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GDP alone, cannot measure well-being - U.S. Lecture by Ghana's Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings

1/4/2014

6 Comments

 
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In a speech that examined the growing role for women in a rising Africa, Ghana’s former first lady also called for a critical look at the sustainable well-being of Africa's women and children.

Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, and head of the 31st December Women’s Movement, delivered her remarks recently at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, in Glendale, Arizona (click: photo gallery).

On the topic “Development, Politics and National Government—Impact on African Women,” she recalled her work “as an African woman who has spent her last 30 years working on behalf of our nation’s women and children at the grassroots.”

“Women are 51 percent of Africa’s one billion people and they make up the majority of its poor,” she noted. “Those living in isolated rural communities are not yet part of the good news story.

“Together with children, these women often suffer the most, especially in times of crisis and unrest. For the masses of women, Africa is rising—but slowly and unevenly—and unfortunately many women are not rising with it.

"In some African countries, poverty has increased in spite of GDP growth,” she emphasized. "According to the Africa Development Bank, 61% of Africans still live below the $2 poverty line--and the majority of these people are women. So, yes, Africa is rising, but major challenges still abound: the need for inclusion and opportunity; the need for jobs; the need for equal access to healthcare and education."

Mrs. Rawlings then highlighted efforts being made to ensure that education is inclusive, that teachers are gender sensitive and curricula relevant to girls’ aspirations but warns: “Today, we take it for granted when we find African women as university professors, leading doctors in national hospitals and prominent professional businesswomen. But educational development in Africa is not impacting on women as effectively as it does on men.

“Girls are taken out of school to help in economic activities such as helping mothers sell in the market or work on farms. Marrying girls off at an early age is still a common practice.

"Even when women were able to advance beyond the sixth year in school, in many African countries including Ghana, old practices restricted the advancement of women.

"In addition to these restrictions, the traditional beliefs that certain professions are not for women persist so that in spite of all the progress made, most women are discouraged from entering into higher institutions for engineering, medicine and science and mathematics related disciplines.

“As the continent becomes more prosperous and more attractive to the outside world, our challenge—and the challenge of our national governments—is to address continuing inequality so that all Africans, including those living in isolated rural communities, fragile states and poor urban areas, are able to benefit from economic prosperity.

“It is up to us, the women of Africa, to share the responsibility for actions needed to end poverty—first in our homes, then in our communities and, ultimately, throughout our nations, one woman at a time.”

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6 Comments
Mfa Captain Victor Batse
2/1/2014 08:39:17 pm

Greetings Erika,

It has been a little while and hope you are very fine.

I was very bored reading what I think is GREAT NONSENSE so I decided to discontinue reading the article to save my health.

SEE WHO IS SPEAKING as is normally said in our world.

These people established GARI PROCESSING FACTORIES WHICH NEVER WERE; supposedly in support of Ghanaian women and children. Like the over $15million value of GUINEA FOWLS that flew to BAUKINA FASO in recent times were the Gari Processing factories that VANISHED for another inauguration in another village.

These people have since the 1980's been "planting" trees in support of "RE-AFORESTATION" and in same manner as the over $7million value of trees planted in recent times in the "DRY" Season which all did "perish"; only the heavens can tell where indeed those trees were planted and how they have supported the environment.

These people "propagated" FREE ADULT LITERACY EDUCATION "programs" for persons over SIXTY (60) years old who were getting ready to go to their graves while BASIC Child EDUCATION became burdened with HIGHER SCHOOL FEES AND LEVIES hence making it difficult for parents to support their children in school; thus the very high level of illiteracy and GREAT IGNORANCE that today abounds in our society presumably in support of promoting a DYNASTY.

No doubt our societies are what they are today in Despondency, Desperation and virtual failed situations.

These people "established" 31 Dec DAY CARE CENTRES in support of nursury education most of which were schools already established by private individuals while some others like the Gari Processing Factories VANISHED into thin air immediately after their innauguration because they knew that too soon, everybody would forget; but sorry God did NOT make us all such forgetfull beings.

From my background, I can continue to list a host of other projects and programs that NEVER WERE and were only conduits for siphoning public money in the name of making life better and improving the lot of Women and children.

Where are those projects and programs today and WHERE are the beneficiaries. Probably all their witnesses may have been all gone but the Greater witnesses who want to draw to consciosness still abound.

So Erika, what was that LECTURE projected at achieving and why was such a lecture NOT organised in Accra and instead in far away USA.

