Africa and the Wider World - Historical Society of Ghana

A PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GHANA
Vol 1 No. 7
PRESS HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
AFRICA NEEDS COMMON VISION
GLOBALIZATION IS A NECESSARY EVIL
GHANA HAS EXCELLED IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS ABROAD
GHANA WAS A SPRINGBOARD FOR AFRICAN UNITY

PREAMBLE
th
On 19
th
– 20 April 2007, the
Historical Society of Ghana
(HSG) held a roundtable
conference at La Palm Royal
Beach Hotel as part of their
programme for the celebration
of Ghana's Golden Jubilee. The
theme for the roundtable was
Ghana, Africa (and it's
Diaspora) and The Wider
World which is a sub-theme of
the Society's general theme for
t h e c o n f e r e n c e s
REFLECTIONS ON FIFTY
Y E A R S O F G H A N A ' S
I N D E P E N D E N C E :
INTERROGATING THE
PA S T, S H A P I N G T H E
FUTURE.
So far six (6) roundtable
co nference s ha ve be en
organized:
· Pre-independent Ghana:
The People, Colonial Rule
and Independence
· T h e R u l e o f L a w :
Government and the People
· Culture, The Arts and
National Identity
· Women: Half a Century of
Transformation
· Conflict Resolution, Peace
Building and Mediation
· The Changing Faces of
Religion: Tr aditional
R e l i g i o n , I s l a m a n d
Christianity.
On the occasion of the
roundtable on Ghana, Africa
(and its Diaspora) and The
Wider World, Professor Kofi
Darkwah, a history professor at
the University of Education,
Winneba and a council member
of the H SG, g av e the
introductory remarks. He
welcomed the distinguished
personalities, Mr. Daouda
Toure, Country Representative
of UNDP, Rt. Hon Peter Ala
Adjetey, former Speaker of
Parliament, Mr. Philbert
Johnson, a representative of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Nana Akufo Addo, Mrs.
B r i d g e t K a t s r i k u , a
representative of the Minister
of Tourism and Diasporan
Relations, Hon. Jake Obetsebi-
Lamptey, Ambassador Victor
Gbeho, one-time Ghana
A m b a s s a d o r t o U N ;
Ambassador Sakyi; and others.
Also present among the
participants were Mr. K.B.
Asante, a time honoured
diplomat and seasoned civil
servant; Justice George
Lamptey, a retired justice of the
Supreme Court; Mr. Bentum
Q u a n t s o n , R e t i r e d
Commissioner of Police and
one-time Director of the
B u r e a u o f N a t i o n a l
Investigations (BNI); Lt. Gen
Arnold Quainoo, Centre for
Conflict Resolution. Also
representing the Diaspora were
the President of the African-
American Association in
Ghana, Mr. Jerome Thompson,
Dr. Michael Williams former
Director of Council on
International Education
Exchange (CIEE) and Mr.
Ao uad M au r ice of the
Lebanese Association in
Ghana. There was also a
signif icant pr es ence of
r enowned s cholars a nd
academics at the conference.
Among the topics discussed
were, Ghana and the Pan-
African Movement; Ghana,
Globalization and Economic
Diplomacy; Transnational
Crimes and Ghana's National
Security; Ghana and
International Religious
Bodies: Implications for
Development; Ghanaians
Abroad: Issues and Policies;
Ghana's Contribution to
Peace support Operations:
Challenges, Achievements and
the way forward; People of
non-African Descent in
Ghana: A Case of the
Lebanese; “Taking over the
Commanding Heights of our
Economy”: Ghana's Reaction
to its Economic Sojourners
1969 – 1972; The African
Diaspora: Returnees to
Ghana; Ghana and People of
African Descent: A Socio-
Cultural Perspective; Fifty
y e a r s o f G h a n a ' s
I nd epe nd enc e an d t wo
hundred years after the
abolition of the Atlantic Slave
Trade. Could there be a legal
basis for the call for
reparations?; and Ghana, the
Ar ts and International
Influence.
At the end of the roundtable
conference participants were
v e r y h a p p y w i t h t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r o p e n
discussions especially since
those who had played key roles
in the governance of the
country were there to share
their personal experiences and
reflections.
After the conference, the
Society was able to follow key
participants for interviews that
had added to the Historical
Society's store of research
materials.

Appreciation
We are grateful to Ghana Education
Content
Foreign Policy was an Important
Aspect of Statecraft in Our
Traditional System 3
Ghana was a Springboard For
African Unity 3
Africa Needs Common Vision 4
Military Interventions Not
Good For Country's Image
Trust Fund (GETFUND) for
sponsorship of this publication.
We want to thank Dr. Sam Gaba for his personal
encouragement and “passion” for history.
Information was obtained from archival
material of the Historical Society of Ghana. We
are also grateful to all the chairmen, guests of
honours, presenters, participants and technical
team of our round table conferences from 2006-
2007. This publication would not have been
possible without their input. Thank you.
And Development 5
Behold A Mighty Oak Has Fallen! 6
Ghana and The Pan-african Movement 6
Globalization is A Necessary Evil 7
We Have Not Done Enough
To Honour Our Heroes 8
Tell Us Your Stories 8
Crime is Gradually Eating
Up Our Society 8
Press Has a Vital Role to
Play in The Fight Against Crime 9
Emigration Not Bad 9
Ghana Has Played a
Prominent Role in International
Religious Organisations 10
Ghanaians Abroad Contribute
To The Nation's Development 11
Ghana Has Excelled
in Peacekeeping Missions Abroad 11
The Lebanese in Ghana 13
Africans in The Diaspora:
The Returnees 13
A Dent in Ghana's Diplomatic
History? The Aliens
Compliance Order 14
Reparations Now! 15
Literature Has Been Part
of our History 16
The Joys and Frustrations
of African-Americans 17
History and Tourism are Bedfellows 17
List Of Participants 18
The Society 19

F O R E I G N P O L I C Y W A S A N I M P O R T A N T
ASPECT OF STATECRAFT IN OUR TRADITIONAL SYSTEM
In h i s r e m a r k s , t h e
Chairman addressed the
country's relations with
others i.e. the rest of Africa,
Africans in the Diaspora, the
“ t hi r d w o r l d ” a n d th e
developed nations since
independence. He noted that
formulation and practice of
diplomacy in foreign relations
were nothing new to Ghanaians
in 1957. States in pre-colonial
Ghana had engaged in
dip loma cy an d f o re ign
relations with other states. In
fact, “foreign policy and
external relations constituted
one of the most important
political aspects of statecraft.”
Some states lost their position
as a result of their foreign
relations, an example being
Adansi which collapsed at the
beginning of the second half of
the seventeenth century
because “its foreign policy was
unsuited to the hostile
monetarism that was unleashed
by the economic practices and
demands on social and
economic organizations of the
people of the Gold Coast
following the arrival of the
European commercial people.”
This control over foreign
policy was taken over by the
British colonial authorities
following the imposition of
colonial rule from 1874 till the
attainment of independence in
1957. As a result, during the
two World Wars the Gold Coast
participated on the side of the
Allies. Apart from contributing
forces, it raised money to buy
airplanes during World War I.
During World War II then as a
child, the speaker had to crack
palm kernel nuts as his
Delivering the key note
address, Dr. B.Y.D.
Gebe, Legon Centre
for International Affairs
(LECIA), University of Ghana,
Legon, traced Ghana's foreign
relations since independence.
Defining foreign policy as the
aggregation of goals and values
both internal and external and
the instruments through which
they are managed, he pointed
Prof. D.E.K. Amenumey
contribution to the British
wareffort in the early 1940s.
With the attainment of
independence in 1957, Ghana
took over the formulation of its
foreign policy. Several factors
influenced Nkrumah in his
foreign policy. Among these
were his pan-African beliefs of
the complete independence of
African peoples hence his
declaration on the eve of
i n d e p e n d e n c e t h a t t h e
independence of Ghana would
be meaningless unless it was
linked to the total liberation of
the African continent. One way
to achieve this was what he
called “positive neutralism”
i.e. non-alignment with either
the C apitalist Wes t or
Communist/Socialist East and
African unity.
He noted that Ghana's foreign
policy since then has followed
the same lines except for a brief
r e v i e w d u r i n g B u s i a ' s
government.
GHANA WAS A SPRINGBOARD FOR AFRICAN UNITY
3
Dr. Yao Gebe.
out other determinants of
foreign relations. These,
among other things include
leaders or the political elite,
national interests and costbenefit
analysis.
He said that the birth of Ghana
th
on the 6 of March 1957 as a
free and united country set in its
t r a i l a m y r i a d o f
responsibilities and challenges

as well as opportunities the
country had to control towards
uplifting and improving the
condition, image and position
of the African people and the
African race as a whole. The
leaders of the state were
sincerely committed to the pan-
African dream of continental
liberation, African unity and
identity. This is what was
expressed in the first leader's
c o m m e n t t h a t “ t h e
independence of Ghana is
meaningless unless it is linked
up to the total liberation of
Africa.”
The foreign policy of Ghana's
first president, Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah, was to a very large
extent influenced by the pan-
African movement. Its goals of
freedom from colonial rule,
unification of all African
peoples, and the creation of an
African personality amongst
others influenced Nkrumah's
vision for the country. This was
manifested in the number of
conferences held in the country
just after independence and the
support given to the freedom
movement all across the
continent.
T h o u g h m a n y s h a r e d
Nkrumah's goal of a united
African state, there were
however disagreements over
the achievement of this goal.
This resulted in the formation
of three blocs: the Casablanca,
Monrovia and Brazzaville
g r o u p s . E v e n t u a l l y, a
compromise loose association
o f A f r i c a n s t a t e s , t h e
Organization of African Unity,
was formed on May 25, 1963.
Some reasons given for the
opposition to Nkrumah was his
subversion of other
governments in his desire to
become the president of the
envisioned African state.
Others have argued that he was
idealistic in his vision of a
politically united African state
with a common foreign,
economic and defence policy.
Nkrumah's anti-Western stance
and socialist orientation also
resulted in opposition from the
West culminating in his
eventual overthrow in 1966.
Addressing the state of Ghana's
f oreign p olic y an d its
leadership role in the comity of
nations, he noted that she still
plays a leading role in
international affairs. Not only
is she at the forefront of the
work of the international
bodies such as ECOWAS, UN,
N A M , a n d t h e
Commonwealth, she has
produced leaders such as Kofi
Annan to head international
organs like the UN. Ghana's
foreign relations have however
sometimes been affected by
military regimes such as
Acheampong's with its refusal
to pay Ghana's foreign debt.
Notwithstanding Ghana's
impact on international politics
particularly the political
emancipation of other African
countries, the march towards
African unity i.e. the formation
of the AU, NEPAD, APRM
amongst others she still
wallows in abject poverty,
disease, indebtedness and overreliance
on foreign donor
nations and institutions for its
development programmes.
To generate enough revenue to
s u s t a i n i t s e c o n o m i c
development, he suggested, the
levying of taxes on trans-
4
national companies e.g. those
in mineral and oil exploration,
the banks, the hospitality
industry etc. He also called for
collaboration between the
motherland and the Diaspora,
and asked that the subject of
reparations for the slave trade
and slavery be seriously
tackled and not let such issues
as the victims, perpetrators and
beneficiaries divide us.
AFRICA NEEDS
COMMON VISION
Mr. Daouda Toure
According to Mr. Toure,
U N D P C o u n t r y
Representative, it is
important that Africa revisits
its own vision and finds a
common vision of the future. In
r e b u i l d i n g A f r i c a ,
governments of a country need
a vision that is shared beyond
partisan politics, so that
development
nationalism.
is led by
One problem that exists in
Africa is that we continue to
shoot ourselves down when
others are doing what we can
do for ourselves. Indeed when
Ghana became independent
fifty years ago, the firstAfrican
country south of the Sahara to
a c h i e v e p o l i t i c a l
independence, “allAfrica was

full of hope” and Ghana has
contributed its quota in the
course of international peace
and security. Its contribution to
the United Nations system in
terms of conflict resolution,
p e a c e k e e p i n g a n d
enforcement, and peacemaking
a s w e l l a s p r o m o t i n g
development around the world
in general are remarkable and
well noted.
The Guest of Honour for the
occasion, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Regional
Cooperation and NEPAD, Hon.
Nana Akufo-Addo in his speech
read on his behalf by his
representative, Mr. Albert
Johnson, gave an overview of
Ghana's foreign policy in relation
to economic progress. He pointed
out that it is really important that a
nation takes stock of its past to
engage in a collective attention on
how far it has come, identify
lapses and draw up appropriate
strategies for the future. It is also
significant that the contributions
of professionals, policy makers,
academics, civil society, amongst
others, be drawn to chart a better
path for the future.
G h a n a ' s s o c i o - e c o n o m i c
development has been largely
Whilst not denying the
importance of assistance from
abroad there is the need to
define our own vision and chart
our own growth by harnessing
savings, capacity building as
well as the capacity that exists
in the Diaspora, so brothers and
sisters in the Diaspora can
contribute as we shape the
future of our continent.
MILITARY INTERVENTIONS NOT
G O O D F O R C O U N T R Y ' S
IMAGE AND DEVELOPMENT
Nana Akufo-Addo
influenced by the nature and
i d eologie s o f s u cce s si v e
governments that have governed
the country since independence
ranging from one-party state,
short-lived and prolonged
m i l i t a r y r e g i m e s a n d
d e m o c r a t i c a l l y e l e c t e d
governments.
The First Republic under
Nkrumah was largely based on
socialist principles and state-led
modernization plus a plan to lay
t h e f o u n d a t i o n s f o r
industrialization. For him,
Ghana's future depended on
industrialization, her ability to
create jobs and empower the
people economically. Nkrumah
established 68 state owned
enterpri ses rangi ng from
distilleries to textile and cementmaking;
instituted free medical
services and education
5
and made Ghana a showcase
for Africa. His plans were,
however shelved by the
military soon after his
overthrow in 1966 which
began a cycle of coups and
economic retrogression that
stunted the growth of Ghana's
economy.
The Busia regime embarked on
a c o m pr e he n s i v e r u r a l
development programme with
emphasis on infrastructural
development and provision of
social services. A limited
expansion of expenditure on
health and education was
accompanied by a significant
investment in economic
services; in particular, an
extensive network of feeder
roads linking rural settlements
to larger centers. The regime's
life span was cut short by
another coup in 1972 which
brought in the National
Redemption Party. All efforts
embarked upon by successive
g o v e r n m e n t s a i m e d a t
e co n omi c r e s u s ci ta ti on
b r o u g h t a b o u t m a l -
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , n o n -
per for ming state-owned
enterprises and economic
mismanagement.
R a p i d s u c c e s s i o n a n d
economic stagnation following
years of political instability
w i t h u n f a v o u r a b l e
in te r n a tio n al e c on om ic
conditions ended up pushing
Ghana's economy into dire
financial straits leading the
government to adopt the
StructuralAdjustment Program
in 1983 which led to social
difficulties and upheavals.
The Fourth Republic with its
adherence to the rule of law has

