Dear Editor

Dear Editor I would be extremely sincere if you have me a space in your unbiased, non-partisan, unintimidating and unquestionable up-to-standard newspaper to voice my long pregnant plight. Cos I'm really loosing my patience. This goes out to all christians especially men and women of collar. The Politician has failed us. Why? Sir if you are to witness the number of people just in Accra here who cannot afford common portable drinking water to drink and food to eat, when the Politician for every month takes nothing less than GHC10,000 (all forms of allowances, committee sitting and all benefits put together). I think you'll regret the day Ghana become a republic. If it's Accra then how much more our underprivileged, decaying, stinking, and abandoned, empty, dark, far-away poor villages.So I ask myself do our so called leaders really care? Sir, I find it regrettably incomprehensible wheneva I hear some christians kicking against politics that it's not for them. If politics is not for them who then do they expect to get into politics for them to enjoy? Fools and horses or what? Lai lai. Of all what I consider to be highly obnoxious is whenever some men and women of God especially our wonderful and intelligent Jehovah's Witnesses boldly and ignorantly, without any shame or whatsoever of its kind, stand infront of their expectantly and patiently waiting, ready to be adviced congregation to advice them deplorably to shun politics. As though politics is something of the devil. And as if politics is something which emanated from the devil's eyes. If for nothing at all let it be for the indirect taxes we all pay not to mention direct tax. To every intelligent Economist it is only the fool who demands no accountability from his leader even though he pays taxes. You see. And also remember that if Ghana crashes we all crash along with it. Sometimes I cry for my Country cos to me and to most people Ghana is wasting her tym. Cos it's as if we've forever burried our heads in Kweku Ananse story unwilling to come out from humour. Sometimes I just look at the Aglow women people who every now and then pray for our nation and laugh. Cos No amount of prayers can save our dear nation from perishing and languishing when what is expected of us is swept under the nylon carpet this tym kraa I hear it's no longer woolen. Most christians are disgracing God. Most christians are very very coward and decides to remain compromisingly silent at the faces of insane incidents. But, you know one thing, whenever there is any form of scuffle or skirmish. The only Fortunate are the Politician and some few people of means who will fly the family abroad for haven. And come to think of it Ghana is a developing nation and the standard of living of her people is very very deplorable. Instead of christians who are strongly and undoubtedly touted as the light and salt of the world fighting a good cause for the poor, vulnerable, diseased, persons with disabilities, mentally challenged, groaning workers, and the hopelessly broken Ghanaians who walk up and down, day and night not knowing which way to go let alone where they might die, they are rather the ones that hide under pillows after eating Auntie Muni Waakye. Pls christians let's be reasonable for once. If not for anything at all let's do it for the generations yet unborn who would have to bear with the spoilt society of ours some day to come. Cos I always say and will always keep on saying it I wont stop. That if the leaders of this nation abuses the nation and nobody, not even christians stand up to speak against them proudly and boldly. A tym will come that I shall never forgive them God forgive me for saying that. I will have them all included and blast them with their shame. That upon all these years that God gave you, you could not even help save the nation in longsuffering and it was during your tym that our nation nearly got clashed. I just hope my dear Ghana wouldn't get near clashing. Mr. Editor, Permit me to also end with a sonnet I had long written for the church and Politics. Thank you very kindly. Two country. 1. All large, all powerful. The white collar, and the political suit. 3. That be the way of gentlemen. 4.Two country, the church and Politics. The disarray yard of better thinking. 6.Where wishful thinking men shun no blinking 7. Cos' the pulpit wouldn't stand that mingling And now bribery and corruption feed our land like imperialism 9. If the nation crashes we all crash along with it. Two country, for fear of public ridicule just a few are openly talking about right or wrong, the true feature of hooliganism. 11. Tear not into pieces the words of the scripture. As Christians as taxpayers, forget about Politics and remain silent. 13. Oh, two country, I seem not to understand. 14. But for Jesus Christ, hallelujah, men and women of God would have been in Political suits. But, for Jesus. Thanks. Sefah Ato Welbeck, fmr Econ Stud. Central University College(The best School in Ghana).

MODERN BANKING WHERE AND HOW THEY HAVE GONE WRONG THINKING MODERN WITH TRADITION IN MIND welbeck & welbeck The right to be clever URBAN PERSPECTIVE ON CONSUMER BANKING not about the smartest moves...but the cleverest of the moves Introduction Executive Summary Modern and Traditional Banking Consumer Perception The bottom line of Banking Making an Impact Conclusion Want to call on welbeck & welbeck? INTRODUCTION Consumers (in consumer banking) are the oil that runs the wheels of the banking sector. Be it good or bad, most consumers choose their banks through the endorsement by others, whereas some choose their banks having no initial reason as to why they chose their banks. The trend of this approach seems to increase the more, as consumers nowadays are becoming more aware about their authoritative level. Banks are springing up making the world of banking more competitive than ever before, and it is against this background which is why consumers all over the world are beginning to have a shift of focus, should their banks fail to respond adequately and swiftly to their needs and their concerns. The global financial crisis which shook the financial world has not only changed consumers' perception about the banking world, but also has brought to the fore some other new perceptions. Some go the extent of referring to the banker as the biggest cheat of all time. Nonetheless, some majority of them who have had no idea about the financial crisis, or who are not much particular about banks still hold their same old perceptions. Not about the global financial crisis but about what they invariably expects from their banks. But to the educated and the most discerning consumers, they believe banks have taken on a new surge, for, they better be, if they still want to protect their image and their brand strength. Banks all over the world with the exception of few ones still have their reputation untainted or unaffected. We are in a global economy and the least thing that one does wrong could easily affects many nations. This is made possible as a result of the trade and the financial interdependence between nations. As no bank could best solve its problem in isolation, the biggest problem about almost all banks today is the poor or inadequate (or none at all) information they provide their customers with. Due to this problem, most consumers are preconceived with all sort of ideas. Some are even of the notion that there is nothing good from a bank. In other words there is nothing new to be offered by banks; all banks are with one common prime motive--to make their money by tearing down the common consumer. And it is of no business of it at all whether the consumer is satisfied or not. And the few smart ones, as any other business environment may require, try to cover their profiteering motive with their all knowing and everyday ruse-- corporate social responsibility. Nonetheless, there are countless benefits a consumer can derive from the bank. The only problem comes about when they are not well fed with the necessary information they expect. Banks are to note that corporate social responsibility is superb if and only if it is effectively channeled to address the problems of the consumer, more especially those of the grass root level. What is often seen is that most corporate social responsibilities are made so to fall in line with their same motive. And with the motive of making profit out of the corporate social responsibility. Banks, nowadays, are becoming too complex to the extent of affecting the simplicity of their own consumers. The complexity of banks have surged in everything from personal banking through to corporate banking. However, corporate banking, which is often for the consumers of the corporate world, do not enjoy much sufferings as compared to the ladder of personal banking where you can find almost every kind of individual, and with their concerns. Products need to be improved, services are to be made unique, some charges need to be slashed, all in the name of maximizing profits and minimizing profit. But the fact still remains that our banks of today have really gone too far making almost everything technical and bulkier, mixing everything up and instead, putting the simple principles of banking that are most familiar to customers behind the drawing board. Traditional banking, in terms of its good, should anyone think otherwise and hold the notion that it does no longer apply in the 21st century, then the person is mistaken. The main objective of this survey was to find out how the global financial crisis had affected consumers' perception if any, and by quantum, the amount of effect it has or likely to have on the banking sector and how that perception could be taken back to normalcy. The other objectives were: • What consumers expected from their banks before the crisis, and what they now expect from their banks • What they (consumers) think could be done to position them to their initial reasoning • Factors to be considered by bankers when making new decisions affecting the world of consumer banking. • To provide some solutions, both from the researcher and the consumer, all blended together to help address the current problems affecting the world of banking. It is worthy of note to know that the above objectives may sound like sample questions, but should not in anyway taken as such as some may bear reasoning and answering resemblance to some sample questions. Fondest appreciation from welbeck & welbeck to all the participants of this humble survey, especially those who had to have a bit of their busy time wasted for the progress of this survey. It is our hope that your information will help create a better world for the banking world, and for us all. URBAN PERSPECTIVE ON CONSUMER BANKING... something to learn from... ...AND A VAST OPPORTUNITY IN AFRICA ...FROM A CASE STUDY IN ACCRA GHANA one of the most technical cities in Africa Executive Summary Everything that can be invented has being invented (Charles. H. Dull)..., and there is no need to reinvent the wheel. All that is needed is to improve the wheel as to how you want it to work for you, having in mind the people who are going to be affected by the wheel. Base on strategies, banks are trying almost everyday to invent new innovations. The fact simply remains that they only do this to complex everything, there is no problem if it is for a specialized group of persons, but since standard of consumers do change, there is no need since some persons of the elite class still prefer to be treated as though they were of the ordinary class. What banks need to focus their strength and resources on is to make already existing innovations better. In other words making the ordinary the extraordinary. Because the only difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is the extra garnered as a plus. It is a law of nature that whatever that goes up must come. This law applies in all aspect of our lives. And the increasing pace of technology has also come to increase the pace of the law the more. Banks are to note that no one particular bank could forever or continually continue to be the leader in the world of banking if it continues to develop its products, brings to the fore quality brands and more and better packaging of its products. As a way of repercussion, it is always the best to improve upon your already existing customer and to see to it how best you could address their extra needs. Thereby giving them no empty chance at all for them to have a second bank beside your bank. As most customers tend to have a shift of focus from their banks to other banks which they think will be in a better position to provide them with what they want. Unlike before, consumers have now come to realize the amount of weight they carry and can easily shift to other banks if they think their banks are not helping them well enough. What has made everything seem worse of all is the financial crisis which evaded the world of banking. From the survey we undertook, 38% of our participants say their confidence level decline as a result of the global financial crisis in 2008. And still have some level of uncertainty as to which of the banks they should resort to. Banks are therefore with the current challenge to find out how to re-compensate their consumers in other to have their lost confidence in them (the banks) rekindled. It is however prudent for banks to reposition their strategies toward new emerging markets, and to the rural dwellers who do not know much about the global financial crisis. However, it should be noted here that for banks to stand at a better position whilst working with rural dwellers, they need to monitor the activities of these rural people. Because banks with the aim to soar at rural centres can only make extremely well when they grant out loans to these dwellers. However, it should be cautioned that the debt recovery rate of rural dwellers is very poor and can only stand a better chance when they, as earlier stated, stand to monitor the