A FEAST WITH 1000 KIDS -A WAR ON ILLITERACY (NVDAY15)_HOTEP ABEKU ADAMS

 Illiteracy has become a major setback for Ghana as a Nation. For the past years, records shows that the number of illiterate in Ghana supersedes the number of literate. Current and previous government have tried their best to curb the solutions by building more schools in the country. But these effort seems futile and has left the nation in an impoverished state where we have so many children in our society who have dropped out of school and some not willing to go to school.

These glitches have been as a result of poor parental care and also in some cases incongruous mentors in the society for these children to look up to. In Ghana most of our society have children roaming without some proper to do with their lives. It is as a result of these social vices, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction have become rampant in our society.

From left to right ( Kwabena Annan & Hotep Abeku Adams

As part of the September 21 founders day celebration which is a national public holiday observed in Ghana to mark the birthday of Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the founding fathers of Ghana, volunteers have also set aside that day to make an impact in our society hence a National Volunteer Day.

National Volunteer Day (NVDay) is a day slated for the September 21 of every year which is also Founder's Day by The GhanaThink Foundation, geared towards encouraging Ghanaians to take up the attitude of Volunteerism. The NVDay initiative has become part of the GhanaThink Foundation's Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP) which is also to promote volunteerism and volunteer activities in Ghana while getting more volunteers for this. The idea of volunteering to do something worthy in the society on these day is what triggered a young Man, Hotep Abeku Adams and his associates to come up with an idea of sending the kids in our society back to school.

Some Volunteers carrying the food for the feast

Foods Served to the Children

Hotep Abeku Adams is a young Ghanaian who sees the need of eradicating illiteracy from our society. He therefore came up with an idea of feasting with 1000 kids on these day. The whole idea seems outrageous but I believe when your dream doesn’t scares you then it is not worth it. For this reason he themed the feast A WAR ON ILLITERACY.

Abeku Adams upon meeting some volunteer groups before the day, he explained that the whole idea of A WAR ON ILLITERACY was taken from the Cuba Revolution which took in place in the year 1959. Fidel Castro a Revolutionist believed that the best way Cuba could stand was only if everyone could read and write. And within a year the dreams of Castro became a reality.

Hotep added “we live in a society that if we don’t help ourselves, there is no one to help us” hence all his life time, he has never dreamt of becoming a rich man but rather an epitome of change in the society. Also, he went to the University just to ensure the progress and continuity of the society .Therefore when Ghanaians talk about change, it shouldn’t be about political change but rather Societal change.

A volunteer speaking with some kids

Some Volunteers and the kids

Today’s volunteer day saw several volunteering and charity groups coming together at Amanful; a fishing community in Cape Coast to speak and mentor the kids in the society. Campus Volunteer, Project Hope Ghana, Basic Education Student Association from the University of Cape Coast as well as Dignity Africa and Cape Coast Youth Coalition for Development were also on Board to support the feast with 1000 kids.

Several individuals and family contributed towards the making the of an idea a reality. Volunteers spoke to the kids about the need to go back to the classroom and also touched on certain societal issues like Teenage Pregnancy, Drug Abuse, and Occultism which are major impediments in our societies.

various Volunteers and the kids of Amanful

Hotep Abeku Adams stated after the feast that “it is the first of its kind and it has come to stay, A feast with 1000 kids will be the first phase of A WAR ON ILLITERACY and it will become a Nationwide program” He further admonished the students from the University Of Cape Coast who offered helping hand that, “they must be a conscript of change in the Cape Coast. They must live Cape Coast after their four years stay with a legacy “.

Mr Woyome, one of the invited guest to the feast also added that “it is about time students from the university set foot out there to help the young ones live good a life.” He further stated “60% of Ghanaians are Christians, but we will not have religious identity when it comes to making a change in the society”

We must all stand and support this wonderful initiative of kicking illiteracy in our society 

Ghana, The Begging Millionaire – Africa, The Begging Trillionaire

By Nana Kofi

Recently, I witnessed in dismay a tirade by a white man in the first class cabin of a mid-size airplane, admonishing another first class passenger, a Ghanaian male, for “begging” for his seat. What is wrong with you Africans? All you do is beg, beg, beg for everything!! You can beg all you want; I am not going to give you my seat. Tempers finally cooled down, and the aircraft took off. Unfortunately, I was sitting next to this white man who, a few minutes ago, had insulted my whole race. With nothing else to do, I turned and asked him “what was all that about”? Apparently, the Ghanaian man was travelling with his “wife”; they had been seated in 1st class on separate rows, and apart. The man had asked this white man to exchange his seat, so the couple could be close. The white man had refused, but the Ghanaian man had persisted with numerous “I beg you”; which eventually took the white man to his boiling point. “So what would it have cost you to exchange your seat?” I asked. His response, the essence of this article was this.

