The election run off in Ghana is gathering momentum. On Sunday 28th December we shall return to the polls and vote once more. This time we shall only be voting for the presidential candidate as on Sunday 7th December, we voted for both the parliamentary and presidential candidates. Unfortunately none of the presidential candidates could get the 50 plus 1 per cent to indicate a clear lead, hence the second round.
Both presidential candidates of the NPP and the NDC have began campaigning to rally more votes. This is a special time for Ghana as the two main political parties have served 8 years in government. However the incumbent party, the National Patriotic Party (NPP) are hoping to continue for another 4 years with their presidential candidate Nana Akuffo Addo. The previous government which was ruled by the National Democratic Congress (NDC)and its flagbearer, Prof. John Atta-Mills,(former vice president) are itching to come back to government as they claim the NPP have not done all that they said they would for the citizens of Ghana.
The electorate will be the deciding factor in this battle between the two opposition parties and the rest of the world, is keenly watching Ghana as it has been the leading star in the multi-party democratic process on the African continent.
The first round of elections were held in relative peace and we are hoping the run off will also be held peacefully. Ghana is proud of its multi-ethnic population though in certain quarters they like to think otherwise. All in all, Ghanaians want peace and this election should be seen more as a "battle" of wits and skill than a "do or die" process.
Personally I wish Nana Akuffo Addo the best of luck as I believe in his agenda for Ghana. Good luck Nana...we are certainly moving forward!
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Thursday 13 November 2008
The Ability to Forgive
To be able to forgive is something we urge our young children to do. As a young Christian growing up, one hears about how we are blessed when we are able to forgive. However as we leave childhood and enter adulthood it seems as if we are less reluctant to forgive; or rather we find ways of telling ourselves in what form or conditions we should attach to the act of forgiveness.
When you forgive, the burden you carried is no longer on your shoulders...it frees you up and you can move on with your life...and the most beautiful thing is when you can look at the person who caused you so much pain and say to them" I FORGIVE YOU". However when you try and tweak the framework that governs forgiveness, then you are not doing the right thing. We seem to think that the "little" things are easier to deal with but coincidentally, as we grow older, the acts become more serious, more complex and sometimes inexplicable. Such was the situation I found myself in three weeks ago when I was faced with a serious, complex an inexplicable situation which indeed was a big test for me. My ability to forgive was being tested and those were the longest and hardest three weeks I have faced in my life but I am glad to say I was also able to pass the test!
No matter what one goes through, just remember the good Lord is on your side and will take you to the rock which is higher than you when you think you cannot cope.
When you forgive, the burden you carried is no longer on your shoulders...it frees you up and you can move on with your life...and the most beautiful thing is when you can look at the person who caused you so much pain and say to them" I FORGIVE YOU". However when you try and tweak the framework that governs forgiveness, then you are not doing the right thing. We seem to think that the "little" things are easier to deal with but coincidentally, as we grow older, the acts become more serious, more complex and sometimes inexplicable. Such was the situation I found myself in three weeks ago when I was faced with a serious, complex an inexplicable situation which indeed was a big test for me. My ability to forgive was being tested and those were the longest and hardest three weeks I have faced in my life but I am glad to say I was also able to pass the test!
No matter what one goes through, just remember the good Lord is on your side and will take you to the rock which is higher than you when you think you cannot cope.
Tuesday 5 August 2008
A Woman for Vice President
Hello everyone,
I received this email from a dear friend and I will like to share it with you all! If you are in agreement just post your comment on this blog!
Dear Friends,
I write to ask for your support in a delicate matter. In recent days, there has been much discussion in the media about the suitability of women for high positions generally, such as that of vice-president with specific reference to Hon. Alima Mahama for vice president.
Some of the objections that have come up have little to do with her competence for the position. As a psychologist, I understand that these objections may have something to do with discomfort for a woman taking on a role traditionally reserved for men. I also understand that this discomfort is expressed in ways that often make many women fearful of rising to the tops of their professions. Please join me in fighting this. Today it may be Alima, but tomorrow, it will be you and I as we rise to the very best that we can be.
