Major
load shedding in Accra, other places
Move
to streamline national land policy
NPP on Rawlings’ commendation of Pratt
Polytechnic students renew appeal to govt
Accra
(Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 - The ongoing talks between the Volta
Aluminium Company (VALCO) and the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) over the
supply of power to the company, has hit the wall and a fundamental issue has to
be resolved before discussions could proceed.
The
fundamental issue is whether there has been any valid agreement between Ghana
and VALCO after the expiration of a 30-year agreement between the two parties.
This is because the VALCO team is objecting to the assertion by the GNT that
the contract, signed in 1962 effective 1967, expired in 1997 and there is no
existing contract for the supply of power from the Volta River Authority to
VALCO.
At the
first meeting of the two teams, Mr B.J. da Rocha, Chairman of the GNT, made it
clear that with the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
Parliament must approve various public agreements. Consequently, whatever
agreement that never had the blessing of Parliament is invalid.
However,
the Chairman of the VALCO team, Harvey Perry, who is also the Executive
Vice-President of the troubled Kaiser Aluminium and Chemical Corporation, which
has applied for bankruptcy provision under US laws, says he finds it difficult
“to understand or accept that contention.” Indeed, he was quick to say, “This
prevents further constructive negotiations of revised arrangements involving
VALCO, the VRA, and the Government of Ghana.”
He referred
to a notice on March 30, 1994, in which the company indicated its intention
that it wants an extension of 20 years. Sources say Mr Perry recounted what he
called “ongoing negotiations” on price of power and other matters with the
intent that negotiated position will be incorporated in the existing Power
Contract and Master Agreement.
Mr Perry
indicated that VALCO and VRA had signed various agreements. They include Heads
Agreement on April 3, 1994; the agreement dated April 3, 1998; the agreement on
December 15, 1999 and the heads agreement on November 6, 2000. Mr Perry made it
clear that his team wants the fundamental issue resolved before the talks will
go on.
Unconfirmed
reports say the negotiation team wants to go to court apparently to seek legal
interpretation of the position of the GNT. Indications are that the GNT
conceded that the company gave notice in 1994 that it wants the period extended
for another 20 years. What is more, in December 2000, there was a belated
attempt to seek parliamentary approval for “supposed draft agreement.”
Meanwhile,
Kaiser Aluminium Corporation that owns 90 per cent of Volta Aluminium Company
said on Tuesday that the company and its operating subsidiary, Kaiser Aluminium
and Chemical Corporation and some of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, have filed
voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in the
United States Court.
A Ghana
News Agency (GNA) report said: “The filing does not include the operations of
VALCO in Ghana, the 65 per cent owned in Alpart Alumina Refinery and the 49 per
cent owned in Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company in Jamaica, the 20 per cent owned
in QAL Aluminium Refinery in Australia, the 49 per cent owned in Anglesey
Aluminium Smelter in Wales or the 100 per cent owned in extrusion plant in
Ontario.”
In
conjunction with the filing, the company was scheduled to enter into definite
documentation on Wednesday for $300 million in Debtor-in-Possession (DIP)
financing from Bank of America, subject to the court’s approval. DIP financing,
in combination with the company’s current invested cash should provide
sufficient liquidity to meet its ongoing operating needs. Kaiser’s production
and shipment of bauxite, alumina, primary aluminium products and fabricated
aluminium products would continue without interruption.
The
statement quoted Mr Jack A. Hockema, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kaiser,
as saying: “the decision to seek protection under Chapter 11 will provide the
company with the opportunity to reorganize its financial structure and
implement a strategic plan to return the sustained profitability,” adding that
the reorganization process would also allow the company to expand and quicken
the pace of its operational improvement.
“Our core
businesses are sound. Our fabricated operations have good markets positions,
best in class customer service ranking and continue to make progress in
implementing lean sigma methods and at the same time our commodities businesses
are aggressively pursuing performance improvement initiatives.”
The
statement said for well over half a century, Kaiser Aluminuim has produced a
wide range of products from “upstream”, bauxite, alumina and aluminium to
“downstream” products for aerospace, ground transportation and industrial
markets, adding that the company would continue to focus its energies on the
quality products and superior service for which it was known. – Daily Graphic
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 14 January 2002 - The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has
warned that the government will not hesitate to sanction heads of public
institutions for poor performance. He said sanctions ranging from suspensions
of annual increments, withholding of salaries, suspension, termination of
appointment and dismissal, shall be invoked.
