion the subject of quality university education in Ghana is a challenge to the nation as a whole and it behoves on each and every individual contribute to making our educational system better.

Where do we start from and how do we do it?

Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant

Over the weekend, I attended the final funeral rites of a close relative at one of the suburbs in Accra. Unfortunately for me, most of the activities during the church service were in Ga, the local language spoken by the people of Accra for which I neither speak nor understand. So to while away the time, I decided to do what I do best when I am bored; observe my surroundings and watch those coming in and leaving the church. This funeral was for an 80 year old man, and so quite a number of those who attended the church service were octogenarians. What struck me as I observed most of them slowly walking towards the entrance were the different forms of age associated disabilities that they had.

Some used walking sticks while others used sigma frames as walking aids, and a few others were held by the arm and directed to their seats.

As I observed these senior citizens, I was reminded once again of the fact that life indeed is a journey and throughout the long journey aging is one of the certainties that every one will come face to face with.

In our youth we sometimes forget about the fact that a time will come when we will be unable to do some of the things we love to do because we will be weak, deaf, dumb, frail, and blind, or have physical and mental disabilities as a result of aging.

This is what Maya Angelou, one of my favourite all time writers wrote in her book “ Even the stars look lonesome” on Aging: “At sixty my body, which had never displayed a mind of its own turned obstreperous, opinionated, and deliberately treacherous. The skin on my thighs became lumpy, my waist thickened and my breasts- its better not to mention them at all except to say that they seemed to be in a race to see which could be the first to reach my knees.”

I am only in my mid thirties and in the past decade I have seen my own body undergo various forms of transformation; my waist of course has thickened and as for my breasts I will not describe them at all.

The physical changes in the body as one age is very obvious and I think for women it is even more difficult because directly or indirectly, society puts a lot of emphasis on our physical attributes as a measure of our worth. Sometimes I wonder whether that is the reason why a lot of women shy from mentioning their correct age as if it is a crime for women to grow old.

I personally think that aging is a reminder to us that our life on earth will certainly end one day. The question is “how do we live our lives so that the end is full of memorable adventures”. My recipe for a fulfilling life journey includes;
• make the best out of every situation
• live your life to the fullest
• plan your retirement as soon as you start working
• take good care of your body both physically and spiritually.
• try new and exciting things and
• above all do not forget your creator.

Nobody should waste time grieving about growing old. Instead, begin another exciting chapter of your life today because you and only you hold the key that can make things happen. Are you still afraid of aging?

Scrolling the contacts list on my phone last week, I realised there was this “Old man” friend whom I have not spoken to for about two weeks (which was quite unusual). This man is 65 year old and a German has been my friend for close to 6 months. I tried calling him, but his phone was switched off. I persisted, but still I couldn’t get through to him.

Incidentally, he called me today and after explaining that I have been trying to speak to him for so long he told me where he had been and what he had been up to and guess what? This man who has been married for over 26 years had taken a vacation with none other than his wife. I was sooooo impressed that he has been able to keep the flame of his marriage burning all these years! He proudly said it is something he does at least every 6 months.

After the call I started asking myself questions; why my friends who have been married for as short as 5 years are now bitter enemies and at a personal level, why I have not been taking time to relax. I sat down to ponder, especially over the last question and I have to admit that my life is so much calculated and ordered that things naturally fall in place each day and week and nothing new and exciting is happening to me at all.

Prior to my moving to Accra from Takoradi, I used to love spending time in ‘solitary confinement’ in my room and going to the beach. Spending time at the beach gave me such joy and inspiration from admiring nature and putting aside all my fears and cares. But since I moved to Accra I have come up with a number of excuses not to continue with the occasional beach breaks: traffic jams on the way to the beaches, for example.

After my conversation with my German friend, I decided on an additional ‘New Year’ ‘resolutions, which considering the period I should appropriately call ‘a mid -year resolutions. And these are, to come out of my “shell”, be proactive and at least once every quarter of the year have some fun with my friends.

So in case I don’t pick a call or my phone is switched off any one of these weekends, you should know where I am.

Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant

Are you a female novelist, poet or playwright? Have you attempted writing any short stories, novels, poems or plays? Do you need guidance in writing and publishing your own work? Are you a member of the Mbaasem Writers’ Club? Then Mbaasem Foundation is inviting you to join the Ghana Women Writers’ Forum for a wonderful evening of interaction.

