The Astrient Foundation - Forum Messages

Post by kweiqf

29 Dec 2008 15:50:17 GMT

Yesterday, Sunday, 28th December, 2008. Ghana held its second round of Presidential elections. The candidates were the flag-bearers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Unconfirmed reports indicate that the NDC will win the election. How do you feel about the fact that amidst Africa's long history of dictatorships and civil wars, Ghanaians have held 2 relatively peaceful elections?

Post by eyram

20 Dec 2008 12:45:06 GMT

Looking at the results of the elections presently, I have been wondering how governance in Ghana is going to be like from now on that the term "majority" in parliament is being debated. Do you think it is a good thing for governance in Ghana that the party that controls the executive does not have a clear majority in parliament or is it going to be very difficult to get government business to run?

Post by natettey

19 Dec 2008 17:28:00 GMT

I agree. The legislation to that effect is also good news since it demonstrates public commitment to fight the problem. Over time, the role of these laws as a deterrent will cause the numbers to go down, i believe, but presently i think the bulge is due to the introduction of the law itself and the confidence it gives people to whistle-blow.

Post by natettey

19 Dec 2008 17:13:04 GMT

In my opinion, democracy flourishes in a well-educated society. Ignorance allows misinformation and the accompanying consternation to spread like wildfire, and some vested interests actually thrive on this. Have a couple of intra-city tro-tro rides and you will have a fair idea of what I mean. The department of civic education has a huge role to play in curbing this. We can't forever take for granted that peace will always be a given. I believe that things will get better the more educated the populace is.

Post by natettey

19 Dec 2008 16:58:03 GMT

Looking at the UNDP Ghana Human Development Report for 2007, it is plain to see that the government IS aware of the diverse social issues in the country, and this is evidenced by the BIG signature of the president in the report's preface. I wish however that more meaningful efforts would be made towards the alleviation of such issues. Nonetheless, this a step in the right direction, and as Kwabi said, is indeed good news.

Post by kwabi

19 Dec 2008 13:46:01 GMT

Thankfully, Ghanaians showed the whole world that we are democratic and mature as we made peace reign before, during and after the elections. We shall continue to remain peaceful as we prepare for the second round of elections. Whoever is elected as president should be accepted since the majority of voters elected him president for his problem-solving attributes. I would love to continue seeing “people singing the campaign songs of their rival parties and walking hand in hand with people wearing other party colours” after the election period.

Post by kwabi

19 Dec 2008 13:37:33 GMT

Ghanaians are truly exhibiting their maturity as they made peace reign before, during and after the elections. We shall continue to remain peaceful as we prepare for the second round of elections. Whoever is elected as president should be accepted since the majority of voters elected him president for his problem-solving attributes.

Post by karlyn

17 Dec 2008 14:46:22 GMT

Intersting points. However, I wonder if child abuse is on the rise or if it has always been at this level. I suspect that the recent introduction of child abuse laws and law enforcement groups has increased the number of people who actually report such abuse. The same can be said for domestic violence. I doubt that women are being abused more now than before, it's just that more women feel empowered to report their abuse because there are now mechanisms in place to offer assistance. What do you think?

Post by karlyn

17 Dec 2008 14:42:20 GMT

Right now, the world is quite proud of Ghana's peaceful primary and general election. The election is getting some press here in the U.S. Generally voter turnout is lower during the run-off. Encourage your friends and family in Ghana to go to poll and let their voices be heard. The world is watching....

Post by monika

13 Dec 2008 16:53:20 GMT

This is a very interesting point, Max, because child labour or traffiking is still an issue in ghana. Concerns have been raised as to whether the youth have enough confidence in the public education system especially now with the introduction of free primary education. If we are able ensure that we have a solid public education system, it would be more difficult for people to justify child labour or abuse in that respect and thereby eradicate illiteracy. Needless to say, there is more to be done in order to ensure that children are in schools -where they should be- while we work hard on developing a good functioning system that employs good qualified teachers and has enough facilities. It is better to work on a very good primary education system before extending it to the higher levels.

Post by eddy

12 Dec 2008 12:34:05 GMT

Yes we did it the first time but it is not over yet.Let us maintain the peace we have all been hoping for. We can now concentrate on issues and not personalities.

Post by sasumadu

10 Dec 2008 19:10:56 GMT

Hurray!

