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Youth Activism in Modern Politics in Ghana
In recent times, the restlessness in the Ghanaian youth is effervescing (as in Kenya, Nigeria and other flashpoints in Africa). In Ghana, this desperation finds expression in constant street protests and sit-ins. With increasing frustration about lack of job opportunities and bleak future, the compelling urge in the youth is to find ‘greener pastures’ elsewhere. This book examines four key Ghanaian youths, who, in recent times, have captured the headlines in Ghanaian politics. These are Kwame Bediako (also known as ‘Cheddar’), a presidential candidate; Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, a #FixTheCountry campaigner; Ernesto Yeboah, a student leader; and Mahmoud Jajah, a youth leader in the inner cities (otherwise known as the ‘Zongos’ in Ghana). Students of political science, research scholars and the general public, who are curious about the youth’s participation in Ghana’s politics, would find interesting and illuminating insights in this book.
₵100.00 -
In Attendance: On and Off Campus – A Personal Diary
In Attendance is the third in a series of autobiographical reflections by Ebow Daniel, who spent a 34-year career at the University of Ghana, the last ten of which saw him as Registrar – a role which, its prominence notwithstanding, he self-deprecatingly describes as bureaucrat, rather than academic; in academia, but not of it; also present at the Academic Board, but does not count for quorum; to be seen, but not heard, neither Present’ nor ‘Absent,’ in the minutes, only ‘In Attendance.’ Forewords generously contributed to In Attendance by H. E. Mrs Agnes Y. Aggrey-Orleans (Retired Diplomat), Kojo Yankah, founder, African University College of Communications (AUCC) and Ivan Addae-Mensah, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, provide compelling reason to read this book.
Following Mr. Registrar, published in 1999 and A Tale of Cape Coast published in 2004, In Attendance is a book of many parts. Beyond the autobiographical insights it provides in its vignettes, it recounts, within well-researched contextual accounts of colonial and post-colonial educational policy, the foundational stories of Adisadel College and the University of Ghana, both alma maters of the author. In Attendance also presents, with liberal doses of the author’s characteristic humour, the author’s educational and professional journey – and people encountered, some in wistful detail – from early days in Sekondi through to his professional life in Legon and to his post retirement life in Kigali, Rwanda; in the Office of President J. A. Kuffuor at the Osu Castle and Jubilee House; and, to final retirement at Another Den, his home in Tema. The author’s reflections on higher education in Ghana, on the political experiment that Ghana is, on religion, on Freemasonry, and on the role of the latter in his life, all presented in a unique style of writing, make for fascinating reading. Foreshadowing his demise in 2019, the titles of final parts of In Attendance – At the Confessional, Homestretch, In Memoriam, Nothing now Remains, Curtain, End of Story and – Final Call belie his humorous depiction of life’s lessons.
₵200.00 -
A Luta Continua: In Search of a Better Tomorrow
A Luta Continua is a reflection of a revolutionary thinker with a pristine passion for people, his country and the African continent. Unconstrained by dogma, Yaw Nsarkoh draws wisdom from diverse thinkers and writers, crafting his own unique perspective that speaks to the hearts and minds of all who come into contact with the book. From navigating the intricate world of business to championing the power of purpose-driven ventures, Yaw shares his experiences and insights on achieving both profit and social good. Indeed, A Luta Contina! – Joel E. Nettey, Immediate Past President & Chairman (International Advertising Association – IAA); President, Old Achimotan Association (OAA); Chief Executive – The Ninani Group
Discover a thought-provoking exploration of Ghana and Africa’s development agenda and the challenges posed by the Neo-liberal quagmire in Yaw Nsarkoh’s A Luta Continua. Through a collection of speeches, social media posts, and book reviews, Nsarkoh delves into the complexities of economic growth, social progress, and political transformation on the African continent. With astute analysis and compelling arguments, this book offers a unique perspective on the opportunities and obstacles facing Africa in the 21st century. – Lola Shoyenin, Author and Publisher, Ouidah – Lagos
Yaw Nsarkoh is one lad who has definitely drenched himself in the wisdom: “Do yourself a favour and learn all you can and you will prosper’’ (Proverbs 19:8). In this wonderful gift of a book, Yaw writes with passion and a zeal unmatched, delving into all kinds of subjects provocatively and persuasively revealing a lot of insightful details. – Pamela Aba Turkson, Senior Professional Engineer
A Luta Continua is a compelling collection of insights from a deeply perceptive social commentator spanning education, politics, the arts, and neo-liberalism in Africa. Through profound reflections, Yaw Nsarkoh challenges prevailing norms and advocates for progressive change, urging readers to join the ongoing struggle for a brighter future. This thought-provoking book ignites dialogue and inspires action. It is bound to resonate with anyone who is passionate about Africa’s development trajectory. – Ken Ansah, COO, Multi Media Group
₵160.00 -
The President Ghana Never Got
When the President asks a Supreme Court Judge to resign and prepare for a promised elevation, the Judge asks for a letter based on which to leave his job. The judge is still waiting for that letter when the media named another man for the same job the President promised him. The judge and the “usurper” lose the job because of a military-style operation, which the minority caucus in Parliament executes with precision.
