so if its not practiced in the U.S.A or U.K, we should also not practice it even if it will serve us well? that line of unreasoning apart from being wholly unsound, is also evidence of a mind that is unable to think independe ... read full comment
so if its not practiced in the U.S.A or U.K, we should also not practice it even if it will serve us well? that line of unreasoning apart from being wholly unsound, is also evidence of a mind that is unable to think independently. if you are always having to look at what your classmate has written down before you decide what to write, it means that you are a copy cat and unsure about your own capabilities. why do we have to look to U.S or U.K before knowing what to do? the answer is that we dont have to look to them at all. the best thinkers and problem solvers are those who are able to think originally and independently to solve problems specific to their situation. that is what we need.
NAKED 10 years ago
Mali at first glance seems a most unlikely place for the NATO powers, led by a neo-colonialist French government of Socialist President Francois Hollande (and quietly backed to the hilt by the Obama Administration), to launch ... read full comment
Mali at first glance seems a most unlikely place for the NATO powers, led by a neo-colonialist French government of Socialist President Francois Hollande (and quietly backed to the hilt by the Obama Administration), to launch what is being called by some a new Thirty Years’ War Against Terrorism.
Mali, with a population of some 12 million, and a landmass three and a half times the size of Germany, is a land-locked largely Saharan Desert country in the center of western Africa, bordered by Algeria to its north, Mauritania to its west, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger to its southern part. People I know who have spent time there before the recent US-led efforts at destabilization called it one of the most peaceful and beautiful places on earth, the home of Timbuktu. Its people are some ninety percent Muslim of varying persuasions. It has a rural subsistence agriculture and adult illiteracy of nearly 50%. Yet this country is suddenly the center of a new global “war on terror.”
On January 20 Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron announced his country’s curious resolve to dedicate itself to deal with “the terrorism threat” in Mali and north Africa. Cameron declared, “It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months, and it requires a response that…has an absolutely iron resolve…” [1] Britain in its colonial heyday never had a stake in Mali. Until it won independence in 1960, Mali was a French colony.
On January 11, after more than a year of behind-the-scenes pressure on the neighboring Algeria to get them entangled in an invasion of its neighbor Mali, Hollande decided to make a direct French military intervention with US backing. His government launched air strikes in the rebel-held north of Mali against a fanatical Salafist band of jihadist cutthroats calling itself Al-Qaeda in the Islamic-Mahgreb (AQIM). The pretext for the seemingly swift French action was a military move by a tiny group of Islamic Jihadists of the Tuareg people, Asnar Dine, affiliated with the larger AQIM. On January 10 Asnar Dine – backed by other Islamist groups – attacked the southern town of Konna. That marked the first time since the Tuareg rebellion in early 2012 that Jihadist rebels moved out of traditional Tuareg territory in the northern desert to spread Islamic law to the south of Mali.
As French journalist Thierry Meyssan noted, French forces were remarkably well prepared: “The transitional President, Dioncounda Traore, declared a state of emergency and called to France for help. Paris intervened within hours to prevent the fall of the capital, Bamako. Far-sightedly, the Elysée had already pre-positioned in Mali troops from the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (“the Colonials”) and the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment, helicopters from the COS (Special Operations Command), three Mirage 2000D’s, two Mirage F-1’s, three C135’s, a C130 Hercules and a C160 Transall.” [2] What a convenient coincidence.
By January 21 US Air Force transport planes began delivering hundreds of French elite soldiers and military equipment to Mali, ostensibly to roll back what we were told was an out-of-control terrorist advance south towards the Mali capital. [3] French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told media the number of its ‘boots on the ground’ in Mali had reached 2,000, adding that “around 4,000 troops will be mobilized for this operation,” in Mali and outside bases. [4]
But there are strong indications the French agenda in Mali is anything but humanitarian. In a France 5 TV interview, Le Drian carelessly admitted, “The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets.” And President Francois Hollande said French troops would remain in the region long enough “to defeat terrorism.” The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany and Denmark have all said they would support the French operation against Mali. [5]
Mali itself, like much of Africa is rich in raw materials. It has large reserves of gold, uranium and most recently, though western oil companies try to hide it, of oil, lots of oil. The French preferred to ignore Mali’s vast resources, keeping it a poor subsistence agriculture country. Under the deposed democratically-elected President Amadou Toumani Toure, for the first time the government initiated a systematic mapping of the vast wealth under its soil. According to Mamadou Igor Diarra, previous mining minister, Malian soil contains copper, uranium, phosphate, bauxite, gems and in particular, a large percentage of gold in addition to oil and gas. Thus, Mali is one of the countries in the world with the most raw materials. With its gold mining, the country is already one of the leading exploiters directly behind South Africa and Ghana. [6] Two thirds of France’s electricity is from nuclear power and sources of new uranium are essential. Presently, France draws significant uranium imports from neighboring Niger.
