RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'

[th...@earthlink.net]

Honorable Citizens:

 

What would make any Afrikan to be sure that "garbage" from Canada to Ghana will be "clean" and not contaminated with other undesirable by-products --- toxic waste, for instance?  In any case, the idea of a relatively  poor Afrikan country importing garbage --- clean or not --- from a rich industrial nation does not seem too kosher.  Transporting raw materials for the waste-to-energy plant 7,000 mile or so away with all the encumbrances of international sea traffic, red tapes, environmental protests, etc. makes this a disaster in the making.  The question, of course, is whether Kumasi and surrounds provides enough garbage of their own to sustain the W-T-E plant.

As far as cost, it seems like if this is the true cost of the project, $250 million to produce 50MW of electricity over 15 years, it will translate into about four cents (US) per Kwh.  Compared to 11 cents per Kwh in the US, this seems like a bargain.

That said, why would Afrikans want to export our garbage from Freetown, for example, to Kumasi?  Any reason why we cannot convert our own garbage into electricity and solve our own greenhouse and sanitation problem?

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Akurang-Parry, Kwabena

To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com

Sent: 11/26/2008 10:37:29 AM

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'

Pius,

 

Your forget that I am a Pan-Africanist and certainly love Nigeria as I much as I love Ghana. The fact of the matter is that garbage in parts of Accra alone would satisfy the needs of the "new industry" in Ghana. Just pause and think: if Ghanaians know that their garbage has value and can fuel the economy they would produce more garbage. In fact, garbage may even eclipse cocoa and gold in Ghana. Please ask the Lagos City authorities to store their garbage because the Ghanaian authorities would certainly "import" it in the near future. Who knows, may be the "new industry" in Ghana may diffuse to Nigeria, a signifier of our sisterly and brotherly love, and then all can share our wealth in garbage production!

 

Kwabena.

 

Kwabena Akurang-Parry, Ph. D.

(Assoc Prof of African History & World History)

Dept of History

Shippensburg University

Shippensburg, PA, 17257, USA

 

Phone: 717 477 1286

Fax:     717 477 4062

---

From: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com [USAAfric...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Pius Adesanmi [piusad...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:45 AM
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [from Canada]'

