African Movies: The bad and the ugly
Graphic Showbiz  September 6, - September 12,  2001

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

NORMALLY, when a journalist defames a person through his writings, he assassinates the character of an individual. But when a television station screens a violent, obscene or an objectionable film to the public, it can be said to have committed moral genocide against society.

Ghana now has three major television stations based in Accra, the capital. For some time now, it has been observed with some concern that these stations have embarked on a kind of cold war to outdo one another in terms of competition to attract more viewers to their respective stations. And one of the strategies that has been adopted by the stations to win the viewership race is the introduction of "African Movies".

Initially, many film lovers thought that with the title "African Movies, "Ghanaians were going to be granted the privilege of watching films produced from various parts of Africa. It has turned out, however, that the so called "African Movies" being screened are made up of about 99.99 per cent Nigerian films.

Unfortunately, some of the Nigerian films being televised may be doing more harm than entertainment to the Ghanaian society. The Nigerian films that are shown are often full of superstition, fear, killings, removal of human hearts and genital organs, stealing with masked faces and guns. Why must Ghanaian stations televise such destructive and negative films as "African Movies?"

Some people are of the view that the recent upsurge in armed robbery in the country could be as a result of some of these films being screened on national television.

Other people blame television for the increasing student brutalities and vices in various second cycle institutions in the country; while others still attribute the waywardness of their teenage girls and boys to obscene and immoral films on television.

As a matter of fact, it is alleged that some of these Nigerian films being televised in Ghana can never be shown on Nigerian television because of their subject matter. Are Ghanaian television stations therefore sacrificing the morality of the Ghanaian society on the altar of cheap and inferior African movies?

This writer has learnt that the government is considering a review of the Draft Film Policy for the benefit of the nation. While the government is taking this and other necessary measures to revamp the film industry, this writer wishes to appeal to the conscience of television stations to consider the future of Ghana and use their judgments to televise films that will be generally acceptable to the Ghanaian society.

There was a time when GTV screened some very good Ghanaian films. In fact, there was a particular programme called Time With NAFTI by which films produced by students of the National Film and Television Institute were shown on GTV and the people of Ghana loved them. What I happened to such a wonderful programme?

For the benefit of the television stations there have been a number of very good African films that have been featured at FESPACO, some of which have won various awards including Ghana's own Kwaw Ansah's Love Brewed in the African Pot and Heritage Africa. Ironically, Nigeria is one African country which is yet to win the highest film award at FESPACO. So what criteria are the television stations in Ghana using to classify Nigerian films as “African Movies?”

A scene in the "Love Brewed in the African Pot" A FESPACO  Award winning Ghanaian film.

NB: This article was first published by the Graphic Showbiz in 2001. abissath@gmail.com

                   

Media building is nation building

By Mawutodzi K. Abissath

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2001. NO. 148353 PRICE: ¢1,500

BECAUSE the 21st century is an information and knowledge age, any government anywhere on the face of the earth that attempts to suppress, oppress or gag the media does so at its own peril.

On Thursday, September 13, 2001, the Daily Graphic carried a lead story in its centre spread headlined "Government will NOT GAG MEDIA". The statement was attributed to Hon. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, who was reported to have handed over the former Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC) Club House opposite the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) in Accra to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for its new Press Centre.

The Independent issue of that same day (13/9/2001) also reported the presentation on its front page under the heading, "Kufuor fulfils promise to Press". In the story, the President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, who was said to have witnessed the ceremony, was reported to have recalled that about 40 years ago, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah donated the premises of the GIJ to the GJA, which was later taken over by a military government in 1966.

What prompted this author to write this article was that this kind gesture by the government toward the Ghana Journalists Association has generated some sort of anxiety and apprehension among a cross-section of the public. Some people, including some media practitioners themselves, were of the view that by donating this state property to GJA for its headquarters, the government was pampering journalists.

That this kind of "love affair" between the government and the media will lead Journalists compromising on their duties when it comes to criticising the government. Of course, people who hold this view are the masters of their own opinions. But they need to be reassured that their apprehension is misplaced. They may only be developing the symptoms of a disease called the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. Government has a responsibility to create a suitable socio-economic and political atmosphere for the media to function effectively and efficiently.

Such people must be politely reminded that it was not for nothing that the media were acknowledged as the Fourth Estate of the Realm. Thus, 'if the state' has the responsibility to provide office accommodation for the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, why not the media so that together they can build the nation?

Ghana's 1992 Constitution was clear on the role of the media. Article 162 section (5) stipulates that "All agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution, and shall uphold responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana". I underlined "responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana" to prove a point that whether government allocates the Bank of Ghana building or even the Castle to the GJA, media men and women will play their watchdog role to check and' crosscheck-government on behalf of the people who put the government in office. The Sahara saga is a typical example.