Kindly email back if you have ideas about how we can fight this in the public domain. For instance, would you be willing to call up the media or write in support of women in leadership generally, or specifically for Alima. Radio is the most effective way of spreading information. Could you call up a coalition of which you are a part to support her? Could you get your local group of women (e.g. women's fellowship, women in your work place) to show support? Please think about this quickly and act. Please email me as soon as you can.
You know of course that she is emminently qualified for the job: lawyer, Harvard, Legon, Wesley Girls, etc. Mother of a son in law school, and yes, once married. Development work, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Minister of Women's Affairs, etc, etc.
Please let's do this for the cause of women.
Angela L. Ofori-Atta,
Clinical Psychologist/lecturer
Former Deputy Minister, MMYE.
I received this email from a dear friend and I will like to share it with you all! If you are in agreement just post your comment on this blog!
Dear Friends,
I write to ask for your support in a delicate matter. In recent days, there has been much discussion in the media about the suitability of women for high positions generally, such as that of vice-president with specific reference to Hon. Alima Mahama for vice president.
Some of the objections that have come up have little to do with her competence for the position. As a psychologist, I understand that these objections may have something to do with discomfort for a woman taking on a role traditionally reserved for men. I also understand that this discomfort is expressed in ways that often make many women fearful of rising to the tops of their professions. Please join me in fighting this. Today it may be Alima, but tomorrow, it will be you and I as we rise to the very best that we can be.
Kindly email back if you have ideas about how we can fight this in the public domain. For instance, would you be willing to call up the media or write in support of women in leadership generally, or specifically for Alima. Radio is the most effective way of spreading information. Could you call up a coalition of which you are a part to support her? Could you get your local group of women (e.g. women's fellowship, women in your work place) to show support? Please think about this quickly and act. Please email me as soon as you can.
You know of course that she is emminently qualified for the job: lawyer, Harvard, Legon, Wesley Girls, etc. Mother of a son in law school, and yes, once married. Development work, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Minister of Women's Affairs, etc, etc.
Please let's do this for the cause of women.
Angela L. Ofori-Atta,
Clinical Psychologist/lecturer
Former Deputy Minister, MMYE.
Monday 4 August 2008
Rising Prices
WOW August is here already....you know the way time flies these days it is amazing. Went down to my local grocer Auntie Maggie and gosh have prices gone up or what? It's just amazing how a couple of weeks ago, smoked fish was 60 pesewas and now it is 70 pesewas. The Daily Graphic, Ghana's most read daily paper, also shot up from 50 pesewas to 70 pesewas!
For those of you reading this, Ghana had it's monetary currency re-denominated (what a mouthful) and we have gone back to the days of coins and paper money. The New Ghana Cedi is almost at par with the US Dollar...though many will argue it's 96 pesewas to the Dollar.
Anyway whichever way we may wish to look at it, the price of food has gone up and this trend the economists tell us, is going to go on till we get an injection of cash into the system. Yes the dreaded saga of Vodafone buying Ghana Telecom is what some economists have said will help boost the economy for us. That is the money obtained from selling 70 per cent shares of the nation's telecom provider.... Yes possibly but they can do that without adding the fibre optic from Volta Com. Voltacom is a subsidiary of the Volta River Authority and they were to provide various telecoms services using the fibre optic link which runs from the south to the north of the country. Unfortunately, their ideas have been discarded by some idiotic policy maker who has only dollar signs in his eyes!
I have been angered at the way some of these policy makers have been very foolish about this deal. I am not against a sale but it is the modalities of the agreement that I have a problem with! Oh and that reminds me, would it not have been a better option to have just sold the mobile and the internet subsidiaries? Media convergence is the buzz word but I do not think that some of these 'so -called' policy makers even know that that means.
Well sale or no sale, my local grocer is going to give me more grief when I go around the corner again next week. Wish me luck!
For those of you reading this, Ghana had it's monetary currency re-denominated (what a mouthful) and we have gone back to the days of coins and paper money. The New Ghana Cedi is almost at par with the US Dollar...though many will argue it's 96 pesewas to the Dollar.