activities. Through training and advice as a means of checking that they recoup what they have borrowed. MODERN AND TRADITIONAL BANKING “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted” – Albert Einstein “The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. The Banking powers are more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. They denounce as public enemies all who question their method or throw light upon their crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the banker in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe”- Abraham Lincoln There are some prudent banks that are always on the look out for the needs of their consumers. Others go the extent of extending many helping hands having no intention or whatsoever of making profit out of the goodwill. Indeed, some banks, of no fault of their, have resorted to much profit making to the tune that it is now about entangling their own necks. The traditional system of banking was basically about savings and withdrawals, reinvestment, ensuring the well-being of its customers, little or no competition, and with little or no intention of making money at all. Modern banking, however, has taken on a vast paradigm shift from the traditional perspective to a more ideological standard of reasoning. Modern banks today are with the sole aim of making profit by competing with one another for greater market share, making the well-being of their consumers a secondary factor, having substituted that for the progress of their well-being. Most banks are quick to adopt whatever kind of strategy that comes to the table, regarding short-term biases and paying no much attention to long-term implications. Strategies are good but it should always be asked, to where are we as a group heading with this strategy, does it compromise our vision, have they any hidden motive, to whom is it likely to affect (our strong competitors), is not in a way going to affect our consumers someday. But, banks do not consider most of these questions, what most banks consider is, are our consumers going to be satisfied, how can we better stand on the competitive ladder. What we normally forget is that whatever action we undertake, there is always a hidden opportunity cost, be it to come in shortest possible time or in the near future. It is prudent to engage in huge investment, bankrolling of multinational projects, managing multiple programmes etc. But the problem comes when the money of consumers are compromised for such initiatives without knowing the actual end result of the initiative. And what saddens the most is when these initiatives become a flop. It is however adviced that banks should in all respect get most of their top consumers informed of any kind of initiative they intend sponsoring or bankrolling. This is a gem of traditional banking. Traditional banking is superb, modern banking is also superb, but should not be blended together to achieve what contradicts the other. It is ably best to have traditional banking principles modernized into a more current best on the spot functioning system. Than to have modern banking principles and at the same time trying to re-modernize them to better suit the changing environment. In respect, when traditional principles change, it has not changed in real terms, it is only the system to which it once helped it stood which has changed. And should not be taken as though it does and can no longer function in the current trend when given it a new extraordinarily face. “Life is short but memory is long”-Ban Ki- Moon, U.N Gen. Secretary I believe the banking institution are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency. First by inflation, then by deflation, the banks or corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered- Thomas Jefferson To me it is as if the American leaders of then saw something displeasing coming someday when they are all gone. The competition level in America has taken on a huge surge and it is becoming too much. What banks or businesses forget is that when competition becomes too much it gets heated up and finally heads toward blowing up. As many banks tend to cheat in other to feel comfortable. The issue of honesty is then substituted for dishonesty. Banks often do not consider what their regulations are, instead resort to the things best suits them. In principle we care about the other party in the game, if we really want to move a level up the competition ladder. In fact, to this tune, do we then say that American banks are really cheats or what? The answer I think should be kept to ourselves. The most important lesson here is to revive our principles and to see how we can go about it. Now that we have all realized our mistakes and what really led to the global financial crisis. Because the global financial crisis really betrayed the amount of threat the traditional way of banking is facing. And the need to get back to the drawing board with our basics is most crucial to our progress. If we all need to stand up with the world in better times. CONSUMER PERCEPTION It was estimated from the survey we undertook that consumers were most keen on some specific concerns: • Communication, Language barrier and customer confidence (78%) • Broad range of choice (70%) • Brand quality and strength (40%) • Comprehensive products & services (83%) • Customer satisfaction (94%) • Security (89%) • Benefits (46%) Security From the survey we undertook, we asked our participants what they expected the most as the first priority in choosing their banks. It was realized that most of them gave priority to security. Participants were asked: 1. When it comes to your money and the bank, what do you look out for before deposition? Of the total participant, (89%) gave recognition to security. Out of the (89%), 50% males and 36% females. Most of them were of the opinion that they tend to be more confident when they know that they travel can Abroad or go anywhere to spend some time knowing that their monies are save. According to them, there is also a level of trust which emanates after they have realized that their monies are saved. As well as an increase in their confidence level when it comes to deposition and having any kind of undertakings with their bank. With this in mind, banks are to note that the first thing consumers think about whenever their means increase or there is an upward shift in their income levels is their bank. Even when there are some other equally important things to attend to with their monies. They for the mean time go to their banks with their monies. Most participants were still with the traditional notion of keeping money, the precautionary measure. And consumers except to walk into their solvent banks for some money. But, today most banks when on the brink of becoming insolvent would try hard to adopt tactics that will continually over-shadow their impending disaster from their consumers. And this is a crucial aspect of dishonesty. Most participant accepted the fact that their banks could invest or do business with their monies but should not affect them (consumers) in anyway. Because they feel highly motivated when they know that their banks are insured against any misfortune. Consumers now want to see their banks more accountable, now that the global financial crises had brought to the fore a new challenge. Most participant were of the view that they fear and could not even tell where to go just in case their banks evade with their monies. And how to retrieve their monies in times of social unrest and financial unrest. Ghanaians have had some experience when it comes to banks evading with their monies. And this already creates some level of fear and distrust they have for some banks. The government, according to most participant do not protect consumers well enough. It is therefore an opportunity for the banks to win the trust and the confidence of their consumers in this phase of banking. Most regulations that protect consumers are not given much weight, because already the information ministry is not properly functioning to provide consumers with better information. For banks in Ghana, or worldwide, they need to capitalize on the issue of banking and consumer safety if they are to fall in line with the current trend of proper consumer banking. One key opportunity is for banks to focus on women. Women, according to the survey were somewhat indiscipline towards the attitude of saving. This on one hand may be from the fact that, more men in Ghana are employed in the formal sector than women. And on the other, m averagely enjoy high salary than their female counterpart. And also men tend to go far on the academic ladder as compared to their women, in Ghana. Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction may be in many forms. In fact what satisfies one customer may not necessarily satisfy the other customer. However, what satisfies one customer, sometimes satisfies any customer. Without any form of complexity or technicality, customer satisfaction simply means a situation where a customer is cleared of any doubt in or outside the bank of his bank, void of any perception or feeling of having being cheated or deceived. Reducing customer satisfaction and shifting more focus on any other service may be catastrophic. This simply means that the consumer or the customer is the prime key when it comes to consumer banking. It is however, prudent for banks having realized that the consumer is the master of banking before any other product or service, to develop ways to better improve the customer-banking relationship. Everything banking is about the consumer, and everything consumer is for satisfaction. According to our participants reaction toward our interview, it was realized that banks do not focus in-deep and in -length on customer satisfaction. Most banks start on a very good note but later shift their attention to other things. What is now evident is, banking doors are opened for the customers when attending to the banking hall. This approach is tactical though but should be realized that it is not enough or in more light words, this approach is not really necessary to the customer. As most customers prefer to open the doors by themselves. Because, of what essence are greetings to a dying body. What really is the essence, or the point there when doors are opened for customers but are not met with their needs or are not content with the kind of treatment meted out to them. To err is human as the old adage goes, however, it is important for a bank to quickly resolve the grievances of consumers by providing other mediums to which they can easily voice those issues. Most banks nowadays provide suggestion boxes for their customers to drop in their concerns. But more to that is the direct complaints that are often made by customer. What banks and most businesses fail to identify is that the direct complaints method is the best compared to all the approaches used to gather information from customers. And it is one of the cheapest and the most efficient ways by which banks could have. The direct method enables the customer to vent the anger at that very instance. Banks seeking to make good names are to note that when this happens it simply tells that customers cares so much about the bank and also about the displeasure that had being meted out to them. And without wasting much time capitalize on that opportunity to quickly resolve the issue of the customer if possible. Or simply assure the customer of a better service the next time. Customers are very sensitive to some words like sorry, thank you, and, are you okay. 21st century banks due to their complexity are even leaving the simple basics that helped build a strong bank-customer relationship, behind. Another thing of key concern, as we gathered from our survey was very crucial, and a spot-on which will really give banks a different look all together. From our analysis, we concluded that few or 1 out of 100 banks have specialized people whose duty is to continually inquire from customers as to whether or not they are or were okay with the service provided and as to whether or not they had what they wanted from the bank. It is our deepest concern for all banks to employ this basic strategy. As stated earlier, all that needs to be invented had already being invented, all that is needed is to improve those inventions. The approach appreciation is no new thing in the world of banking. In fact if anyone is seeking for a place where the approach of appreciation is made very common, then S(he) should look out for banks. But the inquirer approach is just a new form of the appreciation approach where customers are given labels or products that bear some form of appreciation either in words or in tangibles. We asked our participants questions and allowed them to enjoy that privilege of providing their own answers instead of providing them with possible answers. However, some questions were further explained to them for clarity of expression. Due to differences in words but the same answer, we later merged and blended those similar/familiar answers. 1. How often, if you recall, are you satisfied with your bank? More often: 10% Less often: 90% 2. Are you always satisfied with your bank? Not at all- 88% On and off- 12% 3. Could you please tell us what you know about your bank? Ignorant- 91% Knowledgeable- 9% 4. What are some of the products and services offered by your bank? Ignorant- 95% knowledgeable- 5% 5. How many banks have you, and why more than one if you do? >1- 66% =1- 34% 6. Do you have any knowledge about some of the product and services offered by your bank (s)? Yes- 10% No- 90% 7. How often do you drop your suggestion (s) into suggestion boxes provided by your bank? More often- 0.3% Not at all- 99.7% 8. Why did you choose you current bank? Location- 25% Through someone- 29% No why- 25% Through Advert (brand quality)- 21% 9. Do you know some of the ways by which you can grow you money in your bank? Yes- 40% No- 60% 10. Do you know how much your bank charges for the product and/or services you enjoy? Yes- 3% No- 97% 11. What are some of the ways by which you can grow you money in your bank? Treasury bill- 20% Retirement and other policies - 23% Mutual investment- 10% Real estate investment- 2% Savings- 40% Shares- 0.9% Other- 4.1% 12. Have you ever heard of the global financial crisis? (biased) Yes- 30% No- 70% 13. How has the global financial crisis affected your perception about banks? Not at all- 97.9% Affected- 2.1% 14. In one statement, using simple words, could you please tell us what you know about the global financial crisis? No idea- 80% Idea- 20% 15. What is your perception about banks in Ghana? Helpful- 20% Unhelpful- 80% 16. How has the global financial crisis affected you perception for banks worldwide? No effect- 85% effect- 15% 17. What do you think banks should do to get highly recognized by customers? Customer Satisfaction- 66% Easy access to loan- 34% 18. Where are some of the branches of your local bank (s)? Ignorant- 60% Knowledgeable- 40% 19. What do you like about your bank? Attention- 76% Other- 24% 20. What do you dislike about your bank? Slow service- 29% Inadequate information- 71% 21. How important is benefiting from your bank important to you if you do? Very important- 64% Not so important- 36% 22. Do you benefit from your bank? Yes- 10% No- 90% 23. What do you put into consideration when choosing a bank? Location- 26% Brand name (reputation) – 25.5% More branches- 20% Services and Products offered- 10% most people care less about the products their banks offer Prestige- 9% Other- 9.5% 24. What will you do to help your bank if you were the owner? Provide adequate information to customers- 30% Explain everything to customers- 34% Grant out loans- 20% Provide beneficial packages- 15% Other- 1% 25. What is customer-satisfaction to you? If I feel okay- 15% If they attend to me on time- 25% They respond to my concerns- 30% If I understand all that I do with them- 30% Comprehensive Products and Services Consumers deem products and services offered them as comprehensive when they understand the products and the services, what the charges are and how they can really benefit from those packages. Comprehensive also take a different form when consumers know that there are no hidden charges that they must incur or bear. Consumers who do not patronize most products and services of their banks do so simply because they do not really understand the packages themselves. In cases of adequate information provided the consumer, the issue of dishonesty comes in immediately after a consumer feels that S(he) had being cheated or has not being treated fairly well. From our participants, we gathered that most of them have little or no knowledge at all in the products their banks offer. • Do you have any knowledge about some of the product and services offered by your bank (s)? Yes- 10% No- 90% More often the consumers do not request for their bank statement are often alarmed when they realize that the amount of money which was in their account has changed, and not knowing that they had being charged for a particular product or service. Banks should exercise patience when it comes to introducing products or services to their consumers. Consumers sometimes become too difficult to tolerate. However, this should not give banks the ground to forgo some information about a kind of service or product which would be vital to the consumer. This well ensured goes a long way to help not only the consumer but the banks as well. Especially when the reputation of the bank is at stake, some forgone information that were supposed to be given the customer tends to affect it tremendously it turns out against the customer. Banks should consider the comprehensive level of their products and services when introducing them to their customers. Without that, they should forget influencing consumers to patronize their packages. Because a journey well set is a journey well prepared. Communication, Language barrier and customer confidence The customer is the type who easily gets sensitive when things that are supposed to move on well to his favour seems to go wrong. The communication level in the world of banking highly refined to best suit the international level. International languages are not compromised at all when it comes to ensuring high and reputable standard. Locally, the issue of communication is not a big problem when banks know exactly what to employ in their day to day general banking operations and activities. It is however out of place when banks assume that one particular language is going to help its operations and name soar. It is also out of place to think that consumers will easily respond to the medium of communication provided them when they permission or attention is not requested. Banks communicate through suggestion boxes and other forms of medium, but the question is to ask whether consumers are going to respond to the kind of approach put up. In other to ensure that consumers participate in your communication process, participants say they sometimes do not know what their banks expect from them. It is essential for banks to know that they should not think that once the suggestion box or the container is made available, consumers are going to corporate. From the participant, it become known that consumers do not have the time to drop their suggestions into suggestion boxes. A new shift should begin to focus on concern box or better still complaint box. With this consumers know exactly what their banks expects from them. This time is complaint box instead of suggestion box. Because some words do have some impact and meaning. After all, the consumer will say, I am the most powerful compared to my company. • How often do you drop your suggestion (s) into suggestion boxes provided by your bank? More often- 0.3% Not at all- 99.7% Language barrier is a key problem affecting the world of banking alongside the customer confidence. Customers normally misconstrue information provided by their banks especially when they do not get the intended meaning. A typical example lies in the investment of government treasury bills. Most consumer do not really understand it when bankers say, roll over principal or roll over principal and interest. The consumer who is always on the look out of making profit, would always like to roll over only the interest whereby the capital could be withdrawn for other activities. According to one participant, he was struck with confusion when he went to the bank to withdraw his money invested but did not have what he expected. Banks should their workers with bits of training when it comes to investment packages. It is very regrettable to know that most banks have their investment team. Banks should help their workers with a bit idea about investment. Especially when it comes to the calculation of treasury bill and other simple investment packages. What are some of the products and services offered by your bank? Ignorant- 95% knowledgeable- 5% It is regrettably bad when consumers do not know what their banks really offer. Indeed, the onus lies on the banks to devise modes that will help them to easily get to their consumers with what they offer in terms of their services and product. Strategically, if a bank is seeking to have an increase in the number of its consumers and also increase its capital base. It should really get down to its consumers. Feeding consumers with enough information, only comes to help both the bank and the consumer. Could you please tell us what you know about your bank? Ignorant- 91% Knowledgeable- 9% The issue still bothers on the poor relationship that exist between banks and their customers. The statistics afore-stated was one datum gathered from our participants. Anywhere in the world, let a bank designate one of its bankers into the street to ask consumers about what they know about their banks and it will be surprising the kind of answers the banker will have gathered. Banks are to know that, it is still the basics and will always be the basic. It should not be anything complex. The small things that keep customers coming in are the same small things when unattended to keep customer going out. Banks should not turn a blind eye on the small things they started with. And this goes back to tell about the traditional banking system. There is nothing new about modern banking. All the strategies are extraordinary and not new. They already existed, but today have only being modernized by some good and clever thinkers. Banks need to be clever in whatever they do. To keep customers not only coming in, but also craving for more of their services and product. From our survey, we gathered that participants were more about a particular communication, even though they preferred most of the forms of communication by which they get quick access to their banks and their cash. Which communication channel do you prefer the most when accessing your cash? • ATM's- 48% • Walk-in (branches)- 47% • Internet banking- 5% Consumers are more responsive to automated machines. According to our participants they sometimes find it untoward when accessing their cash using the ATM when the it is not working. They sometimes had to resort to the banking hall. Consumers are beginning to get the impression that the banking hall is a waste of time. However, they resort to the banking hall as the second best option when the automated machines are not functioning. Internet banking is uncommon in Africa in general. This emanates from the fact that Africa is still a developing continent with developing economies. Banks in Africa should focus more on the creation of more branches. And to strategize on how to minimize the number of customers that keep waiting at the banking hall for their service. Interestingly, some consumer would apply for automated machines cards once they know they would be charged. Banks nowadays, provide these machines for their customers free of charge. This bring to the fore the issue of free-lunch. Our participants were against the view of getting charged whenever they use the automated machines. Our survey reveals the level of awareness consumers are attaining. Consumers think it absolutely unwarranted why they should be charged when they are in for their own money. Banks should focus also on consumer education. This could be done through advertisement, or at the banking hall. Consumers should be adviced on the importance of the ATM card and how it saves time. It was revealed in our survey when consumers normally get to their banks. For some they did not have any specific time for going to the bank. Some have the notion that once the bank is there they will always attend whether the amount of cash they need to withdraw is little or not. Banks are to devise more strategies on how to reduce the number of customers that float the banking hall. In doing this, the strategy should seem too harsh or in a manner which will alert the consumer that the presence is becoming nuisance to their progress. Consumers, from our survey, understand the nature of the banks and will resort to any form of moral suasion if they are approached and talked to about what they bank is planning to do. There is a trend of opportunity coming along with a wind, this opportunity is purely technological. And banks are adviced to educate their customer on the benefit of using some product of the bank. A time is coming when the general banking operations will be reduced nearly to zero. The banking world is yet to witness the inception of a form of automated machines that enables customer to deposit their monies. Caution should be sounded here that this kind of innovations will really not favour some banks at all. Smaller banks will be left behind as this form of innovation will be highly technological. If the need be, banks are adviced to get into talking with technologist about this future highly intensive state of the art sophisticated innovation to be put on hold. Lest it starts a new revolution in the banking world. And the strong as it often happens will always survive. Broad Range of Choice The traditional banking system was more of savings and withdrawals and not about individuals investing in other packages. Because there was nothing of such. Modern banking system has more to it that consumers do not only save but have other investment packages as well. Interestingly, majority of the consumers in the banking world are still attached to the traditional system. They only know of saving, and no other thing at all. The traditional system of banking required little or no knowledge at all for some investment packages. However, the trend has changed though, consumers do not appreciate the shift in the traditional system. On one hand it is as a result of poor or inadequate information which consumers have the access to. And on the other hand in-comprehensive product and services offered by most banks. From the survey, our participant were interested in the education of the products and services offered by their banks. More to that was the expectation of some investment packages best to their understanding or their level. Most consumers have the perception about most investment packages and the kind of people who need to participate. Banks are to note that consumers feel much confident when they really have a broad range of opportunity to choose from. Because most often consumers normally choose the kind of investment which they most familiar with it. To the extreme, consumers who normally choose investment packages they do not understand do not really see the benefit, or do not go far with the investment. They tend to change it at a point in time. And it is also very unusual for a consumer to monitor investment packages which they do not understand. It is for the good of banks to realize that when consumers understand the kind of package they choose they get more involved and appreciate it the more. From our survey, we realized that the average consumer in the banking world only goes to the bank for two things-- to deposit or to withdraw cash. Banks that are seeking to make an impact need to seize this fact and to engage consumers whenever they get to the banking hall. Banks also need to almost always have the consumer in mind when bringing out any kind of innovations. We asked our participant: Do you benefit from your bank? Yes- 10% No- 90% It is most regrettable for consumer to be somewhat mean to their banks. True to the fact is that consumers lack the broad range of opportunity to choose from. Whereas the existing investment packages that they could choose from are not to the best of their understanding or knowledge. These calls to bear the kind of relationship that exist between consumers and their banks. This issue bothers solely on lack of communication that exist between consumers and their banks. We also asked our participant to name some of the products and services offered by their banks. And it was no surprise to us when we gathered that consumers are not abreast with what their banks provide. All emanating from the poor communication that exists between them (consumers) and their banks. Benefits To welbeck & welbeck, there are two kinds of benefit; the immediate benefit, and the future benefit. Interestingly, most consumers or man are/is tuned to the immediate benefit. It is just like the law of quick money. The Chinese have the notion that to get rich is glorious. The law of quick money. Not slow money. Get rich and be glorious in getting rich. Same implies to immediate benefit instead of future benefit. Consumers who normally complain that they do not benefit from their banks are the type who normally expect to see quick benefit from their banks. Quick benefit comes in many forms but for banks quick benefit should comprise of the simple things that keep the consumer smiling and nodding in agreement. Banks that receive the thank you from their customers should not take the appreciation for granted. However, we should state here that it most uncommon on the part of consumers to say thank you to their banks even when they have had a nice treat. But becomes uncommon when the nice treat follows. Instead benefit today then it ceases tomorrow. This will even be threatening for the banks. And would have being far better on the initial stages if consumers are not given nice treats at all. The there is no such thing as free lunch statement though may be misapplied here, as we as economists often address it in terms of opportunity cost, it should be noted that there is also no such thing as consumers do not know free lunch. Consumers normally prefer free things when it comes to tangibles. Some confectioneries in some occasions some banks already do employ as a way of showing their appreciation to their customers. But the beauty of appreciation is that anything well done is better than well said. Saying thank you to your consumers will get them irritated when they were not satisfied. This comes to bear that banks need to know when to say thank you, open doors, give out confectioneries, bonuses, free services. Often in our business and personal lives we shudder to declare openly what we have done for someone. The trend is now modernized, consumers are to be told what had being done for them if banks really want consumers to know what is happening. To that, it also enables consumers to enjoy the free lunch. Of what use is a free lunch to the consumer who has not had the information when it is just a section of the consumers that participate in the lunch. Brand Quality and Strength Modern banking is more of brand quality and strength. Dating back to Charles Darwin's evolution theory, the survival of the fittest. Though the concept is misapplied here, brand quality and strength is the only means by which banks easily get recognized. The only means by which the strong (brand) survives in the competition (market). Brand should be an exercise of choice for banks that do not soar on the profitability ladder. There is no better thing to be used to entice the customer than the brand of a business. Especially when the colours that help make the brand are primary colours. Setting out a brand or brand name is one of the primary objectives that should require primary colours. Most banks do not really know why some of their competitors employ primary colours in the making of their brands. Power brands or trademarks are easily recognized even after several years going into coma. The good news is that banks that have strong brands are already enjoying the benefit of their idea. But the bad news is that there is a wind of change that keeps powerful brands alive though but dead. On one hand, consumers know of your brand but do not patronize it. And on the other hand, consumers know your brand but do not easily recognize it. Powerful brand is that brand which is known by your consumers and could easily be recognized by them. If it was not so, our participant would not had fumbled trying to recollect the brands of their banks with it. What do you identify your bank with? Ignorant- 40% Knowledgeable- 60% It is not enough investing in brand quality but it is enough getting your customers to know of your brand and easy recognition. We asked our participants why they thought they could not tell what they identified their banks with? To some the response was that they did not care much about the brand of their bank. And to some they cannot easily recognized the brand of their banks. The latter makes enough sense though, but the fact is that most people are more particular about the brand of their banks. Some consumers prefer prestigious brand name, power brands, old brands. The issue of old brands to our participant was that they gives them the enough confidence when banking with their banks. Old brand to them, equally means that they are well known in the banking system and there is no way they are going to evade with their cash. Banks should be adviced to spend more time on educating their consumers on their brands than on the brand itself because the brand is made for the consumer. THE BOTTOM LINE OF CONSUMER BANKING The bottom line of consumer banking embodies externalities ( factoring in environmental cost to reflect the true cost and benefits), Strategic innovation vis-a-vis environmental cost, product life cycle, increasing profit and minimizing cost. But the true bottom line should reflect the needs of the consumer. In retrospect, strategies are to be more customer-related having in focus the needs of the customer. MAKING AN IMPACT Where lies the greatest opportunity? Ghanaians and Africans in general are indifferent towards reading. Banks are therefore adviced to be clever and to capitalize on such loop-hole by making the consumer better off at the end of the day. Through: the use of efficient communication medium, if possible international banks in Ghana should focus more the local language when it comes to advertisement. This makes them feel they are part of the banking process. This is simply because the literacy rate in Ghana is still substandard. Banks are to take the confidence of their customers into consideration when planning. Some customers sometimes loose confidence the very moment they walk into their banks. This on one hand is due to the kind of language used in welcoming customers. And the absence of a personnel at the gate who will inquire walk-ins if they need any assistance. What most businesses in Africa fail to realize is that Africa is a local continent. And for any business to stand up in Africa, it really needs to get involved in the activities of the people and in those things that the people are most familiar with. For the sake of the language, especially English, causing most customers to feel confused or somewhat disturbed. It would be extremely advisable for banks to welcome customers with the local language for the people they think would not be in the position to speak the English language. Some people quickly change the local language to the English language when they are welcomed in the local language. This rather tell more of the customer that S(he) is prepared to use the English language. Ghana is a land of many opportunities. Indeed Ghana is very fertile when it comes to doing business. This is simply because, it a developing economy, most huge businesses in Ghana are all foreign-owned. The few domestic owned businesses are all small scale or a level up from small scale. Though the minimum wage in Ghana is somewhere 3.13 cedis ( $1.5) which is very cheap, it is also coupled with cheap labour. When it gets to real business, most banks in Ghana are really doing well, but the fact still remains that they do not understand the meaning of real business. And because they do not understand the meaning of real business they do not do real business. International banks in Ghana are to be adviced to do banking the local way having in mind the international way if they really want to make it in Africa. What is the local way? The local of doing banking in Ghana or Africa is simple. You invest in those areas that are of most interest and concern to the people. These area include: housing or real estate investment, sustainable investment farming or agriculture, education, construction, manufacturing sector, retail sector, mining sector. These are the areas of most concern to the local people. Any international bank that seeks to handle the market needs to focus on these areas. Banks are really not investing, because if banks are to invest and invest properly in the aforementioned areas they are really going to make it big time. It is about time banks in Ghana and Africa begun diversifying into broader areas. But one thing they should not forget to have at the back of their mind, is the customer-banking relationship. Creating a suitable relationship to continually exist between them and their customers. And this can only be possible when customers are given personal attention whenever they walk into their banking halls. This makes them almost always feel better. Simply because the Ghanaian or the African is the only one who needs greetings when living and not when dying. Conclusion “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something”- Thomas Henry Huxley “Well done is better than well said”- Benjamin Franklin In the 21st century, banks are expected to be clever and swift. In fact the wind of change (technology) is blowing very fast, and those who do not know the way of change will be left behind. Banks are supposed to know something about everything about the banking world lest they be left behind. Sophisticated and comprehensive innovations, recognizable and identifiable brands, traditional customer-banking relationship, broad range of choice, comprehensive products and services and security are all that is needed to stand the storm that comes along with the wind of change. Practical and direct customer relation advertisement, customer education and a brand new sensation of involvement in grassroots activities. Banks are fortunate, Africa is fortunate, they are all fortunate. The desire to save is still alive, unlike America and Europe. Banks are on the spot adviced to be quick and to capitalize on this opportunity. As a jungle in the midst of a jungle Ghana hardly gets hit by external financial hiccups, not because we have no bankers in Ghana, but because the land had being fertile for doing business long since, and is far from experiencing the business heat. When others like the West are experiencing, I bet you, as developing as Africa, our heat will be in many decades after theirs had sufficed. METHODOLOGY Want to call on welbeck & welbeck? “I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better”- A.J. Liesling Consumers are the oil that keeps the wheels of the banking world moving. There are thousand and one financial groups and experts all over the world. Some are far beyond intelligence but very technical, others very technical but below intelligence, few are versatile and highly pragmatic. But in all we resort to those who are nothing but clever. Because those who are clever are clever in thinking and in acting. They read before they blink in other to get a full glance of the idea. They in a simple style write with few technicalities, get down to the grassroots, question with humour and give the participant all that they need to corporate like never before. welbeck & welbeck we are the one because we can write better than anybody who can write faster, and write faster than anybody who can write better by using the almighty oil. Welbeck & welbeck is financial group of experts made up of young economist and bankers in sub-Saharan Africa. We undertake research and survey for local and international banks, and business . We also serve as investment analysts and stock-advicers for individuals upon consultation. Our work covers a broad range of discipline but for now in a limited area. Our office is located at Accra-Ghana, West-Africa. Call us on +233(0) 547775288

Bad Administration

The current administration of Ghana is really disgracing the country to the detriment of we the upcoming future leaders. Since my life if I recall I have never tasted such a bad administration of this sort before. Indeed the current government of Ghana is really confused and needs to put her feet on the ground. One thing which I think would do Ghana some level of good is when the West begins to seize giving some African countries grant and loans. Especially countries with poor records of democracy. Indeed, accountability, probity and transparency are some of the major roots of democracy but Ghana fails in them all. Yet, we receive all sort of help from the West. Is it that the West actually do not have a complete guarded code of ethics or what? If only the West would do African countries some good, this will be the best step ever taken. They should seize aids going into Africa. Because for now Africa my root is not ready to manage her own affairs.

WE (GHANAIAN) ALWAYS BETRAY OUR SENSE OF UNPREPAREDNESS AND MEDIOCRITY

We as Ghanaians have always failed not to betray our sense of unprepardness and mediocre. Act 778 of our education needs some scraping. In fact our politician leaders "tossingly" toiling with the educational lives of our brother and sisters as though they were of games on a gambling table. And it on this gambling table that our leaders think and plan hot spot, trial and error, fast fast and quick quick about what the lives of our siblings be used for. The issue of the second cycle educational system is not whether it should be three years or four years. The issue also is not about who is saying what or who is saying that. It is also not about the brilliant or the most intelligent ideas. Neither is it about who is right or wrong. Or about who can shout to his topmost voice or who can go down to the most disciplined level of silence. The issue is about the question, "WHAT.......DO.....WE.....WANT? The issue is about us knowing our objectives and vision because this will automatically guide us to know what we should expect from our students. And as to whether or not they (vision and objectives) are in respect with the capacity of the people of Ghana -- as to whether or not the average people of Ghana will be able to afford the extra tuition fee they will have to live by should the academic calendar of their children be increased, in line with their standard of living. And if the people of Ghana are made to understand thoroughly the full benefits that is to come by from any change in their wards' academic calendar, they, we should all bear in mind that would bear the idea even if they initially relented buying the idea. But, regrettably, we always betray our sense of unpreparedness and mediocrity in the face of the White man. Oh, Ghana, till when will we continue to betray our unguarded reasoning ability? We claim we can manage our own affairs, yet we keep on alluding everything to the "barbarics" of colonialism and slavery that are now ages past. Cautious advice to us all is that, the statement, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs which was made yesterday, reflected the state and the strength, the zest and the preparedness of men of yesterday. Today's men do not bear any resemblance and cannot bear any resemblance to that at all until they have changed their approach to reasoning. The only thing they can take out of the statement is the force and the inspiration that still lives behind the statement. And this will only come about after we have fully understood it by first of all having immersed ourselves into a state of continual and dedicated learning. Do we expect the White man to respect us? " We will respect you only on one condition-- when we had noticed that you now stand up to who you are, and what you belong to. If not, Africans should forget commanding any respect or whatsoever from us (the Whites)." Where is he going to get the funds for the free education initiative? If I were the poorest most uncultured illiterate anywhere in the world and heard that a presidential candidate in Ghana when voted into power will initiate free Senior High education, I would hurriedly without any hesitation or whatsoever summon all my family members and appeal to their moral conscience. 1.If I am an average Ghanaian: "my family vote for this man into power. He's really with a kind heart as though of diamond yet to sparkle let us wait and see if it will sparkle. After all we loose nothing if it fails to sparkle. 2. If not a Ghanaian: my family let us rescind our citizenship and go to Ghana for our naturalization processes. More possibly let us go and start a new life in Ghana. But, between me and myself, will always be the question, " where is he going to the money to fund this kind initiative if there will not be any judgment debts, after all judgments debts are not revenues but deficits and even this deficits can be avoided simply because it is preconditional. Ghanaian are with a kind of unclean reasoning culture. We seem not to know exactly when change is needed in our society. In other words we do not easily recollect information. As Gen. I. K. Acheampong put it, " Ghanaian have short memory". Ghanaians needed not to change the National Patriotic Party in the 2008 elections. If we would be sincere enough and lay aside all forms of interests and miss a count of bias. Then in conclusion, those folks I must say, really did well. If for nothing at all they brought life through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), they brought joy through the National Youth Employment Project (NYEP), they guarded our farm produce through road linking projects, they brought sense many levels up through Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education, and gave food for the lonely child, all through (FCUBE), and the Capitation Grant. They become friends with many investors Abroad and later wooed them into the country. The one thing they forgot to do was their inability to pass the Right to Information Bill. Today's political man is different though but still with a black sense. As Abraham Lincoln put it, " nearly all men can stand adversity but to test the character of a man give him power". May God save Ghana and may he give us a political sense like the sense, zeal and the zest that were exuded in ages past before the statement "the black man is capable of managing his own affairs because our nation Ghana is not well.

“I am enough of an artist to draw free of imagination”- Anonymous “I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better”- A.J. Liesling Poems written and compiled for the pleasure of the Society, by Sefah, Ato Welbeck His poetry covers almost every facet of life. On average he spends not less than two minutes on a long poem. He sometimes recites and performs most of his lines at programs and at functionaries especially at the gathering of the Saints of God.upon request for free. The Poems are yet to be edited. ODE TO A WOMAN Woman woman. Flow thee when my thirst lights. Test my salt an' compare thee to sea if I be enough Nights of my darkness. Or beautiful nothin' ever doted before. Thine eyes like the deers of the i-land rear. And thine face round like erring. O woman, the panting of a lasting breath. My senses as that of Shaka, yet drown in your love. Like that from hard barley. Thy skin lights like shine. Thy feet spotless like burnt clay. The image of my ribs. The savanna' of my bearin'. As red as kisses. Warm as roses white. And as sweet as blended Hen- nessey. You look a fly in the sky. Dancing every-thing dearly in your buckles. And in everything you do handsome and rewarding like sweet. Thine anger is great. Thine sober honour and mighty. Like seasoning preserves fresh. And standin' many feet long you stand a tall. Thou walk like me. Thine steps of a queen bee. Lime and lemon are dull. But with you away they go cane. Men love you like Victoria. But I adore you a church wine. Whose found my lost soul a home. You rock jam-rock. God bless thine cherished breasts. And make them tendest and firmer That thou great and thunder feed us with milk. Tis in all thine ways thou soft like silk Sometimes shine like steel. ODE TO FATHERS Glory be to thine heavy hands. Console hath thou coming fear. Some days aloof bypass our brave. In a cloud the blues surpass the fear. Low when crawling hath our feet. Thine sweetest pine drip a wide bore. Of happiness doth we smile. Not in passing ray. Happiness up the sky. Unto thine thin candle route. Channel the complaints of tender. And make some hastening kneading broth. Our hungry bellies fill thee with canes and straw. O for length of hours our eye berries. The seasons dry wither the leaves. White and pale the shattering green. Be in thine shadow our gentle rest Young as ignorant unknowing cravings for bread Chop monies and all the journeys long But warmth in thine folded arms we rest. A FREE VERSE FOR LADIES You are the sunset shadow Resting like a water in a jar Lay forever softly your heads on our chest Cos that reminds us of something Wow this is our kind of rain As sensual as midnight kisses There is always red on their lips Where dem Ladies spark our evening blues You are our shelter in the cold Like a drop of snow from winter Falling down on us high You are our kind of rain A summer breeze that refreshes the mind You are more sugary than the beet Far more polished than fine gold A gypsy of the journey made of caravans and bold God bless thine cherished breasts And make them tendest and firmest They are our kind of rain Ladies, you are our kind of rain Everyday and every passing moment For thou art great-oo LIKE THAT Tell me who can tell me like that. When your words make me ding a ding along. With affectionale in my heart. You mouth me like that. Tell me who makes my world calm when troubled but sober me. From your hands like that. Are my fingers hurting again after you made me ointment like that? The sun and the moon close their chapters when time is up. But right here beside me like that, singing to me only a song like that. Never to go away a blink in a brink You make my resting place your living place. Tell me who gives me faith like that. On my doorstep you come with woolen like that. And with coal to burn flames when cold. \ When nature betrays my shiver. Herbs hot herbs in a Paris jug on my table when asleep. Tell me who gets me awake like a cycle out for work through the weather like that. My breath, my style no one humbled like you like that. I pray that you make history Monalisa like that. Cos like that you make warring soldiers a Florence Nightingale like that mother Teresa. Tell me ooh tell me how the way you do me like that. BAD MAN DADDY You were a bad man all this while I thought. I have a dad but will never get a dad like you. You are the bad man. When you tell me about the traitor next door I think you are that traitor. You hate me whenever you punish me. Later when deep asleep you will come near my bed to rub your hands at my back, “Son, I'm sorry. I should hope some day you will understand”. I feel your tears. But as bold as a man they will not drip like ice. Cos in you is the fear that I may go wayward. I “School”. And like a friend to my enemy you pull my ears straight into the classroom for every lesson uninteresting. Bad man daddy bad man. What at all have I done to this man to deserve such inhumane treatments. What angers me the most is the way you drag me by the hand in front of everybody and anybody when wrong. As shy as I was I know you want to disgrace me forever. He mustn't eat for three days you always say but I know it will only be for a day. Sweet mum will always come to me hiding and tip-toeing with food to clear my anguish. The nice Parish bowl which makes your dinner a table. Your way of grounding is wicked. Your way of grounding itchy. Four days in a room darkness you call for me. Cos with you all blinds must come down. Bad man daddy you were always the bad man I thought. Now I know daddy all that you said to me. I sat down one day far away from home. And from you to ponder. My senses came home. I never did again what you hated me do. Now I'm so proud having had you as my dad. Father wish you were here to see my days. Bad man daddy, I always thought as much. But since the