TALKING DRUM: A Stupid Move in Banda Ahenkro!

Policemen enforcing law and order in  Banda Ahenkro

One could not have had a better understanding of the Nigerian proverb which says that ‘stupidity is the lover of ignorance’ than the crass foolhardiness exhibited by a group in Banda Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo region.
 

The group, Concerned Members of Banda Ahenkro, had pasted on the walls of schools and other buildings demanding that non-indigenes leave their district with immediate effect. Failure to leave would mean anything atrocious could happen to such stubborn non-indigenes.

The aggrieved, unknown, and coward Banda Ahenkro thugs claim the non-indigenes have taken over their jobs. Hence, their call for them to leave their area. Subsequently, the ‘strangers’ escaping for safety left the schools and the hospitals among others for the embittered residents to take over.

Indeed, this can only happen in Ghana. Here, we see all the good things out there but we end up copying only the wrong. “If you do not leave this district [Banda Ahenkro] then we cannot guarantee your safety here. What is happening to strangers in South Africa will happen to you,” reads a portion of the aggrieved members’ letter.

You live in Banda Ahenkro and by God’s grace, you have access to electricity and internet and you watch and read happenings in South Africa. That’s fine. So, you did not see the beauty of South Africa? You did not see why many people across Africa troop to make a living in South Africa but saw the stupidity of some few people terrorising innocent persons?

This is the plain truth we must tell those cowards threating lives in Banda Ahenkro. They had access to a computer to type their warning letter but they could not reason enough to similarly write letters to apply for jobs. 

When I completed the then Junior Secondary School in 2003, my Father told me I could go to his village and teach. That, he would speak to the headmaster of a government basic school there to give me the opportunity. The village by name Daadom in the Brong Ahafo region had its school lacking teachers.

In the morning, I would say goodbye to my parents as I headed to the classroom while they also prepared for the farm. As well, in 2006, after I completed Sunyani Secondary School, I wrote a basket full of application letters to basic schools in the Sunyani municipality seeking a humble position as a teacher.

God being so good, I had the chance to teach at the Wesley Preparatory and Junior High School. These two pupil-teaching aside, I have once sold chewing sticks and worked as a cobbler [shoemaker] together with my childhood friend, Lawrence Duah, who has now sought academic asylum in the United States. This is how we have struggled our path through where we find ourselves now. Not long ago, a lady friend asked whether I had been to the farm before. I laughed.

Solomon has extensively worked tilling the soil with his parents and sisters in planting cocoa and foodstuffs. In all these, no one hatched the idea of threatening the lives of non-indigenes of Sunyani for ‘taking over our jobs.’ Whether it was pupil-teaching, farming, selling of chewing sticks or roving up and down as a cobbler, it was a way of life. A way to survive the demands of life and push forward for a better tomorrow. 

Are the Concerned Members of Banda Ahenkro saying they cannot farm in their district because non-indigenes have taken over their lands? Is it the case that none of these people cannot be cobblers? They cannot be electricians, plumbers, tailors, hairdressers and barbers? They cannot be shopkeepers or sales persons? Indeed, what they have exhibited to the whole of Ghana affirms that common sense is the most expensive commodity to some Ghanaians. 

If the people of the Greater Accra Region are to launch a similar threats of attack on non-indigenes here because we have taken over their jobs, not even our president would be spared. Certainly, we would have to relocate the Flagstaff House to the Eastern Region.

The chiefs of Banda Ahenkro have distanced themselves from being part of the aggrieved members. They are, therefore, calling on the police and other security operatives to hunt these nefarious people from their hideouts and make them face the law. Impressive!

However, I am more thrilled with a section of the Banda Ahenkro youth who came out not to only distance themselves of the threats but gave ultimatum for the thugs to come out and confess. Failure of it, they say they will cause the wrath of their gods on these lawbreakers. 

If our securities services are unable to arrest anyone in connection with the Banda Ahenkro threats, then, I will support the call for the gods’ intervention. Ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas was not far from the truth when he opined that extreme diseases call for extreme remedies. 

The writer is a broadcast journalist with 3FM 92.7. Views expressed here solely remain his and not that of his organisation.

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba

TALKING DRUM: Of Marwako & a Ghanaian Supervisor called Ali

The Abelenkpe branch of Marwako Fast Foods

Like the Onaapo Singer whose hit song did not secure him nomination(s) at the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, I will be totally shocked if all the headlines Marwako Fast Foods recently made it does not find itself on the list of top ten news at the end of the year, 2017.

Indeed, it became one of the social media campaigns that quickly got many people talking about it as it advised prospective customers of the said restaurant to #BoycottMarwako.  

But, what was the story behind Marwako trending on social media? Reports had it that on Sunday, February 26 2017, a worker of the Marwako Fast Foods, a lady named Evelyn Boakye, had her face powdered with freshly blended pepper by her Lebanese supervisor. 

