I can listen to this professor Ayittey ALL THE TIME! He speaks the truth with such passion! We should listen to his words of wisdom. Unfortunately, people like him will not go into politics because they can't get their likes ... read full comment
I can listen to this professor Ayittey ALL THE TIME! He speaks the truth with such passion! We should listen to his words of wisdom. Unfortunately, people like him will not go into politics because they can't get their likes to rule with them.
DE NAPOLI 10 years ago
THE PROBLEM IS ,WE AFRICANS DON'T WANT OR TOO LAZY TO THINK,HENCE THE VERY FEW WHO CAN THINK ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER US.JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BODY POLITICS,IT TELLS A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE.
THE PROBLEM IS ,WE AFRICANS DON'T WANT OR TOO LAZY TO THINK,HENCE THE VERY FEW WHO CAN THINK ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER US.JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BODY POLITICS,IT TELLS A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE.
peace 10 years ago
some of your ideas are not workable but that is why your a prof. experimental iedas
some of your ideas are not workable but that is why your a prof. experimental iedas
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Prof, it's unfortunate you did not relate any of your examples to Ghana. I do not believe that simply having free media, independent judiciary, electoral commission and all others will necessarily deliver the expected result ... read full comment
Prof, it's unfortunate you did not relate any of your examples to Ghana. I do not believe that simply having free media, independent judiciary, electoral commission and all others will necessarily deliver the expected results. In addition to their freedom or independence, these institutions must operate effectively and efficiently. Above all, the people must also respect these institutions and obey the laws, rules and regulations such institutions make. In other words, there must be discipline.
I say so because though in Ghana it is generally assumed that the institutions you mentioned are "relatively free and independent", but they are woefully inefficient and ineffective. For example, the media is Ghana is considered to be free from interference from the state (the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary) but the media has failed to hold people in authority and institutions accountable just because almost all of them are aligned to the leading political parties and look at every issues in a political prism.
Second, the other institutions of state are ineffective in maintaining the rule of law or law and order and therefore the citizens take the law into their own hands, especially, the rich and powerful in society. The lawlessness in Ghana is such that no good leader will be able to bring development if this level of indiscipline continues in Ghana. In other words, freedom and independent alone are not enough but in addition institutions must be made to work effectively so that there will be discipline.
KIA 10 years ago
"No dictator has brought lasting prosperity to any African nation, period. And there is no such thing as a benevolent dictator. The only good dictator is a dead one."
To start with, the above statement contains a double ir ... read full comment
"No dictator has brought lasting prosperity to any African nation, period. And there is no such thing as a benevolent dictator. The only good dictator is a dead one."
To start with, the above statement contains a double irony, what literary scholars would call dramatic irony. In Africa, all the good dictators were not appreciated even when they were alive- Nkrumah, Nyerere, etc. Only in death have we come to appreciate their real worth in comparison to today's democratic couch potatoes. Does Prof. disagree that Nkrumah was a man driven by a genuine passion to propel Ghana into a modern industrialised society, even if some of his methods were wrong?
Kofi Ata makes the point that Prof. Ayittey did not relate his examples to Ghana. But that's really NOT a serious academic point. The article itself may not originally have been meant for publication on Ghanaian webpages. The more serious question, from an academic and even policy standpoint, is whether Prof's claims about dictators are generalisable.
First, for every Mugabe (a better example is Mobutu), there is an Nkrumah (in Africa) or a Lee Kuan Yew (in East Asia). We can fret about the curtailment of freedom of speech under the latter, but they fit the description of benevolent dictators. After all, benevolent dictators are what the term says they are: dictatorial, that is to say they take away some of the political rights of citizens; and benevolent, that is to say they give their people what other absolutist regimes fail to give- economic development and personal economic freedoms.
Moreover, some of the names Prof. Ayittey drops as examples of bad leadership are highly contestable. Mugabe in the 21st century is a far less brutal dictator than he was in the 1980s and 1990s. Yet, in those previous decades, he was the darling of the West because he danced to their tune. Once he began to address the question of dispossession, he became a criminal in the eyes of the West. Of course, in his madness, Mugabe threw caution to the wind and failed to use the right policies to address a just cause. The problem with many commentators is the inability to separate the two issues, resulting in claims that only go to reinforce the unjust Western stance on the matter.
Yet, another inappropriate example used by Prof. Ayittey is Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi. The guy had many faults. But to mention him alongside Charles Taylor is an insult. For all his faults, Meles Zenawi orchestrated one of the fastest recent growth stories in Africa in a largely resource-poor country.
