Aaatuu 4 Ghana's First International Lifestyle Magazine by Francis Adams

JULY-SEPT 2017

TWENA DOES AFRICAN PRINT MEET THE PENCILMASTER

Tales from the Chopbox

Adinkra

Our Rich Culture

PHOTOGRAPHY GHANA

VOLTA REGION

THE HIDDEN GEM

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT

NKRUMAH #beautifulghana #travelghana

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not WHINNERS Gone Viral 7

87878 59556

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AaaTuu

100 AMAZING GHANAIANS See who we are featuring in this issue.

Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu

Mary Spio

Abrima Erwiah

Constance Swaniker

ello everyone and welcome to the 4th edition of Aaatuu Magazine. Aaatuu is a warm hug! We couldn't be more excited to have made it to this point. Welcome! In this issue, we throw the spotlight on the Volta Region. This part of Ghana has been described as the Hidden Gem of our country. You already know about the river Volta and Mt Afadjato, and they are all amazing in their own right. But for those who want a real story, nobody else is likely to have, these are some amazing and beautiful hidden gems throughout this region. Read more to ﬁnd out. Also, we got Fashion Designer “Twena” to showcase her collection of designs using African Prints. You will ﬁnd some lovely photos in this issue.

Our 100 Amazing Ghanaians series continues with features on six extraordinary Ghanaians including Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu who works with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States. Also another Ghanaian, Mary Spio, who trained as a Deep Space Engineer working with companies such as Boeing Digital Cinema, Intelsat and Aerospace Corp developing technologies that have changed media and communications. Doesn't that make you proud?

Twena Does Africanprint

Hogbetsotso Festival

We also got professional photographers Yaw Pare and Ben Bond to share some of their amazing photographs from Ghana. This edition is packed. Enjoy! With warmest regards.

Dr Kofi Boahene

Francis Adams Editor

Photography Ghana A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2017 On the Cover Yvonne Serwaa Ameyaw is the cover girl for this edition of Aaatuu. She is based in Baltimore, in the US and works as a Reimbursement Specialist. Serwaa has a passion for all things Ghanaian and ďŹ&#x201A;aunts her culture anytime she can. She's beautiful, smart and hardworking.

11 Spotlight Volta Region-The Hidden Treasure of Ghana's Tourism

18 Event Ghana Diaspora Homecoming Summit '17 20 History Kwame Nkrumah What you may not know about Ghana's ďŹ rst president

Lifestyle 24 Crossword Gh 36 Talking Drums Ghanaians making news around the world 41 Food Banku and Okro Stew

40 Health Dr Oz recommends Palm Oil 45 Our Culture Adinkra Symbols

Cover Photo by KIkiAdams

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Lifestyle

People

47 Opinion Letter from Uncle Paul

27 100 Amazing Ghanaians

28 Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu 58 Photography #beautifulghana

29 Abrima Erwiah

65 Tales from the chopbox

30 Constance Swaniker

70 Gone Viral

32 Mary Spio

75 Events Hogbetsotso Festival

33 Dr KoďŹ Owusu Boahene 38 My Brilliant Friend the Pencil Master

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AaaTuu

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR ART DIRECTOR ASSISTANT EDITOR GH FASHION EDITOR DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER ADVERTISING & MARKETING GH WEB & SYSTEMS CONSULTANT

Francis Adams Nimi Manyo Plange Ato Degraft Johnson Fawzia Osman Ekuwa Dadson Dharmendra Thanki George Maclean (MacMedia Ltd) Kobla Fiagbedzi

REGUL AR CONTRIBUTORS / PHOTOGR APHERS Gladys Adinyira Wuaku:Accra-Ghana, Steven Pierce:Bath-UK Dr. Morkor Newman Harare: Zimbabwe, Parrian Parry:Baltimore Maryland, Nana Sarpong:Maryland-USA, Ben Owusu Firempong:Nairobi-Kenya, Victor and Emmanuel Opoku: Virginia USA, Emmanuel Kweenu Haizel- New York Evelyn Akuetteh, Accra-Ghana, Clear Shot Studios, Yaw Biney-Humans of Accra Isaac Quist-Australia, Justine Quaye Mensah, Brooklyn New York, Yaw Pare-Accra Ghana, Godwin Otoo-Adenta, Accra, ARTEFFECTS-Ho, Ghana, Kwaku Sikahene Ampomah-UK Isaac Quist-Australia, Ben Obiri Asamoah-OAB Photography Accra CHAIRMAN PRESIDENT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR PUBLISHER TRAFFIC MANAGER SALES DIRECTOR- UK ADVERTISING & MARKETING--US BUSINES S DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION GROUP CIRCUL ATION MANAGER

Gibrine Adam Stanley Sutton Benjamin Vanderpuye Frederick Yuen Raju Thanki Ajoa Nketia Parrian Parry Yvonne Ameyaw Paa Kojo Larbi Eli Kuadey Charles Koﬁniti Adzekwei Bekoe Michael Wuddah Martey Benard Akuffo Addo

AAATUU VOL. 1, ISSUE 03 Aaatuu Magazine is published quarterly by Crossover Publishing LLC 9705 Mill Centre Drive 713, Owings Mills MD 21117 USA. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the Publisher. Produced and distributed by Crossover Publishing LLC-USA, Crossover Publishing Limited-Ghana While the editors do their utmost to verify information published, they do not accept responsibility for its absolute accuracy.

This edition is published by permission of CROSSOVER PUBLISHING LLC 9705 MILL CENTRE DRIVE 713 OWING MILLS MD 21117 USA Tel. +1 443 432-9266 Online: www.aaatuumagazine.com Reproduction in whole or in part without consent of the copyright owner is prohibited.

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Although the editor and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this magazine was correct at press time, the editor and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

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by BEN BOND

A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

SPOTLIGHT

Volta Region The “Hidden Treasure” of Ghana’s Tourism

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#yawparephotography

SPOTLIGHT Volta Region

Mount Adaklu, from Skyplus Hotel. Ho, Volta Region

Volta Region

The Hidden Treasure of Ghana s Tourism KWAME GYASI VOLTA REGIONAL MANAGER GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

he Volta Region, also called Ghana’s microcosm, contains an impressive variety of natural and cultural attractions, though it is yet relatively underdeveloped for tourism. Tourism is growing in the Region as visitors discover the Region’s beauty and variety. Fascinating mountainous landscapes with overwhelming views over the Lake Volta, beautiful waterfalls, natural game reserves, lagoons and sandy beaches make the Region unique. The Voltarians are known for being welcoming and friendly to their visitors. Only 2 hours away from Accra, the Region is especially interesting as a recreational destination for short and weekend trips as well as conference tourism. It is important to note that several

tourists use the Aﬂao Border in the Ketu South District as a transit point. Ho is the Regional capital and serves often as a starting point for tours to the attractions in the surrounding area. The town has good value hotels and gastronomy. The recently renovated Regional Museum gives a closer insight into the history of the Region. The Kalakpa Resource Reserve and the Adaklu Mountain fascinate nature lovers. Wli/Agumatsa Waterfalls One of the most important tourist attractions of the Region are the Wli Waterfalls. These waterfalls are said to be the highest and most spectacular in West Africa. The Wli Falls are located a twenty-minute drive away from Hohoe at the edge of the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary. The water falls from a height of about

1,600 feet, into a plunge pool where swimming is permitted. The Volta Lake Lake Volta and, to a lesser extent, the Volta River dominate the Region. It is an area of great scenic beauty, with river and ocean beaches and picnic spots shaded by palm trees. Overwhelming views fascinate visitors. The attractive small town Kpando has the Region’s most important port. Mount Gemi/Amedzofe The former German mission Amedzofe is situated in the Avatime Hills with around 40 km distance of Ho. Mount Gemi one of the highest mountains in the country can easily be climbed and oﬀers amazing views over the width as far as Lake Volta. Another highlight is the Amedzofe Waterfall.

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SPOTLIGHT Volta Region

by BEN BOND

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SPOTLIGHT Volta Region

LIVING AND INVESTING Discovering the Region's Potentials and Investment Opportunities Compiled by the Regional Planning and Coordinating Unit (RPCU) with the support of Katharina Schlemper, Development Advisor, GIZ (German International Cooperation).

NATURAL HERITAGE Volta Lake and Volta River National parks (Kalakpa & Kyabobo) Waterfalls Mountains Flora and fauna Beaches Wetlands and lagoons Caves CULTURAL HERITAGE Colourful and vivacious festivals Unique dishes Variety of music, dances, songs Variety of quality handicrafts Traditional sports and Games Artistry in fabrics such as Kente Herbal and alternative medicine HISTORICAL HERITAGE The Danish Fort at Keta Slave markets The Light House at Woe German relics and cemeteries Old Churches, schools, mission houses Historical [Ancient relics, pre colonial, colonial, post colonial]

INVESTMENT AREAS

FOOD & BEVERAGE Seafood Restaurants, Coﬀee Shops

ACCOMMODATION/CATERING UP MARKET HOTELS (3-5 star category with room capacity of 200 and above especially in the Regional capital)

ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE Arts Centre, Theatres & Night clubs Cruise Boats/Ferries on lake Volta For further information please contact

RIVERSIDE LODGES The Coast and Volta Lake areas provide excellent opportunity for water lovers. ECO LODGES (lagoon, and coastal beach areas) SAFARI LODGES Lower to middle-market safari lodges and luxury tent accommodation at Forest Reserves in the Northern part of the Region

The Volta Regional Manager Ghana Tourism Authority P. O. Box HP 568 Ho, Ghana Tel: +233 (0)3620 26560 Email: gtavolta@gmail.com Website: www.ghana.travel The Chief Executive Oﬃcer Ghana Tourism Authority P. O. Box GP 3106 Accra, Ghana (Tel: +233 0)302 682601/8 Fax: +233 (0)302 682510 Email: gtb@ghana.travel Website: www.ghana.travel

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SPOTLIGHT Volta Region

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Topography The Region is divided into three geographical belts. The middle and northern belts are mainly mountainous where the highest peak in the country; Mount Afadja (885m) is located. The southern belt is flat with marshy and sandy portions. These coastal areas have low-lying altitude from less than 15 meters above sea level. The major kinds of land use in the Region are: Forest reserves/water sheds 732.30 sq.km Volta Lake and water bodies 3360.00 sq.km Lagoon Areas 330.00 sq.km The Region shares its western border with the Volta Lake. The Volta Basin is Ghana’s most important drainage system and is, with 8.500 square km, the world’s largest artificial body of water. The northern and middle belts have Rivers Oti, Asukawkaw, Menuso and Dayi all flowing into the Volta Lake. The Rivers Alabo and Tordzi are in the southern belt. Onchocerciasis has been associated with some of these fast flowing rivers. Some parts of the Region are “hard to reach” areas, generally referred to as “overbanks”, which are settlements along the Volta Lake and lagoons in the southern parts of Ghana. The districts mostly affected are Krachi West, 16

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Krachi East, Kpando, North Tongu, Jasikan and Keta. The coastal areas continue to be battered by tidal waves which usually displace several communities along the coast. This annual event could be attributed to sea level rise as a result of climate change. The most vulnerable areas include Keta and Anyanui.