The least said the better; for, while propaganda serves purposes in life, LIFE IS NOT ABOUT PROPAGANDA instead ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT

The Holy Bible tells us somewhere that "THERE CAME A KING (PHARAOH) WHO DID NOT KNOW JOSEPH"

THAT IS ABOUT POSTERITY AND JUDGEMENT

So what are we saying and to who?

Reply
Erika Amoako-Agyei link
2/5/2014 02:18:08 am

Hello Victor,
You lost me. I do not understand your long-winded rant nor your very "personal" feelings against the subject. After skimming through your circular reasoning, I too, got bored, and had to stop reading. You obviously have some very personal hurt feelings that need resolution, but this is not the place. For the record, there's life outside Accra - and Ghanaians too. I'm one of millions and, like it or not, we appreciate when our leaders honor invitations to publicly address the international community. We know Mrs. Rawlings. She's an accomplished leader that we are proud of. Thus, the reason, the talk was organized outside Accra, as you question. She was invited by the Thunderbird School of Global Management - the world's leading school for international business education and is now on their Wall of Fame with other world leaders and former speakers, such as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon (should he only speak in South Korea? since you question why Mrs. Rawlings is not speaking in Accra) and former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. If this troubles you (her global platform), then I believe your worries will only increase.

While everybody is entitled to their personal feelings - no matter how illogical - this is not the space for airing partisan politics, but rather about objective news and views. That is where credibility is earned. Like it or not, this is a powerful Ghanaian woman and you should be not waste time trying to bring her down.

Nonetheless, thank you for your contribution.

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Barry Kofi King
3/19/2014 08:09:00 pm

Dear Captain Batse,
I am hopeful my contribution to this is not too late as the the subject matter is very timeless in any regard.

With all due respect, (which for now, you may not deserve, for using such unfortunate language on a leader, as a Christian leading the Christ Universal Excellence Mission) being a current graduate student of Thunderbird and a business professional, who witnessed at first hand, our speaker sharing her thoughts and experiences during the session, I am compelled to challenge your misplaced comments.

Beyond sharing some of her personal challenges working to improve livelihoods of impoverished women and children through her influence as first lady, she carefully laid out a premise for her argument that “GDP alone is not a sufficient measure of well being,” which this article has sought to share with discerning minds as you (perhaps I may be wrong). For the substantive issue to help your own ignorance, please rethink carefully about your comments in the context of the questions below.

1. Which part of the substantive case do you have an issue with?
2. Where do you wish to make a contribution?
3. What specific insights can you share differently?

Sitting through the session, I cannot but condemn your misplaced cacophony of personal attacks on the school's distinguished speaker and the invaluable insights shared on the day. As Erika shared earlier, this is the same platform given to world leaders to share insights on specific issues they confronted, how they dealt with them and key take-aways the world should know. It's not for the advancement of any person's or party's propaganda. If you care to know further, some other personalities include Condoleeza Rice, John McCain, and The Dalai Lama.

The least you could have done was to research further on the details of the session if you felt inadequate with the information here, and not to make such obnoxious comments to denigrate the personality or the platform. Even by virtue of the topic alone, any discerning reader will come to appreciate that this was not a propaganda in favor or against anyone but a simple call to rethinking how African development is measured and perceived by the outside world. She was very honest in admitting some failures at policy level in the past and urged the world to "look at Africa differently".

Unfortunately, your personal issues against happenings around her with your 'very damaging expressions' are all unrelated in anyway to the substantive matter. You have carefully articulated misguiding issues to discredit her and her achievements. If you truly believe in your own words that "life is not about propaganda but achievement", then it suggests you may have a better case to tell the world, let us hear your achievements and accomplishments (if any). Perhaps, you may become worthy enough to be given a platform as this to air your views. Give credit and talk to the issues please - your military training is ingrained in honesty and integrity.

Having also lived and worked extensively in Ghana, I can appreciate your ill-fated feelings and personal vendetta on specific personalities, based on limited information and general misconceptions inherent in our information stream. On another platform, I would love to have a debate with you on specific progress Ghana has made under any single individual you can point out, of course not without flaws as you and I both have - it's a quality that confirms you are a human being and not a perfect machine or alien, if perfection is your yardstick.

Truth be told, it is this kind of 'Pull Him/Her Down' attitude from persons like you and your stature (who should know better), that has contributed MOST to ineffective interventions in our national development.

Seriously, how can you be thinking this way?
Not even a single credit for how far we have come as a country, despite all the odds? If we treat our leaders with such disrespect and contempt, then who are we?

Come on Captain ! This is just not the right place - You could have channeled your energy to productive discussions on the substance, not this propaganda. This is hypocrisy of the highest order and very dangerous.

Please 'kill it' immediately. The world needs your clear reasoning.

