I was born in Ghana, became a man in Germany and made a home in the US. However, no matter how far I go, I never forget my origins – Ghana, Africa.

Why?

Because there is a bond that pulls all Africans together and to the continent.

It is a bond forged by pain and suffering, disease and hunger, exploitation and colonialism, tribal strife and inept leaders.

This bond is not static. It waxes and wanes. It grows and sometimes looks like it’s on it’s death bed.

The bond reaches far. It reaches into the hearts of immigrants all around the world – living rooms in the US, England and Australia. It reaches Darfur. It reaches the pirates in Somalia and rival factions in the Congo.

This bond has stood the test of time because it is nurtured. It is nurtured by family and friends, love and charity, the warmth of helping one another and encouragement. We cry with each other and share the joys too.

Perhaps though, its strongest sustenance is hope. The hope of something great. The hope of rising above the impediments that liter our way. The hope that it can be better. The hope that this time, it is different.

Like a clarion call, nothing gets this bond going more than hope.

So when the Black Stars made to the round of 16 as the only African team, there was hope. The hope fed the bond and the bond grew.

For the first time in it’s 80-year history, the FIFA World Cup comes to Africa. It is really symbolic that it is being held in South Africa. By the end of the first round of games, 5 of 6 African teams are out, including the Bafana Bafana of the host nation, South Africa. The Black Stars of Ghana are left standing, alone.  That also by itself is deeply symbolic, then Ghana was the first sub-Saharan nation to win independence from colonial rule.

Before the games started, I am sure all the African teams hoped to make their countries as well as the continent proud.  And all Africans, on the continent and abroad, hoped for the same.  But only one team seems to believe it more than all the others.  The Black Stars. And with their performance so far they have engendered a lot of hope in Ghana and on the continent.

…and are feeding the bond!

I rooted for Ghana in the Word Cup match against the US not because I don’t like the country I live in now. Far from that! I love the US! It’s just that Ghana and the continent of Africa needed this win more.

Many years ago Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president said “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa.” Back then (and even now), that was a bold statement and many a critic berated him for it. Nkrumah however recognized how important and symbolic the Ghanaian independence was. It had spurned hope and the hope was feeding the bond. He realized that on this continent of pain and suffering, no one country was an island. We need each other. That is why the bond is essential.

That is why the success of the Black Stars is so important.

The continent needs it.  A proof that we can measure up, if just for a few weeks. A proof that if we set our minds and spirit to it, we can achieve success. A proof that given the chance, like the prepared, we seized it. A proof that in spite of wars, disease, hunger, famine and bad leadership, we can rise above it all. The continent needs that spirit, if just for a few weeks. Then that can change  and save lives.

The US has this spirit. It permeates every aspect of life here. This nation is a “Can-Do” nation. Africa could use a dose of that.

That is why I rooted for the Black Stars.

I spent the earlier part of the day glued to the TV, watching Obama in Ghana.

To be honest, unlike my friend Kojo Anan (http://www.i-can-ghana.com), I was initially not so awed by the impending visit. However seeing him there and realizing that this is an American president who is part African does something to me and I guess most Ghanaians.

It is great for Ghana because we’ve showed the world we can do that whole democracy thing – our way.

It’s cool because Obama puts Ghana on the map.

It’s awesome because among my African friends, this is a year’s worth of bragging rights.

Most important of all, this is someone who can reprimand African leaders and get away with it.

Remember, he is one of us.

Check this out:

The ruling government in Ghana lost by 40000 votes.

It’s incredulous that a sitting African government could not find 40000 votes somewhere to match things up, but that’s where Ghana is.

And it’s imperative that the whole continent follows suit.

That is something Obama made clear in his speech. Because of who he is, he can say that without sounding condescending.

The political status anywhere on the continent is a fragile affair – all it takes is one ambitious lieutenant!

Even as we celebrate the achievements of our country, lets keep working to preserve what we’ve achieved.

…and thanks Mr President for honoring us with your vist and recognition of  whole nation.

Delta Airlines started it’s non-stop flight to Ghana from NYC in December 2006. I flew to Accra in May with Delta and loved it. One did not get the condescending treatment that is typical on other airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa.

When one gets to NYC from Ghana, the joy is rudely interrupted. All connecting flights are usually gone. It’s like Delta assumed everyone who flies to Ghana lives in the New York area!

Delta – get your act together! You can capture all passengers flying from the US to Ghana. Most Ghanaians hate the transit in Europe and would rather fly direct. Either make more connecting flights available or leave Ghana late at night. This way, the arrival in NYC will be in the morning and connecting flights will not be a problem.

nana

“Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” – Karl Marx, 1843 (Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of the Right)

One of the things that hit me on my visit to Ghana in May was the abundance of churches. There seems to be a church at every street corner. And they all are independent, unrelated to the major protestant groups or the Catholic Church.

Another observation was how affluent the pastors of these churches were. They drove expensive cars and lived in mansions. They were much better off than their congregations.

Why are there so many churches? Ghana is a religious country. True. It still does not explain the number. I think the real reasons lie in the socio-economic situation the country finds itself in as well as in the Ghanaian culture.

One can argue that these churches sprung up because the Christian population wanted church services that were more in tune with the Ghanaian culture – services that included lively music and dancing. Some of the traditional churches have modified things in that direction and so I do not think that reason is a significant cause.

Even though Ghana is doing well as compared to most other African countries, it still has an unemployment rate of about 20% (est 2001) and the minimum wage is about 10,500 cedis (Jan 2004). This translates to quite a number of people living below the poverty line – about 28% (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/africa/ghana.asp). They standard of living is inordinately high. So how do they manage? “Nyame wo ho” is a Ghanaian term which literally means “By the grace of God.” So Ghanaians survive through the good graces of God. So they go to church to pray for help through the tough times.

On the flip side are smart people who see this public need and move to exploit it. They provide a voice of comfort. They become the avenues through which the people find this grace. They become the pastors. And to facilitate their meetings, they encourage their congregations to build themselves a church and make donations for the upkeep of this church as well as the upkeep of their pastor. And the congregations seem to be doing some upkeeping! One can actually call them enterpreneurs!

Given, some of these pastors are also successful authors and speakers. However at the end of the day, it is probably someone earning much less who will buy that book or pay for that speech.

It is typical in any society that successful business concepts are copied. So it is no surprise that churches have mushroomed in Ghana. Religion pays. For some, it may be the place to bury all worries but for others it is definitely the end of all their worries. For some it is the opium that deadens the pain but for some it is that definite cure that rejuvenates them.

I wonder what Marx will say to that.

nana