In the intricate tapestry of our nation’s governance, our political parties are the threads that weave together diverse ideologies, aspirations and values. The centre left, centre right and others have unique principles which plays vital roles in shaping the economy and the well being of its citizens.

For the progress of a nation, it is imperative for all political parties to remain in their top forms, committed to their core principles and values. This fosters healthy competition and ensures that policies implemented reflects the diverse needs of the people of Ghana.

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) centre right which is the governing party is challenged with bad governance, it has lost sight of the very principles that once defined its existence. Experiencing the dire consequences of the current erosion of its core values, not only is it affecting the party (party stalwarts like Alan Kyeremanten, Ohene Ntow and co resigning from the party because of the lost of the party’s principles), it is also affecting Ghana as a whole.

When a political party strays from its fundamental beliefs, it undermines the trust of the people and jeopardises the economic stability of the country.

The National Democratic Congress, though in opposition has the responsibility to win the 2024 general elections to save the struggling NPP, which is currently run by a select ill intended individuals that are only in power for their self interests and settling of personal vendetta’s. Rather than political strategy, it has become a role for the opposition to step in, not with hostility but with the spirit of collaboration aimed at RESTORING balance and accountability.

During President John Mahama’s tours he iterates that we must all rally together to ensure that all parties remains true to their principles, that our democracy thrives on the diversity of ideas and the strength of our political parties. When one party loses its way, it is just not the failure of that party; it is a collective loss for our nation.

The health of our democracy and the prosperity of our economy depend on the commitment of political parties to hold in high their core values. The NPP must be reminded of its foundational principles, and the NDC has a pivotal role in this RESTORATION process. Let us embrace this opportunity to foster a political culture where integrity and accountability reign supreme, ensuring that our nation’s future is bright, prosperous, and united. Together, we can cultivate a political landscape that not only respects diversity but thrives on it, securing a better tomorrow for all.

GHANA MUST WORK AGAIN

@Fiifi Quayle started with an example of an individual who’s had 20years of his life erased, such an individual becomes incompetent with no sense of direction. He talked of the youth finding themselves, and the most effective way was to learn their HISTORY. He also talked about the inconsistencies in political manifestos and the need for a comprehensive National Development Plan. He stressed on INTELLECTUAL EMANCIPATION, How we call ourselves independent yet manages little of the many that we have. With diverse people and culture we are made to hate our origin and ourselves. He said the white calls us primitive or salvages because he finds it difficult to understand our ways of life, so the best thing is to make us neglect our history with no or little written records. Our Era of Civilization have been completely wiped off in the periodization of the world, the classical Era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire(700AD) to the Islamic Invasion(700AD-1500AD) then to the coming of the Europeans(Transatlantic slave trade 1500AD-). Meanwhile there are Rock Gongs in the NUBIAN desert which predates as far back as 5000BC to 7000BC which was long before the Roman’s and the Pharaoh’s of Egypt. He talked of King Teharka and his TEMPLE at JEBEL BARKAL and how he ruled over the NUBIANS and the people of Egypt. He also talked of the MALI SEA FERRIES that set sails to Mexico to trade with the Mayans 400years before columbus. King Abu Bakr crossed the ocean around 900AD, these were the golden trade of the moors. BIG SHIPS from Africa crossed the SEA. Fiifi was saddened that we are always debating every one’s concerns except our own. We fight for foreigners way of life, ways of worship and throw our own away. Islam that took refuge in Ethiopia at their time of need has been the worse religion Ethiopians have suffered under though the Prophet Mohammad promised to be Ethiopia’s friend, Christians came to colonize us and we are just here looking as spectators. We lived our RELIGION, we didn’t preach it. Our Morals and Values were there to keep us in check so we had no jail system. He talked of no African Nation using our tradition, concept of law or morality to govern us. How after independence we still knock at the doors of our oppressors asking for acceptance. Our true Liberation will come when we look into our mirror and like what we see. Then value ourselves well enough to cater for ourselves. Powerful people never educate powerless people with how they became successful so they can rub shoulders with them. If you want to be like your oppressor, you are of no value to your people. He suggested we rely on ourselves for everything, develop our underdeveloped history, concentrate on teaching our young ones critical thinking and not chew and pour. He said we created philosophical/spiritual thoughts, we gave the world the first humanity, maths, science and medicine were all started here, even in captivity eddison created the light bulb, If we did it before, we can do it again

