Hello Osagyefo,

It's been a week since we celebrated your 100th birthday. It's been ages since I last wrote to you. Coincidentally, my last letter was about your birthday and the debate about the Founder's Day celebration and holiday. No one listened to my suggestion and you were celebrated (alone) on your centenary with good measure. Everyone was talking about you, including the folks at Ghanablogging.com. How did you spend the day? Reflect on your regrets and achievements. Kwame, I find myself regretting way too much in my life these days. If it will make me grow old quicker than I want, please warn me. I am already worried about my age, but let's leave that for another day. What I want to know is, were you a little lucky to be born in 1909? In essence, were you a little lucky to be Ghana's first president instead of its 4th? Is there a little luck involved in creating and leaving a legacy? I will like to argue so.

...Sounds on da ground and seens on the see-ins

I was at the recent Harvard African Business Conference. Why did I go? I went just because it was an African business conference and I had been attending as long as I knew it existed. I went because credit is crunching and it would be nice to pay some more attention to what I could do back home and it became absolutely necessary. I went to network and identify partners for various undertakings in the future. I went to identify the leaders of the future as well. As you know, most of our African presidents are not the best people to write home about, especially with Barack Obama front and center in leadership chatter. A-Plus chastised a whole lot of African presidents in his 'A Letter to the West' song, likening their reigns to horror movies. One president who is turning his own horror movie story into a feel-good one is Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. In fact, this last weekend has made me a huge fan of his. People, Obama is not ours but we may have one ourselves, and he’s called Paul Kagame.

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?

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.

...Sounds on da ground and seens on the see-ins

When the African Cup quarter-final clash between Ghana-Nigeria game went on recess (half-time) as a drawn game, I was tense. Really tense. Both teams seemed up to the task and it was going to take something special to separate them. I even suggested that President Kuffour should go to the Black Stars' dressing room to motivate and inspire the 'boys'. After all, he postponed his favorite pastime -travelling - to stay in Ghana to inspire them and watch this dreaded duel with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Eventually, Ago-goal struck and Ghana carried the day in the presence of their 'Number one fan', John Agyekum Kuffour. JAK, we join 5Five to give you kudos.

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?

...Sounds on da ground and seens on the see-ins
I have been thinking about the run-up to next year's election. Atta Mills already won the NDC candidacy. People are already saying buy Mills, get Rawlings free. Hmmm. What about their nemesis the NPP? If radio airplay is anything to go by, you have to go with Alan Cash, the man who has promised Ghanaians cash. Guess who is believed to have anointed him 'class prefect'? Yes, John Agyekum Kuffour. Up till today, Ghana politics is still about J A Kuffour and J J Rawlings. Don't let the lack of Boom speeches and Waa waa press conferences deceive you, advises the Ghanaian music monk aka Shasha Marley.

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.

Not too long ago, The Ghanaian Observer, a paper to which I enjoyed a brief
but rewarding association as a columnist, started publishing the profiles
and achievements of some important Ghanaian women under the caption
‘Women of Distinction.’ The column, which was written by a lady
journalist, did lively exposés on some popular national characters,
such as former GJA boss and presently member of the council of state,
Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, as well as other relatively ‘unpopular’ but
hardworking women in the regions. There was the revealing and most impressive

...Sounds on da ground and seens on the see-ins

It's two years to Ghana's next presidential election, and the race to govern/lead Ghana is heating up. Candidates have started campaigning and others are rallying support. I watched 'Good Evening Ghana' with Paul Adom Otchere on Africast recently and he was interviewing Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, an aspiring presidential candidate who doubles as Korle Bu's CEO. One major issue raised in the interview was that the professor was too 'cool' and didn't want to get involved in the dirty aspect of politics - verbal assaults, character defamation, etc. The other candidates are already resorting to criticizing their opponents, but our favourite cardiothoracic surgeon is trying to stay away. It's a political battle and the language used is not pretty. Well, maybe one person can battle and use pretty language, and that is none other than my favourite musician, Obrafour.