Vice-President
Mahama said this on Wednesday at the signing of performance contracts by three
state institutions at the Castle, Osu, in Accra. The contracts aim at making
the three institutions self-sustaining and self-supporting, without
government’s subvention as well as regulate their performance and effectiveness
in service delivery.
The
institutions are the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
(GIMPA), Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Services (GRATIS) and
the Universities Press (GUP).
The Chief
of Staff, Mr Kwakwo Mpiani, initialed for the government, while Mr B.K. Mensah,
President, Court of Governors, and Dr Stephen Kwabena Denkyi Darfour, Executive
Director, signed for GRATIS with Mr Ganu Kweku Mensah, Director, and Professor
Atta Britwum, Chairman of GUP signing for their organizations.
The
Vice-President announced that to help motivate personnel of public institutions
to ensure the continuous viability of their organizations, a punishing and
rewarding systems will be pursued.
Consequently,
he said, whiles managerial inefficiencies would attract sanctions, national
institutions would be permitted to enjoy bonuses as rewards for improved
financial and management successes. He announced that the Human Management
Resource System, which will completely change approach to personnel management
and incentive management, will also introduce new parameters of deregulation
and evolution of management authority.
Alhaji
Mahama hinted that 22 agencies, including the Controller and Accountant
General’s Department, Office of the Head of Civil Service, State Enterprises
Commission, Ministries of Finance, Economic Planning and Regional Cooperation,
Local Government and Rural Development and Women Affairs, will sign performance
contracts for institutional transformation before July this year.
He
emphasized that the National Oversight Committee (NOC) highly recognizes the
discipline and accountability regimes of public service and will do all it can
to make it part of the entrenched public service value system. He expressed
optimism that the institutions will prove equal to the task and assist the government
to achieve the public expenditure and the transformation objectives of the
public sector reform programme.
Mr Mpiani,
on his part, said work on the review of the public sector management reform
programme has been completed to allow for completion of unfinished business
before the end of the year. He cautioned that the NOC will not countenance any
further delays from management of the public sector agencies.
Dr Stephen
Adei, who spoke on behalf of the three institutions, said GIMPA has already
moved into full implementation as a non-subvented organization and gave the
assurance that they would live up to expectation. – Daily Graphic
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 – The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has
announced plans to embark on load-shedding in many areas in Accra and other
regional capitals until such a time that a break in one of the transmission
lines (tie-lines) of the Volta River Authority (VRA) will be repaired.
At about
5.52 pm, on Tuesday, the tie-line to Cote d’Ivoire tripped due to a permanent
fault. Information available to the Graphic concerning last Tuesday’s blackout
in Accra said the line was supplying 230 megawatts (MW) of power to the VRA.
The VRA said the fault will result in a shortfall of 230 MW and with no other
options, the authority must resort to load-shedding “to balance demand and
supply.”
It,
therefore, requested the ECG to shed the load as follows; from 6 pm to 10 pm,
200 MW; for 10 pm to 7.00 am, 180 MW, while from 7 am to 6.00 pm, 100 MW. The
authorities in a letter to the ECG said, “we therefore, request that you take
the necessary steps to effect this level of load-shedding in the ECG system.
It said “we
are constantly monitoring the system and we will advise on any change in the
system “as may be necessary”, but expressed regret about any inconvenience to
the ECG and its customers.
The VRA
explained that helicopter patrols were undertaken on Wednesday morning by VRA
and CIE of Cote d’Ivoire, and the cause of the blackout in some parts of Accra
on Tuesday night was traced to a falling tree on the line within the Ghana
side. According to it, “the fault occurred in a dense and inaccessible forest
area. Our line maintenance crew have mobilized their equipment and started
moving towards the position of the fault.”
It
explained that due to the nature of the area and the distance to be traveled on
foot, the line could not be restored on Wednesday. It also added that, “in view
of our earlier notice to you concerning ongoing combustion inspection work,
there will be a shortfall in supply.
The VRA is
also carrying out scheduled maintenance on one of its gas turbine units at
Aboadze. It has also given other indications of load shedding scenarios in the
event of any contingency or disturbance that may occur during the peak period
and ECG would be asked to shed load to balance the demand and supply equation.
– Daily Graphic
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A year
after operating in a climate of relative uncertainty, Malaysian Companies,
which invested in several businesses in Ghana in the late 90s are about to pull
out of the country citing official hostility as the number one reason. “Voice”
investigations have gathered that one major investor Malyasian Telecom, with 30
per cent stake in Ghana Telecom is about to pack off.
