Osagyfo must hear this

Uncle Osagyefo, you may be aware that I am not one of your great fans since now ur ghost may have more privileges to see the unseen. Make you no bore. I think your obsession with building one African nation, cost this country a great deal but on this day, which would have been your birthday, I want to join the millions around the world who see you as some sort of demigod to wish you a happy birthday.

This is the first time I am wishing a dead man a happy birthday. It’s quite strange but it gives me yet another opportunity to reflect on what has become of the nation you led to independence. I don’t know whether they allow you, wherever you are, to take a peek into the nation every once in a while. I have no doubt in my mind that if you had an opportunity to see what has become of this country, you would weep until one of the angels in heaven calls you to come and sleep.

I have this feeling that those who die and come to meet you on the other side do not give you the complete picture and they try to ‘sugar coat’ their words to make it appear that all is well here. Uncle it is not true. Come and see for yourself or wait I will call you or send you a letter telling you of our deplorable state. The only good news is that we are now a democratic country. .

Take away the democratic structures we are trying to build, Osagyefo, and there is little – if any – good news to report.

I know people will say I am Konkonsah but I will tell you. Most of our politicians today are selfish, blockheads and come to power with little or No vision and only have the appetite for looting the Nations coffers. Can you imagine they like to reap where they have not sown. Most of them come to power to only enlarging their bellies. Infact for fear of your hunting Ghost I don’t want to mention names. Take it easy.

You dreamt that the nation you led to independence would not depend on outsiders for its survival, but that’s the exact situation we find ourselves in now. Our leaders go around the world cup-in-hand begging for grants, loans, debt-cancellation, used hospital equipment (including chamber pots and mosquito nets) and investments. In fact, one former president who listed travelling as one of his hobbies used begging for investments as an excuse to get on a plane at the least opportunity.

So Osagyefo, the nation you led to independence cannot do anything on its own. The colonialists you chased out do not just give us money to prop up our ever-faltering economy. They also give us money to feed our school children, take care of our pregnant women, sink boreholes, catch drug traffickers, build roads and bridges, and even take care of our garbage. All of this makes me wonder: was independence worth it? Was this what you had in mind?

I don’t think so.

Osagyefo, I also want to inform you that most of the factories you set up have collapsed.I don’t also think given the chance to come back you will like to use the Motto-way . To cut a long story short, Ghana is a broken nation.

Osagyefo, our educational system is also in utter shambles – the subject of constant experimentation for well over 20 years. We can’t even decide on how best to educate our children. The least said about our health system, the better. In this country people die like flies from diseases that have been conquered or subdued in other parts of the world. Our hospitals are so poorly equipped and staffed by over-worked and underpaid doctors, who go on strike more than once every year to demand better pay. Can you believe that pregnant women sleep on benches and the bare floor in a hospital like Korle Bu? Our hospitals are in such bad shape that our leaders prefer to seek treatment abroad at the slightest hint of disease. They know the local hospitals cannot take care of them yet they prefer to buy luxury cars and build mansions. It’s pathetic.

As we celebrate what would have been your birthday, Osagyefo, I want to tell you that much as I am not one of your big fans, I salute your visionary leadership. I appreciate your forward-thinking and the fact that you didn’t use your position as president to enrich yourself. Yet, you didn’t care about ex-gratia and you died without a penny.

Uncle Daminifa Due.

Stop the flooding

Seriously, I am issuing this warning to whoever is responsible for preventing floods in Accra that inaction is not an option. Something has to be done (and immediately!) to prevent any further loss of lives. If it’s too late for us to save lives this year, I want us to be absolutely sure that next year we will be ready for the rains and they won’t cause any havoc.
As I watched the president on his surprise visits to these flooded areas on television yesterday I could not help but shed a tear for the perished souls and the sophisticated properties that are being carried away so easily by the habitual flow of the drains
The first thing to do is for the ‘authorities’ to use their authority to demolish all the buildings in waterways. Of course it will be a difficult thing to do. But that’s why they are the ‘authorities’
Some of these decisions will not necessarily win them votes but we need to do what we ought to do. If our decisions/actions are unpopular but do not cause people to ‘swim’ to their deaths in muddy waters, then that’s the way to go.
The second and the most important thing, I think, is for government to take the issue of drainage very seriously. If the gutters were not so small and were not so choked with garbage, we wouldn’t have this problem. Forget about those houses in the waterways for a moment. Accra’s gutters are absolutely useless when it rains. Just take a ride around the city on a rainy day and you’d see how the waters wash out plastic bottles and all sorts of garbage from the drainage system.
I suppose that as a people, we’ve decided that we cannot (and will not) stop littering. That’s not wise but in a situation like this, I believe that it is government’s responsibility to protect the people from bringing death and destruction onto themselves.
Furthermore, it is imperative that we embark on a very serious exercise to cover all (not a few, not some – but all) the gutters in the country. You see, when the gutters are covered, people cannot turn them into trash bins and so they won’t be choked. And when the rains come, the waters will flow freely and there will be no floods. This is common sense that the ‘authorities’ should be aware of
In the meantime, countrymen and women, I believe that the floods should teach us all a lesson: we need to stop littering. It’s not too much to ask, if we want to save lives?
Remember, the banana, orange peel you throw into a gutter might cause a flood, which could take your life or that of a person close to you.
Think about that and keep safe. I will not do it so please don’t do it to affect me.I have not finished my swimming lessons and can easily die