Reply
Mfa Captain Victor Batse
4/4/2014 09:43:10 am

Erika and Barry,

I had not shy away from any of your responses but for various other exigencies which made me seeing your responses only today.

Great to read your various intelligently crafted and highly patriotic responses.

Erika I know; but Barry, I hope you have not lost your name as is largely displayed by people on the net hence indeed responding to your true name.

Erika; granting for the very seasoned Journalist I have known you to be; I believe you were not expecting all of us to go in applause about every news hence the open window for comments, more especially knowing the controversies over your very “great” speaker at least amongst Ghanaians.

I however virtually saw your response as of “PR” works rather than in moderating by a person who may have been seeking views and opinions hence the window of expression; more so for persons my type who would not adopt Human worship.

May be and in your next issues when you do not expect divergent opinions, you might simply spare us our energy and time hence without the window so we can read about the great people of this world without comments.

For Barry, I have no doubts you certainly viewed my LINKEDIN PROFILE hence your further comments; this said, I shall do my best with responses and into your greater insight granting that you are more concerned about human worship as against what humans do our society.

I did not really intend taking on the issue after very carefully and relevantly reading through your various responses; the contention of which may NOT make any sense to the over SIX BILLION WORLD out there who are differently focused and directed; nevertheless some of your mentions requires some very relevant mentions and insight.

As to my achievements, I wished I had also belonged to such worlds into opportunities which unfortunately has been denied most persons in my world being reasons persons like Aplostle Kojo Sarfo can also only still continue with very great challenges despite their efforts into excellence; hence the least said in that direction the better.

But then why would you want to compare the achievements of a flippant like me to that of a very great GIANT.

What to some people I FAILED and DID; was to listen to the Divine One AGAINST projecting into a NATIONAL DISTABILISING EXERCISE; NOT AND NEVER OUT OF COWARDICE; thus into a greater and better confused country; opportunities of which were in GREAT ABUNDANCE; and my Grandmother would have also been running around the world granting lectures even to Astronauts at the Space station.

Truth is we all have our lives to lead.

I have been groomed from Colonial Ghana (GOLD COAST) through Dr Nkrumah's world; and through General Acheampong's very relevant nation building programs as well as through a "REVOLUTIONARY" era to date; hence to get very concerned when persons who have been actively involved in my nations leadership hence into "fame", are monitored into making statements that have influenced the very nature and state of my country and people as a nation.

I thank God I did not attempt attacking the individual personality as you both project at mentioning other than to address the very issues relating to GDP, growth and relevant development which were postulated in same language when such persons were into leadership and fronting my nations development; Hence, I think you both got me very wrong and very likely into HUMAN WORSHIP


This hence I questioned and once again asking and stating in very simple Ghanaian vernacular English: "SEE WHO IS TALKING"

It does NOT really matter which other great personalities of the world have been involved in that forum NOR who have "dined" with who other than for readers to wonder why such a nonentity like me should be questioning mentions of such a "great" personality.

Remember, I have indicated or stated in words to the effect that God has kept some of us till date to question things like mentions of this as have been postulated by the dignified speaker who by your insight MUST NOT BE QUESTIONED.

It is indeed for a day like this when “KWEKU ANANSE” would be very busy telling tales and his side of the story that the Most Mighty Creator kept our lives so we can caution and in mentioning the TRUTH; hence it would be very unwise to sit back when the opportunity about tales expose themselves.

Ignorance we are told is very bliss; hence when the crocodile surfaces from the sea to tell people in the deep of the Sahara desert that "THE WHALE IS INFACT A VERY SMALL MAMMAL THE SIZE OF A FLY" it must NOT be questioned by a desert man who has once lived along the Atlantic coast and been privileged to see a whale simply because he is a desert man.

I need not get into all the relevant research that was mentioned by Barry other than to comment on what I had read in relation to what I know about the works of the speaker more especially in relation to the very GDP in my country which they for over several years

Reply
Mfa Captain Victor Batse
4/4/2014 09:59:30 am

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE

I need not get into all the relevant research that was mentioned by Barry other than to comment on what I had read in relation to what I know about the works of the speaker more especially in relation to the very GDP in my country which they for over several years postulated to us as a people hence some Ghanaians had to question whether "FIGURES WERE WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER" or " DO WE EAT FIGURES AND GDP"?

I am very glad you indeed mentioned the speaker as being very honest; issues of which I am not privy to other than what was posted; and I am glad the speaker was indeed very honest to make the under mentioned statement which I indeed consider as very TRUE hence the rest of us MUST DIE for their comfort and well being.

