An open letter to the editor of Ghanaweb.com

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Kwobia (Toronto) 12 years ago

Thanks Kofi for alerting everyone.I have read many of your postings and I can testify that they
are always well thought out.I think GhanaWeb
Should take your warnings seriously.

Thanks Kofi for alerting everyone.I have read many of your postings and I can testify that they
are always well thought out.I think GhanaWeb
Should take your warnings seriously.
Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro. 12 years ago

OFFICE OF THE ODIKRO
a companion of the black star!

Opanin,
I do completely agree with you! The sort of comments that emerge from time to time require moderation. And it is about time that Ghanaweb finds a way of ensurin ...
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OFFICE OF THE ODIKRO
a companion of the black star!

Opanin,
I do completely agree with you! The sort of comments that emerge from time to time require moderation. And it is about time that Ghanaweb finds a way of ensuring decency on the comments pages.

I saw that post. It is very disgusting to see it repeated under several news stories. Surely, something needs to be done about it!

Forward Ever! Backwards Never!

Sincerely,
Pur'gu Shaarpe!
Secretary to the Odikro.
Me 12 years ago

The IP address of such frustrated demon possesed individuals can be traced and reported but first we need to deal with Okoampa. He has posted some of the most hateful nation wrecking articles than any one and we know where he ...
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The IP address of such frustrated demon possesed individuals can be traced and reported but first we need to deal with Okoampa. He has posted some of the most hateful nation wrecking articles than any one and we know where he is posting from.

We cannot allow such individuals to get away with murder. Murder does not only take the form physical killings.
insight to the bone 12 years ago

this is a very legitimate position that existed many centuries before Ghana was formed . your attempts of at beating the desire of freedom will not work . Ghana is plagued with hegemony, chauvinism and tribalism with the Akan ...
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this is a very legitimate position that existed many centuries before Ghana was formed . your attempts of at beating the desire of freedom will not work . Ghana is plagued with hegemony, chauvinism and tribalism with the Akans paying a very bitter price . it is not a forum for the well-being of all citizens so when idiots like you come out to try and cover up its just stupid . why do you think mills was killed ? the fantis have for example suffered the most since the time of nkrumah with him dividing the fanti speaking area in 2 which has resulted in the most prospective part of the country being under developed and neglected . Akans make more than 70 % of the population yet have less than 5 % in this govt and the list goes on , long live the republic of Akan
NANA YAW 12 years ago

Which Akan are you talking about ?
There are all. kinds of Akans.
There are wise ones
And stupid ones .

Which Akan are you talking about ?
There are all. kinds of Akans.
There are wise ones
And stupid ones .
Manu 12 years ago

How dare you to say Okoampa the wel educated Phd insights hatered ? You must educate to raise your awareness.

How dare you to say Okoampa the wel educated Phd insights hatered ? You must educate to raise your awareness.
NANA YAW 12 years ago

Check for incite

Check for incite
C.Y. ANDY-K 12 years ago

I don't think he has the education to understand that you were giving him the correct spelling, "incite", instead of "insight" the way you put it. Black-neck, semi-illiterates now dominate the scene. What do we expect?

Ha! ...
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I don't think he has the education to understand that you were giving him the correct spelling, "incite", instead of "insight" the way you put it. Black-neck, semi-illiterates now dominate the scene. What do we expect?

Ha! ba!

Andy-K
Andy-K
Yaw B 12 years ago

Ghanaweb should not only moderate comments but also censor articles. Articles from Sangaparee, Okoampa, Bokor and the rest that seems to incite tribal hatred must be censored so we can have decent discussions over issues here ...
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Ghanaweb should not only moderate comments but also censor articles. Articles from Sangaparee, Okoampa, Bokor and the rest that seems to incite tribal hatred must be censored so we can have decent discussions over issues here.
Nobody 12 years ago

True that some of these contributors go over the top but come on Mr Thompson, does anybody really take them serious?

Why do we need to alert the security agencies of United States to deal with our problems? Are you aware t ...
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True that some of these contributors go over the top but come on Mr Thompson, does anybody really take them serious?

Why do we need to alert the security agencies of United States to deal with our problems? Are you aware that we are an independent country - or at least trying to be?

I think your comments were more sickening and dangerous than the tripe of that other anarchist.