Finally, there has been a trend in which African intellectuals have tried to say things the West wants to hear in order to obtain "juicy" academic appointments or make themselves relevant in Western policy circles. That's very old-fashioned and doesn't serve any useful purpose anymore.
After more than two decades of experimenting with Western-guided democracy, we're all now aware of the weaknesses of liberal democracy. Similarly, while elite corruption is part of our problems, we also know that the Western aid model creates the incentives that sustains the moral hazard problem. We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than constantly hitting on side. In fact, the people and Civil Society, not just the ruling elite, are part of the problem, from sanitation to corruption to voting behaviour. In most cases, in fact, elite behaviour can be explained by the irrational expectations of voters.
kosoko 10 years ago
The Man was totally confused throughout this speech. I could not figure out what he really wants to put across? He seems to assess Africa's 'socio-development' and politics on the face value of it. He even failed to examine t ... read full comment
The Man was totally confused throughout this speech. I could not figure out what he really wants to put across? He seems to assess Africa's 'socio-development' and politics on the face value of it. He even failed to examine the international(western)dynamics that actually dictates the nature of African politics and its development as if those do not exist. And he finally ends by getting confused himself. For example, his claim that a leader like Gaddafi is a dictator who did not achieve anything worthy for his people and even expressing delight on his demise. Is Ayittey serious and want to be taken seriously?
PRINCE 10 years ago
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SOLVE EXISTENTIAL PROBLEMS IS TO LOOK AT LIFE PRAGMATICALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY. IF AKOSOMBO LEVEL IS DOWN, WE HAVE TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. THIS IS HOW THE CHINESE, JAPANESE AND GERMANS DO IT.
NOOOO ... read full comment
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SOLVE EXISTENTIAL PROBLEMS IS TO LOOK AT LIFE PRAGMATICALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY. IF AKOSOMBO LEVEL IS DOWN, WE HAVE TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. THIS IS HOW THE CHINESE, JAPANESE AND GERMANS DO IT.
NOOOOOO! WE GO ON OUR KNEES AND PRAY. WE REFUSE TO USE OUR BRAINS. WE KILL THE BRAINS OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION. WE TELL THEM WITH PRAYER ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. THE CHINESE TELL THEIR CHILDREN WITH HARD WORK ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
OUR CHILDREN WILL GO TO THE CHILDREN OF THE CHINESE IN FUTURE AS BEGGARS, JUST AS WE ARE BEGGARS TODAY.
GOD IS IN YOU. YOU ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. HARD WORK AND SCIENCE EDUCATION IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.
WAKE UP AFRICANS.
LONTO-BOY 10 years ago
KIA, I have really enjoyed your absolutely brilliant commentary and analysis. Thank you very much!
KIA, I have really enjoyed your absolutely brilliant commentary and analysis. Thank you very much!
Spiky 10 years ago
KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent response to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than consta ... read full comment
KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent response to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than constantly hitting on (one?) side". This is exactly what my book project on political leadership in Africa is trying to do. The tentative title of the edited book is "Are African "dictators" born or created? Understanding the Post-Colonial Political Leadership "Crisis" in Africa". The book challenges the orthodox thinking, which Prof Ayittey unashamedly represents, on political leadership in Africa. I will welcome your contribution by writing a chapter on Nkrumah. You may send me your e-mail if you are interested for further information. You may reach me at map.owusu@gmail.com. I'll be glad to hear from. It's thinkers like you that can make a difference in Africa's search for prosperity and happiness.
Spiky 10 years ago
KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent responses to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than consta ... read full comment
KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent responses to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than constantly hitting on (one?) side". This is exactly what my book project on political leadership in Africa is trying to do. The tentative title of the edited book is "Are African "dictators" born or created? Understanding the Post-Colonial Political Leadership "Crisis" in Africa". The book challenges the orthodox thinking, which Prof Ayittey unashamedly represents, on political leadership in Africa. I will welcome your contribution by writing a chapter on Nkrumah. You may send me your e-mail if you are interested for further information. You may reach me at map.owusu@gmail.com. I'll be glad to hear from. It's thinkers like you that can make a difference in Africa's search for prosperity and happiness.
YOOMOBEGA 10 years ago
Well written KIA! I wished you had pointed out how confused Dr. Ayittey becomes when he's talking about Kwame Nkrumah. He is definitely an Nkrumah hater.
Well written KIA! I wished you had pointed out how confused Dr. Ayittey becomes when he's talking about Kwame Nkrumah. He is definitely an Nkrumah hater.