einstated the country's confidence abroad.
The lesson of the past is that military interventions do not restore
economic fortunes of the country but breed future political
instability, economic mismanagement and thus reinforce
international negative perceptions of a country, he advised. Ghana
can only move forward if we all rise to the occasion irrespective of
ethnic, religious or political affiliation, he added.
BEHOLD A MIGHTY OAK HAS FALLEN!
At the time of this roundtable conference, it had become
public knowledge that one of the stalwarts in Ghanaian
history, Justice George Kingsley Acquah who worked
tirelessly for the rule of law as Chief Justice of the Country had
passed away. His statement at the conference, “History is important
and is indeed very, very important …, he who controls the past
controls the future” will be cherished by the society. It is our great
loss that he has gone into the grave with all his dedication,
enthusiasm, knowledge, experience and skills.
He was chairman at the opening ceremony for the launch of the
Historical Society's Jubilee roundtable conferences. A minute's
silence was observed at the beginning of this roundtable in honour
of the late Chief Justice of Ghana, a patron and a friend of the
society. May his soul rest in perfect peace and May God grant us the
Grace to continue the good work.
GHANA AND THE
PAN-AFRICAN MOVEMENT
Dr. Kofi Baku, Head,
D e p a r t m e n t o f
History, University of
G h a n a , L e g o n i n h i s
presentation on Ghana and the
p an - A f r ic a n M o v em e nt
pointed out that Ghana's
Dr. Kofi Baku
involvement in the pan-African
Movement goes back to the
formulation of the Pan-African
idea by Africans in the
American and the European
Diaspora.
The pan-African Movement
th
began in the 19 century among
intellectuals of African descent
in North America and the
Caribbean who thought of
themselves as members of a
single Negro race. This idea
originated from Gottfried
Herder (1744-1803) who was
of the opinion that races were
central to world history and
6
identities were expressed
largely in language, literature
and culture. It was not
surprising that the earliest
development of the idea, pan-
Africans, limited their focus to
Sub-Sahara Africa whose
people had populations that
formed a distinctive racial
group and this did not include
the light-skinned North
Africans, the majority of who
spoke Arabic as their first
language.
According to Dr. Baku, the
institution of racism and
discrimination also influenced
the development of a pan-
Africanism led by Dr W.E.B.
Dubois. After slavery was
abolished, these Africans in the
Diaspora faced open displays
of racism at both official and
social levels. Obadiah Coast, a
descendant of slave parents in
B r i t a i n w a s r e f u s e d
recruitment into the army
because he was black, and yet
was arrested because he was
not in the army; and Dr Cole, a
medical practitioner in London
was asked the time so often by
the English children that he
thought it was their keenness
for punctuality. It was later that
he realised it was the children's
way of finding out if he spoke
English.
Pan-Africanism moved into
action in the inter-war period
with a series of congresses held
all over Europe at which
delegates passed resolutions
that called for among other
things, the equality of races and
the development of political
institutions with African
participation in government.
Ghana's involvement in the

pan-African movement shifted
into higher gear upon the
attainment of independence as
Nkrumah was a believer in the
pan-African ideals. The Bureau
of African Affairs was set up to
coordinate government's
African programs and assist
l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s .
Financial and material support
for liberation movements in
Africa was provided and
Dr. Vladimir Antwi-
D an so , a Se nio r
Research Fellow at the
Legon Centre for International
Affairs (LECIA), stated that
globalization is an inevitable
stage in man's socio-economic
development.
Globalization, he pointed out,
is driven by technology and
spread around by international
financial capital. Advancement
in technology has caused
i m p r o v e m e n t i n
manufacturing, transaction,
transport, cost handling and
everything is no longer the
preserve of one country. The
liberalization of the current
account has enabled the free
flow of financial capital such
that foreign direct investment
is on the increase. It is
estimated that three trillion US
Ghana opened its doors to other
Africans and Diasporan
prominent among them were
W.E.B Dubois and George
Padmore.
Nk r umah 's p an-Afr i can
activities were a success and at
the peak of his pan-African
popularity, he won the respect
of his peers, Dr. Baku
concluded.
GLOBALIZATION IS A NECESSARY EVIL
Dr. Vladimir Antwi- Danso
dollars move across the
continent daily.
Dr Antwi-Danso used the
Korean currency crisis and the
Mexican Peso crisis (The
Tequila Effect), to demonstrate
the effect and power of global
finance. These two currency
crises created panic not only in
Latin America but also in the
U.S. and Canada.
T h o m a s F r i e d m a n , a n
exponent of globalization,
believes that like the Cold War,
globalization determines the
direction of science and
technology and international
relations. This integration
process comes in the wake of
the free market liberalization
facilitated by a conscious
political effort of a capitalist
m o d e o f p r o d u c t i o n
worldwide. Thomas Friedman
believes that with good
relationship, globalization will
create more openness in
government and business, a
strong rule of law and greater
opportunities for people to
experience freedom and
c h a l l e n g e g o v e r n m e n t
authority.
7
A n o t h e r a u t h o r i t y o n
globalization, Clapman,
however, contends that it is
uncertain that globalization
will bring benefits suggested
by Friedman but, rather in the
next few decades, globalization
is likely to cause more and
more turbulence as market
competition becomes more
internationalized. Corporate
p o w e r i s g o i n g t o b e
concentrated in fewer hands as
a number of transnational
corporations come to dominate
worldwide production and
distribution of goods and
s e r v i c e s a i d e d b y
communications technologies
and financial markets.
D r. A n t w i - D a n s o s e e s
globalization as a real
opportunity for growth and
higher living though there is no
multilateral super organization
to ensure that globalization is
fair. Countries that have taken
advantage of the phenomenon
have had leaps in economic
development whilst in others it
has led to worsened conditions.
As globalization dwindles
po litic al s pa ce f or all
g o v e r n m e n t s , e v e r y
government must engage in
economic diplomacy and find a
way by which it becomes
bearable.
Dr Antwi Danso suggested
ways of insulating against
globalization. One of the
greatest, he pointed out, is
r e g i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n .
Government has no choice but
to play the game. Government
has to let the people understand
policy and be part of the policy
so they will work towards the
realization of the perceived
goal. Globalization, he
emphasised, is not a “wait-andsee”
phenomenon for it can
only intensify its speed.