The 12 years ago

Yes that was disgusting but when did this guy start posting that? Not long ago but you all have seen what the EWE guy with moniker KATH has been posting about Asantes but nothing has been said about it. I am still looking for ...
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Yes that was disgusting but when did this guy start posting that? Not long ago but you all have seen what the EWE guy with moniker KATH has been posting about Asantes but nothing has been said about it. I am still looking for it and will send it to the Author of this article.
Okonko Palm 12 years ago

It is a feature on all postings on the Ghanaweb lately and as much as we see it as a work of an imbecile,the web master has a responsibility to root out this open call to anarchy which which could impress some anarchist hence ...
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It is a feature on all postings on the Ghanaweb lately and as much as we see it as a work of an imbecile,the web master has a responsibility to root out this open call to anarchy which which could impress some anarchist hence the stability of Ghana.The web should take control of the content of the web postings! Disclaimers are not enough.
CROSS 12 years ago

i agree with you but you see the writer could be an anti akan who wants to whip up anti akan agenda. if the editor allowed this to pass through then he is as guilty as the writer. i do not blame the writer but the editor peri ...
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i agree with you but you see the writer could be an anti akan who wants to whip up anti akan agenda. if the editor allowed this to pass through then he is as guilty as the writer. i do not blame the writer but the editor period.
C.Y. ANDY-K 12 years ago

Kofi,

I read that comment yesterday. I didn't even sneeze. You see, I am an Ewe and we Ewes are used to such threats from some mentally warped Akans to kill us. We have grown very thick skins to such threats and regard the ...
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Kofi,

I read that comment yesterday. I didn't even sneeze. You see, I am an Ewe and we Ewes are used to such threats from some mentally warped Akans to kill us. We have grown very thick skins to such threats and regard them as noise from idlers and sickos. We have been hearing them for decades! And I have written about them since the early '90s on the Ghanaian cyberspace. I wrote of what an Ewe ex-serviceman said in 1993 when I asked him whether they were aware of those threats: "we are waiting for them to start and if they think they could do what their great, great grandfathers did and we have forgiven them, they lie!" He was prepared, just as I found to my utter dismay that my people the Anlos, were, when I was insulted basabasa on a bus by an elderly man who turned out to be one of my many uncles on my way to Dzelukope. I made a statement on the hike in the petrol prices in early 1993 and was mistaken for one of the "hirelings of Quashiga" who has joined those who had been planning to kill them! They are waiting, he said! Phew! I felt something must be done about all that and so started researching and writing about the ethnic imbroglio in Ghana and the rest of Africa.

Indeed, I am in the middle of editing my penultimate, uncensored take on the source of all that angst against Ewes. Wait for it.

In fact, even among Ewes, those of us who respond to them are considered as idlers with much time to waste, or bellyful and so not busy trying to put food on the table like other serious-minded Ewes! I disagree with them. Their ominous silence is more dangerous to peace in Ghana.

Reminds me of a story I was told when a kid. The child of the hawk went to catch its first prey. The mother asked: did it parents make noise? The child said no. The mother said, that's bad, send it back. It came back with another prey, a chicken. The mother asked: did its mother make noise? The child said, yes, she raised such a cackle! Fine, eat it, said the mother.

See below what I posted on both the CEANA and Eweland lists recently.

"Phew! Ewes indeed have thick skins. In spite of all the storms and insults blowing around them cos of the actions of Justice Kpegah and the clown Amekudzi who joined the ongoing circus, just as I predicted, at the Supreme Court, not even a murmur on the two main Ewe lists!

Absolute "si kpi kporwo" [don't mind them] mentality at its best! Or, are they still hungry and looking for food and so don't have time for bellyful idlers who abuse and make threats against them by heart? I really wonder!"

It elicited only one response, from a relation we are in conflict with who wanted to know how well I am! I suppose my health, not my mental equilibrium.:-)

Anyway, about your request for Ghanaweb to be moderated, I have concerns.

Practically all the other forums are moderated. You spend valuable time to write a thoughtful rejoinder to myjoyonline debunking something they posted, which does not contain a single word of insult, they refuse to post, for reasons best known to them.

Ghanaweb serves as an outlet valve for all those riff-raffs and chaffs in our society who also think they have opinions to express. By expressing their frustrations so freely here, they are letting of steam and we can deal with their grievances, perceptions, etc., mistaken and misplaced as they may be. Not good to sweep such things under the carpet. Or, are you ashamed some Akans want to kill Ewes? Don't worry. We Ewes know how to kill too! At least, that's one of our dubious reputations with them.

Ha! ha! ha! You wouldn't believe it if I tell you that opinion was even sought from me whether it'd be good for Ghana if some Ewes were killed by fellow teachers in Nigeria in the early 1980s! Let them say whatever they want and make as much noise as possible. We are not bothered in the least, as we can deal with anything they throw at us! Just wait and see!

Andy-K
Isaac 12 years ago

This are the times Ewes need to take a hard look at things and begin to invest home instead of makin Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Kof-Town and other places their home.