Venue: The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) House, Roman Ridge , Accra

Date: Thursday 23rd July 2009

Time: 5.30 pm

This interaction will be the first of a series of meetings that will be aimed towards helping established and aspiring writers to write and publish their works. The meetings will also offer women writers the opportunity to collaborate and network with each other. All interested women are cordially invited.

Contact: 024 345-1003, mbaasem33@yahoo.com

It is well known that President Obama chose to visit Ghana because of its track record in governance and democracy. Not all of us who live here are convinced that we are such a good model for governance and democracy but that is a subject for another blog.

This morning Joy FM (Ghanaian local radio station) interviewed a journalist who had been assaulted by some staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as he tried to report a demolition exercise that was being carried out by the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra (Ghana’s capital). The AMA officials were destroying the shacks and tables used by street hawkers. The AMA officials did not want this journalist to report the story. According to the journalist in question (Cyrus De-Graft Johnson, a Joy FM journalist) he was physically assaulted and robbed of his belongings including his mobile phone, recorder and a wallet. A fellow journalist who tried to come to his aid was also severely beaten up. All this was done whilst armed and unarmed policemen who were there to protect the task force watched on.

I initially heard this report at about 8.3oam, by midday Joy FM reported that President Mills had ordered an immediate investigation into the assault of the journalists and had personally spoken to the journalists. The head of the AMA, Mr Vanderpuye also said he had retrieved the personal effects taken from the journalists.

Is it a coincidence that President Mills rang the two journalists on the same day that President Obama is arriving in Accra or am I merely being a skeptic when I suspect a linkage? After all it will not do for there to be media reports about assaulted journalists on the same day that the 44th President of the United States of America visits Ghana, to hold the country up as “a model of good governance and democracy” in Africa.

Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communication

P.S: I am a member of Ghana Blogging.com and this post is my contribution for our universal blogging day

8th July, 2009.

Dear President Obama,

You are expected in our beloved country this Friday and already Obama-mania has taken over Ghana. To be fair Obama-mania is not solely because of your impending visit. Obama-mania began when you became the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. On that fateful day in November when you were voted into office many Ghanaians did not sleep. I was one of the unfaithful who went to bed but I instinctively woke up during the night and checked CNN to find that you were going to become the 44th President of the United States of America. I guess it is only fit that we as Ghanaians felt so involved with the American electoral process. After all, your country is the “World’s Policeman”. At least that is how it feels some of the time…

I know you are travelling with your wife, Michelle but the whole country appears to be excited about YOU and not the First Lady. Hmm, I wonder if the levels of excitement would have been the same if she was President.

You can’t imagine the fuss your impending visit has caused. Let me tell you some:

Listening to Ghana’s Joy FM yesterday, it was reported that the chiefs of the Ogua Traditional Area in the Central Region had declared that no funerals are to take place on Saturday the 11th of July. The Chiefs in their wisdom and foresight anticipate that the Obama motorcade will drive through their municipality and they want no hindrance in the President’s way. Instead the Chiefs plan to hold a durbar which Obama may view as his motorcade speeds by. I am wondering if they have not heard that Obama’s helicopter will be transporting him to Cape Coast direct from Accra. I also feel sorry for all those who have been planning funerals for months (in some cases even years) and scheduled the funeral for Saturday. In Ghana, funerals are a big deal. We definitely do not subscribe to the notion, “let the dead bury the dead”.

A new organisation called “Friends of Obama” seems to have sprung up overnight. Seriously you will be impressed with the efficiency of this organisation, no one seems to know where they sprung up from but they have erected posters, bill boards and banners all over the country welcoming you “home”. Please make sure you take time to look out of your speeding motorcade and you are sure to catch some of their handiwork. This group has easily spent several hundred thousand dollars to celebrate you. I caught the tail end of an interview with the coordinator of “Friends of Obama” and she says all the money spent on the billboards, etc was raised from friends and individuals. How I wish some of these individuals would donate some of their dollars to my organisation (The African Women’s Development Fund)

If I am to continue listing all that is being done in your name – songs have been produced, special flags featuring your face, there are even some who think that the fuel shortage is because your advance party has emptied our stock – this will become “So Long a Letter” so let me get straight to the point of this letter.

A few weeks ago an enterprising journalist visited the offices of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). His mission? To find out what the impact of Michelle Obama’s visit to Ghana will be for women’s rights organisations. Our first reaction (a colleague and I) was amusement. What? He was expecting impact after a flying visit by the First Lady of the USA? Impact on the women’s movement in Ghana? After I had ceased to be amused I began to see the possibilities. Imagine if Michelle Obama paid a visit to AWDF? The world’s eyes would be on us. We could invite our grantees and she could dialogue with them about the work they do, more people would become aware of AWDF and our grantees…her visit needn’t be long. Even 5 minutes would suffice. But alas it is not to be.

