Change came to the B.A.D in the Annus Horribilis that was 2016

Queen Elizabeth II called 1992 an Annus horribilis which basically means disastrous or unfortunate year. 2016 was pretty much an Annus horribilis on a global scale; a year full of political shocks and celebrity deaths. 

2016 will be remembered by children of the 80s as the year that saw the passing of many adored icons. There was Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, George Michael....just to name a few. There were other musical icons who passed on such as Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Leonard Cohen and of course the Kwaito legend Mandoza. The political surprises seen worldwide in 2016 were pretty spectacular. The conflict in Syria continued and became even more deadly as the year progressed. In early December, the Gambian strong man who has been in power since 1994 was beaten at the polls. Earlier in the year, the United Kingdom opted to leave the European Union which also coincided with the near-annihilation of the opposition Labour party through self-inflicted implosion. Later in the year, to the surprise of many, the US electoral college system voted to make Russia great again. 

Over in the Beacon of African Democracy (the B.A.D), something quite unexpected happened. The opposition managed to beat the incumbent government at the polls without the need for a run-off election.

Some may attribute this electoral feat to the eerie trend in which Ghana has followed the US electoral direction since 1992. The trend is simple; when Democrats win the US Presidential election, the National Democratic Congress wins in Ghana and when Republicans win, the New Patriotic Party wins. There are also supposedly ideological parallels to this. This would make sense if the winner of the 2016 US election was in fact an established Republican as opposed to a Democrat turned Independent turned Republican. However, I digress....

One of the best explanation for why (the soon to be erstwhile) Mahama administration lost the presidential election in 2016 came from a stinging article published in The Economist in November entitled Nkrumah's Heirs. The article coincidentally also refers to Ghana as the Beacon  of African Democracy and was pretty harsh on both political parties. What they had to say about the ruling party was severe but pretty informative:

Patronage, uncontrolled expenditure, burgeoning public debt, insouciance on the part of the President, squandering of oil money, pot-holed roads and incessant power cuts were just some of the factors at play that decided the fate of Ghana's National Democratic Congress. 

So there it is. Ghana will have Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President for the next 4 years. The effect of change has been interesting to witness. Many people appear delighted and some traders dropped prices in the market over Christmas. Cynics may view the latter move as a tad disingenuous...but that is just cynics. Throughout the land, there is an undeniable air of optimism, hope and NO space for complacency from Ghana's new leaders. The Ghanaian electorate has proven once again that it is powerful, discerning and unforgiving. 

New billboard up in Accra of the President-elect of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

#BringBackOurGirls: Day 47

On 15th April 2014, over 200 school girls were kidnapped at night from the Chibok Government Secondary School in Borno State in Northern Nigeria.



Map of Nigeria showing Borno state and Chibok
Source: BBC article on the kidnapping on 15 April 2014

Although news of the kidnapping was reported by some international media outlets from the beginning,   the story somehow seemed to stay under the radar of mainstream media.

 

A few across the world followed this harrowing event from the beginning. In the early days of the crisis, the Nigerian government appeared to dither and was even unsure about the numbers of girls kidnapped. For example, the first report from the BBC captures the confusion: "Nigeria unrest: Gunmen abduct 'about 100 schoolgirls'"

 

When some onlookers expressed shock and outrage over the events, the official line was  that it was a delicate and complex situation that was hard for most outside Nigeria to understand.

It was only after a few weeks following the kidnapping that the story started to take centre stage in the international media arena. This was in part thanks to one of the most vocal voices on the kidnapping; Oby Ezekwesili. Ms Ezekwesili has been unflinching and resolute in her efforts to bring the school girls back home. The #BringBackOurGirls hashtag started by Nigerians on Twitter was just one of the ways people across the globe learnt about the kidnapping. Suddenly, the world was talking about it and the notorious kidnapping became a cause du jour that was trendy to talk about. There were marches, protests worldwide and the curious pictures of random African girls meant to represent the Chibok girls. World powers started pledging support to the Nigerian government.

 

As the kidnapping story moved from the internet to mainstream television media, some of us designated ambassadors for Africa in other parts of the world were expected to explain why the Nigerian government was completely incompetent when it came to dealing with the situation. While the Nigerian president was unable to visit 



A pensive President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria as seen via Twitter photos



the area where the girls were kidnapped in his own country, he was able to take a 7 hour flight to Paris to a summit where African leaders unanimously declared war on Boko Haram. President Jonathan was equally available for another 7 hour flight to Johannesburg for the all-important inauguration of President Jacob Zuma.  