MARCUS AMPADU 10 years ago
The question is why are African leaders as well as African people not patriotic?
That has been our downfall. We are still tribalistic.
How do we go about inculcating PATRIOTISM?
The question is why are African leaders as well as African people not patriotic?
That has been our downfall. We are still tribalistic.
How do we go about inculcating PATRIOTISM?
PRINCE 10 years ago
NKRUMAH WAS THE ONLY LEADER WHO MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KILL TRIBALISM AND INSTIL PATRIOTISM IN THE PEOPLE. THE YOUNG PIONEER MOVEMENT WAS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO FORGET ABOUT TRIBE AND SEE THEMSELVES AS AFRICANS FIRST. ... read full comment
NKRUMAH WAS THE ONLY LEADER WHO MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KILL TRIBALISM AND INSTIL PATRIOTISM IN THE PEOPLE. THE YOUNG PIONEER MOVEMENT WAS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO FORGET ABOUT TRIBE AND SEE THEMSELVES AS AFRICANS FIRST.
SUBSEQUENT LEADERS JUST USED TRIBALISM TO DIVIDE AND WIN ELECTIONS. THEY CARED ABOUT THEMSELVES AND NOT GHANA.
Nyansasem 10 years ago
Yes, only idiots and illiterates will not understand this simple common sense and logic about the plight of Africans; it is the leaders, stupid.
We have 678 workers alone at the Presidency, excluding the Ministers and depu ... read full comment
Yes, only idiots and illiterates will not understand this simple common sense and logic about the plight of Africans; it is the leaders, stupid.
We have 678 workers alone at the Presidency, excluding the Ministers and deputies. And yet, the best we hear from the Ministers are "mmotia" stealing our cedis. But she is still at post. Do we need to have PhD to understand this?
Akosua Mansah 10 years ago
Lemme try this simple math, 678 plus 94 ministers and their deputies, equals 772, or almost 800 Presidential staff and ministers; and we wonder why we have bloated payrolls?
Do you remember how many workers or fat Vodafone ... read full comment
Lemme try this simple math, 678 plus 94 ministers and their deputies, equals 772, or almost 800 Presidential staff and ministers; and we wonder why we have bloated payrolls?
Do you remember how many workers or fat Vodafone shed after they bought Ghana telecom?
Where is the checks in our three arms of gov't, and are they balanced?
Is our Parliament autonomous or rubber stamp ilk?
Why is the Presidency too powerful than the whole parliament, where real power should reside?
Can't just one hot headed President lead us all astray whilst this emasculated parliament (By the constitution) looks on?
Why should the country still be practicing all eggs in one basket, Gordon Guggisberg 14th century economic paradigm in this digital era, instead of decentralized political system to our door steps and diversified economy?
KKO 10 years ago
Akosua,
The truth of the matter is that the 1992 Constitution was tailored-made by a group of hand-picked people to suit Jerry Rawlings, with the Indemnity Clauses smuggled into it to boot! Kufuor had the opportunity to revi ... read full comment
Akosua,
The truth of the matter is that the 1992 Constitution was tailored-made by a group of hand-picked people to suit Jerry Rawlings, with the Indemnity Clauses smuggled into it to boot! Kufuor had the opportunity to revise it but he loved the extensive imperial powers that it provided.
The state institutions like CHRAJ, BNI, Office of Fraud Prevention(?) and all that, were stifled at birth by Jerry to cover his corrupt appointees like PV Obeng, Adjei-Marfo, Ibrahim Adam, and others. So those “democratic” institutions that Kofi talks about are in name only, just toothless bull dogs. And Parliament as constituted right from the word go, is a waste of public funds. Just imagine the rogue Barton-Odro chairing the Parliamentary vetting committee and instructing his members “not to ask too many difficult questions.” So the lady who claims she went to Legon, did a three year course and managed to get a degree, but could not remember a single module she had taken, being approved for ministerial appointment.
As a result we have had child molesters, wife beaters, certificate forgers and others with all kinds of records holding office in Ghana. Thanks to an electoral system that allows anything in skirt or trousers to be voted to Parliament, which once the ruling party has majority in the House enables STX, the Chinese Slavery contract of a loan and other such dubious deals to slip through.
The bottom line is that we the non-discerning “famfool” voters get to foot the bill for all the nonsense that is going on in our country today!
LONTO-BOY 10 years ago
My very good friend, Nyansasem, you've spoken the sad the truth. Let's face it, President John Mahama is running a bloated, incompetent, wasteful and scandalously corrupt Government!