WE HAVE NOT DONE
E N O U G H T O
HONOUR OUR HEROES
Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey
The former Speaker of
Parliament Rt. Hon.
Peter Ala Adjetey
added his voice to the call for
honouring our national heroes.
Rt. Hon. Ala Adjetey posited
that what triggered the
attainment of independence in
so short a time was the shooting
down of the three unarmed
Ghanaians at the crossroads to
the castle. Yet nothing has been
d on e to r ec o gn iz e t he
significance and contributions
of these three murdered
Ghanaians to the attainment of
our independence. On the spot
where they were shot, one
would have expected a
memorial to be erected in their
honour.
Commending the people of La
who had to contribute to raise
money to erect an edifice in
memory of Sgt Adjetey, a son
of the soil, he said governments
should have taken steps to
recognize the contribution and
achievements of these men. It
is because of sacrifices like
theirs that Ghana was put ahead
of other African countries on
independence, he said.
TELL US YOUR STORIES
Prof. Irene K. Odotei
Professor Irene Odotei,
President of the Historical
Society of Ghana, pleaded
with policy makers of yesteryear
and other senior citizens to make
available their stories for a better
appreciation of the country's past.
These people, whom she referred
to as walking encyclopaedias,
libraries, archives and history
books of the nation's history, had
to contribute in writing a holistic
history of the country. Noting that in writing our history, we do not
have to build it from only textbooks but also from the stories these
people have to share, she said there are students of history all lined
up and eager to meet such people, go to their homes and interview
them. What we need is the co-operation of our elders. Some of them
have given us their life stories which have not only deepened our
knowledge of historical events in which they participated but the
invaluable contribution they have made to the development of the
nation. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership and cooperation
in research for the benefit of mother Ghana.
CRIME IS GRADUALLY EATING UP OUR SOCIETY
Mr . E m m a n u e l
S o w a t e y , a
researcher with
Africa Securities Research and
Dialogue (ASRD), painted a
f r i g h t e n i n g p i c t u r e o f
organized crime in Ghana.
Defining organized crime as “a
structured group of three or
more persons existing for a
period of time and acting in
concert with the aim of
committing one or more
serious crimes or offences
established in accordance with
this Convention, in order to
obtain, directly or indirectly, a
financial or other material
benefit” (Art. 2(a) TOC –
C o n v e n t i o n ) . H e g a v e
examples of organised crimes
as drug trafficking, human
trafficking, trafficking in
8
Mr. Emmanuel Sowatey
firearms and cultural artefacts,
m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g ,
intellectual-property theft and
computer crime.
The consequences of the
activities of these organised
crime networks are enormous.
They not only infiltrate the
legitimate economy but, more
seriously, try to influence the
various arms of governments,

security and intelligence
agencies which have serious
r e p e r c u s s i o n s f o r g oo d
governance, national peace and
security.
To combat the menace that the
activities of these crime
syndicates posed to society, he
called for a national defence or
security policy which will not
only clarify the roles of the
various security agencies but
also enhance partnerships
among them and hence effective
campaign against the activities
of these syndicates. He also
called for trust building among
s t at e s an d w i t hi n s t at e
institutions such as the West
African Joint Operations and
Groupe Inter-Gouvernemental
d'Action Contre le Blanchiment
de l'Argent en Afrique (GIABA)
which seek to tackle money
laundering. Law enforcement
agencies, particularly, the
Narcotics Control Board
(NACOB) had to be well
resourced to effectively fight the
drug menace. There was also the
need to create public awareness
against the harmful effect of
drugs and the impact of
t r a n s n a t i o n a l c r i m e t o
democracy and human security.
Justice Lamptey, a retired
Supreme Court Judge, was also
there to share some experiences.
He discussed the issue of Ghana
becoming a transit point for drug
trafficking. He advised that the
procedures and processes for
dealing with drug offences must
be conducted on a fast-track
basis. He complained about the
long process it took before drug
offenders were taken to court
and called for a speedy trial and
lengthy sentence.
PRESS HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Commenting on the role
of the press in the fight
against this menace of
organized crime, Kofi Bentum
Q u a n t s o n , R e t i r e d
Commissioner of Police,
former Director of the Bureau
of National Investigations
(BNI), former Director of
Narcotics Bureau and former
National Security Coordinator
narrated his experience with
crime and used the Benjillo
case as a case in point. He cited
articles in the press which
EMIGRATION NOT BAD
Bentum Quantson
sought to suggest that
Benjilo had been framed
by the Narcotics outfit.
He called on the press to help
educate the citizenry about
s e c u r i ty w h i c h p e o p l e
perceived as an albatross
around their necks. Past
experiences under military
regimes have led to the
perception that national
security agencies only arrest
people when they are against
the government. Security he
said is about survival, safety
and protection, the well-being
and contentment of the people.
In order for the people to
survive, they have to be
protected. Survival is a good
ingredient to the national wellbeing
of the country. After all
he asked, if the people are not
protected and safe, how would
they go to work and pay their
taxes, which the government
needs for development?
Victor Gbeho, K.B. Asante
Ambassador Gbeho former
Ghana's Ambassador to
the UN, reiterated the point
that migration is not necessarily a
bad thing because some of the
greatest societies advanced in
science and technology, have
benefited from immigration and
thereby enriched their own experiences. He made a point of scholars in
America today coming especially from Asian countries showing the
influence of immigration in the US. It was up to us to tap into these rich
resources.
In his comments Mr K.B. Asante, another distinguished
diplomat and civil servant, pointed out the contrast between
promoting emigration and also crying foul because of the brain drain
from the country. He emphasized that if emigration is seen as
economically viable since it brings in money, about twice as much as
we get from donor agencies then there is the need to sit and think the
concept through.
9

GHANA HAS PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS
Rev Dr Nathan Samwini
Rev Samwini pointed
out that of the three
r e l i g i o u s g r o u p s
existing in Ghana only
traditional religion is homebred.
Islam and Christianity
were from abroad; and
therefore, their practitioners
have international networks
and linkages. The nature of the
expanse also requires that they
train their workers adequately
to meet world and international
standards.
Rev. Samwini examined some
religious leaders whose
activities have helped the
c o u n t r y g a i n g r e a t e r
international recognition in
religion and faith matters.
Their works are acclaimed all
over the world and some of
their activities have augmented
t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l
development of the country,
such as the mission schools and
the philanthropy they are
involved in.
Prof. E.A. Dickson, as a
Methodist minister, was a
major contributor to the
international religious dialogue
in respect of African theology.
He was concerned about
theology being indigenized and
also about the social
implications of theology. He
was of the strong opinion that
theological education in Africa
needed thorough reorientation.
He not only believed in this but
also preached it and insisted
that everything should be
distinctively African with
respect to the church's
traditional teaching and
contribution to understanding.
As a member of various bodies
world wide, his views were
spread far and wide in his
preaching and writing.
Prof. Kwame Bediako was
i n s t r u m e n t a l i n t h e
establishment of the Akrofi
Christaller Memorial Center
for Research and Applied
T h e o l o g y . S t u d y i n g
Christianity as against the
Greek and Roman cultures, he
wondered if it was not possible
to relate the gospel to African
culture. The study of the
relation between gospel and
culture in Africa gave birth to
the center which has become a
part of a number of networks
from Latin America, Europe
and SouthAfrica.
Rev. Dr. Nyomi, the Secretary
General of the World Alliance
of Reformed Churches,
managed to restructure the
organization; and, for the first
time, a world congress of the
organization was held in Africa
i.e. Ghana.
Prof. Mercy Oduyoye, the
former Deputy General
Secretary for the World
Council of Churches, was the
first woman to occupy the post.
She is an advocate of feminine
theology and empowering
women the world over.
10
Rev. Samwini then went on to
discuss some Muslim sects in
the country. These sects have
their own roles they play based
on their focus and mission. The
Tijaniyya is more of a mystic
group and so their international
involvement is along mystical
lines rather than social
involvement. The National
Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman
Nuhu Sharabutu, belongs to
this sect.
The Ahamadiyya Muslim
Mission is more secularinclined
and more pragmatic
t h a n m a n y M u s l i m
organizations and groups in
this country; and the head,
MaulviWahabAdam is the first
Ghanaian to become Ameer
M i s s i o n a r y i n c h a r g e .
Ghanaian Muslims are also
serving as missionaries abroad
in places like Trinidad and
Tobago, Solomon Islands, Fiji
and in Eastern Europe, he
added.
On female Muslims, Dr.
Rabiatu Ammah, a Muslim
women's advocate, believes
that Muslim women can come
to the forefront and not always
be pushed into the background.
In conjunction with others she
has mobilized Ghanaian
women to form the Federation
o f M u s l i m W o m e n ' s
Association to champion their
rights.
He concluded, however, that
there was a downside to these
religious people serving abroad
s ince the inter na tional
community benefits more from
their works and activities and
would rather entice them to
keep them at their disposal.

GHANAIANS ABROAD CONTRIBUTE
TO THE NATION'S DEVELOPMENT
Mr Richard Asante, of
the Institute of
African Studies,
University of Ghana addressed
the issue of migration and
noted that it is not a new
phenomenon. He traced it to as
far back as the pre-colonial era
citing as an example Philip
Quarcoo, among others in the
eighteenth century. The only
t h i n g n e w a b o u t t h i s
phenomenon is the volume.
Migration reflects people's
aspirations to have a better life.
Mr. Asante explained the push
and pull factors that have led to
migration. These include
population explosion, political
repression, wealth acquisition,
education, curiosity etc. Others
h a v e a t t r i b u t e d i t t o
globalization, economic
l i b e r a l i s m a n d t r a n s -
nationalism.
The number of international
migrants between 1960 and
2005 was about 191,000,000,
about 3% of world population.
For Ghana, it is estimated
around 3,000,000 and this
comprises skilled, unskilled,
temporary, permanent, legal
and illegal migrants.
Touching on the contributions
of these migrants to this
country, he listed remittances
which totalled about ¢
1,400,000,000 in 2004 which
exceeds foreign aid to the
country. Ghanaians abroad also
make significant contributions
to various sectors of the
economy, particularly foreign
exchange and the financial
capital needed to fund
developmental projects.
Ghanaians abroad, however,
face several challenges. These
i n c l u d e s e l e c t i v e a n d
restrictive policies of host
nations, particularly the U.S.,
t h e m a j o r E u r o p e a n
de s tina tio ns ( i.e. U .K ,
Germany, the Netherlands,
Italy) as well as ECOWAS
nations. They are perceived as
criminals and terrorists and are
usually blamed for crimes, and
as a result, suffer deprivation,
p h y s i c a l a b u s e a n d
deportation. He cited as
examples the 1983 expulsion
of about 1.2 million Ghanaians
from Nigeria, the murder of
about 44 Ghanaians in the
Gambia in 2005, and the
imprisonment and deportation
of about 16,000 Ghanaians in
2006 from Libya.
He lamented that fifty years
after independence, there is
still no government policy on
migration let alone its
management and how to
e n h a n c e i t . W h i l s t
commending government
po lic ies like t he D ual
CitizenshipAct and
11
Mr Richard Asante
Representation of the Peoples
(Amendment) Law (ROPAL),
to address the problems faced
by Ghanaians abroad and also
how the country could
maximize the benefits from
these migrants, he suggested
creating a comprehensive
database on Ghanaians abroad,
formulating a policy on
migration and more carefully
examining the issue of taxing
remittances.
GHANA HAS EXCELLED
IN PEACEKEEPING
MISSIONS ABROAD
Lt. Gen Arnold Quainoo
In a presentation delivered
on his behalf by Mr.
Prosper Addo of the Kofi
Annan International Peace
Keeping and Training Center,
Lt. Gen Arnold Quainoo
examined peacekeeping
missions from a peacekeeper's
perspective.
He stated that Ghana has had a
long history of involvement in
international peacekeeping.
Ghana's first opportunity to

e nte r th e inte r na tio nal
peacekeeping arena under the
UN was in the Congo. For
Ghana, an already independent
African state with a pan-
African foreign policy and
committed to the total
liberation in unity of the entire
continent, the inter-tribal
fighting, the army rioting, the
secession of the mineral rich
Katanga province and the total
breakdown of law and order
combined to cons titute
sufficient grounds for Ghana's
entry into the Congolese
peacekeeping field.
In spite of the difficult
circumstances under which
Ghanaian military and civil
service personnel have served
under several mandates i.e.
UN, AU, ECOWAS they have
chalked remarkable successes.
These men and women include
Gen. Erskine, Lt. Gen. Arnold
Quainoo and Victor Gbeho.
Many sacrifices have also been
made and continue to be made
in the line of duty by Ghanaian
officers and men serving
abroad in the quest for bringing
lasting peace to those areas that
Ghanaians are serving in.
He said that as the world
grapples with globalization and
other evils of the new
millennium, it has become
n e c e s s a r y t o a s s e s s
p ea c ek e ep in g me th od s ,
activities and results as well as
these new challenges that
confront them and undermine
their efforts.
One major challenge relates to
the continuing lack of faith in
peacekeeping as the reliable
solution in the resolution of
conflicts in view of financial
and other logistical limitations.
Lt. Gen. Quainoo explained
that peacekeeping is not a
strategy meant to help in
resolution of any conflict. Its
objective has always been to
freeze conflict, support and
contain it and in the process
prevent it becoming a threat to
the nuclear balance of terror.
This is why in spite of efforts,
the conflicts in Palestine,
Cyprus, Lebanon, Kashmir and
others remain unresolved. He
said it is about time the concept
of peacekeeping was redefined
and a conceptual coherence of
understanding conflict, its
prevention, management and
resolution developed.
Underlining some other
p r o b l e m s a t t a c h e d t o
peacekeeping he said peace can
only be kept if the parties
involved want the peace. If the
fighting parties believe in the
efficacy of violence rather than
in considering adequate
political possibilities for the
attainment of their goals, then a
peace mission will not succeed.
It will be necessary for all
peacemakers, peace builders
and peacekeepers to work in
concert – without bias or
partiality - for the peace
mission to succeed.
Pointing the way forward, Lt.
Gen. Quainoo said there is the
need to maximize revenue
through the “wet-and-dryleaves”
system, where a
country uses its own equipment
and is reimbursed by the UN.
This, he said, is capital
i n t e n s i v e a n d w i t h o u t
maintenance, reimbursement
becomes impossible. Secondly,
there is a need to look closely at
logistics as well as ensure
12
prudent welfare schemes in
mission.
He concluded on the note that in
this era of terrorism, there is the
need to balance the number of
troops in mission to troops at
home for defence.
Adding to the paper Col. Aja
Kojo congratulated Ghanaian
soldiers on being voted second
best in the world and urged the
nation to keep it that way. He
also stressed the importance of
logistics before sending troops
to the field observing that
peacekeeping has become a
commercial venture which
everyone wants to be part of,
and so the government must
invest more else we face the
risk of losing out as China and
the other big countries take
over.
Commenting on the paper, Mr.
Gbeho expressed concern
about Ghana jumping on the
b a n d w a g o n o f e v e r y
peacekeeping mission since it
has become an economic
venture. He stressed the need
for the politicians to size up the
area of peacekeeping before
signing up for peace missions
because some missions were
not necessary as far as
geopolitics was concerned.

