Nineteenth issue
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4. 10 Things You Should Start Doing Now RJ Barrete
10. THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM 16. Presidents in Pakistan 24. A Cognitive Triad. Michael Dale-Asiedu
Sunita Nayab Gill (Adv)
Kwabena Agyare (Ghana)
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W 10 Things You Should Start Doing Now
10 Things You Should Start Doing Now
e have differences. There are rich yet there are poor. There are fulfilled yet there are not. We doubt ourselves, complicate our lives, cloud our minds with negativity and wish we were someone else. I always say, “Life is beautiful.” – So don’t waste it. Each of us does things differently – either you do it with perseverance and aim for satisfaction. Absolutely, some of us have it difficult because that’s the kind of life fate has given us. Nonetheless, your chapter of making the good out of it doesn’t end there. All you have to do is stop complaining how miserable life is, sometimes. Here are 10 of them:
RJ Barrete
1.
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RJ Barrete
Solve Your Problems And Never Procrastinate.
Problems come and go, that’s inevitable. Even Kings and the richest persons I know have them. So acknowledge that it doesn’t exempt you from anyone. You can either make them go away or live with them. Surely, if you want to get rid of them, then don’t procrastinate because the more you think of them, the more you increase the baggage over time. If you have a problem, accept and face it. If life involves a chain process of symbiosis, so are problems – from small to big ones. The faster you overcome these loads – the happier your life will be.
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2.
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Live Today.
Honestly, I used to live in the past, reminisce and try to bring back good memories made. But I realized, yesterday was yesterday – you can never bring them back, so live your life today. Do not forget that reality exists only in the present. It is indeed dangerous to dwell on the past. Nostalgia can overcome us and make us feel that the world we are living today falls short of the happiness we experience in the past. We commit mistakes and create good memories that we can always look back. Use them to live in the present.
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3.
Do Not Buy Happiness.
We live in a very materialistic world; others can afford luxurious things to make them happy (how superficial). You buy drugs to forget sorrows, buy drinks for comfort, buy sex for pleasure, etc. All these are never genuine, Hardships and sorrows translate to happiness once you’ve hurdled them. Remember, if the poorest of the poor can be happy, then happiness cannot lie in the material.
10 Things You Should Start Doing Now
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RJ Barrete
4.
5.
Believe me, being dependent on others – family and friends can only do so much. At first, you feel secured because you have them, being dependent on them maybe great but often doesn’t weather the storm. Be independent and self-reliant. There are points in our lives that we find ourselves alone. Start being independent now because if you don’t know how to deal on your lonesome phase, then you will drown together with it.
Of course, misfortunes in life provide you with negative feelings. But just to warn you, it is overwhelming and gravely contagious. When we entertain negativity and worry about it again and again, it tints the way we perceive life. Living in a world of negativity doesn’t leave any space for the positive. If your outlook becomes clouded you’ll just hate your life – an endless cycle.
Stop Relying On Others.
Cloud Your Thoughts With Positivism Instead.
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6.
7.
Stuff happens. As they say, and it won’t happen for a day or two… and then it returns with a vengeance. Got problems? Work on it because the more responsibilities you have the more you have to potentially worry about. So don’t procrastinate. The only thing worth worrying about is your own laziness. Everything else is out of your control.
When you make mistakes, admit it. Failure is derogatory… clueless. My mom always tells me, charge it to experience – there is only so much that you can read up about the way the world works. The more times you get it wrong, the more ways you know not to do it.
Stop Worrying.
Do Not Fear.
8.
Be a Go-Getter and Can-DoAttitude.
Opportunities will never gravitate towards you. It is half hardwork and half perseverance. So stop making excuses and build opportunities for yourself.
10 Things You Should Start Doing Now
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RJ Barrete
9.
10.
We all fell in love and had our hearts broken; As J Rice said in one of his songs, “Thank you for the Broken Heart.” You have fully experienced the love cycle and can grow as an individual. Do not generalize that all relationships end in heartaches because that does not have to be the case.
I know there are times we wanted to be that someone. Someone, we think could be the ideal person we want – the life that seems planned perfectly. But stop wishing; start doing the things to be that someone. Make sure, however, that you know who you are and do what you can develop – not change. Capitalize on your strengths. You have all the potential to do anything you want to do. Figure out what it is that you want out of life and go after it. There is no urgent need to change who you are to match that someone’s preexistent notion of who you should be.
Always Be Open Stop Wishing You Were Someone Else. for Prospective Relationships. Do Not Dwell With Your Past.
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early half of Ghana’s educated citizens live abroad while one in three skilled Angolans resides outside that country. Of the ten countries with the highest percentage of educated citizens living abroad, six are in sub-Saharan Africa, where many governments subsidize higher education. Over 300,000 African professionals reside outside Africa. Ethiopia alone lost 75% of its skilled workforce between 1980 and 1991 meanwhile it costs a whopping US$40,000 to train a doctor in Kenya and US$15,000 for
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THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
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a university student, 35% of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa is spent on expatriate professionals according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
By Michael Dale-Asiedu (Ghana)
In 25 years, Africa will be empty of brains, that dire and doom personified warning from Dr.Lalla Ben Barka of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) reflects the increasing spate of Africa’s exodus of invaluable human capital. Data on brain drain in Africa is scarce and grossly inconsistent, that notwithstanding, statistics show a downward spiral of a continent losing the very
THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
people it needs most for socio-economic, scientific and technological progress
default. And he had the guts to substantiate his stance with mind-blowing statistics. This is what he said: the International With these worrying Organization for statistical revelations Migration (IOM) has about how our skilled estimated that Africa has men leave their respective lost a third of its human sub-Saharan countries, capital and continues to I fervently entreat loose skilled personnel optimistic and wellat an alarming rate. meaning Africans to IOM and the Economic join me as we ride on Commission for Africa in discussion. Putting gathered statistics the African continent in showing that between perspective, i would like 1960, when 17 African to inquire when truly the countries became days of going overseas independent and 1974 will be over. when most had achieved independence, an average Need such living of 1800 skilled Africans questions be asked at all? left their homelands This exodus did not start for developed nations. now neither will it end Between 1975 and 1984, anytime soon, a colleague the rate had jumped to retorted sharply as if by 4,000 a year. Between
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Michael Dale-Asiedu
1985 and 1989, 12,000 skilled Africans each year left for what they thought were greener pastures and since 1990, the rate has skyrocketed to 20,000 annual African migration and brain drain. After his defense, all i could mutter was greener pastures indeed! But the glaring realization is the fact that, if we go there we only help them develop even faster alluring to the fact that the best leave for the west. Ravinder Rena of the Eritrean Institute of Technology puts it nicely that it will be impossible to achieve an African renaissance without the contributions of talented Africans residing outside Africa. Subsequently,
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a sustainable way. This assertion is very true because we and only we know and understand our problems better save parochialism. You can therefore solve it better if you know and understand it better. The frequent dishing out of foreign aids to Africa will do no magic neither will the expatriates conjure any miracles whatsoever. It is that simple, there has been no country which has reached developmental pinnacle based on foreign aid and expatriates. The solutions thereby reside rightly within the African continent.
Yet again Joan Dassin of the Ford Foundation tells Voice of America that if you don’t have qualified people on the ground with strong local roots to carry out development You might not have really projects, it’s not likely sat down to appreciate they will move forward in the adverse repercussions
THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
brain drain in Africa has adverse repercussions financially, institutionally and including societal costs. African countries get little return from their investment in higher education, since too many graduates leave or fail to return home at the end of their studies. Cognizance of a dwindling professional sector, Africa employs up to 150,000 expatriate professionals at a cost of US$4billion a year according to IOM.