The
participation of Malaysian Telecom in the divestiture of Ghana Telecom has been
a subject of public controversy. Since the NPP Government assumed office on
January 7, 2001, pressure has mounted on the Malaysians to quit Ghana Telecom.
Sources close to the Ministry of Communications and Technology have confirmed
that the process to terminate the Management Services Agreement between Ghana
Telecom and Malaysia Telecom is almost completed.
Last year,
the Minister for Transport and Communication Hon. Owusu Agyepong hinted at a
press conference that the government would not renew the agreement. There are
speculations that the NPP is wooing investors from Spain, US, South Africa and
Morocco to replace. Telecom Malaysia, incidentally, has a sizeable stake in
South Africa telecom industry.
The Chief
Executive Officer of Ghana Telecom, a Malaysian, is winding up and is expected
to leave the county by May this year together with other Malaysian employees.
GAMA, another controversial joint venture between the Ghana government and
Malaysian investors will follow suit.
The
Ghanaian Voice can confirm that the Malaysians are definitely pulling out of
both GAMA and TV3. A source close to the company told the paper last week that
the foreign company, which owns 70 per cent shares in GAMA has written to the
Government as the Minority shareholder offering it the first right of refusal.
In
business, this is interpreted as a declaration of intention by a partner to
sell off all or some of its stake in a business. Similarly, lawyers of the
Ghanaian partner in TV3 have been notified by the foreign shareholder of the
their intention to sell off their stake and pull out by June 2002. The TV
station has been mired in controversy over alleged links with the former NDC
Government.
The
business community is awash with speculations that the Malaysians are also
reconsidering their participation in the Tema Shipyard and Dry Dock joint
venture. It is, however, not known if the wholesale pull out will affect the
Metropolitan and Allied Bank or the International Commercial Bank both of which
have Malaysian capital.
An Economic
Analyst told the “Voice” that such developments have a ripple effect in the
international business community. Said he, “The earlier the government moves to
calm the situation the better it will be for the business environment. The
government may not like the face of the Malaysians but the treatment it metes
to them is being closely watched all over the world. It is natural.”
The loss of
interest in Ghana and the imminent pull out by the Malaysians comes just when
Mr Bentum-Williams, former Managing Director of SSB and immediate past
Executive Secretary of the Ghana Chamber of Mines has been appointed as envoy
to Malaysia by President Kufuor. President Kufuor himself is arranging to pay a
visit to Malaysia in March on his way back from the Commonwealth summit in
Auckland, New Zealand.
Unconfirmed
reports received by Wednesday night say President Kufuor has rescinded the
government’s decision to abrogate the agreement with Telecom Malaysia. It was
not immediately clear if there was any connection between this decision and the
sudden resignation of Prof S.K.B. Asante as Chairman of the Board.
Prime
Minister Mahathir of Malaysia a fierce defender of Third World interest and a
firm believer in South Africa Economic Cooperation visited Ghana in 1996. He
was instrumental in pushing for Malaysian investment in Ghana. Their
investments in Ghana, South Africa and other African countries took a tumble
when Asia was hit by the international currency cries of 1998.
Under Prime
Minister Mahathir, Malaysia rejected the prescription of the IMF and World Bank
for solving the crisis. However, the country’s economy has made a remarkable
recovery after adopting its own radical approach. – The Ghanaian Voice.
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Students
who stand up against this practice are reportedly threatened with dismissal,
the concerned parents complained in a petition to the Regional Director (GES)
copied to the Asantehene, Board of Directors, the Parents Teachers Association
(PTA) and the Chronicle.
They
explained that last year the headmaster sent home students to collect ¢108,000
being the total cost of five English books.
Three of
the books, which cost ¢17,000 each, namely “Animal Farm”, “Things Fall Apart”
and “Marriage of Anansewaa” are meant for student who offer literature in
English as a subject.
Surprisingly,
the purchase of these books is made compulsory for both Arts and Science
students in spite of their irrelevance to their course of study. The aggrieved
parents stated that investigations had revealed that prices of the said books
are inflated because the books sell between ¢6,000 and ¢8,000 on the market. By
their calculation, the parents suspect the headmaster had made well over ¢20
million selling these books compulsorily. “If this is not extortion
(exploitation) what is it,” they queried.
The parents
have also objected to the supply of two other books – “Best Guide to Success in
English Vol. 2” and “English Grammar for SSS Vol. 1” at ¢28,000 and ¢27,000
cedis respectively, on grounds that the said books are not prescribed ones.
