Looking beyond the surface
Sometime last year I started reflecting on the BBC documentary The New Labour Revolution because I felt some lessons could be learned from recent history. However, given what's going on in the world right now it seems meaningless to continue with that exercise, at least for now. Why do I say this? Because politicians do … Continue reading Ukraine Invasion a Test for the West
This week the long-awaited Chilcot report into the Iraq war of 2003 was finally published after seven years of investigation. It's a massive, detailed report into the pre-invasion decision-making and it's aftermath. The Chilcot report was a damning critique of former British prime minister Tony Blair in particular. It's a rebuke of political arrogance and … Continue reading Impossible Tony Blair
I just heard that the government of Ghana has proposed to provide free school uniforms, shoes and menstrual pads for girls, to motivate them to go to and remain in school. It immediately reminded me of something I blogged almost two years ago. So I decided to share. It’s a long piece but please read and comment.
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Generally speaking every country wants to develop, or so they claim. Every human society would want to make progress. But unfortunately for many countries this goal remains elusive.
Poverty alleviation programmes, infrastructural development, skills development and many other programmes are necessary for progress in any society. But most often the question is not whether or not government should help make social services such as education and health affordable and available to all citizens, but how it should be done.
As it’s invariably the case, when it comes to making these important national choices–of what institutions to adopt or policy direction to follow–some countries get it largely right while others not so right. Why some countries get it right and others wrong I don’t know for sure.
Yet oftentimes the most important question in policy-making is what’s the best way to achieve shared goals. And herein lies the divide…
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I. Generally speaking every country wants to develop, or so they claim. Every human society would want to make progress. But unfortunately for many countries this goal remains elusive. Poverty alleviation programmes, infrastructural development, skills development and many other programmes are necessary for progress in any society. But most often the question is not whether or … Continue reading Just thinking about society and progress
A few days ago I had a brief chat with a friend on the most notable campaign promise by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate to make secondary school education in Ghana free if elected. Of course, there’s nothing new about making fantastic electioneering promises. All politicians everywhere in the world often make unrealistic … Continue reading Confusion of choice: Elections, promises, slogans &c.
I wrote this piece in response to the news that a trader in Accra had been seriously injured when members of an Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Task force tried to move hawkers and traders off the streets in the Central Business District of Accra on October 14, 2010. I listened to the Mid-day News (on … Continue reading Without substance? The facade of beautification of the capital city
The back and forth, behind the scenes activities, with respect to the recent increases in prices of utility services invokes an interplay of power among the various interest groups that makes for amusing politicking within the arenas of power itself. If I will be honest, I’m rather very thrilled by the prospects of these developments … Continue reading Ghana’s utility pricing conundrum: pricing dilemma or politics of expediency
It a shame that we have turned our ex-presidents into babies that must be cared for in every little thing by the state through ridiculous and detailed laws. I'm all the more surprised that they don't seem bothered about discussing these essentially private matters in public. From this standpoint, it's difficult to distinguish between private … Continue reading Baby Ex-president? The politics of elitist resource redistribution in Ghana
** (Preliminary thoughts) ** Over the last weekend, at the Kaneshie Market and yesterday on the main Kaneshie-Mankessim Highway between Water Works bus stop and Busia Junction in Odorkor, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) demolished kiosks and containers used for trading and other commercial activities by the main road. The Assembly claims it’s de-congesting and … Continue reading Tame the AMA, Please!
Truly, it’s been some week, perhaps the longest week we have had to endure in our national life. The euphoria, hype and excitements that have filled the Ghanaian atmosphere throughout this week are expectedly unbelievable. Somehow it feels as though the week is just about starting, or rather ending, properly; for we didn’t start the … Continue reading Wrapping up “Obama Week” in Ghana
Klog Reflections 