day we parted company, with the words of your gentility. Never to go the rough way like you did and do and did. I made for myself a smooth young man inside me. And whenever I remember you I wish you were here. Good man daddy. I was bad but always thought you were the one. Good man daddy you are the good father. Bad man daddy I always thought you were bad. A Poem written in honour and in dedication to my late father, Padmore Ofori-Atta Sefah, and to all the so-called bad daddies of the Presby Church of Ghana, Grace Congregation, West Legon branch, Accra-Ghana. Written on the 16th day of June, a night before Father's day. THE TRAITOR NEXT DOOR Teach us how to count O woman The wishful thinking wise of your grey hair. Say to us how the way paves the days Before we be betrayed by our foolish ways. Tell it all to all when darkness befall light O woman. When footprint meets footpath. At the crossroad where we hardly decide easily. Where some words we confide make our standing. That there is a traitor nest door. And we before you know when to speak. Tell the wind about our dwellings. Make known to the angry sun our scotching secret. To shelter our humble plight. And to burn our left-overs like chaff before he who comes comes. His shadow casts slur like tremble. Comes walking coast to coast when in need of Kwatcha to Zambia. Since he made fifty pesos from thirty rupiah a day's boast. Speak to any man from Southeastern Taliban from Indonesia. When Argentina of 1960's adopted Colunbus' dollar. And when we know what to say. Mute like cold the snowy flourish silence. For there is a man outside our window. Who's made friends with our wall. All for the good that stands within the shelter. Teach us O maame Abrewa how to count our time. Cos there is a traitor next door. Whose duty is to trail our weaknesses for meekness. LETTERS IN THE SKY There's a place called heaven no place tight like its plight. We share light on its sight. Where our dreams take light No flight like going sight We stress never say never until we are below drought. Deep thoughts the way we reason Men of charisma and of poetry Courage their paths the journey trails We wait for our dreaming days to turn sunny. And when not asleep. Up into the sky we recall the moon which darkness blue. Someone must have sent us rain early or early rains Our season our bounty. A teacher's prayer for the farmer The Preacher's prayer for the hooker Who comes first before noon when Heaven comes judging But with our dream letters up above A stranger of my type shall bring When on Earth there is no place to safe Our safe above will come with letters from the sky. WHEN IT COMES One day you will find solace in laying your head on my shoulder. Peace and warming as a brightening silver folder. Soothing and pampering as understanding as a mother. And I'll hold you like this the way of her baby. And caress as pressing as hope. Nobody will understand to cope. How sweet and tender you are to me. Only eyes can see the signals that shoots rainbow from above. But between me and you it will always be like that. Some timer when we hold hands like this. Good night pine a poetic line for you. One day you will find solace in chamberlain WE ARE NOT YOUNG Chooboi chooboi cho cho booi. Up on the highest hill stands a scoundrel. Masks and bashing fear sending distant lands. Stand up all you men and women of heat. With sticks and with mallets beside a young stool. Playing the almighty fontonfrom to the chill of all. Peace be my neighbours' and I. Better half a bread gluttoned in peace than unrest with full. Like fire sparks demonstrarion and grief. O'er the past seasons has peace paved route for oppression. Let's go neigh and nay. Against the young and the bald. Who in our freedom they obstruct. Pull down the juicy tree that refurbishes their paunch. No sign over faces like everything is well. Before we lay down for our heads a pillow Cos we are not young A SONNET FOR THE CHURCH AND POLITICS 1. Two country, all large all powerful, The white collar, and the poli-tical suit 3. That be the way of genklemen 4. Two country, the church and Politics. The disarray yard of better thinkin'; 6. Where wishful thinkin' men shun no blinking, 7. Because the pulpit wouldn't stand that mingling And now corruption and bribery feed our land like imperialism 9. If the nation crashes we crash 10. For fear of ridicule just a few are openly talkin about ryt or wrong, the true feature of hooliganism Tear not into pieces the words of the scripture 12. As Christians as taxpayers, forget about politics and remain silent Oh! two country, I seem not to understand 14. But for Jesus Christ, hallelujah, men and women of God would have being in Political suit, but for Jesus Written by Sefah, Ato Welbeck, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. 9:32 anti-meridian, West Legon ELIMINA Elimina, Elimina, Elimina I am with some apostrophies. You wont understand. Pity and oryaaw when you toiled about against your toilings. Tekhira Elimina. As beautiful as every-thing sorrow. Your waves faster than a jumbo jet. You came before Ghana. Land of castles, oldies and youngies. Elimina, you recall the days of bue bue bue the cries of our ancestors. That day of pitiable wailings amidst scornful slavery. How then was the feeling Elimina? Yawson son of Yaws, Anderson son of Anders And all the son sons. Some days artificial were your rumblings. The people who cheated you from Edna. Must I concur to fishing that you be first. Or to shackles that you be second. There we take baskets to the stream to fetch blood. AVEYIME Ahwuu ekekevo 3k3k3-3k3kvor Aveyime they say not I oo that you're a good citizen of Ghana. Tell me what you do that makes them remember your name like something. You palm small than the government indeed you are more of a government. You who cast no net but makes net like my fisherman folks. Aveyime, the hope of our anniversary. You make us luchi. And like men and women of means we sleep well. Ya we sleep well. With you we eat a belly full. Aveyime, I hear your other name is rice. Oh when our homes are nothing but whole and phia we know we wont go to bed on empty bellies. It's not difficult at all for me to accept some facts. In fact when I know of your season. Harvest time and upland and lowland. Mothers with their babies at their back. With sickles and with sticks. With anything called langalanga. People dancing, women and their youngs clapping. Birds flapping, dogs barking, men stumping their feet tum tum tum, nannies and billies and kids m3m3m3m3. Billowing dust noise crying a mixed up feeling of figuring, jiggling, tingling and dingling, klin klin klin, all awaiting their long time over due yearnings. The joy of you has made us forget our yawnings. And now at your doorpost we fear no fear. What must come out of famine. Aveyime Christmas our time I got nothing for Christmas Neither a poem nor in apostrophe nor ode nor sonnet nor couplet nor free verse. That I be praise thee whilst the weather me cold. When you chill me snow. Whip me some many lashes like punisher before the Peninsular. As though I was of the West. And say then after hallelujah to thy name. Naa, for you born was a king that bore the mother's cord like thread. It threads and trail like firing rain. Like a manger like a manger. There's no resting place for a stranger. Now I be saved by grace. I think no wandering a dessert. But free a man who has nothing for bronya. Though happy and free fine boy fine girl. Thank God it's Christmas Cos I've got nothing for Christmas but a line or two for bronya. SONNETS LIKE OURSELVES Some things are worth more than rubies. Even roses white and pure gold High versioned and made well When near come no near stand Bronze blister the helmet of a warrior Though sparkling like dazzle and silver Your beauty casts shadow them all If I then be for your love Why wont lie I on fine linen With the open windows where breeze lay Let me praise your name small After all wat have for short life? O woman of my aisle Beautiful are you when I see your face Even when downcast like a shadow casts Cos you are everything like a perfume I take pleasure from As pretty as pretty Thy face the answer to my troubled heart I've found you like a fallen pin difficult to Who can find you a price Not even a painting from a finest Professor like Glover. Some things are worth more than rubies To me you worth more than water A dirge, all for the death What shall I say then Now that sorrow rest its cold feet on me Like a master taking the servant for a ride Your death now betrays my weaknesses And deep down within me a heavy chamber I pour it down heavily like a heavy downpour It sweeping me off my standing now oo You look me a stranger Who is without a word to utter Who laid yours pillow Like me I be full of drudgery What shall I do then? Have me a willow lay aside me like you Now that I be torn into pieces I go in no peace There is a great billow getting down on me Shall I booze like tonight Or get drunk like a strong liquor Where do I stand now that with me I have no pity for joy Fare thee well I bid you Cos now that you lay rest I be nothing for now but full of sorrow An apostrophe. How some people do crave for salvation but are never sufficient O! light fill my heart And draw away my fears The darkness that suck me high And makes me low like timid Open my eyes like a miracle That I may see the beauty of the naturals The birds that gloom the sky With their sweet melodious tonic sofas They start my midnight with a spark Especially the nightingales I fancy to reach out to Wipe away my tears And hide not me your arms If my stumblings make me cry Stretch forth your hand and touch me When lost and strange to understanding O light enlighten me like Noah Or like a preacher stands before lightening and orders a calm like Jesus Cos like Jesus like Preacher O light blow me some few kisses Someday when I sleep and do not wake up from my darkness Then you give me a second chance Cos with you are more shinnings. A poem about the way some people do moan all their hearts out for the death. Don't cry when you hear me dead Cos for me have no cry Bear yourselves witnesses of the minute that stands by And go settle scores with one another And have have total say in all oneness and togetherness For the soul and the body should be made fit I be young or old But there shall come judgment for me A man of my manifold a maker of me A man of myself Heaven or the gate of Hades I shall go Who can anyway tell the way of the last day Always prepare brethren when we have laid to rest a man Cos each for for himself though found not in our books God will always be for us all. THE END OF LOVE With candles may blow on a table light Red or white Shall be bride or groom a question for two To me beat my heart too The way two faithfuls easily easily become enemies Is not in love with you But anger with earlier To me make it feel like no Can anyone tell where love ends? You've found it today Then be gone when it's tomorrow Rage and anger after joy You heard the Romeo and Juliet Love does end sometimes sour And thou magic moments all forever lost to forgone. Like some two enemies on one yard More than Satan before Jesus Squarely strange and openly mute Oh, love the end of you comes strange many unendings WHAT ARE YOU Shall I connote you to music? W'at if I for pride of heart I see me unravel every line that pleases a woman Here I am passing me over Where younger my stride Still plenty my love Yours like grapes and wine The longer sweet vineyard You shant me know the rest When thou not watchin' Your beauty I watch like gaze I wont deserve shount I Then me here your wantin' Thou art everything made of strings For thou maketh worth of ringin to ring YOUNGEST FOOLISHESS I am holding on to nothing Who can tell me the way I feel When I can leave all behind And only with you I say Thou mean me a rockin' And thou mean me all 'Tis a song sea shanty; where captains aboard on a ship Lo sailors and dukes toast a toast Doth me have opiates into the wind Where get thee drunkards and kings For a tainted memory release me Strap around me feet bare And like Salsa shant I own my walk. SONNETS FOR YOUNG WOMEN They are the sunset shadow Rest like a water in a jar And lay forever softly their head on my chest And that reminds us of something Wow this our my kind of rain As sensual as midnight kisses There is always red on their lips. Where two open together comes a mint She's my warmth in the cold Like a drop of snow from the sky Fallen down on me high She's my kind of rain A summer breeze that refreshens the mind She is more sugary than cane Jobs and businesses A gypsy of the journey made of caravans

THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL BILL OF GHANA, 2012 ,by Sefah Ato Welbeck

A BILL TO BE READ AND CONSIDERED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA FOR ANY FURTHER DELIBERATONS. TO BE RECOGNIZED AND GAZETTED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE LAWS OF GHANA Be it The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of Ghana THE ANTI HOMOSEXUALITY BILL, 2012 MEMORANDUM 1.1. The Principle Homosexuality or same-sex sexual activity /engagement is not only a disregard of the entire major and the minor religious beliefs including Islamic, Christian, Traditional, Buddhism, Shintoism, Judaism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, of our society but also a retrogress to the Ghanaian economic growth and development. Homosexuality, however, is a sexual misnomer or a feeling of abnormal sexual desire for a person of the same sex. A psychological build up and a defiant to moral reasoning and does not in any way bother on human rights. Unless otherwise stated in this Act, sine qua non, homosexuality is not a genetic problem and does not in any way constitute normal sexual aura in the Ghanaian society. The bill serves to protect the Ghanaian cultural heritage and inheritance from Western misnomers, by promoting sexual activities between person of the opposite sex only, thereby prohibiting the acts of homosexuality and prosecuting the offenders of homosexuality and any person or persons who promote(s) or recognize(s) the act of homosexuality directly or indirectly in Ghana. The bill also aims to strengthen the religious, legal, cultural, and educational position of Ghana towards her progress and development for generations and generations yet unborn. 2.1. Defects in Existing Law. This bill is intended to fill the loop-holes in the current existing law of Ghana. It is intended to supplement the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the criminal code. Per the criminal code, it is an offence to engage in any sexual activity through the “unnatural canal” but does not comprehensively detail what amounts or constitute “unnatural canal”. Due to the incomprehensiveness of the “unnatural canal” as stated in the criminal code (Section 104 (1b)) the criminal code in itself fails to punish or prosecute persons involved in homosexuality or related activities because of its limited information as to what constitute an offence of homosexuality, written or unwritten. It is against this backdrop that there is the need to make for ourselves a legal document that will investigate charge, prosecute, and fine offenders. It is therefore a civic prudence to prepare for ourselves a concise, clarified, and an in-depth legal backing for anti-homosexuality. Under this Act, it is therefore an offence for any person or persons, organisations, governmental or non-governmental to engage, promote, recognize, adhere, kowtow, direct or indirectly to the act of homosexuality or any related act in Ghana as it amounts to a threat to the Ghanaian cultural inheritance and heritage. 3.0. The Objectives of the Bill. The bill aims to object the following: a) To ensure that marriage, and any form of sexual activity is undertaken between a man and a woman only. b) To protect the Ghanaian society from psychological misnomers, thereby forbidding and prosecuting people engaged in homosexual activities, or any other related activity. c) To provide for ourselves an international recognition, and for Ghana as a sovereign Nation by abrogating ratifications of any international treaties, conventions, protocols, charters, agreements and declarations which contravene the provisions of this act. d) To prohibit the licensing of governments or non-government organisations, within or outside Ghana, direct or indirect, that promotes homosexuality. e) And to prosecute in absentia any Ghanaian who intends to, as a matter of privacy or invasion, travels Abroad to engage in homosexuality as it amounts to crime against justice, and an affront to the provisions of this act. 4.0 ORGANISATION OF ACT. 4.1 Part I of the Bill incorporating article 1 provides for introductory matters relating to interpretation of words, statements and phrases used in the Act. 4.2 Part II of the Bill incorporating article 2-7 is about prohibition of homosexuality, act and the offence of homosexuality. It incorporates also the offence of direct homosexuality, the offence of indirect homosexuality, reasonable motive and the offence of attempted homosexuality, confidentiality and the protection of identity, protection, benefit and compensation to victims of homosexuality. 4.3 Part III of the Bill incorporating article 8-11 introduces other related offences and punishment, secret services and institutions of homosexuality; conspiracy to engage in homosexuality; same sex marriage; public power and collusion to homosexuality. 4.4 Part IV of the Bill incorporation article 12-14 offers the court of law in Ghana jurisdiction and the authority over extra-territorial jurisdictions; and Extradition in relation to the extradition law of Ghana. 4.5 Part V of the Bill incorporating article 15-16 provides for other legalities and the nullification of international concordances that may seek to contradict the Laws of the Republic of Ghana from her sovereignty. Prepared by Sefah, Ato-Welbeck (BSc.) THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL BILL, 2012 ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES Part I- Preliminary. Clause 1. Definition/interpretation of words and terms. Part II- Prohibition of homosexuality. 2. The act and offence of homosexuality. 3. Indirect homosexuality. 4. Direct homosexuality. 5. Reasonable motive and the offence of attempted homosexuality. 6. Confidentiality and the Protection of Identity. 7. Protection, benefits and compensation to victims of homosexuality. Part III- Other related offences and Punishment. 8. Secret services and institutions of homosexuality. 9. Conspiracy to engage in homosexuality. 10. Same sex marriage. 11. Public Power and collusion of homosexuality. Part IV- Prosecution and Jurisdiction. 12. Jurisdiction. 13. Extra-territorial Jurisdiction. 14. Extradition. 15. Regulation, guidelines and mechanisms. A BILL FOR AN ACT FOR GHANA ENTITLED THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL ACT, 2012. An act to ban any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; ban the promotion or the recognition of such relations, and to provide for other related matters. BE IT PASSED BY PARLAIMENT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1—PRELIMINARY 1. Interpretation. Unless otherwise stated by the context of this Act, ‘‘Sexual activity’’ means the act of acquiring sexual pleasure and enjoyment. ‘‘Lesbian” means a woman/girl who engages in sexual activity with a woman/girl. ‘‘Homosexual” means a male/man who engages in sexual activity with a man/male partner. ‘‘Victim” means a person who is/was engaged in sexual activity or being penetrated, against his/her will. ‘‘Public Power” means the authority given to persons to report cases (and suspected cases) of homosexuality for a follow-up and for a reward accordingly. ‘‘1st offender” means a person convicted of homosexuality but has no past records of homosexuality or related issues. ‘‘2nd offender” means a person with past records of homosexuality or related activities, who is convicted for homosexuality. ‘‘Same sex’’ means a male and a male, or a female and a female “Unnatural canal” means the mouth or anus or the nose or any other organ a part from the vagina or the penis. “Sexual organ” means a male sex organ or the penis or a female sex organ or the vagina. Related activity means all activities between persons of the same sex leading or may lead to the act of homosexuality. “Court of Law” means the court of law in Ghana with the highest jurisprudence and judicature, in the name of the Supreme Court. Part II-PROHIBITION OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2. The act and the offence of Homosexuality Homosexuality is engaging in sexual activity between two persons of the same sex. In cases of hermaphroditic (genderless/sexless), the issue to referred to the medical section of the law court to ascertain the active sexual organ best to the knowledge of the offender. And referred accordingly to the court of law for an advice in relation to this act. (1). A person commits the offense of homosexuality if: (a) S (he) touches or penetrates another person of the same sex with the intention of committing sex. (b). S (he) penetrates another person of the same sex through the unnatural canal, be it consensual or not consensual. (c). S (he) uses a device or an object or sexual contraception to penetrate or stimulate the sexual organ of another person of the same sex consensual or not consensual, with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality. In extreme cases where persons of the same sex with another person of the opposite sex where the person of the opposite sex is used as a cover up for the act of homosexuality. Under this act, homosexuality is an offence and any person or persons found to have committed homosexuality has/have breached the justices of the land or has/have caused a crime against justice and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life. 3. Indirect Homosexuality A person commits the offence of indirect homosexuality if: (a) S (he) recognizes or promotes homosexuality between two or more persons of the same sex (b) S (he) endorses, supports, forces persons of the same sex to engage in the offence of homosexuality. (c) S (he) procures materials of uncensored sexual act indirectly for persons to engage in homosexuality. (d) S (he) blesses a marriage contracted between persons of the same sex. A person found to have committed the offence of indirect homosexuality shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for five (5) years. 