Ghanaians have proved our maturity once again. Our elections have been very peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

Let us continue in this good attitude as we go for the 2nd round. Bravo to all who contributed to this beautiful national exercise. Kudos to the members of the media and the Electoral Commission especially.

Three cheers for Ghana.

Post by eddy

10 Dec 2008 12:32:15 GMT

Ihope that with the establishment of the human trafficking board and the fund, the unit will receive adequate support from the human trafficking fund to enable them work effectively to eradicate this menace in our soceity.

Post by namel

9 Dec 2008 12:26:40 GMT

The unit is based CID Headquaters of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.
The following are the challenges of the unit. First of all, they do not have vehicles that will facilitate easy transportat.ion hence they are not often able to rescue trafficked persons on time.
Secondly, international investigations become a problem for the unit because they lack the funds for it.
Ineffective networking among stakeholders is another challenge facing the unit.
Futhermore, there is a weak refferal system which is not helping the unit.
Also, hotline to gain information is not available.
All though they have these challenges, there are things they have achieved. For instance, they have helped to integrate a lot of trafficked children into the society.
Sensitize a lot of people on the laws and acts oon human trafficking through awareness creation programmes.
Finally, they have trained a lot of law enforcement agencies on the laws such as the prosecutors in the Attorney General's office.

Post by monika

6 Dec 2008 18:40:47 GMT

I must say, i always learn something new when i walk down the street these past few days. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and people are not afraid to share their views- which is a good thing. However, i think a lot of people are still very ignorant about the entire process. I heard someone ( a registered voter who was educated) ask how or where to place the thumb when casting a vote and whether it was ok to wear a party shirt to the polling station tomorrow. There have also been some mutterings about a reoccurence of the incidence in Kenya if the elections are rigged.
However this great country has a history of peace and understanding and everyone seems willing to put all their differences aside. The peace songs have also been very helpful. And it is commonplace to see people singing the campaign songs of their rival parties and walking hand in hand with people wearing other party colours. I am very optimistic about tomorrow! May the best leaders win!

Post by monika

6 Dec 2008 18:04:17 GMT

I agree with you about the lack of information in the advertisements, Diamond. But i suspect that the reason why this is so is because E-zwich is supposed to discourage the use of cash for day-to-day transactions. So using the e-zwich instead of cash is free but i expect there to be small charges when it is used to make a cash withdrawal similar to the ATM cards.
We attended a presentatin this week about where the feasibility of the idea behind E-zwich was questionable. Would it be beneficial for all people across the country? And is the Biocryptic identification systemfor extra security good enough? considering the limitations of those who are expected to use the system?

Post by eyram

6 Dec 2008 17:51:41 GMT

On my way home from school yesterday - Friday December 5th, I realized the atmosphere in town (Accra) was really charged with political talks and debates. On the streets, in the trotros, people were dancing and making the signs of the different parties. The nice thing about it was that it was being done in an interesting, very tolerant and friendly manner. Then I got to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. On the pedestrian pavements, I overheard one of the hawkers actually insulting members of a particular political. A few steps ahead, some young men were loudly calling leaders of another party drug dealers.

To answer the question, yes Ghana's democracy has come of age. But others are taking this maturity for granted and being irresponsible sometimes. These irresponsible behaviours may cause a few skirmishes once awhile. With time however, we will grow fully out of all that.

Post by eyram

6 Dec 2008 17:37:07 GMT

I agree that advancements in business transactions like the E-ZWICH are a step in the right direction. What I wonder about is why we are not told during the public announcements and adverts how much one gets charged per transaction. How much are we paying to transact business "cashlessly"?

Post by kwabi

6 Dec 2008 00:04:25 GMT

I totally agree with monika with regards to the youth being instrumental in facilitating this election. I believe that we the youth are looking for the best solutions for the future and so will vote wisely this weekend.

Post by karlyn

4 Dec 2008 16:16:39 GMT

I presume that this unit is in Ghana, right? Where (agency) is the unit based? Are you aware of any of the unit's successes and/or challenges?

Post by sasumadu

3 Dec 2008 20:39:12 GMT

The E-ZWICH project is being implemented in phases. In the first phase, transactions over the Internet is not enabled. This will however be possible in subsequent phases. In the next phase, mobile/cell phones will be enabled for E-ZWICH transactions.

It is important for us to know that this electronic payment solution is designed mainly to promote trade within Ghana. This is why it is accessible in all parts of the country including the areas with no access to the Internet, electricity, banks and telephone networks. This makes it a truly great technologyy solution for a vast majority of the Ghanaian population.