Climate and Vegetation The Region stretches from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in the South to the Southern fringes of the semi-dry north in the North. As in all other parts of the country, the Region has a tropical climate, characterized by moderate temperature of 21-32° Celsius (70 - 90°F) for most of the year. The average annual rainfall ranges between 1,168mm and 2,103mm. More than half of the land area of the Region falls within the Volta River Basin with the Volta Lake draining a substantial portion of the Region. It has three marked climatic and vegetative zones: Mangrove swamps and adjoining arid coastal plains in the south: This zone is characterized by dense mangrove swamps at the estuarine of the Volta River and the banks of the Songow, Avu and part of Keta lagoons. The main species are the white and the red mangroves. The coastal plains are marked by low savannah grassland

which dries up completely during the dry seasons. Mango and coconut palm trees are planted in several areas. The area has two rainfall maxima: the main rainy season, occurring between May and August and the minor rainy season between September and October. Between the rainy seasons is a prolonged dry season, culminating in the dry Harmattan between November and February. Daily temperatures are very high, averaging some 26 degrees with an average humidity of 60 %. The open, moist, semideciduous forest zone and savanna woodland: This zone, occupying the central portion of the Region, is mostly of isolated forests and shrubland. The main trees include the silk cotton tree, teak, obeche and wawa. Wild mangoes, oil palm and date palm grow in several areas. Most trees shed their leaves during the dry season. The area experiences the same rainfall pattern as the southern zone. The marked diﬀerence, however, is the intensity of rains in the forest zone. Temperatures are a few degrees lower than in the South, especially in the mountainous areas while the humidity is slightly lower. The Northern Savanna or Guinea Savanna: This zone consists of mostly expansive savannah grassland, dominated in parts by tall elephant grass. There are a number of wild trees such as acabia, baobab, neem and cola. The area has one rainfall regime from May to August/September. The temperatures are slightly higher than

by BEN BOND

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GHANA DIASPORA HOMECOMING SUMMIT ‘17

We are not Whiners Minister’s remarks cast shadow on event Deputy Trade Minister Robert Ahomka-Lindsay has asked Ghanaians in the diaspora to stop whining about conditions at home when they return to do business. In the view of the minister, the diaspora community must understand that they do not have to see a minister or anybody in a top government position in order to engage in any meaningful business in Ghana. "Nobody likes whiners, people that spend all the time whining really get on people's nerves. So stop whining; stop saying this doesn't work, that doesn't work; please, we know it doesn't work so stop whining all the time saying it doesn't work. If it worked, you probably won't be sitting there," Mr Ahomka-Lindsay fumed at an event organised by the diaspora community in Accra. He continued: "It is not always that when you have to make a decision you have to see the minister, the deputy or every head; what is this thing, where did it come from? Do you know how many people actually sit down and want to see the minister every day; hundreds of them". After the minister had spoken, a member of the returnees, yet to be named, appeared to have 18

A video of the encounter between the minister and the diaspora community including the reaction to the minister's comment has gone viral on social media. Source: StarrFMonline.com

REACTIONS responded to the remarks in a similar fashion and tone. "We came here to sit with the decision makers to help us formulate polices that will integrate us into the system, where are the decision makers, where are they, they are nowhere around here to listen to us.

" So now everything we talk about here is going to be second and third class, it is going to be washed down and whatever is left is going to be passed on to the decision makers. Everybody that comes in here has the attitude that 'I have got something better to do'. If you are a business person and you "Nobody likes know that there is a constituency that has the whiners, biggest amount of people that money, most amount of expertise that you need spend all the into your business to time whining make it work, I would have thought that you really get on would spend more time with that constituency in people's order for them to do nerves. something. And this attitude and arrogance that we are whiners;

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really? Who travels 3000 miles to be a whiner, we could have been whiners from our constituency, we didn't have to come here to whine. So this attitude has got to change".

We won’t stop whining until you change – ‘Boggas’ hit back at Ahonka-Lindsay Ghanaians in the diaspora have sent a notice to deputy Minister for Trade & Industry, Mr. Robert AhomkaLindsay, telling him that that until things get working in the country, they will not stop whining. According to the diaspora community, they can’t just sit down, fold their arms, and watch things done wrongly when they could voice out their displeasure and share some ideas to get things changed for the better. Ghanaians in the diaspora were on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, provoked by Mr. Ahomka-Lindsay who got on their nerves and told them to stop whining about conditions at home when they return to do business. He told them to understand that they do not have to see a minister or anybody in a top government position in order to engage in any meaningful business in Ghana. “Nobody likes whiners; people that spend all the time whining really get

on people’s nerves. So stop whining; stop saying this doesn’t work, that doesn’t work; please, we know it doesn’t work so stop whining all the time saying it doesn’t work. If it worked, you probably won’t be sitting there,” he told a forum organized by the diaspora community in Accra.

NPP APOLOGISES FOR AHOMKALINDSAY OVER WHINING COMMENT The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has apologised to diasporans and all Ghanaians over the “whining” comment made by Deputy Minister of Trade Robert Ahomka-Lindsay.

He added “It is not always that when you have to make a decision you have to see the minister, the deputy or every head; what is this thing and where did it come from? Do you know how many people actually sit down and want to see the minister everyday; hundreds of them.” Although the deputy minister got a swift response from one of the returnees attending the forum to stop the arrogance, the larger community believes their complaints are worth it.

Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, addressing the Diaspora Homecoming Summit at the Accra International Conference Centre last Thursday, told the diasporans to stop “whining” about things that do not work in Ghana.

Vice Chairman of the Diaspora Community, Jeremain Nkrumah, interacting with Fiiﬁ Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM on Wednesday, said Mr. AhomkaLindsay should be prepared to hear more complaints if things do not change for the better. “The people have to complain so that those in charge will know that the complaints are getting too much and that they should do something it. That is how we develop a country. Where we are, when things go wrong, we complain as such. The notion that we are not complaining at where we are is wrong. We are not going to kowtow to what Ahomka Lindsey has said and stop complaining. We will not stop because if something is not working, you have to complain. If you don’t complain, those in authorities will assume everything is working to perfection,” he noted. Source-Kasapafm

He said: “Nobody likes whiners; people that spend all the time whining all the time really get on people’s nerves, so stop whining.” Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s comment has been interpreted by critics as harsh and arrogant. Speaking on the issue in an interview with Accra News on Thursday July 13, the Acting Director of Communications of the NPP, Yaw Adomako Baaﬁ, said: “The comment was unfortunate and so we apologise to all Ghanaians. “We in the NPP, unlike the NDC, admit our errors and accordingly apologise and correct those errors. Yes, the Deputy Minister made that comment, it was unfortunate that it happened and so we apologise.” Meanwhile, Mr Ahomka-Lindsey has issued a statement saying his comments were taken out of context adding: “None of my comments were meant to cast aspersions.”

13th July 2017 STATEMENT ON MY SPEECH ON DIASPORA MEETING I refer to recent discussions on a 2 to 3-minute clip from my 14-minute speech given at the Ghana Diaspora meeting in Accra. The clip is a complete misrepresentation of the speech and taken completely out of context. I was asked to give my candid opinion on my experience as a Diaspora returnee and how I would advise others who intend to make a similar journey. My speech was in 5 parts: 1. Your approach to trying to get results in Ghana 2. What you should expect when you make the move to Ghana 3. The opportunities available for you in Ghana 4. The rewards for perseverance 5. The next steps The clip being shown referred to section 1 of the speech. Listening to it independent of the other three sections gives a completely different meaning to the speech I would implore all that want to get a true picture of my speech to look at it on You Tube: https://youtu.be/YbkQCoNgSBc None of my comments were meant to cast aspersions. They were an expression of my personal experience. I wish to assure the people of Ghana and all those who have been offended by my comments that I did not in any way intend to sound offensive in my presentation. I hold all Ghanaians in the greatest respect and would not in any way do or say anything that would impugn their integrity.

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HISTORY

Kwame Nkrumah What you may not know about Ghana’s rst President

wame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana. Though he effected Ghana's independence and for a decade was Africa's foremost spokesman, his vainglory and dictatorial methods brought about his downfall in 1966, with him a discredited and tragic figure in African nationalism. The career of Kwame Nkrumah must be seen in the context of the Africa of his period, which sought a dynamic leader but lacked the structures that would make possible the common goal of continental unity. Ghana's and Africa's very inadequacies initially made them insensitive to Nkrumah's failings, conspicuous among which was the everwidening gap between his rhetoric, which called for a socialist revolution, and his practice, which accommodated itself to the worst aspects of tribal and capitalist traditions. Preparation for Leadership Kwame Nkrumah, whose original name was Francis Nwia Nkrumah, was born on Sept. 21, 1909, into the tiny Nzima tribe; his origins, although clouded by 20

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controversy, were indisputably humble. His early education was in Catholic mission schools and in a government training college. In 1935, after teaching for several years, with the help of friends and the example of Nnamdi Azikiwe (later Nigeria's ﬁrst president), Nkrumah left for Lincoln University in the United States.

