DRAFT
CUE( forester briefly saying there is nothing we can do abt it)
Until Tetteh Quarshie returned from Fernadopo in 1878 with some few pods of cocoa for cultivation, there was little attention on cocoa cultivation in the country. Tetteh Quarshie’s return and his bold attempt at cocoa cultivation and his subsequent success at exporting cocoa to Europe in 1885 was an event that would forever change the economic destiny of Ghana. Ghana has since 1925 when it produced 44% of the world’s total exports of cocoa, been regarded as one of the world’s leading exporter of cocoa until the 1980s. That notwithstanding, cocoa exports has continued to be a major player in Ghana’s export commodities. Today, earnings from cocoa exports alone accounts for about 34.1 per cent of the total export earnings. Notwithstanding the enormous contribution of cocoa famers to the development of this nation, they have suffered as much exploitation as the overall contribution of the crop itself to the nation’s development.
Government in its bid to protect forest reserves has resourced the Forestry Service Division to cut down all cocoa farms that have been allowed to flourish in some forest reserves in the Western region. This could be disastrous, at least for residents of Aboabodo in the Sewfi Anhwiaso Bekwai district where the only source of income for the more than 3000 residents is cocoa farming. The village contributes a significant portion of the district’s cocoa yields annually.
CUE: (Children voices cock crows walking in the dry leaves, man cutting tree..
Hundreds of hectares of cocoa farms are said to have extended into the Tano Suraw Forest Reserve, dwindling it’s seize by 80 percent. The farmers, most of whom are settlers from other parts of the country, have been farming here for many years.
CUE: (oldman, some women and yougnmen) –brief
To verify their claims, I make a journey up the hills where the farms are located.
CUE: (STAND –UP on the farm)
Since the forest guards backed by the military started the exercise over two months ago, the farmers have been having sleepless nights. Everyone wakes up fearing the worst.
CUE: (crying woman)
She was not the only female farmer to shed tears at the turn of events.
CUE: (another crying woman)
The village has one primary school. There is no electricity and the residents rely on boreholes for water. Kwesi Manu speaks about how the destruction of the cocoa farms has affected school enrollment levels despite government’ fee free education policy.
CUE:
The impact has been devastating, as Eno Serwa who traveled hundreds of kilometers to settle in the village more than twenty years ago explains. She wants the government to step in.
CUE:
But District Chief Executive, Moses Armah says the exercise will go on.
CUE:
The question is, does it make sense to cut the cocoa trees, create an economic fatigue among the affected farmers all in the name of forest preservation? GNA Agana is district forestry Manager
CUE:
The blame game started when I wanted to find out why the farmers were allowed to encroach into the forest reserve for all these years?
CUE: (Agana blaming lack of political will)
CUE: (Armah talking about the FSD being inactive)
Blame game or not, people like little Efia and their parents would be feeling the brunt of the cocoa farm destruction taking place in the Aboabodo settlement. The story will not be so different in many other villages where farmers have encroached into forest reserves. This official work with a Cocoa buying company, he wants to remain anonymous but tells me the exercise will have a negative impact on the expected yields from the area.
CUE: (kuapa ….)
As the ding dong continues, cutting of the coacoa trees will not cease. Envrinomental NGO, Green Earth says Ghana has consistently falied to protect its forest resources. Executiv Director, William Ahadzie says the situation is getting out of hand.
CUE:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
REDEFINING CPP: AS A CALLING PROPHECY AND PROMISE!
by Party Communications Director
There is a new prophecy hanging over the destiny of Ghana, linked to the promise of the Convention People’s Party. I write this, assuming that Ghanaians know the famous lines that were uttered by Nkrumah the day Ghana was born, in 1957. After fifty three years of independence, the prophecy has come to pass, with the release of Nelson Mandela from jail, as a throwback from the release of Nkrumah from jail to assume the post of Head of Government Business in 1951.