Furthermore, it must be pointed out that Ghanaian journalists cannot claim to be saints or pretend to have attained perfection within the relatively short span of constitutional democratic practice in the country. However, most of them have long passed the epoch of professional mediocrity, docility and sycophancy. In other words, most journalists are guided by the ethics of the profession and their own conscience in the discharge of their duties. But there are some who are always hitting below the belt, anyway.

In May, 1998, on the occasion of that year's World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, was reported on Radio France Internationale (RFI) to have called on world journalists to practice what he termed "Preventive Journalism".

According to the UN Secretary-General, journalists were identified as the best professionals in the world today "who can use their profession to promote world peace". He cited the Rwanda genocide which claimed over 500,000 souls which could have been prevented through preventive journalism, he observed.

A week after Mr Annan had elevated the journalism profession to that first class and highest esteem as far as service to humanity was concerned, another Secretary-General, this time of the International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP), based in Geneva, Switzerland, Mr Joseph Chittilappilly, came to Ghana for a refresher training course for young journalists of the Catholic Church in the country.

I recall vividly that Professor George Hagan, the CPP presidential candidate, then Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Dr Bona Koomson of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, His High Holiness, Rt Rev. Dominic Andoh, Archbishop of Accra, and H. E. Ghana's Ambassador designate to Sierra Leone, Mr Kabral Blay, Amihere, were among the resource persons who addressed that seminar which took place at the Ghana Registered Nurses Association Hostel, here in Accra.

During the course, the DCIP Secretary-General revealed that there was a new media philosophy evolving. The philosophy or theory or new paradigm was that the world was beginning to recognise journalists (the press) as belonging to the FIRST ESTATE OF THE REALM (caption mine).

 "The belief is that the journalism profession now goes beyond its traditional function of informing, educating and entertaining people. Rather, journalists are the real professionals who teleguide the minds of policy makers in the correct manner of governing human beings" he explained. In other words, world leaders now depend largely on the media in order to adopt decisions that will impact positively on the people they are ruling.

Therefore, any government that toys with or antagonises the media may be digging its own grave. It is better to court and co-operate with the media than to criminalise them. Various past regimes in this country at one time or the other have donated some movable and non-movable properties to various professional bodies. For instance, the NDC government once presented a Niva vehicle to GJA. It also donated the former building of the Passport Office near the Independence Square to the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), and others. But the media never treated the NDC government with kid’s gloves at all.

The donation of the former GNTC Club House to GJA, therefore, will hardly influence the media to pour white powder on the heads of officials of the ruling government who may go wrong. The Christian Bible made it clear that if you knock, you shall be opened and if you ask, you shall be given. The GJA has requested for office accommodation and it has been granted. The gesture is a wise media-government relations of strategy the NPP government has adopted which any future government must photocopy.

The lesson here is that if the government helps the media to lay a solid foundation, the media will assist the government to lay a formidable foundation, too, and together they will build the nation upon a rock of unity peace, tolerance, harmony and understanding for the prosperity of citizens.

NB: This article was first published by the Daily Graphic in 2001. abissath@gmail.com

BE USEFUL

If you cannot be the sun

to cast light

You can be the moon

to reflect light

If you cannot be the sea

to float a ship

You can be a river 

to ferry a canoe

If you cannot be a forest

to produce timber

You can be a bush 

to provide herbs

If you cannot be the grass 

to feed a cow

You can be a worm 

to nourish a sparrow

No matter your position in life

You can always be USEFUL

SO BE USEFUL

(c) MK Abissath

NB: this poem was composed in 1987

abissath@gmail.com

ANGEL OF SANITATION

As enlightened souls 

Adore the universal beauty

Of global diversity in creation

The DIVINE INTELLIGENCE

Dispatch His Angle of Sanitation

To sanitise those hearts

Still smearing humanity

With myopic racial latrine

To experience the beauty

Of diversity in creation

For the advancement of

Mankind in 2018

SO BE IT!

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

14/01/2018

abissath@gmail.com

THANKSGIVING

How do creatures

Give thanks to their Creator?

How can beneficiaries 

Thank their benefactors?

For we have your thanks

Streaming in our hands

Your honour brimming 

In our hearts with thanks

Too low voices we have

To blow glories you deserve

We commission a cock

Not an ordinary cock

But a divine cock

A cock that can glow

Crow and blow

Our thanks to you

At dawn tomorrow

Before the cock's crow

Receive our story 

Our thanks with glory!

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

(Black Ideas)

NB: This poem was composed in 1988. 