Going through notes made at the forum, I couldn’t help but to think of Ghana’s banking and financial sector, we are made to believe that all is well and that we are doing extremely well in this sector, to the contrary
Regulations pretty shaky to me
Monitoring of banks> shaky
Protection of customers deposits, fairly good
Banks goal of making high profits, excellent
Now the reasons for this, based on my opinion; which of course I stand to be corrected is that most of the industry is made up of Nigerian consolidated banks which of course have bigger capital base, great player for the economy’s growth in the sense that it promotes competition and brings out the best in our banking industry but is that what is happening currently? They are rather finding ways and means to predate on customers illiteracy to enrich the organizations and to expand their capital base, how many indigenous banks are in the industry to really think of us ….. Since when have Government bureaucrats been more adept at predicting the needs of an industry than industry insiders themselves? I foresee danger in our banking system if measures are not properly put in place to check all this since government is prone to go the recapitalization and consolidation way, setting a capital requirement which will make it very hard for new banks to enter the market
To elaborate more, the most enthusiastic banks capturing most of our market is the foreign Nigerian banks that to me have not yet completed their recapitalization and consolidation process though Mr. Charles Soludo and others think otherwise, I don’t believe that those who have access to the largest pools of money are necessarily the right people to be in control of the banking sector – or any sector for that matter. They should leave room for those entrepreneurs who have the ability to achieve more with less money.
“But you recall how too many cooks do spoil the soup; in the banking system there were too many boys and girls, parents with crutches, grannies with guts and the likes all acting as the cooks in one pot. Millions of Nigerians lost money, many died from crashes and collapsing of the banks, and Nigeria’s worst public-relations blight called 419 became so successful. Boy that was not so nice. ” a colleague pointed out.
Using a financial equivalent of the famed OPTION-A4, now Soludo hands Obasanjo about twenty five clean-shaven cooks who look exactly the same and could perform so too! They’ll likely cut and create our pot into such equal share for the good of all eaters or users.
You must know by now that God isn’t going to do for you what you won’t do for yourself.
There is an old adage that “if you see an old man’s beard on fire, fetch water, it might be yours next” I do not see strategic true Ghanaian bankers putting in place measures or policies or setting up think tanks to tackle serious crises should we get into one. It is good to learn from those ahead of us but they obviously do not have to think for us. We should encourage our young entrepreneurs to come into the field with their ingenuity and not scared of any capital requirements and consolidations basing our minimum capital requirement on a percentage of assets to allow different sizes of banks to operate.
Listed below are some of the banks and how they came about and how they are going to affect us..

1 UBA: The bank which emerged after the fusion of former United Bank for Africa and former Standard Trust Bank is already there. With over 400 branches spread across the country, it wants to be a neighborhood bank in Nigeria as well as in the African region.

2. First Bank: First Bank is planning to acquire some smaller banks as well as extend its boundaries beyond Nigeria. Already, it has received both the CBN and SEC’s consent to combine its business with MBC International Bank Plc and FBN (Merchant Bankers) Limited. Its deal with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, with a view to consolidating with the group, would enable it capture the West African markets in the second phase of its consolidation.

3. Union Bank: CBN has been granted Approval-In- Principle to Union Bank of Nigeria, Broad Bank, Universal Trust Bank and Hallmark for the merger arrangements, while integration of their business operations has commenced.

4. Zenith Bank: Zenith is going it alone. The bank which was one of the first to surpass the N25 billion capital base requirement has already begun a reengineering process to enable it take a substantial share of the Nigerian market as well as play a leading role in the African market.

5. Guaranty Trust Bank: GTBank was one of the few banks that never had problems with the CBN threshold. With subsidiaries in some West African countries, it is realigning to battle the region with others.

6. Intercontinental Bank: The Intercontinental Group is now operating as a single entity. The bank has therefore become the second consolidated bank in the country after the UBA and with the largest shareholders’ funds in the Nigerian banking industry.

7. Standard Chartered: With a new investment of about $147 million, the bank has now been recapitalized. The new financial position of the bank, which presently stands at N26 billion is expected to be announced soon after CBN’s approval.

8. Oceanic Bank: After the completion of the verification of capital exercise by the CBN, the bank now has about N26.5 billion as shareholders’ fund. It has acquired two banks (International Trust Bank and Stanbic Bank). Significant growth in shareholders’ fund is expected from its recently concluded 2005 financial year.

9. Access Bank Plc: The bank has emerged the third consolidated bank with a combined capital base of N28 billion, having combined its business with that of Marina International Bank Plc and Capital International Bank Plc. Access Bank has commenced the second phase of its consolidation with the move to acquire Midas Bank Plc.

10. Afribank Group: CBN has granted Approval-In-Principle to the Afribank Group that comprises Trade Bank Plc and Afribank International (Merchant Bankers) Limited. The group has begun the initial valuation on the three banks to determine the share exchange ratio. CBN has approved a total shareholders’ fund of N25. 016 billion for Afribank (Afribank Nigeria Plc and Afribank International Bank (Merchant Bankers) consolidated.

