Tro tro Wahala –Curbing All Forms of Violence in our own Small Way



by Sharon Daplah

I was on a Trotro (public transport) home after a typical hard day’s work. I was truly at peace with my thoughts as I stared through the windows to have a good view of the beautiful lit streets of Accra. Suddenly the silence on the Trotro was broken. How interesting, I said to myself as I tried to make sense of out the pandemonium before me.

There was a quarrel between two adults; one was a macho man who was obviously in haste to pounce on anything and the other a loud smart mouthed woman who was in no mood to hold back her tongue. I watched on and deduced out of the confusion that the man had a terrible stench which the woman could not bear for a second more.

As they exchanged words some people on the bus tried to calm tempers but only succeeded in worsening the situation. The man in his quest to shut the woman up said, ‘young woman, I’ll give you a sound beating on this bus if you don’t shut that mouth of yours, how come women these days don’t have any respect for men. If you were my wife, I would teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.’

An older man on the bus astonished by those comment, said to the man, ‘these days, young man you cannot beat a woman up and get away with it. You’ll have to be careful if that’s the life you lead especially if that’s the way you treat your wife.’ The younger man, obviously angered by the old man’s comment retorted, ‘there’s nothing anyone can do to me if I beat her up, men like you encourage women to disrespect men!’

The comments by the older man generated an intelligent discussion. I listened carefully as the men in the bus took dominion over the discussion and intelligently discussed violence in all forms and especially domestic violence. They obviously were not in favour of it but believed strongly that violence in any form was not the ultimate solution to a problem but rather
constructive dialoguing.

All my life I have never seen or heard any such topic intelligently discussed by men, especially considering the fact that most of these men were semi-literates and illiterates alike. But again as much as most of these men were abreast with the consequences of violating the domestic violence law, there certainly exists the likes of our macho man.

Much has been done on sensitizing the public on the situation at hand but I still believe more has to be done. This canker kills, tortures and maims – physically, psychologically, sexually and economically and obviously denies our women and children their right to enjoy fundamental freedom.

Governments certainly have a bigger role to play in curbing this societal evil. Deeds such as that of the older man are honourable and should be emulated to ensure that our women and children enjoy their fundamental right to freedom.

The African Culture and Women

Should such African dances such as this be thrown out?

by Sharon Daplaah

The African Culture is a way of life. Africa is rich in colour, social values, social norms and that which is also firmly rooted in other cultures around the world due the dark days of slave trade.

Culture according to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is “the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group.” The African culture in the mist of its great customs, beliefs, beautiful art, and rich social organization is also one culture whose proponents are the “gods of the land”.

These gods have curved out a way for our women which are very unsuitable for the fast growing trend of the world’s modern development.

In the mist of this culture that is set to seem “holy” and cannot be altered except the gods, is African women who are full of energy and strength yet are limited in expressing themselves to the benefit of society because culture is holy, it’s sacred and cannot be changed.

Ironically her meager achievements within her strict culture seem to be getting the world’s attention. Conversely in her stricken poverty which can be attributed to the African social restrictions and some world politics she knows nothing about she is still firm and manages to survive in the messed world created without any reverence to her very existence.

In today’s fast growing world, a large chunk of African women are still lacking behind for no good reason but on the basis of cultural practices and sometimes denied their basic fundamental right to be educated. For many who have no choice settle for an early marriage of which usually they have no interest or whatsoever in. She has to bear the burden of becoming (if lucky) the 7th wife to an old, frail and feeble man who’s almost near his grave yet is expectant of his teenage wife to bear for him children to that of a size of a football team only to boost his meager ego of being the wealthiest in his village (size of a man’s family is a measure of his wealth).

Alas, the old, frail and feeble man gives up to the waiting darkness and what’s next? He leaves his teenage wife to cope with a life which is not her calling. So what kind of society will deprive her women of all the care, will-power to make her own choices?

Our traditions, culture, beliefs define us and make up our total being leaving us with a sense of identification so that one can say she’s an Ashanti, an Ibo, a Soso, a Fulani etc. Our cultural traditions are good and must be held in high esteem at all cost.

However culture is dynamic and so should the traditions in our cultures. Some of these traditions should be subject to the changes that takes place over time periods, more especially when they have proven to retard development.

African practices such as trokosi (girls given up to the gods in a atonement of the sins committed by a dead relative), early marriages, female circumcision and infibulations, polygamy, forced marriages and many more all affect women adversely and subsequently affecting development since women are key partners in development.

All these practices should be eschewed from our way of live and new cultures
should be embraced.

Embracing other traditions of the world does not mean we as Africans should doubt our traditions and beliefs. Lets look deep into ourselves, lets look at how far our cultural traditions have brought us in the light of development and lets rebuild ourselves with what I will term as “a holistic culture” i.e., the culture of the world, without getting rid of our culture totally but rather those figments of practices that have forestalled the development of women and hence Africa as a whole.

We should also fuse into other ways of life that encourage the development of women in Africa.

