TALKING DRUM: Nduom’s resilience, Ayariga’s temper & Akua Donkor’s ‘Concert Party!’

 

(From L-R) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Hassan Ayariga & Akua Donkor

It was painful and hard-to-bear the news of the Electoral Commission’s announcement of disqualifying 12 presidential candidates from contesting in the upcoming general elections.

Indeed, painful as being hit by ice pellets in a cold weather rain, the hearing of some names of these presidential candidates sent one asking ‘what could have gone wrong?’

Names like Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and Dr. Edward Nasigiri Mahama of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), respectively, deprived a good number of Ghanaians the ability to ‘think far.’

These candidates have been in the political game for some time now and one therefore did not expect them to be booted out of what they do best. Old dogs, we are told, are not taught new skills but the good old saying seems to have seen the reverse this time round.

Reports were that, in Dr. Nduom’s disqualification, one subscriber named Richard Aseda (‘Asida’ on the Voters’ Register), with Voter ID no 7812003957) endorsed the forms in two different districts (pages 21 and 39).

“The subscriber was found to be on the Voter’s Register in one district, thereby, disqualifying his second subscription and reducing the total number of subscribers to below the minimum required by the Law.

The same subscriber (Richard Aseda (‘Asida’) endorsed the form with different signatures in both portions of the nomination form. This raises questions as to the legitimacy of one or both signatures,” wrote the Electoral Commission in a statement.

Reasons for disqualifying Dr. Mahama were also baffling, raising the question as to whether the Party’s executives acted with due diligence before submitting the forms.

“Many subscribers did not properly sign the forms,” said the EC.

“Thumbprints, signatures or marks were omitted all together. For instance, no signatures on Page 16, 24, 28.

Two subscribers to Dr. Mahama’s nominations also subscribed for another presidential candidate. These are: Abaako Issifu (page 103) Voter ID number 2988006876, PS code: J110202. Abudu Ayuba (page 95), Voter ID number 6303005554, PS code: H200201.”

The PNC, few weeks to their candidate being disqualified, had engaged itself in [internal] accusations and counteraccusations over Dr. Mahama’s alleged ineffectiveness.

Some of his party executives had blamed him for further sinking their ship by engrossing himself in his hospital duties to stepping out to campaign. Perhaps, this could have contributed to their current woes.

Interesting enough, almost all of the disqualified presidential candidates are heading to court to fight for their right. Former President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, was right when he said that “My concern is not whether you have failed or not. My concern, however, is whether you are content with your failure.”

Parties like the National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and Nduom’s PPP say they are not content with the EC tagging them as ‘failures.’ These parties have already filed their suits.

In all these agitations, one person among the lot gets me thinking that if he or his followers continue working with his level of enthusiasm, something good could come out of Ghana. That person is the Adwuma Wura.

If a spade will be called a spade and not a big spoon, then it can be said that the Progressive People’s Party, in its few years of existence, has lived to prove its relevance in the country’s political discourse. Not too long ago, politics in Ghana was all about the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.

Dr. Nduom and his team have reached out to Ghanaians with all the ideas and thinking that a nation needs to develop. On many occasions have people said they wish voting for him. However, such persons express fear of ‘wasting’ their votes since many of the NPP and NDC folks will not cut ties with their respective parties to vote for Nduom.

This, I believe, Dr. Nduom has heard himself. He will not be discouraged by it. He will fight on. And he will not just let the EC have a field day over his disqualification. He may not be president today but his resilience may get his party into power tomorrow when he has retired from active politics.

Indeed, he will battle his disqualification in court with former Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo being his lead legal counsel.

For Mr. Hassan Ayariga, now the leader of the All People’s Congress, I thought he would be a little serious this time round.

In the previous general elections, he gained the accolade AyariCough for overly joking. Did he do it this time, too? Minutes after the EC disqualified him from the upcoming elections, Mr. Ayariga called the chairperson of the Electoral Commission as foolish.

"Madam Charlotte Osei herself is not qualified to be an EC leader. She's stupid and foolish," he is reported to have said in an interview with Emefa Apau, Class91.3FM on Monday, 10 October.

A potential president who does not respect women and cannot amicably seek redress over what he deems an affront on his right? SMH.