Making other peoples home your own will never ...
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This are the times Ewes need to take a hard look at things and begin to invest home instead of makin Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Kof-Town and other places their home.

Making other peoples home your own will never guarantee your safety in times of danger and troubles. Moreover settlers are never accorded repect any where on these planet. In times of trouble they always suffer.

Thanks to Togbe Afede, he is really changing the face of HO with his American trianed mindset. Ho is such a beautiful placce for people to ignore for congested Accra or far away places where Ewes arent really welcomed.

If all the Ewes can emulate our Asante brothers, there will be no need for Ewes to be laboring in other regions esp in great numbers. An Asante will never build any where until he has done so in Osei Krom. Ewes can do the same. No one is going to develop our homes for us but ourselves.

Its sad to see Ewe kids born in Accra and other cities who do not know a word of their mother tongue nor even where in the VR their parents come from. They have become like lost people. How long can we continue to carry on like these?

How do i respect you if I see you laboring in my region where you and your kids do not even speak your own language but my own? Whiles your region with all its human capital remains delapidated because the sons and daughters had abondon the place.

The time to act is now.
C.Y. ANDY-K 12 years ago

Isaac, I think you have lost the plot. I have exhaustively the issues you raised in my coming piece and so won't dwell much on debunking them here. But let me just put some queries to you to beginning pondering.

First, are ...
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Isaac, I think you have lost the plot. I have exhaustively the issues you raised in my coming piece and so won't dwell much on debunking them here. But let me just put some queries to you to beginning pondering.

First, are you really aware of the composition of the ethnic group known as the Ewes, now referred to by linguists "Gbe" people because of their varied ethnic origins, especially from the Ga-Adangme and the now the so-called Akan ethnic groups? So why should they not have the freedom to re-settle in areas their forefathers had left centuries ago? If some chose to re-integrate into those communities or people and thus forget the Ewe language, are they not welcome to do so? Can the people you so described be said to be "inward-looking"?

Are Ewes only labourers in other regions? Really?? Are you indeed an Ewe yourself at all? And you only knew Ewe labourers in other regions! Oh! my! Talk of absorbing the stereotype images others have carved for you! Methinks the greatest angst against Ewes is that they occupy all the plumb white collar jobs, from the military, through the police to public services! Haven't you read Akadu Mensema claiming all Mills Ministers were Ewes before???? Like I said, I've dealt with this claim too, so enough.

For my life, I don't know what "our Asante brothers" have done which I or Ewes must emulate! Haven't you seen Asante youths selling on the streets in Accra, hustling overseas and what not? Have you ever travelled in the Ash/R, as I did extensively in the period 1992/93 collecting data at places like Jacobu and Nyinahin? If you do, you'd be shocked at the dwelling houses they live in! As I wrote on Okyeame in the 90s, in response to claims like yours, Anlo shallot farmers have better houses for storage of their shallots than some of those wretched, swish houses people live in those parts said to be even cocoa growing areas. I understood what I used to hear as a kid in Anloga: shallot is our cocoa and education our gold!

Well, who to blame, if all those Asantes allegedly built their first houses in Oseikrom (Kumasi) instead of in their respective towns and villages. I am still determined to build my 1st and 2nd in the Accra-Tema metropolitan area though. BTW, the only house my father built is at Anloga, with only my elderly mum and a niece in it. I was recently told land price in Anloga is now as high as in Accra!

The surprising thing is that I found Ewes living there already, and struggling just as much to survive! Phew! Going to Jacobu like going to the end of the earth and I'd be the first Ewe to have travelled there; the same feeling I had going to Otwereso Camp in the Oda District in 1981! How mistaken I was in both instances. At Jacobu, they assured me that there was an another settlement even deeper in the bush, just as there was another one beyond the latter where the road ended at the river without a bridge!

Enough for now!

Andy-K
Isaac 12 years ago

First of all i will be keenly waiting for your write up. I am not saying there arent other ethnic groups that migrate to other areas and have made those places their home. I do understand that there are but the proportion of ...
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First of all i will be keenly waiting for your write up. I am not saying there arent other ethnic groups that migrate to other areas and have made those places their home. I do understand that there are but the proportion of Ewes and especially Northners who migrate and forget about their home are more than the other ethnic groups.

I have met a lot of Ewe kids growing up Accra that knew next to nothing about their place of origin nor their language. Go to Bannana Inn and see all of them speaking Ga only to be shocked that most of them have Ewe last names only when you get to know them and there are many places in Ghana where such things exist.