Today, Ghana and Africa are once again at a watershed point in history, where the prophecy deserves a revisit or retelling. We who were born after independence and came of age in the decade when the son of an African is President of the United States, it becomes almost a reversal of the prophetic fulfilment of Nkrumah’s dream of African Unity. I say this because, little has been acknowledged, despite the pictures to prove that, Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife Coretta, Ralph Bunche the first African-American Secretary to the United Nations, John Johnson, Founder of Ebony Magazine, Adam Clayton Powell, first African-American Congressman from Harlem – Malcolm X and Mohammed Ali were to visit later - and a whole host of African-American political and literary luminaries were present on Independence Day, to see the rallying cry of “Independence Now,” come to fruition; and later became linked to the total liberation of Africans and African-Americas.
I set the tone for this article with the preceding paragraph because, there is a particular picture of Nkrumah holding the hand of Martin Luther King Jr., and showing him something in the distance. Till this day, I am yet to find what the two were talking about and if any points of historic interest could be gleaned from their conversation. But the silence of time, has a way of stealing away such moments. However, as the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. So I can only use my imagination to deduce that King might have been advised by Nkrumah to use the notion of the “fierce urgency of now,” like the phrase, Self-Government Now to pursue his dream of Civil Rights in America.
Secondly, there are pictures of Nkrumah standing at the Lincoln Memorial and co-incidentally that was the same place King would later stand to give his “I Have A Dream Speech.” As a creative writer and a poet, I must allow myself the fictional license to believe that Nkrumah might have told King, “If you want America to live up to its creed of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that all men were created equal, hold a rally at the Lincoln Memorial and demand civil rights for African-Americans Now.”
It is only interesting to note that some forty years later, Obama would re-echo the idea of “fierce urgency of now,” in his speeches during his campaign to become President, also Obama would refer to Nkrumah in his autobiography and visit Ghana on his first African trip as President. These connections I am making are symbolic, aimed at painting a picture on a historic canvas of prophetic storytelling to stress the point that, the realization of the African-America dream to have a President of African descent in the White House, has its roots
embedded in the historic narrative of Ghana’s history. Let us not forget that W. E. B. Du Bois lived the final years of his life in Ghana and Nkrumah was influenced by Harlem politics, Marcus Garvey and George Padmore while a student in America and England.
Let me therefore relate it to the Calling of Prophecy and Promise. There is not a political party in Ghana with such a rich historic heritage with links to the Diaspora as the Convention People’s Party, particularly because of Nkrumah. Ours is a scared calling, like the Priesthood or being called to the Bar or to pursue Medicine. The call to commit one’s life to politics as a CPP member – as Nkrumah did - must be seen as a calling, and in my opinion only the CPP offers such an opportunity to the next generation of Pan-African political aspirants, committed to Creating Prosperity for the People.
We are living in prophetic times and the call of our party must be a call to a new prophecy. Nkrumah pointed out in his autobiography: politics is the art of the possible. Let us pledge ourselves to a new prophecy to fulfil the promises of economic independence, work and happiness, self-government, and African unity. That is the mission of our party. It is our destiny to forge a new Covenant between the People and their Politicians. It is a Call to Prophetic Politics to fulfil the dream of the political Kingdom, to assure Ghanaians that our promise to lead Ghana/Africa to the Promised Land of prosperity is scared and must not be betrayed.
If African-Americans can fulfil the promise of King, why haven’t we fulfilled the prophecy of Nkrumah? The moment for us to wake up the sleeping conscience of the race is now. CPP must mean more than just a name of a party. It must mean a Calling of Prophecy and Promise; a Covenant between the People and their President, a sacred social Contract between Parliamentarians and the People, to guarantee good governance, democracy and development. This is the moment to Conceive, Prepare and Plan for Change, Possibility and Power.
We were once the greatest party in Ghana’s history, hence Africa; we can be great again. Let us be fearless in evoking the spirit of political prophecy or to use the church phrase to speak in political toughs. This is the moment of our new destiny. Not later in some distant future, but Now. History is on our side, in our quest to once again win and Control Political Power in Ghana.