A company’s motto says that if it must be done, it must be done well. This is where political parties like [Madam] Akua Donkor’s Ghana Freedom Party and a chunk of others fell short. My concern is not whether she could speak English or not. Simply, if one does not know where he or she is going to such a person must not fail to tell where they are coming from.

From all indications, Akua Donkor could not tell Ghanaians which direction she was sailing. She could not shame her accusers who tagged her as a political joker.

According to the EC, she was disqualified partly because her Vice Presidential candidate provided her date of birth as October 15, 1998.

We need our would-be president to have a little bit of humour but if such humour surpasses the euphoria that characterized the then Key Soap Concert Party, then, the nation will be a cheap bowl for the world’s spit.

I know by now you may have tagged me as a PPP journalist. That I am on PPP’s payroll. If this is your thinking then I must as well let you know that I am not perturbed. I have been tagged an NPP in relation to some of my previous articles.

My philosophy in life is never to fail to appreciate that which is good. I wish the parties in court good luck. If things, however, do not go on well with them at the end of the day, Ghana wins.

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

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba

 

TALKING DRUM: Why social media is now your CV!

Social Media

She shouted my name. I didn’t hear her calling. She made gestures at me. I didn’t see that, too.

It was not until my sister tapped on my shoulder telling me “the woman is calling you.” It was on September 17, 2016; a graduation day at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ). Sister Akos, a lady who operates a chop bar (local restaurant) somewhere outside the campus of GIJ, stood behind a table. She was selling soft drinks.

Indeed, Sister Akos didn’t open her eatery on that Saturday as she said she anticipated a trend that could affect her sales. 

“Today, you people [graduating students] will be bringing in your own food so I didn’t open the chop bar,” she said to me.

Although formally uneducated, Sister Akos understands the trends in marketing equally better as the marketing student. This adaptation to marketing trends is the concern of a good friend, Joshua Tigo.

Tigo [his real name] works as the deputy public relations officer of Accra Polytechnic. Whenever we meet and talk about the youth, unemployment and being smart with marketing trends, he brings up the topic of social media having the ability to secure a weary soul a job.

He believes the youth must be smart to know that when you sense a possible failure after begging receptionists to take your application letters, you strategise in meeting the employers themselves. 

“Solo, the truth is that most of these employers are on social media with us. They see and read whatever we post or tweet,” Tigo said.

We had met at Manasseh Azure Awuni’s wedding at Aburi in the Eastern region.

Indeed, Tigo is right. I secured my previous job, before I joined Ghanaweb, through social media. When I woke up from a night’s sleep, last year June, a manager of a media firm had inboxed me on Facebook.

“How are you, Solo? Call me ASAP [as soon as possible] 020***,” wrote the manager.

When I called I was told to meet him at his office, here in Accra, and our meeting got me a job as a reporter cum online editor. Many a time, friends would as well inbox me recommending me to employers.

I was not therefore surprised when a friend once said to me that I am lucky in getting jobs. I smiled. The secret is that from day one I stepped foot at the campus of the Ghana Institute of Journalism; I started pushing myself through the media by filing stories from rural areas. Most importantly, writing became [and still is] my wife and I never failed sharing on Facebook, Twitter and on WhatsApp whatever story I filed or article I wrote. 

Writing predominantly on Facebook since 2011, most people associate me with writing. What do people tag you with on social media? 

Not long ago, a video of a lady, singing in asking Jesus whether He is aware she was unmarried, went viral on social media. You watched that too, right? I had before that seen a couple of videos from the same lady but that which she shared her frustrations over marriage got people talking about her the more.

On Tuesday, September 27, 2016 the lady in question by name Divine Diamond was live in the studios of Accra based Pluzz FM. She accused Hiplife Artist Guru of stealing her song [her video].

Guru, known for sing-along songs, had released a single dubbed “Are You Aware” days after Diamond’s video went viral. He basically used the lyrics and melody the lady did in her video. This was a big news item for bloggers and entertainment pundits. Divine Diamond was trending.

Despite Guru later denying the claim, his manager speaking on the show had admitted they got inspiration from the lady’s video and that they will officially meet her to ‘sort her out.’  

But the most interesting twist in the Diamond-Guru saga was when the lady revealed who she really is. 

“I am an actress and I have been striving hard enough to get a role in a movie but to no avail,” she said to AM PLUZZ host Sammy Flex.