By this time, Nkrumah was already the most radical of the young "Gold Coasters," resenting deeply the exploitative aspects of colonialism. But it was during the years at Lincoln, and the ensuing ones as a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, that he was to give substance to his feelings by studying, as he later wrote, "revolutionaries and their methods" (such as Lenin, Napoleon, Gandhi, Hitler, and, most important, Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican whose followers proclaimed him "provisional

president of Africa"). Nkrumah never obtained a thorough grounding in any field and never really demonstrated the intelligence and sensitivity that would have demanded discipline in his thinking. This combination of an inferior schooling and a less than first-rate mind made possible the eclectic and incoherent ideological thought seen in his later writings on "Nkrumaism." Nkrumah's formal political activity started in America but only began in earnest in London, where he went for further studies in 1945. While in England, he edited a pan-African journal, was vice president of the West African students' union, and helped organize the Fifth Pan-African Conference in Manchester. There, too, George Padmore, the important formerCommunist pan-Africanist, became his mentor and was a crucial restraining influence until he died in 1959. Gold Coast Leader In 1947 Nkrumah had his chance to return to Africa in a position of leadership. The United Gold

HISTORY

Coast Convention (UGCC), a conservative nationalist movement, invited him to be general secretary. He arrived on Nov. 14, 1947. With weak British leadership and the postwar recession, the Gold Coast was ripe for more radical leadership, which Nkrumah ably provided. Riots in early 1948 resulted from economic grievances but were blamed on the UGCC leadership. Nkrumah and others, including Joseph B. Danquah, who later died in one of Nkrumah's political jails, were detained side by side.

prime minister in 1952, and the governor. This diarchy symbolized Nkrumah's dilemma of the reconciliation of his image as a revolutionary with his close relationship with the imperial authority. Although this gap was papered over with rhetoric, it always existed in some form. A new enemy of Nkrumah's power appeared in 1954-1956 in the form of a conservative, tribally based political movement derived from the UGCC which even tried to delay independence. The need to struggle for the "political

After their release later that year, the UGCC leadership demoted Nkrumah, who responded by organizing the Committee on Youth Organization, which (composed of his now numerous admirers) provided the nucleus of Nkrumah's personal support. The inevitable rupture between Nkrumah and the UGCC came in June 1949. At an emotion-packed meeting, the Convention People's party (CPP) was born, with Nkrumah its leader. The 1948 riots speeded the pace of political reform. Yet Nkrumah, always the radical, rejected proposals for a new Gold Coast constitution. He proposed to precipitate a crisis through "positive action": his followers took the cue and agitated for immediate selfgovernment, leading to a state of emergency and Nkrumah's detention once again by the British. But reform ensued, and the ﬁrst national elections were held in 1951. The CPP triumphed, thanks to brilliant organization and to the symbol of its incarcerated leader; on Feb. 12, 1951, Nkrumah was released from prison and made "leader of government business." A wholly new period began, in which the principle of ultimate independence was no longer in question. Power was divided between Nkrumah, who was renamed

kingdom" against domestic forces intensiﬁed Nkrumah's desire for revenge and for total power. Marxist ideology became his congenial and increasingly convenient justiﬁcation. Search for the Political Kingdom On March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast became independent as Ghana. Although Nkrumah was the prime minister (the governorgeneral was British) and had the governmental machinery in his hands, watchful British and domestic eyes cautioned him from attempting, for example, to transform the professional civil service into a personal political tool. But in the next 3 years he did much—he called two panAfrican conferences, made state tours throughout Africa and to

America and Britain, and accelerated educational and social development—and with all of this his power grew. He used a preventive detention act to detain many members of Parliament and supporters of the opposition, and by 1960 it took considerable courage to oppose him. Debate in Africa and in the West, particularly Britain, over the colonial independence movement and the ability of Africans to govern themselves frequently became a debate over Nkrumah and his professed democratic goals. In 1960 a plebiscite made Ghana a republic with a new constitution, and an election resembling a plebiscite made Nkrumah its first president. President of the Republic With the founding of the republic on July 1, 1960, Nkrumah had achieved the political kingdom from which "all else"—in panAfrican, domestic, and international policy—was to follow. Pan-African concerns had been laid aside during the struggle for domestic power. Now having established firm control of the republic, Nkrumah could center his activity on the uniting of the continent. But other states with their own leaders and heroes had now emerged, and they resented the constant advice from Accra; nor were they likely to surrender their newly won sovereignty to a great union. Precisely as the new states consolidated their own positions, and as union became less and less a practicable proposition, Nkrumah's insistence on, and his absorption in, the "Union Government" cause grew. Nkrumah sincerely resented Africa's weakness and sought to prevent its "LatinAmericanization," but his method, his ambition, and the illdefined nature of his goals doomed the obsession. "Union A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

HISTORY

Government" became a joke in Africa. Thus Ghana's own diplomatic position eroded until, in 1963, it was even denied a position of eminence in the new Organization of African Unity. Yet in the more radical states, Nkrumah himself remained an honored statesman until 1964, when Julius Nyerere, the prestigious president of Tanzania, publicly denounced him in strident terms. After this, nothing sacred was left either of the cause or of the man. In domestic affairs, the new constitution had been amended by fiat after the plebiscite so as to bestow dictatorial powers on the "Osagyefo" (redeemer—Nkrumah's self-advocated title). In the ensuing years, the remaining opposition within and without his party were detained, driven to exile, or frightened into silence. A small coterie of expatriate and Ghanaian Marxists pressed him to make Ghana Africa's first Communist state and as quid pro quo honored "Nkrumaism." Assassination attempts in 1962 and 1964 made Nkrumah accelerate his timetable for the building of socialism. The first attempt led to a new intimacy in relations with the Communist world and his own public advocacy of "scientific socialism"; the second led to a plebiscite making Ghana a oneparty state. The caution and inconsistency that had always characterized Nkrumah's statecraft remained. Moderates—and rich businessmen—could successfully cloak their sentiments in flattery. The steadily deteriorating 22

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ﬁnancial situation, combined with the reluctance of Nikita Khrushchev's more cautious successors in the Kremlin to bail Nkrumah out, preserved his ultimate dependence on the West. Instinctively opposed to breaking diplomatic relations with Britain over the Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) question, Nkrumah was forced to do so in order to appear to remain in the

mission to Vietnam, they toppled the regime, outlawed the party, and announced that "the myth of Kwame Nkrumah is ended forever." The jubilant populace destroyed Nkrumah's statues and renamed the many roads, circles, buildings—even universities—that had borne his name. From a dreary exile in Guinea, Nkrumah ineffectually tried to rally Ghana against the new regime. Though initially proclaimed "copresident of Guinea" on his arrival, a gesture of sentiment, Nkrumah soon found himself watched, isolated, without even his Egyptian wife of 8 years. He died in Conakry, Guinea, on April 27, 1972. Yet Ghana could no more remove the memory and effects of 15 years of its remarkable first leader than Nkrumah could remove the memories and structures of Ghana's colonial and traditional past. On the negative side were the heavy debts that the country had accrued.

vanguard of African radicalism. Actions, not motivations, counted. Exile and Death The momentum of Nkrumah's actions, symbolized by the break with Britain, threatened the independence of the army and the police; early on Feb. 24, 1966, three days after Nkrumah had left on a gratuitous peace

More positively, there were the schools and universities, the Volta Dam, and the aluminum industry which Nkrumah had dreamed of in the 1950s and through persistence had seen through. And, he had given most Ghanaians a sense—and pride — of nationhood in the 1950s and had given people of African blood throughout the world a new pride in their color. Ironically, he had wanted to unite and lead a continent, but he founded a nation; of its small size he was continually embarrassed. Yet it is by his successes and failures as leader of that country that his biographers must ultimately judge him.

CROSSWORD GH Aaatuu

NB: This puzzle includes popular terms and words only peculiar to Ghana and Ghanaians

Across 3. Regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time 6. National Park 8. Traditional dance of the Volta region 10. First Mobile Phone company 11. Ghana's favourite Playwright 12. Judgement Debt 13. King of Highlife music

Down 1. Anlo festival 2. First Lady 4. Illegal mining 5. Elite High school in Accra 6. Saturday born boy 7. The hill doesn't smell too nice 9. Ghanaian singer, songwriter and actress Answers on page 50

“The best way of learning to be an independent sovereign state is to be an independent sovereign state” ― Kwame Nkrumah

Accra Ant So here I was, having prepared my lunch of proper kenkey and fish and kpakpo shito when I got a call. Between 5 and 10 mins later I return to my lunch to find some tiny ants, not that many though, also debating what to do with my fish. I eye them calmly as I recollect something I learned in school. These ants didn't get the addendum on Life Skills 101. "When dealing with a Ghanaian adult who lived through the '83 crisis, remember that they consider anything remotely proteinacious fair game." These ants chose the wrong man to toy with.—Isaac K. Neequaye Accra

“While the rest of the world has been improving technology, Ghana has been improving the quality of mans humanity to a man.” ― Maya Angelou

by BEN BOND

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by BEN BOND

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100 AMAZING GHANAIANS Five special people who have accomplished so much in their ﬁelds

Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu

Mary Spio

Abrima Erwiah

Constance Swaniker

Dr Koﬁ Boahene

PROJECT 4

Why we choose them These Amazing Ghanaians have and continue to make a profound and positive impact on our world .

uring our research for this edition, we came across even more Ghanaians around the world, raising the ﬂag of our country high with their amazing exploits. A video of Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu discussing the future of robots went viral on social media a few

weeks ago. We also found Mary Spio, a deep space engineer who has worked with companies such as Boeing Digital Cinema, Intelsat and Aerospace Corp. Abrima Erwiah has more than 16 years of fashion and luxury experience. She is a former global marketing and communications executive for Bottega Veneta, a luxury-goods company under Kering (former

Gucci Group/PPR) Group where she stayed for nearly a decade. Constance Swaniker is an award-winning contemporary Ghanaian artist and sculptor. Dr. Boahene is an associate professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

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AMAZING GHANAIANS

r. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is a Fellow of the IEE (U.K.) and a Senior Member of the IEEE (USA). He was born in Accra, Ghana. He currently works on Mars Exploration Rover Operations Team of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States. Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu attended Garrison Primary School in Burma Camp and Ghana Secondary Technical School Takoradi for his O’ and A’ level). He had his Bachelors in Engineering (B.Eng.) in Avionics at Queen Mary College, University of London in 1991 where his dissertation was on Review of 4-D guidance techniques and the simulation of 4-D aircraft guidance.