GALAMSEY LAND RECLAMATION PROJECT: DON’T IGNORE GHANAIAN MEDIA

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

A sample of land reclamation project

A traditional wisdom is reflected in this African proverb: If two people set a trap, it is the two that inspect the trap.

Philosophically, the significance of the above proverb is what can be interpreted as ‘transparency, probity and accountability’. Even though there may be no written documentary evidence to show who, what, when, how and why this particular proverb was coined, it can be deduced that African ancestors detested corruption.

In this article, I intend to make some observations about the efforts being made by government since January 2017 to eliminate illegal mining in the country.  I will place premium on the role the Ghanaian media played thus far, and for which reason government should always carry the media along as partners in the fight against galamsey.

The point must be made that all governments since the 1992 Republican Constitution have made efforts to fight galamsey or illegal mining in one way or the other. For example, in May 2013, Ex-President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated a high-powered inter-ministerial committee, dubbed Anti-Galamsey Task force to find permanent solution to galamsey once and for all.

Disappointingly, however, that task force could not live up to national expectation. It appeared the Mahama government could not muster courage to provide the needed political oxygen for the anti-galamsey task force under his command to combat the galamsey menace. As we say, the rest is history.

Enter Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government 2017.  Apart from a personal commitment demonstrated by President Akufo-Addo to take the bull by the horn in combating galamsey, the Ghanaian media made things a bit easier for Akufo-Addo than Mahama. For example, the official launch of Media Coalition against Galamsey spearheaded by the Graphic Communications Group Limited on April 4, 2017 was exceptional. Mahama administration never enjoyed such massive media support.

Nevertheless, Akufo-Addo’s personal commitment towards the elimination of galamsey was beyond compare. For instance, on July 10, 2017, the President addressed traditional authorities at a galamsey forum here in Accra and made an unthinkable declaration that stunned the political world:  “I put my presidency on line for the fight against galamsey.” In other words Akufo-Addo was prepared to lose elections rather than allow galamsey operators to destroy the national heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors, as he put it.  That declaration was heroic indeed! And he told the Nananom in the face that, as custodians of lands in Ghana, they could not stand and stare while galamsey operators were destroying lands and polluting rivers with impunity.

 Even before the media coalition campaign against galamsey took off, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John-Peter Amewu on behalf of government, did a yeoman’s job by single-handedly junketing some galamsey-ravaged regions where he made life uncomfortable to some illegal miners. In fact, his unilateral embargo on galamsey operations and withdrawal of all bulldozers and other galamsey equipment from rivers and water bodies was action that dealt a deadly blow to some recalcitrant illegal miners. He merits some commendation.

On Monday, July 31, 2017 government launched the now famous “Operation Vanguard”. The Operation Vanguard was made up of 400 contingent of armed soldiers and police officers to combat galamsey. The setting up of the Operation Vanguard   was seen as the apogee of Akufo-Addo government’s tenacity to terminate galamsey once and for all. It is pragmatic and commendable.

Since the Operation Vanguard came into force approximately five months now, some appreciable successes have been achieved. Of course, there were challenges here and there. At least one typical achievement one can cite for the purpose of this article is the transformation of most muddy and polluted rivers that could not be treated by the Ghana Water company before. Again, most farmlands and forest that were devastated are gradually being reclaimed and replanted with trees.

Galamsey Reclamation Fund

On Monday, November 13, 2017, media reports had it that the government had launched what was dubbed as ‘Galamsey Reclamation Project’. According to a Daily Graphic news story,(see page 29 of that day’s edition), the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John-Peter Amewu, launched the galamsey reclamation project at Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.

It was explained that the project would involve clearing excavated materials back into pits that had been dug by the illegal miners to be followed by the planting of trees to restore the destroyed vegetation. The Lands Minister was reported to have hinted that government would constitute a committee of key stakeholders to oversee the execution of the project.

Mr Amewu was reported to have disclosed that it was estimated that about four per cent of the country’s land size, totaling about 238,000 kilometer square (km2) have been destroyed by illegal miners. It was revealed that Kyebi and its surroundings alone “play host” to 18 of such illegal mining sites.

Experts in land reclamation projects estimated that for every hectare of land destroyed by galamsey operators, our beloved country will have to cough at least 60,000 Ghana cedis to reclaim it. In fact, the Land Minister lamented that the extent of damage caused to the land, what the country requires in total to put the vegetation back to normalcy is far in excess of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Government should ensure that this galamsey “nonsense|” is eliminated once and for all. And in view of the tremendous role the media played in the fight against galamsey, whosoever  stakeholders government may want to engage for fund raising  funds activities for  the Galamsey Reclamation Project, the Ghanaian media must not be ignored.  