Diamond said her video was/is actually part of a television series she is shooting with her team. They thought of a plan to sell out their yet to be released series. The idea of recording and sharing short videos on social media popped up. 

So, Guru fortunately or unfortunately tapping her melody made her and the video much more popular. Already, I learnt some movie producers have started calling Diamond to take up roles. She did not strip herself naked on social media to gain attention. Diamond rode on her potential and with time doors of opportunities are opening up for her. 

I am not a social media strategist but having known the value of marketing one’s self on such platforms, I will suggest some few things to you.

Your profile picture

Most of today’s employers, after interviewing one for a job, would ask for their social media handles [names] and they will take time to read you. I believe your social media profile picture should speak well of you.

Many a time, some people will use guns or display money or such pictures as their profile pictures. No serious employer will recruit a gun-displaying fellow in their reputable organisation. If you cannot use your own picture then find something acceptable to use.

 

Your content

I would suggest you become very selective in what you post on social media. Jokes are good for relaxation. However, I personally do not subscribe to people posting unnecessary jokes that in itself are not funny. If you, however, aspire to be a comedian then you make your intentions clear so people find space in their busy schedule to read such jokes.

Your content, therefore, must be something you dearly love. If you are a footballer, talk about your passion aside posting about other stuff. You could record your training session on that field and share on social media. It will surprise you who will be watching.

If you are self-employed or an artisan share photos of your products and services to attract more customers and to as well motivate someone somewhere to do same or better. 

What you must know is that social media platforms like Facebook make money out of you. The advert you see on Facebook are there because owners of the platform have told advertisers they have millions of people, including you, who will see and click on their adverts. So, your only way out is to also freely post useful content to your friends to gain traction. 

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

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba

TALKING DRUM: From Classroom to Newsroom, My desperate journey!

The writer, Solomon Mensah, poses to the camera at his GIJ graduation.

Nurturing a passion

  

“Kofi!”

“Is Kofi there?” called my Father.

It was somewhere in 1999. I was by then in the primary school. Such calls from my [Late] Father, especially when he sat in the corridor, basically involved two things; either he would teach me a life-lesson or he requested I helped him select a document from a bank of papers.

A night school he claimed to have attended only afforded him the ability to tell the time by his wrist-watch. However, when he called me on that day he would ‘read’ a national daily to my hearing. 

In the newspaper, Opanin Mensah Solomon stood by a plantain tree that had borne three buds. It was a mystery and he was, on that day he called me, touting his achievements.

“So, who wrote this about you?” I asked.

“A pressman,” he answered, instructing me to speak to his right ear for the left [ear] was failing him.

“A Pressman? Who are those people?

“Their job is to write news in the papers.”

He had educated me and from that day I said to myself I will also be a pressman.

I started writing

In the year 2000, I had failed entry exams into the junior secondary school level at the Sacred Heart Primary & JSS in Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region. I had not been able to convince my parents to buy me a lens so in writing the entry exams, I saw nothing written on the chalkboard as I was made to sit far away from the board. The invigilator would not heed to my cry to let me sit in front of the class. 

My [Late] mother, Ama Adease, got me admission at the St James Primary & JSS, also in Sunyani, as I protested against being repeated at Sacred Heart. 

In my new school, I met a teacher who rekindled my passion for journalism. The Social Studies teacher named Mr. Abebey once charged us to write as some students from Accra did in the Junior Graphic.

“Those students in Accra are not better than you. Start writing short stories and I will help you post them to the Junior Graphic for publication,” said Mr. Abebey, wearing a blue faded jeans that matched his arm-folded-long-sleeve white shirt.

When I got home the day Mr. Abebey motivated us, I ran to my Father to tell me a tale. He had a bank of Ananse stories.

Days later, the teacher brought copies of the Junior Graphic to class on one Wednesday. He was super happy. The Ananse story my Father told me had been published.

“Hey keep quiet [he told the class]. This is a story Solomon wrote and it has been published,” he said showing it to the class.

That publication inspired me to write more. I wrote ‘letter to the editor’ to The Mirror and Graphic Nsεmpa [an Asante Twi newspaper the Graphic Communication Group used to publish].

Journalism at the teachers’ training college

“Hello! Good morning and welcome to the BETCO Breakfast news. My name is Solomon Mensah … ,” that was my introduction.

