Are Ghanaians patient people?
Looking at our behaviour and reactions in the physical and on social media it is clear that Charlotte Osei is taking Ghanaians through a patience course.
What I don’t get is why everyone is all over excited. It’s very clear the peace songs didn’t do jack.
Everyone is looking forward to getting this election over and done with. Let’s assume nothing. It’s only one presidential seat for one person. The Electoral Commission (EC) is responsible for giving the results so let them just do that. Has it taken long?
Sure it has but we will get a result. This situation is a case of hungry children (Ghanaians) complaining to their mother (Charlotte Osei) about how long it’s taking her to prepare lunch. The only difference is that in this our waiting situation, the children can’t go into the kitchen to help their mother.
I strongly believe the reason for this tension is because people feel that the lunch is being cooked rather than prepared.
For NPP I can understand why they will feel this way. Looking at what happened in 2012 their frustration is warranted. However, there are better ways of addressing these issues.
The safety of Ghanaians and the nation is paramount. Let’s allow the EC to do their job. Unless you have proof of rigging don’t insinuate or broadcast false claims. It does not help us all.
Let’s keep it One Hondred! in respect to our mother Ghana.
So after three hours of waiting yesterday, I voted for the first time. My left pinky finger is still stained, I remember a selfish irritating voter along with other noisemakers but all that aside I consider the process a peaceful and successful one.
What is not peaceful is these darn peace songs that populate my television. Peace Songs
I loved the traffic free roads but I know it’s a short lived experience. The peace songs however are not peaceful at all! In fact some are irritating and can’t wait for them to get off air.
Who sponsors these works of art?
I applaud the investment and wonder why it can’t be done for other projects that boast a more promising life span.
Let’s face it, after today these songs will bear no relevance. I am actually looking for Ghanaians to witness to me that one of these songs inspired peace within them.
To me it’s a selfish enterprise not benefiting Ghana. A peace song is not really about entertainment and must have a deeper message than that of which I have listened to.
A great peace song to me is Black Eyed Peas “Where is the Love”. A great song that stands the test of time. Here is a tip to peace song makers. If your song doesn’t sound like it will be played after elections then don’t bother. Refocus your efforts. Can The Elections Be Improved?
Of course it can improved. Even if the election process saw no error there is still room for improvement.
I personally was not particularly happy about my three hour wait to perform a two minute activity. The news of quick voting from friends via social media didn’t help my patient composure as well. I was however determined to vote and my resolve outweighed my irrritation.
My polling station name and code: PHASE 1, REGIMANUEL ESTATE EAST AIRPORT (C120320B) for some reason had an influx of voters from the beginning of the voting session. For future purposes, I believe operational procedures be revised to cater for such influx in an effort to speed the electoral process. Major Issue at Polling Station C120320B
The major issue that befell voters at my polling station was poor communication on the queues that they were to be in.
I was a victim of this. I arrived at 8 AM and was advised by people in the queue to use my first name to determine my queue. My name being Paul meant that I was destined for the N-Z queue. At least that’s what I thought.
Once I reached my turn to verify my name on the list I was told I was in the wrong queue. The correct procedure apparently, was to use the first name on the voter ID card. The first name on my card is my surname, which is Forjoe. So I was to stand in the “F” queue.
Throughout my two hour wait in the N-Z queue I did not hear any advise by the electoral officers to prevent my mishap. Considering the number of people present, a PA system or mega horn was needed to advise on the correct queue for voters to join. Electoral Commission Website
I have to commend the Electoral Commission (EC) for the great work done in ensuring peaceful voting. A lot of work has gone into ensuring that the voting process was successful.
Not all areas were covered but I believe the future holds progress.
(Okay, that was the compliment. Now for criticism)
My rant revolves around the EC’s website and the information that resides on it.
