With more and more people having access to the internet via diverse mediums it is no surprise that social media’s popularity is growing and this has given a voice to this generation. Statistics show that millions of people around the world access blogs and social media networks as part of the daily routine and Ghana has not been left out of the race to global connectivity.

Social media is growing faster than ever in this West African country with a population of about 25million. On the 5^th of May, BloggingGhana, an organization that promotes blogging, embarked on a journey to demonstrate how the youth can leverage the power of social media for positive social change, good governance, accountability, technology, business and education via channels such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and blogs at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), with the event dubbed BlogCamp 2012 themed Voice of a New Generation.

And boy did it live up to the hype!!! As the French will say Oui….it did.

The awesome event started by Vodafone Ghana giving away an android phone, a web box’s and a mi-fi to 3 luck early bird attendees who were drawn with the help of a random number generator. With the atmosphere already charged with excitement, @Kajsaha (Kajsa Hallberg Adu Chairperson of BloggingGhana) set out to tell attendants about BloggingGhana and why everyone should join the family. Google in recent times has been pushing further into the social media realm and it was just in order that the custodian of the world’s largest search engine and sponsor for the day blessed as with a talk via Google+ Hangout with a Blogger advocate and Google Engineer from Australia (Bret Morgan) with help from our own @abocco Google Developer Outreach Officer (Ato Ulzen Appiah)

Eish! Did I forget about the beautiful Antoinette Abena Atuah from Vodafone Ghana? Well, her short but graceful speech indicated Vodafone’s vision to empower consumers to interact in the way that they want, to get more from their telecoms experience.

By now , the excitement is ramping up @Kinnareads takes the stage to talk about  Social Media in an Election year with emphasis on BloggingGhana’s STAR funded Ghana Decides project which aims at better informed electorate for a free, fair and safe 2012 Elections using a collaborative platform of social media. This project is unbiased, non-partisan and also aims to educate the youth, civil society organizations and public institutions on the effective use of social media for social change. In collaboration with Youth Groups ,GESI Groups ,NGOs & CSOs ,Inter-Governmental Organisations ,Political Parties and through talks , Tweetups ,Facebook Chats ,Google+ Hangouts and Coverage of Events. This talk took us to lunch and on return, @Antirhythm a Legal Practitioner/Blogger took us on the path of Social Media and the law. He gently and eloquently spelt out the responsibilities of individuals in the use of social in order not to end up on the wrong side of the law. He touched on topics like Common offences related to making statements , What  makes up the offences, Consequences of the offences, Free Speech vs. Others’ Rights ,Defamation ,Plagiarism ,Causing Fear, Hate Speech , and Insulting. His parting words were “Be Bold, Free and Truthful “

Anyway, I (@attigs) couldn’t have participated in all the breakout sessions partly because I had to moderate the Social Media and Mobile Devices session and one could only attend a session at a time. I also participated in the Photo blogging & Visual Activism session, where Nana Kofi Acquah was just remarkable. He educated and inspired us. Now my view of stating social concerns takes precedence over aesthetics in photography. My final session was a bit of an odd one. I joined the all ladies session of Women and Social Media where Kinna Likimani and Dorothy Gordon pushed the ladies to build their confidence and take the bold step of talking about issues they are passionate about on their blogs and social media interactions. Hmmmm…it will interest you to know that, they are planning a ladies only first time bloggers day. Feminism at its best…I am all for it and not against it.

At this point, we were all satisfied that our day wasn’t wasted but we couldn’t leave just yet. The lovely @GhanaMomoni (Golda Addo) needed to launch our Social Media Awards for 2013 .She had this to say about the world of the blogger “Neither recognised by the institutions of Journalism , NOR protected by the laws of media, WE ARE THE TRUTH … sharing our experiences uncurbed, unlimited, unrestricted.”  She outdoored the awards with these words “In every pursuit of interest, there comes a moment in time when some people show distinction. A moment when some people show courage in the pursuit of TRUTH. Refuse to be hobbled by conventions … and go on to blaze trails. In such people, we find values worth emulating and appreciating. “

BlogCamp 2012 was made possible through the efforts of the BloggingGhana Community and the kind support of our partners: Vodafone Ghana, Google, United States Embassy, Nandimobile, Web4Africa, Citi 97.3 Fm, Mawuli Sikanku Photography and REDD Kat Pictures.

This article was written by  Nehemiah Attigah. He is the CEO of Hatua Solutions Ltd.