Anyway whichever way we may wish to look at it, the price of food has gone up and this trend the economists tell us, is going to go on till we get an injection of cash into the system. Yes the dreaded saga of Vodafone buying Ghana Telecom is what some economists have said will help boost the economy for us. That is the money obtained from selling 70 per cent shares of the nation's telecom provider.... Yes possibly but they can do that without adding the fibre optic from Volta Com. Voltacom is a subsidiary of the Volta River Authority and they were to provide various telecoms services using the fibre optic link which runs from the south to the north of the country. Unfortunately, their ideas have been discarded by some idiotic policy maker who has only dollar signs in his eyes!
I have been angered at the way some of these policy makers have been very foolish about this deal. I am not against a sale but it is the modalities of the agreement that I have a problem with! Oh and that reminds me, would it not have been a better option to have just sold the mobile and the internet subsidiaries? Media convergence is the buzz word but I do not think that some of these 'so -called' policy makers even know that that means.
Well sale or no sale, my local grocer is going to give me more grief when I go around the corner again next week. Wish me luck!
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Proud to be Ghanaian
Just read about a young wrestling contender who is originally from Ghana but is now pretending to be a Jamaican because unfortunately no-one knows about Ghanaians doing wrestling. SHAME ON THIS CHAP!!! for the love of show biz he is denying where he is coming from and pretending to be something else. His mother even said to him that his cousins back in Ghana will be watching him and will be wondering why he is choosing to be from another country.
It also shows his ignorance of the Jamaican people as some of them actually are Akan..that is those who are known as the Maroons were orginally from Ghana then called the Gold Coast and still practise the traditions they brought with them from Ghana. This includes the naming of children and other traditional bits.
Well it is his perogative but honestly anyone who denies his/her roots need to have their heads checked!! Pity as Ghana is known for brilliant footballers such as Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Abedi 'Pele' Ayew of old! Not forgetting Junior Agogo, who happens to be an old family friend.sssh don't tell anyone!
So to Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah shame on you S-H-A-M-E!!!!! You should be proud to be a GHANAIAN!!!!
It also shows his ignorance of the Jamaican people as some of them actually are Akan..that is those who are known as the Maroons were orginally from Ghana then called the Gold Coast and still practise the traditions they brought with them from Ghana. This includes the naming of children and other traditional bits.
Well it is his perogative but honestly anyone who denies his/her roots need to have their heads checked!! Pity as Ghana is known for brilliant footballers such as Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Abedi 'Pele' Ayew of old! Not forgetting Junior Agogo, who happens to be an old family friend.sssh don't tell anyone!
So to Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah shame on you S-H-A-M-E!!!!! You should be proud to be a GHANAIAN!!!!
July
The month of July for me has always been associated with the long vacation, what we call summer holidays in Ghana. It's the month for lots of birthdays, weddings and acting silly.
In Ghana, July is one of the months that one can still get quite a bit of rain and it is much cooler to visit this dear country of ours around this time of the year. Lots of festivals going on from regattas to yam festivals; it is as if the entire countryside comes alive with a myriad of colours bursting from every corner.
It is also the time when most of the expatraites living here tend to go away for their summer holidays and thus business though still brisk in the industries such as hospitatlity, tourism etc. slows down for commercial activity. Well somewhat but not all together before someone decides to challenge me on that score.
July is for making plans for the rest of the year like I am doing currently. I am using this time to re-strategise my business and do things that I have wanted to do for ages...like a television programme I dreamed up a few years ago. I think this year will be the best time to put my script to the screen and educate the good people of Ghana, especially the youth.
July is also the time when we celebrate International Women's Day and part of my programme will be directed at the young ladies who are in various areas; whether tertiary education, working as trainee managers or in adminstration, sales support, information technology...the list is endless but it will be to empower them and to make them aware of what is out there for them.
More for July in the next few days....