I am a millennial who loves to utilize his smart phone and the internet. Social media, television and radio are good but in this day and age all information being broadcast on these platforms must first and foremost be on the website. This covers all bases and affords any individual discussing election, to refer to content with confidence because it comes from the EC website. EC tweets screenshot
I saw the tweet assuring me of eligibility to vote as long as I had a valid ID or a copy of my voters ID and the short code to verify my polling station, just this morning.
I applaud the use of social media to push this message but it should be on the EC website with a link directing people to more information, attached to the message on social media.
I believe a YouTube channel is equally important to advise Ghanaians and interested stake holders on proceedings, procedures and any other information deemed important for video. This should be linked to the website to enable easy access to the media. Final Word
Well let’s await patiently for the final results. God has blessed us with peaceful voting and promises a peaceful future. The onus lies on you and I to ensure that we comport our selves at the result.
We have survived 8 elections and 4 Coup’s. Let us survive another. Stay blessed and keep it One Hondred! PS: The main illustration of the Black Star Gate at Independece Square was created by Jojo Conceptz
It’s Wednesday 7th December 2016, Election Day in Ghana. This is the day that the waakye, Hausa Kojo and other breakfast queues are transferred to polling stations and last till the evening.
I hate the sight of queues, even worse is standing in them but I love Ghana more. That means doing something I hate in an effort to make a difference.
Voting started at 7 AM. Its 8 AM and I am in the N-Z first name queue and it’s five times longer than the English alphabet. My polling station is the PHASE 1, REGIMANUEL ESTATE EAST AIRPORT (C120320B).
Please note you need stand in the queue that corresponds to the first letter in your first name. In my polling station there is no indication of this. I had to ask to know this. Don’t go standing in the wrong queue.
So far things look organized and for the past 20 minutes I have been at the same place, which makes me wonder as to whether it’s the voters or the voting officials that are slowing the process down.
Already amongst voters, commentary has begun. Talk of inefficient procedures, long lines and the like. A lady just passed me by with a camp chair and I am so envious.
This being my first time participating in this national exercise I feel I should have been advised on some things to bring along with me to make the process more bearable.
If you have not left home to vote try carrying the following along:
Your voters ID or identification document to enable you to vote.
A camp chair or any item to sit on
A cap, straw hat or anything to give shade. An umbrella is not a bad idea.
Sunglasses – this is optional but it helps.
A face towel
A fan or anything to fan with
Hondred Percent face towel shade cap
Well it looks like I am going to be here for a while. I hear it is estimated that each voter will use 2 minutes to vote. There are about 60 people in front of me so my math tells me that I will be voting in the next two hours. I hope this is an exaggeration. Littering by voters
It’s sad but just in my queue I have seen voters drink satchet water and litter their very surroundings. With attitudes like this how do we develop our country? This day will cause a shift but we have a long way to go to develop our GHANA to better standards.
Remember to keep the peace as you vote and keep it One Hondred!
Ok so finally I found my Voters ID so I will be voting tomorrow. People assured me that without it I could vote, as long as I knew the ID number. I have a picture of the ID saved on my phone so that should suffice.
But how sure am I that that would hold?
I was still skeptical because everyone kept saying “they say” and I was unsure as to whether “they” was equal to the EC (Electoral Commission)
Someone also asked about moving to a different polling station since she had moved to a different location.
These concerns are valid and in my opinion should be adequately addressed. One could say it had been discussed enough on radio and television but in my opinion focusing on these mediums doesn’t cut it in these times.
In 2016 where social media and the internet are available to anyone with a smartphone, I expect adverts and campaigns to be everywhere on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Viral videos should be all over addressing these concerns. I believe it should be done not only by the EC but also the political parties as well since it is in their best interest.
Well this morning I decided to give the EC the benefit of the doubt and visit their website to find if it could address these issues of mine.
To my surprise the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section did not address any of these concerns. Electoral Commission website FAQ
Am I the only one who finds this weird? I mean there is nothing on the website addressing the, no voter ID but want to vote issue and the change of polling station for persons that have moved.