On the evening of May Day, I put up a status update on Facebook that inspired me to write this article.  There is a current worrying trend of the increase in the incidence of cardiac arrests in seemingly healthy athletes. I took to the multi-billion dollar social networking site to lay bare my frustrations. In the midst of my confusion over this issue, the saving grace was to come from medical practitioners on the platform who put my mind to rest as well as the large swell of people astonished by the recent tragedies.

The past couple of weeks have seen the global sports industry startled and shattered, the culprit- cardiac arrest, the athletes’ nemesis.

Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba, 23, miraculously survived a cardiac arrest after his heart stopped for 78 minutes while playing for his team in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. In effect, Muamba was dead for 1 hour, 18 minutes. Less than a month later, former Italy U-21 midfielder Piermario Morosini died after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the pitch during his team Livorno’s Serie B match at Pescara, he was aged 25. On May 1, another thunder struck, as Norwegian world swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen died aged 26 in his bathroom in Flagstaff, Arizona, when Norway’s national swim team was training for the London Olympics 2012.

The paradoxes underlying these tragedies are overwhelming. Muamba is said to be one of the fittest players at his club, Morosini was healthy, and Dale Oen showed no indication then that he was sick. So what went wrong and how do we explain these incidences? When Cameroon footballer Marc –Vivien Foe died from cardiac arrest in 2003, the issue of fitness was raised, only to be explained by medical experts that the underlying cause of death from cardiac arrest is more likely to be hereditary rather than the level of an athlete’s fitness.

“Genetic abnormalities are usually associated with irregular heartbeat which is a disease of the heart muscles but where sports can play a role is on the likelihood on these conditions leading to a cardiac arrest. The evidence is not clear cut. Research has however proven that those with inherited conditions are twice more likely to suffer cardiac arrest if they play sports at the top level”.

Research indicates that cardiac arrests arise as a result of cardiac diseases of all types especially coronary artery diseases, which is impaired blood flow through the coronary arteries- the blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart. What this simply means is that any time the heart is starved of oxygen by any impairment in the way of the coronary artery, cardiac arrest can happen.

Coronary artery impairment is understood to be caused by the consumption of high levels of ‘bad cholesterol’, smoking, Type 2 Diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. Athletes are obviously exempted from the last 2 causes- obesity and physical inability, making smoking and the consumption of diets high in fats and calories and low in fruits and vegetables important risk factors for athletes. Other cause like drug overdose has also been explained in the scientific world to have a hand in cardiac arrests.

Most people however do associate heart problems and cardiac arrest to older people. On the other hand, there is data which shows that about 500 people below the age of 30yrs in the UK die each year from cardiac arrest and therefore this knowledge defeats the age factor vehemently.

Athletes have a healthy heart by virtue of the fact that they are active,  but if they don’t eat right and don’t make lifestyle changes like the cessation of excessive smoking, they can still be predisposed to cardiac arrests. In fact, in this instance the arteries are already clogged and further stress is aggravated by physical activity and exercise which places a high demand on blood and oxygen on the heart. Emotional stress is also said to be a risk factor in some cases.

As the world mourns the fall of some of the greatest athletes to have ever graced their various disciplines, the onus lies on the institutions to save its heroes by intensifying regular check-ups and cardiac examinations of sportsmen to curb these catastrophes. As for Fabrice Muamba, he still clings unto his latest mantra, “I asked God to protect me and he didn’t let me down”. His story isn’t just a miracle, he is a miracle!

I think this is because we are the ones who know and understand how much this woman has given up so we can have it all. Her pleasure, her laughter, her dream, her comfort, her future-all of it. That is why nobody can beat mum. Nobody is a better cook. Not even the world’s greatest chef. They are our super heroes and they have everything to do with who we are.

Like most mums, 64 year old mother of one and grandmother of four, Sarah Blanch Moore sacrificed it all. She did not just put her dreams on hold to raise her only daughter but she completely gave them up. Little did she know that it will all resurface 40 years later. At age 14 when she took a vocational class in dress making she knew it was something she was good at but it didn’t mean more to her than hobby at the time. As a young and struggling mother, Sarah started to sew clothes for her daughter because she did not have money to buy the ready made ones .Even though, she did it out of necessity she really enjoyed it and she loved to do it.