In Ghana, July is one of the months that one can still get quite a bit of rain and it is much cooler to visit this dear country of ours around this time of the year. Lots of festivals going on from regattas to yam festivals; it is as if the entire countryside comes alive with a myriad of colours bursting from every corner.
It is also the time when most of the expatraites living here tend to go away for their summer holidays and thus business though still brisk in the industries such as hospitatlity, tourism etc. slows down for commercial activity. Well somewhat but not all together before someone decides to challenge me on that score.
July is for making plans for the rest of the year like I am doing currently. I am using this time to re-strategise my business and do things that I have wanted to do for ages...like a television programme I dreamed up a few years ago. I think this year will be the best time to put my script to the screen and educate the good people of Ghana, especially the youth.
July is also the time when we celebrate International Women's Day and part of my programme will be directed at the young ladies who are in various areas; whether tertiary education, working as trainee managers or in adminstration, sales support, information technology...the list is endless but it will be to empower them and to make them aware of what is out there for them.
More for July in the next few days....
Tuesday 3 June 2008
Samson and Hercules
Before my son dozed off this evening, he asked me a question. "Mummy who is stronger? Samson or Hercules?". I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling and scratched my head and replied "Hercules!" He made a sound which reminded me of a question answered wrongly on a television quiz show so I frowned and asked him why my answer was wrong.
He said Samson was stronger and I quote: "because he just was and also because his strength came from God. Hercules on the other hand got his strength from Zeus and well God is more formidable than Zeus." With that finality in his voice I smiled, nodded and told him that was a very good answer.
We all get our strength from God but how we choose to use it is another matter. Sometimes we think the strength is from 'ourselves' and think we can do anything until we are faced with a tragedy. I was really humbled by what my son said and began to think about how it applied to my life.
I know I get my strength from God especially after what I have been through in the last 7 months. Looking after elderly parents and losing one of them, running a business and being a super single mom...it can only be by the strength of God that I am sharing this. I thank God for my life and the strength he fills me up with each day and when I think I am running close to 'empty', I get down on my knees and pray and ask him to fill me up again.
Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song and he is become my salvation
He said Samson was stronger and I quote: "because he just was and also because his strength came from God. Hercules on the other hand got his strength from Zeus and well God is more formidable than Zeus." With that finality in his voice I smiled, nodded and told him that was a very good answer.
We all get our strength from God but how we choose to use it is another matter. Sometimes we think the strength is from 'ourselves' and think we can do anything until we are faced with a tragedy. I was really humbled by what my son said and began to think about how it applied to my life.
I know I get my strength from God especially after what I have been through in the last 7 months. Looking after elderly parents and losing one of them, running a business and being a super single mom...it can only be by the strength of God that I am sharing this. I thank God for my life and the strength he fills me up with each day and when I think I am running close to 'empty', I get down on my knees and pray and ask him to fill me up again.
Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song and he is become my salvation
War in the Board Room
The last week has been filled with fireworks in the board rooms. With a well known investment bank, the second largest shareholder has called an emergency general meeting as he has is displeased with the way the current Managing Director is handling affairs at the bank. With a utility company also, five of the top brass have been shown the door. Someone referred to that move as a 'tsunami' which had blown across their boardroom and I agree wholeheartedly.
Regarding the first saga at the investment bank, it has got a number of shareholders excited as some never knew they could wield such power. For those of you who may not know this, Ghana has a very vibrant stock exchange but in terms of shareholders rights etc. not many are aware of what their rights are.. they go to meetings like a pack of sheep and enjoy the refreshments served. Others are more vociferous in their lack of understanding of the balance sheet and why dividends were not paid this year etc. I say it is all good and in the line of what makes the corporate world tick.
We hope that the EGM will go on smoothly and there will be no flying missiles in the board room.
The managing director is an old friend of mine and I wish him the best of luck at the meeting.
To the utility company I say well done in making a bold move... let us hope that the new entrants will show dynamism and professionalism.
