Circumspect

It's been over three years since Ghana first struck (black) gold in June 2007, and while the euphoria around the find has somewhat diminished, most Ghanaians still have high hopes for our "new" resource. Then, as now, I am highly skeptical about our oil find and probably more pessimistic than optimistic about its potential for growing Ghana's economy. Until now, I've kept pretty mum about the issue, but given that the first production of oil is set to start next month - in a couple of days - I think it's time to break the silence.

While there is no set formula for development, many economists turn to income level to determine growth in an economy. Others would also look at education, health, the influence of technology and so on as determinants. With regards to Ghana, I believe that henceforth, our development will be greatly influenced by what I'd like to introduce as the oil-gas coefficient. So there you have it people, a historic moment is upon us. Will Ghana become the "African Tiger" that former President Kuffuor alluded to, or will the Dutch disease claim yet another victim, doing away with a bright future at the snap of its fingers? That, my friends, is the question.

Historically Speaking
To be fair, let me say that Ghana's oil has the potential of being the greatest thing that ever happened to us. If, and I repeat, IF we have the necessary frameworks, policies, institutions and so on in place. Unfortunately for us, our dear country, like most of Africa, has a bad reputation when it comes to management of natural resources. Look no further than the gold, cocoa, palm oil and shea butter industries and you'll see that we haven't the slightest inkling of how to be consistent in tapping into the potential of natural resources. Worse than that is our reputation for not compensating the people whose livelihoods are wrecked due to "new" discoveries or developments. Take the people living along the Akosombo Dam who are almost always in one scuffle or another with the government over compensation, or the inhabitants of Obuasi, Akwatia and other mining areas. We hardly keep our promises to our people, why should the oil babies be any different?

The Dutch Disease
A day after the oil find announcement, I posted a note on Facebook asking what people thought about our new visitor. Many of the Facebook respondents expressed concern that the oil would be mismanaged and that pre-existing sectors like the cocoa sector would be neglected in its favor: a typical case of the Dutch Disease. Today, people still dread the infamous Dutch Disease which succeeded in crippling even advanced countries like Norway at some point in their oil history, and is still wrecking havoc in Nigeria. What many people don't realize is that the Dutch Disease has already moved into Ghana, suitcase in hand and smoking pipe perched to the side of its lower lip. As this CEPA article indicates, oil is already drawing attention away from cocoa. Until the oil find, the Western region of Ghana had been a primarily fishing community, with inhabitants making their living through this life-long occupation. Unfortunately, many fishermen in the Cape Three Points area, where the oil was found, are having to look elsewhere, with some hoping to secure jobs within the very oil industry that is already causing sleepless nights for them. If Ghana's history with natural resource management is anything to go by, oil will find itself on the dusty shelves right next to all the other natural resources we have been blessed with, yet are incompetent and/or unwilling to build our nation with. Now, more than ever, we need to make diversification a national priority. We no longer have the luxury of thinking we can sustain a nation like ours on one resource.

Expectation (Mis)Management & Transparency
As far as I am concerned, the oil discovery and production is the easy aspect of Ghana's new reality. What will determine whether the oil-gas co-efficient will have a positive or negative impact on our present and future is the management of expectations and how transparent our government and leaders are about what's going on. The Ghanaian government has had months, even years, to prepare its people for dealing with the new reality of oil. If I were to give a grade on how well they've managed expectations and been transparent, I would give a D - and that's being lenient. For one thing, too many people still think that oil is going to miraculously save Ghana, and are consequently dropping their current occupations to venture into the oil sector which, as it turns out, probably won't employ too many Ghanaians anyway.

Fortunately or unfortunately, as with any business, jobs tend to go to the most competent, most skilled professionals. Given the fact that Ghana just discovered the oil, and that prior to this discovery, our focus in the oil sector was limited to refinement and so on, it wouldn't be a far cry to say that the precious few jobs that the sector will birth would most likely land in the hands of other nationals. Again, we're already seeing this, and not only are Ghanaians losing jobs to expatriate professionals, the country is also losing billions in income tax revenue. Why? Because the necessary frameworks are not in place to monitor the situation. Now, you have numerous Ghanaian youth and professionals literally switching up their academic focus areas to venture into oil and gas, extractive industries and what-not. What's going to happen when they spend their hard-earned money on all this education and graduate, only to be told that there are no jobs in what is supposed to be a new sector?

From the layman to the most skilled of professionals, the status quo seems to be that oil will make everything right in Ghana. Sounds vaguely like the Obama effect, where many Africans thought that then Senator Obama's ascension to the U.S. presidency would solve all of the continent's problems. If that is anything to go by, it is evident that the presence of a new player on the national or international scene doesn't guarantee anything. What will determine the outcome of the equation is hard work, how well we manage expectations and the new resource, and how honest our leaders are on what is going on in the industry. While the Ghana government has held a number of public forums to introduce its plans to Ghanaians and other stakeholders in the oil industry, it is not enough. So long as there is still speculation and questions about things as simple as "What is government's percentage stake in the oil proceeds," there is not enough transparency. Without transparency, you'll have misguided expectations skyrocketing, and I feel sorry for whoever will be appointed to clean up that particular mess.


Proposed Usage of Oil Revenues 
Oil production hasn't yet started, however, there is no shortage of proposals floating around about what the oil revenues should be used for. While the government takes its sweet time in notifying the nation about its actual stake in the oil proceeds - generally-speaking, it seems the government is assured a 10% stake - people have wasted no time in counting chickens before the eggs are hatched. There are various figures floating around, but it is estimated that Ghana will receive about $1billion annually as proceeds from oil, approximately $40-$50 per Ghanaian annually. Obviously, the real revenues could be slightly different after all costs are deducted. During a panel event in Washington, D.C. in April 2010, Mohammed Amin Adam, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay, elaborated on some of the proposed projects which include a) debt financing, b) a western region development fund, and c) a heritage fund (for educating future generations of Ghanaians) d) general development projects. Last I checked the government hasn't yet decided what the oil revenue will be used for, however, considering the actual figures on expected revenues is still up in the air, there is only so much planning one can do. It would also be good to note that Ghana's oil production is expected to last only until 2030. Meaning we need to maximize our use of the proceeds while stocks last.

Personally, I would rather we have nothing to do with the oil or its proceeds. First of all, we would be making a huge fuss out of nothing if, assuming the government has actually done away with all its shares and only has a 10% stake, we take into account all the fees associated with building infrastructure, paying professionals, handling (or should I say not handling) public relations, and so on. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic (and I would love more than anything to be proved wrong) but the way I see it, the oil revenues are akin to pirate bounty which should be buried for future treasure hunters to unearth. Of the three proposals I've heard of so far, I believe the heritage fund is the best. Debt financing should not be linked to our oil revenues as it will only result in further problems. You can't bank your integrity on a sector as volatile as oil. An even more risky venture would be to use petroleum and oil reserves as collateral for loans , which although prohibited in the proposed Petroleum Management Bill, is being reconsidered by some politicians.

While the people of the Western region should be compensated for the rummaging going on in their backyards, I don't think the proceeds should be dedicated to a Western region development fund. This is not because I don't think the Western region has development concerns. Far from it. Rather, given how ethnocentric Ghana is, particularly where politics is concerned, such a move would send a wrong signal to other deprived communities in the country. For instance, during the Oxfam panel earlier this year, a question was addressed to Ghana's current ambassador to the U.S. about the feasibility of such a fund. In response, the ambassador stated that if the Western region could make such a claim on the revenues, then it would be fair for the Ashanti region to demand compensation because, after all, most of Ghana's resources come from that region. Take note, this is a leader who is supposed to be representing the interests of the entire country, not his ethnic affiliation. If someone as "open-minded" or "exposed" should have such notions, what do you think the average Ghanaian would say if there were a hint of preferential treatment towards the Western region? Already, some Western regional chiefs descended upon parliament to request authorization for their 10% stake in oil revenues. Although their request was rejected, it is a warning to us. Unless there is some transparency and real answers about this entire process, you can bet that people from the Northern, Eastern, and Southern regions - and even neighboring countries as Cote d'Ivoire attempted to - will throng to claim what they think is "rightfully" theirs.