‘I did not have financial or moral support to learn the vocation’ she says ‘I had to fend for myself and my baby.’ Her priorities changed, now that she had a mouth to feed. She had to get a job and start earning money. After her daughter’s failed marriage she found herself caring and supporting for her four granddaughters as well. Before she realized 40 years had gone by. Forty years of putting everyone else first. She had finally ended up managing a small pub to earn a living and to take care of her girls. Life got busier with all those responsibilities and it had been that way for a long time. There was no time for chasing dreams or doing what she really loves ‘Even though I had no formal training anytime I saw a dress, I could pick out the faults.’ Sarah says It was not until last year that she took an old and dusty sewing machine she had bought for her niece that she realized she still had it in her. ‘I sewed a church dress for my last granddaughter, I felt so proud of the dress and after that I could not stop sewing.’ All the years that had passed had not taken away her passion and the joy she got from dressmaking.

About a month ago, Sarah bought a new sewing machine and had been sewing almost everyday. Her clothes have attracted some wonderful compliments. People have showed interest to even be trained by her. Her dresses show that Sarah does not just have interest in the vocation but she is actually good at it since people both home and abroad are making request for her clothes. ‘When I start sewing, I can’t wait to see the outcome. I feel very proud of my work especially when my daughter and my granddaughters wear the clothes I make for them’ she adds.

Sarah however admits that she won’t go commercial but she will never stop sewing for her family. ‘I love doing it and once I have the strength, I will continue to sew. I believe that dreams never die. Don’t always expect people to push or encourage you to do what really make you happy. That was where I went wrong. If you find out what makes you happy, pursue it. Looking back through the years if I had a chance to change anything I would have gone after my passion.’ It is 9;30 pm on Wednesday evening and I can hear my 64 year old grandmother’s sewing machine. I keep thinking that she will stop at any minute but she keeps going. Sometimes she will call me to help thread a needle because old age is catching up with her vision. But most of the times she needs her glasses to keep her lines straight especially when she sews during light outs. I have learned a lot from my grandmother but one thing her life teaches me is that I should always hold on to my dreams and what makes me happy.

Happy mother’s day!

In order to get a better understanding of the context within which these unprecedented events have occurred, one needs to look at the historical nature of the relationship between the ANC and the ANCYL. The ANCYL is the youth organ of the ANC, whose main objective and chief mandate, is to mobilise the youth of South Africa behind the vision of the ANC, which is to, “create a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.” Since its formation, the ANCYL has always existed as an autonomous structure within the ANC, allowed to develop and implement its own programmes, convene its own congresses and administrate itself. So historically, there has always been the understanding that the ANCYL is an autonomous, but not an independent part of the ANC. As the ANC constitution states, “the Youth League will function as an autonomous body within the overall structure of the ANC, of which it will be an integral part, with its own constitution, rules and regulations, provided that these shall not be in conflict with the constitution and policies of the ANC.”  This autonomy, which is guaranteed within the ANC constitution, is a political necessity, if the ANCYL is indeed going to be able to fulfil its historical mandate, part of which is to radicalise and re-energise the ANC, given the fiery and militant character of most youth.

When the ANCYL was founded in 1944, its founding generation, consisting of the likes of: O.R Tambo, Congress Mbata, Lancelot Gama, William Nkomo, Nelson Mandela, Lionel Majombozi, James Njongwe, A.P Mda, David Bopape, Anton Lembede, Jordan Ngubane etc, betrayed the same militancy, vibrancy and urgency that we see in this current ANCYL generation, took a position that was different from the sitting ANC president at that time and advocated for radical policy change in the battle against Apartheid, yet the ANC leadership at that time, did not respond in the manner that the current leadership has, to its youth formation. Why such a huge discrepancy in reaction and response, between the ANC leadership at that time and the current ANC leadership?

To answer this question, one has to look at the political and organisational environment within which the charges against the ANCYL leadership where brought. As Frantz Fanon said, in his famous book, The Wretched of the Earth, “each generation must discover its mission, fulfil or betray it, in relative capacity.”Julius Malema and this ANCYL generation, have correctly identified the issue of the structural transformation of the South African economy in order to ensure the greater participation of its impoverished black majority, as the main challenge facing the country, and their solution has been to propose nationalisation of mines, banks and monopoly industries as well as the expropriation of land without compensation as the mechanisms by which to kick-start this much needed structural transformation. So the ANCYL has taken the lead in challenging the economic status quo in South Africa, something which is an obvious necessity, whether you agree with the ANCYL’s proposed tactics or not. As a result of being on the forefront of the economic struggle, the ANCYL and its leadership have been ostracised, vilified and ridiculed by the mainstream media, which has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, given the well publicised nature of its ownership structures.  These constant attacks on the ANCYL leadership by the media and other formations within society have influenced certain ANC leaders to start believing that the ANCYL and its leadership are problematic, a stumbling block and hence need to be silenced and/or removed. This is part of the reasons why the unprecedented step was taken, to charge the ANCYL’s leadership, leading to the expulsion of Julius Malema.