They questioned when SSS3 students (with only five months to write exams) would
finish with the volume 2 and go back to volume 1 of the book if that could be.
According
to the petitioners, exploitation is part of the headmaster, explaining that
last year around the same time (second term) he introduced and compulsorily
sold two useless books by a Ghanaian writer in the USA to all 2,000 students at
¢80,000 each.
Even though
some of the students were not supplied with the said books, their monies were
not refunded. The parents would therefore want the authorities to take
appropriate steps to probe the activities of the headmaster. The complainants
see the headmaster’s attitude as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the
government’s efforts to cut down cost of SSS education and suggested punitive
sanctions against him if found guilty of the offence of over-burdening parents
financially in these HIPC times, through exploitation.
He denied
the allegation of threats of dismissal of students who object to the sale of
the books at exorbitant prices. The headmaster also said prices of the books
are quoted by the suppliers and publishers and that there was no way he could
have inflated it.
In a
spirited defense, Mensah also said “Literature in English” was compulsory for
all (Science and Arts students alike) to broaden their scope of knowledge.
Unlike the Chronicle enquiries last week, the headmaster did not find it
necessary to react to the complaints of the concerned parents because neither
the GES, and PTA nor the Board of Directors, who had been copied, had queried
him about the allegations.
He only
believes it is a planned work to find fault with him and get him out by some
parents whose wards have been sanctioned in one way or the other for
indiscipline and poor academic performance. Mensah said however, that he would
cease to sell books to students as from next term because his efforts at
raising students’ standards are not being appreciated by both students and
parents. – The Chronicle.
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Takoradi
(Western Region) 14 February – The Minister of Lands and Forestry, Prof. Kasim
Kasanga, has hinted that his ministry in collaboration with the World Bank is
about to launch a land administration project that would help with the
implementation of some aspects of the National Land Policy.
The project
preparation report, he continued, had already been completed by Hatch Property
Association of Australia and is currently being studied by his ministry. Prof.
Kasanga, whose speech was read on his behalf at the Lands Commission’s Annual
Review Meeting in Takoradi last Tuesday, said the project, when completed would
provide the framework for addressing the numerous problems which had bedevilled
land administration in the country.
“This would
also lead to land acquisition procedures being simplified and made transparent
for both land owners and purchasers and give security of tenure and protection
of land rights to give confidence to landowners and not make them landless”, he
said.
The
minister further told the meeting that since it is the government’s commitment
to increase the economic growth and reduce poverty in the country, his ministry
has decided to reconstitute both national and regional commissions to enable
them implement the vision of the NPP government.
The Western
Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, on his part urged the land
administrators not to lose sight of the fact that land management goes beyond
mere allocation of plots, collection of revenue and processing of documents by
the commission.
“Your work
entails decisions made about land, the implementation of those decisions for
optimum utilization of land for accelerated development and reduction or
determination of several land litigation which impedes nationals development,”
he noted. He also called on the commission to come out at the end of their
meeting with mechanisms that would make this country free of land litigation,
which together with chieftaincy problems, retard, development in any society. –
The Chronicle.
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Addis Ababa
(Ethiopia) 14 February 2002 – The life expectancy of Africans has dropped by 15
years within the past two decades because of the spread of AIDS with the effect
of continuing wars and poverty. A conference on Africans population has been
told that by 2005 a majority of Africans can be expected to die before they
reach the age of 48.
In
contrast, the European average is 74.9 years for men and 81.2 for women. A
senior official of the organization of African Unity, Mr Lawrence Agubuzu, told
the four-day conference in Ethiopia that diseases were threatening the survival
of entire communities.
Infant
mortality is also a serious problem – in poorer countries such as Mali, more
than 10 per cent of babies die before they reach their first birthday. In
sub-Saharan African countries like Botswana and Malawi, the average life
expectancy is already below 40 years, according to UNAIDS.
Mr Agubuzu
said women and children were the most vulnerable group, and their needs must be
addressed. He said diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and related infectious
diseases had become a risk to security and a major threat to development.
“Africa is
distinctly characterized with abject socio-economic conditions and
unprecedented extreme demographic trends with far-reaching consequences,” he
said.
The UN
estimates about $5 billion is needed annually to help fight the spread of AIDS
in Africa and has called for more money from the international community. Just
last week, the World Bank announced it has approved a second interest free-loan
of $500m this year for African AIDS initiatives.