She said: “It is up to us, the women of Africa, to share the responsibility for actions needed to end poverty— first in our homes, (INDEED FIRST IN OUR HOMES; HENCE THEIR HOME) then in our communities and, ultimately, throughout our nations, one woman at a time.”(INDEED ALSO ONE WOMAN AT A TIME AND NOT IN COLLECTIVE EFFORT; THUS IT “MUST” BE HER AND NOT THE LATE JUSTICE KORANTENG ADDO)

Remember, I also was a military officer; at least NOT CREDITING "YOR ke GARI" but today struggling only with my pension; yet, VERY, VERY GLAD; despite my SILENT ACHEIVEMENTS which I need NOT boast of until you care to know.

That was very excellently said and I DO NOT want to go into any history of Ghana from 4 June 1979; nor issues into the MURDER OF THE JUDGES and various other issues as well as the current STATE OF LIVING OF "THE" GHANAIAN hence knowledge into GDP and various poverty alleviating programs touted in Ghana.

Again and indeed, these were the people who cared about "WOMEN" and poverty issues.

I really do not intend to do any academic exercise with your various submissions nor engage in any debate here; nor into any argumentative or "gutter" discussions other than to request if it is possible for you to organise a TRUE and SINCERELY GENUINE RESEARCH TEAM to study into Ghana's Economic Development in relation to Poverty Alleviation, Women and Children Protection hence GDP vis a vis Ghana's overall INCOMES including loans and its impact on the society and in comparing with other nations especially of Asia; and more especially from 31 December 1981 to 07 January 2001. (please not "cooked" figures) in the face of Ghana's challenges today and into its woes.

That may give the AUGUST AUDIENCE spoken to greater insight and knowledge; hence I thought that lecture was better at home for the teeming youth suffering from the over 60% unemployment and poverty challenges UNKNOWN TO THE AUGUST AUDIENCE IN THE USA.


Those who had the opportunity of DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT but FAILED TO DO THE VERY THINGS RIGHT FOR WHICH OTHERS WERE PUNISHED INTO THE ULTIMATE MUST LEARN TO KEEP QUIET BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.

This hence I talked about "ACHEIVEMENTS" and NOT about PROPAGANDA; for after all, anybody in the SEAT can and will also DO "SOMETHING"

Lee Quan Yu of Singapore, Mahathir of Malaysia and General Pak of South Korea very relevantly DID "SOMETHING" IN THE TRANSFORMATION of their countries; about the same period and time your speakers team led our nation and with very likely even LESSER resources than we had and in lifting their nations image and GDP; which people MUST be talking more and educating the world about GDP.

Once again, I do not have the time for that research other than what has been posted here; hence in talking about GDP, poverty and Women and Children issues when the WHOLE WORLD IS NOW WORRIED as to why Africa has so failed (recent EU / Africa summit) hence into "MAGNITUDES" of YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT etc. I would have thought and expected ALL HONESTY and into APOLOGIES for spear heading such catastrophes and cataclysmic FAILURE in my society vis a vis the TRAGEDY IMPOSED in my society which is now turned COMEDY in our HOPELESSNESS.

Good technologist and engineers would say "Engineering Disaster"

Remember, I DO NOT HAVE ANY POWER OF UN-DOING ANYBODY'S SUCCESS AND FAME; after all who am I?

One thing I however know is that VERY GREAT PERSONALITIES FROM VERY GREAT NATIONS WHO HAVE RELEVANTLY LED THEIR NATIONS INTO GREATER EXCELLENCE AND SUCCESS; I AM VERY SURPRISED ARE ALL VERY QUIET, SILENT AND RELEVANTLY GUIDING THEIR JUNIOR LEADERS INTO SUCCESS AS ELDERS AND GREATER STATESMEN AND NOT IN DISIPATING ANY RESOURCES INTO WASTE.

Barry wrote "The least you could have done was to research further on the details of the session if you felt inadequate with the information here, and not to make such obnoxious comments to denigrate the personality or the platform. Even by virtue of the topic alone, any discerning reader will come to appreciate that this was not a propaganda in favour or against anyone but a simple call to rethinking (RE-THINKING?) how African development is measured and perceived by the

Reply
Mfa Captain Victor Batse
4/4/2014 10:16:05 am

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE

Barry wrote "The least you could have done was to research further on the details of the session if you felt inadequate with the information here, and not to make such obnoxious comments to denigrate the personality or the platform. Even by virtue of the topic alone, any discerning reader will come to appreciate that this was not a propaganda in favour or against anyone but a simple call to rethinking (RE-THINKING?) how African development is measured and perceived by the outside world. She was very honest in admitting some failures (ADMITTING SOME FAILURES?) at policy level in the past and urged the world to "look at Africa differently".

