Stop the Ghana bashing -Ghana's Envoy

[Lalakokofefe]

Below is a letter from the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria to a Nigerian newspaper, appealing to Nigerian government officials to refrain from spreading falsehood about Ghana.



SIR: I am compelled to write to express serious concern about a couple of statements by some top Nigerian officials about Ghana in recent weeks. Last month, Defence Minister Godwin Abbe was quoted as saying, "the volume of water generated in Ghana is not enough to flush toilets in Lagos State, the number of teachers you have to pay salaries in the whole of Ghana is not more than Western Nigeria so that is that. And the whole of Ghanaian Armed Forces, if you choose to know, is not more than just two brigades of the Nigerian Armed Forces, period."

Only last weekend, Education Minister Sam Egwu was on national radio talking about the ongoing ASUU strike, and he made the most ridiculous assertion that all the university lecturers in Ghana will not be adequate for a single university in Nigeria! This is a blatant falsehood. Anyone who had been to the University of Ghana Legon (with a student population of more than 40,000), can testify to the fact that probably no university in Nigeria has more space and facilities than Legon. And there are at least five more public universities in Ghana. There are also a dozen privately-owned universities in Ghana, offering quality education to Ghanaians and foreigners alike, including a growing number of Nigerians.

And in the case of the defence minister, we do not know where he got his information from regarding the current strength of the Ghana armed forces. Needless to say that the Ghanaian military is one of the best trained on the continent and had performed exceptionally well in various international assignments. The entire first generation of Nigerian military officers, including Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Hassan Katsina and Adebayo were all trained in Ghana. Ghanaian army generals have commanded UN troops in Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, Darfur, etc over the years.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili also told a local television network at the end of August that the whole of Ghana is not even up to the size of Lagos! Even a child in kindergarten knows that to be untrue. Government officials, unlike private citizens, traditionally tend to be circumspect about what they say about other countries. Ghana is smaller than Nigeria, and I reckon everyone knows that as a fact. And it is certainly not the only country in the world that is smaller than Nigeria. Or is it? Or have Nigerian government officials only suddenly realised how 'small' Ghana is?

Our concern really is that such reckless and unguarded comments could have grave implications for bilateral relations and derail efforts by leaders of the two countries to forge strong bilateral ties. We think President Umaru Yar'Adua should call his ministers to order. The Ghana bashing must stop! Ghana is a well-respected member of the international community, and deserves respect from Nigerians, particularly top government officials.

Nana Yaw Aboagye, Ghana High Commission, Abuja, FCT Tools

Source

[Auspicious]

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Ghanian officials needn't even respond to the misyarns of the leaders of the neighbors to their West who have nothing good to showcase to anyone besides putting down the progress of another to feel good about themselves - all in their heady moments of delusions of grandeur.

Let the leaders of the Republic of Ghana continue to build upon the progress that have earned and continue to earn them praises from across the world. Let them continue to be an attraction of tourism and investment from people of goodwill. Let them continue to show "Giants" the way as far as governance and leadership is concerned.

In the meantime, those who have nothing better to do with their brains (besides electoral thuggery and malfeasance) will continue to delude themselves about their self-importance, even as the Davids of this Woeld continue to shame the Goliaths of this mmmmmmasive world of ours. Yeah, the Okobo continues to boast of his sexual exploits.

Ghana is better off ignoring those Morons we call leaders.

Auspicious.

[Austin]

The big question is, who caused it? Or who started it?
Ghana is beginning to do well and all of a sudden its leaders thought it was cool to start dissing Nigeria, same with its citizens. I have jokingly stated here that Nigeria may have to invade Ghana. Its just a metaphor for the inevitable hostilities to come. Both sides no doubt need to work closer together and not resort to dissing each other.

This is exactly the same reason why the (sensible) rich and powerful in various societies tend to be humble - "riff-raffs" can easily find big trouble for them, if they thin they deserve it.
See who is complaining, so the thing dey pain them??????

[MsMak]

This is another example of why Ghana's economy and social standing in the world continues to get better - an envoy who actually understands and performs his job responsibilities well. I have visited a Nigerian embassy in the U.S two days in a row and seen the consul engaged in shouting matches with, and threatening other Nigerian citizens.

