Traditional and Beyond: A 21st Century Chief

Black History is not a month, BUT—365 days a year! For Black/African people it is prehistoric and ancient, it is life and love, African-centered cultures and survival throughout Continental Africa and the African Diaspora. It is the African Union's Six Regions of Africa. It is Sankofa(ism).

In the ancient history of Blacks/Africans are many chronicles of royal kings and queens who ruled majestically; they were builders, mathematicians, scientists and philosophers. If engineering skills or scholarship were not of the African royals' expertise, they summoned the cream of society to serve; and sought ones with the upmost knowledge to seek advice—i.e. from Ptah and Manetheo to Imhotep and Hypatia.

Throughout history thousands of years of migration for whatever reasons, the African has had several great rulers. And depending on the cultures, the African royal titles would differ. The duties of those African rulers were to aid in securing; for the survival of the masses; and constructing settlements and kingdoms. African rulers were usually not just about self, family members and cronies, but their nations as a whole. Some African rulers were wicked, but many were just-- if not, we would not be here.

Today, there are African royals who are attempting to intertwine traditional practices and modernity in efforts to bridge the gap between African Diasporans who are able to repatriate and come help redevelop and work alongside their continental African relatives. There are African leaders trying to guide continental Africans in understanding Pan Africanism, the “forward ever...” (President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) movement with the purpose of recapturing full independence, and not just via theory, but application and at the same time struggling to find resources to aid in building and survival.

Dr. Makeda: Greetings Nana Gypei. Please, I appreciate you taking time out from your busy schedule to sit and discuss with me areas in Ghana that need to be address because of the ongoing issues that plague the country (i.e. corruption, listed as an HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Nation), poor education system and dilapidated school buildings, downward spiraling of Ghana currency, infrastructure issues, environmental problems (especially water pollution via Galamsey).

What are the three main areas which the people need to start focusing on in order to begin raising Ghana up out of its quagmire?

Nana Gypei III: Let me first say--thank you for inviting me.

As Nana, the Akyenpemhen, who is at the foot, the very base of the Cape Coast chieftaincy, I must address and encourage the people and politicians to confront these major issues. Of course there are additional problems, but I think the following when these areas are corrected or improved the other problems will probably be fixed or progress in the process:

#1 Education; #2 Pan Africanism: and #3 Public coffers--stolen or mismanaged monies needed to be retrieved, and apply the appropriate repercussions—

Dr. Makeda: Please—there has been a lot of talk, talk, talk, and social media and television—yelling, bantering back and forth, but solutions are needed. And in referencing Sankofa-ism, what methods and patterns in history are useful and can be applied so we can go forward?

Nana Gypei III: Let's first start with Education—

Joint efforts by Ghanaians and African Diasporans in writing an African-centered syllabus for Ghana, and implement this most urgently. Let us not forget, Nkrumah and Azekewe and many other continental African attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States; and Fidel Castro's Cuba have trained Ghanaians in practicing medicine.

We need all education facilities to be inspected and modernized. Teachers need to be properly interviewed, well trained and African-centered, motivated and provided the appropriate resources to teach with it. We need to weed the corrupt teachers out who are only interested in receiving a salary and/or at schools abusing youth. Caning in Ghana is unlawful. More parental guidance is essential, and parents cooperating with teachers are a must.

Continental Africans must be taught Ghana is not Africa, but a part of it; and that the history did not begin with their individual tribe/nation. Youth must be taught ourstory/history is millions of years old and global. Youth in Ghana must be able to critically think, not just “chew and pour”; and they should be able to compete in math, science, technology and inventions-- positive creativity, make contributions to the continent of Africa and internationally. Proper government funding is needed to implement all this!

Dr. Makeda: As for Pan Africanism--

Nana Gypei: Pan Africanism is the unity of all Black/African people throughout the world and understanding and loving who we are, our African heritage and cultures. Pan Africanism is about Black innovation, not mimicking Europeans. Pan Africanism is the healing of Black people after via forced migration (chattel enslavement).

Pan African thinkers must be wise strategists in order to redevelop and secure Africa, and be determined like many of the ancestors, just to name a few-- Henry Williams, Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah (and Nkrumah's Convention People's Party) W.E.B. DuBois, George Padmore, Patrice Lumumba, Elijah Muhammad, Winnie Mandela, and many other revolutionaries. They shaped and formed the Pan African movement deliberately in their own way for liberation and Black upliftment in all aspects of society, i.e. economic empowerment, education, family and community.

Today the new Pan African thinkers I admire, and I recommend Africans to follow— Louis Farrakhan, Julius Malema, Samuel Ablakwa, Samia Nkrumah, James Smalls, Leonard Jeffries, Umar Johnson, Beatrice King, Attila Shabazz, Sister Soulja, Blakk Rasta… there are many others, myself and you.

I must emphasize and encourage Ghanaians to join Pan African groups and become active; and get educated not only about Ghana and neighboring African nations, but all of Africa and the African Diaspora, which has been proclaimed by the African Union as the Sixth Region of Africa.

Why ignore other Africans? --Because of European Berlin Conference Borders???

Unite—and along with other Africans throughout the world, take 'Positive Action' against European neo-colonialism. Let's stop doing business and signing agreements with white supremacists whose agreement are not beneficial to Ghana. Learn from unwise chieftaincies in history—see The Bond, signed 6 March1844, which the document aided European colonialists in increasing their footing in order to colonize and take control of valuable natural resources.

--Saluting President Nkrumah and his CPP (Convention People's Party) for 6 March 1957, Independence Day.

And just think, English is the official language of Ghana, our working language, not Swahili, which it's said one third of Africa speaks it, and this is the reason it was one of the first languages chosen by the AU as a 'working language” for all of Africa. Why? Because there are so many languages in Africa, making it difficult to settle differences, unite and conduct business transactions.

Dr. Makeda: Do you think the history of Pan Africanism and African revolutionaries should be taught in Classrooms?

Nana Gypei: Most definitely. We learn about Greeks, British King James, Queens Victoria and Elizabeth, why not learn Black/African History? We must research and understand who we are or others can just tell us anything.

Dr. Makeda: Lastly—Please, public coffers--stolen or mismanaged monies need to be retrieved and repercussions for thievery—

Nana Gypei: A nation-wide independent investigative committee should be organized, and transparency made the order of the day when it comes to every budget line item in Ghana government. All sectors of finance/budgeting need to be published, including negotiations and signed agreements. Such is public information or should be—it's the people tax money and the president and MPs are elected by the people.

Also, the judicial system is to be of integrity and fine-tuned; and judges are to be unbiased in their decision-making and punish all for criminal acts not just a select few. There must be repercussions for so called “white collar” crimes— such criminals punished and receive jail time like all others who steal—law applies when it comes to the president to all others in different walks of life. I must emphasize-- “No justice no peace”. There will be no peace in Ghana or any place for that matter as long as criminal behavior isn't put in check.

Dr. Makeda: Nana Gypei, Thank you for your words of wisdom; all the best to you and your subjects, especially in redeveloping Cape Coast, the former capital of Ghana.