Indeed, the costs of having such large ... read full comment
My very good friend, Nyansasem, you've spoken the sad the truth. Let's face it, President John Mahama is running a bloated, incompetent, wasteful and scandalously corrupt Government!
Indeed, the costs of having such large armies of spin doctors, political 'yes men' and activists at the Presidency is a major cause of our woes.
Brukutu 10 years ago
Dr. George Ayittey would like to picture himself world wide by just talking verbose ideas as learned man when he is not All too frequently, he indicates false economic principles,and as to how a country like Ghana social,pol ... read full comment
Dr. George Ayittey would like to picture himself world wide by just talking verbose ideas as learned man when he is not All too frequently, he indicates false economic principles,and as to how a country like Ghana social,politics and the economymust fairly be ran.This is a so-called professor critising from the top of the fence.How could he state the affairs of other countries referiing in his normal lyrics to Zimbabwe and Mugabe when he himself had never attempted the least in his own country ghana.Now is the time for Dr.Ayittey to shut up or show his potentials practically.
Ningo 10 years ago
Loud mouth Georege Ayittey. All talk. No capacity to tranform the talk into action. Talk is cheap. Anybody can critisize. Who don't know Ghana need "an independent media, an independent judiciary (for the rule of law), an ind ... read full comment
Loud mouth Georege Ayittey. All talk. No capacity to tranform the talk into action. Talk is cheap. Anybody can critisize. Who don't know Ghana need "an independent media, an independent judiciary (for the rule of law), an independent central bank, an independent electoral commission (for a free and fair vote); neutral and professional security forces; and an autonomous (not a rubber stamp) parliament". Ayittey is free to go to Ghana and get the job done and prove his worth. Gone are the days when the likes of Ayittey always claimed Rawling was the reason they could not go back and help fix things in Ghana. Rawling has been out of the picture for over 13 years and they continue to find new reasons to stay away.
mky 10 years ago
Dr. Ayittey can't seem to get away from regurgitating ideas that he propounded two decades ago....yes, we know, Dr. Ayittey, our political leaders have been miserable failures, and the imported political systems are to a less ... read full comment
Dr. Ayittey can't seem to get away from regurgitating ideas that he propounded two decades ago....yes, we know, Dr. Ayittey, our political leaders have been miserable failures, and the imported political systems are to a lesser extent responsible for our current plight of poverty and underdevelopment, but what are your concepts to get us out of this nightmare? and please don't recycle your old and tired ideas...they never seem to work anyway.....
KOFFI 10 years ago
Workable ideas will continue to be re-cycled when pig-headed political leaders fail to adhere to the wisdom in those ideas.
mky,and his likes should stop being wet blankets. Dr. Ayittey continually brings forth his ideas and ... read full comment
Workable ideas will continue to be re-cycled when pig-headed political leaders fail to adhere to the wisdom in those ideas.
mky,and his likes should stop being wet blankets. Dr. Ayittey continually brings forth his ideas and you, nothing but criticisms. Stop it for it is not helpful to anybody.
mky 10 years ago
Africa has fundamental problems that over the years have impeded her rapid development, and one of these problems, Koffi, the rich world's continual exploitation of our resources, both human and material, for the enrichment a ... read full comment
Africa has fundamental problems that over the years have impeded her rapid development, and one of these problems, Koffi, the rich world's continual exploitation of our resources, both human and material, for the enrichment and prosperity of its citizens, has inexplicably never been brought up your friend, Ayittey...Why does he relentlessly berate our leaders and not the rich world....I strongly admonish you to go and read the abundant literature on how the West world is singularly responsible for our problems before you accuse me of criticising Ayittey....his ideas are redundant, stale and in all honesty, rightly deserve to be jettisoned....our political leaders are immense failures I repeat for the umpth time, but they have been financially aided by the western world which sees them as pawns in a grand scheme to perpetually make Africa a dumping ground for their products and an exporter of the raw materials it desperately needs to keep the wheels of their industries turning...Tell Ayittey to direct his fire at his western financiers and backers....he is comfortably ensconced in an Ivory tower in the Washington D.C. area so why the hell does he care about Africa except the occasional ranting and pontification....and don't tell me to hold my fire....I have always confronted this guy whenever he trots out his outlandish ideas....in 1994 he and I went at it in the now defunct Ghana Drum on his outrageous claims about African leaders...if he is so concerned about the inabilities our leaders to steadfastly promote economic development, then he should pack his belongings and go home where he could be more effective......