The potential exists for the integration of E-ZWICH with similar systems in neighbouring countries. This could open great business potentials for entrepreneurs in Africa and strengthen trade within the region.

For those interested in business transactions over the internet, credit/debit card solutions exist. A number of banks in Ghana are now offering this facility to their clients. Those who sign up for this are quite few though. I believe one of the reasons is the slow rate of technology adoption (not only in Africa, but all over the world) especially when it has to do with people's money. I think it's a bit slower here in Africa because people are now being introduced for the first time to the concept of electronic funds on plastic cards.

Though it may take a while (and I don't expect it to be any faster unless the various stakeholders invest in public education), I believe it is a step in the right direction. Once this phase is accepted well, many more sophisticated ones will follow.

Post by natettey

27 Nov 2008 19:32:01 GMT

I recently did a paper on this topic. What is most disturbing is the aspects of culture and traditional rites that encourage misogyny, ie violence towards women. Practices like trokosi and female genital mutilation are particularly hard to deal with because people don't do them knowing they are wrong. To them, that's how things have always been done, and they intend to continue doing these as long as they can. I think that those with the responsibility to make a change are independent, not-for-profit organizations and advocacy groups. The police are not only poorly resourced, but are interested only in fighting fires not from the root but from the top. At the root of this menace is ignorance and poverty.

Post by monika

26 Nov 2008 16:34:44 GMT

Actually, many more people are willing to try out new candidates and the die hard party fans are fast becoming extinct. I am happy to see that Ghanaians are not being too conservative for their own good and looking at the issues instead of following blindly. I believe that if we keep up this attitude of being objective and being bold enough to educate one another, our collective effort as a people would lead to a peaceful election. I think that the young people of Ghana would be most instrumental in fascilitating this election if we no longer focus too much on past issues (for they are many) and look for the best solutions for the future.

Post by eyram

25 Nov 2008 11:59:28 GMT

But what do you say about the effect this has on social life at Ashesi? I think some of the ways students go around this as Kwabi mentioned is not to attend certain important extra-curricular gatherings. Take for instance the Business Week Celebrations currently taking place on campus. Yesterday, I saw several members and non-members alike of the Business club going round campus trying to get people to attend the program. This was a program that has one of the most respected business minds in Ghana - Albert Ocran as the guest speaker.

Post by kwabi

24 Nov 2008 18:13:29 GMT

Congrats Edmund your team - Curious Minds. May you bring home more awards. All the best and let me know when the celebration starts.

Post by kwabi

24 Nov 2008 18:10:54 GMT

I do not know if Ashesi planned its Business Week activities with the Global Entrepreneurship Week in mind but we are blessed to have a week of activities related to business. Luckily for us the students, we have reputable entrepreneurs to share with us what it takes to be successful. Hopefully a lot of people will attend to gain more knowledge.

Post by kwabi

24 Nov 2008 18:05:45 GMT

What Kwei wrote is quite true. We the students have developed strategies to overcome the heavy workload. Even though some classes are fast paced and have a lot of assignments, we manage to complete assignments, read for the class and for more knowledge and we still get good grades at the end of the semester. With good time management, the toughest of schools will be manageable.

Post by kwabi

24 Nov 2008 18:00:25 GMT

I'm vote #4.
I think people are talking and dealing with the elections quietly. Some are tired of all of the corruption so are going to try new parties, some are die-hard party funs so will vote for the party no matter what (even if they have to cause trouble like Diamond said), some are just playing their cards right so that they can benefit some how, and so on.
Hopefully, the election atmosphere will remain as calm as I see it. I mean we should proud to support a party but should vote for the 'proper' people who will help steer this nation to prosperity. I believe this can be done peacefully and sensibly. I pray that things go smoothly and we continue to live in harmony.

Post by eddy

17 Nov 2008 19:46:28 GMT

Thanks a lot for congratulating us( curious minds) it feels great to be apart of the group that won the International Children's Day of Broadcasting.From a humble beginning in 1996 with only a thirty minutes programme on GBC'S Radio2 on short wave, the group has grown from a club into an organization that does Serious advocacy at the International,Regional and National levels.The group has also contributed alot to Ghana's policies on young people.Some of the policies include the child Cannot Wait, NGO'S shadow report to the UN Committee on Children.Curious Minds has also partnered organizations like Save the Children uk and HACI.The group is seriously involved in community programmes that seeks to inform the community about issues of young people. when i reflect on the things the has done over the years it inspires me to do more as a young person.Congratulations Curious Minds you deserve it.