4. Direct homosexuality A person commits the offence of direct homosexuality if: (a) S (he) contracts a marriage with a person of the same sex. (b) S(he) procures materials of uncensored sexual act directly for him/herself or for person to engage in homosexuality (c) S (he) as a result of his/her power/authority threatens or forces or induces or weakens someone to indulge in homosexuality with or without the person’s consent. A person who commits the offence of direct homosexuality shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life. 5. Reasonable Motive and The offence of attempted homosexuality A person shall be accused to have had a reasonable motive and attempted to commit homosexuality if: (a) Upon legal proceedings it is ascertained that he/she had a reasonable motive to attempt to commit homosexuality. (b) S (he) waves a signal or shows any sign of identification to a person of the same sex with the intention of having sex. (c) S (he) identifies him/herself through dressing, decoration, make-up or any ornament to attract or signal a person of the same sex with the intention of having sex. (d) S (he) does not engage in any sexual relations but in activities with a person of the same sex (fondling of the private parts, kissing, or related act of homosexuality) leading up to sexual relations. (e) S (he) penetrates or tries to penetrate another person of the same sex without his/her consent with the intention of having sex. A person who commits the offence of attempted homosexuality commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to imprisonment for two (2) years. 6. Confidentiality and the protection of identity A victim or convicted persons of homosexuality shall have the identity protected from the public domain and the media due to public acrimony/hostility and threat. And all other information relating to his/her incident forever kept confidential and any other document—in print, photos, or video shall be destroyed by the court of law. (a) At any stage regarding the trial and proceedings of a victim engaged in homosexuality, where the court of law deems fit and appropriate the case shall be held in camera as a cognizance to right to privacy. (b) A victim of homosexuality is not a victim of homosexuality until it is duly proven beyond reasonable doubts that he/she was unduly forced into homosexuality. (c) A person who commits the offence of homosexuality, direct or indirect or attempted homosexuality shall be allowed to enjoy the right to privacy where the court of law deems fit and appropriate. (d) In extreme cases, convicted persons of homosexuality shall be made to wear mask during court proceedings and have their faces casted on air where the need be for the public to have knowledge of the case. In this act, any person or persons, group, institution, governmental or non-governmental organization must acquire the permission of the court of law, before putting any documents relating to any victim of homosexuality, be it news or information to the public domain. Anyone who fails to conform to this provision of the act commits an offence and shall be liable to fine or imprisonment or both. A fine not exceeding twenty-thousand (20,000) currency points. 7. Protection, Benefit and Compensation to victims of homosexuality Under this Act, a person shall be compensated if found to have been coerced or engaged in homosexuality without his/her intention. (a). A victim of homosexuality shall not be convicted for any crime committed as a result of his/her direct involvement in homosexuality. (b). Victims of homosexuality shall be protected and assisted by the court of law to give their accounts of the accident. (c). A compensation shall be paid to the victim of homosexuality by the accused and any other person involved. (d). The court of Law shall upon verification decide the amount of compensation which needs to be paid the victim of homosexuality having considered the degree of harm, injury, punishment, medical and expenses bore by the victim as a result of the offence if any, and any other damage, be it physical, sexual or psychological caused the victim. SECTION III-OTHER RELATED OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT 8. Secret Services and Institutions of Homosexuality Any person, group, governmental or non-governmental organization, association within or outside Ghana commits an offence under this Act if: (a) Found to be promoting and recognizing or found to have promoted or recognized homosexuality as a service or through any institution, structured or unstructured, housed or not housed. (b) S (he) through espionage or any economic or political turmoil in Ghana promotes or recognizes homosexuality as opportunistic means to make money. (c) Any person who secretly engages minors or person below the constitutional suffrage age of eighteen years (18) in the act of homosexuality. (d) Any 1st offender who at the same time secretly engages the services of minors or persons below the constitutional suffrage age of eighteen years A person found to have breached this section of the provision shall be liable on conviction to life imprisonment and a maximum fine or both or a death penalty. Under this Act, cases of homosexuality shall have no expiration date. All cases relating to homosexuality and homosexuality shall be trialed before the court of law. 9. Conspiracy to engage in homosexuality A person who conspires to promote homosexuality commits an offence if: (a) S (he) conspires with another to persuade another person of the same sex to engage in the act of homosexuality. (b) S (he) conspires with another to bear false witness against another person to have engaged in the act of homosexuality. (c) S (he) conspire with another to intentionally drag or implicate another person in a case involving homosexuality or related offences of which the person dragged or implicated is not guilty of any offence. Any person who conspires to engage another in the act of homosexuality commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for ten years (10). 10. Same sex marriage. A person commits the offence of direct homosexuality if s (he) contracts a marriage with a person of the same sex and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life. 11. Public Power and Collusion of Homosexuality Power lies in the people and shall be exercised accordingly in relation to the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Under this Act, the public shall be empowered as a whistle-blower to report cases of homosexuality and other related cases for investigation. However, a reported case with one witness shall not be given much weight until proven further through any extra factual analysis. (a) Any person or persons who report (s) cases of homosexuality with substantial documents shall be made to enjoy a sum token. (b) Any person or persons who collude with another to suppress cases of homosexuality commit (s) an offence. (c) Any person who reports suspected cases of homosexuality and upon a diligent official search by the Ghana Police shall be rewarded a sum token. (d) Any person who purports to have substantial documents and information about cases of homosexuality commits no offence if found to have had false information, and which was through no intention to put the duty of the court of law into disrepute. (e) The amount of sum token to be given to the whistle- blower shall be determined by the court of Law (f) However, in extreme cases where the person or persons charged with the cases of homosexuality demand any damage or compensation from those who had initially purported to have had substantial documents, the court of Law shall proceed to unbiased rulings accordingly. Any person with information regarding cases of homosexuality, and its related offences and yet fails to disclose the information commits an offence, and shall be liable on conviction, if found to have had information as a result of his/her position, to a fine as would be determined by the court of law. SECTION IV-PROSECUTION AND JURISDICTION This Act serves as a direct supplement to the Laws of Ghana, namely the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana, and the criminal code. And to give comprehensive emphasis on the “unnatural canal” phrase in the criminal code. Per the constitution of the Republic of Ghana, any law within or outside Ghana found to be inconsistent its spirit and provisions are considered null and void to the extent of their inconsistency. And in due cognizance of Ghana as a sovereign state like any other sovereign state. 12. Jurisdiction All cases of homosexuality, pursuant to the legal procedure of the Republic of Ghana, shall be trialed by the High Court, and other related cases of homosexuality trialed by the Lower courts. But in cases of extremity under the jurisprudence of the lower courts, the matter shall be referred to a superior court for their advice or judgments. 13. Extra-territorial Jurisdiction This act shall apply to all offences committed outside Ghana where: (a) A Ghanaian citizen goes abroad with the intention of evading the punishments that come along with the offences of homosexuality. (b) A Ghanaian citizen outside the territory of Ghana commits the Act of homosexuality (direct or indirect) or indulges other related activities of homosexuality. (c) A permanent resident of Ghana commits the act of homosexual which constitute an offence of homosexuality under this Act. (d) A Ghanaian citizen outside Ghana is convicted of the act of homosexuality under the laws of that country and applies for extradition. This act shall apply to all persons—Ghanaians or non-Ghanaian residing within Ghana and to all Ghanaian citizens residing outside the territorial borders Ghana. 14. Extradition A person convicted of an offence of homosexuality under this Act shall be liable to extradition under the current existing extradition laws of the Republic of Ghana. SECTION V- OTHER LEGALITIES 15. Nullification of inconsistent international treaties, protocols, declarations and conventions. (a) Any international legal instrument or documentation or backing which does not conform to the provisions enshrined in this Act shall be regarded null and void. (b) Unless otherwise stated by the details of this Act, sexual disorder or any other sexual misnomer or sexual make-up and its related activities shall by no means be used as a justification to legalize homosexuality in Ghana. (c) This act shall take due supremacy over all international laws, treaties, bonds or agreements, be it economic or political, that do not seek to come into agreement with the provisions of this Act. (d) In no way shall a majority of any charter of which Ghana is a member, pass any judgment to dominate the powers, spirits and any of the provisions, as enshrined in this Act to be null and void. 16. Regulations and Mechanisms The Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana may, by legislative provisions make regulations and some laid down mechanisms, principally for the administration of the provisions of this Act. Our Lord of Justice shall then again by judicial intelligence determine the currency points in equivalence to the currency of the Republic of Ghana. However, in cases of indecisiveness or ambiguity a currency point shall be equivalent to one Ghana cedis (GH¢) Soli Deo Gloria Glory be to God