 

It is now the 47th Day since the girls were kidnapped from their school. No concrete leads. No concrete actions. Sadly, just as quickly as the world gained interest in the kidnapping, interest is waning. In the meantime, families are still missing their girls.

 

 



Martha Mark, Mother of Monica Mark. Source: Thinkprogres

One of the most poignant pictures for me has been that of Martha Mark the mother of one of the girls, Monica Mark.

This picture captures the fact that the kidnapped girls are real individuals. Real daughters, sisters, cousins and friends. Real next door neighbours, church members and team-mates. Real girls who like typical girls their age around the world think about school, friends, music, the future and boys. Another powerful representation comes from a New York Times article: "Bringing the Nigerian Schoolgirls Into View" . The article is accompanied by a photo-story showing the items left behind by the school girls. School uniforms, notebooks, slippers, dresses, photos, earrings, doodles in notebooks. Little things that show that they are not a faceless collective but real girls.

 

"Hauwa Mutah wants to be a biochemist. Monica Enoch loves to sing. Dourcas Yakubu is a shy girl who exchanged hand-written notes with a boy who called her “the remote control of my life.”"

- Bringing the Nigerian Schoolgirls Into View

 

As the girls remain in captivity one cannot help but ask questions. Why should self-appointed purveyors of morality be  deciding the direction the lives of these girls should take? Why should someone else force any religion on them? Why should the girls aspire to be no more than dutiful wives? This all makes little sense to me. As little sense as the inactions of the government that was elected to protect the rights of these girls, their friends and families.

 

In other news, the AU turned 50

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at the birth of the OAU in 1963
Source: Newafrican magazine via consultancy Africa blog

On Saturday 25 May 2013, the African Union (AU) turned 50 years old. Well, to be accurate, the forerunner of the AU, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) is actually what turned 50 years but that organization was dismantled in 2002 and replaced with the AU. 

Anyway, back to the milestone. In honour of the occasion,  I thought about a blog piece with links to Kwame Nkrumah's rousing African unity speech delivered in Addis Ababa in 1963. Interestingly, I could not find a link to the video or pictures of the event. To be honest, I see no reason for celebrating the AU at all. In terms of the nostalgic value, there are definitely reasons to celebrate. After all, the birth of the OAU in 1963 saw the best and brightest of the post-colonial African leaders coming together in unity to form a formidable organization uniting Africa. It was the dawn of a new era full of hope and the future was indeed bright. According to the OAU wikipedia page, the primary aims of the OAU were to:

• To promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and act as a collective voice for the African continent.
• To co-ordinate and intensify the co-operation of African states in order to achieve a better life for the people of Africa 
• To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states.
• The OAU was also dedicated to the eradication of all forms of colonialism

With this list in mind, one can safely say that over the past 50 years, things did not go so smoothly for either Africa or the OAU. There have been military coup d'états, dictators, wars, conflict, colonial and neo-colonial incursions. Throughout the strife,  the OAU/AU has not really had much impact. In reality, the OAU/AU is a case of being brilliant on paper but in reality, an organization without a spine or teeth. At the same time, parallel to the existence of the AU have been various regional organizations that seem to have had more impact. Examples of these include the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and also the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). So as the AU turns 50 years and we celebrate this feat, the question becomes, do we as Africans hang onto the AU for the nostalgic value or face reality that the AU is not really up to the mark? Any thoughts?

President John Dramani Mahama: Fourth President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana

The President of Ghana- His Excellency Mr. John D. Mahama
Source: JoyFM online

It is Monday 7th January 2013 and the city of Accra is abuzz. This is simply because a new president, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has just been inaugurated into office. He becomes the 4th President under the Fourth Republic of Ghana and the 7th President of Ghana overall. It seems fitting that in the age of the smartphone, netbook and tablet computer, President Mahama read his first address to the nation from an iPad. My warmest congratulations to President Mahama and best wishes for a successful tenure. May you work hard to fulfill the pledges and promises you have made to the Ghanaian populace. The Ghanaian people are watching closely.