Post by kweiqf

15 Nov 2008 15:40:08 GMT

I am a final year student at Ashesi. And I agree that the work load is very often overwhelming. However, over the years I have realized that it gets easier. Not because there is less work to do, but because I have become more experience, therefore it takes me less time and effort to finish my assignments and projects.

Even though topics are covered at a fast pace, I strongly believe that if students manage their time properly, they can explore their individual areas of interest, especially since most of the lecturers are often willing to help students even outside class with their questions outside of class.

Post by moskandi1

13 Nov 2008 18:17:22 GMT

If that 100k was mentioned and directed to next year, i do not want to beleive that it is not political talk " Ghanaian Politicians are found to be sweet talkers. Trafficking has become big issue in Ghana and i will not be surprise if they are trying to camoflage to the Ghanaian community. It will be a great oppotunity for the trafficking board to re-strategise and work harder and before.

Post by rashidm

12 Nov 2008 13:13:21 GMT

Please congratulate Edmund as his team. There are photos and videos on UNICEFS site.

Post by eyram

10 Nov 2008 17:24:08 GMT

In adding my voice to this campaign for peaceful elections, I also wonder what more we can do to make other Ghanaian youth not to be used by self seeking politicians to pursue their selfish objectives. You and I are not ready to go and fight other people because we support a particular candidate. But for every one of us who stand for peace, there is another person or two other people who are ready to do anything for politicians for a few Ghana cedis. So what can we do about these people? I'm vote #3, but how many votes are on the other side?

Post by eddy

10 Nov 2008 10:15:58 GMT

YES WE CAN!!! I agree to what you are saying Samuel we all need peace as a country to thrive.People should not be deceived by politians to go and cause mayhem in thier localities this will not augur well for our development as a nation that is seeking to attain the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015.But before peace prevails there should be justice for all citizes irrespective of their political affiliation,If someone should break the law, the law must work to its fullest.For Justice delayed is Justice denied.The law must not favour only the Strong and the mighty in the soceity but also the weak and the vulnerable, for Justice denied is a Threat to Peace.

Post by karlyn

3 Nov 2008 02:41:10 GMT

I think that the VP was saying that the 100k Cedis HAD been set aside. I think that money was spent in 2007. But, perhaps he's talking about a new 100k cedis... I'm thrilled to hear that the fund has launched and that the government has stated its commitment to addressing the issue.

Post by kwabi

1 Nov 2008 20:08:43 GMT

Unfortunately, a lot of people in Ashesi tend not to participate in the social events held for the students. These activities range from Business Forums, which have very influential people present, to parties. As an ex-entertainment chairperson assistant, I have gone through the hassle of trying to get people to attend these events. I wonder what the students want to do together to socialize as Ashesi students. We could even use these opportunities to build our networks.

Post by eopoku

31 Oct 2008 07:58:56 GMT

I think that the article by the Economist is a step in the right direction. Since the economist is a private corporation, it has the chance to air out whatever it so believes. It is an entity.
About Barack, I think he is the rightful choice for America and the enthusiasm he has aroused in voters is a proof to that. He is a once in a century candidate and America will do itself some good to vote him in.

Post by rashidm

31 Oct 2008 03:06:28 GMT

I have to say that I am surprised to see the Economists take such a strong position.

Post by kwabi

30 Oct 2008 21:33:15 GMT

Great NEWS! I watched the news item on television yesterday. Now the law enforcers will have enough funds to help them work effectively and the victims too can benefit from this money. I hope this helps in decreasing the human trafficking problem in our society.

Post by eyram

27 Oct 2008 09:29:54 GMT

It is true that students do not make good use of opportunities such as faculty office hours. But is it not because students do not have time to do that ? To engage in discussions during class, one should read not only the required text but also other materials on the subject. This is not done because deadlines have to be met. As for student representatives and talking to the administrators, I can almost always predict the outcome of such discussions - time management.

So when there is a little free time like Kwabi mentioned, people would rather do some socialization.