The ANCYL has been setting the agenda and leading the discourse within South African society for a while now. This has obviously rubbed certain ANC leaders up the wrong way, so the disciplinary measures that have been taken against its leaders, were meant to silence its leadership, especially Julius Malema, who is seen as a problem and a rabble rouser. To use the words of Roberts Liardon, “when you come across a radical person, you are either provoked to do more or you criticise them and defend where you’re at.” Julius Malema and this ANCYL generation have been very radical in their calls for the transformation of the South African economy, primarily through nationalisation and expropriation without compensation. Instead of responding to this radicalism by “doing more” in order to ensure the greater participation of the poor black majority, the ANC leadership and South African society have responded by “criticising them, defending the status quo” and trying to completely expel and expunge them from the public space. In doing this, what many have missed, is the fact that, at the previous ANC NGC, there were clear calls coming from circles other than the ANCYL, for the ANC to take a more radical stance towards transforming the South African economy. Even from outside the ANC, amongst the black middle class and intelligentsia, there is growing frustration with the slow pace of change, in terms of transforming the South African economy, so whether they silence Malema and the current ANCYL leadership or not, the issues that they are raising will not go away and at some point in time, bold leadership will be needed in order to take the revolutionary steps that are needed, to structurally transform South Africa’s economy.

Added to that, is the overarching reality of the upcoming ANC elective conference at Mangaung in December 2012. It is a well known fact that the youth have been agitating for leadership change, without in any way compromising the electoral traditions and culture of the ANC, and as a result the leadership of the ANC chose to take the disciplinary route, whilst neglecting its political responsibility and obligation to guide the ANCYL and its leadership, where it felt they might have erred. Looking at the disciplinary hearings themselves, it’s difficult not to come to the conclusion that the outcome of the hearings was pre-determined and influenced by the political dynamics already discussed, rather than genuine concerns about discipline. Malema was charged for and found guilty of saying that the African agenda had suffered since Thabo Mbeki left the presidency. In his recent, best-selling book, former aide in the Presidency, Frank Chikane, a seasoned ANC leader, categorically states that he believes that the African agenda has suffered since Thabo Mbeki left the Union Buildings. The ANC leadership have taken no disciplinary steps against Chikane, as a member of the ANC, for making this statement. Why the inconsistency? Malema was also charged and found guilty for making a statement, which amounts to one of the resolutions of the recent ANCYL conference held at Gallagher Estate, that the ANCYL would seek to consolidate and assist, in a democratic manner, progressive opposition forces in Botswana, in order to help protect and advance the African agenda. Since when has this type of declaration been anti-ANC and a violation of its constitution? On careful examination, the spurious charges that where brought against Malema and the ANCYL leadership, can be seen to be nothing more than a ploy to get rid of a young man who had become an irritant, not just to the ANC but to South African society at large, because of his penchant for raising uncomfortable issues, though admittedly not always in the most tactful, diplomatic manner. Mainstream South African society has hypocritically chosen to deliberately overlook and ignore the inconsistencies, lack of fairness and justice in the disciplinary process and conviction of Malema and his executive, all because it has guaranteed the removal of someone who is seen as a threat to “their comfortable way of life” and the reality is that, this may come back to haunt us as a society one day, because the critical issues raised, are not being sufficiently addressed.

Julius Malema is not perfect. He has done and said many things in the past for which he deserved some kind of corrective censure from the ANC and its leadership, however the charges for which he has been tried, found guilty and expelled from the ANC where clearly part of a political agenda, that had as its end goal, either his silencing, neutralisation or complete removal from the public political space. This reminds one of those famous words uttered by a young, fiery Fidel Castro, when he was tried and jailed by the brutal, unjust Batista regime in Cuba, which he ended up overthrowing, “condemn me, it does not matter, history will absolve me.” People say Malema and the ANCYL, could have conducted themselves in a better manner. I wouldn’t disagree with that. Some say he should have been more diplomatic. Difficult to make a judgement on that one, because, as Susan Anthony said, “cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards, never bring about reform.” Malema and this ANCYL generation set their sights on bringing about fundamental reform in SA society. This would obviously rub many people up the wrong way and create many enemies. Love them or hate them, disagree with their tactics or not, one has to say that, when the events of the disciplinary hearings of Julius Malema and the current ANCYL leadership are reviewed by future generations, history may well look upon them more kindly, than their contemporaries have. After all, it is a fact of life that, the judgement of your peers and contemporaries, is not always the judgement of history. History is filled with examples of people who were praised and exalted in their era, only to be treated with disdain and contempt by future generations, as well as people who were ostracised, vilified and dismissed in their era, only to be accorded hero-status by future generations.

Xstrata, similarly, should be commended for partnering [the] Mail and Guardian in investing in the future.

As to why I deserve this honour to have “brunch” with you — when others would break the bank to take you out to lunch — I leave to [the] Mail & Guardian and Xstrata to explain.

When the invitation first hit my screen, I naturally had to ask myself, who are these Young South Africans and — wet behind the ears as they should be — what is it that I can teach them about life! I then took the trouble to page through previous editions of Mail & Guardian. Lo and behold, it emerged that most of you have, in barely three decades of your lives, achieved more than what I can hope to attain in a lifetime.

And so, I have stepped off my pedestal and come rather to seek advice.

The central question that I will pose in this discussion is: what should be done to ensure that young South Africans in general break free of the psychology of marginalisation?

As you may not expect, I do not have answers to this question; and attached to it, I will pose a few riddles that you must help unlock for all South Africans. These issues arose in my mind because I noticed that we tend to refer to young talent in years gone by simply as “great figures”; and yet when it comes to such talent in the present, the qualification, “great young South Africans” comes into play.

It then struck me, casting one’s mind to the past, that:

• John Langalibalele Dube, who became the first president of the ANC at the age of 41, had already attained laudable achievements such as setting up the legendary Ohlange High School at 30;
• Sol Plaatjie became the first secretary general of the ANC at 35 and already in his 20s, he was a renowned writer and editor; and
• by the time Charlotte Maxeke led the anti-pass campaign in 1913 at 39 years of age, she had emerged as South Africa’s first woman BSc graduate, as an organiser of the Women’s Mite Missionary Society and established a training college in Evaton.

To these South African geniuses of social organisation, we can add the feats, for instance, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who, when he died in 1791 at 35 had become, arguably, one of the greatest musicians of all time; or Phillip Tabane of Malombo fame who started making an impression in South African jazz as barely a teenager … Or Steve “Kalamazoo” Mokone who, at 17 made football history as the first black player to play in a professional European league; or our current captain, Aaron Mokoena who debuted in Bafana Bafana at 18 and became captain at 23 years of age. We can add Dr Chris Barnard who at 32 had acquired his doctorate in medicine and set out to start experiments that led to the first human heart transplant … or even Isaac Newton and his work on mathematical calculus at 23, who was described by one senior expert at Cambridge Trinity College then as “a fellow of our College, and very young … but of an extraordinary genius and proficiency in these things”.

And how about Fidel Castro and Che Guevarra, for their exploits in their twenties in liberating Cuba; Karl Marx who by the age of 30, together with Friedrich Engels, had written many books on human development and social organisation, including the Communist Manifesto; or Moses Kotane who became general secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa at 34 years of age!

It is not so much the ideology or the detailed pursuits of these luminaries that matters, but our marvel at the relative youth at which they made an indelible mark — at domestic and international levels — variously on our history, the history of their countries and on human civilisation. Critically, most of them persisted in excellence long after their first achievements

And so, the condescension that we of greyer hair and emptier scalps tend to evince towards you is as much artificial as it is pretentious. It is an ageism that can be a convenient tool of social control — some rule that there are the deserving — to whom it is decreed by sheer dint of age that they should lead. What we do not realise though is that this has its corollary: treat mature youth like children and they will behave as such! They will say anything and do anything, proceeding from the perspective that someone else will clean up after them.

In my view, a critical first step in ridding our society of the scourge of what has been referred to as “youth marginalisation” is that society should disabuse itself of the psychology of ageism.

Without this, we deprive the nation of that explosive blend of youth and ability that makes works of genius possible. Similarly, young people in our society should liberate themselves from this mindset. Without this, you deprive yourselves of the opportunity of responsibility, of taking the cudgels as responsible frontline adventurers in the advancement of the human condition.

It is in this context that I take this opportunity to congratulate you, for your successes and/or prominence in sport, science, business, politics, information technology, media and other fields. Your exploits should be a harbinger of greater things to come, the beginning of journeys at the end of which you will be able to say: I gave the best that my faculties could muster, and left a trail that will lead to a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better world!

There is no doubt in my mind — and to this I can add empirical evidence — that running like golden thread in the making of real and enduring excellence is education: both academic and the ability to draw critical lessons from the hard knocks of the university of life. Research on income dynamics and social mobility points clearly to the truism, for instance, that levels of household income, creativity and endurance in entrepreneurship, and the possibility to break the gender glass ceiling, all depend critically on the level of education that individuals have acquired.

Annually, the media and society at large become fascinated with matric results, and quite correctly they also focus on the achievements of schools such as Mbilwi and Ivory Park Secondary Schools that are able to excel despite the odds. But we fail to track, for instance, the life trajectories of the students from such schools who burn the midnight oil to attain good passes: that is, their progression through university and in the world of work, and how this changes the social condition of their families. In as much as we should celebrate extraordinary excellence, we should also pay attention to achievements which are made the more significant by the qualitative impact that they make on families and communities.

In this regard, my message is as simple as it is obvious and quite correctly overstated: education, this great liberator and great leveller, deserves our undivided attention as a nation.

Beyond the formal knowledge and possible social returns that attach to education, is the observation, perhaps somewhat exaggerated, by Friedrich Hegel in his Philosophy of Right, that “[e]ducation is the art of making men ethical … [H]abit is part of ethical life as it is of philosophic thought also, since such thought demands that mind be trained against capricious fancies, and that these be destroyed and overcome to leave the way clear for rational thinking”. To the extent that Hegel’s notion of education can be broadened to include the various centres of imparting knowledge in the broader sense — including the family, the community and society at large — there is something quite instructive in his reasoning.

Let me preface the other riddles that I wish to cite, for further reflection, by indicating that we are in the process, with a few colleagues, of setting up a research institute, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra). We do hope that, working with young researchers, we will start the process of intense reflection on some of these questions.

The first among the riddles that you should apply your minds to is the fate of civilisations. Why is it that the Mapungubwe civilisation graced our shores and yet disappeared into oblivion, only to be “discovered” by accident? Why is it that the dynasties of the Han rose and fell, and yet rise again today like a phoenix from the ashes? And are there lessons that we can derive from this about the reasons behind success and failure, as we seek to build the civilisation of national democracy?

The second riddle pertains to the conduct of politics in the current age in our country, especially at local government level. How do we interpret the imperatives of intra-party and wider democracy and their relationship to poverty: the fact that this can present an opportunity for genuine people-driven development; but also, on the other hand, the reality that poverty can generate the kind of political conduct that destabilises communities and even development projects, as streetwise local politicians seek to displace one another in pursuit of personal advancement!

The third riddle pertains to finding a growth path that is premised on the improvement of people’s quality of life. Where are the young economists who, instead of debating their ideological likes and dislikes about macroeconomics, can unlock the interrelationships among the exchange rate of the currency, inflation, levels of investment, interest rates and savings; and the appropriate balances that we should pursue under different conditions, to move to a higher trajectory of growth?

Today, youth unemployment stands at about double the rate of unemployment across society. Many young people have never known the pain, the joy and the responsibility of earning an income. Close on three-quarters of the unemployed are between the ages of 15 and 34. This, we all know, is at the root of many of our social maladies, including crime and the rate of HIV infection; and it is clearly unsustainable. What are the interventions required decisively to deal with this social and economic challenge; and how do we navigate the self-interest of organised labour which opposes proposals such as an employment subsidy?

The fourth riddle, related to the third, is about the pursuit of common purpose among South Africans. We all have a broad common idea about where we want our country to be, as elaborated in those lofty words in our Constitution. Leaders in all sectors, I presume, know that the national democratic society that we seek to create would redound to the benefit of all. I also presume that they do know that to attain those ideals will require hard work and sacrifice.

Yet how do we deal with an approach to social dialogue in our country which is premised on each sector demanding its pound of flesh, without regard to the hard choices that have to be made in different phases of our development trajectory?

How do we narrow the divide between the gilded mansions and the craggy shacks — in terms of income, access to health, education and other opportunities; and the asset base?