He had his Ph.D. in Control Systems Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Royal Military College Science located at Cranﬁeld University in the United Kingdom in 1996 with a thesis on Robust Non-linear Control Designs Using Adaptive Fuzzy Systems. Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu has also been a Research Scholar at the Institute for Co m p l ex Re s e a rc h E n g i n e e re d , Carnegie Mellon University , where he helped develop a system of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) for distributed tactical surveillance for (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) DARPA. As a kid, Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu was always fascinated with aircrafts (which are basically aerial robots), especially autopilots. He therefore read a lot of literature on the “Glass Cockpit” concept for both military and civil planes. The basic idea behind the autopilot was to make machines, such as aircrafts, smarter so they can ﬂy themselves; or make it easier for humans to operate them. He was also fascinated by robotic exploration of 26 A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu

space. Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu says, though he has an office he actually spends most of his time in the robotics lab or flight testbed or in the field either developing new robotics technologies or testing technologies. The brilliant thing about my job is that, it is not a circumscribed routine, there are different challenges everyday says Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu. “Believe me it is a lot of fun. NASA is also a great organization that cares about is people and their personal development, need I say more?”Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is a highly accomplished visionary Multidisciplinary Engineer with a broad background and extensive h a n d s - o n ex p e r i e n c e i n S p a c e Robotics Systems, Flight Systems Integration & Test, Planetary Rover Operations, System of Systems

Design, Distributed Mobile Robotics, Syste m A rc h i te c t u re s , D y n a m i c Modeling, Control Systems design for Aerospace and Mechatronics Systems and Contract Technical Management.

He is a results-oriented, decisive leader with proven success in transitioning technology into ﬂight, strategic thinking, and problem solving. Dr A s h i t e y Tr e b i - O l l e n n u w o r k s eﬀectively in a fast-paced environment and consistently prioritizes tasks and meets deadlines. He has excellent interpersonal skills, initiative, attention to detail, followthrough skills, with a reputation for dedication. Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu has won several awards which include: N ASA E xce p t i o n a l E n g i n e e r i n g Achievement Medal (2008).

CREDIT: Getty Images

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AMAZING GHANAIANS

100 AMAZING GHANAIANS

brima Erwiah is a designer and cofounder of label Studio 189. She partners with actress Rosario Dawson on the eco-friendly fashion line, which works with artisans to produce the garments in a studio in Accra.

Abrima has more than 16 years of fashion and luxury experience. She is a former global marketing and communications executive for Bottega Veneta, a luxury-goods company under Kering (former Gucci Group/PPR) Group where she stayed for nearly a decade. She has additionally held positions for Hermes/John Lobb, Bureau Betak and Cesare Paciotti. In 2012, she was appointed a Marketing & Communications Executive Mentor by the Kering Foundation for Women's Dignity & Rights, to an organization based in Uganda called AFRIpads that makes aﬀordable, washable sanitary napkins to help curb school absenteeism for girls skipping school when they have their period mostly in rural areas.

Fashion designer and co-founder of label Studio 189 Ethical Fashion Initiative is a ﬂagship programme of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The Ethical Fashion Initiative links the world’s top fashion talents to marginalised artisans - the majority of them women - in East and West Africa, Haiti and the West Bank. Active since 2009, the Initiative enables artisans living in urban and rural poverty to connect with the global fashion chain. CREDIT: Getty Images

Her interest in social and economic development has brought her to Africa. Based out of Ghana, West Africa, Erwiah is also working in partnership with the United Nations International Trade Center Ethical The

Abrima Erwiah

Abrimah with Rosario Dawson

Erwiah is currently cofounder and co-creative director of a social enterprise called Studio One Eighty Nine that she co-founded with actress and activist, Rosario Dawson, which

is focused on achieving social impact as it relates to education, economic/employment opportunities, and empowerment. With the mission of using fashion as an agent for social change, Studio One Eighty Nine seeks to provide a platform to help promote and curate African and Africaninspired content through various projects such as media and cultural events and projects. Studio One Eighty Nine curates an online magazine, oﬀers marketing & communications services and creates a fashion collection working with local artisans called Fashion Rising. Fashion Rising is an artisan-produced fashion collection launched in support of VDay’s One Billion Rising, working to create awareness of One Billion Rising, to stop violence against women and empower women by building sustainable fashion and artisanal businesses.

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100 AMAZING GHANAIANS

Constance Swaniker Artist and Sculptor Constance is an award-winning contemporary Ghanaian artist and sculptor. She studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sculpture at the KNUST College of Art in Kumasi. Constance Swaniker is renowned for her functional art pieces which have been credited for their exquisite ﬁnishing quality. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker was born in August 1973 in Accra, Ghana. She obtained her basic and secondary education in The Gambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Accra Academy in Ghana from 1980-1993. This diversity in her background has strongly inﬂuenced her outlook on life, art and business. She studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Sculpture at KNUST College of Art in Kumasi from 1994-1999. During this period, Constance also undertook her apprenticeship as a carpenter at Art Deco Ltd The entrepreneur and strategic thinker in her motivated Constance to establish Accents

& Art Ltd, the premier purveyor of the ﬁnest crafted bespoke wrought iron furniture made in Ghana and arguably, West Africa six months after graduating from school. Constance’s work can be found in a wide range of upscale homes, oﬃces and diplomatic missions both home and abroad. Her maiden exhibition, “Passage of Discovery” dated 22nd June6th July 2011 marked a chapter in her life as an artist and a

sculptor. The event was held at the Artist’s alliance gallery. Her work has been recognized in reputable awards such as “Outstanding Industrial Metal Furniture Firm” in Ghana Award

by wAi Africa, The Network Journal Africa 40-under Forty 2010 Achievement Award, Best Entrepreneur SME Innovation Award 2010, VLISCO Be Your Dream Award -2013, Metal Product of the Year 2013 and Regional & Country Winner, Africa’s Most Inﬂuential Women in Leadership and Governance2014. Recently, she also established an Art and Design Institute, working closely with the local universities and polytechnic to aid bridge the gap between archaic school curriculum and industry by providing students a platform to gain practical experience. A dedicated mother of two, Constance aspires to leaving a positive mark on society and inspire the youth to live their dreams no matter the challenges.

Constance's Portofolio

"Sea Never Dry" —2011 Hand Painted Metal 44 1/8" x 13 1/4"

"In Celebration" — 2011 Handpainted Metal 48" x 24"

"Poseidon Rises" — 2011 Handpainted Metal 99" x 38" "Spirits" —2016 Chicken Mesh, Metal, Fabric 66” x 31“ (L x B)

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100 AMAZING GHANAIANS

rowing up in Ghana, Mary Spio didn’t know what an engineer was — but she was the kid who tore radios apart, always asking how they worked. When Spio was 16, her parents spent everything they had to send her to the United States for a better life. Her first job was at a McDonald’s, but after a while she found her way into the Air Force. “It was when I was in the Air Force that an engineer pulled me aside and told me I was really great at fixing electronics; and that I should look into becoming an engineer. I did and it was the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says. After six years with the Air Force, she went to Syracuse and the Georgia Tech for engineering degrees, and she was soon working at satellite communications firms, some while in

college, where she designed and launched satellites into deep space on a NASA project, headed up a satellite communications team for Boeing, and pioneered digital cinema technology for LucasFilms that redeﬁned the distribution major motion pictures.

MARY SPIO

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER • Next Galaxy Corp Chief Visionary & Product Architect at CEEK VR CEEK VR INC Georgia Institute of Technology

method for

With a continued interest in media, Spio turned to entrepreneurship about a decade ago and has never looked back — even though at one point she was voted out of her own company because her investor wanted a white male at the helm. Now Spio heads her own company once again, Miami Beach-based Next Galaxy, a developer of innovative

content and tools for virtual reality. Its ﬂagship application is CEEK, a social VR hub for accessing entertainment, education and branded experiences. One of her newest products, CEEKARS 4-D headphones, is out this month and Spio is currently running an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the product. In January, Spio brought the B.I.G. Summit to the New World Center on Miami Beach, and her conference explored ways to use virtual reality across a broad spectrum of industries.

100 AMAZING GHANAIANS

Dr. Koﬁ Owusu

Boahene Associate professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery— Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

r. Kofi Owusu Boahene is a Ghanaian-born American physician, writer, researcher, and academic. He is an associate professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a facial plastic surgeon in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. As a facial plastic surgeon, Boahene specializes solely in plastic surgery of the face, head and neck. Early years Boahene, who is the first born of eight children grew up on Binton Street, a less-affluent neighborhood in North Kaneshie, Accra. His parents, Pastor and Mrs. James Owusu, operated a pharmacy store before becoming full-time missionaries in the early 1980s. He attended primary school at Bubuashie, Datus Preparatory School and his secondary school education at Prempeh College in Kumasi. Education In 1991, after his A-Level exams and National Service with the Ghana Meteorological Agency, he traveled to Russia to pursue training in veterinary medicine. He became fluent in the Russian language at a time where the former Soviet Union was opening its doors to the outside world. Due to

Head, and Neck Surgery in Baltimore, Maryland. He trains both surgical residents and Fellows the art and craft of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is an oral board examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery that certiﬁes surgeons who specialize in facial plastic surgery. He also writes questions for the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

political reasons in the Soviet Union, and other factors, Boahene moved to the United States. Boahene received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, graduating with the highest honors in his class. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he trained under leading facial plastic surgeons and rhinologists. Boahene completed a highly specialized fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery under the mentorship of one of facial plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Hilger. His training included cosmetic surgery of the face, use on minimally invasive techniques for facial rejuvenation, microvascular surgery, craniofacial surgery, and skull-base surgery in both children and adults. Because of his particular interest in craniofacial surgery, Boahene spent some time in the Australia Craniofacial Center, in Adelaide, directed by Professor David David.

For his expertise, Boahene has been an invited speaker at both national and international conferences in Panama, Peru, Germany, Ghana, United States, Canada and the Caribbean Islands.

Career Boahene is an assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

Maame Serwaa

www.aaatuumagazine.com

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Ghana launches its ﬁrst satellite into space G

hana has successfully launched its ﬁrst satellite into space. G h a n a S a t-1 , w h i c h wa s developed by students at All Nations University in Koforidua, was sent into orbit from the International Space Centre. Cheers erupted as 400 people, including the engineers, gathered in the southern Ghanaian city to watch live pictures of the launch. The ﬁrst signal was received shortly afterwards. It is the culmination of a two-year project, costing $50,000 (£40,000). It received support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The satellite will be used to monitor Ghana's coastline for mapping purposes, and to build capacity in space science and technology. Project coordinator Dr Richard Damoah said it marked a new beginning for the country. "It has opened the door for us to do a lot of activities from space," he told the BBC. He said it would "also help us train the upcoming generation on how to apply satellites in different activities around our region. "For instance, [monitoring] illegal mining is one of the things we are looking to accomplish."

GHANAIAN APPOINTED VOGUE MAGAZINE EDITOR E d w a rd E n n i n f u l h a s b e e n announced as the new editor of British Vogue, making him the ﬁrst ever black male editor at the h e l m o f t h e fa s h i o n b i b l e . Enninful, who hails from Ghana and is the son of a seamstress, has been fashion and creative director at W Magazine since 2011 and pipped Samantha Cameron's sister, Emily Shefﬁeld, who is currently the magazine's deputy,

to the coveted role. Enninful, 44, will assume his role on August 1 and Condé Nast International chairman and chief executive, Jonathan Newhouse, says he is 'supremely prepared'. Enninful won an OBE in 2016 for services to diversity within the fashion industry so his appointment as the Editor of the world's biggest fashion magazine is a sign of the times. He also

spearheaded Vogue Italia’s Black Issue, which he hoped would end the 'white-out that dominates the catwalks and magazines.' The magazine, which featured only black models such as Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell, was such a sell-out success that 40,000 more copies h a d to b e p r i n te d to m e e t demand.

numerous uprising African startups that have been on the globally competitive market, with a promise of revolutionising the African continent tech-wise. Moreover, with the rate at which it is being talked about across the globe, coupled with its unprecedented advantages, Mudclo has the prospect of becoming the best video search engine in the world.

19-year-old Gabriel Opare creates video search engine, Mudclo Mudclo is among the technological innovations that have set the name of the African continent ringing across the globe in recent times. Mudclo is a video search engine founded by a 19 year old Ghanaian; Gabriel Opare. It is a spectacular hybrid online service which collates results from many sources across the web. To be precise, it allows search and streaming of video content from multiple web destinations in one place. The website is described as a meta search engine because of its ability to combine the search powers of three of the most popular video hosting sites; Youtube, Vimeo and

Daily Motion. Mudclo ranks among the few video search engines in the world that do not serve as video hosting sites. The startup currently has a twitter following of more than 13,000, plus other social media pages. Although Mudclo is set to face ﬁerce competition from global streamdisabled engines like Jayhap and stream-enabled engines like Microsoft’s AOL Video, its current ratings showcase it as the most promising video search engines in the world at the moment. It has joined the

Gabriel Opare is a second-year student of Sociology at the University of Ghana. Despite being a social science student, Gabriel has such a deep interest and appreciation for technology; an ambition which has driven him into web and graphic design, eventually leading to the birth of Mudclo. Gabriel actually began building the video search engine in 2015, but it became socially functional this year. According to the 19-year-old CEO, “Mudclo’s mission is to ‘create an online garment that is readily worn by Africans and at the same time will thrill non-Africans”. However, the Mudclo team still has a long way to go in bringing the search engine to perfection. A lot of ﬁnishing touches such as ﬁxing bugs, introducing new features and so on are still outstanding. But having a teenager with fresh ideas as its CEO, anything appears to be possible for the rising startup.

The Queen Hires First Black Equerry, Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah The Queen has selected Ghanaianborn Household Cavalry officer Major Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah has as her next equerry. The 38-year-old Afghanistan veteran, known as TA to his friends, is believed to be the royal household’s first black equerry. He will hold one of the most important positions in the royal household and assist Her Majesty

at ofﬁcial engagements, including regional visits and audiences at Buckingham Palace, and remain closely by her side when Prince Philip retires. Historically the role was created for someone to look after the cavalry’s horses, but in 2017 they are expected to be a publicly visible aide at the Queen’s side. “I would have never imagined that one day I’d command the regiment

which I’d fallen in love with,” Twumasi-Ankrah told The Sunday Times. “From what I’ve seen in the UK, our cultures really do mix and if I’m not a good example of that I really don’t know what is.” Maj Twumasi-Ankrah moved from Ghana to the UK in 1982 with his parents, and went on to study at Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

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My brilliant friend, the

PENCILMASTER Albert Dorgbadzi (aka Pencilmaster) is a self-taught artist who scribbles down anything that hits him in convenience. After graduating from high school (Achimota Senior High), Albert enrolled at the University of Ghana- Legon where he studied computer engineering because of his strong scientific background and interest.

ntil now, he did not get the needed support from family in being an artist.

For a lot of time he focused on his studies to become the engineer his parents always dreamt of. His journey of art began at age 18 where he decided to show the world what he is capable of doing with the pencil. Currently working where he lives, he gets to reveal his inner self through the works that he creates. From 2012 to 2016, he has made over 300 art works for people that contacted him. His mission is to satisfy every client he works for, and also inspire and motivate the young and upcoming artists. His vision is to attain worldwide recognition in his genre of art and to also help upcoming artists sharpen their skill. “I owe many thanks to the almighty God, Gilbert Dorgbadzi (brother) and Kubari Ibrahim (good friend) for the support and encouragement given me to develop this talent. I think being an artist is just a smaller portion of who I really

am since I have strong technological interests as well.” When asked why he draws, he replies “It's my passion”. And when things are not going as planned, he gets encouraged by the fact that no condition is permanent. He studies works of other artists to draw inspiration and experiments with something new in every single artwork. This sort of gives a variation in the feel and harmony in every single piece. Most of his masterpieces take several days to complete; because he keeps adding value till he is pleased by the work done. “I have had several challenges in pursuing this side of me, but it all turned out to be more constructive than destructive”. “I have never felt so happy and complete as I do now, harnessing my artistic potential. My advice to upcoming artists out there is to work very hard, stay headstrong no matter the situation, appreciate what they do, and to trust the Most-High in this endeavor.”

Dr. Oz recommends red palm oil The Dr. Oz Show touched off a firestorm when Dr. Oz and alternative health expert Bryce Wylde discussed the numerous health benefits of red palm oil, particularly for the heart and brain. Oz called red palm oil his “most miraculous find. In a segment, Oz stated that supermarkets are banning products made with palm oil out of concerns for the environment. But both experts agreed that they didn’t want people to lose out on palm oil’s tremendous health benefits. “Red palm oil is rich in antioxidants, it sweeps away plaque. People are getting this stuff because it works,” said Oz. Wylde concurred, pointing out that it contains more carotenes than carrots and tomatoes combined, and its vitamin E tocotrienols have shown promise in the areas of cardiovascular health and stroke. So Wylde traveled halfway around the world to Malaysia, one of the biggest suppliers of the world’s palm oil, to conduct a grass roots investigation.

Wylde said that what he discovered was a country committed to animal welfare while keeping up with the growing demand for palm oil. While other countries are showing disregard for their lush forest and animal habitats, Wylde stated that Malaysia’s is an “ecofriendly model for the world to follow.” Bottom line: Oz encouraged viewers to continue using red palm oil. Just make sure that it’s sourced from a country that follows sustainable practices. The Malaysian Palm Oil industry is the largest producer of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO), and is responsible for more than 50 percent of total CSPO production. The health benefits of olive oil have been touted for many hundreds of years. More recently, coconut oil has become all the rage and hailed by many as the king of oils. But, whatever oil you choose – whether it’s olive, coconut, almond, canola, peanut, safflower, walnut, or even avocado oil – none compare to the powerful nutritional virtues of virgin organic red palm fruit oil. Bonus: The health benefits of red palm fruit oil can be achieved by

incorporating only 1-2 tablespoons into your daily diet. Red Palm Fruit Oil vs. Palm Kernel Oil Regarded as a sacred healing food by many civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians, crude or virgin red palm fruit oil should be regarded as one of the most nutritious edible oils in the world. It is not to be confused with palm kernel oil. It is derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) and is referred to as "red palm oil" because of its rich dark red color in its unprocessed natural state. Palm kernel oil is derived from the seed or the kernel. Palm fruit oil contains mainly palmitic and oleic acids and is about 50% saturated, while palm kernel oil contains mainly lauric acid and is more than 89% saturated. The general assumption that kernel oil and palm fruit oil are one in the same may have lead to one of the greatest oversights in modern nutrition. The stigma attached to the kernel has kept the fruit in the dark - at least until now. Virgin organic sustainable red palm fruit oil is otherwise a bona fide food.

Food Akua Quarcoo

Akua is the CEO of Maqtrex Enterprise Viacell International Trade Finance LLC and runs B&G Pub in Accra.

Banku and Okro (Okra) Stew Banku is made with fermented corn dough and cassava dough. Okro stew is made with palm oil, hot peppers, okro, tomatoes and onions. Banku and Okro stew is a favourite dish in the Greater Accra region but you can find this dish in almost all areas in Ghana. You can make the okro stew with goat, beef, pork, fish or any other meat of your choice. In this recipe, we will be using fried fish with the skin on.

Ingredients: 5 slices of ﬁsh (My personal choice is croaker) 1 1/2 pound chopped okro (okra) 1 28oz can of tomato puree or 4 medium fresh tomatoes 1 large white/red onion Tsp ground hot pepper 3/4 cup Palm Oil 2 cups corn dough (for Banku) 1 cup cassava dough (for Banku) Tsp salt for taste Maggi Cube (Or your choice of seasoning) Wooden stirring paddle or wooden spoon (For mixing cassava and corn dough) Heat the Palm oil in a pot. This kind of oil burns pretty quick so you have to pay attention to it. Add the chopped onions and fry until they are soft and begin to turn brown ( this should take about a minute or two). Add the pepper and wait 5 seconds and then add the tomatoes. Let it cook until the liquid evaporates. The palm oil will rise to the top when the water evaporates. When you begin to see the palm oil rising to the top, you may add the ﬁsh or your meat of choice to the pot. In a separate pot, put the chopped okro (okra). Add about 1 to 2 cups

of water and a teaspoon of baking soda and let it come to a boil. Stir frequently until it gets really thick and slimy. The reason for the baking soda is to get the okra thick and slimier.