Post by karlyn

27 Oct 2008 01:41:33 GMT

Very interesting issue. I have been out of school for quite a while now, but i do remember having a hectic school schedule. Your query raised a few questions of my own: (1) do students have time in class to engage the lecturers on the issues/topics raised and share varying perspectives, (2) do students take advantage of "office hours" whereby they can follow-up with the lecturers on the class discussions to get a better understanding or share their perspectives, and (3) do you all have student representatives to the schools administration who can liaise with faculty and staff to exchange info so that students can better understand the admin and the admin can better understand the students.

As for socializing, i do think that it is important. Not because it's fun, but because it's networking and you should start planning your futures with your potential future business partners in school. That's one thing that I probably should've done more of....

Post by kwabi

22 Oct 2008 20:36:08 GMT

Wonderful topic Eyram. I am an Ashesi student and I totally agree with you on the subject of the overwhelming workload. I sometimes wonder if the lecturers meet to plan how to destroy the social lives of their students during the semester. It can get soo hectic that I have nightmares of assignments in my little hours of sleep. Other times too, the work load is soo little that I feel aimless. Even though there is a lot to be done in our school, by balancing our time more efficiently I am sure we will have the best of education and some time to practice what we learn outside the lecture rooms.

Post by rashidm

14 Oct 2008 03:01:28 GMT

Domestic violence is a problem in many areas and can be considered taboo. Indeed the woman's movement in the US was not that long ago. I think however, economic parity between women and men and can help to mitigate the prevalence of domestic violence. It would be interesting to hear how global economic trends affect the well-being of women (and children).

Post by scholars

14 Oct 2008 02:49:26 GMT

Nokia is also having an application challenge this year. New is a categories this year are emerging markets and eco-challenge.

http://www.callingallinnovators.com

Post by kweiqf

8 Oct 2008 17:11:11 GMT

I believe it is wrong for anyone to use violence as means of puuting a message across. This is regardless of who is using the violene or who is being affected by it. Also, considering the fact that men are generally physically stronger than women, I think it adds another dimension to the issue. I think this fact is more reason men should not use violence against women or children.

Post by kwabi

8 Oct 2008 16:40:27 GMT

I do not know if E-ZWICH allows online transactions but I would be very glad if it did. The idea of cashless transactions in Ghana is relatively new and seems to have many advantages. People do not need to carry huge sums of money on them, the card can be used by only the owner since it requires their fingerprint, can be used in many locations all over the country and many more. It is a great and innovative idea for the business environment in Ghana and would be a very successful project. Unfortunately I have not received mine yet because I will need money in my 'account' to use it - I have been saving very hard for it.

Post by eddy

8 Oct 2008 16:29:54 GMT

Until parents realise that their daughters are not 'items' meant to be sold to sold men violence shall continue in every relationship. Parents have unfortunately embedded this idea of musculinity in to their sons, who sees themselves as lords over every woman. And mothers have compounded the issue by asking their daughters to remain over submissive to their brothers and husbands. Why will some men not abuse their partners because they think they have bought them from their parents. It is only people who are timid and can't face challenges in life who abuse their partners. Hitting your partner is unacceptable and not the answer to the problems you face as an individual. Remember if you abuse your partner the laws of the land will deal with you.

Post by kwabi

8 Oct 2008 16:04:42 GMT

Personally I think that violence is not a way of expressing love to anyone. There are various forms of punishment; striking someone with your hand or an object should be avoided as much as possible. I think that the women who have been abused have been taught to be 'extra' submissive by the elderly or people they respect so they tend to say nothing about the awful treatments. As more people, including young girls get educated I am sure this practice will reduce. What puzzles me is whether the women think of the act as love or they decide to keep it to themselves in order to keep their marriages intact.

Post by kwabi

8 Oct 2008 15:43:10 GMT

Technology is definitely developing at a very rapid pace. Before, us the consumers were happy to hear about the introduction of new technologies and found ways to try them. However, technological market seems to be so saturated with new gadgets and devices that are top of the range and relatively cheap. This competition between developers in the technological filed does not allow consumers to enjoy their reign with their new technology as more sophisticated electronic products are always introduced to the market.