The author works with Information Services Department (ISD) abissath@gmail.com

GHANA’S REDD+ STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

By Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

Part of efforts being made by Ghana towards REDD+ strategy

An African proverb says: “A man’s greed leads to the destruction of the environment.”

Basically, the term  REDD+ or REDD-Plus simply refers to “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.”

Environmental experts are of the view that Climate Change may become a single most daunting stumbling block to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This explains why all nations with vision on this planet of environmental degradation ought to ratify and comply with Paris Agreement adopted at the 21^st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), November 30-December 12, 2015 in France.

In this article, I intend to focus on efforts being made by Ghana, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, with particular reference to the fight against deforestation and forest degradation, which the country finds to be critical to its successes of tackling Climate Change.

On Thursday, 19th October 2017, Ghana hosted its 2nd National REDD+ Forum on the theme “Strengthening Law Enforcement for Effective REEDD+ Implementation.” That Forum was addressed by no less a person than the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo here in the nation's  capital Accra.

The Ghanaian President used the occasion to underscore the fact that, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC), Ghana initiated a process of reducing considerably greenhouse gas emission from deforestation and forest degradation, while at the same time encouraging tree planting projects in the country.

The President reiterated the commitment of his government towards every action that prevents forest degradation and deforestation, and also increases the country’s forest cover. President Akufo-Addo did not mince words when he told conference participants that his government was fighting the menace of illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey’ because of its negative effect on the environment in the country

“Our fight against the illegal mining phenomenon, also known as galamsey, is a case in point. In the 2016 Manifesto of my party, the New Patriotic Party, we indicated strongly our commitment to reforestation, forest rehabilitation and forest protection activities, realizing that forest cover has been depleted significantly in the last two decades,” the President noted.

According to the President, Ghana intends to undertake massive forest plantations, with both indigenous and exotic tree species, and also develop the bamboo and rattan industry, as they would serve as effective substitutes for furniture and other wood products in the country. He urged farmers and local communities not to allow illegal logging and mining to continue, and charged Security agencies on the roads, ports and borders not look on unconcerned and allow illegal timber products just to pass without confiscation or with corrupt purpose.

In Ghana, one institution that is mandated to watch over the nation’s forests is the Forestry Commission. And if the Forestry Commission could live up to its responsibility, of course, when provided with the requisite logistics, to enforce relevant laws, the devastation of forests by illegal loggers would be minimized. In other words, illegal mining and unsustainable harvesting of forest products are some factors that contribute to climate change in our country.

It is the considered opinion of his author that the fight against climate change should not only be left to governments. It should be seen as a shared responsibility among  citizens, civil society, institutions and organisations, the youth and what have you? For example, in Ghana the media have been playing a tremendous role in the fight against galamsey. The role of the mass media in awareness creation through advocacy and sensitization of the public about issues of forest preservation in particular and environmental protection in general is sine qua non 

Another group of people or professionals whose role is crucial for the fight against climate change is the judiciary. It appears that punishments and penalties prescribed by the laws of the land against environmental offenders are not deterrent enough. For example, the convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Mr. Kenneth Asigbey, who, until recently was the Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), had a cause to express dissatisfaction about punishment meted out to illegal mining related offenders.

Mr Asigbey cited cases where some galamsey offenders arrested by the Operation Vanguard task force who were taken to courts were fined to pay some amount of money that was nothing to write home about. He contended that if illegal miners who are making huge profit out of their illegal activities that are destroying forests, devastating farmlands and polluting rivers are asked to pay some insignificant amount of money and go scot free, then it is the nation that will suffer in the long round. Mr Asigbey appealed to the Chief Justice to take a second look at the laws and advise members of the Judiciary to prescribe stiffer punishments to perpetrators of illegal forest destroyers and as well as galamsey operators.

Indeed, at the recently held 2nd National REDD+ Forum, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, lamented that illegal mining has contributed immensely to the destruction of the country’s forest and the pollution of its water bodies. 

According to the Minister, research has shown that some health related problems in the country like dementia, and other diseases are on the increase due to some chemicals like mercury being used by galamseyers in their activities. How can a country achieve sustainable development goals if illegal mining and destruction of forests and rivers are affecting the people’s health? 

The good news, however, is that, at REDD+ Forum, Ghana’s Chief Justice, her ladyship Sophia Akuffo, was present and asserted that her outfit will ensure speedy trial of culprit who (engage in illegal mining) to serve as a deterrent for would-be law breakers.

Ghana’s efforts at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) emerged in global climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) as far back as 2005.  The strategy or mechanism was aimed at incentivizing tropical forest countries to reduce their emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. 

Ghana must not lose guard but maintain and sustain this effort if the nation will want to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

The author works with the Information Services Department ISD in Accra abissath@gamil.com