Ghana’s New Ambassadors: Gordon Offin-Amaniampong Writes

Before Paul there was Peter and before Paul there were Apostles and disciples. But Paul being Paul he changed the dynamics of Jesus’ ministry during the Apostolic Age, hence the phrase in Ghanaian Twi Language: ‘Paul amma ntem osene adi kanfo.’ To wit, Paul the latter disciple or saint was master of all.

My dear readers, I present to you Ghana’s new distinguished ambassadors extraordinaire —Yaa Baby and Kwame Yeboah. The two are immigrants from the United States and Italy respectively. Both have lived in Ghana for more than a decade. And both are into acting.

Do I need to tell you this? Before Ghana there was the Gold Coast---a name given to her by the colonialists. She would wear this garment or (carry the name) for nearly 500 years until March 6, 1957.

You might not know this. There’s something unique about Ghana. What is it? Ghana’s hospitality is second to none and it’s legendary. As early as in the 1400’s perhaps before, the Gold Coast had opened her doors for the Europeans.

By 1482 the Portuguese had arrived. They settled in a small coastal town called Edina (which was renamed Elmina by the Portuguese) in the central region of post-colonial Ghana. They traded in salt and gold with the indigenes. Barter was the system of trade. Their influence was growing and their culture was becoming infectious. For example, ‘pano’ (in Fanti) which is bread originated from the Portuguese word pa’oe’ (or vida) pronounced almost the same.

The congeniality would trigger influx of multinationals across the world. The Dutch, the Danes, the Swedes the English/British (in 1553) and many more would follow later. From coast to coast they crisscrossed and later penetrated the hinterlands.

Indeed by the turn of the 19^th century names such as Anderson, Rockson, Peterson, Johnson, Harrison Addison, Samuelson, had dominated Ghana’s coastline .They were popular then and are still popular today. At the time it was uncommon to meet or come across an expatriate carrying a Ghanaian name unless by marriage.

Where did we lay our quilt?
That which was uncommon back then is increasingly becoming common now. Europeans, Americans, Asians, Arabs etc. are adopting Ghanaian names and if that wasn’t surprising, how about those who speak our languages so eloquently. They’ve immersed themselves into the Ghanaian culture and the mores. They speak in parables and speak in proverbs. They use tropes, figures of speech. They use riddles to communicate!

Yaa Baby and Kwame Yeboah are two incredible individuals. The American Chloe Rose is now married to a Ghanaian. She’s an actress and a motivational speaker. Kwame Yeboah the Italian is a divorcee. “I ventured into many adventures’ he said during an interview in Accra with Ghana‘s finest comedian KSM also known as sergeant Lasisi.

If you’re a doubting Thomas and wants to see things for yourself make a date with me. If you’re unsure of whether they‘re whites and not blacks or Ghanaians and want to see them live, I will entreat you to meet me at Palm Wine Junction in Accra at 3pm sharp. Don’t ask me when and how to get there. Mind you I don’t worship the so-called Ghanaian Time. So count yourself out if you’re full of that. Smile when the Sun smiles at you. Why frown when you’re drowning?

If you still cannot figure out where you’re standing, what you heard, who was speaking and why you don’t seem to get it, meet me at Kokompe. The men who work with the hammers and pliers, bolts& nots are feverishly tightening all the loose ends. And they’re greasing all the squeaky wheels. Oh yes I know. I know what’s causing your head to spin. It doesn’t often happen. And it’s that rarity that’s creating the uncertainty.

Indeed what you heard was incredible. They laced their statements with humor, sages and metaphors. “Se wohu gyata ewo abonten a eye nwanwa,” says Yaa Baby.

And your face lit up with joy and admiration. You were surprised. Weren’t you? You did have doubts on your mind. Didn’t you?

The two are projecting the Ghanaian culture while you’re beating down your own culture and values. The Ghanaian language sucks right? You think speaking Ga, Twi, Ewe, Hausa, Nzema in public is primitive, uncouth and uncalled for. You think everything Ghanaian or African isn’t good. Now tell me who would you blame the European who you didn’t meet 800 years ago or you and your leaders who didn’t help the situation?

The two are from different continents outside Africa, and if they saw it fitting to speak our languages, eat our foods, wear our clothes, and take our tro-tros then what’s your problem?

See even some natives break it when they speak.it. And some torture it in their attempts to speak it. But they do it impeccably. English Language isn’t ours yet we taunt, we sneer and we tease when someone makes mistakes. I’m glad to say Kwame Yeboah and Yaa Baby are making mother Ghana proud today. Besides they’re helping Ghanaians and for that matter Africans to redeem their bludgeoned image.

I salute you Great Ambassadors. I salute you Kwame and Yaa. You are Paul the latter but master of all. I hope your great works would not be obliterated by the western media or Africans themselves. I don’t know if you’ve heard about this story. Tourists used to visit this nation (they still go) in Africa in their numbers to see the wild cats, the giraffes and the elephants. Millions of dollars were coming in each passing day. Then one day the leader gets up and decides to sell the animals to the tourists.

Why do you cut your nose to spite your face?
This is not an attack on western media or the West. And may I repeat this piece is not anti-west. This is to tell the world that the story told about Africa for centuries by the western media is skewed and stereotypical. Africa is still labeled as a jungle. That’s not true. Africans live in trees and in caves, the lions and the bears live with them and the people wear no clothes. That’s also not true.

And the visceral attack continues. Africans are unfriendly and cannibals that’s not true. Unfortunately, this propaganda and warped narrative has been told time and time again.

But can the western media alone be blamed for Africa’s troubles? No I don’t think so Africans themselves have doubled their troubles. Most of their leaders have probably quadrupled Africa’s troubles giving the media licence to perpetrate the age long story.

Why must a continent blessed with so much ends up having not much to feed its starving population, especially children?

Why should a continent -- endowed with minerals and great human resources after emancipation lack the ability to manage its own resources? Why must African leaders still chase the West for aids and grants? Why do Africans look down upon their own cultures, customs and arts?

It’s all because of wanton loots, greed, misplaced priorities, mismanagement of resource, inferiority complex or insecurity etc.

Yes, you can name the wars and name the diseases, hunger, drought and poverty. But these issues do not represent the broad picture of this big continent, which is next to Asia in terms of size.

Which nation in the world can say that it’s a perfect nation? Let that nation raise her hand.

Which nation can say that it is disease free, crime free, she has no hunger, no poverty and no slums? I humbly ask that nation to raise her hand. Is there one? Yet, the western media has spared the West of its ills. The West is seen as utopia, everything glitters, and everything is perfect. It’s all skyscrapers and high bridges. The roads are golden. An Asian friend told me that many years ago many Asians believed every part of the United Kingdom was cemented—you don’t see dirt or muck.

The West is portrayed as heaven on earth, that’s great. And it’s one of the reasons why millions are dying to travel abroad—either by boats by ferries or by unapproved routes. But the inevitable question is: Why paint Africa with a stained brush?