ENTREPRENEURSHIP..NATIONS BUILDER

Time is of the essence. So why waste it when you can profit a vast amount of money and be the boss of your own company at the same time? For those who seek success beyond unimaginable boundaries, entrepreneurship would be the answer. Probably this is what’s running inside the minds of the renowned entrepreneurs of our economic era.
Empowered by determination and guts and eliminating the process of failure, an entrepreneur should always be on the grasp for suitable products to suffice the masses. This paved their way through stability, fame and power. Take it from this two stars I admire so well
Bill Gates. As a billionaire dropout not finishing his education during his junior year at Harvard University, Gates is considered as one of the most famous individuals of our time. With a vision of personal computers emerging out of the mainstream, he teamed out with his colleague, Paul Allen who also studied in Harvard. Together, both of them left the university in exchange for a dream that led them both to their multibillion business, Microsoft Corporation.
Oprah Winfrey. At a very young age of 19, Oprah started her anchoring career for a TV station situated in Nashville, Tennessee. From there, she pursued her dream and traveled to Chicago. Not more than a month, The Oprah Winfrey Show was born and talk show was never the same. Surpassing other local networks, it was tagged as one of the best talk shows that entered national television. Aside from being a host, Oprah founded Harpo, Inc. and O, The Oprah Magazine.
As evidence, these renowned entrepreneurs made everything possible just by living up to their dream of becoming someone everybody could appreciate and look up to. Starting from scratch, but reaching to this point of earning so much cash.
You too can be an entrepreneur. Point is, when you dream, dream big.
Now we may like to ask ourselves these questions back home
Where are our young entrepreneurs?
Why don't we see such individuals coming out of our schools? Can this be attributed to a lack of ICT education at the primary through SS level?
What do you think can be done, to change the situation?

Personally, I think the problem of entrepreneurship is a difficult one to answer. Personally, I think that one could look at it from different perspectives. I'll like us to consider one of these perspectives - our culture.
I know it sounds crazy but the oxymoron that one of our biggest strength, culture, is one of our major weaknesses is very true. Why do I say so?? Well, it is because a critical look at our culture and the traditional typical way of bringing up a child does not favor an entrepeurial spirit. Of course this is no condemnation of our culture or anything of the sort.
See, our traditional way of upbringing places much emphasis on respect, submission and following traditions "without questioning them." I have been a curious one myself and so I know what I'm talking about. You ask a question about how things are and why they are done as they are, and whether there is a better way to do what is being done, and the only answer you get is to shut up and do things as they have always been done. There's even a quote that my Fante teacher used to like very much, "Amambre wontu Nkyen," which literally means tradition must be followed.
Anybody who dares to challenge the status quo is seen as a deviant and there is normally some effort to "correct" the person. Moreover, that attitude of "adults are always right" and the mentality that children cannot really come up with anything better than adults is somewhat retarding. This attitude is so ingrained that many brilliant ideas by young people have been swept under the carpet because they were trampled upon. Typical examples of these are when a child in class comes up with a better approach to solving a problem than the teacher does. Hardly does the teacher evaluate what the child says and adopt it if it is good. The child is branded "too known" and stuff like that. How then can we expect such children to grow up to be entrepreneurs.
But that is not all. Our way of upbringing teaches most of us to avoid taking risks - one of the key features of entrepreneurs. Your mother or father sends you to school to become a doctor or lawyer and not someone on the streets starting from scratch. Just imagine having completed your education and going home with just a little capital and brain power to start a business. It will probably mean that you'll have to hustle from the beginning; taking trotro, eating in chop bars, getting dirty whiles working, walking long distances, living in a dilapidated house, etc. It is then that you'll hear the comments that people will pass about you. (Of course there are people who have made it but the number of people who have been deterred is far greater).
Then there is the issue of nepotism and corruption. You start a business and everyone in the family looks up to you for support, without offering a dime to help. Friends and family pour in for free services and do not expect no for an answer. How then do you break even??tis is just one of the reasons .there are other reasons we can talk about.
However it is worthy of note that ,Unless we us a nation are willing to ask the hard questions, and can find the right answers to it. We will be broke 2000years to come. Success is about up's and down's.Life is what u make it.
LET'S BUILD OUR BUSINESSES & INDUSTRIES (SMALL, MEDIUM, BIG). LET'S PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. LET'S SPEAK UP! LET'S CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. LET’S INVEST IN OUR COUNTRY.TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE GHANA A BETTER PLACE.