Pablo, Ken, Kwabena,   Now we know that you guys are enemies of Nigeria. How come none of you is talking about this thing as a fantastic business opportunity for Lagos? Oshodi and Ajegunle alone can supply all the garbage that Ghana and Michigan need for fifty years without making a dent in the overall strategic garbage reserves of the city of Lagos. Ayo Obe: do you have access to Governor Fashola? He must hear this!!!   Pius Pius Adesanmi, Ph.D. Associate Professor Director, Project on New African Literatures (PONAL) Department of English Carleton University Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6 Tel: +1 613 520 2600 ext. 1175 www.projectponal.com --- On Wed, 26/11/08, Dr. Valentine Ojo <val...@md.metrocast.net> wrote: From: Dr. Valentine Ojo <val...@md.metrocast.net> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [from Canada]' To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com Cc: "kenneth harrow" <har...@msu.edu>, "Akurang-Parry, Kwabena" <KAP...@ship.edu> Date: Wednesday, 26 November, 2008, 5:25 AM "...the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would not stop collecting money for the disposal of waste, and would not buy the garbage from anyone, even when the country needed it, but rather residents would continue to pay for rubbish they give to the KMA for disposal." This is the part I do not quite get: Ghana will pay to import "Oyinbo garbage" from Canada, but the residents of the Kumasi area will continue to pay to have their own "local garbage" disposed of? By what 'logic'? Only in Africa! Dr. Valentine Ojo Tall Timbers, MD "kenneth harrow" <har...@msu.edu> writes: > just in case you don't know this, michigan also > imports garbage from canada....not without some controversy too > ken > > At 09:53 PM 11/25/2008, Akurang-Parry, Kwabena wrote: > >>Na wa oh my sisters and brothers! Our leaders >>are killing us. This is unbelievable, but then >>again everything is possible when African >>leaders deal with their foreign counterparts! >>Why wouldn’t we “import” garbage in urban >>Africa, but Canadian one? We are very familiar >>with "African" garbage, at least! The garbage in >>Kumasi and Accra alone would do the trick! Hey, >>it is oburoni’s [white man’s] garbage, I >>suppose! New technology and it happens to deal >>with imported garbage. Years ago, the Ghanaian >>government had agreed to resettle American-based >>"laboratory-used," aging monkeys in Ghana. That >>project failed because Ghanaians overseas, led >>by Dr. Kofi Elison, among others, were able to >>stop the government from implementing >>that "monkey" business. This one too should be >>stopped. "Well, well," as the frog wails, our >>contradictions and paradoxes never seem to end! >> >>Kwabena >> >> Ghanweb, November >> 25, 2008 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = >> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> >> >>Ghana to import garbage >> >>… As Canadians inspect landfill site >> >>MR. MAXWELL Kofi Jumah, Deputy Minister of Local >>Government, Science and Environment and Member >>of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa constituency in >>the Ashanti Region, has hinted that the country >>would import garbage to augment the new >>technology of transforming waste to energy, >>which is scheduled to take place early next year. >> >>According to him, the project, which would cost >>the country $250 million after completion, will >>provide Kumasi and its environs 50 megawatts of >>energy for the next fifteen years. >> >>He said this in a meeting with the community >>leaders, after EITI Limited, a Canadian-based >>company, had inspected the landfill site at Atonsu-Dompoase last >> Thursday. >> >>He stated that since the waste in the country >>was insufficient to provide the company with the >>requisite quantity, which is needed to commence >>operations with modern technology, the >>government is making the necessary arrangements >>with other countries, to import junk to the >>country for the commencement of the project. >> >>He also disclosed that the Kumasi Metropolitan >>Assembly (KMA) would not stop collecting money >>for the disposal of waste, and would not buy the >>garbage from anyone, even when the country >>needed it, but rather residents would continue >>to pay for rubbish they give to the KMA for disposal. >> >>He further stated that not only was the new >>technology going to improve the energy system in >>the city, but also going to serve as a tool of >>employment for the youth, since the company had >>been mandated to work collaboratively with the >>local engineers, and also teach the university >>students in the country how the new technology >>is operated. He again said labourers would be employed at the landfill >> site. >> >>He also revealed that roads leading to the site >>would also be constructed, because not only was >>the project going to be beneficiary to its >>neighbours, it was also going to serve as a >>tourist attraction, since it is the first in West Africa. >> >>Mr. Roy Duodu Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer >>(CEO) of EITI Company, who is also the brain >>behind the project, said the project was in two >>phases, where the phase one would see engineers >>transform the waste into pellets, in order to >>remove the bad odour, so as not to pollute the surrounding communities. >> >>He revealed that the second phase of the project >>would see the engineers use the pellets as a >>source of generator for the main project to commence. >> >>He said the communities which would be affected >>are Kuwait, Oti, Abrabo and Dompoase. “We are >>passionate of the environment, and the >>communities are assured of 99.99% clean air and water”. >> >>Source: >>Chronicle (Accra, Ghana) >> >> >>Kwabena Akurang-Parry, Ph. D. >>(Assoc Prof of African History & World History) >>Dept of History >>Shippensburg University >>Shippensburg, PA, 17257, USA >> >>Phone: 717 477 1286 >>Fax: 717 477 4062 >> >> > Kenneth W. Harrow > Professor of English > Michigan State University > har...@msu.edu > 517 353-7243 > fax 353 3755 > > >

[IYANDA, O. (PROF.)]

One additional question arising from Ghana importing garbage from Canada, apart from those raised as to source (Canada rather than Nigeria or even Accra) and safety (toxic or not) is the cost. Who will be paying whom? How much will Canada pay Ghana for serving as its (Canada)garbage dump? Or is Ghana expected to pay Canada for helping it to keep Ottawa clean and wholesome?

