There has been a peaceful war between Ghanaians and Nigerians ever since I was born many years back. I was told to use the word rivalry. These two countries have so much in common perhaps inherited this character from their colonial master. Unfortunately their citizens refuse to acknowledge this and move on even after independence.
As I write this article I am compelled to draw the calendar 6 months back to enable me compare President Atta Mills of Ghana & President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of Nigeria. These two presidents by all standards are too slow for such robust countries. Should I belong or be a member to any of these political parties I would not know what campaign message to deliver in the coming campaign.
For President Atta Mills, he should not dare go to the people with messages like our economy has expanded; inflation is under control, the Cedi is stable against other major currencies. This I don’t understand let alone my poor mother in the village. One thing is sure; he can’t put enough money in the peoples pocket like it happened during before. The cocaine money is no more. Please I am not saying it ask the US Intelligent Services. If he can at least give Ghanaians 24 hours electricity in his 4 years stay then he has a chance.
I wish President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of Nigeria a speedy recovery. It is unfair to analyse his performance at this juncture. I shall only remember his refusal to hand over power to his vice “President” Jonathan Goodluck. According to reliable sources it is those around the president who are refusing to do that.
My only tip for the People's Democratic Party and the good people of Nigeria is to really now behind the supposed Acting President Jonathan Goodluck to at least bring this legislative year peacefully to an end.
I hereby plead with all Ghanaian & Nigerian Pastors to fast one week for Nigeria. Though my mathematics is poor, let assume the situation escalates in that country with about 150 million people. And 10% of them decide to move to Ghana.
Recent developments in Nigeria have forced some of us to bow down our heads in shame. Abdullai killing Okechuku in the name of Allah -/God.
If I were God I shall get mad and strike with all my might. Fortunately Ghana has for years not experience such negative publicities for killing one another in the name of God. The God we worship is to my dislike to merciful.
In both countries corruption is the order of the day. Right from the messenger to the highest technocrat and top politicians are infected, in fact a good number of the citizens of both countries are corrupt.
Any citizen of these countries who believes other wise can take me to court. This time round he/she must prove that he or she is not corrupt.
Leaders of both countries does less about corruption, in these countries the fastest way of becoming more rich is to force your way into politics
Ghana’s relations with Nigeria took a sour turn in 1971 when the Busia government of Ghana deported illegal immigrants from Nigeria. Nigeria retaliated in 1983 under president Shagari and latter the same agenda was persuaded by President General Mohammed Buahari in 1984.
A section of the Ghanaian community has started making noises about why hard working Nigerians should own properties’ in their country. Under the Kuffour administration the motto was “Property Owning Democracy” every smart Ghanaian or foreigner could own any property. What I am yet to find out was the safety of such properties. I shall in my research find out how it works in Nigeria. But please not in Jos, no law can protect you.
These practises should be condemned, we protest every day against European countries for their daily deportations of Africans, but we do the same back home.
I think what both countries should be doing is to be meeting occasionally to discuss issues focusing on peace and prosperity, bilateral trade and movement of their people.
My Nigerian friends’s especially the football fanatics have every right to disagree with me, but Ghana has won more than they lost to Nigeria. The truth is their players get nervous when they play Ghana.
This issue is giving me some sleepless nights these days. My beloved country Ghana is sitting on a time bomb. Most of Ghana’s problems stems from Chieftaincy disputes. We have the Abudus and Andanis problem in the north; we have the Anloga, and Ga in the south and the more recent Tuobodom in the central part of Ghana. In other not to offend my village Chief I shall say only this.
The whole of Europe the next to succeed a Throne is known to every body. Should the Queen of England die the next shall be Prince Charles, should he die the next is…Prince William.
Why cant such a transparent system be practised in Africa especially Ghana where we even have a whole ministerial to Chieftaincy.
The Nigerian chieftaincy is not as delicate as that of Ghana. You have money, you buy your title. The very moment you don’t have money they your title looses weight
All the same I am proud of Ghanaians both subjects and chiefs, there have demonstrated a high sense of patriotism by not letting the bomb to go up.
Nigeria scores higher points against their Ghanaian counterparts on chieftaincy.
Let’s look at the Nigerian and Ghana communities in Germany my country of residence.
Communication between the embassies and the people they represent until recently has not been the best. H.E. Abdul Bin Rimdap the Nigerian ambassador to Germany has scored very high points among Nigerians especially among the elites and the entrepreneurs. He is in constant interaction with his people.
Ghanaians should permit me to first welcome H.E. Paul King Aryene to Germany, as a person quite friendly. It shall be unfair to pass judgement on his person and performance now, let’s do that in two years time.
We hope he shall be using his influence to win some investors to Ghana. Not practicing the divide and rule system. Honestly speaking some of us are tired of it. Not help weaken the already struggling few African Media Houses. Some of us have already got the signal. The motor should be “Fast and Accurate” not “Slow but Sure” time waits for no man!
(UGAG) Union of Ghana Associations in Germany vrs (NCG) Nigeria Community Germany.
I wish to thank the initiators for establishing such institutions; my only worry is that we are not moving forward. The leaders should revive the institutions, limit the power struggles, and bring some dynamics into the unions. Please we want more educative forums. NCG Germany might not be the best Nigerians in Germany could offer but they have decided to come together agreeing to disagree, and at least they are talking and moving even at a snail speed in compare to Ghana union stand still position, on this point the score more than UGAG
Most of us have failed, and I am not excluded. For years back both unions were wallowing in darkness and could not go beyond organizing parties. This situation has not changed one bit. Is this what we expect from our leaders? The answer is no.
I must admit the Nigerians Community leaders are leading on points.
The Nigerians in recent time have made some strides ahead their Ghanaian counterparts. They organised a free and fair general elections, the power struggle between the old guards and new guards has reduce and they are just about to honour those making positive contributions in their community and also friends of Nigerian. More also they are forming a football club. The NCG has also recently started running a counsellor facilitation services for their people.
The Ghana Union is trailing their Nigerian counterparts as I said early, but this shall soon be history.
Free, Fair and Transparent elections shall soon be organized; all able Ghanaians who desire to seek election can register with an electoral committee to be formed. The office seekers, including the current office holders who wish to seek re-election shall have to give their manifestos. Then after, they are allowed to campaign for a giving period.
Please, those seeking to run for office must first register and pay their dues.
All critics, including TopAfric, Pastors & Union leaders, who are holding their members and Intellectuals, should come for us to build a better Ghana Union. It is a shame that we do not have a Ghana Union that can take its proper place in the African Community in Hamburg.
I am pleading with all Ghanaians in Germany to allow us to use the weekends around 6Th March to organise events as Ghanaians not as individual organization; they should take the example of Kenyans and the Nigerian on this.
God Bless Ghana… God bless Nigeria
Desmond John Beddy http://www.topafric.com
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