Ghanaians question why the President yanks a man from a political campaign platform to the high court and elevates him to the Supreme Court under controversial circumstances in less than two years.This book reveals that the contentious Supreme Court appointment is meant to appease the disappointed judge who was promised elevation. Also in this page-turner, Ghana’s leading investigative journalst is granted rare access to the innermost circles of the Akufo-Addo presidency, and he reveals how the man who caused many Ghanaians to hope again became the reason many lost the little faith they had in the Nation’s Politics and its future before he emerged.₵270.00 – ₵300.00The President Ghana Never Got
₵270.00 – ₵300.00 -
An Appraisal of Ghana’s Public Procurement Regime
It is a “must-have” book that captures almost every relevant thematic area of Ghana’s public
procurement regime under the current dispensation.
The book aims to serve as a foundational guide for readers seeking to understand the fundamental principles, processes, and regulations governing public procurement in the country. The detailed exposition of the historical antecedent helps any student of procurement to understand how far Ghana has come as a country.
The materials in the book are well-organized, presenting a clear and logical flow of information.
It starts with an introduction to the concept of public procurement, followed by a detailed appraisal of Ghana’s specific regulatory framework.
It is noteworthy that not many authors make an effort to trace history in this way, which makes the book a special reference for experts, practitioners, and students studying procurement.
The incorporation of pertinent case studies augments the book’s relevance by helping readers to comprehend authentic instances of the obstacles and achievements in Ghana’s public procurement system.
For readers who may not be familiar with the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended, a thorough analysis and appraisal of the Act has been provided.
The legislative and regulatory structure governing public procurement in Ghana was reduced to the level of a university student.
In Ghana, most lawyers and judges still grapple with the concept of procurement and the laws governing public procurement. The authors’ ability to break down the Act and the associated statutes in the way they did is highly advantageous to the reader.
The authors took time to discuss the object of Act 663 as amended and expounded the
concept of value-for-money in a very simplified manner.
Therefore, we highly recommend the book to procurement students at all levels, lawyers, judges, Heads of Entities, Entity Tender Committee members, Directors of both public and private companies, and most importantly, procurement practitioners and decision-makers in Ghana.
