China, Zambia and Lollipops

Michael Sata, "the King Cobra" was announced to be the next Zambian President. He won over the incumbent Banda, who has been criticized for abusing national resources. The result could also has a complication to Sino-Zambia relations, as the Sata has been a strong critic about Chinese investment in the copper-rich African nation.

One of Sata's criticism is that Mr. Banda's party, Multi-Party for Democracy has received election funds from China. Beijing has denied any involvement. According to Shanghai Dongfang Daily story, the cited proof is that MPD has handed out made in China lollipops to supporters.

No amount, however, has surfaced to indicate exactly whether and how much of Chinese money has been used towards supporting Mr. Banda. And there is no disclosure of whether the money is from public coffers or private check books.

China has $1 billion investment in Zambia in 2010, and could invest $5 billion more in the near future, creating 15,000 jobs, said Dongfang Daily. However, only 10% of the fund has been used for agriculture, education and retailing, Beijing's critics said.

Mr. Sata's criticism has certainly angered Beijing in the last election when the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Li Baodong, in an unusual departure from diplomatic protocol, called a press conference at the embassy where he challenged Sata to clarify his position on Taiwan. According to one news report, the ambassador threatened, “We shall have nothing to do with Zambia if Sata wins the elections and goes ahead to recognize Taiwan”

Li also reportedly added that the Chinese would halt additional investments until the bilateral relationship between the two countries was clarified.

This time, Beijing has shown restrains, People Daily story quoted Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao saying no impact to the ties from the results. Although the uncertain factors will add risks, but the foundation will be there.

Whether impact or not, and where is the Beijing's limits to Sata's criticism if after being elected, he continues his usual vocals, will be unfolding shortly.

(Photo credit : africanews.com)

Ghana Farewell

For a first tour foreign service spouse, August 6, 2009 was a regular yet unforgettable day for me. I stepped my foot and came to know, feel, smell this West African country called Ghana, beyond guidebooks, photos and Wikipedia.

The day also meant a new beginning: thousand miles away from a familiar environment, friends and family and the place we have called home for years. Looking back, the journey has been rewarding, judged by the adventures we embarked, friendship we developed, growth and learning we gained, and changes we witnessed both inside and out. All these were not achieved without challenges. Some of them are change related, more are god’s will. However, we can’t live in the past. Elegantly spoken by Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, “we face neither the East nor the West, we face forward.” Looking forward, I would like to share with you my experiences:

1. First, over-deliver, under-promise. Ask yourself, How many people have said WOW! because you went extra and they are pleasantly surprised? What one thing you would like to hear people say to you, behind your back? I hope it’s nothing short of super, v-power is certainly better.
2. Second, take charge and drive change. It’s so easy to just take a ride and get comfortable, while forgetting you can learn to drive and change the course for better. We are always busy, tend to do a good job within our duties, become a good parent for our kids, and take a good care of the elderly. However, I encourage each of you to step forward five inches each day, not only playing a role, but becoming a role model. As the time goes by, you will be surprised by the difference the small small extra you made: people appreciate you for improving their skills, colleagues smile because you make their life easier and what’s important, you grow taller and learn faster than ever.
3. Keep your passion alive and your head down. The most precious thing I have come to realize is this burning desire called passion. If there is something more important, it will be guarding the fire and keeping the flames long and strong. There are so many others, with unintended negativity, trying to persuade that you are not worthy for what you have been dreaming about. Run, don’t walk away from these people like plague. However, be humble. Before you cross the finish line, just remember that you may have to put 10,000 hours of deep practice, sometime they are dull and you are alone. The things that sustain the journey are lowering your head and keeping eyes focused on tasks on hand.
4. Last but not least, do all of these and more with less. We are blessed everyday with the resources we use, the work we do, the people we come across and things we tend to take for granted. Along the journey, we build a career, a family and relationships. However, the relationships also include one between human beings and the nature. Things change so fast that sometimes we simply consume but forget our power to create, aim for bigger and faster at the expense of a balanced living. In a word, we forget the interdependent relationship between humans and nature. Yes, resources are there for the use, but if they can be of multiple use, and generate lasting results, everyone will be happy at the end of the day. So, recycle, reduce and reuse.