Now the picture gets a little complex.
According to usually reliable former US military experts with direct familiarity with the region, speaking on condition of anonymity, US and NATO Special Forces actually trained the same “terrorist” bands now justifying a neo-colonial US-backed invasion of Mali by France. The major question is why would Washington and Paris train the terrorists they are now acting to destroy in a “war on terror?” Were they really surprised at the lack of NATO loyalty from their trainees? And what is behind AFRICOM’s American-backed French takeover of Mali?
julius 10 years ago
sir, can't you make your point without casting insinuations? pls let us respect one another and be decorous a bit!
sir, can't you make your point without casting insinuations? pls let us respect one another and be decorous a bit!
BOY KOFI 10 years ago
The Ghanaian model of democracy and goverment is different from the ones in the advanced countries.I have problem with the formation of Concil of State,nobody knows where they are coming from.Equally,we need to have Rgional A ... read full comment
The Ghanaian model of democracy and goverment is different from the ones in the advanced countries.I have problem with the formation of Concil of State,nobody knows where they are coming from.Equally,we need to have Rgional Assemblies like small parliament or congress where we can vote for executives to manage regional affairs and economy efficiently.No matter what,the govt will still have to coordinate policies through a home office;a prefecture.It is also very good to allow very few opposition members into the govt on competent and professional basis.The winner takes all is everywhere in the world but the leader can always make changes if he so wished.Thank you.
YAW 10 years ago
Okoampa-Ahoofe,should be congratulated for having such a gargantuan head to hold so much ignorance.
Okoampa-Ahoofe,should be congratulated for having such a gargantuan head to hold so much ignorance.
Innusah 10 years ago
This disgrace of a professor never ever says anything sensible, apart from insulting people! We've tolerated him enough! okoampa, you are a disgrace to commonsense, so keep ur stupid reasoning to urself!
This disgrace of a professor never ever says anything sensible, apart from insulting people! We've tolerated him enough! okoampa, you are a disgrace to commonsense, so keep ur stupid reasoning to urself!
mimi 10 years ago
Mr. Know all
Mr. Know all
Can something good come out of the pr 10 years ago
It is a sign of your fall from grace that, no one listens to you any more. If Arkaa is a failed politician, what does that mean for your uncle, if he is your uncle at all.
Your views tend to be biased and not objective. You ... read full comment
It is a sign of your fall from grace that, no one listens to you any more. If Arkaa is a failed politician, what does that mean for your uncle, if he is your uncle at all.
Your views tend to be biased and not objective. You may have a point, can we really have coalition governments, when they know no matter their performance, they will be in power forever. But coming from you, there may be a sting in the tail.
Kwame Ntim 10 years ago
Hello empty professor,
Don't capitalize on igonrant readers to exaggerate "facts." You are not known in the African/African American Studies field.You are not smart as you think.
Moreover, your write-ups on Ghanaweb cle ... read full comment
Hello empty professor,
Don't capitalize on igonrant readers to exaggerate "facts." You are not known in the African/African American Studies field.You are not smart as you think.
Moreover, your write-ups on Ghanaweb clearly tells us you did nothing better or spectacular in "The Jagged Edge."
I wonder the kind of articles you wrote for "The Jagged Edge." Remember,you were at the time young and obviously was not as wise as today and did not have the writing skills you have, if any, today.
Even today when you are supposed to be wise as well as improved upon your writing skills, look at the trash and mediocre write-ups you give readers. In fact, there is nothing radically aggressive about your writings and the campus paper.
Most Puerto Rican (Hispanics)college/university graduates barely write or read English very well. About 10-15% of American university graduates read at the level of middle-or high-school.
Your books are not popular or even known in the field. Most of the editors at respected journals in America, people I personally know, are not familiar with your work. I have personally discussed you with some of them. They are not familiar with your work.
In fact, most of your articles will be rejected by nearly all of the journals in the West. They are as good as Ghanaweb. Your articles are not scholarly enough. Do you think your Ghanaweb articles are scholarly? What rubbish!
Writing 20 books does not make you an important teacher in the field. What impact have they had on the world? What impact have they had on America? What impact have they had on Africa? What impact have they had on South America? What impact have they had in Ghana? Zero!
Most of the leading intellectuals in the field of African/African American Studies don't know you or even heard your name. Stop giving "ignorant" readers the impression that you are important in the American Academia. You are not. Dare me!
Neither are you known in the field of African literature. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's son who has written a couple of books is well-known in America (and Europe) than you.