Regarding the first saga at the investment bank, it has got a number of shareholders excited as some never knew they could wield such power. For those of you who may not know this, Ghana has a very vibrant stock exchange but in terms of shareholders rights etc. not many are aware of what their rights are.. they go to meetings like a pack of sheep and enjoy the refreshments served. Others are more vociferous in their lack of understanding of the balance sheet and why dividends were not paid this year etc. I say it is all good and in the line of what makes the corporate world tick.
We hope that the EGM will go on smoothly and there will be no flying missiles in the board room.
The managing director is an old friend of mine and I wish him the best of luck at the meeting.
To the utility company I say well done in making a bold move... let us hope that the new entrants will show dynamism and professionalism.
Wednesday 28 May 2008
African Union Day
African Union Day (AU) falls on 25 May every year but this year it was clouded with the violence that is going on in South Africa against other African migrants. South Africa at the last Africa Union Conference which was held in Accra, Ghana in 2007, were one of the main proponents of putting systematic measures together but not being hasty in order to become 'one' unlike their Libyan counterparts.
The violence that is being seen in South Africa is a deep-seated one and began way before steps towards a united Africa were rekindled by the present African leaders. The late Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana had plans for a united Africa but unfortunately he did not get to see his dream unfold. Fifty years on, we are still struggling to achieve this dream and rather the continent is being ravaged by unrest,civil wars, hunger, poverty, corruption and a host of other factors.
Some people wondered why we had to celebrate another holiday but for me, it was a day for reflection; to understand why this continent is still not united and why we are still not self-sufficient. A high percentage of the world's natural resources are to be found on this beautiful continent of ours but are we utilising the resources to better our individual countries? NO!! As a result of civil wars and economic hardship, a number of people have had to leave their home countries and settle in other countries. Some have honest jobs and others are even fortunate to own a business. However we need to understand that whatever problems the people in any one country may be facing, should not be metered out to the other nationals living there.
It is time the South African government woke up to the plight of their people and find out the true reason for all the violence. Violence never solved anything and the earlier we begin to appreciate this, the better.
Oh and for those of you out there is there a criteria for joining the AU just like that of the EU? If you do happen to know about a critiera for joining the AU kindly share it with us. I know about the African Peer Review mechanism but that is different. As always do comment and share.
The violence that is being seen in South Africa is a deep-seated one and began way before steps towards a united Africa were rekindled by the present African leaders. The late Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana had plans for a united Africa but unfortunately he did not get to see his dream unfold. Fifty years on, we are still struggling to achieve this dream and rather the continent is being ravaged by unrest,civil wars, hunger, poverty, corruption and a host of other factors.
Some people wondered why we had to celebrate another holiday but for me, it was a day for reflection; to understand why this continent is still not united and why we are still not self-sufficient. A high percentage of the world's natural resources are to be found on this beautiful continent of ours but are we utilising the resources to better our individual countries? NO!! As a result of civil wars and economic hardship, a number of people have had to leave their home countries and settle in other countries. Some have honest jobs and others are even fortunate to own a business. However we need to understand that whatever problems the people in any one country may be facing, should not be metered out to the other nationals living there.
It is time the South African government woke up to the plight of their people and find out the true reason for all the violence. Violence never solved anything and the earlier we begin to appreciate this, the better.
Oh and for those of you out there is there a criteria for joining the AU just like that of the EU? If you do happen to know about a critiera for joining the AU kindly share it with us. I know about the African Peer Review mechanism but that is different. As always do comment and share.
Monday 19 May 2008
Setting Good Examples
The Police have been in the news for the last three weeks continuously..the news? some bad nuts in the service who have committed every wrong one can think of. I am talking about being involved in narcotics, corruption and the one that tickled me pink was the one about 2 cops who were involved in a carjacking. They forced out the car owner, zoomed off in the car, only to try and sell it a few days later. They were caught red-handed as the car owner had lodged a complaint with the local police station. You can imagine the surprise of their colleagues when they realised that the culprits were none other than old buddies from the force.
This is the headache of the current Inspector General of Police as there have been more sensational stories that have been making the headlines in the last 12 months. They have had a series of work shops and seminars to discuss the meaning of good leadership and how not to be swayed by material things. Even at the last passing out parade at the police academy, good leadership skillsserving a good example to fellow colleagues and learning to serve and protect were once again reiterated.
It is a pity this seems to be falling on deaf ears and we hope that the calibre of people on applying to join the Police force will be given the scrutiny they deserve rather than give them a chance because their uncle knows someone high up in the force.....a word to the wise is enough!
This is the headache of the current Inspector General of Police as there have been more sensational stories that have been making the headlines in the last 12 months. They have had a series of work shops and seminars to discuss the meaning of good leadership and how not to be swayed by material things. Even at the last passing out parade at the police academy, good leadership skillsserving a good example to fellow colleagues and learning to serve and protect were once again reiterated.
It is a pity this seems to be falling on deaf ears and we hope that the calibre of people on applying to join the Police force will be given the scrutiny they deserve rather than give them a chance because their uncle knows someone high up in the force.....a word to the wise is enough!
Thursday 15 May 2008
They Have Earned it!
The was a story in the Daily Graphic a few days ago where some chap had been caught impersonating a medical doctor and had been found out by the Medical and Dental Council here in Ghana. Sadly when the case went to court, the judge said that the chap should be made to do community service. Unbelievable!!! Students in medical school spend all that time studying the human body, what makes us tick and swear the Hippocratic oath and some chap who is playing with lives, has no qualifications whatsover is made to get off lightly? What is this world coming to?
All the young doctors who have passed out from Medical School after their long hard slog have earned the right to be called 'doctor' and this should not be taken lightly. Some idiot on the airwaves who was contributing to a call-in programme said that the offender should be trained properly as a doctor and sent to the northern part of the country as most young doctors wanted to be in the capital city, Accra. I am sorry but that is not the answer to our health delivery woes in northern Ghana and this person who called in needs his head checked. It is this getting off lightly that has made people belittle professionals and think that they can impersonate them.
Come on honourable judge, you will not be amused if someone tried to impersonate you in a court of law so give the doctors their due respect because THEY HAVE EARNED IT!
All the young doctors who have passed out from Medical School after their long hard slog have earned the right to be called 'doctor' and this should not be taken lightly. Some idiot on the airwaves who was contributing to a call-in programme said that the offender should be trained properly as a doctor and sent to the northern part of the country as most young doctors wanted to be in the capital city, Accra. I am sorry but that is not the answer to our health delivery woes in northern Ghana and this person who called in needs his head checked. It is this getting off lightly that has made people belittle professionals and think that they can impersonate them.
Come on honourable judge, you will not be amused if someone tried to impersonate you in a court of law so give the doctors their due respect because THEY HAVE EARNED IT!
Worst for Care
"Worst for care" is the description the Ealing NHS Trust got from 76,000 patients who took part in a poll which was carried out by the Health Commission in the UK. The areas that is was judged on where: cleanliness, food, mixed wards, health delivery just to name a few...
I applaud the Health Commission for carrying out this poll and we in Ghana need to do the exact same thing here. Here in Ghana we do not have a Health Commission and when one wants to complain about health delivery or rather the lack of it, there is really no-one whom you can turn to and complain. This is very frustrating and one has to resort to the airwaves to make one's voice heard.
I recently was bereaved; I lost my mother and the sort of things we had to go through were just unimaginable. This teaching hospital is supposed to be Ghana's pride and joy but it is seriously lacking a number of things. First and foremost the staff lack human relations. These are non-existent and one is treated with disdain and contempt and woe betide you if you try and tell them that you happen to know some procedures, you will be termed as being "too known", a Ghanaian term for being a know it all. Next on the list is logistics. You walk into the pharmacy of the department only to be told that the items requested by the doctor are out of stock. So one starts one 'wild goose chase' for the items requested. One of such 'chases' lasted three hours until a doctor friend of mine told me quite frankly that the prescription the doctor had written was really for want of another word silly buggers!