World Bank
president Mr James Wolfensohn, who met African leaders a year ago, said
intensifying the fight against HIV and
AIDS was
central to the Bank’s mission. The World Bank and the United Nations Agency,
UNAIDS, estimate that approximately $3 billion is needed every year to fund
basic prevention, care and treatment programmes in Africa. – The Ghanaian
Times.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 - After protests by parents against the payment of exorbitant fees at the Achimota School, the school authorities have designed a subtle method again to charge high fees.
Though the Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed all second cycle schools to charge ¢418,000 for boarders and ¢24,000 for day students, the Achimota School is charging ¢630,000 for borders and ¢236,000 for day students. The increase of 212,000 cedis for both categories of students is being levied in the name of items the school admits are not allowed to appear on the bill.
Though the students are paying for core science and the use of Science Resource Centre on the legal bill, they are also paying for Science Practicals, Agricultural Science and Home Science among others on the “illegal” bill. Consequently, some parents have expressed concern about the attempt by the school to extort monies from them and called on the GES to let its directive be respected by all schools.
A letter dated December 24, 2001 written by the headmistress of the school, Mrs Charlotte Brew-Graves, and sent to parents whose wards are in the school, said the GES directive which reduced fees for the first term is likely to reduce standard in the school.
“Viewed against the level of fees to be paid for the second term, the school appeals to parents and guardians to donate to the school to enable it to purchase inputs for teaching and learning and other vital areas to enable it to maintain standard,” the letter said. In spite of the appealing tone of the letter, children whose parents are unable to pay the extra bill are being embarrassed and sent home to compel their parents to pay.
Mrs Brew-Graves informed the parents through the letter that government’s subsidy of ¢100,000 cedis per student for SS2 and SS3 for the first term has been received and students have been credited with it. When contacted, Mr Brew-Graves, headmistress of the school confirmed the story but explained that it was “just an appeal launched by the school”.
She said no parent is under strict obligation to pay for items listed under the appeal. Though not compulsory, Mrs Brew-Graves emphasized that students whose parents do not respond to the appeal by paying for items such as Science Practicals, Agricultural Science, Home Science, Computer and other such items would not benefit from the facility.
The headmistress said, in this era of technological advancement, it would be very unfortunate that students who pass through Achimota would come out illiterates in computer. According to her, she was aware that some parents were going to take her on for charging arbitrary fees if those items under the appeal had been added to the actual fees. She emphasized that no student would be forced to pay. –The Evening News
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Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the commendation of Mr Kwesi Pratt, editor of the ‘Insight’ by former President J.J. Rawlings for his objectivity on national issues as very interesting which confirms the notion that the ex-President is a man who would do anything for political power.
In a statement issued and signed by its Press Secretary, Mr Kwadwo Afari, the party asked Pratt and all journalists not to be swayed by praises on objectivity which is today’s phrase for yesterday’s accountability. It said ex-President Rawlings’ latest statements contain signs that the reality of his commendation may be more than what it seems.
The statement noted that the NPP is aware that Mr Kwesi Pratt, a principled, consistent and predictive critic and journalist was haunted, arrested, jailed and tortured not less than 10 occasions by J.J. Rawlings and his NDC regime for his objective criticisms.
Mr Pratt, it must be noted, survived his persecutors and still lives to do what he loves to do best under the NPP government. Unfortunately it said the John Kugblenus and the Tommy Thompsons never survived an NDC administration that regarded all critics as enemies, the statement added.
It said the NPP is, however, grateful that after two years in opposition and in their hour of necessity, Rawlings and his NDC have realised that not all criticisms are biased and not all critics are enemies that in a free democratic nation conflict and criticism should be an accepted fact.
The statement further advised the media to be wary of Jerry John Rawlings and his NDC as they simply have no genuine appreciation of rule of law as we understand it or objectivity as we would define it”. The NDC does not believe in criticism. “A critic is to them a rival and an enemy to be eliminated before he eliminates you.” The Evening News
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Polytechnic students renew appeal to govt.
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 - An urgent appeal has been sounded to the government to reconsider the plight of Polytechnics students in the country. At a news conference in Accra addressed by the President of the Accra Polytechnic Students Representative Council (SRC), Samuel Yeboah, he expressed grave concern about the lapses in the country’s polytechnics and urged the government to critically examine the situation.
The news conference was in reaction to an earlier one held by a cross-section (eight students) of the Accra Polytechnic, which sought to create the impression that concerns of the students had been addressed with special reference to the acceptance of the grading system pegged at 50 per cent as pass mark.