It was at the dining hall of the then Berekum Teachers’ Training College (BETCO). My strategy was to listen to both Joy FM and Radio Ghana’s 6am news via their affiliate stations Sky FM and Radio BAR, in Sunyani, respectively, every day. I would jolt down the news, re-write and present it at the dining hall when students had their breakfast around 9am.

My College ID

The Students’ Representative Council led by one Kwasi Amankonah had subsequently made for me an ID card authorizing me as a ‘college journalist.’ I, as well, fished for stories on campus and in Berekum town to broadcast to my audience. In one of such reports, I interviewed Lord Oppong Stephen, then Berekum NDC Parliamentary aspirant, in 2007, via phone at the dining hall. 

To give my news a new feel of class, I approached a very pretty lady who sat just by me in class. I had, before then, been accused of having ‘something to do with her’ but we never went beyond friendship. 

Aside her beauty, Lawrencia Mintah’s voice was enough a Celine Deon’s song to the ear.

Capitalizing on the scratchy public address system at the College’s dining hall, I would give her copies of the news scripts and we read the news together. 

In other breath, I wrote and pasted articles on the College’s noticeboard using the pen name ‘Otiberεkε.’ The name which means the ‘wisdom head that wears a royal crown’ earned me the status of a campus celebrity. If I would not be (mis)taken for exaggeration, at any point in time one saw students gathered at the notice board reading my articles.

Indeed, the hand-written articles with its corresponding art work drawn by a friend, Kelvin Takyi, had some lecturers reading too. 

Dreams!

It almost became tormenting the frequent dreams I had in my sleep. In those dreams, I would see myself either holding the microphone interviewing people or shooting a scene with a camera on my shoulder while I squint-eyed. 

In all these dreams, it was only Kelvin Takyi I informed and he had one response; “Take it serious and pursue your dream.”

In search of a mentor

If for any reason I will miss Radio Ghana’s news, I will in no way miss a segment on the news called “News Commentary.”

The News Commentary gives writers and social commentators the opportunity to write about issues happening in and around the country. One name was frequently mentioned on this segment.

“In News Commentary, today, Manasseh Azure Awuni, SRC President of the Ghana Institute of Journalism argues that …,” that young man’s style of writing was unmatched. I looked for him online, sent him a mail, exchanged contacts and he has since been a great helper.

The GIJ admission 

The passion for journalism was hard hitting me in all this while. But I needed to complete the college for my mother. 

I applied for internship at both Space FM and Chris FM, in Sunyani and Berekum respectively. I was denied.

I consulted both a counselor and one of my brothers that I wanted to study journalism. Their answers made me buy Ghana Institute of Journalism’s admission form. When Manasseh called to tell me I had been shortlisted for a course in Diploma in Communication studies, I knew the time had come. 

Coming to Accra & the hustle

I eventually had to relocate to Accra. After three months asylum with some good friends at Mamprobi, I [peacefully] parted ways to settle at Labadi to start city life on my own. Here, getting access to water, bath and toilet were a miracle.

City life was as hard as squeezing water from stone. Opposite the entrance of GIJ, was a banku seller. Together with a friend we bought banku on credit. However, I would go to the rural areas in Brong Ahafo for stories whenever I got some little amount of money.

My first television report dubbed “Disabled Man in Berekum” was aired on GTV on 30^th May, 2012. I was by then in second semester, first year at GIJ. I thereafter did freelance for Adom TV, Joy News and wrote for Agoo Magazine among others.

On campus, I wrote and pasted articles using the pen name Aniwaba and as well wrote for Radio Ghana’s News Commentary. 

Cutting a long story short, becoming a journalist has been one desperate journey travelled with determination. Today, the struggle seems to be over and I am proud I took a risk following my passion. 

On September 17, 2016 I graduated from GIJ with a Second Class Upper in Bachelor of Arts. I have never felt fulfilled as on this day.

Whereas following one’s passion is important, we must not let money lead us. Many were my [teacher] friends who asked whether journalism paid much more than teaching. I had one answer for such folks.

That, we do not study journalism because we want to amass wealth. We study journalism because it is either an undying passion or a calling to serve humanity. 

Go out there and chase your dream. Trust in God and you will emerge a success. I have trusted God that He will plant my feet on a higher rock in my chosen field. You can trust Him too.

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

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba