No Light No Vote !!

Elections 2012

People of Akorley off the Somanya – Dodowa road are peeved !!! Their message, “No Lights No Vote”.

I happened to find myself in this town when i attended a friend’s engagement and wedding ceremonies. The people are predominantly Mango ( What we call in Ghana ‘SALO’) farmers. Their land as i was told is a very fertile one of which any plant yields with high bearings when cultivation is due.

This is a town that on any day, sees rain twice everyday, no wonder the evidence was clear to see as a friend took me round a vast mango farm with the leaves very very green and fresh.

My friend’s uncle told me, there were vast lands available for which if anyone needed could come see the overseers of the land though he made it clear that, it had to be for developmental projects or for farming purposes.

So i asked, why the chanting out of the No Light No Vote ? And he’s response was simple – “We have been neglected for far too long and we need to be recognized since we also form part of the Yilo Krobo District”.

I also asked whether they’ve channelled their grievances to the respected authorities? The answer was in the affirmative and to add to what the middle aged man said in his own words – “Plenty plenty ‘tams’ (times)”.

As to how serious they were in this plea or threat, whichever way you might want to describe it, i was dared to come around during the December elections to see for myself if what they are pushing is a mere fluke in relation to what they are agitating for is not met.

Well lets see how it goes : i will try and link up with the folks there hopefully in a few weeks before the general elections to find out whether there’s been some level of progress in their quest for them to have electricity or light as the say they want.

ADE IS BACK

Adebayor is Back .

Tottenham Hotspur were delighted to announce that they had completed the transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City.

Sheyi Adebayor  impressed during his loan at White Hart Lane last season, finishing as the club’s top goalscorer with 18 goals in 37 appearances, maintaining his fine scoring record in England which now stands at 99 goals from 224 games.

Voted African Player of the Year in 2008, Adebayor originally moved to England with Arsenal in January, 2006 before joining Manchester City two-and-a-half years later and also enjoyed a spell on loan with Real Madrid in 2011.

Adebayor said: “I am pleased to be signing for Spurs on a permanent basis after finally agreeing my departure with Manchester City.

It was always clear that, Ade as he is affectionately called by team mates and close associates, had fell out with the team of Manchester City and always stood by his conviction of wanting to leave the club. So this came to him as a very big relief.

“It may have taken longer than expected but I am delighted to be back at Tottenham Hotspur.  I really enjoyed my time here last season and I am hoping we can achieve great things together again.”

Adebayor gets to wear the number 25 shirt of which he expressed joy in wearing a shirt number he is mostly associated with when his career took of on a high note.

In his remarks a few moments after the deal was completed, he took to the social media platform of Twitter and here was what he tweeted to his loving followers : “I’m back !!! Tottenham here I come!! I’m hungry for goals.. Get ready”.

He had his first training session today and he was very delightful as always on and of the pitch. I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll succeed here at this club and as a fan, I will always wish for him to be on top form.

I wish him well and hope he goes through the season fit.

@Spursofficial

@sheyiadebayor

@qwophicedi

MY GHANA, MY OLYMPICS !!

And there came the London 2012 Olympics. A dream that the Great Britain were anxiously waiting for. After a spectacular Opening ceremony, the games began in earnest. Old records were broken and new ones were set.

It was a period of our lives we will forever cherish. We as school children in Ghana always looked up to the vacation to be mesmerized by the dazzling performances by the athletes which invoked in us the desire to attain such greatness in our very own version of the Olympics in the play ground. My personal favorite was the gymnastics which we nicked name “acrobatics”.

As the Olympics ended a few days ago, I reminisce how we enjoyed and appreciated our version of the Olympics. The same way the world reveres the Olympics as a unifier, so did our version do. Socialization was at its peak, friendship and bonds were formed.

If the Olympics have disciplines on the tracks and fields like Javelin, Shot put, Archery and the likes, we can also boast of  ‘KOYONSOR ()). It is made from the famous Titus Sardine key opener which is folded with a feather from a chicken inserted at the tail end. Called it our version of the Dart or Archery.

We equally can boast of relay events that can match the Olympics boot for boot. Talk about Stay, Are you Ready, Yaasamebo, Julor K3 Police and many more of which you will not be disqualified after three (3) false starts.

As well as they can boast of the Lawn tennis event or discipline, we were innovative enough to create Headings or D3d Ball game which is less stressful, injury free but a good source of work-out exercise.

Let the world talk of swimming, scuba diving and all the water sports, we have the Golden Fish Fiesta. Here the winner is not determined by backstroking, free styling or even the famous butter flying  but any of the competitors is declared the champion if you are able to catch the ‘Golden Fish’ popularly known in our local setting as ‘Yaa Baaby’.

We also pride ourselves in a discipline which was and has always been a beauty to watch. It has exclusivity to the girls or women and it’s called AMPE. Well as we all recognize soccer as a male dominated discipline, so is AMPE to the women of Ghana. The idea of promoting this sport as an Olympic discipline, like Judo, never materialized and still very illusive to many. Well we don’t care, really because it remains exclusive to our version. Talk of a discipline that requires accuracy and precision comes our very own “Four Corners”. A game of football with four goal posts (small) in a square like shape. It’s a one touch kick to the opponent’s goal post. A total of four competitors at a time and when you concede a goal, you are eliminated for the entry of a new competitor. That’s our innovative side if you want to talk about football as we’ve done the tennis.

The Olympics has ended and has once again lived up to expectation and even though we cannot go back to the playground to relive those moments, I’m of the strong view that the Olympics should engulf some degree of African games otherwise what’s the point of Africans participating in it.

Story by:

Qwophi Opare : @qwophicedi on Twitter

Credits:

Photo: AdrenalinGh

Seth Laryea : @niiGamantselary on Twitter

Lagos Plane Crash !!

Barely a few hours after its neigbouring country expereinced  a case of a cargo plane crashing into a passenger vehicle, Nigeria’s biggest city has suffered another plane crash.

The plane which belongs to Dana Airlines was said to be carrying about 152 people on board when the said incident happened. It crashed at the Iju/Ishaga area of Lagos. Passengers are reported to be  burning and as at the time of posting this rescue team were on their way to help salvage the situation at hand.

Hope they are able to save more lives to prevent more lives being lost. For the families who will later here the news of their beloved, lost through this crash, is wished the best of our condolences as a country Ghana and as a blogger.