The typical native of Sikaman is by nature a hospitable creature, a social animal with a big heart, a soul full of the milk of earthly good­ness, and a spirit too loving for its own comfort.

Ghanaman hosts a foreign pal and he spends a fortune to make him very happy and comfortable-good food, clean booze, excellent accommoda­tion and a woman for the night.

Sometimes the pal leaves without saying a “thank you but Ghanaman is not offended. He’d host another idiot even more splendidly. His nature is warm, his spirit benevolent. That is the typical Ghanaian and no wonder that many African-Americans say, “If you haven’t visited Ghana. Then you’ve not come to Africa.

You can even enter the country without a passport and a visa and you’ll be welcomed with a pot of palm wine.

If Ghanaman wants to go abroad, especially to an European country or the United States, it is often after an ordeal.

He has to doze in a queue at dawn at the embassy for days and if he is lucky to get through to being inter­viewed, he is confronted by someone who claims he or she has the power of discerning truth from lie.

In short Ghanaman must undergo a lie-detector test and has to answer questions that are either nonsensical or have no relevance to the trip at hand. When Joseph Kwame Korkorti wanted a visa to an European country, the attache studied Korkorti’s nose for a while and pronounced judgment.

“The way I see you, you won’t return to Ghana if I allow you to go. Korkorti nearly dislocated her jaw; Kwasiasem akwaakwa. In any case what had Korkorti’s nose got to do with the trip?

If Ghanaman, after several at­tempts, manages to get the visa and lands in the whiteman’s land, he is seen as another monkey uptown, a new arrival of a degenerate ape coming to invade civilized society. He is sneered at, mocked at and avoided like a plague. Some landlords abroad will not hire their rooms to blacks because they feel their presence in itself is bad business.

When a Sikaman publisher land­ed overseas and was riding in a public bus, an urchin who had the impudence and notoriety of a dead cockroach told his colleagues he was sure the black man had a tail which he was hiding in his pair of trousers. He didn’t end there. He said he was in fact going to pull out the tail for everyone to see.

True to his word he went and put his hand into the backside of the bewildered publisher, intent on grab­bing his imaginary tail and pulling it out. It took a lot of patience on the part of the publisher to avert murder. He practically pinned the white mis­creant on the floor by the neck and only let go when others intervene. Next time too…

The way we treat our foreign guests in comparison with the way they treat us is polar contrasting-two disparate extremes, one totally in­comparable to the other. They hound us for immigration papers, deport us for overstaying and skinheads either target homes to perpetrate mayhem or attack black immigrants to gratify their racial madness

When these same people come here we accept them even more hospi­tably than our own kin. They enter without visas, overstay, impregnate our women and run away.

About half of foreigners in this country do not have valid resident permits and was not a bother until recently when fire was put under the buttocks of the Immigration Service

In fact, until recently I never knew Sikaman had an Immigration Service. The problem is that although their staff look resplendent in their green outfit, you never really see them any­where. You’d think they are hidden from the public eye.

The first time I saw a group of them walking somewhere, I nearly mistook them for some sixth-form going to the library. Their ladies are pretty though.

So after all, Sikaman has an Immi­gration Service which I hear is now alert 24 hours a day tracking down illegal aliens and making sure they bound the exit via Kotoka Interna­tional. A pat on their shoulder.

I am glad the Interior Ministry has also realised that the country has been too slack about who goes out or comes into Sikaman.

Now the Ministry has warned foreigners not to take the country’s commitment to its obligations under the various conditions as a sign of weakness or a source for the abuse of her hospitality.

“Ghana will not tolerate any such abuse,” Nii Okaija Adamafio, the Interior Minister said, baring his teeth and twitching his little moustache. He was inaugurating the Ghana Refu­gee and Immigration Service Boards.

He said some foreigners come in as tourists, investors, consultants, skilled workers or refugees. Others come as ‘charlatans, adventurers or plain criminals. “

Yes, there are many criminals among them. Our courts have tried a good number of them for fraud and misconduct.

It is time we welcome only those who would come and invest or tour and go back peacefully and not those whose criminal intentions are well-hidden but get exposed in due course of time.

This article was first published on Saturday March 14, 1998

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Power dynamics play a sig­nificant role in sexual abuse, often creating an imbalance that can lead to exploitation and harm.

Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing and prevent­ing sexual abuse.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of the com­plexities of power dynamics and sexual abuse, including the role of power, the impact on victims, and strategies for addressing and pre­venting abuse.

The role of power in sexual abuse

Power can manifest in various forms, including physical, emotion­al, social, and institutional power. In the context of sexual abuse, power can be used to coerce, manipulate, or exploit individuals. Perpetrators may use power to:

Overpower victims: Physical strength or coercion can be used to overpower a victim, making it diffi­cult for them to resist or escape the abusive situation.

Manipulate emotions: Emotional manipulation or control can be used to exploit a victim’s vulnerabilities, making it difficult for them to recog­nise or report the abuse.

Exploit social status: Social status, authority, or influence can be used to coerce or intimidate a victim, making it difficult for them to speak out against the abuse.

Abuse institutional power: Posi­tions of authority or power within institutions can be used to exploit or abuse individuals, making it difficult for them to report or escape the abuse.

The impact of power dynamics on victims

The impact of power dynamics on victims of sexual abuse can be profound, leading to feelings of powerlessness, loss of autonomy, and emotional trauma. Victims may experience:

Feelings of powerlessness: Victims may feel trapped, helpless, or un­able to escape the abusive situation.

Loss of autonomy: Victims may feel forced to comply with the abus­er’s demands, leading to a loss of autonomy and agency.

Emotional trauma: The experience of powerlessness and exploitation can lead to significant emotional trauma, including anxiety, depres­sion, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Strategies for addressing and pre­venting abuse

Addressing power dynamics in sex­ual abuse requires a comprehensive approach that includes:

Empowering victims: Providing support and resources to help vic­tims regain control and autonomy.

Holding perpetrators accountable: Ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions, and that they are provided with appro­priate consequences and treatment.

Creating safe environments: Creating safe and supportive en­vironments that prevent power imbalances and promote healthy relationships.

Promoting education and aware­ness: Educating individuals about the dynamics of power and sexual abuse, and promoting awareness about the importance of consent and healthy relationships.

Conclusion

Power dynamics play a significant role in sexual abuse, and under­standing these dynamics is crucial for addressing and preventing this complex issue.

By empowering victims, holding perpetrators accountable, creating safe environments, and promoting education and awareness, we can work towards preventing sexual abuse and promoting healthy rela­tionships.

It is essential to recognise the complexities of power dynamics and sexual abuse and to develop effec­tive strategies for addressing and preventing abuse.

BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON