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- The Differences Between Nigeria and Ghana - And What Nigeria Can Do About Them
The Differences Between Nigeria and Ghana - And What Nigeria Can Do About Them
- By Bolaji Aluko Ph.D
- Published 01/12/2009
- Nigerian Affairs
- Unrated
In the shadow of the recent and stupendously successful December 2007 presidential elections of our neighbor Ghana - and bearing in mind that as a result, today January 7, 2009, John Atta Mills of the NDC party takes over from John Kufuor of the NPP party as president - we Nigerians are in a period of intense soul-searching about our identity.
Well, explaining, without excusing, the differences between Ghana and Nigeria, we must understand that:
- geographically, Ghana is one-fourth the size of Nigeria;
- population-wise, Ghana is one-seventh the population of Nigeria;
- ethnically, Ghana is high-majority 45% Akan (with subunits Asante, Fante, etc.), with Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census; CIA information)
- religiously, Ghana is high-majority 68.8% Christian (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), with Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
- historically, its name evokes a once-glorious Ghana Empire (740s - 1250 AD) - even though that empire was nowhere even coterminous with modern-day Ghana - just as another West African country - Mali, that had successful elections in April 2007 despite fighting poverty - evokes also another once-glorious Mali Empire ( 1230 - 1600s AD)
- ideologically, the socialist beginnings of Ghana under Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah (1909 - 1972, leader of Ghana from 1952 - 1966) gave the country some discipline, much residual of which exists today. Even the episodic succession of less colorful civilians like Kofi Abresia Busia (1913 - 1978, civilian prime minister from 1969-1972), and Hilla Liman (1934-1998, civilian president from 1979-1981), and John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (1938 to date, civilian president from 2001-2009) - we omit Jerry Rawlings here (1947-to-date, civilian president from 1993 - 2001) - did not deem that exciting beginning. On January 7, 2009, John Atta Mills (1944-to-date) takes over from Kufuor for the next four to eight years.
- intellectually, the 1988 epic and fearless public lectures by the Ghanaian historical academic Prof. Albert Adu Boahen (1932 - 2006) on "The Culture of Silence" that had descended upon Ghana under the dictatorial rule of Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings, as well as his book on his perspectives on Ghana titled "The Ghanaian Sphinx: Reflections on the Contemporary History of Ghana, 1972-1987" [the Ghana-Academy of Arts and Sciences J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures], may have given vibrant impetus for the restoration of multi-party democracy to the country.
- academically, virtually ALL the civilian presidents have been doctoral degree holders and university professors, except soldier-turned-civilian leader Jerry Rawlings
-militarily, the history of military (in)discipline under Generals Joseph Arthur Ankrah (1915-1992, military ruler from 1966-1969), Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa (1936-1979; military leader from 1969-70), Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (1931-1979, military ruler from 1972-1978), Frederic William Akuffo (1937-1979, military ruler from 1978-1979) and ending in Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (1947-to-date, military ruler from June-September 1979, then again 1981 - 1993; civilian ruler from 1993 - 2001) clearing the augean stable (as it were) in 1979 by executing (or causing to be executed) Generals Acheamphong, Afrifa, and Fred Akuffo as well as Joy Amedume, Yaw Boakye, Roger Felli, Kotei, Utuka and Major Sam Acquah. Supreme Court Justices Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong, Frederick Sarkodie, and Cecilia Koranteng Addo were also not spared.
- diversity-wise, all the presidents, civilian and military, have over all of the years come from seven of the ten administrative regions (except Northern, Volta and Upper East regions);
- politically, Ghana has a two-tier modern-traditional CONSTITUTIONAL arrangement: parallel to the central-region-district federal modern arrangement (similar to Nigeria's central-state-local
government arrangement), there is still the traditional and constitutional national house of chiefs-regional house of chiefs - traditional councils arrangement that recognizes the traditional matrilineal-patrilineal-chieftaincy traditions of Ghana. That parallel arrangement MAY ( a big qualified MAY) be giving Ghana a stability that Nigeria does not currently have.
- divinely, God has now blessed Ghana with crude oil (to start being tapped in 2010), which He, in his massive mercy and infinite grace, had given to Nigeria rather prematurely since 1959, and which gift has since been ungraciously and ungratefully twisted into a curse by her leaders.
And How Might Nigeria Become Like Ghana?
How might we Ghanaianize Nigeria? This is the million-dollar question. However from the above observations, we might APPROXIMATE Ghana's conditions as follows:
- we might need to divide Nigeria up up into 4, 8 or 12 more or less autonomous regions, each with about the same geographical area and/or population as Ghana, each with far greater ethnic and religious cohesion, and somehow introduce a traditional admnistrative system that parallels a modern presidential (or I would prefer parliamentary) system.
- we might need to change our name to Songhai,
- organize a hard-hitting Prof. Wole Soyinka national speaking tour.
Other than those, there is nothing we can do with our non-ideological beginnings, or the fact that crude oil was discovered BEFORE our independence, (not AFTER it like in Ghana), or our indisciplined military history, although some would (unwisely) wish a military come-back, bloody or not. We just have to bear those as variables that will for ever make Nigeria distinct from Ghana.
On top of all of that, we should all pray for greater divine intervention in our political and individual lives.
There you have it.
The Ghanaian Leadership Roll Call
Source (Wikipedia)
Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 - 27 April 1972; prime minister from March 6, 1957 – 1 July 1960; president of Ghana from 1 July 1960 – 24 February 1966); from Nkroful, Western Region; Nzima ethnic group.
General Joseph Arthur Ankrah (18 August 1915 - 25 November 1992, military ruler from 24 February, 1966 – 2 April, 1969); of the Ga ethnic group, around Accra capital
General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa (24 April, 1936 - 26 June, 1979 ; military leader from 2 April, 1969 – 3 April, 1970 ); from Mampong, Ashanti Region;
Dr. Kofi Abresia Busia (11 July 1913 - 28 August 1978, civilian prime minister from October 1, 1969 – January 13, 1972); from Wenchi, Brong Ahafo Region.
General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (23 September 1931 – 16 June 1979, military ruler from 13 January 1972 – 5 July 1978); from Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
General Frederic William Akuffo (21 March 1937 – 26 June 1979, military ruler from 5 July, 1978 – 4 June, 1979 ); from Akropong, Eastern Region
Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, military ruler from June 4 -September 24 1979); born in Accra; mother is Ewe, father Scottish.
Dr. Hilla Liman (12 December 1934 – 23 January 1998, civilian president from 24 September 1979 – 31 December 1981); from Gwollu, Upper West Region
Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, military ruler from 31 December 1981 – 7 January 1993); father Scottish.
Jerry Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, civilian president from 7 January 1993 – 7 January 2001 ); mother Ewe, father Scottish.
Dr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (8 December 1938 to date, civilian president from 7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009 ); from Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Prof. John Atta Mills (1944-to-date, civilian president from January 7, 2009 to ?); born Tarkwa, Western Region; hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Mfantsiman East Constituency of the Central region
*Regions of Ghana*
Ghana Empire at its Greatest Extent
______________
Manden Kurufa
Mali Empire
1230s – 1600s
Extent of the Mali Empire (ca. 1350)
____________________
Songhai Empire
c. 1340 – 1591
The Songhai Empire, (ca. 1500)
Well, explaining, without excusing, the differences between Ghana and Nigeria, we must understand that:
- geographically, Ghana is one-fourth the size of Nigeria;
- population-wise, Ghana is one-seventh the population of Nigeria;
- ethnically, Ghana is high-majority 45% Akan (with subunits Asante, Fante, etc.), with Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census; CIA information)
- religiously, Ghana is high-majority 68.8% Christian (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), with Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
- historically, its name evokes a once-glorious Ghana Empire (740s - 1250 AD) - even though that empire was nowhere even coterminous with modern-day Ghana - just as another West African country - Mali, that had successful elections in April 2007 despite fighting poverty - evokes also another once-glorious Mali Empire ( 1230 - 1600s AD)
- ideologically, the socialist beginnings of Ghana under Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah (1909 - 1972, leader of Ghana from 1952 - 1966) gave the country some discipline, much residual of which exists today. Even the episodic succession of less colorful civilians like Kofi Abresia Busia (1913 - 1978, civilian prime minister from 1969-1972), and Hilla Liman (1934-1998, civilian president from 1979-1981), and John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (1938 to date, civilian president from 2001-2009) - we omit Jerry Rawlings here (1947-to-date, civilian president from 1993 - 2001) - did not deem that exciting beginning. On January 7, 2009, John Atta Mills (1944-to-date) takes over from Kufuor for the next four to eight years.
- intellectually, the 1988 epic and fearless public lectures by the Ghanaian historical academic Prof. Albert Adu Boahen (1932 - 2006) on "The Culture of Silence" that had descended upon Ghana under the dictatorial rule of Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings, as well as his book on his perspectives on Ghana titled "The Ghanaian Sphinx: Reflections on the Contemporary History of Ghana, 1972-1987" [the Ghana-Academy of Arts and Sciences J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures], may have given vibrant impetus for the restoration of multi-party democracy to the country.
- academically, virtually ALL the civilian presidents have been doctoral degree holders and university professors, except soldier-turned-civilian leader Jerry Rawlings
-militarily, the history of military (in)discipline under Generals Joseph Arthur Ankrah (1915-1992, military ruler from 1966-1969), Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa (1936-1979; military leader from 1969-70), Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (1931-1979, military ruler from 1972-1978), Frederic William Akuffo (1937-1979, military ruler from 1978-1979) and ending in Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (1947-to-date, military ruler from June-September 1979, then again 1981 - 1993; civilian ruler from 1993 - 2001) clearing the augean stable (as it were) in 1979 by executing (or causing to be executed) Generals Acheamphong, Afrifa, and Fred Akuffo as well as Joy Amedume, Yaw Boakye, Roger Felli, Kotei, Utuka and Major Sam Acquah. Supreme Court Justices Kwadjo Agyei Agyepong, Frederick Sarkodie, and Cecilia Koranteng Addo were also not spared.
- diversity-wise, all the presidents, civilian and military, have over all of the years come from seven of the ten administrative regions (except Northern, Volta and Upper East regions);
- politically, Ghana has a two-tier modern-traditional CONSTITUTIONAL arrangement: parallel to the central-region-district federal modern arrangement (similar to Nigeria's central-state-local
- divinely, God has now blessed Ghana with crude oil (to start being tapped in 2010), which He, in his massive mercy and infinite grace, had given to Nigeria rather prematurely since 1959, and which gift has since been ungraciously and ungratefully twisted into a curse by her leaders.
And How Might Nigeria Become Like Ghana?
How might we Ghanaianize Nigeria? This is the million-dollar question. However from the above observations, we might APPROXIMATE Ghana's conditions as follows:
- we might need to divide Nigeria up up into 4, 8 or 12 more or less autonomous regions, each with about the same geographical area and/or population as Ghana, each with far greater ethnic and religious cohesion, and somehow introduce a traditional admnistrative system that parallels a modern presidential (or I would prefer parliamentary) system.
- we might need to change our name to Songhai,
- organize a hard-hitting Prof. Wole Soyinka national speaking tour.
Other than those, there is nothing we can do with our non-ideological beginnings, or the fact that crude oil was discovered BEFORE our independence, (not AFTER it like in Ghana), or our indisciplined military history, although some would (unwisely) wish a military come-back, bloody or not. We just have to bear those as variables that will for ever make Nigeria distinct from Ghana.
On top of all of that, we should all pray for greater divine intervention in our political and individual lives.
There you have it.
The Ghanaian Leadership Roll Call
Source (Wikipedia)
Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 - 27 April 1972; prime minister from March 6, 1957 – 1 July 1960; president of Ghana from 1 July 1960 – 24 February 1966); from Nkroful, Western Region; Nzima ethnic group.
General Joseph Arthur Ankrah (18 August 1915 - 25 November 1992, military ruler from 24 February, 1966 – 2 April, 1969); of the Ga ethnic group, around Accra capital
General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa (24 April, 1936 - 26 June, 1979 ; military leader from 2 April, 1969 – 3 April, 1970 ); from Mampong, Ashanti Region;
Dr. Kofi Abresia Busia (11 July 1913 - 28 August 1978, civilian prime minister from October 1, 1969 – January 13, 1972); from Wenchi, Brong Ahafo Region.
General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (23 September 1931 – 16 June 1979, military ruler from 13 January 1972 – 5 July 1978); from Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
General Frederic William Akuffo (21 March 1937 – 26 June 1979, military ruler from 5 July, 1978 – 4 June, 1979 ); from Akropong, Eastern Region
Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, military ruler from June 4 -September 24 1979); born in Accra; mother is Ewe, father Scottish.
Dr. Hilla Liman (12 December 1934 – 23 January 1998, civilian president from 24 September 1979 – 31 December 1981); from Gwollu, Upper West Region
Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, military ruler from 31 December 1981 – 7 January 1993); father Scottish.
Jerry Rawlings (22 June 1947 to date, civilian president from 7 January 1993 – 7 January 2001 ); mother Ewe, father Scottish.
Dr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (8 December 1938 to date, civilian president from 7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009 ); from Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Prof. John Atta Mills (1944-to-date, civilian president from January 7, 2009 to ?); born Tarkwa, Western Region; hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Mfantsiman East Constituency of the Central region
*Regions of Ghana*
Ghana Empire at its Greatest Extent
______________
Manden Kurufa
Mali Empire
1230s – 1600s
Extent of the Mali Empire (ca. 1350)
____________________
Songhai Empire
c. 1340 – 1591
The Songhai Empire, (ca. 1500)