All of us, including the young South Africans that everyone would like to take to lunch, are keenly aware that our nation cannot sustain the levels of inequality obtaining in our society. But in our race to the top, we tend to avert our eyes when confronted with the reality of abject poverty, preoccupied as we are with competition among ourselves in the stakes of conspicuous consumption.

This brings us to the fifth South African riddle: the issue of race, and how racism is compounded by corruption both in the public and private sectors. In this regard, I wish to reiterate an observation made at a seminar on non-racialism organised by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation a few months ago. This is that hindering the building of non-racialism is, for instance, the conduct of BEE frontmen and women. For, in the mind of those dishing out the largesse is the thought, ‘”f I can buy him or her, s/he should be of a lower order as a human being”. Thus the community and the race to which such front people belong become the butt of jokes in bars, and at dinner tables and golf courses.

Inversely, this also becomes a convenient excuse on the part of some in the white community from dealing with the obligations of the 1994 settlement. The warped rationalisation that takes root is: let’s critique from the sidelines; let’s exaggerate the weaknesses; we can’t make common cause with “them”; we can’t sacrifice for the common good because “they” are corrupt.

This attitude, and the radical rhetoric used by some black leaders to mask greed and ostentation, feed into one another: white spiritual emigration and a pretentious African nationalism of convenient victimhood are two sides of the same coin.

The last riddle pertains to the confidence of our nation to do good things to better our condition and contribute to the endeavours of humanity simply because we can — not in order to solicit praise from anyone. This has been referred to in some discourse as the “catwalk syndrome”. And so in our communication, when we upgrade our infrastructure to meet our economic and social needs; and when we prepare for what should be one of the most successful Fifa World Cup tournaments ever; it is not simply because we can do it in line with our commitments to the football family and to our own society. Rather it is “to show the world” that South Africa is also capable of doing good things. What is it in our psyche that feeds this “also-ran” attitude to life — and how do we liberate ourselves from it? For, when other nations sense that we crave their approval for everything we do, they will naturally exercise their right to extend such approval and to withhold it when it suits them rather than us.

I should also make the observation, in relation to football, that enduring success depends on systematic planning and application. The national team coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, put it succinctly when he said: “The World Cup will leave a legacy for this country that is unique … You’re going to have the best stadiums … But we are still lacking in grassroots [organisation] and hopefully all the money from the World Cup can be used to help develop young players. Without this, we’re not going to catch up with the big powers in Africa”. (The Citizen, June 6 2010)

Our team does hold out the promise to do well in the 2010 Fifa World Cup tournament. But Parreira is warning us now that this should not be a flash-in-the-pan occurrence. I’m quite certain that similar sentiments were expressed after the 1996 African Cup of Nations victory. Yet little was done to build the structures and systems required for ongoing success. Why did the nation allow this to happen — and shall we allow the same farce to play itself out going forward?

These then are just a few of the issues that I believe should occupy the minds of young South Africans in the current environment. The answers to these and other questions should come from you. Otherwise, the successes that we celebrate today will be nothing more than an act of revelling in the extra-ordinariness of an ordinary existence. We will improve our individual condition of life. We will, in the midst of poverty and inequality, surround ourselves with walls and barbed wire. But we will forever live exasperated lives of insecurity. For, the wretched of the earth will breach these defenses as they demand their place under the South African sun.

This becomes even more critical as the nation knuckles down to develop a common vision and strategic plan about where we should be in 15 to 20 years. That future belongs to you, more than anyone else. And we thus hope that the voice of the youth will be heard more forcefully than ever before, as we elaborate the trajectory towards a national democratic society in which you and your children will live.

And so, my message is a simple one. South Africa stands at the cusp of decision. Whether we tip in the direction of faster progress depends to a large measure on whether we unlock the talent of the nation’s youth. To achieve this, we need to harness that cocktail of youth and ability that makes works of genius possible.

It is in this context that I have come to seek your advice. And I do so, firmly in the conviction that you are South African leaders not just of tomorrow; but leaders of today in your own right!

Another instance, and a man walked on Wickford road some where in Essex with an almost done cigarette by the right hand while he held onto a little boy with the other hand as they hurried by.

A drunk father and a mother  enjoying her cigarette while all four of their children followed their parents as they walked hand in hand at Northfolks park in Pitsea.