A cold midwinter caucus

by Etse Sikanku


It was my first practical experience of any US election on such a massive scale.

It was a cold midwinter night but not particularly bone chilling as temperatures remained in the 20s and I comforted myself with the thought that it could have been worse.

Before the elections several candidates had visited campus to tout their policies in a bid to win many voters to their side. In the past months-as and when class schedules permitted- I had the opportunity to listen to John Edwards, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and Chris Dodd on their various visits to campus. After months of tumult it was now time for the people to make their voices heard.

Being an unrepentant news glutton my repeated appearances at several of the campaigns had been exciting, the intensity of the campaign process had been incredible but the caucus itself has been more than amazing. On the way to the Great Hall of the Memorial Union-where Democratic Precinct 22-was meeting there was an aura of unbounded enthusiasm blowing all over. It would be the first time I’d witnessed the much talked about Iowa Caucuses. Just a few years ago I’d only been reading about such an event from newspapers back home in Ghana but here I was in Ames, Iowa about to witness the much famed American presidential caucuses. It was a night of many uncertainties. Many commentators have called this the most unpredictable race in modern American politics. The results of this event would hold much sway especially for the ambitions of a probable female, black or Hispanic president.

Anyhow as a student from Dzita- a rural farming community and grandson of a Navrongo peasant farmer- both thousands and thousands of miles away from Ames observing the crafting and creation of history in the United States, I felt a sense of providence. The scene at the Great Hall was extremely crowded with enthusiastic voters and their families. Young children were hanging on to the clothes of their parents not wanting to be left out of this epoch making event. At the entrance party staff was busy registering participants with their ever present smiles-an unmistakable trademark of the proverbial Midwestern friendliness.

Also present were some observers most of them international students who came to have a personal experience. I met nice old gentlemen who had caucused ever since the first presidential caucus was held in 1972. He told me the event had gotten more and more interesting each passing year. He also said he was going to caucus for Sen. Clinton.

After taking care of party business the precinct captain called on representatives of the various candidates to make final convincing pitches. If cheers were any indication for predicting the turn out of the election, one wouldn’t be faulted for betting on an Obama win that night. His fans were vociferous, cheering and chanting as his representative made a last minute argument for him. What was interesting but quite embarrassing was that some of the candidates like Kucinich and Gravel had no one representing them.

However the turning point of the event came when the convener announced that all delegates could move to the corner of their preferred candidates. It was an interesting scene seeing a large mass of people moving eagerly to the spot of their various candidates. In a matter of second every candidate was stationed in the camp of their preferred candidate. There were about 220 people present. It was quite shocking to see that Hillary Clinton a long time front runner who had indeed been the recipient of a women’s achievement award in Ames unable to meet the quota for viability. John Edwards and Barack Obama by this time were the only viable candidates. Immediately people from the Obama camp starting convincing the Richardson camp to join them. However, the Richardson camp was quite convinced they would be viable since they needed just four or five more persons. They set out on a ‘cross carpeting adventure’ in order to get more candidates.

The Hillary camp was way too downcast and shocked by their unviability that it took a while for them to start ‘hunting’ for candidates. By this time the Obama and Edwards’s camp were neck deep in negotiations and alliance deals with the Dodd and Biden supporters. After all the friendly arguments and coaxing some people moved camp to Richardson, Edwards or Obama. At the end of the night Barack Obama won Precinct 22 by about 120 votes, Edwards followed with 49 and Bill Richardson was third with 35 votes. As was predicted by the polls, most of the ‘unviable’ candidates joined the Edwards camp but Obama managed to pull some over whiles Richardson got enough more to become viable. Things were not looking good for Senator Clinton and out of frustration I could see some of her supporters leave the hall totally.

It was the biggest upset of the evening for the New York Senator who had led polls statewide for a long time. In the end the caucus system is admirable though impracticable under certain circumstances and I’ve been wondering how long it will continue to prevail.

One other thought that crossed my mind was how replicable such a system would be in my native Ghana or other African countries. Against the backdrop that Kenya is currently engulfed in post election violence, it makes me wonder what exactly the problem in Africa is. Why can’t Africa practice electoral democracy as successfully as this? It is a question that needs constant deliberation across the continent. This is by any measure democracy in its most undiluted form-crisp and classic with a slight potential for getting creepy.

Nevertheless it is a process that supports the major ingredients for a democracy as tested as America’s. One in which conversation and dialogue precedes secrecy and divisiveness. It is such factors which may after all guarantee the survival of the system for a long time to come

The Future of Africa Lies With Its Young Leaders

by Dainty Jughead

The concept of age is a tricky thing, particularly when it comes to leadership. Indeed, for years, I have been grappling with the question that plagues many young, powerful and articulate African leaders ‘What is the right age to become a political leader in Africa?’