With all the funding that the EC has at their disposal I believe the least that can be done is to address it in the FAQ on their website. Political parties also have to address these issues via social media and websites to prevent people like myself shying away from voting. If I didn’t find my voters ID, I may not have voted. I believe there are many like me so that issue needs to be addressed.
Well I believe this is a late issue to bring up but better late than never. May we vote peacefully tomorrow and move the country towards prosperity.
Keep it One Hondred!
Just because you win doesn’t mean you are a winner.
In life one gets faced with competition. Whether it’s sports, debates, fighting for that cute guy or girl or to become the President of a country, there is a competition that ensues that chews opponents and subjects them to the beauty and ugliness of battle and spits out a victor.
However just because you win doesn’t mean you are a winner. Same goes for those who lose.
In my poem “The Pursuit of Happiness” the concluding lines say this: “You are not born to be a winner You are not born to be a loser If you think about it carefully You are born to be a chooser If you end up being a loser, it’s because you chose not to win And that my friends is my definition of sin”
Winning is more than coming in first, aquiring the most votes and picking that trophy. It’s a choice, a state of mind and a life style.
Winners choose to enter competitions to grow and evolve their skill set. They do it ultimately because it makes them better. If they win that’s an achievement, an accolade to showcase their success.
Coming in second, third or at the bottom for that matter doesn’t mean you are a loser. It could mean so many things. It could mean you need to get better in a certain area, need better strategy, you need to start from scratch, health is getting in the way, whatever it means you wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t participated in the challenge.
That’s knowledge. Knowledge about yourself and your abilities that could be capitalized on to bring victory. You only learn this by pushing yourself into competitions.
The only time you become a loser is when you choose not to learn anything from the battle. The value gained from this is far greater than being called the winner. If you won that’s awesome but if you won and didn’t learn from it then that’s sad. Equally sad is losing and not learning a thing from the loss. That’s the ultimate loser mentality. That lack of knowledge is detrimental. Hosea 4:6
Your desire to become a better person is why you push yourself. You do it because you believe in yourself and your abilities. You do it because you feel the cause or reason for you fighting is worthwhile. As long as you believe in that fight, go hard and make it count.
Hillary Clinton in her speech after the recent American elections touched on the point of fighting for what you believe in. “And to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this. I have, as Tim said, spent my entire adult life fighting for what I believe in. I’ve had successes and I’ve had setbacks, sometimes really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers. You will have successes and setbacks, too. This loss hurts, but please, never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. Nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.”
That’s a winner mentality. Keep your head up no matter what comes. There will be pain and there will be joy. In both cases always remember to be a winner.
A winner mentality is a decision. A decision to become better. As long as you are becoming better you are winning. Win at your own pace and be sure your goals for pushing yourself are worthwhile. A true winner understands that winning is not everything.
As a Christian I know Jesus had to die in order to win my soul. I became a Christian not by doing something glorious but by acknowledging that I was losing and that I needed help. I was losing before I started winning. Sometimes I lose but I don’t allow it to set me back. I am loading my perfection and due to that I can relate to others who I believe go through challenges and setbacks.
We are all champions in the making. You just have to go out there and grab what’s yours.
Stay winning and keep it One HONDRED!☝️
Never say never.
Who would have thought that Donald Trump would make it this far? Definitely not me. His character and statements are a scary glimpse of a future with him as president.
Is he the right president for the United States? That’s not for me to say.
As I strap my sons diaper on him after cleaning up green funk, I can’t help but see the solution starring at me in the face. My Son After a Diaper Change
Education is the key. Each one of us was a blank canvas filled with concepts by our parents and environments. From our religion and perceptions we were moulded. Parents have a lot of control on the process and it’s their responsibility to ensure that their children turn out right.
But what does that mean?
Does it mean I must raise them Christian? Must I teach them how to bully they’re way out of things? Teach them how to not respect others? What does “right” mean exactly?