This book will come in handy for any professional in the industry.₵250.00 -
The Pen at Risk: Spilling My Little Beans
“The Pen at Risk is more than a memoir. It is a piece of authentic, ungarnished history by a writer and public intellectual who is too modest to accept the title of a historian, but who witnessed and chronicled the most intriguing epochs of Ghana’s national life. Laced with the innate Fante humour, this book is a piece of deep but entertaining non-fiction that is told with the demystified simplicity of one of Ghana’s greatest academics and writers. Kwesi Yankah is a gift to humanity, and this memoir is a greater gift to an unfortunate generation like mine that did not live in the era of the incisive writings of the great Kwatriot.” – Manasseh Azure Awuni, Editor-in-Chief, The Fourth Estate
“When a citizen who has spent his whole life scrutinising society, turns the spotlight on himself, the risks include this epic engagement that spares no one, him included. In this bare-it-all memoir, the Yankah enigma is fully bared, warts and all. As it turns out, Yankah has had more than his fair share of privileged roles, ultimately impacting the national narrative. The richness of ethnography here, is as riveting as his urban-savvy accounts of the intrigues of university and national politics. While we watch him weave his wizardry of words, we are also awed by the totality of his humanity. The Pen at Risk is a hilarious package of eruditions. It is about the exalted gossips of our Motherland. The narratives are so sweet they hurt. If this isn’t the best book you have read in years, call me illiterate.” – Kofi Akpabli, Scholar, Author, Journalist
“In this memoir, Kwesi Yankah delivers a sparkling tableau of key aspects of his life, tabling his charmed childhood and amazing trajectory as an academic. He then rolls out his long stint as an audacious social commentator and columnist for leading papers (which may have put his pen at risk). With a penmanship characterized by a keen eye for detail, this autobiography is an entertaining and captivating book that should be read by all interested in media and social history as well as autobiography as a literary genre.” – Professor Mansah Prah, University of Cape Coast
“Intriguing, revealing, and brilliant. The Pen at Risk is unvarnished introspection beautifully strung together with anecdotes in a way that is vibrant and colorful. Kwesi Yankah’s work is a refreshingly modest invitation to see life through a different lens, even for a fleeting moment.” – Dr Obeng Amoako Edmonds, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
₵250.00 -
Who Owns the Land and Who Rules the Land?
Ghana is undergoing her fourth experiment in Constitutional Rule − the 4th Republic. She was the first Black African country south of the Sahara to gain her political independence in 1957 but economic independence has eluded her till now. Her development is at a snail-pace at best.
According to the author, there are certain fundamental bottlenecks in the country’s governance system which make it difficult for her to realize her economic potential. The author compares Ghana’s governance system to Singapore which gained political independence around the same time as Ghana but has successfully transformed from Third World to First World economic status in 30 years and asks why the difference. The author calls for a national debate on the country’s governance system that will lead to a total review of the 1992 Constitution. The following are some of the key issues he calls the nation’s attention to:
- A Feudal Land Tenure System whereby more than 90% of the land mass of Ghana is vested in the Chieftaincy institution as Stool Lands and the remaining 10% vested in the President on behalf of the people of Ghana as Public Lands. A system which greatly impedes development and benefits only a privileged few and yet there are no Land Reforms
- The Legacy of the Colonial Indirect Rule leading to a “bifurcated state” in which traditional authority runs parallel to civilian political authority
- An Ineffective Decentralization System which excludes the traditional leaders and refuses to allow the people to elect their own District Chief Executives whom they can hold accountable
- An Adversarial Political System in which the two main political parties have indulged in violence since independence and thus refuse to reach consensus for national development
- The Short Tenure of the Executive and Legislature which does not promote long term planning and execution for meaningful development
- An expensive electoral system which engenders corruption and prevents well-meaning and qualified candidates from offering themselves for governance
- The Lack of a National Agenda for development and dependence on party manifestoes thus ignoring the Directive Principles of State Policy. Development is thus not progressive but disjointed and depends on which party is in power
- A Council of State which is merely advisory and has no power to serve as a check on the Executive
- A National Mindset of Dependency Syndrome and Entitlement Mentality which has resulted in lack of effective mobilization of the populace by the political and traditional leadership. A national psyche that does not promote self-reliance and the can-do spirit
- A Governance System which tries to copy Westminster and American systems instead of a home-grown system which suits our situation and promotes development
- An Educational System that fails to build problem-solving abilities and patriotism into the youth and fails to make them proud of being Africans
- A Very Strong Religious Atmosphere which feeds on superstition and does not enable the teeming members to transform their mindset and focus on teachings which promote hard work, wealth creation and prosperity
₵180.00 -
The Boy from Boadua: One African’s Journey of Hunger and Sacrifice in Pursuit of a Dream
*Available from 7 February 2023
Patrick Asare was born and raised by illiterate parents in the remote Ghanaian village of Boadua. His family was so large and impoverished that not even the earnings from crushing hard work could buy enough food to fill their bellies. No one in the village aspired to be educated beyond middle school.
Until Patrick.
Numerous obstacles stood in the way of Patrick’s yearning for higher knowledge, including gnawing hunger, lack of sleep, and backbreaking daily chores. During school vacations, he toiled in a jungle farm teeming with poisonous snakes and insects.