11. IBTC Chartered: The bank which was to go it alone has now received CBN’s approval-in-principle to merge with Chartered Bank and Regent Bank. This is expected to bring their shareholders’ fund to over N35 billion. The three banks last week held their court-ordered meetings where shareholders overwhelmingly supported the merger.

12. Diamond Bank Group: Diamond Bank has finally acquired Lion Bank having received final approval of the regulatory authorities. The group’s shareholders’ fund now stands at about N28 billion and is expected to go up to about N31 billion at the end of this exercise.

13. Skye Bank Group: Skye Bank Plc comprising Prudent Bank Plc, EIB International Bank Plc, Bond Bank and Reliance Bank now has a shareholders’ fund of about N30 billion. The group has received CBN’s approval-in-principle. A new entrant into the group is Cooperative Bank which is expected to bring on board about N5 billion in shareholders’ fund subject to CBN’s verification of the last capital raised.

14. Wema Bank Group: comprises Wema Bank, National Bank and Lead Bank. The group is well positioned to meet the CBN’s requirement. Wema Bank recently garnered gross proceeds amounting to N16.64 billion at the end of its public offer and added to an initial shareholders’ fund of N8.06 billion would put it at about N24.7 billion. Wema Bank has gotten the CBN approval-in principle to acquire National and Lead Banks.

15. FCMB Group: Comprises First City Monument Bank and Co-operative Development Bank has now concluded the court-ordered meetings. The group has also acquired NAMBL. With a shareholders’ fund now in excess of N27 billion, the group is set to conclude all necessary regulatory requirements and fuse into one before the end of November 2005.

16. Platinum Bank: Platinum Habib Group has filed for CBN’s approval in principle. The fusion of the two banks would produce over N25 billion capital base. Their shareholders at respective court-ordered meetings approved the scheme merger.

17. Fidelity Bank: The bank now has FSB International Plc and has received the CBN approval-in-principle on their merger pact. It has also received pre-merger consent of the CBN for its merger with Manny Bank. CBN has approved N11.7 billion of the offer proceeds of Fidelity Bank, representing 70 per cent of its offer target. The approval has raised Fidelity’s shareholders’ funds to about N29 billion. Shareholders of Fidelity and SB Banks at respective court-ordered meetings approved the scheme merger.

18. NIB/Citibank: The Citigroup – parent company of NIB recently made good its promise to recapitalise its local subsidiary with the injection of over N11.7 billion ($90 million). This sum, combined with the contribution of the Nigerian shareholders, once formally approved by the CBN, will double the NIB’s capital to N25 billion.

19. Sterling Bank Group: This group consists of Trust Bank of Africa Limited, Magnum Trust Bank, NBM Bank, NAL Bank Plc and Indo Nigeria Bank. Presently, the group has over N25 billion capitalisation. The group, which would be in court this week to secure a date for its court-ordered meetings, have appointed top management positions which would run the emerging bank with Mr. Babatunde Dabiri as the MD/CEO. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the merger scheme of the Sterling Bank group, paving way for the five banks in the group to hold court ordered extra ordinary general meetings as from December 12, 2005.

20. First Inland Bank: Comprising First Atlantic Bank Plc and Inland Bank (Nig.) Plc. The group recently held a successful Court-Ordered Meetings of shareholders of all the banks. IMB and NUB International Banks have joined, a development that would take the combined shareholders’ funds of the group to N30 billion.

21. North Omega Bank: NUB International Bank Plc has opted out of the group. The remaining banks left are Bank of the North, Omega Bank Plc New Africa Bank Plc, Trans International Bank Plc and Fountain Trust Bank Plc. The group has since been granted a pre-merger consent by the CBN.

22. Devcom/ETB: The CBN has approved the subscription of N9 billion via private placement which, automatically takes the total amount raised by private placement to N13 billion. This, in addition to the capitalized profits of ETB brings to N26.5 billion the combined shareholders’ fund of the group. Last week the two merging banks held their court-ordered meetings where shareholders overwhelmingly supported the merger.

23. Citizen Guardian: The group comprises Citizens Bank, Guardian Express Bank, and ACB International Bank Plc. While Citizens pulled out of an earlier arrangement with Union Bank, Guardian Express also pulled out of an earlier arrangement with Platinum Bank. The group, which hopes to have a combined shareholders’ fund in excess of N27 billion recently got approval-in-principles for their merger. An interim board chaired by Prof. Anya O. Anya has been inaugurated.