Trust me, AWDF has tried to get on the Obama’s schedule, we have sent letters to all those that we need to contact, lobbied those we can lobby and called those we can call but so far it has been to no avail.

I haven’t given up yet which is why I am writing this open letter to you President Obama. I know that your priorities (according to the rumour mill) are seeing the Slave Castles in Cape Coast/Elmina (and I do understand why) but if you or Michelle want to make an impact to women in Africa during your visit to Ghana, please take 5 minutes to visit AWDF. This is my official invitation to you.

Yours Sincerely,

Nana Sekyiamah
Programme Officer for Fundraising & Communications

P.S: I am relying on the viral powers of the Internet to get this message across so if you know anyone who knows anyone who may have a connection to the 44th President of the USA please forward this letter.

Part of my personal reference documents are kept in the boot of my car. These references are in the form of notes and materials from the workshops that I have attended in recent times. Over the weekend whilst I was cleaning the car, I decided to go through the documents to refresh my thoughts on certain topics. It was in the process of doing this that I came across some of the notes I took during the 2nd African Feminist Forum (AFF) held in Uganda last year.

These notes were from the session “reconciling personal values and beliefs”. The essence of the session was basically to look at how personal values and beliefs influence the work of feminists fighting for equality and justice for all African Women.

A number of participants shared their experiences at this session. One person for instance mentioned an incident in which she was approached by a journalist who wanted to know if she was willing to do some research on the rights of lesbians in her country. According to this person, because of her own personal values and beliefs she quickly said no. Later upon reflecting on the issue she realized that she definitely could have handled it better.

At this session, the statistics of the millions of women who die every year in Africa from unsafe abortions was also presented. There is a huge difference between the numbers of women dying from abortions in countries where it is legal as compared to the countries where abortion is still illegal. As frightening as the statistics are and continue to be, some women are unable to be involved in what is needed to make abortion safe because of religious and moral reasons.

In his book the “Audacity of Hope” Barack Obama wrote and I quote “he believes that only a few women made a decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved and wrestled with her conscience when making the heart wrenching decision. A ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortions as they had once done in America and as they continue to do in countries that persecute abortion doctors and the women who seek their services” end of quote. This was in response to a man who approached him to say he disagreed with his views on abortion

I agree with Obama when he concludes by saying that we need to find ways of reducing the number of women having abortions.

It is extremely unfortunate for any woman to lose her life or develop a life threatening disease from an unsafe abortion. The issue on abortion has to be looked at dispassionately so as to ensure that women in the prime of their lives do not die prematurely.

I recall at the same AFF during one of the sessions I had a chat with a Sister sitting by me who thought that gay people needed counseling to reform. In her view if we continued to entertain gay people the population would decrease to a point where the human race may go into extinction. I immediately responded that I did not believe that day will ever come.

She then asked me what my own thoughts on gay rights were. I remember telling her that I believe we should learn to be tolerant of other people’s sexual preferences. She then asked me what I would do if I ever found out my child was gay. My response which still continues to be my worry is that I am afraid of how society may discriminate, label, ridicule and in some cases even abuse that child because he or she is different. I told her about the true life story of a 17 year old boy who was lynched to death by his peers because he dressed and acted like a girl. The mother of this boy never imagined that her community would be so intolerant to that extent but that is exactly what happened. I concluded by saying that it is for this reason that I want to play my role to ensure that every individual’s human rights are respected at all times.

In the words of John F Kennedy “if we cannot now end our differences at least we can help make the world safe for diversity”. Are you playing your part to make the world safe for diversity?

Gertrude Bibi Annoh-Quarshie
Finance Manager
AWDF

Joining the AWDF Slimmers Club is the second best thing that has happened to me this year (the first being a deeper understanding of the Love of God).

In early May I got a mail from a colleague Nana, inviting interested sisters to sign on and join a slimmers club. I was not too keen but curious. I did not give my commitment but found myself at the first meeting on May 18, 2009. After being introduced to the concept I decided to give it a try and here I am today barely four weeks later feeling so proud of myself.