“I booked my flight the last minute, and got the last 1st class seat available, this one. This means it was also available to this man, if only he had asked to be seated close to his wife. He did not, but now comes “begging” for what WAS DUE HIM in the first place.” “That still shouldn't get your collar up”, I said. “You may be right; unfortunately, I have just finished a month long negotiations with your Ministers and Government officials over your god given mineral rights, and what my gold mining company should pay.

I come to your country, see all this poverty everywhere, with wealth right under your feet. Your own government gives only foreign companies the rights and privileges to rape and steal your country blind. For a few thousand dollars, your government officials allow these foreign companies to walk away with: (a) Perpetual tax holidays, (b) Duty free imports, (c) Bloated capital and operational investment costs,

(d) under-declared mineral output, (e) minimum wages for local employees doing all the work, but FAT salaries and expense accounts for foreigners who do almost nothing; (f) exaggerated cost of shoddy school blocks and boreholes instead of meaningful royalty to local land owners and communities;

(g) destruction of local farm lands with pitiful resettlement payments; (h) pollution of local drinking water; (i) destruction of local infrastructure, etc.

My bosses had counseled me at a briefing before my departure. I was asked to read your Osageyefo's “Neo-Colonialism”. Then I was told: “be prepared, and the first, to offer the negotiating team, (a) a few thousand dollars each; (b) a center, or a 6-room school block, or a few bore holes for the community; and there will be no mention of the usual above 10% royalties, or an actual government oversight of our operations, or adequate resettlement compensations, etc.”

I did not believe my bosses since I, a mere high school graduate, was coming to deal with officials with Masters and Doctorate degrees. Imagine my shock and disappointment when these officials, instead of demanding what is INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE COMPENSATIONS AND ROYALTIES for their country and communities, only accepted the 3% royalties, and with ALL KINDS OF GIVEAWAYS, and then came to me later BEGGING me to deposit “something” in their foreign accounts (numbers written on pieces of paper). I do not want to hear the phrase “I beg you” again.

The irony here is that these so called Educated people, after negotiating away the countries wealth, and depositing their “something”s into foreign banks, turn round to go and BORROW their own money from the IMF, World Bank, or “Donor” countries/ “Development Partners”. Do you remember the number of PhD beneficiaries, and the destinations of the Mabey & Johnson kickbacks? It amazes me that your intelligentsia, Ministers and Presidents, who have studied, or have travelled oversea, still don't get the idea that “THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH”. THERE ARE NO “DONOR COUNTRIES” OR “DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS”. THE FOREIGN MINING COMPANIES TAKE YOUR MINERALS FOR NEXT TO NOTHING, DEPOSIT THEIR HAUL INTO THEIR BANKS, AND THEN TURN ROUND TO LOAN THE SAME TO OUR GOVERNMENTS, AGAIN WITH REDICULOUS CONDITIONS.SUCH AS “NO SUBSIDIZED” BASIC EDUCATION.



Surely, companies like Anglogold and Newmont are contributing to our economy, I offered.
“At what price? Have you been to Obuasi recently to see the devastation and destruction of once a beautiful city? Newmont has over 740 sq. km concession in Ahafo; what did the Ahafo's get in return for Newmont's ANNUAL revenues of over $750,000,000? Almost NOTHING!!

This is exactly what your first President was talking about in “Neo-Colonialism“. Have you read that book? He asked me. I was ashamed to answer “No”. “I don't blame you; none of your “Educated” officials at the negotiating table had read it. That book ought to be a must-read textbook in your schools and colleges, so that you can understand how foreign companies and governments strive to rob you blind, just as before. Only this time, their methods are cloaked in one-sided “agreements” with the connivance of your “Educated” Managing Directors, Ministers, and Presidents. “How can you accuse our officials of complicity?” I asked defensively. Has your media asked why the MD's of the Ghana Chamber of mines keep defending the mining companies, or how a Ghanaian, working for a Ghanaian/British joint company in Ghana earned the “Order of the British Empire (Sir)”? Can you imagine these foreign companies, under the watchful eyes of your govt. officials, paying the indigene 5 pesewa (GhC 0.05) ground rent for their acre of concessional land after they have hauled away GhC 1,000,000 from the same acre?

THE BIG COMPANIES, NEWMONT AND ANGLOGOLD ARE NOT EVEN ASHAMED TO CONNIVE WITH YOUR GOVT OFFICIALS TO SIDESTEP PAYING THE INCREASED 5% ROYALTY. THEY ARE PAYING THE 5% BASED ON ANCIENT GOLD PRICE OF $300.00/OZ INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT WORLDWIDE PRICE OF $1500.00/OZ., SHORTCHANGING YOUR PEOPLE $75,000,000 in the process. Unfortunately, your negotiating officials are happy to giggle to the foreign banks with their thousands, accompanied in some cases by “Dr”s and “Sir”s.

