Nigeria may be large in size and population and a wealthy nation but she is still a junior brother of Ghana.

First Ghana achieved her political independence in 1953 and Nigeria had to wait till 1960 because the North was not ready. Second Ghana had always led in all spheres of human endeavors from sports to politics. Yes, Ghana suffered a major economic set in the 80's but she learned her lesson and has turned out to be one of Africa's economic power houses.

Today Ghana has done it again to be the first Black African nation to witness a ruling party supervises its own defeat. From where I live in domicile exile it is known as free and fair election. I was very impressed that the Nigeria entourage led by her President Mr. Musa Yar'Adua did not have to travel too far to the US to take a lesson on smooth transition.

I wish Nigeria would borrow a lesson from this page but what bothers me and should bother every right thinking Nigerian is that our leaders do not learn from their mistakes.

Ojo Maduekwe stole the day when he indirectly admonished his party that it is okay to accept defeat with grace than rig the election. The performance of President Kufo the former President of Ghana is a text book case that should be studied by African political scholars.

Nigeria may be large in size and population and a wealthy nation but she is still a junior brother of Ghana.

First Ghana achieved her political independence in 1957 and Nigeria had to wait till 1960 because the North was not ready. Second Ghana had always led in all spheres of human endeavors from sports to politics. Yes, Ghana suffered a major economic set in the 80's but she learned her lesson and has turned out to be one of Africa's economic power houses.

Today Ghana has done it again to be the first Black African nation to witness a ruling party supervises its own defeat. From where I live in domicile exile it is known as free and fair election. I was very impressed that the Nigeria entourage led by her President Mr. Musa Yar'Adua did not have to travel too far to the US to take a lesson on smooth transition.

I wish Nigeria would borrow a lesson from this page but what bothers me and should bother every right thinking Nigerian is that our leaders do not learn from their mistakes.

Ojo Maduekwe stole the day when he indirectly admonished his party that it is okay to accept defeat with grace than rig the election. The performance of President Kufo the former President of Ghana is a text book case that should be studied by African political scholars.

" .. but she learned her lesson .. "

But did not learn the fundamental one well enough.

Did you notice that Mills was swearing on the foreign slave-trader's manifesto called 'bible' - the manifesto of those who raped and tortured and killed their ancestors?

- would he strive to be a good leader without the foreigners? Were there good leaders and thriving kingdoms in the land before the white killers arrived with their propaganda manifesto? Were these ancestral leaders sworn to upholding law and order and mindful of the happiness of their citizens? Does Mills contend that because they did not have a 'bible' therefore they were evil, failed leaders?

- does Mills contend that our ancestors who had no 'bible' were not meek or peace-loving or merciful - and that those with the bible are full of those virtues? Were our ancestors lacking in integrity or fidelity? Why should he tie the native to a foreigner's 'bible'?

- The land of Ghana was blessed with the people's myth, and the people's religion and the people's deities. And the lands thrived - until the foreigners arrived with guns and malice - spewing dislocation, pestilences, starvation, death and destruction. And they held the ancestors in bondage.

Mills honors them.

.

Over 25% of the population hold fast onto their ancestors' myth and BELIEVE in their deities - just as the foreigners hold fast onto their myth and BELIEVE in their deities.

One is not required to verify a BELIEF with empirical evidence. No analysis and proofs required - for they are myths. Thus, the well-educated as well as the less-educated are just as welcome within a belief system.

So the native's belief in the African deities is just as respectable and becoming and hip as Mill's belief in a foreigner's deity. So Mills is welcome to believe in Ghana's ancestral deities. But Mills clings to foreigner's myth - those who would harm the native.

Are African deities - that sustained Africans through the millennia - good enough for Mills? Does Mills respect and honor for our ancestors?

Or is Mills afraid that the foreigners will mount a "regime change" should Mills show a self-awareness and a hint that the colonial conditioning (of inferiority complex) is wearing off?

Mills is dismissive of our traditions. Mills alienates and denigrates the spirits of our ancestors. Mills scorns the African as surely as the colonial plunderers did - with lofty rhetoric covering crass hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement.

Is the heathen Mills (who promotes foreigners and the foreign way of life and believes that THAT of Mother Africa is not good enough) appropriate for Ghana?

.."Did you notice that Mills was swearing on the foreign slave-trader's manifesto called 'bible.. It is a catch 22 because in whatever way he was sworn in, be it with the Koran, Bible or the Traditional way someone would still have something to say. So damn he does and damn he doesn’t

Let us bring the issues where they belong and the issue here is about a smooth transition of power ever witnessed in Africa. It was made possible because the party in power was able to supervise its failure without rancor. How did it happen? It was made possible because of the level of maturity showed by the Ghanaians to obey their election laws without rigging to the election.

No matter how you see it Ghanaians deserve some kudos and kudos they got from all people of good will. The same way they learn their economic lesson is the same way Nigeria should learn both economic and political lessons.

" .. because in whatever way he was sworn in, be it Koran, Bible the Traditional way someone would still have something to say. So damn he does and damn he doesn’t .. "

NO!

You can't get away with it that easy.

- It seems fitting that the traditional way take precedence among the natives. You wouldn't want to force the prime minister of Israel to be sworn according to the swearing-in traditions of the Ashanti, would you?

- trust me, the traditional ways of the whites/English will be observed in the ceremony coming up on Jan 20, 2009 for the inauguration of that well-to-do son of the people. ( And Omweri will not be welcome either.) Would you recommend otherwise?

If anyone has any reservations about the ways of the natives - then they must be encouraged forcefully to leave the lands of the natives.

" .. Let us bring the issues where they belong ..." The people and their culture/ways/traditions are central to their aspirations and hence the sovereignty of the people. And religion is integral to a people's view of themselves. What parts of culture of people of Ghana does Mills embrace? Does he have the option of choice to pick and choose?

So, Mills wants to be the sovereign leader of the proud people of the ancient kingdoms of Ghana. What can we expect? Firstly, is there an issue regarding his name?

.."Firstly, is there an issue regarding his name? Well, you would not get an augment from me on that. Yes, it negates everything Kame Nkrumah stood for but that said; it does not change the basis of the topic.

The traditional African political structure that existed before the advent of the Colonist could not stand the test of time today. It is the basis of modern day tribalism and hatred that has stalled West Africa in particular from advancement.

Good government in Africa would restore the African tradition. When African leaders learn to invest in their people there would be no need for hankering onto foreign culture. Good government would stop brain drain and Africa can tap into her potentials to showcase what they can do. It is against this backdrop that we welcome the smooth transition of government in Ghana.

The West African leaders have not accepted the challenges they are confronted with otherwise they would not be busy stealing and stashing the West African wealth away. So we need good African government rooted in what works to take West Africa to the next level.