Barry, who should be DOING THE "RE-THINKING" and did they admit that "WE ALL DO ONE TIME OR THE OTHER MAKE MISTAKES" more especially by the very HASH ORDER they promoted and propagated at successful Ghanaians?

Did they grant that OTHERS WERE ALSO SUBJECT TO SUCH POLICY FLAWS?

Please and please; perhaps, you all may have been very relevant beneficiaries of the opportunities of their time to which I do not blame any of you and equally do not want to go down into any memory lane as I tend to know more about their leadership than you may be aware of as well as being a PERSONAL CASUALTY OF THEIR VENDETTA; hence, I would want to hold brief rather than surrender; since I indeed have been Divinely granted the capacity into memory and into WRITING THE TRUTH no matter how long.

I found God so many years ago and VERY WELL KNOWN TO THEM hence my submissions are NOT about being pained as I believe my writings may suggest as I have NOTHING to worry about hence to be envious of any novauriche nor neophyte nor upstart tendencies other than speak my mind about what has been published on the worldwide web to which I think I can also contribute in my opinion and not about cautions and restrictions from anybody who thinks differently.

They had their time and played their role to the best of their abilities; and it is time for us to also appraise the TRUTH and into greater correction.

An unexamined life they say is not worth living; hence rather than presenting the “UN-SORED” LEG for treatment, it is better for me to sound the CAUTION for the ‘SORE LEG”; lest there is gangrene into "amputation"; so FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO COME TO CLEAN OUR MESS WOULD NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES

That is how the Germans, Japanese and the likes of South Koreans spoke the TRUTH to THEMSELVES and NOT IN TELLING LIES TO THEMSELVES BY WAY OF PROPAGANDA; hence they have been able to find their WAY OUT into success.



My own father was twice invited to ACCOUNT to the "revolutionary" committees in both 1979 and 1982 for being successful in business and lucky to be free; but his story thereafter until his death in 2010 was nothing to write home about.

I myself had a "dateline" of 24 February 1982 as my "LAST DAY OF SURVIVAL ON EARTH" for nothing done wrong; after various earlier attempts and thereafter all failed. A phenomenon very well known then within the Ghanaian military fold and security agencies.

Thirty two (32) years on, GOD CONTINUES TO KEEP ME ALIVE; without the need to “disturb anybody” other than to comment; NOT in defence of an individual; nor into Human Worship but on FAILED POLICIES IN RELATION TO THE STATE OF MY NATION; HENCE TO STATE "SEE WHO IS TALKING"

CAN YOU FIND OUT FROM THEM WHAT I DID DO WRONG hence the dateline of 24 February 1982?

The LATE LT EMMANUEL NII ARMAH TETTEH who first alerted me of the plot to kill me was NOT lucky when on 19 June 1983 he was murdered in the “Castle” we were told in cold blood for doing NOTHING WRONG.

The LATE MAJOR PATRICK OMANE COLINSON through whose foresight I was saved my presence in Gondar Barracks on the 31 of December 1981 was the first person to be gunned down in cold blood at Gondar Barracks.

As to achievements; while I took over the Command, Safety and Defence of GONDAR BARRACKS; THEN THE SEAT of Government with NOT MORE THAN 10 Soldiers insight on 19 JUNE 1983; can you find out from them so they would in their SINCERITY AND HONESTY TELL YOU WHERE THEY ALL WERE HIDING? This is very well known to some of us.

Thank God; at least the Head of State in that time did acknowledge my gallantry and did send me “revolutionary” compliments and message for my efforts, service and loyalty in keeping Gondar Barracks safe.

We do not all necessarily need that fame across the world; other than do what best we can do; but, must NOT be denied the expression of our opinion.

Please, I have only been commenting on GDP in relation to Poverty and its like; more so by persons; and to borrow from the musician NAT BREW when he mentions in one of his songs about: "People who came wailing, claiming and PROMISING TO CLEAN OUR TEARS, SWEATS and WOES; ONLY TO COME AND TAKE AWAY OUR DIGNITY, HONOUR AND GLORY (Ga Song)

Please, please and please; let us not get

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    Erika Amoako-Agyei is an experienced intercultural trainer & consultant, working with global companies, schools and organizations expanding into Africa. Her company is Africa Intercultural Consulting. She specializes in cross-cultural training with a focus on business communications. For nearly a decade, she worked internationally for the IBM Corporation, including several years in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Gambia, Liberia and other countries as a Regional Manager.

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