kosoko 10 years ago
Thank you. I have read and listened to this man on many occasions. From my observation, he is a 'stomach scholar' or a 'corrupt scholar' and that is far worse than the corrupt political leaders he always seek to criticizing. ... read full comment
Thank you. I have read and listened to this man on many occasions. From my observation, he is a 'stomach scholar' or a 'corrupt scholar' and that is far worse than the corrupt political leaders he always seek to criticizing. From independence up to date, no leader in Africa is worthy in the political and economic judgement of Ayittey.
mky 10 years ago
Kosoko, there are so many fallacies in he Ayittey's arguments that need clear exposure and derision.....there have been remarkable African political leaders whose vision of economic prosperity for their nations was derailed b ... read full comment
Kosoko, there are so many fallacies in he Ayittey's arguments that need clear exposure and derision.....there have been remarkable African political leaders whose vision of economic prosperity for their nations was derailed by the western world....Nkrumah is a prime example of a leader whose ambitions to greatly transform Ghana, and by extension, Africa, were cut short by his domestic and foreign foes...Ayittey is a bloviator.....benevolent dictators are absolutely good for societies that are traditional and unprepared for democracy.....so long as the needs and wants of the population are adequately taken care of, who cares about democracy or dictatorship for that matter....look at what is happening in Libya....they the Libyans were much better off under the dictatorship of Gaddafi for a variety of reasons the most prominent of which was security.....I was in Libya from 1984 to 1986 and the place was absolute heaven....no man would dare carry a gun if he was not a law enforcement officer, and you could travel the streets of Tripoli for the entire duration of a summer night without fear of being attacked..we used to catch cabs to Tripoli in the summer months just to while away time, and we would stroll the streets of the city, visiting stores and supermarkets or strolling along the shoreline...now Libyans live in perpetual fear of what will happen to them if they dare step out in the streets.....I won't go to Libya for a million dollars a month because of the insecurity that is so prevalent....and Ayittey has the gall to talk ill of benevolent dictators?
JOE ATISO 10 years ago
RAWLINGS BY ALL ACCOUNTS IS NO BENEVOLENT DICTATOR. THEREFORE,THIS SO-CALLED GOOD DICTATOR WHO HAS AMASSED SUCH A HUGE FORTUNE THROUGH THIEVERY AND MASSACRED THOUSANDS DESERVE TO DIE! I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
RAWLINGS BY ALL ACCOUNTS IS NO BENEVOLENT DICTATOR. THEREFORE,THIS SO-CALLED GOOD DICTATOR WHO HAS AMASSED SUCH A HUGE FORTUNE THROUGH THIEVERY AND MASSACRED THOUSANDS DESERVE TO DIE! I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
Panucci 10 years ago
He always speaks of African leadership as if African leaders are not puppets as he is of western imperialism. This tired rhetoric of Mugabe bashing is for nincompoops. The African people voted Mugabe as one of the best lead ... read full comment
He always speaks of African leadership as if African leaders are not puppets as he is of western imperialism. This tired rhetoric of Mugabe bashing is for nincompoops. The African people voted Mugabe as one of the best leaders. I don't know what Ayitey wants. He goes around speaking in front of those fascist and racist think thanks such Heritage Foundation as if those people give a hoot about Africa. Every African leaders who have stood up to western bullying and imperialism, Ayittey castigates. What else does he want the African leadership to do? They have unabashedly ceded the continent's little independence to AFRICOM and those western bloodsuckers. We call the partners. Ayittey will ignore that and blame the Chinese. This man has no ideas. He is an ideologue in and out. We want scholars such as Cheikh Anta Diop, Ayi Kwei Armah and others who challenge the European narrative that we are supposed to be followers. Ayittey's mantra is as hackneyed and stale.
Naa Torshie Akwaley 10 years ago
Yes Massa, "he goes around speaking in front of those fascist and racist think thanks" he thinks we are fulls.
The only problem with the good Prof is, his two by four is too small for some of our hardened coconut leaders, ... read full comment
Yes Massa, "he goes around speaking in front of those fascist and racist think thanks" he thinks we are fulls.
The only problem with the good Prof is, his two by four is too small for some of our hardened coconut leaders, rendering it ineffective. Besides, we need a bulldozer to get him down here, smile. I wish he would contest for the NPP Chairmanship though.
Kweku Boateng Jnr. 10 years ago
Prof, another good one, but ask president Kufour why his party the NPP could not implement their policy on ploutry production. It took a call from a British High Commissioner to stop this policy which would have made Ghana s ... read full comment
Prof, another good one, but ask president Kufour why his party the NPP could not implement their policy on ploutry production. It took a call from a British High Commissioner to stop this policy which would have made Ghana self sufficiency in egg and chicken production? There is sometime known as neo colonialism, recognise it, study it and it would help your write ups.