There is so much discipline in my life. I have stopped craving especially late at night. I have full control of my sweet tongue and have not had a coke, ice cream or chocolate in about two weeks, which is quite a feat for me. I do not have to park haphazardly to get something that I am craving badly for, which means I am also saving.
The best part is I have inspired my 11 year old daughter to become disciplined about her eating habits (she has the tendency to be overweight). She has become so committed to the slimmers concept and is presently keeping a log of the type of food she eats every day. She has become so empowered and has been explaining to her friends at school why she no longer joins them for their daily routine of buying and consuming fried yam and chicken after school or why she no longer takes drinks and biscuits to schools like her twin sister. She now takes only her lunch and good old plain water. She is committed to eating enough fruits to make up for all nutrients and fighting her cravings. She has become so knowledgeable that she is saving calories for a funfair she plans to attend this weekend.

I never thought my daughter or I could work on our weight, but barely a month after signing on to the slimmers club I feel a sense of accomplishment, I feel so fulfilled and I feel hip. Thanks sisters for creating the environment for me to find that inner power that has enabled me so far to stick to the plan.

The slimmers club seeks to provide the environment for members to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Joining the slimmers club involves attending weekly meetings, where we monitor our progress towards our individual and collective objectives. The meetings also serve as a support system for members. We share our thoughts, experiences; have nagging questions answered as well as share tips on how to stay on course.

Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager

The issue of child labour and for that matter the exploitation of the female child especially, sometimes appeara as tall tales or gives you the bandwagon effect of shouting with the crowd “this is bad it must be stopped!”, but having a personal encounter is another ball game altogether.

Somewhere in the middle of last year I went home from work at about 6.40pm to find a girl about 8 years peddling oranges in front of the main gate to our apartment. So I asked who she was and why she was sitting there at that hour of the evening. My two ten year olds quickly retorted “Mummy she is our friend and we buy oranges from her every evening” so as courtesy would have it I asked how she was doing and went in doors. I came home a few days later and there was the same girl sitting comfortably at her usual spot with a few oranges on her tray, her eyes calling out at me for help as if to say “please do not drive me away”. Reading in between the lines the children say to me “Mummy won’t you have oranges?” “No” I said “Mummy please buy the rest of her oranges” I thought twice about it and asked them to have it and pay for it.

Later that evening, I started questioning my girls and got to know a few things about their latest fancy. I sensed that even as children they could feel the girl’s lack of love and basic desires. So at our next encounter I sat with them and started chit chatting. I offered to go and see her parents and officially ask for permission for her to come over and play at her leisure but she vehemently said NO and that she would be beaten to pulp if her mother found out she comes to play with my girls.

So I started thinking? What do you do if you come home and found a young girl with eyes crying out for love and help but very reluctant or better still restrained from getting help? How does one offer to help without being too intrusive and how does one make her good intentions known without raising people’s suspicions?

Well I have not found answers to those questions yet but it has moved me into a process of critically examining the situation of the girl child. For example I have started taking very serious note of the child labour situation in the country. I have been taking keen interest in the number of young girls selling ice water at the Nima junction in the evenings sometimes as late as 8.30pm weaving in between vehicles with some of them being as young as 7 years. One wonders when they would have time to rest and glance at their books if they are in school and if they have books at all. One wonders the diverse types of violations they have to suffer just to make ends meet. One wonders what type of policies are available to protect these girls and if the people we have queued up to vote for (sometimes for hours) even have these young girls on their web designed radar screens, screens which are often too complex for mere humans such as myself to understand.

The children of today have their childhood stolen away by a complex mirage of things. Do not think only about deprivation, even in rich homes the television for example has stolen not only the childhoods of children but the children themselves away from their families. Careers of parents have deprived children from enjoying their childhoods etc. So you see, it is a complex web of issues that needs to be thought about fast and hard.

Anyway while you are still pondering I also have some serious strategizing to do about that 8 year old girl whose eyes continue to cry out to me for help even though presently I am at my wits ends as to how to offer that support

Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager

This is an update to the blog I posted on women’s rights activists calling on women to go on a seven- day sex boycott (girlcott?), posted on Aril 30. I know blogger has been acting up lately and is still deciding whether or not to accept or reject comments, so I want to assume that’s the reason for the silence.

This morning it was reported that a Kenyan man is threatening to sue the G10 for ‘inciting’ his wife to deny him sex for seven days, which has caused him great distress and anguish and inability to release his tension, which led to his inability to concentrate at work etc, etc.

According to him he was accustomed to having sex with his wife three times daily. (No it is not Panadol we are talking about here). Anyway, some people think that it is the guy who should be sued for turning his wife into a sex machine, while others think he should seek medical help. A few people even thing that activists should check on the wife, he has probably given her a black eye…..

Roselynn Musa
Information & Documentation Officer