As they say, wonders never end.   It seems the West has run out of unserviceable motor vehicles and spare parts, unserviceable fridges and computers, and “bosicorner” clothing. Since we must always import from the West using the aid or loans granted by them, what else to import than garbage, of which we indeed should be leading exporters?

I thought the government in Ghana was much saner than its Nigerian brother. At least, no Ghana government officials or legislator have held their retreats in Nigeria, as a way of spending hard currency and earning estacode. 

I hope this madness shall pass and President Kuffour would redeem his image of a sane, and committed leadership.

 

Olukunle Iyanda

University of Botswana

Gaborone

[Tayo Fakiyesi]

 
Black man na  black man everywhere! How can we explain Ghana importing toxic waste from Canada. Canada has more land to dump waste than than the whole of Ghana.
 
I am sure discussin this issue in this forum will be sufficient to make Ghana have a rethink because some body some where will give a listening ear in Ghana. Is there anyone to give a listening ear in Nigeria?
 
Tayo

---

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'

Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:26:47 +0200
From: IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com

[Tony Agbali]

"...why would Afrikans want to export our garbage from Freetown, for example, to Kumasi?  Any reason why we cannot convert our own garbage into electricity and solve our own greenhouse and sanitation problem?"   This hits the nail on the head. If Ghana has set the policy standard of jumping to the latest technology craze, then other African nations, especially the Lagos powerhouse of garbage should be used as an alternative to the deplorable Nigerian energy problem of NEPA, for instance.   As Garbage is money now, I hope the next war would not be fought over garbage rights. I bet archaeologists would be sampling the garbage sites in different African countries to quantity what proportion of the accrued garbage is western by right, given labels found on garbage items. I will cross my hand and await the next scuds over this matter.  Before the water wars emerge, it seems the garbage war would propel the next global war. --- On Wed, 11/26/08, th...@earthlink.net <th...@earthlink.net> wrote:

[Pius Adesanmi]

Prof Iyanda:   I disagree with you here o. If Ghana is buying garbage from Canada, Ghana must pay O. As my main man, Ambassador Chief Abass Obesere, would rapala it: "Eni ti o r'ago, k'oni s'ago m'owo".  Na Ghana buy wrist watch, she must pay for di wrist watch. I don't see how Ottawa is to blame for this. Dem force Ghana? Dem tie Ghana hand? It's like that infuriating American rhetoric about the need to stop giving 700 billion dollars annually to "folks in the Middle East who do not like us". It's no a gift!! You are not "giving" 700 billion dollars!! You are buying oil for God's sake.   But seriously, Ghana should look inwards for this one as Kwabena suggests. There is enough garbage in Ghana and the rest of Africa to go round. And if I know our friends in Abuja, it won't be long before the "giant and big brother of Africa" delusion kicks in. Kwabena, you will soon hear talk of "a high-powered Federal government delegation" on an estacode-driven mission to Accra to explore how to donate garbage to Ghana "in line with Nigeria's policy of taking care of our smaller neighbours". By the way, people in Ghana should watch out: soon there will be a flurry of emails emanating from yahoo boys in Lagos claiming to be in possession of special Canadian garbage worth 500 million dollars. The garbage originally belonged to the family of  Pierre Eliot Trudeau but has been unclaimed since the Prime Minister died...

Pius Pius Adesanmi, Ph.D. Associate Professor Director, Project on New African Literatures (PONAL) Department of English Carleton University Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6 Tel: +1 613 520 2600 ext. 1175 www.projectponal.com

--- On Wed, 26/11/08, IYANDA, O. (PROF.) <IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw> wrote:

From: IYANDA, O. (PROF.) <IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]' To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com

[Olumide Olaniyan]

Oga Pius,

 

I have no option but to sue you for damages! You made me to spit tea involuntarily on my laptop, while it was warming my laptop in the hot weather of Abuja, as I sat under a dogoyaro tree trying to compose a poem that would link the cold governance and hot weather that we are experiencing in Abuja these past few days. My mission is to take over the title of no. 1 poemist from the writer of 'In sane society'.

 

While I was ruminating on how to start, I vied into my email box to see if there has been any change in art of governance since oga resumed office on 29 May 2007; only to see you writing so fluently about the yahoo-yahoo boyz / babes and the Garbage Initiative for Africa Development (GIAD) from our West African sister - Ghana;  formerly known as Gold Coast now to be known and referred to as Garbage Coast. You skill at yahoo-yahoo composition gives an impression that you deserve to take over from madam Fansida at he-ef-si-si. I am sure you would be able to chase Nuhu faster, especially these days that he is fond of wearing white flowing agbada, which is not as smart as a DCP uniform.

 

Let me not forsake the case wey brought me here. I have spitted tea on my laptop, despite trying hard to hold back the fierce grin that seized me while reading your email. so, how wan settle this matter bros?

 

If the computer fail to recover: here are the options I would suggest:

(a) We would send it to technicians in Saudi at your own cost, the VAT - would that go to the Nigerian or Saudi government? A consultant would be hired to help us decide that.

(b) I would add it to the small debris I already gathered in my premises; I have be cleaning my community of debris in recent time and put the dirt in my compound as my own contribution to Clean Environment for All by 2020. Then, being an insider in Canada, you would help me to export it over there, and we would re-import it to Ghana

(c) We meet through the auspices of AU to settle the matter via ADR mechanism

(d) We settle the matter through roporopo fight for court?

 

So, choose this day what you would do.

 

I dey wait.

Olumide

------------------------------------------------------------

Let us go ahead. The struggle for a better world never ends - Victor Valle

---

From: Pius Adesanmi <piusad...@yahoo.com>
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 19:46:12

[Cornelius Hamelberg]

So it’s business as usual – and as long as there is some benefit on
the receiving side - where utility counts for most , then this sort
of business will go with the approval of the African governments most
directly affected.

I suppose that it’s OK - but for the questions already being raised
and I suppose that the trade/ exchange will continue as long as it
doesn’t escalate – having started so innocently with ordinary waste
and then - that ground having been so well prepared, the next stage we
could be hearing about is that that our part of Africa is where their
NUCLEAR WASTE was destined to be buried…..

Diverse African one-man / group entrepreneurs in Sweden have been
collecting old computers and old refrigerators - along with old
clothes to export to Africa. In Sierra Leone such items of apparel are
called “Jongs” and though they were intended to be given away - as
charity - it so happens that now-a-days they are mostly sold
cheaply, but still at considerable profit - to the disadvantage of
those who are most in need of being clothed.

In the case of old fridges which may otherwise so easily be
rehabilitated, such is our / Swedish) environmental consciousness of
the health hazards posed by freons – that such exports simply do not
take place. WE have to be on our guard about freons.

Similar safe-guards must be in place for the export of not only
recyclable commodities but even for what in the Wild West is simply
termed WASTE----

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK257&q=freons

The corollary of all this is not about developing Africa exporting
some waste or recycled waste back to where it came from, but of
African limbs, hearts, kidneys etc becoming spare parts for organ
transplants in high-life expectancy Europe and North America……

The trade in organs has not yet fully begun but is already a problem……

On Nov 27, 1:27 pm, Olumide Olaniyan <olumy...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Oga Pius,
>
> I have no option but to sue you for damages! You made me to spit tea involuntarily on my laptop, while it was warming my laptop in the hot weather of Abuja, as I sat under a dogoyaro tree trying to compose a poem that would link the cold governance and hot weather that we are experiencing in Abuja these past few days. My mission is to take over the title of no. 1 poemist from the writer of 'In sane society'.
>

> While I was ruminating on how to start, I vied into my email box to see if there has been any change inart of governance since oga resumed office on 29 May 2007; only to see you writing so fluently about the yahoo-yahoo boyz / babes and the Garbage Initiative for Africa Development (GIAD) from our West African sister - Ghana;  formerly known as Gold Coast now to be known and referred to as Garbage Coast. You skill at yahoo-yahoo composition gives an impression that you deserve to take over from madam Fansida at he-ef-si-si. I am sure you would be able to chase Nuhu faster, especially these days that he is fond of wearing white flowing agbada, which is not as smart as a DCP uniform.