You and the Job market

At one time, a high school education was enough to get you a decent job. Not today. The job market globe is revolving fast and by 2014, more than 70% of all new jobs even entry –level positions will need some post secondary education or skill training.

It doesn’t matter where your talent lies or what line of work attracts you. Whether you want to be a computer technician or a restaurant chef, a city planner or a mechanics, a child care worker or an accountant the best move to make is to get a higher education. Investing in your education is one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make. People with more education earn better incomes, enjoy their jobs well and have better opportunities throughout their lives
Sadly, one of the biggest inhibiting factors that continue to derail our opportunity to find jobs is the absence of education programmes that cater to the current needs of the society. It is critically important for academic institutions to offer more flexible undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that satisfy the evolving needs of the job market.

Stakeholders need to invest in research to identify specific professions that are my demand. This will help develop academic programmes that are in tune with the changing economic situations.
Today a lot of people believe that it is ‘whom you know’ that can guarantee you a job .To some extent I will agree but in the general sense the reality still holds that it is ‘the survival of the fittest’ What do I mean ?
Certainly, during tough times it is the fittest and the level of fitness that one can increase. These are the times of multi –skilling .. This is when companies are looking for the person who can perform multiple tasks to one who is limited just one task.

It is important to explore new doors for new opportunities in various fields. It will help you find avenues to pursue your likes. It will enable you venture into new fields and explore new areas. In the end you will realize your dreams and goal in being a multi- task/multi-skill graduate. It will interest an employer to know that apart from being an Electrical Engineer you are capable of handling some aspect of finance and admin duties.

In conclusion I will say that the fundamental purpose of education is to create good environment for you in the your search for the right job. It is also vital to the healthy growth and development of one’s personality.

A writer once said. "In making the ‘beings’ ‘human,’ to produce ‘human beings’, lies the importance of education".

To know more and Learn more visit our establishment...LAINE

WHO AM I

People often ask .who am I, Are you Married? Are you a rich man? this is my answer to all.
Simply my name is Ato Amissah- Koomson .I am nobody . Really I have nothing, absolutely nothing.
But I am working on it. I am looking forward to a day when my assets will fill about half an A-4 sheet.
I am not very educated even though I have completed the university, my English teacher died in class two and my Mathematics teacher died in class four. Fortunately, I was smart to pick the basics so I can read and write, add and subtract I can even recite the times table “by heart”.
My mum is a retired bofrote seller and my father was the chief of staff in the sagranti war in 1982.He is now an expert in making shoes at the Madina market (shoe maker)
I am not the only child. I have brothers and sisters in Christ. Currently, I am self employed .I import and export ‘kelewele’, ‘krachi awiesu’ and ‘bamfobisi’ from Accra to Sekunde and Esikado.
As a child I had big dreams of becoming a doctor or a pilot but all didn’t materialize as external factors eroded my vision. However I am trying to find solace in the profession I am into.
I have a new dream

My new dream is to become the chief security officer to the president of Ghana’s daughter.I don’t know how and I don’t mind how .I don’t also mind if it is Atta or Kuffour but I would have preferred Rawlings .(laugh)
Incase this dream too fails, I will love to become a pastor, open my own church and call it the Lukukdu Temple .. where I will become the general oversea .. My name will be called (Rev. Flt Lt. Dr. Amissah- Koomson)
I am married .Don’t ask me who ?

How to live a good and happy life

People's perceptions on how to live a happy life vary greatly. Many think that the accumulation of lots of wealth, the fanciest car and luxurious mansion is the pinnacle of achievement, and that being surrounded in that environment automatically equates to happiness.

Often the need to fill your life with expensive material things, comes because there is a hole in your happiness which you don't know how to fill. It is often easier to chase material things than to look and scrutinize what really is happening in your life.

Fulfilment and knowing how to live a happy life can be achieved through small steps which bring a sense of completion to your life. Being appreciative and grateful for all that you have.

Start each day with reminding yourself exactly what is in your life that moment and what you are grateful for.This can be anything, from feeling grateful the sun streaming through your window, grateful that your feet are strong enough to stand on, or feeling grateful for the clean water to brush your teeth.

Accept where you are at in your life and that things may not be perfect. It will be better than facing constant struggles and dreading waking up the next morning.