Africa Rising: Mrs. Joyce Banda sworn in as President of Malawi

Mrs Joyce Banda
Source: BBC Online

Although largely by default, history has been made today on the African continent. Following the very sudden death of President Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi, vice-president Mrs. Joyce Banda was sworn in as President. She is the first female president of Malawi and the 2^nd female President of an African country. 

I must admit that I do not know much about Mrs. Banda. I know nothing about her policies nor do I have a complete understanding of the issues surrounding her acrimonious relationship with the now-deceased former president. However, I do feel a wave of hope and optimism for the African continent that comes purely from a deviation from the norm. I think I have to explain.

African politics is a very male-dominated arena and not only that but it is dominated by males of a certain age and generation. Although their wisdom and experience have added a level of stability to the African continent, some of these learned men have clung to power for far to long leading to stagnation.There is always a need for change. Such a change came in Senegal recently when a relatively young 50 year old Mack Sall was sworn in as President after octogenarian Abdoulaye Wade gracefully conceded defeat in a run-off election. This was after the same President Wade not-so gracefully changed the constitution to allow himself to run for an unprecedented third term in office. 

So winds of change are blowing through the African continent. A Malawian from high school could not have expressed it better on facebook when she said that this Easter has a special meaning as it marks a renewal of hope and rebirth. This can be seen as hope and rebirth not just for Malawi but for the entire continent. 

Next up, can we please have Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala heading the World Bank already ?!

Gay Relief from the Woyome heat (wave)

Contrary to what most people believe, African leaders love gay people. In recent times, the African politician has come to realise that no single issue can galvanize and unite the citizenry across the usual divides than calls for gay rights. Lets face it; there are quite a lot of issues causing friction, heat and tension across the continent right now. Aside from ongoing violent conflicts, there are several instances where the masses are growing increasing discontent with their governments.

There are the events in Senegal with a populace irate at the prospect of President Wade heading for another term in office.

Shocking scenes of violence in Dakar following a court's ruling that President Wade
is eligible to run for a 3rd term
Source: cnn.com

There is the increasingly agitated populace in Nigeria refusing to accept excuses from their leaders. In Uganda the opposition has been busy organizing a series of rallies that have left the government seriously unimpressed.

In Ghana we have Woyomegate. This may seem trivial in  comparison to other serious problems across the contient but since the beginning of the year, no other issue has dominated Ghanaian media more than the so-called Woyome saga. Everyday serial callers all over the nation call into radio stations stating their opinions on the saga.  Many of us have actually given up trying to understand the intricacies and it is all panning out to be a political soap opera of costly proportions. Everyone appears to be taking the heat for the Woyome debacle but the greatest toll so far has been on the present administration. 

UN Secretary-general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Source: bbc.co.uk

So it must have been with much delight that the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon's call to African leaders to respect gay rights hit the headlines. In my mind's eye I saw government communication teams across the continent jumping for joy since the perfect distraction had just been gift-wrapped and presented to them.

Therefore, I was not too surprised to see that the President of Ghana has already responded to the secretary-general's call equivocally stating that Ghana will not be forced to legalize homosexuality despite pressure from the international community. He was also sure to  reaffirm the government’s position on the issue. Whether there has been relief from the heat of the Woyome saga only time, and the tone of serial callers' calls tomorrow, will tell. 

How the BBC Jailed the Former Tunisian President....in absentia

I trust the BBC. From the age of 7,  I can recall that every morning started with the Lilliburlero blaring from my father's Grundig radio which announced the start of the BBC World Service News at 7am. In those days, most of the news revolved around war games between the erstwhile USSR and  Reagan's USA. Although most of the content of the news was beyond my understanding at the time, my siblings and I played a game with my dad where we would guess the name of the presenter for the morning. 

Later on in the day, there was the almost ever-constant "This is Chris Bickerton with Focus on Africa" that marked our evenings and announced the start of the BBC flagship programme often presented by the late BBC journalist Chris Bickerton.

From the Cold War to the end of the Cold War, from apartheid South Africa to the end of apartheid South Africa, through famine and strive in the horn of Africa, the BBC was there. 

Aside from a commitment to journalistic integrity, I have  long-associated the BBC with impeccably spoken English language and grammar. That is why, a headline I first heard on the BBC and later saw on their website this past Monday, left me completely perplexed and befuddled:

"BBC News - Tunisia's Ben Ali jailed in absentia for 35 years". 