Trust me I went to every pharmacy in this great city of ours but they all had variations of it and I was told to bring back the injectable version of it!! Third on the list of things lacking is training. I am an HR Consultant and how I would love to have those nurses and ancilliary staff in my training room! They would drop those snooty attitudes at the snap of a finger...my finger (smile)
At 2.30am we, that is my mother, myself and the 2-man ambulance crew, arrived at the Emergency Unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the first thing that struck me was the ward was full and there were no beds left! I had seen this several times on the television but was hoping that somehow this would have been a situation that would have been alleviated. My mother had to sit on the gurney from the ambulance from 2.30am until 10am! As if this was not bad enough, I had to actually take part in assisting my mother as the nurses on duty just couldn't be bothered to take instructions from the houseman(or rather housewoman). The young doctor on duty was apologetic and I did feel sorry for her because if her own staff could not adhere to her instructions, then I wonder how she was ever going to earn their respect. At this juncture, I must congratulate the Vice President H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, for his Ambulance Service initiative to support the health sector. This service is free (trust me we used it thrice) and the staff are friendly and ever eager to be of assistance. Citisearch owes you a free training session!
No members of staff were available to assist with blood samples etc. (mind you there never are and you have to do everything yourself)..between carrying the bag with Mum's personal effects, I was juggling 4 iv's which weighed a ton(didn't know those things were so heavy!) and blood sample bottles which as you know are so delicate. Amidst all this juggling I was running as the distances from one department to another are so far and walking was just not an option. I burst into the central laboratory only to see a bunch of men including the security man, snoring their hearts out! I rapped my knuckles loudly on the door and received a sleepy stare from the security chap who mumbled something. Unknowingly to me, there was a pool of water on the floor right at the entrance to the lab which were droplets of water from the airconditioner above and the 'mumble' from the security chap was to watch out for the pool of water...thank goodness I saw it in time and did not go careering across the hall...
The lab technician eventually woke up, rubbed his face several times and blinked about 100 times before he saw me standing by his counter. He told me how much it cost and then asked me to leave the documentation and bottles on the counter. He strolled casually to the counter, keyed in the cost and then gave me a receipt and walked back to his bench and lay down in the same position I found him in. I shook my head in disbelief and muttered an expletive under my breath..
To be continued...
I applaud the Health Commission for carrying out this poll and we in Ghana need to do the exact same thing here. Here in Ghana we do not have a Health Commission and when one wants to complain about health delivery or rather the lack of it, there is really no-one whom you can turn to and complain. This is very frustrating and one has to resort to the airwaves to make one's voice heard.
I recently was bereaved; I lost my mother and the sort of things we had to go through were just unimaginable. This teaching hospital is supposed to be Ghana's pride and joy but it is seriously lacking a number of things. First and foremost the staff lack human relations. These are non-existent and one is treated with disdain and contempt and woe betide you if you try and tell them that you happen to know some procedures, you will be termed as being "too known", a Ghanaian term for being a know it all. Next on the list is logistics. You walk into the pharmacy of the department only to be told that the items requested by the doctor are out of stock. So one starts one 'wild goose chase' for the items requested. One of such 'chases' lasted three hours until a doctor friend of mine told me quite frankly that the prescription the doctor had written was really for want of another word silly buggers!
Trust me I went to every pharmacy in this great city of ours but they all had variations of it and I was told to bring back the injectable version of it!! Third on the list of things lacking is training. I am an HR Consultant and how I would love to have those nurses and ancilliary staff in my training room! They would drop those snooty attitudes at the snap of a finger...my finger (smile)
At 2.30am we, that is my mother, myself and the 2-man ambulance crew, arrived at the Emergency Unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the first thing that struck me was the ward was full and there were no beds left! I had seen this several times on the television but was hoping that somehow this would have been a situation that would have been alleviated. My mother had to sit on the gurney from the ambulance from 2.30am until 10am! As if this was not bad enough, I had to actually take part in assisting my mother as the nurses on duty just couldn't be bothered to take instructions from the houseman(or rather housewoman). The young doctor on duty was apologetic and I did feel sorry for her because if her own staff could not adhere to her instructions, then I wonder how she was ever going to earn their respect. At this juncture, I must congratulate the Vice President H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, for his Ambulance Service initiative to support the health sector. This service is free (trust me we used it thrice) and the staff are friendly and ever eager to be of assistance. Citisearch owes you a free training session!