>
> Let me not forsake the case wey brought me here. I have spitted tea on my laptop, despite trying hard to hold back the fierce grin that seized me while reading your email. so, how wan settle this matter bros?
>
> If the computer fail to recover: here are the options I would suggest:
> (a) We would send it to technicians in Saudi at your own cost, the VAT - would that go to the Nigerian or Saudi government? A consultant would be hired to help us decide that.
> (b) I would add it to the small debris I already gathered in my premises; I have be cleaning my community of debris in recent time and put the dirt in my compound as my own contribution to Clean Environment for All by 2020. Then, being an insider in Canada, you would help me to export it over there, and we would re-import it to Ghana
> (c) We meet through the auspices of AU to settle the matter via ADR mechanism
> (d) We settle the matter through roporopo fight for court?
>
> So, choose this day what you would do.
>
> I dey wait.
> Olumide
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Let us go ahead. The struggle for a better world never ends - Victor Valle
>
> ________________________________

> From: Pius Adesanmi <piusadesa...@yahoo.com>

> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 19:46:12
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'
>
> Prof Iyanda:
>
> I disagree with you here o. If Ghana is buying garbage from Canada, Ghana must pay O. As my main man, Ambassador Chief Abass Obesere, would rapala it: "Eni ti o r'ago, k'oni s'ago m'owo".  Na Ghana buy wrist watch, she must pay for di wrist watch. I don't see how Ottawa is to blame for this. Dem force Ghana? Dem tie Ghana hand? It's like that infuriating American rhetoric about the need to stop giving 700 billion dollars annually to "folks in the Middle East who do not like us". It's no a gift!! You are not "giving" 700 billion dollars!! You are buying oil for God's sake.
>
> But seriously, Ghana should look inwards for this one as Kwabena suggests. There is enough garbage in Ghana and the rest of Africa to go round. And if I know our friends in Abuja, it won't be long before the "giant and big brother of Africa" delusion kicks in. Kwabena, you will soon hear talk of "a high-powered Federal government delegation" on an estacode-driven mission to Accra to explore how to donate garbage to Ghana "in line with Nigeria's policy of taking care of our smaller neighbours". By the way, people in Ghana should watch out: soon there will be a flurry of emails emanating from yahoo boys in Lagos claiming to be in possession of special Canadian garbage worth 500 million dollars. The garbage originally belonged to the family of  Pierre Eliot Trudeau but has been unclaimed since the Prime Minister died...
>
> Pius
>
> Pius Adesanmi, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor
> Director, Project on New African Literatures (PONAL)
> Department of English
> Carleton University
> Ottawa, Canada
> K1S 5B6
>
> Tel: +1 613 520 2600 ext. 1175
>
> www.projectponal.com
>
> --- On Wed, 26/11/08, IYANDA, O. (PROF.) <IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw> wrote:
>
> From: IYANDA, O. (PROF.) <IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw>
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'
> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, 26 November, 2008, 4:26 PM
>
> One additional question arising from Ghana importing garbage from Canada, apart from those raised as to source (Canada rather than Nigeria or even Accra) and safety (toxic or not) is the cost. Who will be paying whom? How much will Canada pay Ghana for serving as its (Canada)garbage dump? Or is Ghana expected to pay Canada for helping it to keep Ottawa clean and wholesome?
> As they say, wonders never end.   It seems the West has run out of unserviceable motor vehicles and spare parts, unserviceable fridges and computers, and “bosicorner” clothing. Since we must always import from the West using the aid or loans granted by them, what else to import than garbage, of which we indeed should be leading exporters?

> I thought the government in Ghana was much saner than its Nigerian brother. At least, no Ghana government officials or legislator have held their retreatsin Nigeria, as a way of spending hard currency and earning estacode. 

[Dr. Valentine Ojo]

Computers notoriously contain considerable amounts of mercury.

Mercury is not easy to dispose of.

Many dis-used and "re-cycled" computers end up in African nations, many
even as "donations".

Convenient dumping ground for an inconvenient element?

Dr. Valentine Ojo
Tall Timbers, MD

[Akurang-Parry, Kwabena]

We love "Western" junk! There is a Ghanaian joke, and please, I am only telling a joke oh: Ghanaians like second-hand or used "dress" imported from the West because of the perception that they are all "designer" ones! This speaks volumes about our perspectives on the Western world! Think about our agbaja, batakari, kente, etc. And think about why President Kufour entombed himself in a pair of "suut" during the formal celebration of Ghana's birthday: 50th year of independence. Na "designer" de go. Anyway, President Olusegun Obasanjo stole the show with his all-encompassing agbaja that eclipsed the sun in Ghana.

Kwabena.

Kwabena Akurang-Parry, Ph. D.
(Assoc Prof of African History & World History)
Dept of History
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, PA, 17257, USA

Phone: 717 477 1286
Fax: 717 477 4062

________________________________________
From: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com [USAAfric...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Dr. Valentine Ojo [val...@md.metrocast.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 8:29 PM
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Cornelius Hamelberg

[Cornelius Hamelberg]

Thanks for the info.alert.

The export of used computers is big business and ton loads of
computers are discarded or dumped as waste material over here because
in our Sweden which is the most computerised society in the world
there is the ever-mad rush to get the latest in computers, computer
games and mobile phones. So the older models are soon discarded as
waste. Those who collect them freely to export for profit or charity
are mostly well-intentioned and feel that they are supplying an
African underdevelopment need.

Here (in Sweden) we have special collection centres for even used
batteries.

How does this knowledge about the dangers of mercury that is not so
easily disposable filter through to the authorities who must take the
urgent precautionary measures – for the health and survival of the
endangered African species?

Here’s a question that doesn’t go away: to what extent do all the
relevant forum deliberations impact on our African governments’
policies?

Much of the Salmon here is artificially reared in Norway and we are
told that it is not safe to consume this entirely kosher salmon more
than twice a week because of the higher/unsafe levels of mercury and
possibly other poisonous/harmful substances present in such
artificially reared fish.

Makes me think of the Ellah Lakes fish-farming in Umoku (Catfish is
not Kosher) and of possible health hazards arising from the booming
fish-farming business in Eritrea where fish farming is quite an
advanced agricultural project

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html

http://www.google.com/search?sa=N&tab=nw&q=Salmon%20and%20mercury

http://www.wildforsalmon.com/aboutscokeye.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK257&q=Ellah+Lakes



On Nov 30, 2:29 am, "Dr. Valentine Ojo" <val...@md.metrocast.net>
wrote:

> >> Gaborone- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Dr. Valentine Ojo]

Yes, indeed, WE - Africans, and not only Ghanaians - LOVE 'Western Junk' -
material, educational, spiritual, possibly our most persistent 'Colonial
Hangover".

Nigerians refer to imported 'Western junk' euphemistically as "Second
New"! It's a sign that you are 'urbane' and 'civilized', using 'Western
products' in preference to home-produced ones, even when the home-produced
ones could be better!

As long as this "love affair with Western junk" continues, when shall we
ever again become creative, using our own innate abilities, rather than
relying on 'Oyinbo-hand-me-downs', including those intended as "charity"
but invariably end up being re-sold bu unscrupulous African traders?

When shall we start our own cottage and manufacturing industries?

And an important question asked by Cornelius Hamelberg:

"How does this knowledge about the dangers of mercury that is not so

easily disposable [and allied issues discussed on these forums] filter

through to the authorities who must take the urgent precautionary measures
– for the health and survival of the endangered African species?"

Or do they simply remain like our 'published papers' - gathering Internet
dust, to be quoted or critiqued only by our intellectual peers?

What a waste!

Dr. Valentine Ojo
tall Timbers, MD

P.S. Kwabena, the Ghana Team wore a beautiful attire though at the opening
the Olympics ceremonies in Beijing.

[Tade Aina]

Tayo! You don come again o! This is not a black man's problem o. It is greed and failure of policy and institutions. people and governments not subject to scrutiny or the control of working and accountable institutions will do anything they can get away with!