According to Evelyn, this was when her supervisor, Jihad Chaaban, confronted her over how she used a blender at the Abelenkpe branch of the restaurant. 

Evelyn says Chaaban appeared behind her and shouted at her for attempting to destroy the blender. Then, all of a sudden, Chaaban “poured the pepper I had blended on the table and grabbed by head and rubbed my face in it,” reports Graphic Online.

“I tried to free myself as the pepper went into my eyes and I couldn’t stand the burning sensation in my face; but he wouldn’t let me go,” says the traumatized lady. 

It was just after this alleged heartbreaking news hit the news media that it stung most Ghanaians as if bitten by a black ant. If I will not be (mis)taken for exaggeration, almost every post I saw on Facebook after the incident touched on Marwako. 

I have been to the Abelenkpe branch of Marwako Fast Foods twice with my colleagues, Grace Hammoah Asare and Solomon Agbozo. Our elders say that one must appreciate the duiker’s swiftness even if it remains one’s arch enemy. Indeed, Marwako’s foods are nice. 

So, when whoever that has once  patronized the place vehemently writes on social media campaigning for people to stop buying from Marwako, then, it tells you the extent to which Evelyn Boakye’s case has gone.

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba and Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah among others have subsequently been to the Marwako Fast Foods vowing to get to the bottom of the matter.  

Jihad Chaaban is before the law court as I write this piece. On March 8, 2017, he was remanded into police custody to reappear before the court on March 16. This has somewhat been a ‘sleeping tablet’ for many Ghanaians who fumed of the incident. 

However, I think there is one most important person Ghanaians have let go of this Marwako saga. He is said to be a Ghanaian supervisor at the Abelenkpe branch of Marwako Fast Foods by name Ali.

Evelyn Boakye in an interview with Accra based Citi TV (a subsidiary of Citi FM), few days after her ordeal, mentions Ali in her narrations.  

When the Ghanaian supervisor heard of the incident, Ali approached Evelyn to ask her if indeed it was true. Having heard it was true, he tells Evelyn to wait for him while he goes to verify from the Lebanese supervisor.

Tearful Evelyn Boakye says in that Citi TV interview that Ali, after spending six good hours just to enquire from Jihad Chaaban about the incident, finally appears. He had a message for Evelyn.

“Ali came to tell me that I am not the first person that this thing has happened to me. So, do I know what we will do? And I said what?

“[He said that] I should take heart so we take money. Like take money from them [Lebanese supervisors],” she painfully says.

Evelyn Boakye says she was bold enough to have told Ali that she values her life and that she will not compromise.

But Ali, the Ghanaian who after his fact-finding mission from Jihad was perhaps told the truth, could not let the love of money pass by with its handcuffs. According to Evelyn, what came next from Ali’s mouth was so disastrous that if bottled could serve as pesticide to kill the mosquitoes in the Odaw River. 

“I told him [Ali] I need justice and he was like you need justice? What is justice … justice … justice?!”

When I first raised the issue that this man called Ali must be invited by the police for questioning, I was told I do not have evidence to warrant that. That, if Evelyn Boakye had said that of Ali, it remains a mere allegation. Fair enough!

My question now is, which one of Ghana’s media houses (be it print, online, broadcast or whatever) or a single individual has evidence to the lady’s claim that she was molested by Jihad Chaaban? Are we all not using the adjective “alleged”? So, if she is again alleging someone had wanted her to compromise her right to live peacefully in exchange for some notes of Cedis, must we not be worried about it too?

This is Ghana. Here, our solutions to problems, most often, are problems in itself. Verily, was it not in Ghana we proposed setting aside a day in every new month to clean our gutters as a means to ensuring a cleaner society? What happens after the day of the cleaning? We go back to fill the very gutters with filth. 

Similarly, our solution to the #BoycottMarwako that Jihad Chaaban be punished will be upside down if Ali is not brought for interrogations. The truth is that after Jihad has been punished, there will be many of Ali’s caliber to side with foreigners or even side with some Ghanaian bosses to terrorize their workers.    

Whereas I vehemently condemn Jihad Chaaban’s act, I equally condemn Ali’s alleged corrupt deal. 

To the #BoycottMarwako campaigners, America’s ace investigative journalist Amy Goodman teaches us to go to where the silence is and say something. We did say ‘something’ about Jihad Chaaban’s act. Now, can we equally say something about the silence on Ali’s factor?

The writer is a broadcast journalist with 3FM 92.7. Views expressed here solely remain his opinion and not that of his organisation.

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba

TALKING DRUM: Gold Coast- The Man Who 'Married' Cameras

Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse at his library in his house

It was not until 1954 that he joined the then West African Film School which was located at present day TV3, Kanda in Accra. His choice of joining the camera department, to study, panned out to be the best of decision he made.

