Editorial
‘Oobakè’,‘Akwaaba’ brouhaha: Why re-invent the wheel?
Dear Editor,
I HAVE followed with a concerning interest, the ‘Oobake’ euphoria in recent weeks among a section of Ghanaians, particularly and dangerously on social media, and I dare say that may be misguided right from the outset, risking to polarize our tourism terrain.
Rather than improve our tourism [even within the Ga -Dangbe enclave], that move for me, may lead to a wane of interest in Ghana’s tourism.
It is worth reeling back to the period between mid-1990s to early 2000s when similar banter between Bonwire (Asante) and Kpetoe (Volta) over an unnecessary claim as to who were the originators of kente in Ghana.
That development almost tore apart the kente industry in Ghana as far as tourism was concerned. I believe the likes of Messrs. Frank Kofigah, W. Nkunu Akyea, E. Komla, among others will be too willing to attest to that.
So, what about Oobake? Is it relevant? Certainly yes. But, it must be complementary; it cannot forcibly replace the trade word, – call it the catchword or the golden word – “Akwaaba”, that for all these years, has been synonymous to Ghana, the world over.
‘Akwaaba’ is more of a generic word of welcome in Ghana. The whole world knows that word and its pertinence to Ghana, next to Nkrumah.
Therefore, in an effort to brand, does it take replacing completely what resounds so much about Ghana in every part of the globe? How difficult would that be?
More importantly, will it inure to the benefit of national and sectional interests, overall? Again, won’t such a move rather open a Pandora’s Box that will only end up in balkanizing Ghana’s cultural tourism, and negatively affecting the nation and its people as a whole?
I may be a novice in marketing. However, we may dare make this analogy of the oldest surviving brewery [company] in Ghana: Accra brewery.
With all her attempts to re-brand, re-set and introduce new products, they (ABL) have never taken out (and cannot make the mistake to replace) ‘Club’ or superimpose any other name or brand/or slogan – be it Shandy or Charlie How, etc., on the popular Club; all those would rather be popularised under the ‘house-name’: ‘Club.’
Likewise, “Oobake” (Ga) – and by extension, others such as “Woezò” (Ewe), Maraaba (Dagbani), etc. – can only be used in appropriate contexts.
For example, in my practice as a tour guide and also as a master-trainer of tour guides, I, like most professionally-trained tour guides, use ‘Akwaaba’ as the generic word of welcome, but also know when to introduce the guests to other local vocal forms of welcome such as Oobake.
Thus, we move from the generic to the specific, in this case, making both words relevant in our tourism and expression of our identity in particular.
So much has gone into our tourism industry to this point, and we cannot afford to lose it.
Cosmos Ata Sracooh
Tour Guide and Master-trainer in Tour Guiding
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Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