Post by eddy

7 Oct 2008 14:31:40 GMT

I agree to what you are saying my dear monika it is wrong for anyone to abuse his or her partner but unfortunately for us in this part of our world some women are the very people who endorse and pertuate these acts in their homes.don't be surprised if you hear a traditional Ghanaian woman telling her daughter not complain and remain submissive when they are abused by their husbands and somtimes too it is very woman who would lead the way for his son to abuse his ''WIFE''.For those who are involved in these acts should think twice because the 'new' Domestic violence Act,2007 Act 732 is now in force and any one who would want to experiment with should go with the abuse. let me this opportunity to quote one section of the Act. Section 5. Number of acts which would amount to domestic violence. (1) A single act may amount to domestic violence. (2) A number of acts that form a pattern of behaviour may amount to domestic violence even though some or all acts when viewed in isolation may appear minor or trivial.Stay put for more.

Post by monika

6 Oct 2008 16:36:14 GMT

Domestic violence is still seen as a private matter in Ghana, making the consequences for harassment very minimal. According to the statistical service (a survey conducted in 2003) about 80% of Ghanaian men, admitted that they thought although beating their partners was aimed @ correcting their wrong-doings, it was wrong. However society seems to have "bestowed a low status on the girl child' (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/vaw-stat-2005/docs/expert-papers/Ardayfio.pdf) and very few of these women are educated. The finding also revealed that themen involved in these acts seemed to take advantage of their victim's ignorance. Would you agree with this point?

Post by karlyn

4 Oct 2008 15:26:43 GMT

Does E-WICH, which is basically a debit card, allow on to make online purchases? This would definitely facilitate international commerce and promote international business collaborations with Ghana.

Post by sasumadu

3 Oct 2008 21:57:41 GMT

My candle is lit up. I want to contribute my quota towards the transformation of our continent. Who is with me? And what at all do we mean by 'the transformation' of Africa? Perhaps as we discuss this and come to some common understanding of what we seek, we would be a step closer to the accomplishment of the dream.

Post by kwabi

1 Oct 2008 17:28:06 GMT

I personally think that emerging-market companies can only fill one-third of the Fortune list within ten years if they get involved in the development of technology. It is true that they can use the existing technologies to develop their economies but with the release of new technologies currently being developed, they will go back to being at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Post by eopoku

1 Oct 2008 15:34:59 GMT

I am very glad that conversations of this nature are taking place. Actually I think Ashesi gives its students all it takes to cause a renaissance but lets not forget that whether a renaissance will happen or not depends on we the individuals. True renaissance in the World were started by individuals .We do not need all Ashesi students to cause the renaissance. I believe that just one courageous, passionate and enlightened individual can set the flame to lead the way.
GOD HELP US.

Post by kweiqf

27 Sep 2008 15:45:12 GMT

Well, now information is available within seconds at the click of a button. Technological advancements are being made in so many fields, especially by the developed countries. And these technologies are continously being made available to the develped countries, What this means is the developed countries will benefit from technology they did not necessarily pay for or invest in, so their rate of development will eventually increase in geometric proportions within the near future. Based on this, I believe it is inevitable that organisations in the third world will soon become "big global players".

Post by rashidm

26 Sep 2008 17:38:29 GMT

On September 25, 2008 Washington Mutual (WAMU) became the largest bank to fail in the History of the United States. Seized by federal regulators, the assets where quickly bought (handed over some would say) to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Inc.

Having two personal accounts and two business accounts with WAMU, I keenly interested in knowing how the change will impact its customers. According to the notice posted on http://www.chase.com/welcomewamu, the will be very little noticeable change.

Although I am comforted by knowing that the services which I depend on will function normally, I have a feel slight unease about the economic and information protagonists in the episode: government intervention, consolidation, and disparate access to information.

Aside from the closing of branches and the trimming of its workforce and given the current economic climate, WAMU’s demise can be considered a soft landing for those who depend on its services. I am not as optimistic about a soft landing when considering some of the other service providers of which I have a dependency. After all, before I knew that I had a new bank, every person involved in the government intervention, acquisition, and media reporting (and their friends and family), had the opportunity to exploit their information advantage before I could even consider actions to ensure my best interest.

Have you been affected by the US financial crisis? Do you think that you will be affected? Are you concerned about a global market slowdown?

Post by rsam

26 Sep 2008 11:22:42 GMT

Farhana Huq is definitely an incredible woman. She deserves a lot of praise and recognition. The world needs more empowerment from the female gender.

Congratulations Huq!

Post by rsam

23 Sep 2008 16:55:58 GMT

Mark Spelman maybe right but i still doubt his prediction that emerging-market companies will account for one-third of the Fortune list within ten years.I thilnk it will take a little more than ten years if the "rich" markets do not stop its brain drain.

Post by rashidm

23 Sep 2008 15:18:51 GMT

Are we finally seeing the leveling of the global economy? I think yes, and would add, corporations and employees be forced to reconcile what that means. Employees in many industries will have to compete locally, but with persons with comparable skill sets in foreign markets. Corporations, aside from competing globally, will need to manage employee expectations which are inherently based upon local conditions.

Post by karlyn

20 Sep 2008 19:37:50 GMT

I like these. However, I do think that people care if you can't dance(lol) However, if you enjoy dancing, who cares what other people think:-). It's fun, good exercise and a good stress reliever.

Post by karlyn

20 Sep 2008 18:15:24 GMT

This actually a pretty innovative idea. And just think,it only took $1000 of start-up capital to positively impact the lives of many. Such a philosophy could easily be adapted to a variety of communities and countries.

Post by sasumadu

15 Sep 2008 21:54:25 GMT

I have decided to take your good advice on stress management. Not really because i'm under stress, but because i do't want to be. Let me share some interesting words i found with you. Hopefully you'd find something interesting here that will help you prevent stress.

Some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good in case you should die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
* Never buy a car you can't push.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

- Author Unknown
Why don’t people sign their names to things like this?

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

Post by rsam

15 Sep 2008 20:09:10 GMT

We all hate to be stressed out; and so taking a natural break from a harding working moment is very crucial. Scientifically, our mental efficiency is some how inversely proportional to our physical health. So consider this equation:

Too much stress = Poor mental competence. [Try it and see]

Stress management is definitely important for all of us.

Post by kweiqf

12 Sep 2008 17:44:44 GMT

Well, I think it depends on the individual. However, no matter how "strong" or "hard working" the individual is, he/she should occasionally take some time off, at least for health reasons.

Post by monika

12 Sep 2008 17:41:32 GMT

It definitely is important to manage stress while you are experiencing and even after. A good way of managing stress is to engage in activities which you enjoy and those that help you relax. These are relative to the individual or the cause of stress. Ms. Akwo suggested 'venting out' as a good strategy for post stress management. This is especially effective when the costs of confronting whoever caused you stress are very high. It is basically a way of saying how you really feel about the situation in private and is very therapeutical. Other ways of releasing or prevneting stress are exercising, eating healthy or pampering yourself like kwabi said or watching cartoons etc. Ms. Tahmah Israel also adviced participants not to stress about stress. It is important to find a way of managing stress that does not wear you out. Also a certain level of stress can enable people to excel. No good thing comes easy.

Post by rsam

14 Aug 2008 11:15:25 GMT

A change in people’s perception and attitude is the only way to saving Africa. And the change in people can only be achieved through a quality education that emphasis on integrity and critical thinking. I feel a lot of change in me after 4 years at Ashesi, and if you feel the same way, then imagine Ashesi producing 1000 (or even more) folks just like you every year. Do you see Ashesi saving Africa now? Well, you might not be alive to see the change in decades to come, but if you can feel it now, then you must have seen the light!

Well, I think you must not necessarily have to become a part of the government system – as a politician (parliament or cabinet level) to make a change. Patrick Awuah is a perfect example in this context; again I challenge you with Raul Midon song – check him out at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/raul_midon_plays_everybody_and_peace_on_earth.html.

So my answer to the question is, yes Ashesi can save Africa.

Post by karlyn

13 Aug 2008 16:59:42 GMT

For those of you in attendance, what did you think about the Forum and the perspectives of the panelists? From what I read, they appear to embrace intelligent women in the workplace.

Post by karlyn

13 Aug 2008 16:56:04 GMT

Well, I'm curious as to how many of you would be willing to become a part of the government system--as a politician (parliament or cabinet-level) or civil servant and make change from within. That's the only way to challenge and change the status quo--you have to get into the belly of it..no matter how frustrating and slow it is....

Post by monika

13 Aug 2008 16:39:58 GMT

WORKING WITH WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE: A MALE PERSPECTIVE
- A SUMMARY

T.A – Mr. Tuinese Edward Amuzu
F.T – Mr. Francis Torkornoo
A.R – Audience response in general.