THE LEBANESE IN GHANA
Stating the importance of
h i s t o r y a n d t h e
relevance of the theme
of the conference at this time in
the country's history, Mr.
Aou ad M au ric e quoted
Herodotus, “not to know the
past is to forever remain a
child.”
He commented that the
Diaspora concept is important
in gauging the reasons why
people leave home and
maintain their ties to the
homeland. His paper addressed
the topic
People of Non-
African Descent in Ghana: A
Case Study of the Lebanese.
He pointed out that there are
about 2 million Lebanese in the
D i a s p o r a a n d f a c t o r s
accounting for this included the
harsh living conditions in the
countryside, unemployment as
a result of industrialisation in
Japan and other Asian
countries, and the desire to
acquire better education
abroad.
He traced the arrival of the
earliest Lebanese to Ghana to
around 1884. They arrived as
peddlers and as time passed
branched into other sectors of
the economy i.e. distribution
and manufacturing. These have
made significant contributions
t o t h e s o c io - e c o n o mi c
d ev e lo pm e nt p r o vi di ng
employment as well as social
amenities like schools.
The contribution of the
Ghana–Lebanese cooperation
has been extensive, so much so
that there are Lebanese
professionals everywhere in
Aouad Maurice
the Ghanaian society as
lawyers, doctors, businessmen,
in entertainment and in the
media. He described the
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n
Ghanaians and Lebanese as
cordial and the Lebanese
community well-integrated
into Ghanaian society to the
extent that he referred to them
a s G h a na i a n- L e ba n e s e .
Lebanese children born in
Ghana conform to the various
social and religious activities in
Ghana. These children are
cosmopolitan and some have
become professionals by virtue
of their education and exposure
to different world cultures.
He conc lu ded tha t the
Lebanese have become a part
of the historical fabric of this
country. Being here over a
hundred years means a sharing
of culture, integration of social
values and springing up of new
Ghana-Lebanese identity.
He called for respect for
immigrants in one's country.
After all, he pointed out, is U.S.
not a country of immigrants
and the immediate past U.N.
Secretary General not a
Ghanaian?
13
AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA:
THE RETURNEES
Dr Boadi Siaw
After independence,
Ghana became home
f o r A f r i c a n -
Americans like Padmore,
Dubois, Bill Sutherland,
Franklin Frazier and others,
most of whom Nkrumah had
come into contact with abroad
in pan-African activities.
Padmore became his personal
advisor. Some of these people
came because of Nkrumah's
ideology; others came because
they thought they should share
their expertise with the mother
continent and help develop this
country rapidly into a state they
could be proud of.
Dr Boadi Siaw contends that
the conditions they lived in
abroad was one of forced exile
where they were not welcome.
Many Africans in the Diaspora
desired to leave it altogether.
Various groups of returnees
came for various reasons.
Brazilian returnees came to
Accra and these were mostly
Muslim. The Brazilians were
fortunate to be adopted by a
local ruler Kwaku Ankrah,
Otublohum chief of Dutch
Accra who incorporated them

into his family. With skills in
carpentry, joinery, tailoring,
they soon found employment
in the colonial quarters and
quarters for the Europeans.
The Sierra Leonean returnees
had been repatriated to
Freetown. Some of them
migrated to Ghana because
t h e y r e c o g n i z e d t h e
opportunity for them to use
their skills and education to
play important roles in Ghana.
West Indian Christian families
and some individuals were
recruited by the Basel mission
to work at Akropong. They
succeeded in starting the
Presbyterian Church. The first
synod clerk, Rev. N.T. Clerk,
and the moderator, Peter Hall,
were descendants of the
pioneers, which clearly
demonstrates the recognition
The Progress Party (PP)
took over office with its
vision and perception
about its relations with its
neighbours. In 1969, the
National Liberation Council
(NLC), a police cum military
junta, which had overthrown
Nkrumah and the Convention
People's Party (CPP), bowed
out of power and subsequently
power passed onto the Progress
Party that had won the
elections.
Dr. Donkoh opined that the
Progress Party came to power
with considerable goodwill
from Western powers and,
understandably, expected
and ability of these men as well
as the crucial role they played
in the history of Ghana.
The returnees took an interest
in Western education. They
to ok a dva nt ag e of the
opportunity and sent their
children to school. By the late
19 century and early 20
th th
century, there were many
among the returnees who were
practising lawyers, doctors,
reverend ministers, court
registrars and generally in the
employ of the colonial service
because they had western
education. These prominent
returnees included Miguel
Ribeiro who was appointed the
f i r s t a m b a s s a d o r o f
independent Ghana to the US
and, also, incidentally, became
the first Chancellor of the
University of Cape Coast
between 1978 and 1982. Rev.
A DENT IN GHANA'S DIPLOMATIC HISTORY?
THE ALIENS COMPLIANCE ORDER
Dr Wilhelmina Donkoh
benevolent treatment regarding
the economic problems it had
been saddled with. The
government therefore came to
power thinking that it would
carry through its own ideas
which would be better for the
people of Ghana.
14
J.J. Roberts and J. O'Reily
founded and headed secondary
schools in Accra: Accra High
and O'Reily Educational
Institute respectively. Also
famous among these returnees
was Mabel Dove, a newspaper
columnist, advoc ate of
women's rights who later
became the wife of Dr. J.B.
Danquah. She joined the CPP
and became one of its leading
women. She was the first
woman to be elected in the selfgovernment
assembly and to
any national legislative body in
the whole ofAfrica.
The returnees' place within preind
epe nde nce a nd post
independence Ghana, then, was
secured by their economic
contribution, their expertise
used in making significant
inputs into the development of
Ghana.
Ghana had opened its borders
to its neighbours and become a
home to manyAfricans from all
over the world. The Progress
Party government sought to
pursue a policy tailored to the
capabilities and national
interest of Ghana within the
context of African unity and
harmonious relations with the
rest of the world.
Busia had come to power
p r o m i s i n g G h a n a i a n s
employment, and this was to
haunt the regime. It is against
this background that the Aliens
Compliance Order (ACO) was
enacted. By legal instrument,
the Aliens Compliance Order
nd
of 2 December 1969, all
illegal immigrants were either
to regularize their stay or leave
Ghana within two weeks. This
was an instrument that required

all aliens who had no valid
residence and internationally
recognized documents to
depart from the country. It was
expected that the jobs these
aliens vacated would be given
to Ghanaians. The order was
also justified by some alleged
research findings that there was
a greater propensity by the
aliens in a community towards
criminal activities.
Busia stated categorically that
no elected government could
sit down and ignore the
complaints of its people about
the many aliens working in
Ghana while many Ghanaians
remained unemployed.
Another law followed the
Aliens Compliance Order on
th
June 24 1970 and this was the
Ghanaian Business Promotion
Act (GBPA), which had,
among its objectives, to ensure
that the hiatus in the economy
caused by the departure of the
aliens would not cause any
major damage. It required that
alien businessmen not meeting
a pegged turnover should
leave, and also excluded aliens
from some sectors of the
economy – thes e we re
considered areas that should be
left to Ghanaians.
The law mostly affected people
from Ghana's neighbouring
c o u n t r i e s , s p e c i f i c a l l y
Nigerians, Togolese and
Ivorians who were engaged in
sectors of the economy that
required little skill, and
Syrians, Lebanese and Indians
involved in petty trading and
farming. Some of them had
lived in Ghana for many
generations but they were still
considered aliens and,
therefore, affected by these
laws. For most of them, the half
a million cedis turnover
required by the Ghanaian
Business Promotion Act of
1970 was beyond their means
and unlike the Syrians,
Lebanese and Indians who had
managed to stay on and secure
legal documents to cover their
s t a y, t h e s e G h a n a i a n
neighbours had not found it
necessary to acquire legal
backing. It was, therefore,
easier for the Lebanese,
Syrians and Indians to wriggle
out of the Aliens Compliance
Order which gave barely two
weeks within which to quit the
shores of the country.
Dr. Donkoh commented that
the Aliens Compliance Order
w a s m e a n t to p r o v i d e
opportunity for Ghanaians. The
main problems, however, with
the Aliens Compliance Order
had to do with the short period
w i t h i n w h i c h i t w a s
implemented and why no better
term than alien was used.
In the end, the Progress Party
government's vision did not
materialize. Worse still, in
some aspects the Aliens
Compliance Order negatively
affected Ghana's economy as
she had to deal with the
v a c a n c i e s c r e a t e d o n
commercial farms. In the long
term, it created animosity
b e t w e e n G h a n a a n d ,
particularly, Nigerians and the
“Go-Home-Order” in Nigeria
(1983) was a retaliation.
She urged that as Ghana at fifty
tries to find ideas for herself,
we should consider the issue of
aliens who live amongst us, as
most of them are in the
15
category of those that existed
in the days of the Progress
Par ty gover nment. She
wondered if we have taken
steps to find their reasons for
coming here or have had their
stay regulated or we are
waiting to repeat our mistake of
1969.
REPARATIONS NOW!
Akoto Ampaw
Questioning President
Kufuor's denunciation
o f t h e c a l l f o r
reparations, because as he
a r g u e d , A f r i c a n s a l s o
participated in the slave trade,
Mr. Akoto Ampaw asked,
“Who then are responsible for
the slave trade – Africans or
Europeans?”
The coincidence of Ghana's
jubilee with the anniversary of
the abolition of slavery
presents an important historical
moment for Ghanaians and
Africans on the continent and
in the Diaspora to reflect on
injustices meted out to Africa
by the West, notably during the
period of transatlantic slave
trade and colonialism.
The forcible nature and
shipment of Africans to the
A m e r i c a s to w or k t h e
plantations and mines there, he
stated, constitutes one of the
“most heinous, brutal and