The Nigerian-American Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has written a few books. Yet she is a force in the American academy while you are not. She is more popular with American intellectuals than you. She has even won MacArthur "genius" Award ($500,000).
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of America's leading public intellectuals,doesn't know you or about your work. I once heard you bragging on Ghanaweb that Gates has threatened to reduce the number of students from your Ivy League Community college from entering Harvard. How stupid of you!
You think this important scholar has time for your foolishness and stupidity. Have you read his books or seen his TV programs educating the world about the African world (though not everything he shows or says about Africa) is right.
No respected anthology of African literature has entries for your work. Could you provide your "ill-informed" and "ignorant" readers a citation analysis as far as your work is concerened?
How many respected scholars have used or quoted from your body of work? Could you tell them how your scholarship has impacted society? Look at Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Nuruddin Farah, etc? Even within Africa, your are an intellectual child of the Awoonors, Armahs, etc. How many schools in Africa use your books?
Ama Ata Aidoo, for instance, taught at Brown University, an Ivy League, in fact, one of America's top universities, an institution you can never get to teach because the quality of your work does not measure up to hers. You and I know this.
Ghanaweb readers are more likely to know you than American intellectuals and students in the African/African American Studies field. How many African stidents have read your work? Most Ghanaians who know you are those who read your Ghanaweb articles. Nearly every Ghanaian (I have dealt with) who doesn't use Ghanaweb knows you or heard your name!Forget your work. They don't know them though they know about Achebe, Awoonor, Armah, Chimamanda, Aidoo, etc.
You spend a lot of quality time writing junk for Ghanaweb and other mediocre websites because you know in your heart that no respected journal in the world will publish your mediocre work!
I hope you are aware that CUNY (City University of New York), of which City College is part, is not even rated amongst the top 100 best univeristies/colleges in America.
CUNY was, more or less, designed for
poor Americans (with poor pre-university skills or preparation) in the New York area, especially minorities. It was probably why you were able to get admission into it in the first place.
I remember taking an English class with a doctoral student from the English department (the graduate center) who didn't know what "nought" was. He explianed to the class that "nought" was "not nothing." These are the kinds of English professors you sometimes get within the CUNY system.
Moreover, CUNY has one of the lowest admissions requirements in America. CUNY also records one of the highest dropout rates in the country. And its community colleges are some of the worst in North America. You should not be proud of being a CUNY alumni.
Even within CUNY, City College has never been known to have strong English programs. It's noted more for its science and engineering programs than for its liberal arts/humanities. Its liberal arts programs are not rated among the best in the country. Both Lehman and Baruch colleges, both part of the CUNY, has a better program in English than City College.
Lehman College, for instance, has a better English program than City College. High-school students who have serious and writing problems are more likely to get into City College than, say, New York Univesity. City College is not even counted among the best in New York. Stop exaggerating your views about City College.
I have personally known nearly all the black professors you mention in your article here. We have met at various conferences. Dr. Leonard Jeffries is not a published scholar. The late Bernal Martin, author of the controversial Black Athena, once took him up on this. Edward Scobie used to publish in Ivan Van Sertima's "The Journal of African Civilizations."
Dr. Jeffries got into trouble primarily for introducing "The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews," a book published by the Nation of Islam. This books deals with the role Jews played in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
He successfully sued City College for violating his first amendment rights only for an appellate court to reverse the decision. The late Dr. Tony Martin of Wellesley College, Massachusetts, got into a similar problem with Jews when he used the same book in his class.
Please don't make the controversy simplistic for your "ignorant" readers. Yet you are not the intellctual equal of any of the scholars you mention in your article, My Madiba Moment-part 3. These are scholars whose work are influential and known the world over.
In fact, Dr. Jeffries is noted for his influential consultancies with public high-schools in New York and New Jersey. His work with African scholars and leaders are proverbial. These are creative scholars who develop theories and apply them on the ground to make human life better. Can you say the same of yourself? Isn't all your scholarship about ethnocentrism, hatred, stupidity, mediocrity, insults, cluelessness, and foolishness?
In fact, City College will not dream of making you the head of any of its programs because there are more accomplished scholars, well-published,and better researchers who will qualify for the post. You are an intellectual kid as far as quality research is concerned.
Finally, why do you teach at a community college? Isn't community college more like our old secondary school Form 5 (O'LEVEL)? Can you compare a community college to secondary school Sixth Form (a'level)? Hell no. Why are you proud of yourself then? I was a teaching assitant in a community college (Hostos Community College, also part of CUNY system). Among other things, I had to teach new students algebra which involves explaining to students the outcome of adding negative 20 to positive 10, say.
Tell your readers that community colleges, unlike senior colleges, don't require much from their professors. That work loads at community colleges are not as heavy and serious as those at senior colleges?
In effect, community colleges have low expectations of their professors in terms of university work. It's why you get time to write junk for Ghanaweb. Any scholar worth his/her salt will write for respected peer review journals. We know all the Ghanaian scholars who do this even as they write for Ghanaweb.
Don't give your "ignorant" readers the impression that you are important in the American academia. Tell them all about the respected peer review journals you publish in and give them your citation index( how many scholars/researcers quote or use your work.
Anything short of that is vanity. Most respected scholars in your field put their hyperbolic intellectual biographies in best-selling memoirs/autobiographis. Do the same. Most readers on Ghanaweb don't know you are lying or exagerating your intellectual abilities.
Tell them about renowned Ghanaian intellectuals like Dr. Emmanuel Acheampong, Dr. Daniel Bentil, Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollenu, Dr. Ave Kludze, etc. English is not science, mathematics, or engineering. You don't need any special gifts to read English. But no so with mathematics, engineering, or physics.
Fool!
YAW 10 years ago
Ghanaians are fully aware that Ahoofe,is so used to exaggerating that he could not possibly tell the truth without lying.
Ghanaians are fully aware that Ahoofe,is so used to exaggerating that he could not possibly tell the truth without lying.
Innusah 10 years ago
It's coming out! Finally, we shall know exactly who the stupid man known as okoampa ahoofe actually is! At least for now, we know he is an ugly old man who is a rated D by his students and that he teaches in a low-class Ameri ... read full comment
It's coming out! Finally, we shall know exactly who the stupid man known as okoampa ahoofe actually is! At least for now, we know he is an ugly old man who is a rated D by his students and that he teaches in a low-class American university out of a scholarship he enjoyed from either rawlings or acheampong!
Mark (UK) 10 years ago
We are tired of this guy. Just tired.
We are tired of this guy. Just tired.
boss 10 years ago
For once I agree with Ahoofe. Arkaah in all ways failed as a politician. He could have than better than the mess of going with NDC and whiles still a vice president going with the opposition. I also agree with the analysis of ... read full comment
For once I agree with Ahoofe. Arkaah in all ways failed as a politician. He could have than better than the mess of going with NDC and whiles still a vice president going with the opposition. I also agree with the analysis of a coalition government. I countries where such exist, it can also serve as a huge block to development as seeking consensus on issues can take forever. My only criticism is the failure to recognise that ours is a winner take all democracy. This is the norm in many developed countries. In Canada, a mojority government means that all government appointees comes from one party. Same as in the US. Untill we get to the stage where DCEs and MCEs are elected officials, the government must continue to appoint them as enshrined in the constitution. Personally I have no problem with the winner take all model.
so if its not practiced in the U.S.A or U.K, we should also not practice it even if it will serve us well? that line of unreasoning apart from being wholly unsound, is also evidence of a mind that is unable to think independe ...
read full comment
Mali at first glance seems a most unlikely place for the NATO powers, led by a neo-colonialist French government of Socialist President Francois Hollande (and quietly backed to the hilt by the Obama Administration), to launch ...
read full comment
sir, can't you make your point without casting insinuations? pls let us respect one another and be decorous a bit!
The Ghanaian model of democracy and goverment is different from the ones in the advanced countries.I have problem with the formation of Concil of State,nobody knows where they are coming from.Equally,we need to have Rgional A ...
read full comment
Okoampa-Ahoofe,should be congratulated for having such a gargantuan head to hold so much ignorance.
This disgrace of a professor never ever says anything sensible, apart from insulting people! We've tolerated him enough! okoampa, you are a disgrace to commonsense, so keep ur stupid reasoning to urself!
Mr. Know all
It is a sign of your fall from grace that, no one listens to you any more. If Arkaa is a failed politician, what does that mean for your uncle, if he is your uncle at all.
Your views tend to be biased and not objective. You ...
read full comment
Hello empty professor,
Don't capitalize on igonrant readers to exaggerate "facts." You are not known in the African/African American Studies field.You are not smart as you think.
Moreover, your write-ups on Ghanaweb cle ...
read full comment
Ghanaians are fully aware that Ahoofe,is so used to exaggerating that he could not possibly tell the truth without lying.
It's coming out! Finally, we shall know exactly who the stupid man known as okoampa ahoofe actually is! At least for now, we know he is an ugly old man who is a rated D by his students and that he teaches in a low-class Ameri ...
read full comment
We are tired of this guy. Just tired.
For once I agree with Ahoofe. Arkaah in all ways failed as a politician. He could have than better than the mess of going with NDC and whiles still a vice president going with the opposition. I also agree with the analysis of ...
read full comment
JUST AS OKOAMPA, IS A FAILED PROFESSOR.