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By Michael Dale-Asiedu (Ghana)
THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
of brain drain, may be you will gladly leave if a ship docks at your port advertising free transportation to Europe. You probably might even be planning to sell your last property to secure a visa to anywhere but Africa, but please hold on a little while; the days of going overseas are over. You see few blacks who have made it on TV doesn’t mean it is all rosy out there. There are many blacks who are stranded and can’t even afford a ticket back home whilst countless many have dreaded their decisions of leaving abroad. We have cattle and bees in Africa yet we seek for milk and honey outside. The climate is favorable here yet we seek for greener
pastures outside.
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Michael Dale-Asiedu
continuous outflow of skilled labor contributes Not surprising right! to an ever widening gap Consider the patient to in science and technology doctor ratio in Africa, between Africa and other what about the pupil to continents. Africa’s share teacher ratio, currently of global scientific output Ghana has about 10,000 has fallen from 0.5 in the nurses far lesser than the mid-1980’s to 0.3 in the required national number mid 1990’s.Currently of 40,000. The departure there are more African of health professionals scientists and engineers has withheld the in the USA than in the accessibility of medical entire continent as and social services in posited by the IOM. several sub-Saharan countries to deliver even If indeed we hold these basic health and social truths to be self-evident, needs. Thirty-eight why then do we ply our out of the forty-seven trades elsewhere when we sub-Saharan African are more needed home? countries fall short of I once again reiterate the minimum World that the days of going Health Organization’s overseas are over, mother (WHO) requirement Africa deserves better. of 20 physicians per This is our continent, our 100,000 people. This Africa, Living a century
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long overseas doesn’t genetically change your roots. Folks make it work. Graduates applying for foreign scholarships all over the internet with the motive of leaving never to return again must cease. Young people do something worthwhile home. You have more than enough brains to awaken your entrepreneurial conscience. Our outlook about how we perceive people who have travelled outside must change. Long queues for visas must cease, constant rush for American lottery must reduce. We can make it here in our home continent. Remember Barack Obama pluralized his “yes we can” spirit from the word “African”.
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The last three letters translated into words read “i can”. There is therefore no reason whatsoever why we can’t. One will argue that remittances sent home by our relatives abroad go a long way in alleviating poverty. I ask, have we suddenly overlooked the implications of brain drain on human resources, institutional capacity coupled with health and social services? Whilst i don’t dispute that assertion, chronological analysis will attest that the mere fact of you making it there literally means you can make it here too. The only difference might be in the value and currency appreciation but that
notwithstanding, you will have the joy and satisfaction of having contributed your utmost quota in making mama Africa develop. Efforts to address, albeit partially Africa’s brain drain pandemonium, focusing on repatriation strategies have so far been discouraging. Studies have shown that repatriation will not work so long as African governments fail to address the pull and push factors that influence emigration. Moreover, the relationship between African governments and the African diaspora remained a major barrier to finding solutions but these obstacles do not need rocket
THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
THE OVERSEAS’ DREAM
science to arrive at an amicable bearing. Virtual participation cum linkages should be encouraged the more even though a lot behooves on our African governments in making the continent more enabling for returnees. Wole Soyinka recounts the tragic story of a highly skilled cosmetic surgeon who was enticed back home but however, left after a year or two when he had voluntarily donated his clinic and all his equipment to seek for job fulfillment elsewhere.
By Michael Dale-Asiedu (Ghana)
This article would be incomplete without extending a note of appreciation to the Neil Turok of Cambridge University who run a
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Michael Dale-Asiedu
science and technology postgraduate programme in South Africa that hopes to be expanded to fifteen African countries since this will entice more graduates to stay. Another new programme the African Leadership Academy which i am proud to have participated in their maiden finalist weekend at Tema SOS (Ghana) will waive tuition for most of its students but if they are not working in Africa by the time they turn twenty five, they will owe the school tuition fees plus interest. Let’s live the African dream “For we are strangers before them, and sojourners, as were all our fathers.1 Chronicles 29:15’! \
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Presidents in Pak P
akistan came into being on 14th August 1947. By the ending of 1947, a government led by Khan Liaqat Ali Khan and Quaid-e-Azam became the first Governor General of Pakistan also the president speaker of State Parliament. Later on, in the constitution of Pakistan, 1956, declaring Pakistan “Islamic Republic”. According to the constitution of 1956, Pakistan adopted the “Parliamentary Democratic System” of government & transformed the “Governor General” into “President of Pakistan” (Head of State). In 1956, Iskander Mirza became the
Presidents in Pakistan
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Sunita Nayab Gill (Adv)
kistan Sunita Nayab Gill (Adv)
first President of Pakistan. But on 1958, he called the army & enforced the first Martial Law in Pakistan & Mr. Ayub Khan was Commander-inChief. President Iskander Mirza suspended the constitution & the Parliamentary government in West Pakistan & Socialist government in East Pakistan. Chief Martial Administrator, Ayub Khan removed the President & exile him to London, United Kingdom in 1958. Ayub Khan, with the help of General Muhammad Musa, became the president of Pakistan in 1958. President Ayub Khan is the
second President of Pakistan and during his era a lot of economic development made in Commercial, media and other sectors. He declared Islamabad the capital of Pakistan. Before it, Karachi was the capital of Pakistan. Pakistan launched a space program with the continuation of nuclear program. Tashkand agreement was also made in his regime. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the member of the ministry on personal directives of President Ayub Khan in 1966. But Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, dismissed because he was disagree on Taskand agreement.
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Under pressured from PPP, public resentment, and anger against his administration, Ayub Khan resigned from the presidency in poor health and handing over his authority to army commander, a less-known in public and heavy alcohol drinker, General Yahya Khan, who imposed martial law and suspended the constitution, thus dissolving the presidential republic. Gen. Yahya Khan was the third President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He announced the elections in 1970, which had a disastrous result, Sheikh Majib-ur-Rehamn, launched civil disobedience movement in East Pakistan.
With the help of India, East Pakistan started a war & separated from West Pakistan & became “Bangladesh� on 3rd December 1971. Discredited by the defeat, President General Yahya Khan resigned and Bhutto was inaugurated as 4th President and Chief Martial Law Administrator on 20 December 1971. This period is very important in the history of Pakistan due to the growth of national security, economic stability, atomic bomb projects & scientific, cultural & literary activities. Bhutto's efforts undermined and dismantled the private sector and conservative approach for political power in
Presidents in Pakistan
country's political setup. In 1973, Mr. Bhutto declared himself the Prime Minister of Pakistan and made Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, the 5th President of Pakistan. He was the constitutional President whose authority was exercised by Prime Minister of Pakistan. In 1978, he resigned & handed over the presidency to Mr. Zia. In 1977, Mr. Bhutto got the victory in General elections but Gen. Ziaul-Haq, imposed the Martial. Mr. Bhutto tried in Supreme Court & convicted in the murder of political opponent’s case. President Ziaul-Haq was the 5th President of
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Pakistan from 1977 to1988. Gen. Zi, held referendum, asking the civil society for the support of his religious program that received overwhelming support and extended the term of General Zia as country's administrator for next five years. He enforces strict Islamic rules in Pakistan. The Ordinance XX was introduced to limit the Ahmadis from calling themselves Muslims. In 1985, President Zia-ul-Haq lifted up the Martial Law. He appointed the Junejo, Prime Minister of Pakistan. General Zia dismissed the Junejo government on several charges in May 1988 and called