There is a proverb in Ghana, “only when you have crossed the river, can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.” I can’t yet tell the crocodile by such a detail, but the path crossed, the relationship developed and changes we witnessed has rewarded so much more. I thank you for the companionship, friendship and relationship, and Meda se.

(I will soon hit the road to see more of Ghana, including places that I have yet seen for the next one month and half. After that, I will transition to Dhaka, Bangladesh. The posting will be sporadic, if none at all. I wish everyone a good summer and many thanks for your support during my two year stint in Ghana.)

(photo credit: http://latrendasankofa.blogspot.com/2011/01/farewell-ghana-hello-america.html)

Nana Kofi, Nyani Quarmyne on Photography

Two heavy favorite photographers were among four artists featured in Alliance Francis new exhibition, Four Seasons in Ghana.

Nana Kofi Acquah, coming from a journalism background, had some very interesting words on being a documentary and commercial photographer in Ghana. "you have to live it or die for it," otherwise, one will find the pursuit hard to sustain.

Nana Kofi is seemingly having a lot to say about his object of the show, which about slaughter boys, who work day shift as goat killers, and aspiring boxers at night. Knowing the boys, after seeing thousands upon thousands of lives gone away, could equally easily kill a human, spent days and had to come back after a fist visit three years ago to gain trust.

When asked about advice for a beginning amateur who wants to get more serious about documentary photoshooting, Nana said finding something of passion, and gaining trust first.

Even so, he expects that many of his photos, such as people with HIV/AIDS are not going to be public until 10 years later, when the stigma disappears.

Nyani believes that the message should speak for themselves. His photos of sea erosion on coastal communities represent a striking contrast between the nature and humans. His adverse for a novice is to pick a topic of special interest, do a really good job, and get the word out so people can find you.

I definitely need to heed the call and start shooting soon.

Just Ask

Special piece for proud mothers, fathers, and anyone in between…

As a parent, have you ever wondered why your kids ask so much? They seem to have endless questions. And when they don’t get what they asked, they….cry, which is another way of asking. Grownups, however, forget the art of asking. So I am asking, why do you think there is a difference between kids and adults when comes to asking?

The reason, I think, lies in a fear of rejection. Adults, me included, have egos. And egos are like shoes, come in different sizes. When you start asking, you risk the consequence of being told, NO! So, most of the time, the fear overwhelms you, and you tell self No before even asking. You may very well get a no, anyway, so, why bother.

Kids, on the other hand, have very small sized (act out) egos. And trust me; they are well aware of that. When they desire for something, they don’t self-doubt themselves, they simply ask. Quite often, you will find these questions range anywhere from reasonable, to regrettable to ridicules.

Not only do they ask, they also ask multiple times, in various forms, in order to get what they desire. “Mom, Can I have this?” “No. How about that?” “I love you, Mom, but if you give me that, I will love you more” No matter what techniques they use, the message is loud and clear-- they are not afraid to ask for what they want.

I am not a behavior scientist, I am nevertheless keen on asking why some people are more successful than others, my answer is, they succeed because they not only ask, they ask more and they keep asking.

Don’t these people be considered as needy? You might ask. Fair enough, the difference, however, according to their individual definitions, needy people either have disasters and manmade reasons to have little means to support themselves, or have low or no self-confidence, so they rely on emotional and material support of others. While persistent people know the support they need is the wings to help them take off, so they only ask what exactly they need and when they need it.

When you ask, make sure don’t ask wrong questions. When you are stopped by a policeman, and he thought you are speeding, what’s the first thing he will ask you, “How fast had you been driving?” Do you think he will ever ask, how slow had you been driving?

Similarly, we want to get certain results, like a pay raise, bonus, promotion, etc, we need to ask the right questions. Something like, I have just saved million dollars for the organization, what should I do to have a bigger role to save the company even more?

The right questions open doors, and windows, encourage discussions, deepen relationships and create a learning environment. They are necessary in any relationship, be it at work or at home.