Meles of Ethiopia transformed his country. Go see the airport, go see the railways, trams, drones, the over 50 universities, the mini hydro dams etc in operation in Ethiopia today. Look at Ethiopian Airways, its professionally good. where is Ghana airways which had more than 10 aircraft by the time of the CIA financed coup of 1966. The armed forces in Ethiopia are taking the lead in science and technology like the US did in R&D. Mugabe is bad news today, because he is taking over the land Europeans confiscated centuries ago. Come home and help Ghana. Things are falling apart!.
TEE 10 years ago
AFRICA LEADERS ALL DESERVES TO DIE. THEY ARE EVIL THIEVES VISIONLESS AIMLESS CLUELESS HOPELESS WICKED UGLY BASTARDS PERIOD
AFRICA LEADERS ALL DESERVES TO DIE. THEY ARE EVIL THIEVES VISIONLESS AIMLESS CLUELESS HOPELESS WICKED UGLY BASTARDS PERIOD
Alex 10 years ago
How do you get independent EC, Parliament,and central Bank in a greedy corruption African humanity setup? People see money and power as life in itself and sell their conscience to leaders in Africa.
Big thanks for your enlig ... read full comment
How do you get independent EC, Parliament,and central Bank in a greedy corruption African humanity setup? People see money and power as life in itself and sell their conscience to leaders in Africa.
Big thanks for your enlighten contribution. We still have Dr. Afari-Gyan and Atuguba living. Tweaaa.
TEE 10 years ago
2016 CHANGE IS GOING TO COME TO GHANA VERY SOON. NO MORE TEARS HUNGRY SORROWS POVERTY. GOD BLESS GHANA OUR MOTHERLAND THE NATIVE GHANAIANS AKANFU AAAAAAAAAH AMEN
2016 CHANGE IS GOING TO COME TO GHANA VERY SOON. NO MORE TEARS HUNGRY SORROWS POVERTY. GOD BLESS GHANA OUR MOTHERLAND THE NATIVE GHANAIANS AKANFU AAAAAAAAAH AMEN
Mr Tee 10 years ago
He is right
He is right
km agyin 10 years ago
A masterpiece, congrats prof.
A masterpiece, congrats prof.
Pelicles 10 years ago
Gaddafi, despite being in power for that long was a good leader for his people. And so was Saddam Hussein. Ever since he as kicked out of office and killed like a sacrificial lamb, what is the situation in Iraq?
Africans ... read full comment
Gaddafi, despite being in power for that long was a good leader for his people. And so was Saddam Hussein. Ever since he as kicked out of office and killed like a sacrificial lamb, what is the situation in Iraq?
Africans problem lies with tribalism, the absence of rule of law and honesty. If we can do away with tribalism and allow the of law to work and be more honest to ourselves and the nation, a country like Ghana will see wonders everywhere.
BRO DAN- TRC 10 years ago
BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA,-MAY THE BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE GREAT NATION OF ALGERIA BE COMFORTED FOR -HUMANITY- STANDS WITH HER IN HER DAY OF SORROW.
... read full comment
BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA,-MAY THE BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE GREAT NATION OF ALGERIA BE COMFORTED FOR -HUMANITY- STANDS WITH HER IN HER DAY OF SORROW.
NOW, BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE GREAT NATION OF EGYPT "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE" AND OPEN YOUR EYES FOR -WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, THEN GOD HAS OPENED ANOTHER. PULSE. NOW, -"LET MY PEOPLE THINK"; SAYS A WISE MAN OF -THE EAST. THERFORE O' EGYPT; GO YE TO EAST, WEST, NORTH AND SOUTH FOR EUROPE; ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA AND ALL OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT AWAITS YOU.
AND NOW, HUMANITY, TO THE DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF THE BLESSED NATION OF -KENYA- I SAY; OPEN YOUR EYES AGAINST THAT -"FOREIGN AGENTS" THING WHICH I CALL "THE INVISIBLE FORECE" WHICH SEEKS TO RULE AND THEREFORE TROUBLES EVERY SINGLE NATION ON EARTH!!! FOR O' KENYA THE SAME "FOREIGN AGENTS" TROUBLES YOU IN SECRECY BEFORE YOUR 2007 NATIONAL ELECTIONS, TROUBLES GHANA BEFORE HER 2008 NATIONAL ELECTION AND DID WORSE AGAINST GHANA BEFORE THE 2012 NATIONAL ELECTIONS TO THE CRUSHING OF THE BOWELS OF AFRICA AND HUMANITY! O' GHANA AND KENYA, -"THE VOICE OF A HUMAN"; BY REGARDS TO -DIPLOMATIC- PRINCIPLES WISELY -HINTED YOU- AND HUMANITY KNOWS THAT TO "BE FORE-WARNED IS TO FORE-ARMED".
