Bokoharam And Al-Qaeda In Ghana

There is no doubt that the Ghanaian Entertainment Industry is booming with popularity on the global scale. From legendary artiste Sarkodie to the famous Azonto dance, the fever of Ghanaian entertainment is going viral through out the world. Recently however, the popularity is taking a down turn especially in the Western World with the introduction of terms like BOKOHARAM and AL-QAEDA. Tee Phlow, an upcoming artist with dynamic Fante rap style just dropped a track called BOKOHARAM. The track was widely welcomed by many Ghanaians because of the beat and rap style, and that was great, but I am curious to find out the percentage of Ghanaian music lovers who understands the name or the origin of these terms. Another question is what, if any, can the government of Ghana do to stop the use of such terms in order not the strain the relations with United States.

Since 9/11, the fight against terrorism has been the number one topic of the US foreign policy agenda, and has not taking any compromise in the quest to thrash out terrorist activities on US soil and other countries. Ghana, since the 1966, has maintained good relations with the USA, and extensively depends on US aid. BOKOHARAM, a jihadist militant organization based in Northern Nigeria and a strong advocate for all kinds of terrorist measures against the Western World, has claimed responsibility for many abductions and murder of Western service men and women, including 22 people students just few days ago. On all accounts such a names doesn’t play good music in the ears of Washington and that makes me wonder why it is used in Ghanaian music.

Also, a new form of dance seems to be replacing the Azonto dance and it’s name represent strongest militant group in the world AL-QAEDA. No wonder it has not caught on like Azonto. The name (AL-QAEDA) and anything that is associated with it puts anger in US citizen because of 9/11.

Ghanaian music lovers may argue that it is ‘just’ entertainment and that there is no harm or affiliation to any of these militant groups. This might be true but my only concern is why those names? Why open that door? In fact, whether it’s just entertainment or not, Ghana simply cannot afford to strain the relations with the USA especially over something as insignificant in politics as a mere style of dance or song title. Names like BOKOHARAM and AL-QAEDA is just entertainment to Accra but to Washington, it is an entirely different ball game.

Ernest Yarfi