rodney nkrumah-boateng

In secondary school at Opoku Ware School in Kumasi, whenever I was asked where I lived and I said ‘Tarkwa’, it elicited wry smiles and comments either about the town’s gold mines or its railway station.

One of the most nerve-wracking moments in every learner’s life is their first day in school, at whatever level of the education system.

Last week, the presidential commissioning of 307 ambulances at the Black Star Square, in all its pomp and circumstances, was the climax of a long, drawn out process with quite a number of twists and turns and one false start.

One evening in September 1985, my heart did a somersault and landed on my tongue as I watched the 7pm news on GBC-TV. The GCE ‘O’ level results had been released and candidates could check from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) the next day.

I was in Kumasi over the weekend for the 67th anniversary homecoming and speech and prize-giving day of my alma mater, Opoku Ware School.

It appears that all across sub-Saharan Africa, general elections are very much a ‘do-or-die affair’ with violence and allegations of rigging as part of the menu. In many cases, beyond the glossy manifestoes and the fine, high-brow speeches, the political parties run along ethnic and/or religious fault lines and ancient, deep-seated animosities easily light up with the spark of the ballot box.

The dreaded coronavirus seems to have a mind of its own and keeps popping up in different parts of the country. In a space of one month, we have moved from two cases to 566 (as of Sunday evening).

This week, I had planned to write on something other than the latest, scary buzzword in town: coronavirus, a.k.a COVID-19.

The recent murder of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mfansteman Constituency, Ekow Quansah Hayford, has led to predictable demands by the parliamentary leadership that MPs should be given personal police protection paid for by the state.

Many Ghanaians who are familiar with drones have encountered these wonderful little machines at weddings, funerals or other social events, where they hover in the skies capturing amazing panoramic views of the occasion.

Growing up in Tarkwa and Prestea, both in the Western Region, I attended the Tarkwa Goldfields Preparatory School and the Prestea Goldfields International School, respectively.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah Boateng - Ghana has had several bitterly fought general elections since independence. Indeed, even before independence, each of the 1951, 1954 and 1957 elections came with its own drama, with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) winning all three.

Written By Rodney N.Boateng - I am not a veteran of demonstrations, with only two under my belt after more than five decades on this earth. Looking back, I regret this and wish I could clock up a few more ‘demo miles’ to make up for the dearth.

There is talk of amending the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to make corruption a felony, criminalise private corrupt acts and domesticate international anti-corruption conventions that Ghana has signed.

The last week or so has been quite a stormy one for the legislative arm of government, with news that the Parliamentary leadership is gearing itself up for the construction of a new, $200m, 450-seater parliamentary chamber.

I recall an interesting anecdote from many years ago that said an European academic had heard that Ghanaians typically answered questions with questions, so he decided to fly to Ghana to conduct some research into this.
On arrival at the immigration desk at the Kotoka International Airport, he is said to have asked the immigration official, “I have heard that Ghanaians like to answer questions with questions. Is that true, please?”

Written By Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng - It was a hair-raising, time-consuming experience waiting to cross as cars sped by, and did involve a fair amount of calculation of whether an approaching car was sufficiently far away to make crossing safe.

Growing up partly on a diet of crime thrillers both on television and in books, it never occurred to me that one day, in this country, the idea of gunmen actually turning up in someone's home, office or car, pointing a gun at him or her and actually pulling the trigger would ever take seed.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng -  In 1987, the Rawlings regime implemented fundamental reforms in our education system.

On Sunday evening, I began to pen an open letter to the President through this column.

Like any other electoral process, the NPP’s parliamentary primaries at the weekend produced both scenes of ecstasy and pain.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng - Of all the Ghanaian languages, Akuapem Twi is the one that tugs at my heartstrings the most and makes me swoon. It has a rhythmic melody to it that washes over you in a gentle way that simply makes you smile.

I have always wondered what it takes to teach kindergarten.

Let me begin with a sincere apology for my French leave last week and the week before from this column.

In the 1970s, when I was growing up in Prestea, my father, who was chairman of the Prestea Mine Stars Football Club, took me to the local stadium on several occasions to watch the team play.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng - This week, my guest columnist is the freshly-minted Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, Dr Prince H. Armah, who is also the immediate past Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).

 I do not recall being slapped in my adult life, neither do I look forward to such an experience.

Last week the Ghanaian news space got quite busy with the arrival back home from the United Kingdom (UK) of Mr Kweku Adoboli, who has been in the news for all the reasons I am sure he did not want.

On March 6, 1957, this country stood on the brink of a new dawn heralding a freshly minted independent Ghana, following Dr Nkrumah’s rousing proclamation at the Old Polo Grounds in Accra earlier at midnight. The Gold Coast had given way to Ghana.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah Boateng - When I left university about a quarter of a century ago, I was confronted with the dilemma of what career to pursue. Initially I thought of the Foreign Service, and then the thought fizzled out due to a couple of practical realities.

Last week was an interesting, tiring and yet very fulfilling one for me. Monday marked exactly 18,250 days since I arrived on the surface of this earth and let out a piercing cry to announce my grand entry.

Written By Rodney Nkrumah Boateng - The other day, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced the release of this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.

Written By Rodney Nkruman-Boateng - I love cathedrals, and by this I do not mean any ‘two by four’ ones that do nothing to awe and inspire. I have been fortunate enough to visit quite a number of them in Europe, and have always been very impressed.

In the run-up to the 2012 general election, there was no child in this country who did not recognise the name ‘Woyome’. His name was incorporated into a song, to which people danced during rallies and marches and other political gatherings.