Letters
Who is free?
The article: "White Racism - the hidden message in the 1984 Presidential election" by Dr Monte Piliawsky of Dillard University, New Orleans made very interesting reading.Prof Piliawsky's analysis of the recent election clearly puts the Black American's long-standing socio-politico-economic dilemma into a clearer perspective. On the international plane, it is easy then to realise that the problem of the blacks in the United States could be extended to those outside that country since America possesses and wields influential political and economic clout on the rest of the world, especially developing countries where blacks reside.
From my position, far away from the US I think the problem of white racism should be tackled by all who desire to see a world where the dignity of a human being is respected no matter the colour of his skin. It may take a long time for this dream to be realised but the struggle must continue.
Rex Hayford, Monrovia
Information technology - - who needs it?
Having read the first two articles on the need for Africa to go in for 'informatics' written by Mr Kofi Tetteh, I would say that he has, so far, broadened the outlook of those of us who have little or no knowledge of computer-related information technology.That he has made a case for Africa not to be outdone in the race for computerisation is appreciated but has he considered the relatively simple case of television in Africa the one most important information technology that all governments rich or poor have adopted?
Wouldn't he agree that this area which has been in operation for so many years now cannot be said to be up to the standards of the developed countries in efficiency and indigenous programme content? The reason for this is that it is one very good example of the Western world's carefully coordinated cultural homogenisation process that seeks to keep developing countries in permanent subservience. The fact is that in this electronic age where developments in the field are so fast no developing country has a ghost of a chance to catch up.
An invention of today which the unsuspecting African buyer purchases quickly becomes a museum piece tomorrow even before he gets the full understanding of its operation. With the popularity of colour television, right now, all African countries which still use Monochrome equipment are being forced to go colour, an expensive proposition because spare-parts for black and white equipment are being faded out.
I believe that even information technology is important in the modern world. Experience should teach us to rely on medium technology which would introduce and familiarise us with the expensive models slowly. That would be the only way to avoid another disaster in the development process.
Robert Wilson, Hendon, London
Government of part timers?
I refer to your article titled as above which was published in December 31, 1984 issue of this magazine in which the editor participated in a discussion on "Current trends in Ghana" at the Africa Centre, London.In that article the Editor reiterated her well-known antipathy towards the PNDC government and enumerated some features of the government's administration which she considered undesirable. On the issue of the Peoples and Workers Defence Committees, it is gratifying to know that they were recently disbanded with a view to re-organising them for more efficient operation thereby emphasising her point that "dishonesty and abuse of power had nothing to do with being a manager or senior office nor does the membership of a PDC means one is incapable of being dishonest.
However, I would like to point out to her that her understandable bias towards the government should not completely take over her better judgement of the current trends.
Flt-Lt Rawlings, the Head of State of the country cannot claim to be a part-time leader of the country by any stretch of the imagination, simply because he is still in the Air Force Neither can Dr Kwesi Botchway, P. V Obeng and Justice D. F. Annan be classified as part-time members of government.
These Ghanaians are working hard though to re-float the sinking economy which we all know took a dive many, many years back before the advent of Rawlings.
You may not agree with the methods by which Rawlings assumed power and the political hue of the regime but for goodness sake don't paint them in colours they are definitely not.
A. Kontoh, Cape Coast, Ghana