There is nothing wrong with intergrating but its wrong when its done at the expense of your place of origin by totally ignoring where you come from. Because it takes human capital to develop a region.
C.Y. ANDY-K 12 years ago

Isaac, you didn't explain what I misunderstood. I can still punch holes in your present reasoning but will leave it as it is. But let me inform you that I am familiar with Banana Inn. A senior brother built a house on the las ...
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Isaac, you didn't explain what I misunderstood. I can still punch holes in your present reasoning but will leave it as it is. But let me inform you that I am familiar with Banana Inn. A senior brother built a house on the last plot of land left for my father, not re-sold. I used to live near De Hays before I left to abroad while I taught at Ebenezer Secondary School for a year at the Dansoman campus in the mid-80s.

Anyway, when schooling in the VR in the 1970s, Ga was the lingua franca of pride for some in the secondary schools in even the VR, down to Anloga. What else is new?

Btw, I can't help myself asking if the Akans who wanted to kill [or are insulting them] Ewes are doing so because Ewes have abandoned their region and left it to be undeveloped? Is it a form of punishment they wanted to mete out to these unpatriotic Ewes? Why kill [and insult]only Ewes when so many other linguistic groups come from the VR and they have no doubt been leaving the region too?

You see, your logic beggars straight thinking! You got it all wrong! I've been tempted to post an appetiser to what is coming, something I wrote in the 90s in response to Prof. George Ayittey. Why not? We must get to the root of the problem.

Andy-K
PEKI TUMU 12 years ago

This has been tried before and has not been done. If you want a web site that is monitored and moderated please go to JOY FM.

Ghana web does moderate but it does so more discretely . I have written piece that have had wor ...
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This has been tried before and has not been done. If you want a web site that is monitored and moderated please go to JOY FM.

Ghana web does moderate but it does so more discretely . I have written piece that have had words taken out . By whom I do not know
Achimotan 12 years ago

The kind of Bigotry that is often exhibited here is alarming.On Myjoyonline and Peacefmonline comments are moderated before they are posted.I bet you the kind of insulting comments dissing and extoling one tribe will not be t ...
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The kind of Bigotry that is often exhibited here is alarming.On Myjoyonline and Peacefmonline comments are moderated before they are posted.I bet you the kind of insulting comments dissing and extoling one tribe will not be tolerated over there. Ghanaweb ,wake up and delete all hateful and insiteful comments.God bless our homeland Ghana.

insight to the bone 12 years ago

if you dont like it dont visit ghanaweb , as it happens because of freedom of speech ghanaweb has more hits than all the rest combined . there are some who are not content with the lies the ndc serves

if you dont like it dont visit ghanaweb , as it happens because of freedom of speech ghanaweb has more hits than all the rest combined . there are some who are not content with the lies the ndc serves
YAW PAUL 12 years ago

that's absolute.most of the comments don't correlate with the articles;moderation is a must.

that's absolute.most of the comments don't correlate with the articles;moderation is a must.
Brodze 12 years ago

It's a shame that people have to resort to insults and all kinds of abuse to put their point across, so so sad.

It's a shame that people have to resort to insults and all kinds of abuse to put their point across, so so sad.
Kranininana 12 years ago

Well said Kofi. It is very disheartening that one cannot engage in academic and intelligent discussions when all people do is to raise insults on others opinions.

Well said Kofi. It is very disheartening that one cannot engage in academic and intelligent discussions when all people do is to raise insults on others opinions.
Djantu 12 years ago

So what do we say to Terribly Spe cifiC who begins all his comments with insults ?

So what do we say to Terribly Spe cifiC who begins all his comments with insults ?
Ebenezer Boamah(ebenbo@yahoo.com) 12 years ago

Ghanaweb must have the resources to check such outright outburst. Simple a software could put in place to check certain words and phrase to help pick submissions that should attract investigation. All good people must disasso ...
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Ghanaweb must have the resources to check such outright outburst. Simple a software could put in place to check certain words and phrase to help pick submissions that should attract investigation. All good people must disassociate from such outburst.
Ansah 12 years ago

Foolish!