Sociology teaches us this!And maybe theology too!

-Tade.

---

From: Tayo Fakiyesi <fakiye...@hotmail.com>
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:57:31 PM

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'

[Etannibi Alemika]

Tade. Thanks for reminding us the need to avoid
self-vicitimization, by attributing all evils to
Africa and Africans. We need to make our governemnts
in Africa become more responsible. This requires a
combination of strategies - resistance in and of
unions, social movements and groups, partisan
political involvement on the side of democratic and
good governance, etc. I know that the denigration of
Africa and Africans by African intellectuals will not
produce good governance. We need to avoid paralysing
cynicism or using this platform to demean Africans and
Africa. Does it mean that nothing good or positive has
ever happened in Africa warranting dicussion on this
listserve?

Etannibi

> retreatsin Nigeria, as a way of spending hard

[Yemi Oke]

Dear all,

I align myself with Prof Fakiyesi's submissions. What needs have Ghana for the Canadian (toxic) solid waste? Most of the harmful wastes of these developed countries are already "externalised" to the whole world with the developing countries having unfair share due to their relative inability to deploy technology to control or diffuse its impacts.

For Ghana to now 'trade' in it would be most unreasonable. I hope increasing presence of Nigerian traders in Accra and other parts of Ghana will not resort in venturing into sub-regional trading of Ghana's toxic purchases from Canada to Ghana and then to Nigeria-all in the name of "business".

If Ghana decides not to be bulged, I have no problems because the toxic in my home in Toronto would have been "sold", but my worries is being "re-sold" to Nigeria again.

On a serious note, this is mis-adventure if at all ventured into by Ghana or any country in Africa.

Kind regards.


--------------------
YEMI OKE
PhD; LL.M (Osgoode, Canada)
LL.B (Ilorin); B.L(Abuja, Nig.)

"In search of the SOLUTION"

On Nov 26, 2008, fakiye...@hotmail.com wrote:

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Black man na  black man everywhere! How can we explain Ghana importing toxic waste from Canada. Canada has more land to dump waste than than the whole of Ghana.
 
I am sure discussin this issue in this forum will be sufficient to make Ghana have a rethink because some body some where will give a listening ear in Ghana. Is there anyone to give a listening ear in Nigeria?
 
Tayo

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Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:26:47 +0200
From: IYA...@mopipi.ub.bw
To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com

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One additional question arising from Ghana importing garbage from Canada, apart from those raised as to source (Canada rather than Nigeria or even Accra) and safety (toxic or not) is the cost. Who will be paying whom? How much will Canada pay Ghana for serving as its (Canada)garbage dump? Or is Ghana expected to pay Canada for helping it to keep Ottawa clean and wholesome?

As they say, wonders never end.   It seems the West has run out of unserviceable motor vehicles and spare parts, unserviceable fridges and computers, and “bosicorner” clothing. Since we must always import from the West using the aid or loans granted by them, what else to import than garbage, of which we indeed should be leading exporters?

I thought the government in Ghana was much saner than its Nigerian brother. At least, no Ghana government officials or legislator have held their retreats in Nigeria, as a way of spending hard currency and earning estacode. 

[Tayo Fakiyesi]

Tade,
I have been far away from electricity and hence internet, otherwise your intervention is always very educating and illuminating to me to warrant quick response.  we have been at this right from our small rooms call offices on the 3rd floor or Faculty of Arts Building, Unilag.
Tade, if not blackness, calculate what Nigeria earned from Oil in the past 10 years. What have we got to show for it? Is it roads, electricity or rail? Take a look at the following economies- Malaysia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi even Indonesia with all the problems(population, religion, ethinicity and a more difficult terrain). What is happeniing in Zimbabwe, Congo DRC, Cote d'Ivoire etc. Please do not reduce them to new neo-colonialist and those big terms.
 
Yrs
 
tayo
 
  

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Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:30:52 -0800
From: tadeak...@yahoo.com

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: 'Ghana to import garbage [fromCanada]'

To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com; usaafric...@googlegroups.com