Even the Chinese are getting in on the act, albeit ILLEGALLY. They are threatening communities with guns and firepower, AND YOUR MILITARY LOOKS ON UNCONCERNED. Your media is just as bad. With buffet lunches or dinners and a few Cedis in their pockets, your print media become the propaganda machines of these mining companies. They tout the few boreholes and the 6-room schools, but leave out the callous treatment of local employees and residents, and the destruction of the environment. The airwaves are SILENT on all this. WACAM IS THE LONE VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE. Why don't your media SUPPORT WACAM by broadcasting and educating the masses, especially the officials that (a) THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT APPROVE OF FOREIGN COMPANIES ROBBING THE INDEGENES FULL BENEFITS OF THEIR GOD GIVEN MINERAL AND OIL DEPOSITS. (b) Before Rawlings, foreign mining companies in Ghana could not hold more than 40% interest in their partnership with the government; now the Ghana govt. holds ZERO percent, while they hold 100%,; and therefore do not account to any authority.

A 50% annual return on investment (ROI) for the first 7 years, is generally considered EXCELLENT. Foreign mining/ oil companies in Ghana and the rest of Africa, are PERPETUALLY hauling away over 400% return on their investments, without any regard to the plight of the indigenes.

I feigned sleep, so he stopped talking. I was actually reflecting on all that he had said. I realized that YES, we had become too “give me, give me”; “I beg”, “I beg you”; “My Christmas box”; “Give us something for water”.

I am reminded by this my brother's analogy. His cat will “meow” for some food, usually crumbs, in his bowl outside. The bowl of food will attract the resident mice. One would think the cat would opt for the juicy mice, NOO. He would lay there and watch the mouse eat all his food, and then come back “Meowing” for more crumbs.

WE WATCH OUR OFFICIALS GIVE AWAY OUR GOLD, OIL, BAUXITE, DIAMOND, ETC FOR THEIR MEAGRE KICKBACKS, WHILE WE WALLOW IN POVERTY. IT IS TIME WE WAKE UP FROM OUR SLUMBER, AND TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. AT THAT TIME, WE CAN TELL OBAMA AND CAMERON TO TAKE BACK THEIR GAYS AND AID.

Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The parrot magazine. The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The parrot magazine will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article." © Nana Kofi.

ACT OF LOVE 2_SILAS AMOADU JNR

ACT OF LOVE 2


An act of love need not  be a gesture grand or great.A smile can work
a miracle. Being there in times of need transcends the spoken word.
A helping hand is simply grand when hearts begin to bleed.A prayer is
nothing until it is heard beyond the highest life. But when it is
answered ,oh my lady! How strong is your belief.
An act of love may simply be a smile,a hug, a kiss ....,but it is joy
for all when we find the special people who make  life worth living
even when troubles come our way.

TRUTH HURTS
I never believed in the saying, "Truth hurts" until you left.
You left behind so much pain in my heart and gave me reasons not to
love by heart.
You have turned my heart so cold and brought my world so low.But I
know that time heals all wounds. So as I lay down to sleep, I hope to
wake with the pain you left in my heart gone and the wounds you left
in my soul healed.

MISSING YOU
The pain of yesterday gradually takes away the fear of being alone.
And memories of you gradually makes me stronger.
For many years you have brought me happiness and for many years you
made me wiser.
And just when I thought you would stay forever,you left without a word
or letter.
You brought darkness and sorrow into my world and left me so unhappy
and scared .
My mind has known no rest and my soul has known no peace since you left.
However,I know that someday you will be free.
Somehow you will be able to forgive me and somehow we will meet again.

Author ;Nana Acwesi Amoadu Junior

African Christians suffer from ‘Acquired Immune Spirituality Syndrome’ – Lumumba August 30, 2015

African Christians have taken “a bash” from renowned Kenyan law professor and Pan-Africanist, P.L.O Lumumba, who believes they are “suffering from the Acquired Immune Spirituality Syndrome.

He was speaking in the context of how corruption is deep-seated in Africans, and that no matter how many times they attend church, they still go back to their old ways.
“I was telling a congregation not long ago that those who go to church on Sundays suffer from  what I call Acquired Immune Spirituality Syndrome and that they go to church every Sunday to receive their anti-retrovirals to last them for six days and that they go again and again.”
He also believes the difficult economic situations across the country is fueling such behaviours.
Prof. Lumumba said these challenges which have turned many Africans into “church-goers” can actually be tackled if they take the initiative to speak about these challenges and devise measures to resolve them.
“… Africans also have a problem which cannot be spoken about episodically. It is something that we must speak and act about. We must move into the arena of networking very quickly…young Africans must be meaningfully engaged.”
The Pan-Africanist is convinced the continent will not realise it’s full potential if it fails to resolve pertinent issues such as unemployment, among others.