A.K.A. Koﬁ Brokeman

Add the okro to the pot of tomatoes and stir until everything is mixed together. Lower the fire and leave to simmer for about 1 – 3 minutes. Now with clean hands, mix the corn dough and cassava dough together with water in a large pot. Mix until it turns into a watery paste. Add tbsp. of salt. Using a wooden spoon or stirring paddle, stir continuously and it will begin to thicken. You have to keep stirring to prevent the mixture from turning into lumps before it’s done. There is a wooden stick made specifically for Banku but this can easily be substituted with a regular wooden spoon if you do not have access to one. The Banku will get thick and stiff as you continue to stir. Make sure to vigorously knead with the wooden stick against the pot. Add water to soften your mixture when needed. This process should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Form the Banku into serving-sized balls: this is completely up to your personal liking. Some people may prefer to form a larger Banku while others prefer a smaller portion. I personally prefer mine to be about the size of my fist. If you’re a first-timer, know that as with everything else, practice makes perfect. As you continue to make Banku on your own you will eventually perfect the process and be able to make delicious Banku and Okro stew on your own.

Undoubtedly the healthiest snack from Ghana is the roasted ripe plantains with roasted peanuts. Ingredients: 5 ripe plantaine Fresh peanuts Salt for taste Method: 1. Peel plantains and cut them into medium sizes, 3 parts per ﬁnger 2. Preheat your grill for about 3 minutes 3. Place the plantains on the rack grill under medium heat, for about 7-10 minutes. 4. Check the plantain and turn them for the other sides to cook through also for about 5-7 min. 5. Remove when ready or desired colour is obtained. 6. Now take a handfull of the peanuts and put into the pan 7. Put over the hub and stir continuously till the colour changes from bright pinkish to dark brown. 8. Serve your plantain with the roasted peanut and enjoy with a bottle of freshly squeezed fruit juices. Enjoy because it is healthy!

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by BEN BOND

Adinkra The Asante peoples of Ghana use adinkra to express the connection between the verbal and the visual in Akan culture. Adinkra symbols appear on wooden prestige objects, jewelry, brass weights and, most prominently, as two-dimensional stamped designs ornamenting cloth. Historically, adinkra was reserved for Asante kings. Over the years, however, its use has expanded to the general Akan population who wear adinkra cloth on signiﬁcant occasions, the most important of which are funerals. Of the hundreds of adinkra signs and meanings that have been documented, the older symbols are most often linked to proverbs, folktales, folksongs and popular sayings. Newer designs are associated with more common themes, such as ﬂora, fauna and everyday objects, or may demonstrate literacy of the alphabet through designs composed of letters in Roman script that spell out personal names or segments of proverbial expressions. Mastering the nuances of this graphic form of communication is usually only accomplished by well-trained artists and elders who, through study, are able to identify the names of many adinkra symbols, the proverbs associated with them and the situations best addressed through particular symbols. Here are four of them.

ADINKRAHENE "Chief of the adinkra symbols” Symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership This symbol is said to have played an inspiring role in the designing of other symbols. it signiﬁes the importance of playing a leadership role.

AKOBEN "war horn” Symbol of vigilance and wariness

AKOFENA "sword of war " Symbol of courage, valor, and heroism

Akoben is a horn used to sound a battle cry.

The crossed swords were a popular motif in the heraldic shields of many former Akan states. In addition to recognizing courage and valor, the swords can represent legitimate state authority.

AKOKO NAN "the leg of a hen” Symbol of nurturing and discipline.The full name of this symbol translates to "The hen treads on her chicks, but she does not kill them." This represents the ideal nature of parents, being both protective and corrective. An exhortation to nurture children, but a warning not to pamper them.

letter from uncle paul

The Past Weeks We Want to Forget About Quickly 11th June 2017, Ghana v Ethiopia Venue: Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi Scores: Ghana 5 – Ethiopia 0 Ghanaian spectators are shouting themselves hoarse. There is so much rejoicing. But as I watch, this thought keeps running in my mind, “These people are jubilating with smiling faces but let someone shout an allegation against another person in the crowd and they can easily turn on him and lynch him!” My mind just kept going back to the horror committed 13 days earlier by the people of Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region. They had killed a military officer who was doing his usual morning jogging on the outskirts of the town. A woman shouted he was an armed robber and so he was given instant justice on the orders of their assembly-man, the allegation goes. Videos showed a woman carrying a baby on the back mercilessly joining in the lynching. The most horrifying act was of a woman who is seen setting fire to the body. What Happened to Those Days When We Had Feelings for Strangers?” I remember that day at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, late 70’s, at the Workers’ Quarters, Hall 6. We had finished eating our “red-red” (and expecting later results) and were walking back to our halls. That elderly red-red seller knew how to market her food. Most of us knew Tech guys went there because of her friendliness and politeness. She was like a surrogate mother to us. On top of that was her beautiful daughter who was as nice as her mother. She normally fried the plantain. And so you left there happy and satisfied. So it was a merry way we felt on our way back before we came upon this nightmare of confusion. We met this guy ran berserk past us. He obviously must be having a mental problem, I thought. But we saw then a howling mob following him. The irate crowd was chasing him apparently to finish him. They pounced on him and started delivering blows with any object they had to any part of his body.

Paul Korkutse Vowotor

For some unknown reason, the adrenaline kicked in for some of us to stop the rage going on. We jumped on the guy shielding him from the blows and shouting to the mob to stop. For some unknown reason, the crowd reacted to our pleas and stopped the near-lynching. The victim ended up in his own blood on the ground but alive. The sad thing was seeing the neighborhood kids milling around him and crying. Reports said he was a “migrant” to the area who had become very nice and popular with the kids. The hard economic times those days had hit him so hard and might have gone into his head. So he lashed out at someone with a stick in an act of anger which was the mob’s justiﬁcation for instant justice. It was the site of the neighborhood A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

kids in the following him, to save that was so moving. They had a name for him and that was what they were calling to get up. We left the scene with our clothes splashed all over with his blood. But we saved a life that day. Maybe we were just some naïve Tech guys who did not want to experience a death after a plate of ‘red-red” at a place of genuine love for humanity. Major Maxwell Mahama Wrongly Accused and Faced Mob Justice Thinking about the horriﬁc lynching of this young man, with a young family of two, by a mob at Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region Monday, 29th May, 2017, makes everybody sick. Many cried. Major Maxwell Mahama of the Ghana Army was said to be commanding a contingent of soldiers checking illegal mining activities (galamsey) in the area. So, has Ghana become that lawless? No. But a few people and communities have become so lawless that they think they can take the law into their own hands. But it was it is a sad spectacle to see people exchanging videos about this killing. People’s reactions have been alarming. You wonder which is scarier, the act itself or the response to the act on social media. Most people’s comments include the word “kill them” or an equivalent of it, which is not diﬀerent from what the people of Denkyira Obuasi did. Some of our media have done a very woeful job of carrying videos of the lynching, whipping up unnecessary and at times base sentiments. The biggest culprit was YEN news which carried the same lynching video on every page. I shudder to think they were enjoying creating a country of people baying for blood. I pray people who read them and others of their ilk will not fall for their orgy of titillating our basest instincts the wrong way. This Nonsense Must Stop We watch how easily these people killed a fellow human being. Once they have committed a murder, it is easy for people to commit more murders. And so, despite the horror, outrage and revulsion being

expressed by people over the country and all over the world, more lynching have been reported. These victims were mostly “non-prominent” people. We have not heard any condolence or concern from any government oﬃcial over these deaths. One victim was lynched for reportedly not paying 1.50 GHS

(about 30 cents) to an akpeteshie seller. Apparently they are not that conspicuous in our society and so they don’t matter. The government must be seen to care for the lives of all Ghanaians. Ghana is Better than this We are a small country and the emotions of people can easily aﬀect others. This means if not checked we shall have situations like what just expired. A woman interviewed when the culprits were seen arraigned in court is heard shouting to let her have them to herself to “ﬁnish them.” We should come back to the point where people realize that there is the rule of law and all criminal actions will be duly taken care of and that justice will prevail. We should expunge a system …where murderers give money to the police and get back into the community where people with conscience know their stories but can

Standard Times Press

do nothing, …where a councilman can act as police, jury and judge (as did this councilman in Denkyira Obuasi) because he thinks he has the power to do so. He was elected by his people, and he “accepts” to work with the District Chief Executive, who had paid him to “elect” him, the DCE to be his boss, …where to the awe of families, murderers are seen walking around in the community with impunity because they had “won” their cases. The judge was bribed with a goat. …where murderers give money to their "man of god" who "clears" them of their sins so they can go to heaven. The Major Mahama Law against Mob Lynching? On social media, someone tells the story of how he was nearly lynched in Dansoman after being suspected of stealing a car. Meanwhile he lived just a few houses away. Elsewhere, some of us have mistakenly tried to open someone else’s car we thought was ours because it is the same model and color as ours, only to realize that it is not. You must count yourself lucky that did not happen in Ghana. Ghanaians want solutions especially to solve this nonsense. A responsible government with fortitude can resolve to solve Ghana’s problems. We remember those days when Nigeria sent Ghanaians parking from their country. The returnees came home trying to show they were “been-tos” the wrong were by setting alleged thieves on fire with car tires around their necks “as was done in Nigeria.” Then Rawlings came on TV to roar that “This nonsense will not happen here!” And Ghanaians took notice. We never had lynching again until governments became “democratic”, whatever that means to us. Governments turned their attention to looting the country’s coffers, neglecting the common man to fend for himself. Now people pounce on suspects and finish them because they know mob action is the new way of delivering justice. But Asante Akim Central Member of

Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, says “The law is clear...once you an individual commit an assault that person must be punished. But I do not think that we have any law for mob action. Probably that is what we have to delve into,” he says. He thinks “there is the need for the House to come up with a new legislation to tackle the menace.” Elsewhere people advocate for the passing of a “Major Mahama Law against Mob Lynching” which could be championed by his wife Barbara and the first and second ladies who have shown much dynamism since their husbands came into office. Ghanaian Footballers And while the country was in this state of shock over the lynching of Major Mahama, we were reading about the Black Stars having a new coach and the team training for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) games. But the spectacle created by some of these players, especially the Ayew brothers and team captain Asamoah Gyan left much to be resolved. It was revulsive, to say the least. They were seen arriving in expensive cars for practice and to some media houses, especially YEN News, the cars became the most important issue over the lynching of Major Mahama. YEN News seems to be a group that is only interested in hype and sensation. This was to the detriment of these players. They appeared to be getting no good advice from their agents. As our culture goes, Ghanaians were asking why the parents of these sportsmen were not advising them to tone down on their vanity at that crucial time in Ghana and join the country in mourning. Their counterparts elsewhere, sportsmen and footballers in particular, are seen donating monies to charities and involved children’s causes. Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien spent the Ramadan festivities with Indonesian kids in Bandung, Indonesia, where he plays with Persib Bandung. The idea of being seen offering opportunities to kids enhances the image of sportsmen.