I stare at my son wondering if my ideals of peace, love and respect will help him succeed in the future. He knows no better as I change his diaper but appreciates the comfort that the change provides. Am I helping him succeed or fail? I believe in those values (peace,love and respect) but will the world accept him for believing the same?
It’s come clear to me that the concept of education in our institutions has to change. Simultaneous equations, calculus and subject verb agreement don’t teach people humanity and love. There is seldom a discussion or a lesson on humanity, race and equality. Subjects which many grow learning little about and subject others to their ideals which sometimes go as far as killing and discriminating against others.
A look into the last five years on earth has shown that we are doing something wrong. Discrimination and war have risen to unimaginable heights with little done to minimize its effects. A presidential candidate believes climate change is a hoax and people actually believe him? What world have I brought my son into?
As a Christian, I will love and raise him to do good. I will need to supplement this with other teachings and concepts. Most importantly I need him to understand that perceptions can be very deceiving. This year’s election is a perfect example.
Trump was a candidate that the world mocked. Today he is the President of the USA.
That’s admirable no matter how you look at it. It’s inspiring to know that even though the odds are against you, you can rise and be victorious. I like to believe that can happen to my son. The moral of the story is inspiring. The process of how he got there however is a story for another day.
It’s obvious that a lot more people in America see things Trump’s way than Hillary’s. What does this mean for Blacks, Hispanics and others like them? Does this mean white supremacists and chauvinists will rule? I am not sure but the way things are going now, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
As you keep it One HONDRED, what are your thoughts on Trump as president?
When it comes to local TV, I am not so interested in tuning in. It has nothing to do with patriotism but more to do with quality content.
If I catch any, it’s because I stumble upon it by chance. Technology enables me to view the quality I desire from other sources. Yet I must say, that I am surprised that on more than one occasion, I have been caught paying attention to GH One’s “The Lounge” hosted by Kwaku Sakyi-Addo.
Last night, I did more than pay attention. From the moment I tuned in I was glued to the discussion till the end.
The guest on the show was Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, runner for the parliamentary candidature of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency.
(I was expecting Kojo to be drinking Kalyppo but I guess they were not sponsoring the show so water had to do.)
Kojo is not someone I would make out in crowd. When he took over from Komla Dumor on Joy FM, I was not in the country and upon my return he was off air as the host. Nevertheless, the confidence and eloquence displayed during the discussion, was one that won me over.
This is a politician, that in my view has a plan and the country’s best interests at heart.
What I admired about him was his determination. What he is doing in his constituency is no easy task. Going down to villages, speaking with the people regardless of the audience, is an arduous task.
It was clear that his goal was to bring about positive change regardless of the political party that instigated it. I don’t know many politicians will willingly follow suit and be willing to argue progressively to do what is best for Ghana.
His comment on the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) ruling of the Mahama gift saga, which was that he had infringed on his own gift policy, was bold and understanding of the political environment.
“Call a spade a spade”, he said. He further added that due to the fact that it was an election year, it was understandable why CHRAJ took this stance but that he expected more from the body.
Kojo during the interview went ahead to state that he was prepared to give up 25% of his salary should he become MP, as seed money to set up an Education Trust Fund to better the educational situation in the area. The area is currently faced with infrastructure and human resource challenges that make provision of education problematic.
He also told Kwaku, that he hopes to use part of the MP’s Common Fund to employ a doctor for the district and provide a mobile clinic to enable healthcare to be provided to those in even hard to reach areas. This is all while a plan to set up a district hospital is in the works.
As an artist with a mission on encouraging all to aspire for greatness, I identify with Kojo’s dreams and ideals. The interview gave me hope in Ghana’s political future. He is striving to provide his people the best and holds himself responsible and committed to the task. I wish him the best and look forward to seeing how he performs this year.
If I am keeping it “One Hondred”, I am not sure who I am voting for but if I was in Mr.Nkrumah’s constituency I would have voted for him in support of his vision and to encourage aspiring politicians regardless of party to walk in his footsteps.
More grease to your elbows Mr. Nkrumah. Keep it One Hondred!
Once upon a time a presidential candidate took a sip of Kalyppo and Ghana went KRAZY!
(Kalyppo is a fruit drink by Aquafresh Ltd popularly served in 250ml packs) Kalyppo Pineapple Juice
If you are in Ghana and haven’t caught on to the Kalyppo social media sipping picture craze, then you are missing in on some serious fun. The Trend
The trend apparently started when a picture of the NPP (New Patrotic Party) 2016 presidential candidate, Nana Akuffo Addo, circulated on social media networks.
Whether this started as a mockery or not is not clear. All we know now is that what begun as a simple quest to quench thirst, has blown up bigger than World War II.
(I guess Nana Akuffo Addo who I see as a bald Harry Potter has cast a spell on us all. Below is a bald me attempting to do the same.) Hondred Percent Kalyppo Challenge The Challenge
The challenge is simple (Though never stated explicitly). Take a picture of yourself drinking Kalyppo (in a fun way of course) and post it up on social media.
The challenge apparently was started as a means to show support for NPP at this year’s presidential election. This however, is not why I joined. I took the challenge because I wanted to show my love for Kalyppo in a fun way.
The whole Ghana is now having so much fun with the challenge that vendors of Kalyppo according to pulse.com.gh are reporting record sales. The sales in the eyes of Mustapha Hamid, spokesperson for the NPP flag bearer, is an indication that the presidential candidate is hugely accepted by the populace. (Slow down my friend) Why Is It Going Viral?
One should be careful of the interpretation of this Kalyppo trend. The challenge has reached a point where news agencies, politicians and journalists can gain valuable insight into why Ghanaians are participating in the trend.
In my view the challenge is going viral because of the following three factors:
Political: NPP supporters wanting to show support.
Brand Loyalty: Lovers of Kalyppo showing their love for the brand.
Fun: People just having fun.
I am not sure which factor leads the polls but I would appreciate feedback before speculation. Great Opportunity, Poor Management
Despite the viral nature of the challenge, I feel Kalyppo, NPP and its flag bearer from a marketing perspective, are not milking this cow for what she is worth.
There is no clear call to action on the stakeholders social media pages supporting the challenge. Possible NPP Marketing Strategies
By now there should be campaigns linked with Kalyppo on NPP’s social media pages. Party leaders should capitalize on the trend and participate in the challenge. Share Kalyppo at rallies and meetings and take selfies or just get Kalyppo vendors to attend with a promise of guranteed sales. (One Meeting One Kalyppo! Who won’t come?) Official Hashtag
Is it #TheKalyppoChallenge, #KalyppoChallenge, #1Kalyppo1Change ?
The official hash tag has not been communicated properly. Official hashtags should be created for fans to use in support of the goal of the campaign.
(But alas ?, there is no goal to this. Definitely no driver in this trends driving seat. No wonder it’s viral cos that’s just crazy!)
Surely, whoever is managing the digital marketing of both Kalyppo and NPP are under capitalizing on this opportunity. Kalyppo Strategy
Kalyppo should ride this wave and ride it fast. A challenge for the most fun picture with Kalyppo for people not interested in the politics of things should be launched with prize money. (I mean, it’s already happening. Ghanaian’s are trying to out do themselves in this challenge without guidelines already)
Sales are bound to soar for Kalyppo and will probably escalate should NPP win the election. The brand is reaping the rewards of the trend but needs to structure their marketing efforts to have greater impact on sales and brand awareness. Food For Thought
This product has often been marketed as a drink for kids yet this trend is being driven by the working class.
Proper marketing can get kids and teens involved and expand the consumer base further driving sales.
I personally would advise going for a Guiness World Record. The atmosphere is right and Ghanaians will gladly participate. Conclusion
Why this is happening is a mystery. I however believe a nostalgic desire merged with Ghanaian pride and in some cases, politics is the cause of this. Both NPP and Kalyppo however should do better to utilize this asset towards achieving their goals.
Well Kalyppo and NPP, I believe you owe me a cold Multi Fruit Kalyppo.
Before I sign off however, let me leave you with my top 10 Kalyppo Challenge pictures. Top 10 Kalyppo Challenge Pics The only rule: All pictures must be taken with a Kalyppo juice box in the picture Kalyppo Challenge- Nana Akuffo Addo
Obviously this is the reason why we doing this. Some will argue that it should be no.1 but I disagree. Definitely a classic but not the best. Kalyppo Challenge- Hondred Percent
Y’all are going to say this competition ain’t fair ?. (Well, suck on a Kalyppo!) I believe I took the first selfie with two Kalyppo drinks at the same time (Why does Future’s – Same Damn Time, play in my head at this very moment?) Kalyppo Challenge – 3 Kalyppos
I guess I didn’t hold the record for long ?. Genius over here beat me by making it three. Hey look we like the same flavour. Kalyppo Challenge – Litre Challenge
Whilst we are drinking juice packs this guy doesn’t do straw. He does liters. Kalyppo Challenge – Gallon Challenge
This guy do all! Talk about taking things World Cup ?. Kalyppo Challenge – Man’s Best Friend
Dog is man’s best friend. What better way to enjoy Kalyppo than to share with a buddy. After all, this morning workout causes a sweat. Kalyppo Challenge – Handstand man
Speaking of workouts, “I can do all things”, says hand stand man. I must say, that Kalyppo seems to be defying the laws of gravity. (Are we sure juju is not at play? ?) Kalyppo Challenge – Kalyppo Manakin
I must admit this pic almost took number one. The creativity involved is too much. The manakin, the manakin’s weave, the fact that the weave is being styled and the stylist provides her client Kalyppo ?. This right here is customer service. Kalyppo Challenge – Kalyppo Radiator Coolant
The caption to this pic says it all. The 8 GHC purchase earned this pic No.2. Kalyppo Challenge – Kalyppo Pushup
Kalyppo in its finest moments- in the hands of a kind dictator. #KalyppoPushups (hey that could be the next trend)
A lot of marketing ideas have been given to Kalyppo for free out of love for the juice. Can you do better? Do you have a better Top 10? Comment below and let’s chat.
Hope you enjoyed this article. Drink Kalyppo and keep it One Hondred!
I have no political affiliation, just support for the Kalyppo brand.
Blackberry finally admits defeat and bows out of the phone handheld game (and it’s about time).
They had a great product but weren’t fast enough in adapting to the ever changing playing field of consumer expectations.
The same could be said about the political parties in Ghana outside NDC (National Democratic Congress) and NPP (New Patrotic Party).
I am forever amazed that in 2016, parties haven’t figured out that you either join one of the big two parties (NDC and NPP) or stay out the way.
There is a third option however involving the minor parties unifying to form one party but ego’s and view points greater than Kanye West prevent this great idea from seeing light (Maybe ECG is to blame. LOL)
Well Nokia bowed out and this week Blackberry exited. I believe the same fate awaits the minor parties. The question on my mind as I ponder this half baked theory is which of the major parties is Apple IOS and Google Android?
I am an IOS fan and admire greatly the power of Android. I am not a political scientist to dissect and conclude the above matter; neither am I political party follower or loyalist. I am just an artist in love with Apple products who just had a eureka moment revealing that in our current political climate, the major party that behaves like Android and draws brands like HTC, Samsung, Huawei and LG to it is likely to gain the trust and vote of the people.
So what do you think? Who is Apple and who is Google? NDC or NPP?
I look forward to your comments
(NDC coming before NPP is due to alphabetical order and nothing else)