Samuel Yeboah recalled that at the 24th Annual Delegates Congress of the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) held in Kumasi from 26th - 29th August 2001, the GNUPS in its communiqué to the government, resolved that the new performance grading system be withdrawn immediately, as well as to see to an improvement in infrastructure on campuses and more qualified lectures recruited.
He clarified that the out gone Coordinating Secretary of GNUPS wrote to the Ministry of Education inquiring whether the grading system affected continuing students and mentioned that the new grading system would make the HND more viable on the job market which the Ministry had used as a trump card in deceiving the public that “we welcomed the new grading system”.
In his response, the Minister for Education, Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi signed a memo dated 13th August, 2001 to the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).
The memo read “during interaction that the Ministry had with representatives of Polytechnics, it became clear that students are of the view that the grading system which sets the passing mark at 50 per cent is unfair and indeed of imminent review. The Minister considers this issue with considerable interest and is of the view that action must be taken to address this problem. In this regard, I am requesting that you write a letter to all Polytechnic Councils urging them to make a comprehensive review of the grading system and to inform the NCTE of its findings”.
According to the SRC President, the so called eight-man press conference was organised by Executives of the Tertiary Education Confederation (TESCON) of the New Patriotic Party, Accra Poly chapter, and condemned the act in no uncertain terms stressing that “the very thing the previous government did which we condemned, is the very thing they are doing”.
The students also expressed concern about the HND certificate, which is regarded as inferior compared to a first degree at the University where one is compelled to start afresh for a first degree at the University since the Polytechnics do not offer post-graduate programmes. Another issue needed to be addressed is the non-recognition of the HND graduates on the job market. “The HND is not placed on the civil service structure.
The HND graduate is ranked a senior staff the same as first degree graduate in the Public sector but unfortunately it is not the case in most private firms”, lamented the SRC President. Samuel Yeboah made it known that not until their concerns are addressed, they shall continue to boycott lectures. - The Crusading Guide
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 14 February 2002 - One of the newest games in show business is
to guess what KSM will be up to next! It is always a puzzle. Well, showbiz has
a finger on it. KSM will be appearing as the unconventional and controversial
Master Sergeant Lasisi in his new side-splitting comedy, Colonial Independence.
According
to KSM, it is a humorous satire on post-independent Ghana. The show premieres
on March 6 and that is no coincidence. “I chose to premiere it on March 6
because it is a good day, to remind ourselves that 44 years after independence,
we are still mentally colonised.”
The
outrageous Master Sergeant jokes about his dealings with every President and
Head of State in Ghana, from Kwame Nkrumah to J.A. Kufuor in outlandish scenes
that, according to him, “will leave you in stitches.”
KSM is
extremely cautions about how much information he gives out before the show. He
prides himself with the fact that no one knows anything about his shows until
the premiere. He rehearses alone, quietly in his bedroom. He memorises his
lines when he goes for his two-hour walks in the morning. Perhaps KSM himself
does not know everything about this show until he steps on stage.
What is KSM
looking forward to in this show that is different from his other shows? “There
is definitely more action and more humour in this than any of the other shows,”
he says. “Mind you it is not KSM, it is KSM’s character acting as Lasisi and it
will be a dynamite show. But above everything else, I am really looking forward
to having both the current and former Presidents at the premiere.
“I have a
feeling they will both be there. I could be wrong, but if I can get them to
laugh together, I think I would have played my role in this reconciliation
business.” Anyway, with or without them, KSM assures his fans of a “dynamite
performance” and the audience will be thrilled with the antics of Master
Sergeant Lasisi.
Showbiz got
KSM to react to the statement by the National Theatre that Sapphire oversold
tickets for his last show. “Absolutely unfounded. We still have our stubs that
we reconciled with VAT. According to it, we sold 1,300 tickets. Be that as it
may, I am not interested in any blame games.
“I have met
with Ms Korkor Amarteifio and we are working together to seal all the
loopholes. I can promise the patrons that neither the National Theatre nor
Sapphire wants a repeat of what happened on December 19 and we have joined
forces to make sure it does not happen again.”
For the
time being, all roads lead to the National Theatre on Independence Day, where
master Sergeant Lasisi will treat patrons to some Colonial Independence. Lasisi
is a “military” person. Patrons are advised to be seated by 5:30 pm for the
show to begin at 8 pm. – Graphic Showbiz
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