“If you go into any hotel in Accra Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania half of the things that we are consuming are not from us and that means jobs and employment and I can’t agree more that until we solve the problem of unemployment we are not going to realise our full potential.African leaders must make the deliberate decision to begin to move in the right direction.”
“Unemployment is one of the most annoying and nagging things in Africa. We are about 1 billion now  and over half of that , 70 percent of that population is in the working age and our countries are not producing any jobs. In Kenya, Tanzania etc .. the Chinese are building railways, the Chinese are building our gas pipes in Tanzania. The Chinese are present everywhere because they are creating jobs for their young men and women,” Prof Lumumba complained.
–
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com

Kofi Akordor-How the West created a Monster called Isis

By: Kofi AkordorDate :Tuesday, 01 September 2015 02:37

Published in Opinion

We thought we were too far away to worry about events in North Africa and the Middle East. Even Boko Haram, which is closer in neighbouring Nigeria, did not, at least we thought, pose any threat to our national security until news started filtering in that the dreaded Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has set up a recruitment camp in Ghana.

As usual, the subject was trivialised, politicised and even bastardised in some quarters, depending on who was discussing it. But the truth is; the information that ISIS is recruiting our youth for training and operations outside our shores should not be seen as an isolated case.

It falls within a global pattern which if not given the necessary serious attention and checked at its embryonic stage could spell doom for the country.

It was unfortunate the media networks which claimed access to the information first did not act in the overall national interest.

Some of us were expecting that such a delicate information would be passed on to national intelligence to do its underground work and if possible arrest those that are the brains behind the recruitment instead of going public about even the meeting place of the syndicate.

For now, we can take consolation in the assurance by the national security apparatus that they are on top of events and that there should be no cause for alarm.

A statement attributed to the National Security Coordinator that since the movement is outward, we should not panic as a nation, if true, is, however, unfortunate.

We know that when soldiers train and go to war, they always return home not with calm demeanours, but with savage mentality which they could unleash on their compatriots. It is, therefore, not strange that countries that have experienced civil wars and other violent upheavals also become fertile grounds for violent criminals such as armed robbers.

What is ISIS?

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) came to world attention in June last year, after the declaration of its Islamic Caliphate by taking over large parts of Syria and Iraq. Since then, the group has been able to recruit thousands of fighters from various countries to join its ranks.

Western-led efforts to suppress the group have so far yielded little positive results and ISIS continues to grow in strength by the day just as its ruthlessness against its enemies and those converts who want to retreat.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, ISIS has over the past year executed over 1,841 civilians, including women and children, by shooting, beheading, stoning and burning for crimes such as sorcery, sodomy, adultery, banditry and co-perating with rival rebel groups and the US-led coalition fighting it.

The report also said the group had executed 182 of its own members who had been captured trying to flee back to their countries.

How it started

When the United States (US) and its European allies invaded Iraq in 2003, they made the world to believe that they were after a monster called Saddam Hussein who was planning to destroy the world with weapons of mass destruction.

Even after the invaders could not provide any proof of the storage of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Western propaganda made the world to believe that the death of Saddam was a good riddance of an evil nut which would make the world safer.

Years after the death of Saddam, Iraq remains one of the most unsafe places in the world. The West went further to instigate the overthrow of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya in 2011 and is still making attempts to remove Bashar-al Assad of Syria from power by arming a lot of rebel groups against him since 2011, under the guise of establishing democracy and defending human rights.

The collapse of the relatively stable regimes in Iraq, Libya and Yemen, adding to the problem in Afghanistan and rebel activities in Syria, all through the covert and overt operations of the West , prepared fertile grounds for Islamic militants to intensify their activities in North Africa and the Middle East, leading to the emergence of the ISIS.

Today, the US and its European allies are trying to do damage control. But the more they pour in armour and personnel, the more the rebel groups also expand their operations, and in amoeba-like fashion, multiply under different names in various countries but with a common objective – to kill, maim, destroy and cause fear and panic.

Today the world is not safe, including for those of us who think we are very far away from the theatre of war. The idea that the recruitment wing of ISIS is on our soil means we are getting closer, and Boko Haram, which is nearer, may be even closer than we thought.

The media should stop running commentaries on such issues and rather provide valuable information to our intelligence organisations which should also put their ears on the ground. It is said that a stitch in time saves nine and to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

fokofi@yahoo.co.uk