Kabu Okai-Davies, Member of CPP, Australia Branch.
There is a new prophecy hanging over the destiny of Ghana, linked to the promise of the Convention People’s Party. I write this, assuming that Ghanaians know the famous lines that were uttered by Nkrumah the day Ghana was born, in 1957. After fifty three years of independence, the prophecy has come to pass, with the release of Nelson Mandela from jail, as a throwback from the release of Nkrumah from jail to assume the post of Head of Government Business in 1951.
Today, Ghana and Africa are once again at a watershed point in history, where the prophecy deserves a revisit or retelling. We who were born after independence and came of age in the decade when the son of an African is President of the United States, it becomes almost a reversal of the prophetic fulfilment of Nkrumah’s dream of African Unity. I say this because, little has been acknowledged, despite the pictures to prove that, Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife Coretta, Ralph Bunche the first African-American Secretary to the United Nations, John Johnson, Founder of Ebony Magazine, Adam Clayton Powell, first African-American Congressman from Harlem – Malcolm X and Mohammed Ali were to visit later - and a whole host of African-American political and literary luminaries were present on Independence Day, to see the rallying cry of “Independence Now,” come to fruition; and later became linked to the total liberation of Africans and African-Americas.
I set the tone for this article with the preceding paragraph because, there is a particular picture of Nkrumah holding the hand of Martin Luther King Jr., and showing him something in the distance. Till this day, I am yet to find what the two were talking about and if any points of historic interest could be gleaned from their conversation. But the silence of time, has a way of stealing away such moments. However, as the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. So I can only use my imagination to deduce that King might have been advised by Nkrumah to use the notion of the “fierce urgency of now,” like the phrase, Self-Government Now to pursue his dream of Civil Rights in America.
Secondly, there are pictures of Nkrumah standing at the Lincoln Memorial and co-incidentally that was the same place King would later stand to give his “I Have A Dream Speech.” As a creative writer and a poet, I must allow myself the fictional license to believe that Nkrumah might have told King, “If you want America to live up to its creed of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that all men were created equal, hold a rally at the Lincoln Memorial and demand civil rights for African-Americans Now.”
It is only interesting to note that some forty years later, Obama would re-echo the idea of “fierce urgency of now,” in his speeches during his campaign to become President, also Obama would refer to Nkrumah in his autobiography and visit Ghana on his first African trip as President. These connections I am making are symbolic, aimed at painting a picture on a historic canvas of prophetic storytelling to stress the point that, the realization of the African-America dream to have a President of African descent in the White House, has its roots
embedded in the historic narrative of Ghana’s history. Let us not forget that W. E. B. Du Bois lived the final years of his life in Ghana and Nkrumah was influenced by Harlem politics, Marcus Garvey and George Padmore while a student in America and England.
Let me therefore relate it to the Calling of Prophecy and Promise. There is not a political party in Ghana with such a rich historic heritage with links to the Diaspora as the Convention People’s Party, particularly because of Nkrumah. Ours is a scared calling, like the Priesthood or being called to the Bar or to pursue Medicine. The call to commit one’s life to politics as a CPP member – as Nkrumah did - must be seen as a calling, and in my opinion only the CPP offers such an opportunity to the next generation of Pan-African political aspirants, committed to Creating Prosperity for the People.
We are living in prophetic times and the call of our party must be a call to a new prophecy. Nkrumah pointed out in his autobiography: politics is the art of the possible. Let us pledge ourselves to a new prophecy to fulfil the promises of economic independence, work and happiness, self-government, and African unity. That is the mission of our party. It is our destiny to forge a new Covenant between the People and their Politicians. It is a Call to Prophetic Politics to fulfil the dream of the political Kingdom, to assure Ghanaians that our promise to lead Ghana/Africa to the Promised Land of prosperity is scared and must not be betrayed.