inhuman though highly
profitable enterprises in human
history”. He cited as one such
instance of brutality that was
meted out to the captives by a
certain John Harding, the
captain of an English ship who
in 1724, ordered a man's throat
to be slit open and his heart and
liver cut out into three hundred
pieces and forced down the
throats of the other captives.
Their crime? fighting for their
freedom!
The impact of the slave trade on
Africa was the destruction of
the productive and creative
force of the continent. For
Europe and America, on the
other hand, it provided the
capital that propelled the
industrial revolution.
He contends that although the
beneficiaries of this inhuman
trade in humans have steered
away from the question of an
apology not only do they owe
us an apology but appropriate
compensation, a view shared
by the committee of experts set
up by the OAU to examine
Africa's claim for reparations.
T he Abuja De clar ation
emphasized the conviction that
“the claim for reparation is well
grounded in international law”.
Among the reasons for Africa's
justifiable demands for
reparations are the fact that the
trans-Atlantic slave trade was
initiated by Western Europe,
financed by merchant interests,
protected and supported by the
European states and the
military forces. He further
argued that though there were
some African collaborators in
this heinous crime, just as Jews
who collaborated with the Nazi
regime did not absolve the
latter from blame, so it must be
in the case of Africa. “The call
for reparations therefore is a
challenge for Africans on the
continent and those in the
Diaspora to fashion that unity
of purpose and action that will
compel Western Europe and
North America to concede to
what is our due and make
substantial reparations for the
grievous harm and damage
done Africa and peoples of
African descent in the
Diaspora,” he added.
A m b a s s a d o r S e k y i
contributing to the discussion,
hoped the incisive arguments
made by Mr. Akoto Ampaw for
reparations would lead to a
review of people's ideas on the
question of reparation.
LITERATURE HAS BEEN
PART OF OUR HISTORY
Dr. Mawuli Adjei
Dr. Mawuli Adjei of the
D e p a r t m e n t o f
English, University of
G h a n a , e x a m i n i n g t h e
influence of the arts on the
c o u n t r y l a m e n t e d t h a t
Ghanaian society has been
greatly influenced by the
Western ideas and values
leading to the abandonment of
our culture. This, he argued, is
at the root of the moral and
16
social problems being faced by
society. For, as pointed out by
Casely-Hayford in Ethiopia
Unbound, no people that
despise their language, custom
and institutions hoped to avoid
national death.
He identified two groups of
writers, those that held on to
their African heritage and the
other group who held the view
that our colonial heritage could
not be discounted in shaping us
as a people. The defining
metaphors in the works of these
writers are the traditional
folklore i.e. Ananse, the
'sankofa' principle of revisiting
our past and traditional values
and the subject of slavery and
the slave trade.
The importance of literature is
evident in its crucial role in the
nationalist struggle against
colonial rule as some of the
noted early nationalists like
Casely-Hayford, Kobina
Sakyi, Awolowo amongst
others were literary writers
who expressed their nationalist
ideas in their works.
The significance of literary
works is also seen in educating
us on our history. For example,
the work of Ayi Kwei Armah's
Osiris Rising
on the Egyptian
civilization. There's a linkage
between creative works and
history but in terms of how we
capture the reality, the creative
writers have more license in
trying to imagine all kinds of
things to delve into the past or
the future without fearing that
they will be challenged or that
they have to prove anything
and in so doing have helped fill
some of the gaps in our history
books.

THE JOYS AND FRUSTRATIONS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
Dr. Michael Williams, Jerome Thompson
Dr. Michael Williams, former Director, Council on International
Education Exchange (CIEE), an African-American now resident in
Ghana, highlighted the profile ofAfrican-Americans now domiciled in
Ghana, their frustrations and the way forward.
He declared that the profile of these African-Americans who have now made
Ghana their home were progressive-minded. These people, frustrated by the
contradictions inherent in American society coupled with the discrimination,
racism and violence in that country, have made Ghana their home.Aside from the
push factors were the pull factors in Ghana which include a strong sense of
community, respect for the elderly, opportunities for development and the
relative security the country enjoys. He gave the example that it is relatively
easier to raise children in Africa than in the US because of the availability of a
social support system as exists in the extended family system. Teachers
discipline children just as much as parents do. In the US, you might end up in
court and jail if you look at a child even the wrong way.
African-Americans in the country, nevertheless, face some frustrations in the
country. These are acquiring full citizenship rights, infrastructural development,
particularly access to regular supply of potable water and electricity, land
acquisition and Westernization or Europeanization of Ghanaian society to the
level of some Ghanaian families not communicating in their mother tongue with
their children. Africa has almost lost its sense of traditional pride, he lamented.
Linguistic studies, he asserts, show that the better you are with your mother
tongue, the better you are with a second language.
People from the Diaspora would like to have the opportunity to be able to
assimilate and integrate better into their new found society in Ghana and Africa
and these issues, if addressed (in addition to collaboration between Africans on
the motherland and those in the Diaspora e.g. in business) could make their stay
more pleasant and attractive to other African-Americans. Associations like
African-American Association of Ghana were also essential to ensuring the
welfare of returneeAmericans.
Jerome Thompson, President of the African-American Association in Ghana
(AAAG) also expressed similar sentiments. African-Americans are moving to
Ghana because they love it here and find it very fulfilling and rewarding to be in
Ghana. More people keep coming because they hear stories about the lovely
people of Ghana and when they do come, they fall in love with the place.
17
HISTORY AND TOURISM
ARE BEDFELLOWS
Mrs. Bridget Katsriku
Stating the importance of
history in the promotion
of tourism Mrs. Bridget
Katsriku noted that one was the
slave trade and the resultant
African Diaspora. The slave
trade is the most atrocious
treatment of human beings in
the world and we cannot talk
about it without talking about
the African Diaspora. The
Ministry of Tourism has the
mandate to develop and
promote tourism in Ghana and
as such has to identify the
product, package and market it
to the world. One of the
products is history and it is
against this background that
the ministry supports the
Historical Society of Ghana.
She held that, in celebrating
50yrs of independence, we
could not do without recalling
the role slavery played in our
history and, consequently the
present and the future. It is
gratifying, too, to note that
there is a development in the
Diaspora amongst Africans to
search for their roots. This has
given the opportunity to
develop the Joseph Project
which is an effort to reach out to
our brothers and sisters in the
Diaspora who form part and
parcel of our history and indeed