Having graduated with the knowledge in the handling of professional cameras, he saw the need to further broaden his studies. That, in 1960, again saw him graduating from the Film and Television school, Lodz, in Poland and also from the University of Sorbonne, Paris, France was a post-graduate certificate in Film and TV Arts.

Meet one of Ghana’s acclaimed photographer, cinematographer and filmmaker, Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse. 

When I called him, on phone, on February 2, 2017 to request to interview him for a feature documentary, he answered warmly. 

“Solomon, can we make it next week Thursday?” said Dr. Chris Hesse,

When the time came and I stood behind his gate as I sounded the doorbell, a very beautiful lady ushered me into the house. Anita, the lady, directed me to Dr. Hesse. It was my first time seeing him in person.

“You are the man with TV3, right? He asked.

“Yes, Sir.” I replied.

Dr. Hesse then chipped in.

“Solomon, can we have our interview next week Wednesday?” he asked. This time, I nearly choked on a cup of coffee he had served me. Why is he postponing our scheduled interview? I asked myself. 

“I wanted to see your face, first. So, now that I have seen you, we can do proper interview the next time we meet.” 

I obliged. On my second visit, I understood the ‘long process’ the man took me through. That could be summed in two words; patience and professionalism. 

Dr. Chris Hesse tells me that the then filmmakers of Gold Coast Film Unit never rushed in producing any of their movies. “Why would we rush? In everything you do in life you need to be reasonably patient and, as a professional, you ensure professionalism. Yes… yes,” he said.

If you have ever watched renowned filmmaker Kwaw Ansah’s movie, African Heritage, you would better appreciate the knowledge and patience of our old folks. Dr. Chris Hesse tells me the Character, Mr. Bosomfield, in the said movie had to spend months in Britain ‘just’ to learn the colonial masters’ mannerisms among others. This gave a great spice to the movie.

Dr. Chris Hesse shoots his middle finger and rhythmically smashes it on the small round table around which we sat. He expresses frustration over happenings in our current movie industry.

“Now what do you see? They take the camera and within one week they have shot three to four movies? We are jokers.’ 

The man who, on 6^th March, 1957, stood behind camera two in filming the Independence Day ceremony says the Gold Coast Film Unit took upon itself to train some local folks. The folks including Bob Cole had expressed interest in acting. That training given the local folks saw the birth of the popular movie, I Told You So. 

He believes same could be done for the industry today, especially with the Kumawood. On what could be called the Accrawood, nothing throws Dr. Hesse off than the overdose of make-up the actresses wear.   

Dr. Chris Hesse believes the love for money is proportionately contributing to the fallen standard of our movie industry. ‘It’s not the question of this is what the public will like to see. It’s a question of telling the public this and that are the good movies you have to see.

“Film making is not the question of money. Immediately something comes on the screen, you are educating the one watching. You are communicating something.”

Dr. Chris Hesse says churning out something good to educate the masses was the strategy of America as it told the world through its movies, indirectly, that no nation comes next to her. “While America showed it could conquer every nation in its movies, we are here copying Nigerians where you see ghosts appearing and vanishing in movies.”

He is urging government to put in the effort and commitment Dr. Kwame Nkrumah exhibited towards the arts industry while he steered affairs of the nation.

“Nkrumah went to Parliament and had a Legislative Instrument and bought all the cinemas in the country … from Accra, Swedru and Kumasi. Everywhere,” he says.

This LI brought about the Ghana Film Corporation where movies were produced and marketed [shown at cinemas].

The man I had the opportunity to interview has a rich achievement to boast off. He has been the director of photography for most early-day movies including Love Brewed in the African Pot (1980), His Majesty’s Sergeant (1984) and Heritage Africa (1989), a war cameraman who shot the Congo’s 1960 turbulence, a cinematographer of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, General J. A. Ankrah, General A.A. Afrifa, Prime Minister Dr. K. A. Busia through to former President J. J. Rawlings.

I 'toured' Dr. Chris Hesse's library

This is certainly a man we must listen to when he beckons on us to do the right thing. When after my interview with him, he took me to his library. I was virtually submerged in a sea of photographs pasted on the walls of the library.

An award he received

Among these pictures was an award he received from the maiden edition of the Ghana Movie Awards in 1999. Also, on the wall was a letter, framed, from the 37^th President of America, Richard Nixon addressing Dr. Hesse to film his wife, Thelma Catherine Nixon, on her official visit to Ghana in 1971.

Are we not fortunate to have a living legend and critic of our works to help us shine bright like the diamond?

The writer is a broadcast journalist with 3FM 92.7. Views expressed here solely remain his opinion and does not reflect that of his organisation.

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba