Dangme Youth Awake Network Outdoors Its Book 'Catalyst For Change In The Dangme Land'

DANGME YOUTH AWAKE NETWORK (DYAN) a pressure group promoting accountability and development in the Dangme Land outdoor its maiden and historic book 'CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN THE DANGME LAND' authored by Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, a renowned registered Naturopathic Doctor and Prostate Cancer Community Champion at Dodowa-Presby Park on Sunday 22 June 2014.

The book aims to raise awareness on basic challenges in the Dangme Land and looking at whether the Dangme Land is in a state of Stagnation or retrogression? The launch brought together chiefs, queen mothers, the Clergy, Politicians and Scholars in the Dangme Land with a display of talking drum by the Forest Drummers in Dodowa. Catalyst for Change in The Dangme Land is a must read book by all Dangmes . Here is the full speech delivered by the author of the book.

SPEECH ON 22 JUNE 2014 BY RAPHAEL NYARKOTEY OBU
Mr. Chairman, Chiefs and Queen mothers, Honorable Members, the Clergy, comrades and distinguish ladies and gentlemen. Today is a great day in my life to launch my second book 'Catalyst for Change in the Dangme Land'. I have written ten academic papers accepted in journals and a book on prostate health but to tell you the truth this is the most prestigious book I cherish, since it's about my own people. Charity they say begins from Home and I now understand.

Mr. Chairman , permit me to express my acknowledgment and profound gratitude to some people who made some remarkable contributions to my life up to date. Mr. Willington Vanderpuye of Christian Community Microfinance Limited, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie of the Alliance for accountable governance (AFAG), My Grandma- Florence Quarcoo, Mr Modeste Apenyo , Hon. Emmanuel Adjartey. Raphael Ofori Adeniran ,a senior reporter with Daily Guide , Mavis Ahuma and Sharon Ayertey, Nene Adjartey Kornor (11) is indeed a true and a principle man who want the best for the Dangeme Land and I am also very impressed to see my own Chairman Nene Agyemang Okukurobour Teye Kwesi Agyemang (V) projecting the image of the Dangme Land when I watch satellite TV. Priscilla Dzifa Norman a banker with FBN Ghana, and my family Mr. Chairman, 'When you're a catalyst for change, you make enemies- and am proud of the ones I've got. Rupert Murdoch.

Mr. Chairman, at the faculty of Health and Wellbeing -Sheffield Hallam University UK we were told not to waste good research work but published them. We were also told that publications provoke debate and I know the debate starts right from here.

Someone may ask, why catalyst for change in the Dangme land? The word Catalyst refers to a substance that accelerates a change at a faster rate than is otherwise. It can also be a force that significantly speeds up action.

In Chemistry it can be a substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.

It can also be one that precipitates a process or event, especially without being involved in or changed by the consequences. As a human, a person or thing that causes a change and that is what this book and today's gathering is all about, Change!

So from the definitions what actually made me to write this book? One day I went to Doryumu to visit a chief, mistakenly I ended up in a different house and I said 'I am looking for the chief in this town. So I mentioned the name of the chief I was looking for but the man replied and I quote 'I am also a chief in this town so if you are looking for another chief then he's likely to be my rival unquote' Eventually he gave me another person to take me to where I was going then I asked myself, could this be the reason why development is retarding in this town. But I read in the bible and Isaiah said 'In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. So it means we can all live together and reach a consensus for the development of our dear land.

The second reason was on the eve of Mr. Jones Ayertey's Wedding reception at the Royal Sikafutu Hotel, I saw a young man in a serious arguments with one assemblyman for his inability to leave up to his promises to support the youth and my third reason was a Doctor friend who established a scan center at the new road but had to pack his things and flee the town because he suffered a lot of sabotage.

Mr. Chairman, It appears that
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the Dangme Land,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
the youth are accusing the leaders of not leaving up to expectations.

The leaders are also blaming the youth
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
Parents are also not taking care of their children resulting in unwanted pregnancies.

The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand; surely some revolution is coming in the Dangme Land

Surely the new Dangme Youth is at hand. Change is coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast majority of our people are in spiritual slavery, Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the Dangme Land, A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it, Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know, That twenty first centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Catalyst for Change in the Dangme Land is the solution?

As human catalysts, the change catalyst group accelerates the process of moving organizations or society through the changes they have to undergo with better results and more positive outcomes, In other words, an organization accomplishes significantly more with help, rather than on their own. The Dangme land is blessed with many natural resources and is well positioned in Ghana. Our ancestors fought hard for us to get where we are today, yet should I say 'we are still in the wilderness?'

Mr. Chairman, in this book my objective is to raise awareness on key issues confronting the dangme land leading to retrogression or stagnation in the land. It is not intended to disgrace or lambast anyone but as it is a book on change catalyst some will definitely not support my ideas but the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. All criticisms are welcome and I also welcome any ideas to better the development of the dangme land. My key concerned is to see the development of the dangme land. We need an educational fund to support the youth and a transformation in the crippled Banking system in Dodowa.

The Dangme Land has so many challenging issues that have to be addressed. This book catalyst for change in the Dangme land includes major challenges in the Dangme land includes chieftaincy issues, family issue, political issues and religious issues. It is my hope that readers of this book will take some points from and make the Dangme land a better place for us all to live in. After all we are one people, one blood and serve one God.

Mr Chairman, Mr. Dzeto a programmes coordinator of ceDAR once said and I quote.

'It is sad that land for the infamous Akuse Dam and the land for the country are all on the Osu-Doku land yet there is no single person from Osudoku on the board of these two organizations, so how do we lobby for jobs for our youth,' he said. But my question is, even if they are brought on board will they lobby for the people?

In this book, I gave examples on major challenging issues with some personal experiences encountered in the Dangme land and I have taken a look at whether the Dangme land is in a state of stagnation or retrogression. 'If we are not careful, our Land will continue to stagnate. The cycle of retrogression and stagnation in the Dangme land is due to poor leadership, innovation, creativity, and individual behavior.'

Unsuccessful people keep on giving excuses. You see, population does not automatically make a great nation or community but rather quality.

Our development is lagging behind, we don't have good roads, we lack potable water, our educational standards are falling, our medical facilities are failing and that is what this book, catalyst for change in the dangme land has been trumpeting everywhere.

We need to look at our chieftaincy institute and see how best this can be formed around as an instrument to advancing our growth.

For the youth your life is in your own hands and the future start right from here. Yes they say we are the future but where is the future when there is no proper foundation. We complain about our MPS and assemblymen not doing very well, so what do you do? Change is good and I being a catalyst can confidently tell you that lets give our political leaders strong competitions in our various constituencies' in the Dangme Land . Change every four years if they are not pulling their weight. Nelson Mandela use only one term to transform South Africa, Jesus started his ministry at the age of 30years and use only three years to transform the world. Political leaders don't need more years in power before they can transform the world and that is why you must educate yourself so that they don't deceive you. Give your life to God, Be Bold and Courageous and stop the complains.

For our leaders you must show that you care, for the lips of the righteous teach many

but fools die for want of wisdom.
How can you be sitting there, telling us that you care -That you care? When every time we look around, The people suffer in the suffering In everyway, in the Dangme Land .

We're the survivors, yes: the Dangme survivors!
I tell you what: some people got everything;
Some people got nothing;
Some people got hopes and dreams;
Some people got ways and means.
which way will we choose?
We better hurry; hurry; oh, hurry; in the Dangme Land

'Cause we got no time to lose.
Some people got facts and claims;
Some people got pride and shame;
Some people got the plots and schemes;
Some people got no aim it seems!
Some people put the best outside;
Some people keep the best inside;
Some people can't stand up strong;
Some people won't wait for long.
In this age of technological inhumanity,
Scientific atrocity ,
Atomic misphilosophy ,
Nuclear misenergy :
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity .
A good man is never honored in his own country.
Nothing change, nothing strange .
Nothing change, nothing strange .
We got to survive and the youth must survive in the Dangme Land.

Mr . Chairman i end my speech with the story of the four leprous men in the bible,

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, "Why do we sit here until we die? "If we say, 'We will enter the city,' then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die."

So my fellow Dangmes, the final question I want you all to think about when you sleep tonight is, will we sit here until we die?

THANK YOU AND LONG LIVE THE DANGME LAND! Join Dangme Youth Awake Network by calling 0541090045....