Former President Ben Ali and wife Leila....."jailed in absentia"
Source: myjoyonline.com

Former President Ben Ali is in exile and clearly not in Tunisia so how could he have been jailed? Also, what does being "jailed in absentia" mean anyway? This headline had me heading for the dictionary definition of jail from the Merriam-Oxford Dictionary online:

²jail

 verb

Definition of JAIL

transitive verb

: to confine in or as if in a jail

Still perturbed, I put the question to the wise people of the Twitterverse.The best response I got was:

elidot  

@ 

@abena_serwaa Perhaps they're speaking figuratively? Or in reference to his soul, which is already in captivity?

So perhaps they were speaking figuratively but the BBC online was sure to correct the headline later on in the day and also remove all traces of the original faux pas:

BBC New: Tunisia's Ben Ali sentenced to jail in absentia

Sadly for the BBC, due to its reputation as an authoritative and trusted news source, the original logic-defying headline has been reproduced on other sites world-wide including on Ghana's Joy FM online as you can see here. 

Nobody is infallible and we all make mistakes, grammatical ones included. But it is fascinating how this grammatical lapse gave the sentence a whole different meaning. Now...can someone tell Joy FM?  

Death of an Iconic Activist and Matriarch: Albertina Sisulu (21 October 1918 - 2 June 2011)

Mrs. Albertina Sisulu, 1918 - 2011
Source: AP via bbc.co.uk 

It was with great sadness that I learnt that on  2 June 2011, Mrs. Albertina Sisulu, wife of the late South African anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu, passed away at the age of 92. In the dying days of apartheid in the mid-90s, I had the priviledge of hearing Mrs. Sisulu speak at my school in Swaziland. To a packed auditorium, she addressed the audience with a written speech which she read. I remember it being quite formal and not too inspiring. At the end, she folded the speech, put away her reading glasses and proceeded to completely blow our minds with a powerful, unscripted talk. We were left in awe and spell-bound. Although her exact words are now a distant memory, I do recall a heartfelt, rousing account of her experiences in the fight against institutionalized racism in South Africa. Like many wives of jailed anti-apartheid leaders of the time, circumstances forced her into the role of leadership of the struggle and at the same time being primary caretaker of her family. She rose to the challenges with strength, humility and selflessness. 

From the brief encounter with Mrs. Sisulu that evening, we not only gained insight into this anti-apartheid stalwart and iconic activist but were truly inspired by her words. To quote South African President Jacob Zuma on her passing: 

 "Mama Sisulu has over the decades been a pillar of strength not only for the Sisulu family but also the entire liberation Movement as she reared, counselled, nursed and educated most of the leaders and founders of the democratic South Africa" 

Source: AllAfrica.com

May Mrs. Sisulu's  soul rest in peace and may her legacy continue to be a source of inspiration for future generations of South Africans and Africans.

Brief Musings on Cote D'Ivoire via the music of Espoir 2000

It has been quite an eventful past few weeks in Cote D'Ivoire. Actually it has  been quite an eventful past few months and one could argue years. I've written a few blog posts on the crisis in Cote D'Ivoire but  chose not to publish these since they can best be described as frustration-filled rantings on the selfishness of African politicians.

Moving right along. I was just listening to the 22 April BBC Africa Today podcast from the Focus on Africa daily show. It appears there are attempts to normalize life in Cote D'Ivoire. President-elect Ouattara says that with assistance from France (?), two months salaries will be paid. There are plans for Nigeria to supply crude oil as well as cooking gas to prevent breaks in supply. It is hoped that by the end of April, normalization should be a reality.

Despite efforts at normalization, what has been on my mind lately is how a very-much polarized  Cote D'Ivoire will once again be united. In the meantime, I've been listening to one of my favorite Ivorian music groups Espoir 2000 (Hope 2000). Their 2006 album Gloire et Dieu (God and Glory) is not only laden with infectious 'zouglou' tracks but with  lyrics full of wisdom and a little prescience. Well, that could just be my rusty French speaking!  

My favorite track from the Gloire et Dieu album would have to be Abidjan Farot which just makes me want to head out to Abidjan and party:



In fact, the entire Gloire et Dieu album has some interesting gems such as Année 80 (1980) which starts with the (translated) line:

"In the time of Boigny, there was joy, in the time of Boigny there was peace".   