GENERAL PERCEPTION OF WOMEN
Women are human beings with a slightly different biological make-up than men.
T.A: Women may go through certain things that men may not have the opportunity or burden of going through.
F.T: Women should not be given the place to have preferential treatment or to be seen as a weaker sex.
FEMALE WORK ETHIC
T.A: I work with women a lot. Among the six lawyers I work with, three are women. They are all highly-qualified and competent women.
F.T: Women should are hard-working. They can go the extra mile that men may not voluntarily go through. They add aesthetic looks to whatever they produce. They focus and concentrate and are eager to produce good results. They are sometimes proactive.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE APPROACH TO WORK
T.A: This depends on who the individual. There is no difference in general between the male and female approach. However I encountered an incident when a female employee in our workplace was unable to meet a deadline and after confrontation broke down in tears. At the same time she is able to produce the best reports. Would a man be able to produce such reports? Would a man have an emotional breakdown? There is no straightforward response. I find women pay more attention to detail and are more interesting to work with than men.
Do their emotions get in the way of work? Realistically, they do however they have great advocacy skills.
WHO ARE YOU MORE LIKELY TO HIRE?
F.T: It depends on the nature of the work. If it is service-related I might hire a woman. For a factory job I would hire a man. Even though a woman might have to go on a maternity leave, because of how forward – thinking many women have proven to be, she may prepare ahead of time before she leaves.
T.A: In my line of work, I have a bias that women are probably more intelligent. So when it comes to hiring I will choose a woman. In my organization we have to build a program that indicates gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming in our documents. I also believe that there should be some “reasonable accommodation” for women going through hormonal changes.
A.R: Two young men in the audience agree that the nature of certain jobs is better suited for men. Prof. Ogundipe says it may also depend on what the factory produces. E.g. if the factory manufactures jewellery, many people may prepare to hire a woman.

DO YOU SEE WOMEN AS THREATS IN YOUR WORKPLACE?
F.T: I still do not believe in giving women any preferential treatment. I was raised in a female-dominated environment. Very early I had respect for women because they are hard-working. If I am going for an interview or an exam with a woman, I will not take it for granted. Within the same age group however, men find women are better in terms of advocacy and maybe intelligence.
ARE YOU INTIMIDATED BY MORE COMPETENT WOMEN?
F.T: I try to find the formula for their success and if I still cannot keep up, I will give way. I am very plain and straight-forward with women. If I feel they have the better proposition or solution than I do, I will allow them to take charge.

ARE MEN WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE A MORE COMPETENT WOMAN IN A MARRIAGE/DATING RELATIONSHIP?
F.T: My wife is a public speaker and I follow her wherever she goes to assist her. I do not see any difference even if she is better in the same line of work as me. I will not harbor any hard feelings or treat her any differently than I would my mother or older female siblings.
T.A: Life is more enjoyable when I am not in the same job as my wife. WE can talk about different instances. I like to be daring and free in my workplace so I would not want my wife in the net room. It adds a little spice to life. I have never washed my own clothes since we met. She does not see it as her responsibility but as her right to wash my clothes. If she is beating me at work, this might change.
F.T: I am of the opinion that in marriage, it is good to come home and compare notes. Same work environments do not encourage conversation.
A.R: It is difficult to work with family usually because of the perception of other people in the workplace who may suspect nepotism and this may lead to pressure on the part of one family member(who is a superior) to punish the other unduly to prove that they are not being partial to them.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GENDER ROLES?
F.T: I do not share that belief.
T.A: To be honest, I do not believe in that either. I personally do not like the kitchen. Even though my wife is very busy (a nurse and midwife), I still do not see myself cooking. Cultural settings have shaped our world view. We usually think the man should be boss. Currently, we do not have a female Regional Minister in Ghana, even though we have deputies.
F.T: One can help in the kitchen even if you don’t like the kitchen. By chatting with your wife and encouraging her while she is cooking, you are being helpful and making it seem like less of a chore.
A.R: Our society would be less tolerant of a woman who did not like the kitchen. Our cultural views seem to be improving however we must acknowledge the problem with the social conditioning (relating to gender roles) and change it.

Post by monika

13 Aug 2008 13:23:00 GMT

Ashesi's vision to "change Africa one student at a time" may seem like a painfully slow approach but it is an effective strategy in the long term. At the risk of sounding pessimistic, our current leadership and the general attitude and perception of Africans will determine whether we would be able to sustain the continent long enough to see the results.

Post by kweiqf

8 Aug 2008 19:19:51 GMT

Well, I don't know if we can save Africa, but what I konw is we are going to make a hell of an impact!