YES, O' "FOREIGN AGENTS"; BY THIS DO I SAY; TROUBLE NO MORE -SYRIA- IN SECRECY! AND TROUBLE -NOT- UKRAINE! FOR THE FOREIGNTY OF NATIONS -MUST- BE RESPECTED. PULSE. A TIME TO THINK. BY THE WAY; O' MADAM UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE, PLEASE DON'T "F ME" FOR THIS, FOR LIKE INNOCENT "EU" I AM AN INNOCENT MAN IN THE HUMAN SOCIETY WHO BELIEVES AND KNOWS THAT; "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL" AND "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW". NOW, LET MY PEOPLE THINK.
FINALLY,O' AFRICA; WHAT IS IT THAT THE GREAT NATION OF -EQUITORIAL GUINEA- HAS ATTAINED PERFECTION IN FOR YOUR SAKE? "SUBSIDISED" OR "AFFORDABLE" HOUSING PROJECT? THEN TO YOU I HAVE SAID BEFORE THAT -"REPLICATION" FOR IT TAKES TWO. NOW, LET MY PEOPLE THINK. DIGNIFIED ONES, "IT IS FINISHED" THEREFORE; "OCCUPY TILL I COME". SELAH.
TOGETHER WE CAN! WITH GOD WE CAN!! GOD BLESS AFRICA TO "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE" AND -"REPLICATE" HER -PERFECTION- ALL ACROSS THE CONTINENT ACCORDING TO -THE VISION AND THE MISSION- TO THE BLESSING OF HUMANITY. GOD BLESS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE" THAT -INTERNATIONAL LAWS- AND THE SOVEREIGTY OF NATIONS BE RESPECTED BY ALL NATIONS FOR THE SAKE OF -HUMANITY- AND THIS BLESSED PLANET EARTH. AND, GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.
NOTE
REGARDS TO -GYE NYAME RADIO- FOR THE LORD'S SONGS. AND TO GHANAWEB FOR THE SPACE.
I can listen to this professor Ayittey ALL THE TIME! He speaks the truth with such passion! We should listen to his words of wisdom. Unfortunately, people like him will not go into politics because they can't get their likes ...
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THE PROBLEM IS ,WE AFRICANS DON'T WANT OR TOO LAZY TO THINK,HENCE THE VERY FEW WHO CAN THINK ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER US.JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BODY POLITICS,IT TELLS A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE.
some of your ideas are not workable but that is why your a prof. experimental iedas
Prof, it's unfortunate you did not relate any of your examples to Ghana. I do not believe that simply having free media, independent judiciary, electoral commission and all others will necessarily deliver the expected result ...
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"No dictator has brought lasting prosperity to any African nation, period. And there is no such thing as a benevolent dictator. The only good dictator is a dead one."
To start with, the above statement contains a double ir ...
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The Man was totally confused throughout this speech. I could not figure out what he really wants to put across? He seems to assess Africa's 'socio-development' and politics on the face value of it. He even failed to examine t ...
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THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SOLVE EXISTENTIAL PROBLEMS IS TO LOOK AT LIFE PRAGMATICALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY. IF AKOSOMBO LEVEL IS DOWN, WE HAVE TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. THIS IS HOW THE CHINESE, JAPANESE AND GERMANS DO IT.
NOOOO ...
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KIA, I have really enjoyed your absolutely brilliant commentary and analysis. Thank you very much!
KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent response to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than consta ...
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KIA, your piece is one of the most intelligent responses to the political leadership discourse in Africa that I have heard of recent. "We need to develop holistic frameworks for understanding these problems rather than consta ...
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Well written KIA! I wished you had pointed out how confused Dr. Ayittey becomes when he's talking about Kwame Nkrumah. He is definitely an Nkrumah hater.
The question is why are African leaders as well as African people not patriotic?
That has been our downfall. We are still tribalistic.
How do we go about inculcating PATRIOTISM?