Most traditional African societies had distinct social and political structures that were based on significant stages of life. African people be it men or women underwent different rites of passages as the years passed by. From childhood to adolescence, to young adulthood, to warrior hood and finally to ‘elder hood.’ At each stage of life, people were entrusted and expected to perform certain responsibilities and a rites of passage involved acquisition of wisdom, power, knowledge and decision making capabilities.

The whole process of molding a person into a leader rendered one a sacred imprint in the history of the society with an individual’s soul exposed to spiritual, cultural, social and political ideologies. Despite societal variation, and especially in tribal- traditional societies, young men and women in their thirties and early forties could be entrusted with power to govern the society. Rites of passages were at the nucleus of every socio-cultural, spiritual and political dynamism; obstinately expressed and accepted, and persistent throughout society. The old respectfully gave way to the young to lead, to protect and govern the next generation of the society.

In current African social and political system, leaders are redefining the meaning and business of becoming old (by old, I refer to any person above the age of sixty years). As Africans are grappling with democracies across the continent, leadership and politics have become intertwined and has been espoused as an act of cunningness and outmaneuvering. Social and political leadership has shifted gear and become a playing field for those who selfishly pursuit power and control of resources. Young people eager for social and political leaderships at all levels of administration depart with traumatic experiences. Most of them go through a series of emotional turmoil, from shock to anger to disbelief and eventually acceptance….that political leadership is held by old leaders who suffer from a famine of bold and novel ideas.

As he celebrated his 89th birthday recently, former South African president Nelson Mandela launched “the Elders”, a group of leaders who have a combined 638 years of collective experience to deal with world issues. This included former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu (76 years) who is the chairman of the “Elders”, former US president Jimmy Carter (83 years), former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan (69 years), Indian social activist Ela Bhatt (74 years), former Norwegian prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland (67 years), former Irish president Mary Robinson (63 years), Bangladeshi economist and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus (67), former Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing (77 years) and the Burma pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi (62 years). It is with melancholy, as I reflect on the population age structure of Eastern African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi). Collectively, the population age distribution is 44.6% (0-14 years), 53.3% (15-60 years) and 2.1% (over 61 years). Nelson Mandela’s “Elders” all fall under the 2.1% category and there are entrusted to find solutions for the rest of the 97.9% of the people. How is a 65 year old diplomat expected to shape the life of a 12, 25 or even a 35 year old, when we take into consideration the rapidly technologically developing world? It is not only impractical, but laughable.

The “Elders” are supposed to draw on their immense skills and collective wisdom and find solutions for HIV/AIDS, climate change and conflicts, problems that not only haunts the continent of Africa and but sends cold shivers down the spine of its inhabitants. I read through these names with sadness. This “Elders” who have held key leadership position and during their reign did not solve the problems of Africa are expected to find global solutions. The question then is; can we use the above “Elders” to nurture and develop liberal young leadership that should take control and govern Africa? To many young people of Africa, the above “Elders” do not contain bold new thinking on the most crucial ingredient that is required to transform the face of Africa: young age, energy, visionary leadership quality and the best strategies to sustain such leadership.

Currently most African countries have or are undergoing a second reign of liberation. The first liberation was the fight for freedom from the colonial rule and credit is bestowed on such leaders Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Patrick Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, Colonel Gamal Abd al-Nasir and Sekou Toure, to name but a few . Some seating presidents fought during this first liberation. The second liberation is happening as new but elderly presidents take the political reign. Unfortunately, this second liberation is more painful than the first, because many young potential leaders are sidelined and thought of as immature and incapable of ruling a country. Instead of building on first presidential liberators started, current leaders are busy waging internal wars, propelled by vengeance they are busy blocking politics of reason from maturing.
African leaders are advocating for a continental body referred to as United States for Africa. Indeed, it is a noble idea to dissolve the social, political and economic boundaries that have encapsulated the African people who were divided in the 19th century when Europeans partitioned Africa. However, a continental body might not solve Africa’s leadership woes. What do we need to do to move forward and encourage young leaders like President Kabila of DRC? It is time for young leaders to step into the political limelight and change the thinking of old leaders and the way they regard politics.

First, the young are told that politics is dirty and should be left to the elderly. The upshot of this direction of thinking is that we continue to harbor distrust. And t will only get worse as long as we treat political leadership as a game of astuteness. Young leaders have superior skills in effective communication, valuable compassion, collaboration and partnerships and conflict resolution. Second, old African leaders do not have respect for the political institutions they allege to belong to. We need to draw upon young leaders whose thinking go beyond tribal, country, regional but embrace continental boundaries. We have to pull on these young men and women, who will transform Africa from the continent scale. We need such young minds to tread on corridors of power, in front of or alongside the Mandela “Elders” and other political giants. It is only by including the above two suggestions, that we might encourage young and bright Africans to stay in the continent.

Indeed, we should not be perplexed and shocked at the extent at which young African leaders are escaping the confines of old politicians and hoping to find recognition outside the continent of Africa. For some, it might be the lure of better education and promising financial opportunities. But for most young people, it is the desire for recognition, the desire to lead