No members of staff were available to assist with blood samples etc. (mind you there never are and you have to do everything yourself)..between carrying the bag with Mum's personal effects, I was juggling 4 iv's which weighed a ton(didn't know those things were so heavy!) and blood sample bottles which as you know are so delicate. Amidst all this juggling I was running as the distances from one department to another are so far and walking was just not an option. I burst into the central laboratory only to see a bunch of men including the security man, snoring their hearts out! I rapped my knuckles loudly on the door and received a sleepy stare from the security chap who mumbled something. Unknowingly to me, there was a pool of water on the floor right at the entrance to the lab which were droplets of water from the airconditioner above and the 'mumble' from the security chap was to watch out for the pool of water...thank goodness I saw it in time and did not go careering across the hall...
The lab technician eventually woke up, rubbed his face several times and blinked about 100 times before he saw me standing by his counter. He told me how much it cost and then asked me to leave the documentation and bottles on the counter. He strolled casually to the counter, keyed in the cost and then gave me a receipt and walked back to his bench and lay down in the same position I found him in. I shook my head in disbelief and muttered an expletive under my breath..
To be continued...
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Mother's Day
Once again it is time to honour our Mothers for all that they have done and probably in some cases are still doing. My Mother passed away on Easter Sunday this year and was buried a little under 4 weeks ago.
It was a very painful experience....though my Mother at 72 years of age lived to be much older than her Mother,who passed away at 44, (Mum was about to turn 18 then) it was as if something had been ripped out of my heart. I am in my early forties and very grateful that my Mum could see me grow up, start work, have a child and then eventually start my own business, but like they say one is never really prepared for it.
I am thankful that she survived this long just to see how we all turned out etc. and it was so good to come home and start to tell her about my day and all that happened. Mum was always sharp, she would never meet my clients but as soon as I started telling her about something they did that wasn't genuine, she would warn me to watch out for them and truly she was always right!
One is never quite sure whether one does enough to let one's Mother know how grateful they are but I reckon my Mother knew that I was grateful. I wish now that I had told her everyday but then again I am sure I would have probably ended up writing a book. She taught me about patience and how to watch and listen before making one's move:just like the Leo she was and me the impatient Arian. :-)
For me it was as if she lived her life like she was playing chess, only making poignant moves that resulted in a win that would make your head spin fast.
To end my piece I would like to say that I loved my Mum very, very much and here is a text from a Hallmark card my son gave to me last Christmas which definitely sums up my Mum. It made me all teary-eyed...
I love you Mummy, Rest in Perfect Peace!
It was a very painful experience....though my Mother at 72 years of age lived to be much older than her Mother,who passed away at 44, (Mum was about to turn 18 then) it was as if something had been ripped out of my heart. I am in my early forties and very grateful that my Mum could see me grow up, start work, have a child and then eventually start my own business, but like they say one is never really prepared for it.
I am thankful that she survived this long just to see how we all turned out etc. and it was so good to come home and start to tell her about my day and all that happened. Mum was always sharp, she would never meet my clients but as soon as I started telling her about something they did that wasn't genuine, she would warn me to watch out for them and truly she was always right!
One is never quite sure whether one does enough to let one's Mother know how grateful they are but I reckon my Mother knew that I was grateful. I wish now that I had told her everyday but then again I am sure I would have probably ended up writing a book. She taught me about patience and how to watch and listen before making one's move:just like the Leo she was and me the impatient Arian. :-)
For me it was as if she lived her life like she was playing chess, only making poignant moves that resulted in a win that would make your head spin fast.
To end my piece I would like to say that I loved my Mum very, very much and here is a text from a Hallmark card my son gave to me last Christmas which definitely sums up my Mum. It made me all teary-eyed...
2 parts patience
1 part strength
A dash of laughter
Wisdom and tenderness to taste
Combine all ingredients and mix well
I love you Mummy, Rest in Perfect Peace!
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