NKRUMAH WAS THE ONLY LEADER WHO MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KILL TRIBALISM AND INSTIL PATRIOTISM IN THE PEOPLE. THE YOUNG PIONEER MOVEMENT WAS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO FORGET ABOUT TRIBE AND SEE THEMSELVES AS AFRICANS FIRST. ...
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Yes, only idiots and illiterates will not understand this simple common sense and logic about the plight of Africans; it is the leaders, stupid.
We have 678 workers alone at the Presidency, excluding the Ministers and depu ...
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Lemme try this simple math, 678 plus 94 ministers and their deputies, equals 772, or almost 800 Presidential staff and ministers; and we wonder why we have bloated payrolls?
Do you remember how many workers or fat Vodafone ...
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Akosua,
The truth of the matter is that the 1992 Constitution was tailored-made by a group of hand-picked people to suit Jerry Rawlings, with the Indemnity Clauses smuggled into it to boot! Kufuor had the opportunity to revi ...
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My very good friend, Nyansasem, you've spoken the sad the truth. Let's face it, President John Mahama is running a bloated, incompetent, wasteful and scandalously corrupt Government!
Indeed, the costs of having such large ...
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Dr. George Ayittey would like to picture himself world wide by just talking verbose ideas as learned man when he is not All too frequently, he indicates false economic principles,and as to how a country like Ghana social,pol ...
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Loud mouth Georege Ayittey. All talk. No capacity to tranform the talk into action. Talk is cheap. Anybody can critisize. Who don't know Ghana need "an independent media, an independent judiciary (for the rule of law), an ind ...
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Dr. Ayittey can't seem to get away from regurgitating ideas that he propounded two decades ago....yes, we know, Dr. Ayittey, our political leaders have been miserable failures, and the imported political systems are to a less ...
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Workable ideas will continue to be re-cycled when pig-headed political leaders fail to adhere to the wisdom in those ideas.
mky,and his likes should stop being wet blankets. Dr. Ayittey continually brings forth his ideas and ...
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Africa has fundamental problems that over the years have impeded her rapid development, and one of these problems, Koffi, the rich world's continual exploitation of our resources, both human and material, for the enrichment a ...
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Thank you. I have read and listened to this man on many occasions. From my observation, he is a 'stomach scholar' or a 'corrupt scholar' and that is far worse than the corrupt political leaders he always seek to criticizing. ...
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Kosoko, there are so many fallacies in he Ayittey's arguments that need clear exposure and derision.....there have been remarkable African political leaders whose vision of economic prosperity for their nations was derailed b ...
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RAWLINGS BY ALL ACCOUNTS IS NO BENEVOLENT DICTATOR. THEREFORE,THIS SO-CALLED GOOD DICTATOR WHO HAS AMASSED SUCH A HUGE FORTUNE THROUGH THIEVERY AND MASSACRED THOUSANDS DESERVE TO DIE! I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
He always speaks of African leadership as if African leaders are not puppets as he is of western imperialism. This tired rhetoric of Mugabe bashing is for nincompoops. The African people voted Mugabe as one of the best lead ...
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Yes Massa, "he goes around speaking in front of those fascist and racist think thanks" he thinks we are fulls.
The only problem with the good Prof is, his two by four is too small for some of our hardened coconut leaders, ...
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Prof, another good one, but ask president Kufour why his party the NPP could not implement their policy on ploutry production. It took a call from a British High Commissioner to stop this policy which would have made Ghana s ...
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AFRICA LEADERS ALL DESERVES TO DIE. THEY ARE EVIL THIEVES VISIONLESS AIMLESS CLUELESS HOPELESS WICKED UGLY BASTARDS PERIOD
How do you get independent EC, Parliament,and central Bank in a greedy corruption African humanity setup? People see money and power as life in itself and sell their conscience to leaders in Africa.
Big thanks for your enlig ...
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2016 CHANGE IS GOING TO COME TO GHANA VERY SOON. NO MORE TEARS HUNGRY SORROWS POVERTY. GOD BLESS GHANA OUR MOTHERLAND THE NATIVE GHANAIANS AKANFU AAAAAAAAAH AMEN
He is right
A masterpiece, congrats prof.
Gaddafi, despite being in power for that long was a good leader for his people. And so was Saddam Hussein. Ever since he as kicked out of office and killed like a sacrificial lamb, what is the situation in Iraq?
Africans ...
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BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF AFRICA, INNOCENT PEOPLE OF GHANA,-MAY THE BLESSED PEOPLE OF THE GREAT NATION OF ALGERIA BE COMFORTED FOR -HUMANITY- STANDS WITH HER IN HER DAY OF SORROW.
...
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