If only we could learn from the Chinese people!

We are a funny people here. sometimes, we are almost like clowns. To make it worse, we don't even realize it. Yes, we Ghanaians, if not Africans! ...And yes, think deeply! We laugh and mock, sometimes, we even display disdain towards the Chinese people and their global cultural brand. We can't even attempt to deny it. For instance, we here regard any piece of article originating from China as 'cheap' - and in our 'civilized' minds, 'cheap' is inferior...cheap is bad...not for us. We hardly appreciate any gift of Chinese origin - even from our loved ones. It is not uncommon to hear some people say to you ' I need you to buy for me a gadget for my birthday or for Christmas, but I don't want a cheap Chinese brand'... In fact, we make effort to avoid any product - Chinese. For us, such Chinese products are only for those who cannot afford the 'NATO ITEMS' or the 'superior popular cultural products' - the poor folks! If we are not clowns, then we are confused. How can we here in Africa reject cheap substitutes from China and clamor for Western items, only to have the Westerners themselves scrambling for cheap Chinese goods? Have we hesitated for a second, to ask ourselves why President Barack Obama will make an extra effort to be in good terms with the Chinese leader at a time when Hong Kong is a tight ally of Moscow, Washington's cold war enemy? In my books, it is because the Chinese have succeeded in making themselves indispensable to the global village with a global Chinese brand - the cheap and affordable brand. No nation can do without the Chinese. China will, if it already hasn't, take over the world political - economy in the present future. It all started from a Chinese cultural revolution that was begun several years ago by their visionary and culturally conscious leaders. The attempts at cultural revolution by the Chinese failed severally but with persistence and clarity of mind from the Chinese leadership and people, they made it. The Chinese succeeded in making anything they ever need - and more - in China. But what are we doing here in Ghana? In Africa? we are naively mocking at cheap Chinese goods, and yet, even our matches we use to light up fire in our kitchens come from Indonesia. Even as we wallow in our chronic poverty, we still feel pretty expensive in our minds. Double sadly, we are happy about our 'choice' and content to be stuck as 'universal consumers' of other people's goods with alacrity - including of course, the same Chinese goods we reject when we think we can afford alternatives from America and Europe - insofar as they are not priced 'cheap'. How much more naive can we become? If only we could learn from the Chinese cultural revolution, we would be way ahead of our time, and we would have a global cultural identity! Amenga - Etego Akaabitono SaCut - The writer is a multi - media political Journalist, ghost writer, broadcaster & political communicator

Ghana at 57 - let's see our leaders in the mirror not on the Television

At 57 I see Ghana's biggest problem is a cultural one. The 'dominant society' has a grotesque grip on our minds. We have an identity crisis..not everyone will agree - of course! Our lives are driven by the 'popular culture', which obviously is a different people's 'national culture' packaged and delivered on the platform of globalization in a so - called liberalized new world market order.. It now seem at 57 that the founders of our nation took no concrete steps to protect our cultural heritage, and carve a national cultural identity . If that were done, perhaps, Ghana will be exporting things of culture, of value, rather than being perpetual importers of all things including other people's national cultures. The protection and promotion of Our national culture and identity was disregarded at the foundation of our nationhood. It now even seem to some that our problems as a nation are insurmountable insofar as they are linked to our 'borrowed culture' or acquired tastes. How can we for example, expect the Ghana cedi to appreciate when we don't eat our own locally produced rice in our homes - less 'they' call us 'uncivilized'? Who are 'they'? The 'dominant society'. Pop culture says those who wish to be seen as 'cool' are those who eat so called perfumed rice from Texas - USA or from Thailand in the absence of the American brand. Sadly, at 57,we don't even agree among ourselves as to what exactly our problem is, as a nation. Some prefer to blame our leaders. Yes, blame them all you can, they are also victims. My solution is that at 57, we must demystify leadership. We must stop looking for leadership on the television or the radio. You can only expect misdirection from a prostitute mainstream media that serve as the vehicle for the same values passed on to us by the western style dominant society. When I think about it, if I can't lead myself, who can lead me? Leadership starts from the individual directing his own thoughts..his own tastes..his own actions..his own choices.. At 57, Let us see our leaders from the mirror, not the TV. Happy Independence Anniversary to all my compatriots! Be a Black star where ever you find yourself on the planet at this moment of truth. Amenga - Etego Akaabitono SaCut - a political journalist, broadcaster & ghost writer.