So next time, when you hear a kid keep asking, ask yourself, do I need to start asking as well? However, no one in this world gets what he or she wants, not even a fraction of that. Professor Randy Pausch, author of the Last Lecture, once said, experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

The next time when you ask and get rejected, think like a kid. You won’t be asking, are there anything worse than the humiliation or embarrassment than the sound of a NO? Instead, do what a kid would do. They cry, they shrug off and they move on.

5 Ways to Gain Resilience and Bounce Back From Lows

Several years ago, I felt I was the anathema of the world: struck with a job that drained my energy like a vampire, day in and day out. Getting up becomes a chore. I woke up in the middle of a night, dreadful of repetitive tasks ahead. Like a boat drifting along a river without a direction, I had a low moment in life.

As humans, who hasn’t had such lows in life? Bad economy, sluggish job market, layoffs, uncertainties, life sometimes turns unexpectedly, whether we are prepared or not. Friends, familiar locations and comfortable surroundings give way to an unknown terrain, dark deep channels with no light in sight, crossroads waiting to choose, what should you do? Here are 5 tips for you:

1. You need to eat well and sleep 8 hours a night. It helps lift you up. Don’t let yourself down just because life shuts down on you. Better, get up at 4 and do some physical activities. If you forget nutritious meals and stay up at night, you will not only finish today poorly, but start off tomorrow on a wrong foot. No matter how tough the situation, remember to keep the priority, you, front and center.
2. Create value. Just because you are down, doesn’t mean you don’t have something of value to offer. Quite the opposite, since you have free time on hand; it could be the perfect time to be creative. Start from yourself, write down 10 ideas for your dream job, if you done that, treat self for a cake and come back to write 20 more. How about establishing a Facebook page for your friends’ shop, get 50 new connections through Linkedin?
3. Open up for all opportunities. Someone once said, there is never lack of chances, only lack of guided eyes. During the good times, we become so used to staying inside a comfort zone that we don’t always look for other opportunities. However, when you are low, chances are you need whatever available to get you out of the stinky swamp. Get out and show up at social events, speak up and seek help.
4. Give out for free. Offer your time and expertise to help others, mentor a youth, take care of your sister’s kids while she works, and make a speech to your middle school about the importance of education. Give and you will receive.
5. Read a lot, write a lot. Forget the “to do” list, Create an “I did” list. From time to time, you need to remind how much you have achieved. Forget the situation; forgive someone in your life. Who doesn’t like the feeling of completion and forgiveness?

To combat the life’s low, My Action Plans: treat self well, Lift self up from the bad situation, keep moving, pay attention to knocks of Mr. Opportunities, make self valuable. Create things that people will need and like, give these things out for free. Finally, remember how much you have done, and keep doing the right things.

Years later, I quit that job, start writing stories and editing articles, I also found another one I am passionate about and jumping out the bed every morning. The boat I am sitting in is steadily moving forward, I can feel breeze blows my face, picturesque sceneries swaying by.

Are you on board? Share with me your tips by leaving a comment.

Ghana, Osama, U.S.

The news of Osama bin Laden was killed got over 200 comments on the most popular news portal Ghanaweb on Monday.

However, many of the comments quickly linked the news to politics in Ghana, where facing a 2012 general election, has seen party politics heating up by day.

As a nation with second highest percentage of population who view the U.S. positively, Ghana has especially showed much admiration for American President Obama's handling of the issue, many comments praised him for a good job done.

Except the overwhelming comments, the reaction has been muted from Accra. Partially due to the May 2nd being a public holiday, no official reaction has been reported.

More Doubt over Beijing Loans

Here are the items of what's going on in Ghana in regards to China:

1. More voice of doubt over the jumbo loans signed between Ghana and China, during the President Atta Mills trip to Beijing last year. According to Accra based Joy FM, the Head of Bilateral Trade at the Trade Ministry Cletus Ayaaba said although government is aware of the China threat, there is very little that can be doneSome say a review of the loans and terms is a must. (Joy FM)


2. The Ghana Audit Service is hosting a six-member team from the China National Audit Office. (Ghana News Agency)


3. New wave of soft power to Africa? Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe Thrills Audience at National Theatre in Accra. (GNA)


4. More soft power? Xinhua opens photo gallery in the University of Ghana, which established Chinese as its sixth foreign language. (GNA)

News of Interest

Here are news items from Accra that might be of interest to you:

Chinese Embassy says over 15,000 visas granted to Ghanaians in the year of 2010. (Ghanaweb)

A Pan-African bank, Ecobank Transnational Inc, will open a China desk next week aimed at easing the flow of Chinese loans for African infrastructure projects. Located in Accra, the desk includes two Ecobank employees and two senior staff from the Bank of China. (Reuters)

The Parliament of Ghana's Minority leader is raising red flags over a loan agreement with a Chinese Bank in regards to oil. (JoyFM)

As China and Ghana signed loan agreement to lend Accra billions of dollars, were Ghanaians told the cost or negative effect of the amounts being sought? (PeaceFM)

China's mining sector to accelerate pace in foreign acquisitions. (YTWHW)

Chinese illegal gold mining in Ghana. (Reuters)

Liu Guangyuan on Sino-African Relations

At a speech to a meeting titled Towards a New Africa-China Partnership, held in Nairobi, Kenya, Chinese Ambassador Liu Guangyuan offered his views on the directions of the Sino-African relationship, which is at its highest ever.

The four points raised by Amb. Liu, are stability first, valuing traditional bilateral ties, promoting all-around pragmatic cooperation, and prioritizing people's welfare.

The first point is drawn from China's own experience, Liu pointed. "no stability, no development," "Harmony is a concept we Chinese have always treasured and are so desperately willing to share with our African friends in our common endeavors to seek our own development paths."

"let’s start to vigorously advocate peace and harmony, without which a country can never be strong, prosperous, confident, independent, contented and well-off."

Secondly, Liu noted that the bilateral relationship, built on a traditionally strong tie,

will be withstanding the criticism of neocolonialism. "Some have gone so sensational as to claim that China is repeating the colonial path of exploiting Africa." Liu said the African will be able to judge.

What's "all around pragmatic cooperation"? Liu singled out cooperations in economy and trade, infrastructure, energy, culture, healthcare, education, science and technology and agriculture, among others. Liu said think – tanks and media in Africa should visit China and exchange with Chinese counterparts so a true “Chinese story” can be told.

"We must ensure that the achievements of China – Africa cooperation do benefit our people." emphasized Liu for his fourth point. "Let the people feel and see." Liu said.

From Tennis to Everything You Do in Life

With over 20 years playing tennis, I thought I could never be as good as the ones I had dreamed of. I am not even talking of stars such as Federer and Nadal, but more realistic ones such as the player who was nearly 20 years older than me but beat me in straight sets.

However, recent things have changed my perception. And now, more than ever, I believe I can beat the top guns inside my playing circle, and even some good players in the city. What have changed? It all started from a new coach and new perspective.

This new coach, let’s call him Eric, is not even a good coach by popular judgment. A tennis buddy even warned me that Eric is a good player, but doesn’t have a clue about coaching. Terrible, I was warned.

But hey, there is no deny about Eric being the No.1 player inside the Tennis Club, I believe that there must be something that Eric has that I can learn from. So I signed up. And I have seen changes kept coming ever since.

Eric has no mercy; he doesn’t treat trainees like trainees, but professional players in training. Eric believe that everyone can be equally qualified to be playing tennis just as well as him, if they put the right amount of practice, right attitude and never give up and give in.

I immediately felt the difference of the perspective change in my tennis. I was thrilled by the feeling of hitting the balls like a pro, the desire to improve, the determination to keep going even I was ready to collapse, and in return, the tangible improvement pushes me to move forward further and further.

Eric is not only bad at pleasing you so you will feel good about yourself, at the expenses of releasing your full potential and achieving the maximum goals, he is also bad at saving people’s face. “Where is your stamina?” “Your forms mess up”, he would say, to your face, so you will correct right away.

Coaches like Eric are not for everyone; you do have to stomach constructive suggestions, to-you-face comments and everything in between.

It has been going on for two months; I still have a long way to go towards my goal of beating the local stars with flying colors.

Do you have such a coach in your life that can motivate you to constantly improve?

Let me leave one quote with you, “You stop playing not because you become old, you become old because you stop playing.”