Recent news

Sometimes I worry I'm given too much power here. On the weekend we went up to Tamale where I researched a story on HIV/AIDS work in Northern Ghana. I talked to a guy who said "the media hold the most power in Ghana. Everyboy used to fear the military, now they fear the media." I reflected on how just the other day the TV had picked up a story I did on housing in Ghana and were analysing it in detail. In Tamale Miia saw another program where they were debating a piece I did on rental accomodation. It's common practice here for TV news and radio news to read the paper on air and discuss it.

But the craziest is that I drafted an editorial in which we proposed considering a more central capital, ala Nigeria or Brazil. I picked a random city from the map because it looked the most central, just to illustrate the point. Next thing I know a high up MP is talking about exploring the possibility of making that town the new capital. It's unlikely to happen, but still. That issue has become a hot topic on the chat rooms since our article.

In other news, I got a call from a guy who saw some of my articles and wants me to write for some publication in UK, for Ghanaians I think. I'm meeting him tomorrow to learn more. So, workwise, all is well. Here are some recent samples:

Kofi Annan - A gem, born for greatness - editorial (the day it was published he started talking nonsens about bringing the 'green revolution' to Ghana because it apparently worked so well in Indian and China that there is no starvation there anymore, wha?)
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/editorial_detail.php?newsid=126&section=0

A case for de-monopolising Ghana's cities - editorial by me and Bossman (mine are the more coherent bits, his are the more knowledgeable) http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/editorial_detail.php?newsid=125&section=0

Offices at residential areas pushing up house prices, cover story (this ran the same day as the Kofi Annan editorial and the rentals feature, giving me the equivilent of the triple crown)
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=1&newsid=2196

The case for rentals - feature
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=7&newsid=2215

A brief history of housing in Ghana - feature
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=7&newsid=2158

What is Culture? - feature in special edition (TRCA folks will hopefully recognize some of these concepts)
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=7&newsid=2147