The Ayew brothers now seem to have made U-turn and done the right thing. They have also visited the Muslim community of Nima, and donated food items to the people to celebrate Ramadan. The Black Stars Deputy Captain Andre, speaking at a uniBank Soccer clinic, is now seen working with kids and advising those who wished to take up a football seriously to be disciplined at all times. Asamoah Gyan Seems to be Itching towards Marring His

Reputation But this does not seem to be the case with Captain Asamoah Gyan. He is a good player, an excellent footballer. He is the only Ghanaian who has scored 50 goals for the country. With an increase in age his skills are approaching their dusk, which is natural and acceptable and life goes. With the dusk must come a rise in maturity? But Asamoah Gyan’s behavior is getting moronic and illadvised. He gave cause to embarrassment when he wore a personalized armband with his face on it as captain, during the Ghana v Ethiopia game. And when he was substituted, Deputy Captain Andre Ayew decided to wear the one just marked “Captain.” By his behavior Asamoah Gyan, maybe unaware but he seems to be washing some Black Stars’ dirty linen in public. He continues to talk too loosely in ways unbeﬁtting the position he holds. He talks about the late musician Castro who died on a pleasure trip with him to the Ada saying “it was his destiny to die at Ada”, and about Sarah Kwabla, a university student with whom he was involved in a sordid relationship in 2015. He talks about consulting mallams before playing games – and these socalled mallams as we know them, are not the normally revered Islamic scholars, but just con-men with the Koran in hand, “performing miracles” on the gullible. Like their counterparts they hold the holy books of their faith in the hand to con people. We want to see Asamoah Gyan relating to the community as the Ayews and others are doing. He should stop trying to please Ghanaians by talking about his life on a show like The Delay Show, which makes his aﬀairs good recipe for Ghanaians drooling for the salacious. His business must not be everybody’s business. After all he is constructing a $200,000 astro-turf pitch at Accra Academy, his alma mater. These are issues kids are looking for from a role model. Team manager Kwesi Appiah just took on the job again as Black Star’s coach. If he does not want to revisit past shenanigans of the Black Stars and their management, then he should put down his foot and put every player in line to restore their reputation. Professor Akosua Adoma Perbi But with all these going on, Ghanaians have kept the accolade of the “country of 27 million magicians” because we joke about anything, even if it is very serious. Making light of every issue perhaps releases tension of some sort. We remember the days of draught and famine during Rawlings’ PNDC time. Lack of food and proper nutrition A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

resulted in people becoming so thin and emaciated. This was reflected in the lines around the neck. As typical Ghanaians people were said to have developed “Rawlings chains.” And so after all the sadness and tension of the past weeks, comes one Professor Akosua Adoma Perbi of the History Department, University of Ghana, Legon. She says Tetteh Quarshie was not the first person to bring cocoa pods into the country and that it was rather done by someone called Rev. Haas who brought the seeds from Brazil! This set off people into some rage. How could she say that? Simply put, in Ghana, to prove that you have been to school you must know the Tetteh Quarshie story and all that his name stands for. We are told he went to the island of Fernando Po (now Bioko) in the Seychelles and when coming back by sea, he swallowed some cocoa seeds (these are not small seeds) which in some way he was able to recover by whatever means when he landed back in the then Gold Coast. He planted these seeds and now Ghana is the 2nd largest producer of

news? U see these idiots keeps distorting our history! for over million years now no one has said this, we all went to school in this country and we were all taught about Tetteh Quarshie bring cocoa to Ghana and all of a sudden somebody pops up and distorts everything, should we take this woman serious ? They go and take money from their sponsors asking them to come and distort history. We know them. Thieves thieves. I am sure there is compensation or some money coming so she want to do this for her own personal gains. F---ing tribalists . Shut up over there. Shut up shut up , U will not be heard. Julo julo , yoo julo , ﬁaﬁto madog 3 !!!!” This is why we are the country of magicians. Paul Korkutse Vowotor lives in Columbia, South Carolina. He describes himself as a liberal with a sneer. He can be contacted at korkutse@yahoo.com , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/korkutse and on Twitter at @korkutse.

cocoa in the world. We used to be Number one! To some, Professor Prebi’s new narrative on this most important part of our history seemed to be an attempt to ridicule this story so dear to Ghanaians. There is Tetteh Quarshie Circle, one of the most important interchanges in the country, however most congested. Now what is going to happen to it? “There is deﬁnitely something worthwhile about the sort of apocryphal trivia reportedly indulged in by Prof. Perbi; but deﬁnitely not within the canonical context of The Tetteh Quarshie Narrative.” says Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D., English Department, SUNY-Nassau. He is an English professor (not history) but thinks couching his long retort in a “book-long” manner could make it more relevant and very important and “overcome” Professor Prebi’s, even if it is anemic on historical facts.

But the most interesting response among the myriad of replies is this one from this guy “Stone” (unedited): “Okwan or whatever ur name is nobody will listen to this foolish woman ? Since when did she ﬁnd this

ANSWERS Aaatuu Magazine 4

Aaatuu Magazine

Across

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A G B A D Z A M S

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W H Y T E

ABEDI — Regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time

KAKUM — National Park

AGBADZA — Traditional dance of the Volta region

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MOBITEL — First Mobile Phone company

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WHYTE — Ghana's favourite Playwright

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WOYOME — Judgement Debt

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AMPADU — King of Highlife music

Down 1.

HOGBETSOTSO — Anlo festival

REBECCA — First Lady

GALAMSEY — Illegal mining

ACHIMOTA — Elite High school in Accra

KWAME — Saturday born boy

LAVENDER — The hill doesn't smell too nice

BECCA — Ghanaian singer, songwriter and actress

E R

TWENA does

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TWENA does

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Brew & Grill (B&G) 7 Flowers Street, Tabora No 2 Accra, Ghana

We offer well executed meals. What is your preferred choice? Rabbit, Pork, Goat Chicken or Fish? What would you like it with? Rice, Yam, Plantain, Akyeke, Pasta or Couscous? How about fresh green Kontomire or Garden Eggs or a tasty Vegetable Medley? Your choice is just a bite away. Call, Text, Email or Whatsapp us on 054-995-1905 Visit our facebook page: facebook.com/brewandgrillaccra We are prepared to cater to your food of choice, contact us for a quote A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

#beautifulghana Photographs by Yaw Pare

Ada Foah, Greater Accra Region.

Ghana Managnese Mine, Nsuta

Afrikiko Hotel, Akosombo.

Senchi, Eastern Region

Boti falls is a twin waterfall located at Boti in Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region

Maaha Beach Resort,Western Region

Answers on page 76

Typical Ghanaian Pronunciations Junction Gang leader Traﬃc indicator Balloon By all means Photographer Toothpaste Light Soup Underpants Bloody fool Hands up Handcuﬀ Old lady Old man Lights out Teacher Town Council Belt Roundabout

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Janshin Gangalia Traﬃgator Buylooooon Byomis Camera mine Pepsodent LySoup Dross Bledi fool Ansop Hancop Olady Oluman Lie toﬀ chicha Tankas Bellet Ranabout

Movie (Film) Get away Cartoon Day nursery Screw driver Sachet water Salmon Kerosene Spectacle Spaghetti Coal pot Chewing gum Sanding paper Noodles Exhaust pipe Vulcaniser

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Fim Gelaway Toys Daynesil School driver Pure water Saimon Krezin Sp3sss Taliya Cropot Chingam Sampepa Indomie Ajors pipe Borganaiza

I Love my Gh Which is your favourite?? A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

by BEN BOND

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by BEN BOND

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Maame Serwaa

Tales

from the Chopbox

People share stories from secondary school

Close Encounters with Agent GX 51 by Ben Owusu Firempong

ong before I went to Achimota School I'd heard of some of the teachers. My older siblings would come back with tales of Mr. Barham's wonderful voice and musical talent, Mr. Sherwood's keen ear for faulty grammar and absolute devotion to lush green lawns, Mr Cobbson's ( a.k.a. Larry C) Philadelphian accent even when speaking Ga and Mr Aﬀort's exhortations to Mr. Holt to grip him the 'groundnut jam'. I was fascinated by the colourful nicknames students bestowed on their teachers; my favourite being “Amanlinze the Cat” for the chaplain who stealthily prowled the corridors after 'lights out' in search of 'campaigners', Then there were the tales of a strict master, with a reputation for being perpetually impermeable to any known student pranks. Even from the safety of home in Koforidua, my older siblings spoke in whispers and looked over their shoulders respectfully when they mentioned his name: Mr. Tony Boafor, a.k.a. Zorz. (my spelling). The ﬁrst time I saw Mr Boafor, he was standing in front of the dining hall observing the proceedings. He looked and sounded nothing like what I had imagined; I'd rather expected a large individual with bushy eyebrows, a thick moustache, deep scowl, severe spectacles and a loud scary voice. Alas, he was clean-shaven - except for a well-trimmed goatee. His voice, when he responded to the greetings of passing students, was soft. But his authority and the fear of God he had imbued in the students was apparent. At the mere sight of him, students who were late suddenly increased their pace, conversations became hushed, the Queen's English was rapidly swapped for pidgin English, people checked their pockets for 'non-school' uniform chits - even the 'coppers' abandoned their usual swagger and girls forsook their 'shaking' in favour of more scholarly gaits. For the few who dared to carry on, a piercing look from Mr. Boafor set them on

