Cambridge Speech. Ghanaians

Ghanaians - Look No Further
On the Graceful Occasion of Ghana‟s Independence
6th of March 2010
Cambridge University Students Society of Ghana
Jesus College, Cambridge
By
P. Ofori-Atta MB.,ChB., FRCS
President, Motec Life UK
Introduction
• Observations at the Ghana High Commission – 20 years
on.
• Demand on the economy, infrastructure, resources.
• Martin Luther King: let us do the job „so well that neither
the living nor the dead can do no better‟.
• Foundation for a vibrant economy capable of sustaining
wealth and good healthy:Mark on the Developmental milestones of our country
Professionals and non-professionals;
• Do we have the opportunity?
07/03/2010
Let Your Life Shine
2
Discovering the Solution –Home and Away
• Pathway after independence – the West & Africa
• Closing the gap - unless a strategy is linked to
„self discovery‟, self assertion
• Sieving the experiences from home and away
• Tactical approach needed: reversal of the
direction of flow: resources, brain, and the end
products of our natural resources
• A mark on the developmental milestone of
Ghana: requirements.
• The Challenge is in our court
Going back home – the richness of
yesterday, today and tomorrow
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Tradition
Our fore-bearers
Commitment
Devotion
Focus on our
progress
• Our National flag
Yaa Asantewaa,. 1840-1921
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The Queen Mother of Asante Ejisu : Anglo-Asante Series of Wars
Courage
• Now I see that some
of you fear to go to
fight for our king.
We the women will
fight till the last of
us falls in the
battlefield
• Died in Exile in
Seychelles 17th
October 1921
Awesome
Ghanaian Personalities – the pride of our growth
and development
Dr Kwegyir Aggrey
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Clergyman, intellectual,
educator
Born at Anomabo , baptised
June 1883
Age 23, emigrated to US,
Carolina 1898
Studied Chemistry, Physics,
Logic, Politics and Economics
Graduated with three degrees
Kwegyir Aggrey -18thOctober 1875 -20th July 1927
• Appointed Priest African Methodist Zion Church 1903 in
Salisbury, USA
• Married American Rose Douglas 1905 – had four
children
• Tutor at Livingstone College
• Doctorate in theology 1912, osteopathy in 1914
• Prime mover Joint Council of Europeans and Africans in
1921
• Spoken languages – English, Latin, Greek, German,
Japanese, Twi
Kwegyir Aggrey at his best
• In 1924, appointed Director of Achimota College by
Governor Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg – the
College for the cream
• College that educated Kwame Nkrumah, Edward Akuffo
Addo, Jerry John Rawlings, former Presidents and
current- John Evans Atta Mills.
• Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia (late President of Ghana) also
taught at that school
• Other African leaders to benefit – Nnamdi Azikwe of
Nigeria, Kamuzu Banda of Malawi
• Robert Mugabe is on his own as a product o f Achimota
Motto of Achimota
UT OMNES UNUM SINT
That All may be One
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07/03/2010
The best use of the minds and
bodies which God has given us
Respect for all that is true and
of lasting value in old African
Culture, Beliefs and Ways of
Life
Friendship, respect and
cooperation between all races
on equal terms
Wikipedia9
Dr Aggrey lives on!
Harmony within Motec
Foundations - Education
• 1920 visited 10 African
countries to research into
education
• Delivered his famous
„keyboard‟ speech in
South Africa on racial
harmony in 1924
NOT FORGOTEN
• Returned to the US in May 1927 with family
• Died in July that year
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The Cream of Africa
Statemanship „THE INDEPENCE OF GHANA IS MEANINGLESS UNTIL
IT IS LINKED WITH THE TOTAL LIBERATION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. AT
LONG LAST, THE BATTLE HAS ENDED. YOUR BELOVED COUNTRY IS FREE
FOREVER’
Freedom
07/03/2010
The African Dimension
Wikipedia13
Kwame Nkrumah
• Wrote titles during the struggles
conscientizing the African - path of
dismantling colonialism and imperialism
• Made efforts to Unite Africa
• Lived in Exile –Vietnam, Guinea, died in a
Romanian Hospital in 1972
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ghanaweb.com14
„Kwame Nkrumah Never dies‟. THE LEGACY
He lives on –
The Akosombo Hydro-Electric Dam and The Port at Tema
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www.ghana web.com
&Wikipedia15
Another „Kwame Nkrumah‟ Akyeampong but this
time as a Skier
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Wilkipedia 16
Dr Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah 1895 -1965
PRINCIPLED TO THE GRAVE
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07/03/2010
Studied Law and Philosophy in
London
Constitutional Reforms in early
40s. First continental African –
doctorate in Law
Political prisoner twice – after
elections and as President of
Ghana Bar of Association
Courage, Principle, Conviction,
Believed in Free Speech and
Choice to his grave behind
bars
Wikipedia &
Encyclopaedia
Britannica 17
Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia
•Mfantsipim. Taught at
Achimota
•In a letter he wrote from
Oxford at the age of twenty-six,
in 1939: “I have always felt it a
duty laid upon me by God to
pursue knowledge and I am
both glad and grateful to have
achieved something of which
my countrymen may be proud.
•My great purpose is to study
all I can, and then when the
time comes to pour out my life
in the service of my God and
my country. Learning without
God is empty. Knowledge is
useless, unless it makes us
better servants of humanity. ”
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Wikipedia18
DR HILLA LIMAN
Less than two years in power
Had drawn up plans to improve
agriculture in Ghana
Known to have reminded his
appointees the code of conduct
while in office
Faced a serious threat from the
military throughout his tenure of
office
Was removed from office by the
military
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Wikipedia19
Jerry John Rawlings
7th Jan 1993 - 2001
• Product of Achimota College
• Led junior officers mutiny in
1979
• Demonstration of patriotism at
court martial helped his
release by the army – June 4th
uprising
• Back in power 31st December
1981
• 1992 -2000 in office as
President
• Joint Recipient of World
Hunger award in 1993
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WIKIPEDIA
1st President 4th republic
Mr John Agyekum
Kufour
Born in 1938
Educated Prempeh College
Enrolled Lincoln Inn London
Called to the Bar in 1961 at
age 21
Entered Oxford University and
passed in 1964 BA Honours in
Economics, Philosophy and
Politics
Subsequently confirmed by
Oxford University by the
tradition of the University with
Masters degree.
Honoured by Liverpool John
Moors University about 4 years
ago University
07/03/2010
ghanaweb.com21
President John Evans
Atta Mills, President of
Ghana 7th Jan. 2009
Born 21st July 1944 at
Tarkwa
Product of Achimota
College & Univ. of Ghana
Pursued legal studies in
London – School of
Oriental and African
Studies - PhD
Won scholarship for his
education at Stanford Law
School in US
Returned to his Alma Mater
–Univ. of Ghana where he
taught for about 25 years
At one time a member of
the National Hockey team
07/03/2010
wikipedia 22
Mr Kofi Annan
HE HAD THE WORLD IN HIS ….
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Wikipedia,
ghanaweb.com23
MR KOFI ANNAN Chapter 1 of Honours wikipedia
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Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi), Honorary Doctor of Science, 24 August 1998
United Nations Mandated University for Peace Honorary President, 1999
Lund University Honorary Doctor of Law, 1999
National University of Ireland, Doctor of Law, 22 January 1999
Technische Universität Dresden doctor honoris causa, 27 April 1999
Howard University honorary doctorate of humane letters, 8 May 1999
University of Notre Dame Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, 21 May 2000
Seton Hall University John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations Honorary Doctorate, February
2001
Brown University, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, 28 May 2001
Liberty Medal, International Selection Commission, Liberty Medal, 4 July 2001
Free University of Berlin, doctor honoris causa, 13 July 2001
Nobel Foundation, The Nobel Peace Prize, jointly presented to Kofi Annan and the United Nations, 2001
Tilburg University, Honorary Doctorate, 2002
Northwestern University, Doctor of Laws, 21 June 2002
2002 winner of the "Profiles in Courage Award" given by the JFK Memorial Museum.
University of Pittsburgh, honorary Doctor of Public and International Affairs degree 21 October 2003
Ghent University (Belgium), doctor honoris causa 21 March 2003
Carleton University, Legum Doctor, honoris causa, 9 March 2004
University of Pennsylvania, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, 16 May 2005
Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty, (Portugal), 11 October 2005
Universidade Nova de Lisboadoctor honoris causa, 12 October 2005
The George Washington University, Doctor of Public Service, 5 May 2006
University of Tokyo, Honorary Doctorate, 18 May 2006
Mr Kofi Annan – Chapter 2 of Honours
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Order of the Netherlands Lion, Knight Grand Cross, 2006
Georgetown University, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, 30 October 2006
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Max Schmidheiny Foundation Freedom Prize
(originally awarded 2003, but postponed due to Annan's illness), 18 November 2006
• Princeton University, Crystal Tiger Award, 28 November 2006
• Inter Press Service, International Achievement Award for Annan's lasting
contributions to peace, security, and development, 19 December 2006
• Olof Palme Prize, 2006
Honorary Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II (GCMG), 2007.[38]
• MacArthur Foundation MacArthur Award for International Justice
• King's College London, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, 28 May 2008
• North-South Prize of the Council of Europe 2007
• Peace of Westphalia Prize 2008
• Havard university Honors Prize29 January 2008
Our Growth as a country has an added spice –
Tetteh Quarshie : 1842 -1892 ghana web.com
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Son of a farmer
Blacksmith, hobby - farming
1870 emigrated to Fernando
Po, now Bioko in Equitorial
New Guinea
Though debatable, accredited
with introducing cocoa beans
to the Gold Coast
Planted first tree in Akuampem
Mampong in 1879
First export to W/Africa 1893 –
2 bags
1910 -1980, World No 1
producer of Cocoa
“When the water starts boiling,
it is foolish to turn off the heat” N MANDELLA
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Be your brothers keeper
www.moteclife.co.uk
Galvanising our resolve
quotegarden.com
• We must become the change that we want to see –
Mahatma Ghandi
• First I shake the whole apple tree that the ripest might
fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb and then
each branch and then each twig and then look under the
leave – Martin Luther King
• I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost
them all, but whatever I have placed in God‟s hands, that
I still possess – Martin Luther King
• The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to
be productive, to be useful, to have it make some
difference that you have lived at all – Leo Rostec
MOTEC LIFE - UK
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Movement of people, experts
Orthopaedic - Trauma Service initially
Transfer of Technology, Skills
Education, Efficiency, work Ethic
Capacity increase in target institutions
Leadership that is prepared to lead & learn
Industry
Faithfulness
Economical
MOTEC: A “Medical” Charity
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Medical
Surgical
Nursing
Rehabilitation
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Education and training
Humanitarian
Generating income
Providing nutrition
Building Communities
Saving Lives
Membership - healthcare logistics, research
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Nurses
Doctors
Pharmacists
Physiotherapists
Engineers
Agriculturists
Teachers
Pastors
Students
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Administrators
Plumbers
Accountants
Chiefs
I.T Experts
Policemen
Politicians
Solicitors
Collaborations – mobilising for Ghana
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Tropical Health and Education Trust, London
The International Organisation for Migration, Brussels
Migration and Development in Africa. Den Hague
The International Development Company, Dublin
The World Orthopaedic Concern – UK
British Medical Product Manufacturing Companies
The Ghana High Commission, London
The Ministry of Health / Ghana Health Service
Christian Health Association of Ghana / National
Catholic Health Service
• International Spouses Association of Ghana
Collaboration with International Development Company Dublin
Mobilising for Ghana – The Paddington Group
Collaborate while safeguarding the goals of your policies
Motec with International Organisation for Migration Boss
Motec at The Tropical Health Education Trust in London
Moving forwards –
African
representations
Ghana
Guinea Bissau
Angola
Kenya
Ethiopia
07/03/2010
37
Collaborating with British Medical Manufacturing
Companies – Cirencester, England
Zena Bullmore MBE, Dacorum Action Group of
Hemel Hempstead at Motec‟s AGM 2009
Zena, „the warrior princess‟.
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You have got to win their
trust. You have to give them
the facts. You have to get
• people to see the justice of
what you are doing. And you
must respect your fellow
• man.”
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“If a thing is right, it’s right.”
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“Promises must be kept”.
Says Zena.
• I cherish the work you are doing
and I forever, as long as I live, will
support your work
• Motec is making, YOU are making,
a significant contribution to the
uplifting of Africa, and closing the
gap between the West and Africa”
• It is through your work that the
world will become a better place
Identify People Who may be Inspirational and share similar
objectives – Motec with Lord Prof David Alton
What the Patrons Say
Daasebre Prof Oti Boateng
• It is through your work
that the world will
become a better place
• Motec is making, you
are making a significant
contribution to the
uplifting of Africa and
closing the gap
between the West and
Africa
Prof Lord David Alton
• Little things can make a
big difference to people‟s
lives (commenting on the
donation of a basic
fishing boat to a family
head in Ethiopia)
In the beginning.
Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something
“A good head and a
good heart are always
a formidable
combination”
N. MANDELA
It is not expected to be easy – the burden we face
Opportunities
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Motec Life – UK
website49
“Education is the
most visit
powerful weapon
June
which you can use to change the world”
N. MANDELA
PARAMEDIC TRAINING BY MOTEC IN GHANA
“We dedicate ourselves to serving the sick
and those in need,
with a preference for the poorest”
BRO FORTUNATUS
Give from your heart, the best you can offer
Workshop at Akosombo
Ghana
07/03/2010
Book donation to Nurses
College at Nkawkaw
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The Journey
Help needed at home
Children’s Homes
supported
07/03/2010
Deformities corrected
61
“After climbing a great hill,
one only finds that there are many more hills to climb “
N. MANDELA
Dinner Dance!
2nd October 2010
Summer Event!
26th June 2010
CLEAR AND DEFINED OBJECTIVES / TIME TABLE
2010 AND 2011
• 3 visits 2010
• April, June, October
• 2011 – June, October
• Clinical work
• Educational
• Fund Raising –in the UK – 4 major events
• NUWLIFE nutritional project
• Surgicentre opening: June 2010!
• Sharing Ideas Saving Lives
Project in India
• Basic Trauma
Implant
Manufacturing
“Whatever you do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.“
JOHANN WOLFGANG
„The time is always right to do what is right‟
Martin Luther King
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Sensitivity to recognise need
Open our hearts
Responsive, flexible
Define the task Set Goals
Recruit the workforce
Tackle the problems!
Be Proud to be Ghanaian, be proud to fight for a just cause
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Overdue
Our Hope for Years to Come
• So go tell your friends, brothers, sisters in Cambridge,
Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, on the mountains, valleys,
churches, mosques, everywhere that on this day, when
Ghana celebrates her independence, that the world we
live in is now interdependent. That our sacrifices today
and the opportunities we enjoy, the „brain we gain‟ here
in Cambridge and elsewhere are the formidable
resources we are blessed with to help transform hope
into reality for the impoverished, the black star of Ghana
and the world at large.
We must serve humanity with all our experiences. That
time is NOW!
Leadership is action, not position
Thank You!
Thank You!