Hey Osagyefo,

Please don't put me into your bad books due to this long silence. I have been thinking about you but I was preoccupied with thinking about my classes rather than dedicating time to preparing a letter to you. After all, no one is paying me to do this, but my classes are supposed to get me paid in the future. Eventually. So appreciate my efforts, Kwame, I am not being corrupted. I surely don't need any brown envelopes to share my thoughts on our beloved nation. Now think of those who are actually supposed to serve our nation. It's their job to do it. They are the ones whose jobs have been clouded in the controversy called corruption. It's a canker, but what can we do about it?

Hey Osagyefo,

I've been back in Yankee for about two weeks now. I am sorry for not notifying you earlier, I wanted to settle in first. I am happier about being back now, a new quarter has started, I've spoken to a number of friends and loved ones, enjoyed fast internet for a while now, you know. I don't think I know much about what's going on in Ghana, even though there are countless media outlets to keep me informed. It just doesn't look the same you know. A discerning Ghanaian abroad may hear people making a big deal about one political party threatening fire and brimstone if an election goes a certain way on radio, but to the Ghanaian at home, there is nothing burning and no signs of smoke. but I never paid much attention to these popular news outlets online when I was home but I am stuck with them now. Where did the other sources of news and information go?

Hello Osagyefo,

I hope you are doing great. I am in my last week in Sikakrom and I am wanting some more days to spend with my family. The thought of when I will see them again after I have returned to Yankee troubles me. A friend told me awhile ago that I have stayed in Ghana far too long so I should leave. The stuff I had in my polythene bag when I returned to Ogyakrom on Christmas Eve is finished. I didn't even pay taxes but the cost of living in Ghana is becoming unbearable for even the returnees. Imagine if I had to pay taxes!

Good day Osagyefo,

I told you I'll report back on this year's independence day. I managed to do most of the things I wanted to do. The other highlight was going to the Trade Fair Centre at LA (Labadi). They were having the 12th Ghana Trade fair and there were a lot of good deals. I bought a tourist map with info because I wanted to learn a little more about Ghana's tourism. I happened to chance upon the MKOGH store as well and couldn't resist buying something cuz the sales lady was too nice. I bought a T-shirt that had a quote of yours for half the price. It was a great deal. I bought it in the spirit of independence, whose hard-fought battle was led by you. But Kwame, I shudder to think, did you really win independence for us? Was it not the mosquito?

Happy Independence day Osagyefo,

I haven't celebrated this huge day in Ghana for a long while. I don't even know how I am going to celebrate it. As you guessed, it's a holiday so most of us are staying at home. Not me. What will I do if I stay at home? Watch the 8th and final independence parade under Mr. Sexy Eyes' watch? Not enough. The man would not find the faces of the hundreds of children who'll have to stand under the scorching sun for hours at the Independence Square sexy. I hope the children see this opportunity as an honour and not a burden. March 6th is a day to honour Sikakrom (or Ogyakrom) and is a more than an opportunity to stay at home and sleep in.

Hello Osagyefo,

It's been 2 weeks since the African Cup of Nations came to an end. Trust your people to be still talking about what went wrong, what could have been done better and which heads should roll for the failure to annex the trophy for the fifth time. Not many people are calling for the head of Prophet Hakeem though which is okay. What I find most interesting is the disappearance of the goodwill Ghana enjoyed amongst Ghanaians during the tournament. Kwame, we are not wearing the red, gold, green colours anymore. You could argue that our true colours are coming out. We are wearing AIG clad Manchester United jerseys and England national team 'shadas'. "Now I see your true colours shining". You know that Phil COllins' masterpiece is a treasured song in Ghana, or don't you?

Lovely day Osagyefo,

Oya, love is in the air, can you feel it? Every Jesus will answer store is selling Valentine's Day teddy bears, chocolates, hampers, gifts, card, setc. I think that Kasapa, One Touch, Tigo, and MTN should give out free mobile phone units because of the barrage of lovely text messages flying around. Some people even think that this year's Valentine season would not be very successful since the recent Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations stole some of its glitter. Besides, for the few ladies that came out to wear red, you could easily mistake them for donning a national colour.

How will you spending Valentine's Day Kwame? Buying gifts or dashing out money? As for me, I'm smiling. Like Agya Appiah said, 'shyness is not love'. I am doing away with shyness today.I have decided to be bold. If that girl's red outfit is sexy, I will tell her. If that guy is wearing Otto Pfister, I will let him know. If my sister is getting on my nerves, I will let her know too. I will do all of this because I love them. Shyness is not love, boldness is. If my mother, ..... nah, I wasn't brought up to do that. How will our elders celebrate this special day?

Good morning Osagyefo,

I am in mourning. The dream is over. The host and win cause took a wrong turn yesterday, ably navigated by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun. The boys went on to the field and labored in vain, they didn't get a single opportunity to do the kangaroo dance. The Black Stars could not shine on this (Black) Thursday and the country's wait for a 5th continental trophy will have to wait a couple more years. Kwame, I have wondering why we had to lose in the semi-finals. Kai, I am getting a little bit superstitious.