Zorz loved his car so much that at night he would tuck it into his bed and spent the night in his garage. Another story – fabricated of course was that Mr Boafor sometimes forgot that he owned a car and would often drive it to town, park somewhere and, following a habit of many years, take a tro-tro back home only to be sent back by Mrs. Boafor on a vehicle retrieval mission. Of course, the student pundits could explain quite glibly how a man who loved his car so much would forget it in town.

the straight and narrow path. The legends about Mr. Boafor - passed along by oral tradition with more colourful detail added by successive generations are many. For one thing, Mr Boafor and Mr. Cobbson, another biology teacher, were engaged in a perpetual competition to outdo each other in various ways. That neither teacher knew about the competition– and wouldn't have cared if they did – was, quite naturally, of no relevance to those who conjured the facts. One morning (the legend goes), Mr. Boafor had appeared at the Biology Lab in old-fashioned 'tu-naabu” trousers. Mr Cobbson, himself fashionably dressed in bell-bottomed trousers, a 'slim-ﬁt shirt' and platform shoes, loudly rebuked Mr Boafor from the top ﬂoor of the Science lab, taunting him to go home and return suitably attired with the times. The eyewitnesses - comprising about half the school - were remarkably consistent in their accounts. The moniker of Agent GX51 was bestowed upon Mr Boafor when he acquired a car – a sky blue Renault 4 - with a similar registration number. This acquisition put him in the lead over his rival who was determined to drive the life out of a VW Beetle (registration number UR 96). It is only fair to state for the record that Mr. Cobbson later evened the score by his acquisition of a Datsun 120Y (registration number CR 9696). According to pundits,

Anyway, one night Mr Boafor, allegedly – for one remains mindful of the laws on libel and slander - dropped in unannounced on some students studying in the classroom long beyond the “prep over' bell. There was pandemonium as the students tried to escape through the windows; whereupon Mr Boafor, in his trademark clipped tones uttered the improbable words “Freeze! Don't try to run away. I've seen all of you and I'm faster than you. I'm Agent GX51; Codename Zorz!” One can safely infer from the number of sworn eyewitness testimonies that there must have been only standing room in the classroom that night! When Mr. Boafor became Assistant Headmaster, he assumed shared responsibility for administering lashes of the cane for prescribed offences. A trend emerged where hardened 'coppers' would enter the confines of the Assistant Headmaster's office to receive their lashes and emerge painfully impressed with the man's skill with a cane. One friend of mine, a hardened Ga boy known to be miserly with his compliments, summed up his impressions thus; “Kwee! Chaa, de paddy dey lash!” There were great debates as to why Mr. Boafo's larger co-lash-administrator, an elderly gentleman and senior Housemaster by the name of Mr. Offei-Aboagye (a.k.a Zuzu) lacked the lashing skills of his smaller counterpart. The prevailing school

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night I decided to go TDB in the new Form 1 block in order to become acquainted with the subject of economics. Like a lot of people my age, I had selected the subject without really knowing what I was getting into, except that it sounded good to say, “I'm doing Econs”. For me the subject represented a rather long-winded way of explaining how people and nations made and spent their money. The downward and upward slopes of the demand and supply curves could have been caused by gravity for all I cared. But I was required to make sense of this long-windedness to pass 'A' Level Economics so I plunged deep into the textbooks.

of thought was that Mr. Boafor, being a biology master, applied a more scientific technique. Keeping his arm movements economical, he channelled his energy into the follow-through of each stroke, which, aided by a flick of his supple wrists, achieved the caning equivalent of a top-spin in professional tennis. Also ambidextrous, he administered onehalf of the prescribed number of lashes with each hand thereby maintaining constant power throughout the delivery. By comparison, Pop Zuzu, an artist, in spite of his larger pectoral muscles, tended to get emotionally involved and could be distracted to the point of delivering softer strokes by peripheral activity, such as a seemingly repentant prospective recipient. As the school time tables and luck would have it, Mr. Boafor never taught me and was never my housemaster. I was also well practised in the art of giving his favourite ambush spots a wide berth. In my first close encounter with him I was late for supper; he let me go with a stern warning, having sniffed my fingers to satisfy himself that I hadn't been smoking. The man was thorough. The second close encounter occurred when I was sixth form. One

Around 1 o'clock in the morning, the shadow of a silent stranger darkened the only doorway; Agent GX51 had arrived - and there was no escape. I braced myself for the sentence of School Punishment that must surely follow the oﬀence of being outside my boarding house at that time. With the magnanimity that only experienced agents can display towards helpless adversaries, he acknowledged the need for me to study, gave me a soft-spoken lecture on how I also needed my sleep and sent me scurrying to bed without any repercussions whatsoever - and lots of gratitude in my heart.

The next close encounter led to my suspension for two weeks. The details of my alleged offence escape me at this time. I do however recall conniving with my co-suspendee to intercept, with the assistance of loyal workers at the School post office, the letter to my Presbyterian father informing him of my suspension and the reasons for it. This daring move - and I seek no praise for it – was one motivated by my survival instincts. In the field of corporal punishment, my father outranked Zorz by far …… Long after I had left Achimota, I met Agent GX51 at some function or the other. I walked over, (re) introduced myself and had a short chat during which I submitted my defence on the suspension issue. And then he did something completely out of character with his profile as a hardened agent of discipline……. He laughed heartily. It was the sound of a good man happy with his work.

I wish him well, wherever he is……

BOF

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Gone

VIRAL

his song is something, I tell you. I ﬁrst saw a video on social media with this old man dancing to a song I hadn't heard before. Then there was another video ...then another. But what stuck with me was the song. Who wrote this song? Well it has gone viral already so we investigated and have concluded that Bronya will be a very big hit. Who played this song? Well Wutah, remember them? Following a successful release of their comeback single ‘AK47’, Wutah made up of Afriyie and Kobby is out with yet another potential hit song they call ‘Bronya’. Produced by Kin Dee, ‘Bronya’ is a Highlife piece which highlights how some young men go on a spending spree for the women they love. Not perturbed about poverty staring him in the face if he does not save for the future, Afriyie sings about his 70

A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

baby yaa whose ‘goods’ have made her the envy of other young ladies and as the man who has wooed her heart, he does not mind spending all his life savings on her. The song carries a message for young men to eschew extravagant lifestyles which affect their progress in life. It seems Wutah after the long break has learnt the new developments in the game and that is reflected in their new song. What makes the song interesting is the adoption of old Highlife rhythm to reflect the roots of Ghanaian music. Bronya, the second joint since Wutah announced their return as a group, is an important record for many reasons. Smoothly authentic highlife programmed by Kindee, it expels all doubt that the Kotosa boys are back to take what is theirs: a spot among our favourite bands.

2016

Wutah, consisting Daniel Morris (Risky/ Wutah Kobby) and Frank Osei (PV, now Afriyie), who placed second to Praye at the 2005 edition of Nescafe Africa Revelation talent show, shared the same Mamprobi neighborhood, and who fused highlife and reggae in such a consummate manner, decided that they wanted to go their separate ways. Nobody blames the pair (who were not nearly as successful when they each set out on solo careers, though it is important to mention that more that Afriyie better held the fort for the brand, considering his strides at the Ghana Music Awards, especially in the “Highlife” and “Best Male Vocalist of the Year” categories) for their 2009 split – creative diﬀerences (as was rumored among other things to be the reason) are serious business, and nothing lasts forever, in the end. But for them to do it during (potentially) the highest point of their career? That is why it was such a hard blow on all of us.

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A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

#travelghana

Aburi Botanical Gardens. Eastern Region The gardens which occupy an area of 64.8 hectares was opened in March, 1890.

Roadside mango at Somanya, Eastern Region

A A A T U U M A G A Z I N E . C O M / J U LY- S E P T 2 0 1 7

#travelghana Akosombo Environs, Eastern Region

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#travelghana Batik / Tie and Dye.

Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Brong Ahafo Region

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EVENTS

Hogbetsotso The Festival Celebrating the People of Anloga

he Hogbetsotso festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Anloga in the Volta region of Ghana. The festival is celebrated annually on the ďŹ rst Saturday in the month of November. The name of the festival is derived from the Ewe language and translates as, the festival of exodus or "coming from Hogbe (Notsie)".The celebration of the festival was instituted about four decades ago. The Anlo are a group of people from a tribe in the eastern coast of Ghana. Prior to their settling in their present location, they lived in Notsie, a town in presentday Togo. It is believed that they had migrated from southern Sudan to settle in Notsie. The Origin Oral tradition has it that they lived under a wicked king, Togbe Agorkoli, and in order to escape his tyrannical rule they had to create a hole in the mud wall that surrounded their town. They achieved this by instructing the women to pour all their waste water on one particular place in the wall. Over time the spot became soft, thereby allowing the townspeople to break through the wall and escape. Tradition also holds that, to avoid pursuit

and make good their escape, they walked backwards with their faces towards the town so that their footprints appeared to be going into the town. The celebration Various ceremonies are held during the festival. They include a peace-making period in which all disputes are ended with the ďŹ nding of amicable solution. It is believed that the reason for this traditional period of peace making is that the people believe their ancestors lived in harmony with themselves all through their escape from Notsie and that it was this character that made their sojourn a success. There is also a puriďŹ cation ceremony of the ceremonial stools (where the Ewe believe the ancestral spirits reside) through the pouring of libations. This is followed by general cleaning where all the villages are swept and rubbish burnt. This cleaning ceremony starts at the Volta Estuary and ends after several days at the Mono River in the Republic of Benin. The climax of the festival involves a durbar of the chiefs and peoples of Anlo. The chiefs dress in colourful regalia and receive homage from their subjects at the durbar grounds. Various forms of dancing, singing and merry-making characterize the entire festival.

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#travelghana 76

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Fried Cocoyam with freshly ground red peppers

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