are family. The project invites them back home to contribute to the development of our country and
Africa.
History teaches us how to shape our future and so if we do not know our history, our future will be
difficult. Knowing our history helps us ensure that the bad things in the past will not be allowed to
happen again. History is not only a subject to be taught but it is also a product to be bought and as such
sold to others not only to the outside world but to our own people outside and inside Ghana, she
concluded.
1. Abudu Jacob (Mr.)
2. Abukari Zuweyr (Ms.)
3. Addo Prosper (Mr.)
4. Adjei Irene (Ms.)
5. Adjei Mawuli (Dr.)
6. Adotey Edem (Mr.)
Rapporteur
7. Adu-Boahen Kwabena (Dr.)
8. Adumuah E. Norteye (Hon.)
9. Agbemetsi Mnandililla (Dr.)
10. Agbevem Michael (Mr.)
11. Ahuno Theodore (Mr.)
12. Ala Adjetey Peter (Rt. Hon) Chairman
13. Amenumey. D.E.K (Prof.) Chairman
14. Ampaw Akoto (Mr.) Presenter
15. Antwi-Danso Vladimir (Dr.) Presenter
16. Aouad Maurice (Mr.) Presenter
17. Asante K.B (Mr.) Chairman
18. Asante Richard (Mr.) Presenter
19. Asmah Rockson (Mr.)
20. Atakora Kwasi (Mr.)
21. Attuquayefio Philip (Mr.) Rapporteur
22. Awiah Patricia (Mrs.) Rapporteur
23. Baku Anita (Ms.)
24. Baku D.E.K (Dr.) Presenter
25. Bappulla Deemice (Mr.)
26. Boadi-Siaw S.Y. (Dr.) Presenter
27. Boateng Gladys (Ms.)
28. Bonsa Gloria (Ms.)
29. Bossman Adjei Ebenezer (Mr.)
30. Cobinah Michael (Mr.)
31. Darkwah (Kofi Prof.)
32. Donkoh W.J. (Dr.) Presenter
33. Gbeho J. Victor (Hon) Chairman
34. Gebe Yao (Dr.) Keynote Address
35. Gyeketey G. Larbi (Mr.)
36. Hagan E.V. (Mr.)
37. Halaway Fusheini (Mr.)
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
38. Jerome F. Thompson (Mr.)
39. Johnson Philbert (Mr.)
40. Joseph Cleland (Amb.)
41. Klu Frank (Mr.)
42. Kpodo Chris (Amb.)
43. Lamptey George (Justice)
44. Longi Felix (Mr.)
45. Maasole Cliff (Mr.)
46. Mama Woke
47. Mamaga Amega Kofi Bra I
48. Mcgough Lawe (Dr.)
49. Michelle Edwards (Ms.)
50. Minlin S. (Mr.)
51. Ninfaaza Samson (Mr.)
52. Nketiah Eric Sakyi (Mr.)
53. Ntewusu Samuel (Mr.)
54. Nyaaba Ali Yakubu (Mr.)
55. Obama Roman Ehua (Mr.)
56. Obeng Asamoah Peter (Mr.) Rapporteur
57. Odotei Irene K. (Prof.) Convener
58. Odotei Margaret (Miss)
59. Osei Kwadwo Ken (Col.)
60. Owusu Hilda (Ms.)
61. Paintsil George (Mr.)
62. Polley Samuel (Mr.)
63. Quainoo Arnold (Lt. Gen.) Presenter
64. Quantson Kofi Bentum (Mr.)
65. Sai Fauzeiya (Ms.)
66. Sakyi Kobina (Mr.)
67. Samuel Annan (Mr.)
68. Samwini Nathan I. (Rev. Dr.) Presenter
69. Sarup Onkar (Mr.)
70. Senalor Yawhui (Mr.)
71. Shabazz Kingsley B.(Mr.)
72. Shabazz Kwame Z. (Mr.)
73. Sowatey Emmanuel (Mr.) Presenter
74. Tandoh Becky (Ms.)
75.Yakohene Afua B. (Mrs.)
18

THE SOCIETY
The Historical Society in Ghana was founded in 1951
under the auspices of leading scholars and
nationalists such as John D. Fage, A. A. Kwapong,
Albert Adu Boahen, J. B, Danquah, Kobina Sekyi,
Nana Kobina Nketsia and others.
Membership of the society is drawn from among
historians, archaeologists, linguists and from
ancillary disciplines, and includes university
lecturers and students from the six public universities
and teachers in Secondary Schools and Training
Colleges.
The society ran a journal, Transactions of the
Historical Society of Ghana, which was the leading
journal on Ghanaian history. It also published the
Ghana Notes and Queries and Teachers Journal,
which also served as a scholarly forum for secondary
school history teachers.
The society became defunct in 1983 during the
general decline of scholarship because of economic
decay. It was revived in only 2001. The revived
Historical Society of Ghana has since then resumed
publication of the Transactions of the Historical
Society of Ghana.
It has also held widely publicized
annual conferences.
VISION
To deepen national appreciation of the relevance of
history to understanding Ghana's past and present; to
highlight the centrality of history to the production of
knowledge in general; and to reveal history's
influence in everyday life.
MISSION
To strengthen the discipline of history at the
Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education,
Senior High Schools, Basic Schools and other
institutions of learning through repackaging
historical knowledge to reflect its changing role in the
context of national development. To inculcate an
interest in history and publicise the history and
heritage of Ghana in the wider Ghanaian public
through lectures, symposia, seminars, colloquia,
conversations, conferences and publication. To this
end, the Historical Society of Ghana sponsors
research, assists in the training of historians in
universities and secondary schools, offers
scholarships, runs an annual conference open to the
general public, and publishes journals, books, theses
and documentaries.
20
COUNCIL MEMBERS
The day-to-day activities of the society are in the
hands of a council; namely
Prof. (Mrs.) Irene K. Odotei - President
Prof. Benedict Der - Vice President
Dr. Kofi Baku - Secretary
Dr. (Mrs.) Wilhelmina Donkoh - Assistant
Secretary
Dr. (Mrs.)Akosua Perbi - Treasurer
Prof. RobertAddo-Fening
Prof. Divine Edem KoblaAmenumey
Prof EmmanuelAcheampong
Prof. Kwamena-Poh
Prof. Kofi Darkwah
Prof Per Hernaes
Dr.Yaw Boadi-Siaw
Mr. Cliff Maasole
Mr. H.Asamoah
MEMBERSHIP
M em bership is op en to h istoria ns,
archaeologists, anthropologists, linguists,
lawyers, bankers, archivists, chiefs, librarians
and ordinary citizens of Ghana and scholars
working on Ghana.
APPLY TO BE A MEMBER
Registering to be a member of the society is
simple, send your application to
The Historical Society of Ghana
University of Ghana
Department of History
P. O. Box LG 12
Legon,Accra.
Ghana, WestAfrica.
Or Register online at
www.historicalsocietyofghana.org
Tel: +233-302-502397
Fax: +233-302-502397
Email Address: historicalsociety@ymail.com or
asafo@ghana.com
The Historical Society of Ghana welcomes
sponsorships and contributions in cash, kind or
services for general or specific projects. Please
call the Administrator on 0302-502397 or
contact us via our email address.