Letters that were nearly not published in 1985
A Touch Of Nokoko By Kofi Akumanyi
'Soudis' for Cedis
Dear Madam,A lot has been written in the papers and also sent through the air-waves since citizen Michael Agbotui Sousoudis was exchanged for eight Ghanaians. Since his release, much has been accomplished by the Ghanaian authorities' attempt to prove that he is a bone fide Ghanaian so that his name may not be an obstacle to the full appreciation of his achievement.
However, some execrable individuals have suggested that it is not fair to exchange him for eight Ghanaians.
Can anybody tell me when, since the demise of the charismatic "Show Boy" Kwame Nkrumah has Ghana had such an attractive playboy to be the focus of international attention as a rallying point of waning Ghanaian interest?
Another important point which nobody has emphasised enough is Michael's methods that got him into the American security network - viz his special relationship with Miss Scranage. It is for this reason that I would have liked to nominate him "MAN OF THE YEAR" but for another exemplary performance of Kwesi Akroma of Abaasa Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) who unreservedly deserve the award this year.
In the light of this I would like to suggest that instead of building a statue to Sousoudis which may be bull-dozed in the future, the government should seriously consider changing the currency Cedi (which doesn't mean much to us, anyway), to Sousoudis (shortened to Soudis).
Apart from constantly reminding us that people of half Ghanaian parentage have helped the country along its development, it will also keep in the Vocabulary forever the extra-ordinary exchange that put Ghana on the inter- national espionage-busting scene. Who wants a tin of milk for 20 soudis?
Obiba Nana Afful, New York.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Dear Madam, "Out of Africa there is always something new," observed one Arab sage (or was it an American who said it?). I was not really surprised therefore when the news broke on AIDS some clever medical researchers who want to be nominated for the Nobel Prize award came out with the announcement that AIDS virus has been found in monkeys in Central Africa.Without actually suggesting that Africans co-habit with monkeys or have monkeys as pets in great numbers from which the virus could be transmitted, the inference was made that Africans probably get the disease through homo-sexual activities. This is, indeed, an abomination which has been encapsulated in the African proverb: "Never hit the side of the drum when the drum head is available."
Anyway, I have one theory which I hope another clever sociologist would examine - AIDS is the same disease which wiped out the twin cities of SODOM AND GOMORRAH which if we are to believe the Bible once thrived in the Middle-East or thereabouts.
In fact, the threat of AIDS in Europe and the USA would bring about the end of the world and not nuclear war. Europe and America repent! Remember Sodom. Remember Gomorrah!
Rev Bob Francis,
African Church of the Living Christ, Birmingham
Comrade Botchway's magic wand
Dear Madam,A human being should be allowed to change his mind and stand as and when a new situation not previously reckoned with emerges.
Alright, we all know that before Dr. Kwesi Botchway took up the appointment as the Secretary for Economic Planning he was waging verbal running battles with mutli-nationals and international lending organisations. That he is currently arm- in-arm with them is neither here not there. As a result of his efforts, the cedi has been devalued umpteen times (and may, in fact, be brought down as low as one dollar to the 100 cedis by the end of the year). Just look at the Makola Market, where goods which disappeared at the onset of the revolution are now abundant.
OK, the prices are out of sight and salaries are nowhere near the workers' capabilities to purchase them. However, any worker with his revolutionary heart in the right place in his chest would admit that there is plenty of local food to eat and foreign goods to ogle at.
The experts say Ghana is beginning to pick herself up from the dust and who are we to challenge that. But right here in my corner of the country, we think Dr Botchway will go down in the record books as the man who said he would do it and has done it...or hasn't he?
Sam Mann, Tarkwa, Ghana
Government of part-timers
Dear Sir,Merry Christmas to you all at Talking Drums. Your drums have been heard loud and clear throughout the year and may it continue to be understood by all.
On one occasion last year you were so intent on beating your drums that you probably did not realise how discordant you sounded.
You described members of the PNDC as 'part-timers' who do not devote their full energies to the enormous task before them. But that is where you went completely wrong. There is a rationale behind packing the government with such people and you should have been the first person to have realised that.
It is simply this. Previous governments gave members of government full time jobs, and as a result the country ended up in a mess. So Rawlings, never the man who is afraid of innovation, decided to try this new method: half the job with full pay and fringe benefits. I know they say they are not paid but they know we don't believe them. That way nobody would be tempted to dig his hands in the state coffers and bring the government into disrepute.
It has worked so well, so far, hasn't it? Who knows, soon other African countries may begin to emulate us - government of part-timers.
K. Reynolds, Lagos, Nigeria