Hello Osagyefo,

I am sure you have thoroughly enjoyed the clash between the Black Stars and Nigeria's Super Eagles. It was an astounding game and the boys showed a lot of resilience and character to emerge victorious even though they had the numerical disadvantage. Maybe we had 10 men, but we really had the home crowd factor which has been marvellous throughout the tournament. We haven't had the other matches enjoy full capacity crowds for the most part though, but whose fault is it? Is the passion of the nation football or our national team? Are Ghanaians too poor to throng the stadia? Osagyefo, we should not be happy with the near-empty stadia we are showcasing to 4.5 billion people around the world.

Hello Osagyefo,

Thank you for your intercession the last time. 3 points is 3 points you know. The Black Stars do battle again today and they need our support. We are all expecting Ghanaians to troop the Ohene Djan Stadium (yea, Osagyefo, it's named after him) and sing some serious jama songs (minus the insults) to charge our charges on. Most workplaces would be closing earlier to allow fans to watch the game. I was going to close early but with Accra traffic, I will close earlier. I need to support too. :-)

Hey Osagyefo,

Football is such a beautiful sport, is it not? The excitement level at which my last letter came to you has stepped up a few notches. Football is so beautiful that it even drives political opponents to shut their beaks and support the same team. Only God knows what would be happening in Kenya if the Harambee Stars were at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana. Don't you think the youth would sit glued to their televisions instead of running around burning down churches and killing people? Football is uniting many people and African businesses are buying into this unity.

Imagine the excitement MTN is having at their offices across Africa. MTN is the title sponsor of the Cup of Nations and so everywhere you go, MTN is there. Check out their marketing slogans - There is no stopping you, GO!; GO be part of a bigger family; GO make that call; GO stand out; GO be famous. No wonder the unofficial rallying cry for your Black Stars is GO, Black Stars, GO! MTN has a football website dedicated to African football, they are the title sponsor of the African clubs Champions league, and they have African entertainment websites. Let's just say the believe in Africa. How can't you love them?

Hey Osagyefo,

It is with much excitement that I dismiss dis missive to you. That's why I like you Kwame, even when my English is sketchy, you can sketch what I want to say in your medulla oblongata. :-) The 26th African Cup of Nations begins in your homeland on Sunday and is the source of my excitement. Allow me to be late to congratulate you on your shepherding Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations triumphs in 1963 and 1965. You are really great, all the tournaments that Ghana took part in your tenure as president resulted in glory and more glory.

Dear Osagyefo,

With most of the race tracks for Election 2008 filled and the absence of a defending champion, it's about time we talked about this important race. I am sure you are dying to know who is contesting and who the favorites are, but can we talk about the tatalalicious prize at stake? When you were running the race, were you focused on the fame or the fortune? Did you feel you were running the race for a group of people? What motivated you? As the race ensues, we shall find out more about our runners.

Osagyefo, how come you never ever really talk about your extended family? Who, what and where are your brothers and sisters? You know in this our country, we all claim many people as cousins, uncles and aunts and the system gives us support in times of need and a cheering squad in times of success. The only relatives we know of you are Fathia (may she rest in peace) and your children. Even them, we hear of them once in a blue moon and mostly, when you are in the news. Did you foresee that your family would be invisible in Ghana when you were gone? Would you marry an Egyptian again if you had the chance?

Hey Osagyefo,
I was sitting in a trotro heading towards Adenta after a long day in Adabraka. I headed out knowing that it would take me a while to complete my journey due to traffic. When the trotro got to the HIPIC junction, I found myself thinking and thinking really hard. I just wanted to get home soon but the journey was long, quiet and pensive. All four lanes were filled and moving at a go-slow pace. As we approached the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, we were still moving so slow, I wondered how bad this situation would be if we still had the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout which had only one lane. No be small thing o.

Yo Osagyefo,
I know it's been a while since you heard from me. It's not me o, I have been busier than the busiest Chinese fast food joint in Osu. The times have not been good, I haven't been inspired to write to you and it's something I can't even explain. You know what else I can't explain, the fact that we have 17 candidates all vying for the opportunity to run for the president of Ghana through the New Patriotic Party. Osagyefo, you need a couple more hands to count 17, only one person shall win the slot, and 16 people would have gotten nought from a 250 million cedi investment. I know you'll be wondering how 17 different people in Ogyakrom could get 250 mill, but massa, these are the times.

You may also be wondering what happened to your brain child, the Convention People's Party. Kwame, why was Convention such a popular word in those days? What does it mean? Because these days when the regular golden boy or girl hears convention, the first thought that comes to mind is a Christian gathering with thousands of people receiving miracles from above. You could ask Efo Mawugbe and he'll tell you too, if the CPP of today wins the next Ghanaian election, that will be a miracle from above. Osagyefo, send down a miracle if you would.