If African-Americans can fulfil the promise of King, why haven’t we fulfilled the prophecy of Nkrumah? The moment for us to wake up the sleeping conscience of the race is now. CPP must mean more than just a name of a party. It must mean a Calling of Prophecy and Promise; a Covenant between the People and their President, a sacred social Contract between Parliamentarians and the People, to guarantee good governance, democracy and development. This is the moment to Conceive, Prepare and Plan for Change, Possibility and Power.
We were once the greatest party in Ghana’s history, hence Africa; we can be great again. Let us be fearless in evoking the spirit of political prophecy or to use the church phrase to speak in political toughs. This is the moment of our new destiny. Not later in some distant future, but Now. History is on our side, in our quest to once again win and Control Political Power in Ghana.
Kabu Okai-Davies, Member of CPP, Australia Branch.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Regional Minister explains ban on motor bike use in Bawku does not affect everyone but residents want the ban removed
Public service workers and staff of essential service providers such as health and education are not affected by the ban on the use of motor bikes in the Bawku municipality. That’s according to the Upper East regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who tells Joy News a social communications center will be set up to take care of emergency situations. The ban was imposed by the municipal Security Council following a sharp upsurge in hostilities in the Bawku town. Already the town is under a 4pm to 6am curfew. Mr Woyongo says the ban is indefinite.
Residents say the ban on the use of motorbikes is a non starter. They tell Joy news it will rather worsen the economic situation in the area.
MP for Pusiga, Simon whose constituency is closely, believes the security agencies would be wasting their time trying to enforce the ban on the use of motorbikes instead of apprehending perpetrators of the violent acts.
Residents say the ban on the use of motorbikes is a non starter. They tell Joy news it will rather worsen the economic situation in the area.
MP for Pusiga, Simon whose constituency is closely, believes the security agencies would be wasting their time trying to enforce the ban on the use of motorbikes instead of apprehending perpetrators of the violent acts.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
In the Name of God BAWKU wake up!
The People of Bawku seem to have the knack for making all the bad news in Ghana, despite the numerous issues the media is confronted with to report on. Bawku can change headlines with horrifying tales but true of course: "man set ablaze", "51 year old woman's corpse found in a well". What is all this? cant our brother and sisters up North just for once sit and realize that they are setting us all back with their backward attitude? Am tired. so tired and somehow, hmm...
I just want our politicians and so called big men and opinion leader and all those who have a hand in the unending SAGA OF BAWKU, to bow down their heads in shame and run into the bush with their tails in between their hairy legs, aaaba!
this whole chieftaincy conflict started way before the PNDC/ NDC-NPP-NPP and now the NDC is back in the saddle. Can it evr solve the issue? Avoka has been removed after several right thinking members of society had protested even his appointment. A number of casualties later, the President finds is necessary to remove him. Martin Amidu is the man in charge of the Interior Ministry now and he has decided not to say a word about Bawku, at least despite several attempts to get him to tell us about his plan to nib this nonsense of Bawku in the bud!
The Government can do so much. but the residents of the area must be bold enough to stop this crazy attitude. thousands of military and policemen is not what we need.
I just want our politicians and so called big men and opinion leader and all those who have a hand in the unending SAGA OF BAWKU, to bow down their heads in shame and run into the bush with their tails in between their hairy legs, aaaba!
this whole chieftaincy conflict started way before the PNDC/ NDC-NPP-NPP and now the NDC is back in the saddle. Can it evr solve the issue? Avoka has been removed after several right thinking members of society had protested even his appointment. A number of casualties later, the President finds is necessary to remove him. Martin Amidu is the man in charge of the Interior Ministry now and he has decided not to say a word about Bawku, at least despite several attempts to get him to tell us about his plan to nib this nonsense of Bawku in the bud!
The Government can do so much. but the residents of the area must be bold enough to stop this crazy attitude. thousands of military and policemen is not what we need.
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