As stated previously, in my humble opinion, the Heritage Fund for Education would be our best option for utilizing what meager proceeds will be left after paying the necessary dues. Ghana really needs to save for a rainy day, and what better platform to use than to contribute to the education of future generations? We have after all promised free basic education numerous times in the past. This would be an ideal opportunity to deliver on those promises. Additionally, it would help us evade the Dutch Disease to some degree since there wouldn't be any specific expectation of oil solving all our current problems. Consequently, we would still be relying on (hopefully all ) our existing sectors to push on towards accelerated development. Finally, all these ethnocentric claims about who deserves what would be dealt with, as the Heritage Fund would be for all the regions.


Ghana's Stability: A Risky Gamble
From all indications, Ghana isn't yet ready - institution, skill-base, legal framework-wise - to manage our new resource. While I might wish that this weren't so, or that the oil had never been found, what is done, is done. Now what we need to do is move forward together, making sure that everyone is on the same page, and that the interests of Ghana as a nation are put above everything and everyone else. Some of the basic questions the government needs to come clean on include what the real projected revenue after deducted costs is, what its total stake in oil proceeds is, which bodies are responsible for ensuring accountability and tracking due diligence and how much is being paid out to the oil companies. Based on the recent oil spillage in the US, it goes without saying that we need to have some sort of environmental plan to ensure that minimal damage is done to the ecology of the oil areas, as well as the human inhabitants. We also need to cushion the sector against any backfalls should there be a change in government. Without knowing what the real state of affairs is the government won't be able to effectively manage expectations.

It is the responsibility of each of us as Ghanaian citizens to keep ourselves informed and involved. Attend public forums like Saturday's BarCamp Takoradi which focused on the oil and gas sector. Check out Ghana Oil Online for a database of oil-related news pieces. Also see Ghana Oil Watch or follow their postings on twitter and facebook. And hey, it can't hurt to pray either. They do say that God is a Ghanaian, right? Either way, Ghana's peace and stability is too precious a thing to hinge on something as volatile as oil.

Additionally, you can check out these videos:

This article was written by Jemila Abdulai and was initially published on the website Circumspect.

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Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5

Disclaimer: It's meant to be a parody, so please, don't take it too seriously lol. [Originally posted on Facebook on Nov. 8]
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Somebody tried to walk away with alla my stuff
Expected me to sit there, smile sweetly, and just GIVE them alla my stuff
Figured since they'd done it time and again, it would be as easy as pie
Ha! Little did they know they had another thing comin'

Somebody tried to walk away with alla my stuff
But THIS time, I chased them down that street and beat them on the head
Latched my non-existent claws into their shoulders and hang on for dear life
Balled my fists into sledgehammers and hammer away I did
For the first time, second, and oh for thinkn' there would be a third

Somebody tried to walk away with alla my stuff
And now I'm sittin' on the floor of this jail, with nothin' else BUT my stuff
My memories, my fears, my hopes, my dreams, my shoulda-coulda-wouldas, ALL of it
My notions, my judgments, my naivety, my experience, my love, my hate, my sorrow, my joy
And for the first time ever, my cruel, undeniable, in-your-face truth

Somebody tried to walk away with alla my stuff
And now they a-nursin' in the clinic while I have the last laugh
Never did I know I could swing such a punch until they freakin' tried to take all my shit!
And yes, I'll probably lose it all before the darn trial is over
But damn, it never felt so good to whop an ass for tryna walk away with alla my stuff!

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Photo Source: http://images.clipartof.com/small/41817-Clipart-Illustration-Of-An-Angry-Granny-In-A-Robe-Dropping-Curlers-While-Chasing-Someone-With-A-Broom.jpg

So, today's a special day in the Islamic Calendar. It's the day of Arafat - a day when all the Hajj pilgrims descend upon Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia under a state of "Ihram" (purity) and commune one on one with Allah. It's an open doorway to the heavenly chamber where gratitude, asking for forgiveness, committing oneself and praying for anything really rule supreme.

Mount Arafat has a huge significance in Islam. It is believed that Adam and Eve found each other at that location after being cast out of paradise. It is also believed that Judgement Day will take place at that very mount. Perhaps, the most important thing about Mount Arafat for the world's millions of Muslims is the fact that it was on that very mountain that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) "perfected" Islam with his final sermon.

For my Muslim brothers and sisters, I believe this is a great reminder about our rights and responsibilities as Muslims, and for how we should lead our lives. For everyone who's ever wondered who a "good" Muslim is or should be, or what the real essence of Islam is, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s last sermon might give you some answers. Also, I think some of his words could resonate with anyone, regardless of religious affiliation (My faves are highlighted in blue). Please find below a transcript of The Last Sermon, as well as a video clip from the movie "The Message". May God help each of us to be the best we can be and guide us through this life and the next. Eid Mubarak!

“O People! lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and Take These Words to Those Who Could Not Be Present Here Today.

“O People! just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds.

“Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) be waived. Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibn al-Harithiah.

“O Men! the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calender in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to prohibit which Allah has made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. Four of them are holy, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Shaban.

“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope of that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

“O People! it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with anyone of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

“O People! listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat (obligatory charity). Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.

“Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

“O People! No Prophet or Apostle Will Come after Me and No New Faith Will Be Born. Reason well, therefore, O People! and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QUR’AN and my SUNNAH (i.e., sayings, deeds, and approvals) and if you follow these you will never go astray.

“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.

“Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”

Photo Source: Photo 1, Photo 2

Salam (Peace Be Unto You)!

This post was supposed to be a quickly copied article or embedded video on Eid-ul-Adha (The Festival of Sacrifice), but after some thought I decided to just write an entire post on Islam's second most important festival. Besides, it's been a minute since I wrote a good letter, and given how far we've come since my last Islam-related post during Ramadan, I believe I owe God one. However, before I get into all the juicy details about the different shapes, sizes and aromas of the succulent lamb chops that grace Eid, I'd like to talk a bit about another equally important event in Islam - and probably the singular largest gathering of people in the world - that is sometimes overlooked in the haste for the Eid holiday: the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Fifth Pillar of Islam: Hajj
Islam has five pillars or foundations that each Muslim is required (or should I say tries their best) to follow: Khalimat Shahaddah (bearing witness to the Oneness of God & recognizing Prophet Muhammed (SAW) as the final messenger of God), Salat (the five daily prayers), Zakat (giving of alms or charity to the poor and needy), Sawm (Fasting during the Month of Ramadan), and Hajj (going on pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca).

While Prophet Muhammed (SAW) sealed the Hajj as an annual practice by the Muslim community, it is believed to date back as far as Abraham, who was ordered by God to leave his wife Hagaar and his son in the desert. The Hajj pilgrimage is incumbent on every Muslim at least once in their lifetime (the Prophet himself did it once) so long as they can afford it. As a result, many Muslims guard their entire life savings to finance their participation or that of their parents or relatives in the Hajj during the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. After the successful completion of the Hajj, a Muslim earns the title Alhaji (male) or Hajia (female).

In addition to those somewhat coveted titles - for my Ghana peeps, now you know where the titles come from, LOL. A Muslim man or woman isn't an Alhaji or a Hajia by default) - there's a sense of being part of something greater, of sealing one's connection with the Muslim community, and, from some accounts, of communing directly with the divine. Unfortunately, I haven't yet been granted the honor of undertaking the Hajj, so I can't really talk too much about my experience in that regard. Nevertheless, I believe the Hajj is a beautiful practice and very symbolic of our individual journeys through life - from being doe-eyed and confused, to finding ourselves and our place(s) in this world and life. InshAllah (God willing), we will each have the opportunity to participate in this holy event.

Eid Ul-Adha - The Festival of Sacrifice (and Thanksgiving)
Eid ul-Adha marks the end of the Hajj, but there's also another significance to it; what many call the story behind Eid Ul-Adha. Personally, I adore the story behind Eid Ul-Adha. Not because of the grand excuse to eat all the meat and delicious food you can (you'll be surprised how much you can stomach...literally :P ), but rather because of the lessons it holds. True, unlike Eid Ul-Fitr (the festival after Ramadan), we don't go through the challenging (but highly rewarding) 30 day period of fasting, but nevertheless, Eid Ul-Adha is like a gentle reminder that Allah will always have our best interests at heart and so everything will turn out just right. More importantly, it reminds us about our common humanity - whether male, female, black, white, Asian, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Budhist, rich, poor, educated, illiterate, young, old, all of us - through the father of nations: Abraham.

Once Upon A Time...
And so, the story goes that Ibrahim (Abraham) had prayed to God for many years for a child and God finally heard his prayer. He blessed him and his wife Hagaar with a son who was named Ishmael (Isaac according to Christian theology). Soon after, Allah commanded Abraham to go to Mecca and build his grand mosque, the Kaba (where all Muslims face when praying Salat). He also commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his only son as a show of his faithfulness to God. Abraham set off to fulfill his charges and while he was tempted along the way to turn against Allah, he continued on. When Ibrahim was finally ready to sacrifice his son, knife in hand and all, God commanded him to stop, and instead, asked Ibrahim to sacrifice a ram, which Ibrahim did. To this day, Muslims everywhere commemorate Eid ul-Adha by offering up a ram in sacrifice and thanks to Allah for His mercy. It is also an occasion for celebrating the ties of friendship and family.

Personal Reflection on Eid ul-Adha
As I mentioned earlier with the Hajj, I feel like a lot of the practices in Islam are very symbolic of our respective journeys through life. Like Abraham and Ishmael, God has a charge for each of us that we are expected to fulfill. Regardless of how long it takes, there will come the day when we are each called upon to fulfill that charge and by then, Allah would have equipped us with what we need to successfully complete our mission (in Abraham's case it was the son he had longed for for so long). While in the pursuit of our charge, we will be faced by challenges - doubts, fears, hungry days and lean nights, betrayals, sickness, anything you can think of that you might use as an excuse not to do what you innately know you were destined for - but like our father Abraham, it is essential that we press on towards our ultimate goal. Eventually, just when we think we can take it no longer, or we would certainly crumple beneath the load or the darkness of the hour, the dawn breaks, and with it comes Allah's mercy and more blessings than we would have ever thought imaginable.

Maybe I'm just musing here with my reflections, but I can call up numerous occasions when this story has applied to circumstances in my life. One of them being after college when I was looking for a job - a year into the ongoing recession - and the words "Sorry, your application..." seemed to be the bane of my existence. In each of those moments, I always thought I had it figured out and that I knew what was best for me. But always, in hindsight, I never knew anything, and the best was yet to come. Just like Abraham who made the transition from a faithful servant to God's closest friend - For God did take Abraham for a friend. Surah 4.125 - those "challenging" circumstances carried me out of who I was at the time to who I could be by equipping me with valuable lessons and greater inner strength. And so it continues. We might make sacrifices huge and small, day in and day out, but in each instance, whether it seems like it or not, we are getting closer to being the kind of person we need to become in order to fulfill our respective charge. And so, it goes without saying, in ALL things, give thanks! (Easier said than done, right?)


Further Resources on Hajj and Eid ul-Adha (Nov. 17 this year BTW)
There are many resources on the Hajj, its significance and the various practices, but here are two that I found particularly insightful. The first is a quick summary of the visit to Mecca, while the second is a detailed documentary. I hope you found this post helpful in understanding what all the fuss about Mecca, the Hajj and Eid ul-Adha is. Feel free to ask questions or share your thoughts. Stay blessed!









Photo Source: Photo 1, Photo 2