Aside from tracks harking back to a nostalgic and idyllic past under the late President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, there are also  tracks relevant to the Ivorian future. Well, the future after 2006 that is.
The opening lyrics of the track Trop C'est Trop offer food for thought for not only Ivorian but African leaders in general:

"Coute que coute vaille que vaille je serais president

J’y tient tellement que je suis prêt à tuer

Schéma classique d’une comédie politique

Aujourd’hui on tue des gens qu’on veut gouverner demain.." 

Source: http://www.greatsong.net/

"At all costs somehow I would be president
I feel so strongly in this that I am ready to kill
Classic plot of a political comedy
Today we kill the people we want to govern tomorrow.."   

Sadly, the official  Espoir 2000 video on YouTube has really poor quality sounds but interesting images that capture the spirit of the song.

Despite my sounding quite pessimistic, I'm actually filled with hope that Cote D'Ivoire will rally again. In the meantime, I'm heading back to listen to Espoir 2000, Meiway, Magic System, Alpha Blondy and all other artistes who capture the irrepressible spirit of the Ivoiran people.

The Blinged-up MP with Swagger

No, this is NOT the MP!
This is the undisputed King of Bling the (Veteran Rapper) Slick Rick 

Lets face it; news from Africa these days is particularly bleak. There's Gaddafi to the North engaged in a tragic battle against his people, there's Gbagbo and Ouattara to the West still wrestling over control of Cote D'Ivoire and there's the never-ending battle in the East for the control of the Horn of Africa. In the face of all this mayhem, there was one news item this past week that managed to make me laugh out loud. It was the curious case of the 35 year old Kenyan law-maker Hon. Gidion Mbuvi who was thrown out of the august Kenyan House of Parliament for wearing diamond ear studs and shades. Hon. Mbuvi not only sees himself as the representative of the youth who voted for him but feels that this representation should be manifested in his personal style. Apparently the hummer-driving Mr. Mbuvi is known for his flamboyance and love of all things bling. 

Ice in his ears and wrapped in Ray Bans, Hon. Mbuvi steps out
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Although not quite a spring chicken at 35, Mr. Mbuvi appears to  recognize where power lies. In Sub-saharan Africa, the vast majority of individuals in any population are likely to be that elusive group called "The youth". Therefore, the youth, even though they do not realise it themselves, represent a very important and powerful constituency. The youth could in fact make or break elections. Sadly for Mr. Mbuvi though, most of these societies hold age, respectability and wisdom in very high esteem. Although it was a powerful gesture on his part, I cannot help but also wonder:

• Wouldn't it be more powerful if Mr. Mbuvi represented the youth by championing legislation that would make a positive impact on their lives such as job creation?

• How on earth can youth be expected to be taken seriously when their youthful ambassador in parliament is too busy trying to be a baller, keeping it real and strutting with the bling, ice and chrome?

Nonetheless, Hon Mbuvi's stance was a welcome relief from the numbing effects of over-exposure to conflict in the news. Plus the man proved that He got swagger!


P.S. Happy Birthday Ghana; 54 years of Freedom and Justice with some bumps on the way. The best part is that we have made it thus far and we are still going strong.


P.P.S: My 200th post and I did not even notice!

The King and I: Reflections on the Brotherly Leader as he hovers on the brink

I have never met Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi  but unlike some, I remember very clearly the first time I heard his name.  It was not during his dramatic visit to Ghana for an African Union summit in 2007 when he led a convoy of 109 cars  across the Sahara desert and set up a tent camp in Accra for the duration of the summit. No. The first time I heard his name was when I  was 8 years old and my family (then resident in Southern Africa) were on holiday in Ghana for Christmas. In the sweltering December heat, we found ourselves stuck in traffic for a few hours all because a certain "Colonel Muammar Gaddafi" was visiting Ghana. It seemed like an eternity in hell. To this day, I'm still not sure why a state visit by Colonel Gaddafi had halted traffic but at the time, the seeds of bitterness and suspicion were firmly implanted in my 8 year old mind.

Over the years since, I caught glimpses of  the eccentric and mercurial Gaddafi as he has drifted through the international news for:

• The Pam Am Flight 103 / Lockerbie Bombing in 1988
• The Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor incident in which foreign medical personnel were  accused of spreading HIV in a Benghazi hospital
• The (in)famous female crack bodyguards
• His aptly-named son Hannibal's brushes with the law in Switzerland
• The release of the 'Lockerbie Bomber' and the ensuing controversy

Curiously, in recent years, Gaddafi has taken a more than active role in African politics. As chairman of the AU, he led a clarion call  for a united Africa.To me his real agenda remained unclear. Was he thinking of a fortified and strengthened Africa? Did he have our interests at heart? Did he envisage himself as the leader of this united Africa? Perhaps a King of Africa?

Gaddafi and Berlusconi in 2010: Both making negative headlines in 2011

Last year, Colonel Gaddafi true feelings about Africa became more  transparent.  In  a state visit to Italy, he called for 6.3 billion dollars a year to stop illegal African immigrants. He was sure to make his case by pandering to base racist elements by calling for a prevention of a “Black Europe”. He tore the last shred of African dignity left by painting a bleak picture of invading and barbaric black hordes assembled outside the pearly gates of Europe. Interestingly, Gaddafi asked for the money not to reduce push factors within African countries that lead to migration but for money to beef up Libyan security.

But that was last year. In 2011, the world has watched  in awe as the once-strong Gaddafi is unraveling before our eyes. His very sudden decline would be more than comical if it was not having such tragic consequences.

Final Stand: Gaddafi in February 2011

Gaddafi is currently waging war against his own people and blaming his current woes on everything from the youth fueled by drugs from the West and now even Al-Qaeda has been fingered. After almost 42 years in power it appears that Gaddafi is confused as to where he ends and Libya begins. He appears to see attacks on Libya as attacks on him. He is promising to go down fighting and wants to take Libya down with him. The world is watching horrified but hopeful.  Are we  going to bid  farewell to the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi? Can I finally cross off the current occupant of the Number 1 spot on the list of African-leaders-still-in-power-when-I-was-in primary-school?

Of Winds of Change, Domino Effects and Irrepressible People Power

"....Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
in the wind of change..."

'Wind of Change' - The Scorpions

Almost twenty years ago, the 1990 power ballad by the German hard-rock group The Scorpions 'Wind of Change' hit the charts worldwide. Perhaps  its  the whistle prelude coupled with the guitar intro that still makes this song so popular but its powerful lyrics celebrate the political changes that had swept rapidly across Eastern Europe leading to the collapse of the Communist bloc in the very early '90s. Although it was probably inevitable, the eventual decimation of the Eastern bloc started with irrepressible people-inspired revolutions that spread rapidly like wildfire across Eastern and Central Europe from Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia to Romania. The final nail in the coffin for the  Communist bloc was the disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991. In the  end, it was NOT Western capitalism, Western democracy or James Bond that won the Cold War but irrepressible people power. 

Yes James; part of me always thought 007 would win the Cold War!

Twenty years on, similar people-inspired revolutions are sweeping across the Middle East/North Africa. The world witnessed in amazement how events of December 2010 in Tunisia led to the toppling of the once-strong Zine El Abidine Ben Ali regime. Could anyone have predicted that a domino effect would lead to protests in other countries within the region? A year ago, could anyone fathom that irrepressible people power would result in the resignation of one of the stalwarts of Middle-Eastern politics over the past 30 years, Hosni Mubarak? 

Former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak. I still find it bewildering to be typing "former"
Source: bbc.co.uk

Although Egypt's immediate future is fraught with uncertainties and the stability of the region hangs in the balance, for the moment there is jubilation and celebration. It is becoming apparent that a strong wind of change is blowing across the Middle East/North Africa, the entire African continent and perhaps the world. Suddenly, the possibilities of people power are becoming endless.

As the list of African-leaders-still-in-power-when-I-was-in primary-school becomes shorter, one wonders where the next point of call for the wind of change is:

• Libya?
• Equatorial Guinea?
• Zimbabwe?

One thing is for certain, autocratic leaders and dictators across the globe should be quivering in their boots. The people they take for granted and govern with impunity are growing weary of accepting the status quo. They are now facing forward towards a future filled with liberty, peace and democracy.

"...The wind of change

Blows straight into the face of time

Like a stormwind that will ring the freedom bell

For peace of mind...."