Dedicating every stolen moment to study, Patrick passed the common entrance exam with flying colors. Despite major setbacks, he kept his eye on the prize. He graduated from an elite secondary school and earned his engineering degree in the Soviet Union during the perestroika era. Finding his way to the United States, he taught Russian and math and eventually obtained a superb education from top American universities.
Patrick’s travels and adventures taught him that, regardless of his hardscrabble childhood, he was a lucky man. He was raised by loving and supportive parents and lived in a society where race was not an issue. Teaching in inner-city high schools alerted him to the particular challenges faced by America’s urban Black youth.
Patrick’s amazing story offers insights, hope, and inspiration to others who face astronomical odds.
₵180.00 -
My Footprints in Ghana’s Black Gold
This memoir — part historical and part autobiographical — traces the author’s involvement with the final phase of petroleum exploration in Ghana, a journey that took over a century, beginning with the first onshore well in 1896. It has been a most interesting journey, with many twists and turns.
In the early days of the existence of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, there were various myths and half-truths about the presence or absence of commercial quantities of oil and gas in the basins of the Ghana.
- Nigeria was draining Ghana’s oil and that all that was required was for Ghana to buy powerful machines and begin to pump and drain her own
- Ghana would never find oil until the gods of Nzemaland and the Volta Region had been pacified
- The GNPC Model Production Sharing Agreement was too stringent on contractors
A major seismic interpretation of the Cape Three Points sub-basin of the Western Region, in 1992, would turn out to be the watershed of this new brave phase of exploration in Ghana.
The book was finally launched in Ghana in April 2022.
Hopefully, going to the heart of the matter should help future generations of ordinary Ghanaians, politicians and explorationists understand what it took to make Ghana a petroleum producing country, just in case the country was afflicted by the “Dutch disease.”
₵120.00 -
The Makings of A Diplomatist: The Memoirs of Alexander Quaison-Sackey (Hardcover)
The book is a thrilling – albeit incomplete – life story, elegantly written. Starting from the author’s elementary school days at his birthplace, Winneba, where he obtained a distinction certificate at the Standard 7 school leaving Examinations, the Book takes the reader through the author’s sojourn at Mfantsipim Secondary School where he became Senior Prefect in his final year through Achimota College, where he became President of the Students’ Christian Movement (SCM), through Exeter College Oxford University where he served as President of the West African Students’ Union (WASU) through his years as a Labour officer in Ghana, his training as a pioneer career diplomat followed by a two-year stint as Head of Chancery in the Ghana High Commission in London up to his appointment as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations where he created history by becoming the First Black African to assume the Presidency of the UN General Assembly. A discerning factor in this historical account is obviously the author’s natural leadership endowment which was manifested again later in his accession to the lay Presidency of the Methodist Church of Ghana (not recorded in the Book).
The greater part of the Book gives an exciting and insightful bird’s eye view of the author’s exertions at the UN during his tenure as Ambassador and Permanent Representative on such then burning issues as decolonisation, the Congo Crisis, Apartheid in South Africa, Cuban Missile Crisis, Arab-Israeli Conflict and the UN Financial Crisis of 1964 which nearly paralysed the Organisation. These are all issues of historical interest, particularly for research students in international affairs.
The book ends with the author’s post-UN appointment as Foreign Minister of Ghana, his later incarceration, and subsequent release which enabled him to proceed to London to complete his law studies. Altogether a very interesting and instructive personal history that makes compelling and absorbing reading.
₵250.00 -
The Experience of Politics: A Manual for Ghanaian and African Politicians
P.K.K. Quaidoo was educated at St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, Achimota College and the University of Bristol where he graduated in Mathematics, Philosophy and Latin, Magna cum laude. He was later elected to Parliament (1954-56; 1957-61) where he established himself as a debater with outstanding courage, thus earning the nickname ‘Asem Yi Di Ka’ (say it and be damned!).
He held several portfolios as a Cabinet Minister: Trade and Labour (1957-58), Communications (1958) and Social Welfare (1960-61). He travelled widely: to Europe, the USA, Canada and the Far East and within Africa. He was decorated by the late Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as a Knight Companion of the Lion of Juda.
Mr. Quaidoo often contributed articles to the Catholic Standard. He got married and had two sons and four daughters.
Contents
- Preliminary requirements
- Field discipleship and apprenticship
- Strategies of reform and maintenance
- Some puzzling questions about Ghanaian society
- They also serve who only stand and wait
- Building the support base
- Inside the political arena
- Global vision and horizon
- The field of labour at a glance
- Relics of the past
- Priorities, programmes and the timetables.
₵40.00 -
Determined to Do More: The Mission is Possible (An Autobiography)
Journey along with Nenyi George Andah as he weaves stories of his childhood, teens and adulthood, guided by his Can-Do attitude. His captivating and exciting life stories provide a brilliant tool for anyone to imagine their future. – Geraldine Nartey (nee Andah)
Determined to Do More is an uplifting story of struggles, successes, personal tragedy and an unending desire not to give up. – Ras Mubarak, Former MP, Kumbungu Constituency
My recommendation is to read how the last child of John and Theresa Andah got to where he is today. You wouldn’t struggle to go through in a few hours of light reading. – Ato Afful, MD, Graphic Communications Group Limited
The life of Nenyi George Andah as detailed in this thriller is so captivating. Readers will be held spellbound by the roller-coaster events that define his illustrious life. – Dr Joseph K. Essibu
The story of the young man who saw the possibilities of mobile money long before anyone believed Ghanaians could be persuaded to appreciate the merits of cashless transactions. – Elizabeth Akua Ohene, George Andah’s Special Grandma
₵250.00 – ₵500.00Determined to Do More: The Mission is Possible (An Autobiography)
₵250.00 – ₵500.00 -
Ghana: A Concise History from Pre-Colonial Times to the 20th Century
This is a comprehensive survey of the history of Ghana from the earliest times to 1992. It discusses the evolution of the different ethnic groups and the social, economic and political institutions and systems they created. It also examines the development of state systems , their contact with the outside world and the economic , social and political consequences of that contact. It discusses the loss of political independence, the recovery of sovereignty and the emergence of the modern state of Ghana.
The study ends with an examination of the attempt by various rulers after independence to make one nation out of the people of Ghana and promote their economic and social well-being. The book has grown out of lectures the author has delivered to University students over the years. The material has, however, been written in a language that can be understood by all Senior High School students and the general public.
₵110.00 -
Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities (African Humanities Series)
Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities by Kwesi Yankah is the first title in the newly established African Humanities Association (AHA) publication series.
By integrating his own biography into a critique of the global politics of knowledge production, Yankah, through a collection of essays, interrogates critical issues confronting the Humanities that spawn intellectual hegemonies and muffle African voices. Using the example of Ghana, he brings under scrutiny, amongst others, endemic issues of academic freedom, gender inequities, the unequal global academic order, and linguistic imperialism in language policies in governance.
In the face of these challenges, the author deftly navigates the complex terrain of indigenous knowledge and language in the context of democratic politics, demonstrating that agency can be liberatory when emphasising indigenous knowledge, especially expressed through the idiom of local languages and symbols, including Ananse, the protean spider, folk hero in Ghana and most parts of the pan-African world.
“Fascinating snapshots from an engaged scholarly life in Africa, valuable as an archival resource for the understanding of this period of higher education in Africa.” – John Higgins, Arderne Chair in Literature, Department of English Literary Studies, University of Cape Town
“This book is unique and gives a powerful rendition of the state of the Humanities in Africa (with Ghana as a case in point). It grapples with some of the pertinent issues dogging the Humanities in Africa. It comments on the Humanities scholarship in Africa, and subtly throws a challenge for future scholarship. It draws on African traditions, communal heritage, and governance in discussing the role and place of the Humanities in Africa. It also brings into the analysis the ever-changing imperatives and modernity in re-configuring African Humanities.” – Mark Benge Okot, Head of Department, Literature, Makerere University, Uganda
“Beyond the Political Spider’ effectively draws, in a unique fashion, from literature, history, linguistics and other cognate disciplines in the African Humanities.” – Sati Umaru Fwatshak, Department of History, University of Jos, Nigeria
₵340.00
