HashtagGH.

What is the best time to sneak back into the blogging world? *side whisper* During the World Cup. Yes, World Cup season is perfect! I would sneak in like I never left. Everybody’s attention is football, fine men, fine women in the stands and the riveting goals. Besides I am no longer Queen Bee, no control whatsoever the TV and its remote. No excuse not to blog. 

Before I go all in, join me in a quick prayer. I cast and bind all referees that are similar to the one who officiated the match between Croatia and Brazil. Cast and bind them with their penalties. Ghana is already a very "ahum)br)"

team....we don't need such stress. No can't do. Are we able to toss for our ref's?

Football isn't really my thing… Maybe, if Kim Kardashian-West decides to play then…..who knows? I might pick up a football and pose with it (do not roll your eyes yet!). I don’t support a local team neither do I fuss over the Premier League or La Liga. I, basically, follow because Ghana is playing or Liverpool is on. Liverpool is my husband’s middle name, yes, literally. I swear the whole world; he is the most dramatic Liverpool fan ever! No joke. Sometimes I feel if I am not careful, by the time I walk to the kitchen and back he has entered the television.  But yeah, it’s the World Cup; the Black Stars of Ghana are playing. National pride supersedes my personal likes and dislikes. 

Supersedes everything. I just hope they do not break my heart. My heart is currently reached an inflation rate of 14.8% according to Bank of Ghana. Any more and I must just faint.

Allow me to be sad for a minute, I miss Komla Dumor. This is the World Cup, this is him, this is the time he bleeds Ghana internationally and beautifully. I so remember that interview he conducted then right after he opened his shirt and beneath was the Black Star jersey. I really want to ask him why? Like dial the afterlife and ask him and God....what that was all about?

 For him to pass away, before all this action is simply unreal. I have not adapted to the change and I do not think BBC has adapted to this horrible change as well. Maybe they should employ his brother, those who watched the requiem mass know what I am talking about. The voice, ohhh the voice, the void. Who can change and fill that void on the BBC?

Speaking of change….what has changed since my last post? Initially, I was going to write that nothing had changed because really my lights still go off,  we are still middle income, my road will not be fixed until elections or some big man/woman decides to be awesome, I still buy water that lasts for only three weeks( GHc70 every 3 weeks), the dollar has reached its bluffing point, the Trade Unions still do not have a clue on what to do, the opposition parties want to remain in opposition forever and the President is still going strong in the grey-hair department.  

Snap! Then, I realized that to the contrary, change had happened. Right under my nose, I have accepted this pattern of life.

The lights go off and it is not a big deal, I have accepted that my taps do not flow and might never do, accepted that the cedi will reduce somehow on its own and not due to any spark of brilliance from leadership. I've  even accepted that the World Cup is nothing short of idey bi k3k3 for supporters of the ruling party and whom you know.  I even love the fact that there is an ECG timetable; you should see me busy looking for my neighborhood in the schedule. Looking for highlighters to mark dates. Even the recent floods were acceptable. I was on social media cracking jokes.

Do not shake your head or frown at me. I see you all on social media, I see you with your satirical twists and dry humor. Which is not a bad thing in itself, what else can one do if the lights go off when you are about to blend onions, garlic and green pepper for stew or last minute when you decide to iron a particular shirt? No need crying over that. But we have accepted the pattern of life. I was telling a friend of mine the other day that, we are busy getting annoyed at the rural folk for not voting right but reality is they do not appreciate what is happening. We who understand the hardcore situation are busy-I-do-not-caring our lives here. If we care, we will not throw rubbish into gutters or spit or wee-wee around.

The sad thing is Ghana is not a bad place to be. So much to do, lovely sights and sounds, many amazing  business opportunities if we put our minds and hearts to it. But we do not care and of late I have realized another bane is  most people do not accept correction for things. Everybody knows. It makes you wonder what point they are trying to prove with the mistakes they make. My worry as a young person is apathy. It is becoming fashionable. Recently updated something on Facebook about how some men wee- wee about and the focus shifted to why I said men because women also wee- wee about. Really?! We do not like to stick to the program. But we must still do our bit. I am trying to. I am part of  #HashtagGh.

#HashTagGh, for now, is a social platform where young minds are able to express how they feel about issues. It is not going to be your everyday youth forum. We intend to blow your minds away with discussions, pictures and videos on all topics. You know those topics we discuss in our homes, our offices, our bedrooms (not that), restaurants, pubs, in traffic, on the street….we will bring it to you. 

All we need from you is an open mind and the desire to join the conversation. We want the conservation to be as real as possible. From poor customer service to governance. The biggest youth discussion ever to hit these internet streets.We go live on Monday. I am so excited, I could even forgive the Presidency for the horrible lawn they have in front of the Jubilee House. Maybe, maybe not. 

That said…..Go, Ghana Go and please heavens, let us concentrate on football and not on Pastors and Fetish Priests who need 2 mins of fame.

So do I think Ghana will win the cup?  Do I think we will qualify even beyond the group stages?

Deep breath…see you Monday!

Draft Or Not...

Yaaay I have the report. Do you have it.... (side whisper) It is not on myjoyonline.com. (giggles).

I know people are wondering why I am fussing over GYEEDA, the truth is that it excites me. Not that kind of  excitement that would make one jump for joy, but the excitement that finally Ghanaians okay some  Ghanaians are beginning to question what our money otherwise known as taxes is used for. 

Ghana has its own version of Watergate. Greater than or less than....GYEEDA is so intriguing. Does any of you wonder what will be done to the people who are found guilty? Provided Govt.. grows a pair and decides to act on the report? Um-mm bearing in mind that there are two categories of people who are cited in the report, what do you think will happen?. Two categories? Yes two categories!! Category one, people like the module coordinators and finance directors who got business promotion are small fishes that will definitely be fried. But category two, category two are the big companies who have chewed the meat off of the bone. Smirk...they will be left off the hook. Who wants to bet.

Allow me use this opportunity to say that, I find it very hurtful when some Ghanaians abroad say enough with tales of  GYEEDA. You need to live in Ghana, go through the horrible lights off and no water flowing through your taps syndrome, erratic supply of gas, fuel hikes, strikes, the slow but sure demise of social intervention programmes like school feeding,  then you would understand how and why we cant stop talking about this. You just need to drive outside Accra for a few minutes and see how people live. Sometimes it is even within Accra. You just need to look at your pay-check every month with its deductions, then you would realise that we must talk about this more. Yes you pay taxes in your abrokyire, but the taxes are used ans you can see what it is used for; no?! As for us  in the motherland (not peculiar to Ghana I must confess), we are allergic to taxes been used for developmental projects. 

People cuss at the IMF and World Bank all the time, but I really wonder where we would have been without World Bank, IMF value for money funded projects. Look at the Tetteh-Quarshie, N1, Adenta, Aburi, Achimota-Ofankor roads. Imagine if all they did was to give us was the money and said "monko ye adwuma no"...by now we would have been screwed. We will have more contractors telling us how they do not money to finish the work. All because they have used half of the money to pay business promotion. (side whisper) Yes I am current.... it is not longer called bribe. If you go and say bribe anywhere they will laugh at you, me I have told you. yooo. It is called business promo.

Back to the subject , to the people who say that it feels like a witch-hunt and that if you genuinely make money bla bla bla... people might perceive it to be ill gotten wealth, I say true success has a track-record. That track record is soo visible whether people know personally or not. It is that track record that makes you a role model. As a young woman growing up, I have always wanted the fine things this life on earth has to offer and why not...Silver XJ Jaguar, that 8 bedroom mansion with my two walk in closets(one for shoes and clothes), that four quarterly holiday trip to a destination of my choice, retire at 40(giggles), I am chilling in my dreams trust me...... But I am realistic. The painful reality is some of it is possible and some is simply not. That is why I will not steal money to achieve things. And that is what is leading people into trouble. And so for my simply not possibles, I can afford it through the lives of other people. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs(RIP), Sean Parker, Oprah Winfrey, Alinko Dangote, The Oppenheimer's, Micheal Pieper, Lei Jun, Tory Burch, Theresa Oppong Berko, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, Patrick Awuah. And these people progress daily and you do not hear these horrible scandalous stories. Chose the right role models. 

I didn't know about GYEEDA and the first review committee until April 2013. I actually found out through Manasseh Azure's Facebook page. GYEEDA(Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency) is supposed to be the updated version of NYEP (National Youth Employment Programme). So lets do a little background, in 2006 the National Security Council recommended that the NYEP be established to reduce increasing unemployment and under employment among the youth. Good idea no? Then came the allegations, then came the huge scandal, then came the famous draft report. I downloaded it yesterday and I cannot put it down. 163 page document. It has eight chapters. I immediately was interested in the amount of money that had been expended on the NYEP and surprise surprise almost nine hundred and fifty million Ghana cedis (Ghc 950,000,000.00). Then my next question was much it was the agency in debt.....Ghc 259,000,000.00 and about 47% of that debt belongs to one company. So with my pillow in my mouth I started to read.I wondered who the financial director was...flipped open the next page....I gave up and swooned gently.

The heading on pg 15 of the report is bold loud and clear "Inadequate capacity of CFO".   Ei. 

The current CFO the most senior finance person has no track record of finance, I really hope he is not at post and in any serious democracy his assets would have been frozen by now. But who am I kidding. He admits that he lacked the training and experience to operate in such a position.I must pause here. I just fainted again. Even if you want to give such a position to a party faithful, why not look for one who didn't get Z in maths. But what is the meaning of this. Because he wasn't up to scratch, he and his entire department were not able to 

1. supervise the operations of their bankers and relevant rural banks and this alone led to the unauthorised withdrawal of unclaimed beneficiary allowances.

2. Ensure there was value for money of contracts case in point contracts for Better Ghana Management Services and Zoom-lion Ghana Limited.( I didn't mention their names ooo before suing starts. It is in the report)

3. There were no budgets and monitoring of actual performance.

4. There were no financial statements.

5. There was no recording system.

6. There is evidence of payments made without the knowledge of head of finance. 

7. There was no audit either internal or external.

*dramatic sob* 

All this while, I had wrapped myself in my blanket. I couldn't believe it. The way I am broke paaaa and hmm...ok ok back to GYEEDA. My next focus was Procurement and Contracting. I took a deep breath and continued. So from 2009 to 2012 GYEEDA had paid approximately Ghc 786,000,000 to service providers but we owe them two hundred and fifty nine million Ghana cedis. This means that Government  would have incurred at least one billion and forty five thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 1,000,000,045.00) as costs to service providers alone from 2009 up to 30th June 2013. I opened eyes wide when I read that several of the contracts lacked standard elements of contracts such as critical dates including commencement and termination dates. Ei ase agr)bi. Tenure and clearly defined deliverables were missing. Who wrote the contracts? All the contracts were single sourced. The MOUs contain provisions in breach of the 1992 constitution and legislation such as the Financial Administration act. For instance, several MOU's (especially in connection with AGAMS Group of companies including RLG, Craftpro and Asongtaba) contain interest free loans granted and disbursed to the service providers without recourse to Parliament. As of June 30th 2013, total loans advanced to the companies owned by Mr. Agambire stood at approximately fifty million Ghana cedis (Ghc 50,000,000.00). The Committee observes concern that these companies assert that GYEEDA owes them about fifty six million Ghana cedis (Ghc 56,000,000.00). Ei. So that is how Chris Brown came eh. Ok assuming without admitting. Oh but why? eh!

So this is where I paused and jumped on my bed. I had to stop reading. I went back on-line and looked for any response. If any ministry especially the Information ministry had come out to say the draft report is wrong and its fake. i waited then I gave up So I continued....pg 17

a.  Asongtaba is yet to equip beneficiaries trained under the dressmaking module two years ago in the Western Region. Master trainers have also not been paid even though Asongtaba has been fully paid forty three million three hundred and ninety Ghana cedis (Ghc 43,390,000.00) for the service. In spite of all these evidence  of non delivery on the first contract, GYEEDA went ahead and expanded the dress making module.

b. At the end of 2012, instead of 30,000 people only 4,222 had been trained, meanwhile RLG had been paid the full sum of twenty five million and five hundred thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc 25,500,000.00)

c. At the end of 2010 only 17,824 out of 24,000 had been trained  but the full payment of seventeen million three hundred and fifty Ghana cedis had been paid. (Ghc 17,350,000.00)

d. Goodwill International Group was engaged as a service provider for a training module on Oil and Gas as well as a financial engineering service. Yes ohh another financial engineer. The company was supposed to secure funds to the tune of USD 65, 000,000. Though the funding from the World Bank was never secured and indications that the World Bank may never release the funds, Goodwill has been paid about two million and thirty thousand United State dollars (USD 2,030,000.00) for this service. 

I nearly pulled my hair when I read that the committee found the CEO not to be credible. The company itself had extremely limited capacity to execute on the terms of the contract. And can you imagine that Goodwill International had no previous experience in facilitating and/or engineering financing of lesser amounts. Oh my god.

I stopped reading. I couldn't continue. I couldn't read any-more. Because honestly if this is the same draft that was presented to the President then why is he constituting another group to review it. Or they will work pro-bono. Or it was a way to control leakage. It has leaked so what again? All the single sourced service providers have to refund the monies immediately. Someone make me president for a day. The rip off modules should be stopped. We are looking for money meanwhile we have dashed all the monies away. We have awarded such people as giants of industry meanwhile they are just and and clay. It is not fair. 

So why wont the President do something... draft or not. Even if they are his friends and he wants to protect them, this is not the way. What hurt in particular  is that the committee found that Ministers from 2006 right up to 2012 did not show commitment, circumspection and leadership. So please, both leading parties who have been in government and are currently in govt. simply shut up and find a way to retrieve the money from those companies. The monies are simply too huge for us to indulge in he did it or she did it. Mongye y3 sika no enbr3 yen. All these monies, are reasons why we are broke.

Finally someone should tell Ghana Club 100 to take notes and seriously revise the guidelines on companies that they allow into that list. They should learn from Forbes...not all money is money. CIMG should revise their notes on who they make marketing men and women of the year. Not all money is money. . And what are they marketing when we cannot see people using the products. Unless on billboards and people should be careful what billboards they decide to pose on. hmm. And as for the PR trip that the legal teams of such companies are embarking on hopping from radio to radio, they better look for some-place to hide....

Maybe they do not know so I will tell them. You see the Ghanaian is very snobbish. We know our Govt. will not do the kind of things we want so we have our own way of dealing with exuberants amongst them or those who ride on their connections in power...we simply ignore you. 

We might entertain you for a while but when the cup runneth over, we will leave you hung and dry.

 Just ask my uncle Koku.

But it is all making sense now, isn't it.

What a shame.

A Year On.

I count myself very lucky to have friends across the political divide. It is a feat many who love politics have not being able to achieve and I really do not know why. People wake up with soo much loathing for each other, sometimes I am tempted to ask if that loathing makes them richer by the close of the day.
This luck of mine enables me to hear what both sides are really thinking, the kind of thoughts found deep within their hearts but refuse to let out because publicly it must always "idey k3k3 or eshi kukruduu" (and no I do not have CPP, PNC friends) I also get to hear the latest run down and trust me I enjoy it immensely though it is not everything that one can say. But a year ago today, I cursed the person who called me to tell me the President was gone. An hour before it was released to the public, released on social media, released to the entire world I knew the President of the Republic of Ghana was gone (goose-bump moments)and I couldn't tell anyone. I stared at my phone...scrolled to Baby (Patrick's name), Mama (My mother), Papa (My Dad) but I couldn't call. (ummm please that is not the order of importance don't go telling my father if you know him )
I couldn't tell my colleagues so I walked outside and sat in the car. I sat there till I heard the screams from the office.....Everybody run out of my office that day, weeping. I work at close to the 37 Military Hospital so you can imagine the traffic and the sirens. I could bring myself to cry. All I kept saying was "OH professor Mills how".

I never cried. Even today,a year on... I cannot cry because my soul is discontent. I look at his pictures and saw the man he once was and the man he became, I look at the dailies and I see the stories/headlines screaming out loud of people who took advantage of him /his governance and I am hurt beyond measure. For me, the hurt is even more when you listen to his sisters story. Before she left for Cape-coast, she rubbed his neck because he complained of neck pains, and she bought him a neck brace as well. I wondered then and now,where was everyone? Where were his handlers? So if his sister had not come that day, what would have been done to lessen his neck pain? I know all about neck braces because my mother wears one. Two actually...for the the day and one at night. And during her massages at the 37 Military Hospital she was told that neck braces are not bought just like that. Your neck has to be measured and the brace is fitted especially to suit the condition/illness. It is a process....so I am wondering where did she get that brace for him.

A year on what do we have...people falling over themselves in the praise singing, people renaming hockey pitches just to prove some point and what else? Does anyone know how much it cost for the funeral? How much was used and where the balance is or where invoices and receipts are? Does anyone know how much has been got by the one year committee, who sponsored? How much in taxes we contributed? But all must be shelved away along with all the other details. Because nobody will talk, we are just living in the moments. But I have learnt my lesson from the public life of the late prez....when you realise you  have fake friends..don't bother picking up your bag...just run for your life.True or false?

But a year on, we have a royal baby. We cant be too sad, Life must go on. Kate Middleton has given birth to Prince Kwadwo Teletubby Cambridge. Sorry abrokyire celebrities..The Duke and Duchess made complete nonsense of the situation of selling baby pictures. They just walked out of the hospital and gave the world a glimpse of their bundle of joy. Shout-outs to Kim and Kanye, Penelope Cruz and Javier Boudeaux...we still want to see the pictures. Moakye koraa dodo. Better late than never.
But let me address the people who think that some of us are disturbing with our fascination with the monarchs. We have royals in this country don't we and what do they do to keep us in awe? Fight! Fight!Fight! All they do is to fight! About some stool land, who is next in line, some ancient tree here, some gold there or who should throw some food over some stone during a festival. And the calm royals we have who do not fight, they are either poking their nose in politics, collecting cars for votes, publicly supporting a candidate or fighting with some pastor who has says he has seen some vision.
You know that Kwesi Broni hasn't got time for all of that.

Wait there is more...We don't see the wives of the royals when they are pregnant. Customs and tradition you say but what about when the kids are grown. We do not see anything, we do not hear anything, unless the Mirror(on of the national newspapers) on Saturday decides to do a feature. Our royals have money,lands all that it takes to make them admirable because really when the political leaders are doing their awam things...we must have some institution to cheer us on. Otumfuo (the Ashanti King) tries...he plays golf, his wife is fabulous, once in a while you hear of her charity works, Togbe Afede (One of the paramount chiefs in the Volta Region also tries...he is active, he is out there, I do not know his wife and he likes commissioning projects too much. Ah. So yes, the royals in Britain, Qatar, Monaco (another fav of mine), Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Spain will continue to make our day. Their history is soo fabulous...they are all interwined. But come to think of it, we have the same here...Ashanti royal blood mixed with Volta, Dagbon mixed with Fanti or Akyem but we can still sit and say I do not like this tribe. How silly.

So there...I and a few others will fuss over them, we will never meet them but who cares? we don't. WE HAVE A ROYAL BABY...WHOOOO HOOOO ( you should see my silly smile, I am showing all my teeth). My lunch break is done. As usual I am waiting for the comments from my friend/critique Drogba's Hair Gel. That is her name...no please don't ask.

Haha-ha.

P.S. The weather is cloudy. I am sure that is supposed to mean some showers of blessings, but isn't this the typical July rainy weather....shrugs! But I will take it, as long as no one mentions seeing a piteousness of doves around. This weather is darn fine to be called whatever. 

Peace sign. 

Evil State Of Mind.

Hello everybody...."howya doin" (in my best Wendy Williams voice). I love that women though most people think she is a tranny. She is funny and boy can she gossip! The way she leans forward sips on her tea before the "big revelation" is soo comical. No this is not a discussion about Wendy Williams. Whooo hoooo.....Friiiiiidayyyyyyy!!!!!
I hope you are doing great, looking forward to the weekend because.....(sigh) I am not. These days, weekend means either work on a Saturday or attend an event eg. a friend's wedding. Poof! Saturday is done and snap Sunday is passing you by.
So I have decided, that I must trace my roots and go back to Gambia. Dont laugh, I really must go to Gambia. President Yaya Jammeh understands me otherwise why would he make Friday part of the weekend in the Gambia. No I am not lazy but time is running so fast. The year is half way through. Soo much to do, with soo little time. Or it my calender and clock that is upside down. But anyways it is still a Friday...and we will take it like that. "howya doin" (with her lips and hands imitation)"

Before I start with my things, I will like to say a thank you to Mr. Egbert Faibille and Mrs. Gizella Tetteh Agbotui (long overdue in her case). I am very active on social media as some of you might already know and sometimes, without meaning to I tend to get carried away.  Yesterday was such a day. I got home and there was a blackout. Yes pitch, black, horrible, darkness. All that run through my mind was "when will we stop this nonsense". What even annoyed me further was the blame game that had started. Every organisation that might be remotely responsible for this situation was blaming everyone but themselves. ECG (Electricity Company of Ghana) says blame VRA (Volta River Authority), VRA says blame GRIDCO (Ghana Grid Company Limited), GRIDCO says blame ECG and GRIDCO and all this while, we are (well at least us non generator folk) are in the dark....wondering why on earth we didn't buy mosquito spray. So simple story, I got angry and I went off in a poop direction.

I was wondering why  someone wouldn't  pick up chicken poo and smear it all over those offices. I was wondering why we as a people would get up, walk up to the various "technocrat" offices, lock up so that if the lights eventually go off we know that there was no one sitting there and "working" in the first place. Oo I was soo mad, I posted my comments on Twitter. I immediately had a response from Egbert Faibille and he said (paraphrasing) you can be arrested for putting your frustration that way. I paused like...... ummm what is he talking about. Lawyers are too known....(sheepish look now). Then it hit me. As someone, who talks daily about people being responsible and manning up for their actions, this is not cool. I am mad yes but there must a sense of decorum to this madness. So I pulled the post down, and honestly I am glad I did. Besides nobody needs to poop smear the place...their lousiness stinks all over. Truth.com.

Mrs. Gizella's goes way back...say some 2 years ago, I think H.E. Prof. Mills(RIP) was commissioning one of those projects and I was venting about all the showmanship that went into one simple cut-a-ribbon commissioning. I said something that was utterly disrespectful (not going to repeat) and boy did she put me in my place... I took that off immediately but updated another one. Yep it still had to be said, but it didn't rub anyone in the wrong way. So yes I appreciate such people who tell me as it is. Sometimes it gets into your head when people comment all over your wall...you think you can do and say anything. Naaaa....it sure doesn't work that way. I will not become evil.

What is this evil state of mind is all about. It is everything to do with the recent  pronouncements of Dr. Mensa Otabil. These days I am wondering what makes Dr. Otabil popular? Is it his ICGC (International Central Gospel Church), is it his school Central University (side whisper....why is it that most people who go to central always say they have a degree in marketing or human resource sheesh) or is it the 2013 December elections. I raise both hands in favor of 2013 December elections. Those tapes. Eei the evil people do. It lives after them doesnt it. Hahaha. But because of those tapes, all his actions and in-actions have been linked to mean "enemy" so when he says something that has common sense, he is tagged and insulted. But I dare say that he is lucky, he did not suffer the fate of Rev. Owusu Bempah. The big wig pastors that danced on the head on the Owusu Bempah have not "dared" to do same (unless you count serial callers on certain radio stations) After all Rev. Otabil ensoso gyina ne nanso....to wit Rev. Otabil is also a big man. So what is Dr. Otabil supposed to have said? He says that he has a deep foreboding that this lovely dumsor country of ours is heading towards some kind of evil. So what is evil.

Evil according to Wikipedia (bless the creator of Google's heart) simply means Profound Immorality. What is Profound Immorality. Something become immoral when violates some moral laws, norms or standards. And profound is an adjective used to describe something that is very great or intense. So slapping it all together....Evil is an intense violation of moral laws, norms and standards. Clap for me. Ah I have done well.*giggles* 
My simple question is there evil in this dumsor country of ours? Yes. I am sorry to disappoint you but there is!! The dumsor alone is very very very evil, the stealing of taxes under the pretext of financial engineering is very very very very evil, the fact that the culprits are not in jail is beyond the understanding and definition of evil. The inability of government to pay its workers is the height of evil, the suspension of road contracts because there is no money makes evil look like a saint, the fact that people have to queue to buy gas is the crescendo of evil. Ah how can i forget the fact that evilness is within when government decides to tax luxurious condoms(condoms with flavors) and leaves the bleaching/hydro-quinine gurus. Isn't that evil? Or what evil where you people thinking about? 

Wars, Famine, Coup d'etats? Hoh! That is not evil, those things are undefined realms. How come people take bribe before doing work, they were hired to do? Is that not heavy evil? How come a whole country can be lied to that Bui Dam will make every dumsor leave? If that is not evil, tell me what is. Evil is when election time, people sell their conscience because of Ghc 50, chamber-pots  student mattresses, loaves of bread, and empty gas cylinders.....or that is not evil.Evil abides when as a nation our young charming President tells us that we have chewed the meat to the bone. Ei what meat? As if you and I were there when all government agencies were spending their budgets over and above. Students studying abroad under the GETFund scheme are asked to leave their rented apartments because monies have not been sent to cover the rent? What is that....Plain bad ass evil. Evil is when you get robbed in this country and you have a set of footprints all over the house and our police service can do nothing with it because they do not have a database for criminals...plenty evil dey! Shine your eyes and leave Rev. Otabil alone.... besides it is even evil turned sinister when a bunch young know-nothings sit on radio, call themselves serial callers and insult (and later get paid with our taxes). See all evil. 

I hear Parliament is broke....isn't that evil.
Well I am not going to pray. Because we like that. We like to bury our heads in the sand and pretend, we know what we ought to do. And before you quote any scripture, we all know God helps those who decide to be courageous and help themselves. I know what I ought to do, at for now. Simply pack and leave...not to Gambia but home.It is Friday. Fried yam and domedo (fried pork) should do the trick.

PS. Ummm can someone close to the planning committee of H.E. Prof Mills(RIP) one year anniversary, prompt them to use pictures that show the man in good health. Already I see pictures springing up on traffic lights and those pictures are not not. Those are the pictures that tell his declining health. There are beautiful pictures of him, that can be used. That is more proper and respectful. I hope his memory is honored properly, no dove nonsense this time. Dont be evil.

Be safe.

Do Not Tax Me By

It has been a while hasn't it. Lots has happened in this beautiful country of mine.  From the Ayew brothers (our male versions of the William sisters) and their meeting with H.E. the President, the baptism of fire that has engulfed Accra and its environs with its invisible arsonists and arson experts, drama over Asamoah Gyan buying a customised Porsche, the smoothness level of Sammi Awuku of the NPP courtesy of the Supreme Court of Ghana and the imprisonment of the "Latrician" and the Editor of the Daily Searchlight also courtesy of the Supreme Court of Ghana. 

 *Quick chip in* People are skimming the surface of freedom of speech because of the 10 day imprisonment of the editor of the daily searchlight. All I have to say on that subject is a quote from Prince Metterinch (Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire from 1809 until the liberal revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation) 

"The word 'freedom' means for me not a point of departure but a genuine point of arrival. The point of departure is defined by the word 'order'. Freedom cannot exist without the concept of order".

So I ask whilst we go on and on about freedom of speech, is it in any form of order? I will love to hear your thoughts on that.

Any-ways, I have decided to be a judge in my next life.I will quickly discuss one of the current events...yep you guessed right "Latrician". But I will shy away from discussing his comments, his American slangs that landed him in jail and rather focus on his release.
His release, his release....What about his release?! If you ever did literature in school or you are just a book worm and love to read, you would have done a couple of late night sessions with George Orwell's book  Animal Farm. By now, you sure are part of the list of people exclaiming what a genius George Orwell is. For me I have long decided that it is not a novel but reality dished out so honestly. At first, you begin to think the characters are far fetched but it is us. It is us humans. A vivid description of how man at his lowest would seek to undermine everyone and everything around him but do much worse at his heights. And what has that got to do with his release you ask? I am wondering why my Minister of Information would use our time (public service) to go to the prisons the day of release and pose for pictures. Pictures that have found their way on social media networks. Very sad if you ask me, even if you will not listen to us common floor members and still feel strongly you need to show solidarity why not send a deputy? Or you do not get my point?

First of all, there is nothing in our constitution named as "government communication team". Nothing. Correct me if I am wrong, we have a minister designate with two deputies (grin my Felix) and unless we have not been told something, they are capable of handling and discussing official government communiques. This "government communication team" is a coined something from the party. I cough at this point.... knowing it is job for the boys and they get resourced by the Information Ministry. Sad truth. But there must be a fine thick line between government and party. We cannot have party boys and girls going around feeling like they have a legal instrument/appointment letter signed by the President. Why do you think for quite some time now, information is all over the place and we do not have proper information channels.

 If something happens, before government officially releases a response then you have already heard it on radio, read it on twitter and Facebook before long someone will send it to you via whatsapp. *shrugs* It is very embarrassing and come to think to it, most people do not understand why the presiding Judge asked him what his profession was. Government business, government policy, government decisions on finance, foreign affairs, security, interior, health and you actually let a "Latrician" sit on air, live radio and talk on your behalf? as what? Aint you embarrassed? When you are honest to yourself, the ratio of being disgraced is a bit on the low-key. I know I hate maths so I will not pretend to like and love so that I get a lucrative position. There is nothing wrong with accepting who you are. But this is Ghana, you will expect people to understand a simple point as this, but no. It will dance in an ear and dance out and all they will see is a five letter word called elite and tag you as such.

Any-ways I have this friend called Eboue Beecham, and he made me realise that I have neglected my blogging duties. Thumbs up for the gentle reminder. But he did it unknowingly, through a picture he posted on his Facebook page. It is a picture of a building that can be found in the Airport City opposite the Silver Star Building. For those of you my readers, who are not in Ghana....Airport City is a prime location quite close to Kotoka Airport (I have left International out for good reason) where we have high-rise buildings though a couple have come to a stand still ( money talks eh). But kudos to the Villagio Hotel contractors. Once they started, they were on till they finished. I haven't seen the privilege to see architectural drawings or overview of Airport city but um mm it is not wrong to deduce that it is designed primarily to be a business hub ( hotels, apartments, offices, malls etc...) That kind of one stop shop for the business man or woman (investors) who are used to a certain kind of lifestyle. Flying in and out for meetings, New York- Accra- London- Paris. Holiday in Milan, one week in Ghana or better still Africa.
That is proper elite......... not the I own 2 land-cruisers kind of thing we do here. hahahaa. Do not mind me.

Back to Eboue. Well, he put the picture up with the title "Who say money no dey Ghana" to wit Who says there is no money in Ghana. I will answer  his question with this "Money dey Ghana but idey for investor in pocket".  (Let me clear this out of the way....Eboue and I are good friends. I am sure he will read this and respond in a bit. So if you know him and looking forward to gossip about this, sorry in advance).
I am not a mind reader, but I think it is safe to say that Eboue belongs to the majority who think that because we have a couple of high rise buildings in Airport City and some parts of Accra, we have reached. What adds to this painful fallacy is the fact that, they see local companies e.g. BROLL advertising the space or acting as brokers for lease or rent;so yes we have arrived. In this day and age, all you have to do because is to search on-line and you will find that local companies acting as brokers are just icebergs that have broken off a glacier. The glaciers are all non Ghanaian. All the money is made abundantly here and sent right back to where ever it came from. All the big buildings with 50% space gone doesn't mean a thing. You should find out who are renting? What percentage is for foreigners, what percentage is for Ghanaians?

But of course they must have Ghanaian partners, it makes it easier to navigate through business registration and knock open a couple of doors, get connections especially if you are looking for government contracts.
It is easier to have Ghanaian partners, so you can build your portfolio as a big foreign investor and then apply for tax exemptions et all.  And is that not what we see around? Big buildings, big tax exemption companies, all non Ghanaians all over the place, unless of course you have a PPP ( Private Public Partnership) with government . And we know how the PPPs are thriving. But seriously we must be careful not to live this fallacy. Who am I kidding? We are living this fallacy that is why we think we are thriving and our government wants to tax us more. Well they need the money, we do not have the money and those who have the money are not taxed properly. Life is war.
But they must tax nonetheless. If only the money was going to be used for the purposes for which it is taken. It sure is painful looking at my pay slip after deductions. Very painful. What annoys me most is the NHIL. ah!

So Eboue and anyone who thinks like him, it is time you accepted the truth about who we are as a nation and where we have reached. It doesn't mean you love your country less. And umm unless of  your "who say money no dey Ghana" means something else, I am waiting for your rebuttal. Bye. Not for long though.


PS. "Latrician" means Electrician.

*ignore typos as always....looking for a proof reader. No I will not pay. Laughs.*

Keeping Up With The Music Awards

Even now as I write this, I still remember how frantic I was, fingers crossed and all hoping that GH One would show the Music Award live. I simply didn't want to tune into GTV because they can be very disappointing. Patrick gave me his famous "I cannot believe you still enjoy these things look". Shh don't tell him but of us two, I am the fun one. I am the one who gives him current affairs especially in the entertainment world. Dang! You should see me coaching him on "Keeping up with the Kardashians" .
I have tried (the heavens are even aware that I have tried) to explain to him why Housewives of Atlanta is a necessary show to watch on TV apart from Champions League and yes supporting that dead team called Liverpool. Bemused smile. Please I did not just write that. I am innocent. Yes, I put it to you in a very unpampered manner ala Philip Addison style. But for real, these shows are not that boring, it is so fun to see how people decide to be absurd and fight over the darnest things. Just imagine, Kim Kardashian landing on the worst dressed look and getting broken hearted because she feels she has disappointed Kanye. In this our middle income country then you will be stressing your man over these things, he will simply pour water on you....no light, no water, tough cash times.... edi3ben worst dressed list? Not annoying at all.

Back to subject, event houses have seen that lots of people( like me )have decided to take the cheap side (I call it the better side with better front row seats) and watch the events from home. And why not? Forgive me but the amount we pay for the tickets is so so ridiculous, besides I can always dance to the music at home. Dance and sweat like no man's business. Yeah men!! I know the next question that would pass through your lips is so when will you pay for a ticket and attend? Simple! When the branding and coordination is top notch. An event slated for 8 pm starts around 10.30 pm and ends around 2.50 something am? Aden? Ghana Music Awards has been done for over 14 years but it hasn't managed to ooze that exclusive" one night only feel" That one night where you come out in your best tailored designer or non designer dresses, see celebrities decked out properly who nicely sign autographs, pose with fans in an orderly manner (key word orderly) bla bla bla.

I sat down around 8 pm to watch the red carpet and that I must say was my first disappointment. Confidence Haugen. Absolutely not working. What ever issues you might have with Confidence, you cannot simply do away with her vavavoom. As a woman, trust me you need it. Vavavoom is not trashy dressing but a little spunk in your attitude and she has it. So simply put I was expecting a dress like what she wore last year or even better. The white dress did not look good on her no matter how expensive it was. Same as her hair,it  was all over her face, little wonder she was sweating. Profusely. Lets us even assume that Charter House did not provide hair and makeup artistes, common Ms Haugen you are that fab to have your glam team on hand.  It is not your fault that the place is hot but you shouldn't let us see your sweat. That was very uncool. Adi3 no wo yea na woaye no pr3ko. As for the LAFA (Locally Acquired Foreign Accent) It has become very normal like dumsor. Only that these days, my people have slanged soo much you wonder if there is another place apart from the United States with a new language. Identifying the LAFA is soo painful now.
First"I got you" in LAFA was "agotchu" now in the unidentified LAFA it is "aguoasho". I have raised my hands....hahahahaha. Why do people do that to themselves.
My major problem with her interview session was she simply would not let you finish before asking another questions and her questions were too loaded. Ask them light hearted questions not questions that would make them think. And one more thing Mz Haugen. be a diva(since you say you are) don't fight on Twitter. You dont see Mariah Carey on Twitter like that unless of course you are a Miley Cyrus. Stay above it. I don't know why people fuss on "haterism". Stick with the program. Besides not everybody is a hater.

Moving along, roll in Benny Blanco. Umm tsk tsk tsk. I have always wanted to ask him where he is from. Blanco...hmm sounds Fanti.  Anyways, he also went on the tangent "what are you wearing" and he had very very funny answers but it was like either he didnt realise the answers are ridiculous or he was laughing inside because his facial expression never broke. From I am wearing NEXT, to I am wearing a white shirt, to I am wearing Khaki. I will not start discussing that critically because I will not know how to stop. All I can say is why don't we wear our local designer clothes? Then what is the essence of having events like Ghana Fashion week. Is it that the clothes are expensive? But the designers cannot simply expect everybody to buy their designs...You have to find a muse. Find a popular muse and style the person just make sure that the muse shows up in-front of the camera displaying the awesome creation. Do men and women fall under the word muse?. Shrugs. Muses are plenty about town, Jocelyn Dumas, Efya, Ohemaa Mercy, Ms. Buari, Jackie Appiah (where is she) and umm Mandy Jay. I reserve all comments on what she was wearing. Got to admire her courage tho. Not everybody can pull of that look with such panache. Enough with the red carpet.

Why on earth did they start as late as 10 pm. You have been doing this for the past 14 years and still starting as late as 10 pm and ending as late as 3:00 am? Why?But Surprise surprise....I absolutely loved everything Eazzy (co host) wore and her presentation as a co host.. Considering this is her first gig, she was definitely on point. Ophelia Crossland (her designer) was so on point with the gown and the dresses. See she has found the perfect muse and worked with it. Who wants to bet that Madam Crossland has landed a costumer or two? Shuuu...I am an invisible customer, I am just waiting till I get money then I will really Crossland myself. I did not know what KOD (co host) was doing so please excuse me if I do have anything to write about him. And speakinf of hosts what was the deal with some of the presenters of the awards. Some of them acted like they walked on stage alone, holding the card close to their chests so that the other person could not see and help present award. Others took it as a 5 minute introduction of themselves. Ei na wei nsonso y3 asem. What that the place to tell us that you are from Jamaica and this is your first time in Ghana. But why? Who cared?!

Performances, performances....I absolutely loved Kontihene, FUSE ODG and Akatakyie. Ah Kontihene was so good. I danced papa. He worked the stage and had almost everyone dancing, the posers even got up. Akatakyie have the midas touch in their wack rap. Once they start rapping everybody begins to dance and rap along. As for FUSE if he did not bring that girl who danced in his video, I simply do not think anyone would have forgiven him. She is simply flexible. Yes that kind of girl, you pray your man does not meet in the club.  But time does change Banky W, VIP, 4X4 and even Sarkodie were soo lost on me. Wiz Kid was aight such a bummer he couldn't perform Time Bomb with Samini. Somebody explained it was because of Samini being an MTN icon. *rolls eyes*. No I am not going to comment about EL, Keche and Herty Borngreat. Gospel Music has just gone down some ridiculous road for some and I do not want to begin to dissect that migrane. I love my OJ and his sensible down to earth music.(award or no award) R2Bees swept the awards....whoooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooo. And I love Mugeez more than Paydae. whoooooo hoooooooo......Expected! Expected! Just waiting for the BET awards then we are done. Look at me as if I am part of the award winners. But they deserve it. Their song entitled LIFE is so worth it. I call it wisdom from unexpected places.

I will end on Sarkodie. I am his biggest fan and I am disappointed. His performance was the dullest ever and I really do not get why he is rapping about himself and the money he makes or doesn't make. It is not fresh. Yes we know JayZ does that but it comes with the pinnacle he has reached. He really has the clout to brag. He has the money and the ultimate accessory Beyonce.  Dear Obidi, you just launched a fashion label, we are yet to see the success rate, I for one I am praying it doesn't end up like StepApp. Stephen Appiah tried and tried but things fell apart because the center could simply not hold. You are a big boy by now you should have heard the reviews and trends you made on Twitter. Your act was bad. Nobody wants to hear about Illuminati or whether or not you are....If in doubt take a look at VIP. And umm why on earth are you selling a belt for GHc 180. Come on. You should know that at that price, you are dead on arrival. Know thy market trends and study thy people. People dress expensive but seriously, it is the combination of pieces that give the look and if you really take the pain to investigate the whole outfit from head to toe costs that Ghc 180 you want to sell your belt for. Come on. Relax. I will hate to see you become less popular and begin to vent like Shata Wale. *straight face* Don't let it get into your head.

Have a good evening people. Traffic bound journey. Sigh!!

My words, my thoughts, if you work at Charter House.... don't diss much.

Forgive typos. As always.

Peace.

PS. Manifest went to my school. He is a Tsikata but I love him nonetheless....ummm more than his father....all pun intended.

 hahahaa

Back to Matter

Hey madamfo) moho tesen? Longest time eh? It is not me it that annoying collaboration of events called Life and its pressures. haha.

You know when I say something, I really wonder why people laugh out loud. Honestly I do. As they laugh out loud and give me compliments on my supposed sense of humor and wit I wonder if they understand the message I am trying to convey...Maybe I should start asking people "Please beyond the laughter, did you get the message I sought to convey". Because sometimes I have an annoyed look when I update statuses on Twitter or Facebook. An example is my ranting on Ghanaian doctors verses the Cubans. People were laughing so hard at what I wrote before long I started laughing. Hmm. Anyways Anyways it must be one of those things.
Yesterday was the 19th of May 2013, I was so amazed that I did not have water flowing through my taps, didn't have light/electricity for over 6 hours and I had such an inner calm.Going through my mind now, I think I had that same sense of calm when I heard via news that flights had been grounded because of lack of aviation fuel. Afei ay3 very normal.

 It was such a normal calm I was experiencing that, at some point that I complainer extraordinaire  was consoling Patrick (hubby mine) that he should get with the program, because sleeping in heat was now part of the Ghanaian orientation. It is now part of our middle income status. Because now people lie, cheat, steal and now kill in broad day light (thanks to Kumasi et all) but we have our officials brush it aside. Wait a minute, I forgot something, now we chase for holy water(how absurd). I really don't like talking about TB Joshua because seriously he is/was part of the problem surrounding RIP Late Prez Mills. I am not going to pretend that it is ok, because he is a leader of a church. We are all creatures of God and that touch not my anointed is not an exclusive preserve of men of cloth.  When something is not right, it is not.
And when will people realize that Life is simple...it is unfair, harsh, sometimes good, sometimes bad sometimes evil but hard work, honesty, faith and determination is the only way. What makes water holy? What makes it so holy that you will stampede and die? Then what? yes what? You see there are men of cloth who will talk and you will get it, so where from all these people that we have lousy fascination and why am I wasting my time talking about it?!! m@#$%^^%&&*. People must wake up and smell the coffee and stop being pathetic.

 But for real what happens to all these things that go on? All these horrible things that need immediate punishment (verified by law). I do not blame them. We have a new trick or is it rather a new trick phase "we have set up a committee" . Once that committee is set up, nothing is done, well apart from the monies paid to the committee members curtsy  our taxes then maybe maybe that 5 minutes of fame on prime time news on GTV when the committee finally presents its report/white paper to the President, even that our taxes play a part again yep....refreshments at Osu Gardens. hahahaaa
By the way how is the President? It is an honest question no malice, I do not remember the last time I saw him on TV but I have heard him on radio....Shuu!! who are his advisers again? %^^&&*#$$%
 Dang!!What on earth are they telling him because I was kind of lost when I heard him talk about setting up some task-force (hybrid form of committee) on galamsey. He lost me completely. Completely.
 So what are we sending money the District Assemblies for? What about the REGSEC for the regions? What about the District Police Commanders? What about the Regional Police Commanders? Ei?! Ah!! He might as well have said I am opening a new branch of bribe taking folks because that is what will happen. They will over grow their job description, begin to assume powers and start misbehaving. Besides we have so many people who are employed within the districts to do this. Come on. It is about giving them descriptions and ultimatums. simple. Or the Chinese Loan is in because for a government that cant pay salaries we sure know how to create unnecessary positions.

Speaking of unnecessary positions, who is following the work that Manesseh is doing with the National Youth Employment Scheme. It is incredible the monies people are spending. He has turned his eye to Zoomlion. I chanced upon some of his documents online and dang!! But it is a double edged sword, one side is you want to expose the people who are taking advantage of the public private partnerships and ripping us silly, the other side is you do not want to discourage people who have genuine ideas that deserve government support. But so far it sure looks like people are simply taking advantage of the system. Will they be punished? No. I am still waiting for the day when Manesseh will step on serious toes. He will be surely Ato Kwamina Dadzied. *cough* but tell him to CITY HOPE before the trouble begins. My gut tells me something is soo wrong there. You know that feeling that just will not go away and you cannot do anything about it. That how I feel anytime I see the signboards. I am yet to see anyone using the phones or tablets. Meanwhile corporate Ghana is busy awarding. Entrepreneur of the year Urgh! The hypocrisy is stifling! Well I always say we all dey here....Koks the Bull koraa has been tamed. I really miss him tho, all these markets burning, he would have been rolling heads by now aside his shades and brown jackets. I must confess, I miss him too much.

I know most of you want me to talk about pink sheets and Supreme Court. I wont. What can I say? It is so clear those who have something to hide. It is so clear those are over hyped, those who have been sweating and calling for early lunch breaks, those who want auditing and once it starts they start dodging. Ah is it not clear....it must be by now. Now we all see those who have fallen in love with the words duplicates, triplicates, quadruplication but are hopscotching around the real deal- the figures. Those who are busy attacking credibility meanwhile they still cant prove nothing as Lawyer Addison puts nicely.. It is very rich to be challenging someone's credibility meanwhile. We all see those turn and twist what happens in court forgetting we all see or hear what is happening live in court. What can I say. Nothing. It is Oga Prez I feel sorry for. But hey, it is his bed of roses he must lie in it. Fragrance, thorns and all. I always tell my brother this, what would have shut everybody up was if Oga displayed some spunk in his actions and in actions. The kind of spunk that makes you go like yes this is it, case closed. But ah well, how for do? Idey be k3rk3r. 5 months down the road and ummmmm........elef plenty!!!!

Before I end, Ghana Music Awards must be in my concluding paragraph. I apologise though because the event in itself deserves a whole blog post. Just to whet your appetite on the kind of post I will put up tomorrow....I must say that enye force to act out the red carpet style of Ryan Seacrest and Guliana Rancic. You can still do a red carpet, still wear Ghanaian designs, and still make a statement. There is nothing wrong with wearing a brand non Ghanaian but there is everything wrong when you call a mass production brand like NEXT a designer. That is absolutely horrendous. The stars that we watch and see on E red carpet in the USA, wear clothes straight from the runway or custom made. Tailor fit, Couture. Some if not most, take months just to fit and wear them. It is not a joke to them so why is it a joke to us. Why?
But ummm is Jim Iyke interested in our Nadia Buari. Dont laugh...I am doing kokonsa but please I am eager at the prospects. Our own Kim Kadarshian and Yeezy. Nadia already has the family to act Keeping up with the Buaris, Jim Iyke to is too known...fine.( lmao at the things in my head)

Ey3 tomorrow....I will continue.


Time check....9:19pm. Yep still in the office. Workaholic me. Peace sign.


*Forgive my typos...as always*