'Wind of Change' - The Scorpions

Now you see him, Now you don't: The Exit of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia after 23 years in power

I have a very simple barometer to decide whether an African leader has been in power to long. If you are STILL on the list of African leaders I had to cram in primary school, then you have over-stayed your welcome! It was against this backdrop that I was stunned by the  sudden exit of someone on this list; President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia who had been in power since 1987. It appears his grip on power  started to unravel recently after weeks of angry protests over unemployment, food prices, corruption, freedom of speech and poor standards of living. No one expected that the president would resign and within one day would be on a plane out of the country for an unknown destination. Well, it appears that he has been taken in by Saudi Arabia but many Tunisians are still reeling over his sudden departure. Not only does this exit have implications for African leaders grasping onto power but also implications for the Arab world. So who is left on my primary school list? With the help  of Reuters, I bring you the list as it stands in January 2011:

• LIBYA - Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution, Muammar Gaddafi, in power since 1969
• EQUATORIAL GUINEA - President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo. Although he was curiously omitted from the Reuters list, President Mbasogo has been in power since 1979
• ANGOLA - President Eduardo Dos Santos, in power since 1979
• CONGO REPUBLIC - President Denis Sassou Nguesso who first came to power in 1979. He took a break from 1992 but was back at the helm of affairs in 1997
• ZIMBABWE - President Robert Mugabe came to power as prime minister in 1980 and took over the presidency in 1987
•  EGYPT - President Hosni Mubarak, in power since 1981
• CAMEROON - President Paul Biya, in power since 1982

• SWAZILAND - King Mswati III crowned king in 1986 (Reuters says 1987 but trust me, we had a holiday that day!)
• UGANDA - President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986
• BURKINA FASO - President Compaoré, in power since 1987. Mr. Compaoré did not quite make the Reuters roll-call but he certainly did make my primary school list. 

One thing is for certain, this list is getting shorter.  Also, there's a growing number of leaders not featured who are clearly overstaying their welcome across the continent. Did someone say...Gbagbo?

Kenya on the move with a New Constitution: Implications for Ghana's own review process?

Picture from the Kenyan Daily Nation Online showing "Mr Simon Wachira of Mt Kenya Tourism Circuit [being] assisted to climb Mt Kenya, where he placed a copy of the new Constitution on Friday" 

Let's face it; as soon as some of us hear "Constitution", we automatically go into snooze mode. That's exactly the attitude I had when I heard that Kenya had a new constitution. I knew there had been a referendum on the constitution, I had even caught glimpses of a glitzy ceremony and was sure there had finally been consensus between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga but frankly, it did not seem too exciting to me. I could not have been more wrong. Shamefully, it was only after I had listened to young Kenyan points-of-view on the constitution aired on BBC World Have Your Say that I actually became interested in the process and its implications.

New Constitution Day: Kenyans Jubilating (Hmmm...where are the women at?)
Source: AFP via the BBC

Not only is this Kenyan constitution cutting-edge for an African democracy, it is particularly poignant coming from a country with a long history of ethnic tension and a very recent history of post-election violence. The constitution also paves the way for similar processes in other African countries. Did you know Ghana is currently undergoing a constitutional review process? In 2010, a Ghanaian Constitution Review Commission was set up. They have commissioners working hard already and also have a pretty helpful website (www.crc.gov.gh).

According to their website:

"The Constitution Review Commission was set up by a Constitutional Instrument 2010 (C.I.) 64 as a Commission of Inquiry to conduct a consultative review of the operation of the 1992 Constitution."

*Sigh* All those 'C's in that one sentence above may elicit instant boredom but we often forget that a constitution provides the sets of laws/rules by which we are all governed and protected in any democracy. Therefore, it is imperative that we take more interest in any constitutional review.

Did you know that the Ghana Constitution Review Commission:

• Has a radio promo? 
• Is on Facebook and Twitter? 
• Has a blog? 
• Has been criss-crossing the country hearing views and suggestions from ordinary people regarding the constitution? 
• Has an online submission form on their website? 

Apparently 31,000 submissions have been made so far. This surprises me since I am not sure how seriously people (especially young people) are taking this process.

I do have questions of my own regarding this constitutional review process:

• Young people (0-24 year olds) form the vast majority of the Ghanaian population and are also those who are going to be most affected by any constitutional changes. How seriously engaged are they in this process? I am talking specifically about the 18-24 year olds? 
• How are all the submissions being sifted through and narrowed down? 
• Which suggestions will be deemed worthy to be part of the new constitution or a referendum ? 
• If a suggestion is not in the government's interest but comes from a sizeable number of people what happens to that suggestion? 

Anyone out there with thoughts on constitutional reviews and amendments? What suggestion would you have for a new constitution?