Foolish!
Kwaku asimenu-forson 12 years ago

please no. this is the efflux of frustration in the system. it should rather serve as a resource library for the national security system,social scence faculties and social policy makers to create a more equitable and united ...
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please no. this is the efflux of frustration in the system. it should rather serve as a resource library for the national security system,social scence faculties and social policy makers to create a more equitable and united Ghana. if you hide the disease, you wont get the cure.
mojingles 12 years ago

Reputable websites do moderate comments....Ghanaweb apparently does not get it; its reluctance to apply some modicum of editing, would eventually come back to haunt it....some of us complained a decade ago about comments that ...
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Reputable websites do moderate comments....Ghanaweb apparently does not get it; its reluctance to apply some modicum of editing, would eventually come back to haunt it....some of us complained a decade ago about comments that are designed to provoke, marginalize and demean others.....Ghanaweb enjoys a monopoly so it does not feel the added pressure to edit....the competition is obviously very weak....nonetheless, Ghanaweb has a reputation to protect, one that it worked relentlessly hard to build....Akoto take note
AKWASI FRATT 12 years ago

KOFI KWASEA GO ON DREAMING WITH YOUR NONSENSE THREAT TO GHANAWEB. I AM SURE THE EDITOR OF GHANAWEB IS SHAKING AND PANICKING BECAUSE OF AN IDIOT WHO CALL HIMSELF KOFI.

ARE YOU DUMB NOT EVEN ASHAME OF YOURSELF TO END YOUR W ...
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KOFI KWASEA GO ON DREAMING WITH YOUR NONSENSE THREAT TO GHANAWEB. I AM SURE THE EDITOR OF GHANAWEB IS SHAKING AND PANICKING BECAUSE OF AN IDIOT WHO CALL HIMSELF KOFI.

ARE YOU DUMB NOT EVEN ASHAME OF YOURSELF TO END YOUR WEED WITH "Yours in the service of Ghana,"
Kofi.

WHAT SORT OF SERVICE ARE YOU ADDRESSING YOURSELF WITH? STREET SERVICE IN THE NIGHT? KWASEA! GO AWAY

Efua 12 years ago

Its a shame that some people have to resort to such terrible insults. One can disagree with points made in an article and argue to that effect. Instead we have terrible personal insults which is really unacceptable. It is usu ...
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Its a shame that some people have to resort to such terrible insults. One can disagree with points made in an article and argue to that effect. Instead we have terrible personal insults which is really unacceptable. It is usually accompanied by terrible grammatical errors and spelling mistakes - need I say more?
Truth Investigator 12 years ago

Yes, you are right.I have noticed that many comments on ghanaweb are extremely obscene,vulgar or with strong incitations towards tribalism,hatred and violence. There are also comments in the form of commercial advertisements. ...
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Yes, you are right.I have noticed that many comments on ghanaweb are extremely obscene,vulgar or with strong incitations towards tribalism,hatred and violence. There are also comments in the form of commercial advertisements.It is imperative for ghanaweb to have a moderator as people from across the globe read these comments and it does not portray a good image of Ghana.
TonyPM 12 years ago

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I get them all the time. If you choose to share your opinion, you should be prepared to for others' reaction. For the bad language, it is up to Ghanaweb.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I get them all the time. If you choose to share your opinion, you should be prepared to for others' reaction. For the bad language, it is up to Ghanaweb.
Backspace 12 years ago

You were conceived from your UGLY mothers' ANUS! Its there for all to see, you are an ABSOLUTE disgrace!!how can you spew such comments, are you in gainful employment? You garbage/borla collector!!!!!!!!!!!!

You were conceived from your UGLY mothers' ANUS! Its there for all to see, you are an ABSOLUTE disgrace!!how can you spew such comments, are you in gainful employment? You garbage/borla collector!!!!!!!!!!!!
King Asante-Yeboa 12 years ago

EXTREMELY OBSCENE, FIENDISH AND DEBASING COMMENTS. KOFI, THANKS FOR BRINGING THE NOTICE OF THE EDITOR.
I THINK THAT IT IS TIME TO ALSO OPEN A DIALOG ON SOME OF THE "GRIEVANCES". SUCH DIALOGS COULD (HELP) HEAL LURKING WOUNDS ...
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EXTREMELY OBSCENE, FIENDISH AND DEBASING COMMENTS. KOFI, THANKS FOR BRINGING THE NOTICE OF THE EDITOR.
I THINK THAT IT IS TIME TO ALSO OPEN A DIALOG ON SOME OF THE "GRIEVANCES". SUCH DIALOGS COULD (HELP) HEAL LURKING WOUNDS BASED ON HISTORICAL FACTS OR WHATEVER, DISMISS FEAR, PROVIDE ASSURANCES AND PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND RESPECT FOR OTHER GHANAIANS, THEIR TRIBES OR CULTURES.
YAW ASANTE 12 years ago

foolish statement

foolish statement
crorkz matz 11 years ago

nR55tC I am so grateful for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Great.

nR55tC I am so grateful for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
matzcrorkz 11 years ago

xmNidU I really like and appreciate your post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.

xmNidU I really like and appreciate your post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.

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An open letter to the editor of Ghanaweb.com

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