So many other countries just don't laugh at Nigeria(ns), they shake their head in pity...

[Auspicious]

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The comments made by Mr. Austin at Post #2 above is quite regrettable coming from someone who isn't only well-educated but also exposed beyond the confines of his African heritage, which would ordinarily have broadened one's worldview beyond the same old narrow ones of "Na Oyibo Tif My Mojo".

In the beginning were 2 countries, both which were former colonies of imperial white masters and both which earned their relative (and God given!) liberties on a platter. In addition to being lorded over by western imperialists, both have been through painfully successive Reigns of the Uniformed Zombies. (Respects, Fela)

Eventually, one freed herself of the shackles of internal oppression cum manipulation and began to take her destiny into her own hands with fairness and justice as her watchwords, while the other simply preferred to beat her chest about her achievement and stature, with little to show for any of it.

Then a skinny brother came by the neighborhood to congratulate and encourage the former country, daring others like the latter one to emulate her - not for his or his country's sake, or the former country's sake, but for the sake of those (like the latter country) who wish to be like the former country. But how wrong Skinny was!

Little did that Skinny fellow of African heritage know that his effort at recognizing one's country's budding successes (and encouraging others to emulate same) will come back to haunt him - that he and others like him would be blamed for sowing rift between brothers..or as an excuse to "joke about invad(ing) Ghana".

Again I remember that Old Man who had his Daily Sketch newspaper upside down, saw Obafemi Awolowo's upturned photograph in it, and exclaimed about his (Awolowo's) superb powers - that even in the pages of a daily newspaper, "Baba Awolowo" was able to walk on his head. Welcome to the world of absurdities..

Auspicious.

[Iye]

It's sad our leaders are taking a cheap shot at Ghana and not facing the issues of nation building!!!!!!!!

[superego]

It's not all truths that need be said.

[agbonizuanghwe]

Nigeria has been Ghana's aunt sally for decades, and it is a national pass time for them. What makes this oh so tasteless is that Nigerian leaders have chosen to behave badly too and worse still have not bothered to be be accurate.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

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The comments made by Mr. Austin at Post #2 above is quite regrettable coming from someone who isn't only well-educated but also exposed beyond the confines of his African heritage, which would ordinarily have broadened one's worldview beyond the same old narrow ones of "Na Oyibo Tif My Mojo".

In the beginning were 2 countries, both which were former colonies of imperial white masters and both which earned their relative (and God given!) liberties on a platter. In addition to being lorded over by western imperialists, both have been through painfully successive Reigns of the Uniformed Zombies. (Respects, Fela)

Eventually, one freed herself of the shackles of internal oppression cum manipulation and began to take her destiny into her own hands with fairness and justice as her watchwords, while the other simply preferred to beat her chest about her achievement and stature, with little to show for any of it.

Then a skinny brother came by the neighborhood to congratulate and encourage the former country, daring others like the latter one to emulate her - not for his or his country's sake, or the former country's sake, but for the sake of those (like the latter country) who wish to be like the former country. But how wrong Skinny was!

Little did that Skinny fellow of African heritage know that his effort at recognizing one's country's budding successes (and encouraging others to emulate same) will come back to haunt him - that he and others like him would be blamed for sowing rift between brothers..or as an excuse to "joke about invad(ing) Ghana".

Again I remember that Old Man who had his Daily Sketch newspaper upside down, saw Obafemi Awolowo's upturned photograph in it, and exclaimed about his (Awolowo's) superb powers - that even in the pages of a daily newspaper, "Baba Awolowo" was able to walk on his head. Welcome to the world of absurdities..

Auspicious.

Thank you very much Mr Auspicious, for the story you presented of course and not for the regrets you have. Let me tell you one of the many morals of your story - in case you have never considered it:

-- If you want to congratulate Mr Former, congratulate mr Former directly and not use his brother, Mr latter, as apejuwe, as per "awon bros..." (apejuwe = example & awon bros = those brothers we can't/won't name)

-- Same way, if you want to rebuke Mrs Latter, please stick to her directly, and don't go using her sister Ms Former as apejuwe (of awon t'o lori oko = those who are lucky to have good husbands)

Oku ko d'apo mo iyawo = Funeral and wedding are two separate events. And a good reverend can easily shift from performing one ceremony to the other.

And when somborri want to start praising you, Mr Former/Madam latter, anyhow, as per want to put marijuana in your pocket, you have to quickly caution them; not to focus on you, but to focus on JESUS. You need to tell them: It is all because of Jesus; as for me, I am nothing....
When you enter your house and have locked your door, you can then smile or hiss - as the spirit leads and say something like: awon were, alakoba eda = mad, useless, phd people.

Se you get am

[Dapxin]

the careless ease with which you people even label / accept / tag them
'leaders'
annoy me.

come on! imagine Yardua being nominated as a class captain - back in the days - darn!
Aluta kill am! shaaaaaaaaaaaara there!

On Point: bless ghana consulate for having the decency of 'wasting' his time writing to idiiots-on-parade. But Abuja is too dead to hear this things now... I promise, you -what with that reBrand merchant still on the prowl etc....

[ikeyahweh]

Bros Auspy, you know sey i hold u in high regard, but on this i believe u have erred. i side with Austin on this one. ehn i know say naija bad, e rough, e ugly, e dey smell, ehn i gree. but if person for my family dey smell na me suppose yab am. my neighbour no suppose open mouth talk, me i come join am, no matter how my brotha smell reach, no be my neighbour consign. the problem be sey when u finish join yab ur brotha you no get any family again, you no know say ur neighbour no go allow you come in side. my people say pikin wey ugly na only for im mama eye e fine. i gree say naija ugly but as dem born me as naija man i know get any choice. oyibo don make am hard for omo boy to get visa or even sef oyibo green or red card. maybe una dey lif for their una don lucky get citizenship, me no such luck, so therefore i wan survive so i must manage condition. anybody way wan make condition even harder for me here i go say make thunder fire im yansh, especially all the ghanaian peoples way go open their mouth diss me or MY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, no matter as them ugly reach. afterall when hugo chavez went to the UN and insulted BUsh, the people wey vex pass sef na democrats. one man sey "u dont come to my country and to my city and insult MY PRESIDENT!'HOW DARE YOU!".

[agbonizuanghwe]

Them, who successfully put the ring in the nose of the leviathan lead it, and thus become it's leaders whatever the path trod, bog or mire, marsh or morass.

Originally Posted by Dapxin

the careless ease with which you people even label / accept / tag them
'leaders'
annoy me.

come on! imagine Yardua being nominated as a class captain - back in the days - darn!
Aluta kill am! shaaaaaaaaaaaara there!

On Point: bless ghana consulate for having the decency of 'wasting' his time writing to idiiots-on-parade. But Abuja is too dead to hear this things now... I promise, you -what with that reBrand merchant still on the prowl etc....

[Dapxin]

Originally Posted by ikeyahweh

Bros Auspy, you know sey i hold u in high regard, but on this i believe u have erred. i side with Austin on this one. ehn i know say naija bad, e rough, e ugly, e dey smell, ehn i gree. but if person for my family dey smell na me suppose yab am. my neighbour no suppose open mouth talk, me i come join am, no matter how my brotha smell reach, no be my neighbour consign. the problem be sey when u finish join yab ur brotha you no get any family again, you no know say ur neighbour no go allow you come in side. my people say pikin wey ugly na only for im mama eye e fine. i gree say naija ugly but as dem born me as naija man i know get any choice. oyibo don make am hard for omo boy to get visa or even sef oyibo green or red card. maybe una dey lif for their una don lucky get citizenship, me no such luck, so therefore i wan survive so i must manage condition. anybody way wan make condition even harder for me here i go say make thunder fire im yansh, especially all the ghanaian peoples way go open their mouth diss me or MY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, no matter as them ugly reach. afterall when hugo chavez went to the UN and insulted BUsh, the people wey vex pass sef na democrats. one man sey "u dont come to my country and to my city and insult MY PRESIDENT!'HOW DARE YOU!".

In all honesty, I just found the time to read the ambassadors highly factual writeup, and this, above your excellency == you are talking nonsense !