While they waited  for a train on a Sunday morning, the young man of African descent smiled at the elderly black woman who looked like she was from West Africa and paid his respects by greeting. The  elderly woman responded  and said ” Very impressive, your colleagues seem to forget these days where they come from all in the name of modernity”

“What could possibly be the cause for these children  who have observed first hand  practices not to take up smoking  or perhaps any other habit when they grows up? While we are careful not to jump the gun, I will like to ask, “what also made the young African in the name of modernity throw away rich cultural values?”

I am tempted to recall also some time back in Ghana and many other places on the African continent  when a young lad will pass by an elder and would utter without thinking, greetings, and the elderly, responds with great pride by asking how he or she was doing.

When Yaw did something wrong, his mother wasn’t the only one to scold him or put him right.  Aku’s mother or any elderly person had the right to do so.

Modernity has a very interesting way of tagging this lifestyle as old fashioned. Nowadays, you hear the famous expression “mind your  own business”.  The argument is this, do you mind your own business when not getting involved has a high tendency of affecting you negatively?

This is a good basis to recall the good old days when every body in the community was each others keeper. Casting my mind back and I like the illustration that  Sobonfu Somecute, one of the foremost voices in African spirituality analyses communal spirit and exercising Ubuntu;when she made a perfect illustration using her background as an indigene from Burkina Faso.

In  her words she said, one persons problem in the community if can’t be solved by another, who ever tried to solve the challenge goes to call many others until a solution is found for this individual. In other words, everybody’s problem is a communal problem. Africans ate together in the homes in the same bowl as a sign of togetherness and to strengthen the bond of brotherliness.

An interesting trend these days when modernity seems to, like a hurricane ,wipe away the rich norms and values of our people to a culture faraway a distant shore yet to be understood  because of its constant twists and turns.

Regardless of where you come from, it is a fundamental truth that family and community living helps to shape societies. From my African mindset, we can practice development even better and integrate Africa much faster if we go back to these ideals that shape us.

Joining the  subway  or tube or any other transportation system either in New York, London or any where in Europe and I  smile each time I read the sign, priority seat for pregnant mothers, and the elderly.

This is an unwritten law back home in Ghana where I come from where any younger person would gladly offer their seat to the elderly at least, they get to be blessed at the end of the day, but primarily to show regard for the aged. My worry is, are these principles still held in high esteem?

Gradually, these norms and values that corrected society by virtue of western influence has been labeled “primitive”

My question is this, does modernity mean that we deviate from that which builds on our value system, makes us more responsible and adopt one which shifts us from this focus?

And maybe the only way I can learn to be human
Is to be transparent
see-through the the skin-coloured
Goggles that separate
Voices and faces
Hearts and heads
Lives and loves.
to walk through the world like a daytime ghost
Haunting the spaces
Where they wont let my colour be.

I want to be the blank canvas
The full tube of paint
The brand new book
The twilight sky
A sealed bottle of spring water-
I want to be the firstborn child of Utopia
Of daylight ghosts whose only race is to the finish line.

And when we wish we can sit in the sun
With needles made of idioms
And a jar of melanin reflecting rainbows
Redefining what it means to be black.

ALEWA stands for Art Lovers,Entertainers & Wordsmiths in Action, a show which serves its audience good doses of poetry and with live music. It has gone on recess for a few months now is back here with us again.

The first and second editions of ALEWA were held on October, 2011 and December 2011 respectively. Admission was free to let people have a unlimited taste of the varied talents we have in Ghana in terms of poetry and music.

The next edition which will be held on Saturday 12th May,2012 at the Sytris Bookshop, inside the Mark Coffie Building opposite PAPAYE Osu …..Rate is 10 Ghana cedes only

The organisers of ALEWA, People Of Equal Thoughts & Spirit (P.O.E.T.S), have promised their audience, both old and new, will enjoy entertainment of the highest quality and equally they will be education through spoken word poetry and live music.

POETS(People of Equal Thoughts and Spirit) is a vigorous and talented group of poets and creative artists from all walks of life with the aim of bringing poets, writers and creative artist together to form a formidable team to score more goals in the art circus.

There’ll be celebrated spoken word artisites as well as soloists and instrumentalists to make the day memorable.

ALEWA is opened to sponsors as well any individual or corporation that love art and/or want to support it.

You may download your free copy of the ALEWA Photobook on issuu or follow @poequalthoughts on Twitter for updates or call Sonny on +233 24 641 9861 or Ekow on 0544212121 for inquiries.