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for elections in November 1988. However, before the elections could ever take place, General Zia died in a mysterious plane crash on 17 August 1988. In these elections, PPP got majority and won the election. Benazir Bhutto was the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan. Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the 7th President of Pakistan & he is an independent candidate. Her government was successful to troop evacuation of Soviet Union from Afghanistan. She ordered a military intervention but failed and with the aid of U.S. she introduced the 7th plan to stabilize the economy. The conservative, Mr. Ghulam Ishaq, dismissed her government. In 1990 election, Mr. Nawaz Shariff, who led the Islamic Democratic Alliance, won the election and made the government. Mr. Ghulam Ishaq was the president. P.M. Nawaz launched privatization, economic liberalization & adopted a policy on
atomic bomb program. Institutional problems arose with president Ghulam Khan, whose attempt was to dismiss Sharif on the same charges as he had pressed on Benazir Bhutto. Through Supreme Court, Mr. Sharif together with Benazir Bhutto ousted President Ghulam Ishaq. In July 1993, Mr. Wasim Sajjad became the President of Pakistan on the place of Mr. Ghulam Ishaq; he remained in office till 14th November 1993. He belongs to Muslim League (N). Elections were held on 14 November 1993 the PPP won the election and made the government. Benazir Bhutto, elected the candidate from her party, named, Mr. Farooq Laghari, who is the 8th President of Pakistan. Despite her tough policies, the popularity of Benazir Bhutto waned after her husband became allegedly involved in the controversial death of Murtaza Bhutto. Many public
Presidents in Pakistan
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Sunita Nayab Gill (Adv)
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figures and officials suspected even Benazir Bhutto's involvement in the murder, although there were no proves. In 1996, seven weeks passed this incident; her own handpicked president on charges of Murtaza Bhutto’s death dismissed Benazir Bhutto’s government. In 1997 elections, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz won & made the government. On 2nd December 1997, Mr. Wasim Sajad again became the president from PML (N). He was the Chairman of Senate & serving his second term as Acting President. In 1997 elections, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz won & made the government. Mr. Nawaz was the Prime Minister and Mr. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was the President. On 28th May 1998, Pakistan became the Atomic Nuclear Power after test in at Chagai-1. He was the constitutional President & resigned on 2001. In 1999, again the
Martial was imposed in Pakistan & constitution was abrogated. Nawaz Sharif & his family exiled to Dubai. Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf issued the LFO Order No.2002, in August 2001. Gen. Musharaf passed the 17th Amendment in the Parliament, which made his 1999’s action legitimate. He served as the Chief Executive until 2002.On 4th January 2004; Gen. Musharraf got 658 out of 1,170 electoral votes and became the 10th President of Pakistan. It was a good period of Pakistan. When Pakistan stood against terrorism. The image of Pakistan became better and development in the country also has economic stability. President Musharraf sacked Chief Justice along with 14 other judges of Supreme Court on 3rd November 2007 also proclaimed state of Emergency. Lawyers launched a protest against this action and international and private media
Presidents in Pakistan
banned. The political situation became chaotic and on 16th December 2007, the Emergency ended. President Musharraf resigned in 2008, just to avoid the impeachment. In August 2008, Mian Muhammad Somoro became the Acting President of Pakistan. He was the Chairman of Senate. During the election campaign, Benazir Bhutto departing an election rallies in Rawalpindi on 27th December 2007. A gunman who shot her in the neck & set off a bomb assassinated her. In 2008 Elections, PPP won & Asif Zardari became the Presidents of Pakistan. In the past, he was the Member of National Assembly twice. He is Landlord. It was the toughest period for the nation. The passage of 18th Amendment, in
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Sunita Nayab Gill (Adv)
2010 reduced his vast presidential powers to that of a ceremonial figurehead. Government failed to meet up the tasks but the first democratic government completed its tenure. After completing 5 years, in May 11, 2013, again election held & Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz won the election with remarkable success. In the history of Pakistan, the people never show the passion for election as they showed this time. With the order of Supreme Court, the election of president held earlier and on 31st July, we got a new President named, Mamnoon Hussain. He was the 12th President of Pakistan & belongs to the middle class family. The nation has great expectation from this government. Hope that the government solves the problem of load shedding, unemployment, poverty & health. Facing by the nation. Pakistan Zindabad!
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A Cognitive Triad...
Scribbled Poetry By Kwabena Agyare (Ghana)
If this were ever to be our last stroll, then I would prefer it to be taken in the sun so the corrosive hands of time will not wash it Then when we take a painful look at the skies, shall we be reminded of the prints of love If this were ever to be my last stare at life, I would want to smell again that perfume that hugged your body and sing Nunc Dimittis that I met you If i ever get to heaven before you, I will etch your name on a stone, hoping the Lord picks it for a star Then when it shines bright in the sunless skies, know that I will be watching over you
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