24. Unity Bank Group: Unity Bank Group had successfully concluded its court-ordered meetings on Monday 5th December 2005, while Intercity Bank Plc, the vehicle for the merger, had conducted its Extra-ordinary General Meeting on the same day during which its shareholders approved the change of its name to Unity Bank Plc and the creation of additional 30 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. An agreement was signed on Thursday 8th December 2005 which admitted NNB International Bank Plc into the fold. This means there are now seven constituent banks in the Group including the Tropical Commercial Bank Plc, Pacific Bank Limited, First Interstate Bank Plc and Centre Point Bank Plc. NUB, NNB and IMB.

25. Ecobank Nigeria: Following its successful public offer of 4.8 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N3.20 per share, Ecobank Nigeria Plc now has a shareholders’ funds of N20 billion. Its parent company, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI) has made a commitment to supply the shortfall that may be required to achieve the stipulated minimum capital before December 31, recapitalization deadline. Ecobank Nigeria’s public offer is currently being verified by the regulatory authorities.

Kudos to Unique Trust though but your risk taking ability is quiet shaky, the rest of the banks to me are not working enough for their money…. That is my opinion, drop me a mail @ kinglartey3@gmail.com and let me know what you think

My tribute to the sons of Africa

…Little did he know that she was POETRY but his dumb ass couldn’t read

Tasted her mind and realized he was starving Her naïveté his hope

Awoken her love, no intent to give

Her wine, her gem she freely gives

A freak arise

Her sons are Rison

Embracing their cult, their eyes…

Educate yourselves of Africa

To liberate yourself, Africa

Keep your heads up high

No more will we cry

Our history that they stole, Africa

Is written in our souls Africa

Oldest nation on this earth

Know just what you’re worth

Ships that sailed to distant places

Robbed us of our rights and words

History says that you’ve betrayed us

Talking of the Gods you showed

Hear the rumbling in the skies

Tears that our forefathers cried

And today we’re still in chains

Take the shackle from our minds

You’re the corner stone

The King of wonder grown

How beautiful art thou, Africa

Our nation have to bow, Africa

Don’t you fall from grace

You’re that sacred place

The richest place on earth

Know just what you’re worth

Keep your heads up high

No more will we cry

They infiltrate our homes, Africa

They claim it as their own, Africa

Now we must stand tall

To break down all these walls

Our children must be taught of Africa

The science and the arts of Africa

Educate yourselves, Africa

To liberate your selves, Africa

Keep your heads up high

No more will we cry

Beautiful art thou, Africa

All nations have to bow, Africa

Our Nation Africa

Credits: Stephen Marley

The game of golf requires precision and concentration from the teeing green to the putting green. Sometimes the hole may not be seen from the teeing green depending on the angle, there are variations in the length of turf to increase difficulty to the game but the golden rule still remains “on the putting green, the grass will always be short and green for easier putt”. Golfing may look easier to the outsider, some may even call it a game for the lazy but only true golfers know what goes into it. The mental strength in keeping your frustrations within when all is going wrong, it is a mind game; you make your putt in your head before you accurately putt it. Comparatively one can associate the game to life where the wealthiest play everything in mind and with concentration and precision executes their plan keeping their calm even when at loss while those that lack looks at them and complain at how difficult and unfair life is to them. Like Arnold Palmer said ” Success in Golf depends less on strength of body more on strength of mind and character.”

Dear youth of Africa,

I come to you with a heavy heart this evening, I come to you with the cries of a selfless woman who is laying down her life for future Rwandans. Diane Shima Rwigara; Diane is the 35 year Bold Rwandan lady that attempted to ran against President Paul Kagame in this year’s presidential elections.

She and her family are currently in police custody awaiting trial this month, she’s charged with an offense against state security and forgery. Detained earlier this September under different charges, if convicted Diane will be facing a 20 year prison sentence. All these precedents leaves me no doubt in mind that her real crime was attempting to run for President.

Diane is an African Youth, bold and articulate, she dared to changed the status quo and aimed for the highest office against the all powerful Kagame, we the youth of Africa must not sit and watch her political career die this soon. We need to provide her a shoulder to lean on, our support and fight to get her out of prison is the least we can do.

We can not let her face the same fate of General Frank Rusagara who is serving a 20 year prison sentence for inciting insurrection and tarnishing the government’s image. President Kagame has the Parliament and Judiciary agreeing to whatever he says, the laws of Rwanda are always open to reinterpretation as such Prosecutors can change charges at anytime.

I am not for the French, I like President Paul Kagame for some of the great things he has done but what is right must be right. We must accept each other’s view especially the views of the future Generations. The future of Rwanda and Africa is for the brave. Use Diane as your profile picture, use the #FreeDianeNow in your post, print it in your shirts and come out this Friday with any red cloth tied to your hand to signify that you are with us in the fight for Justice for Diane. Just do anything you can think of as an African Youth lending a hand to a Shero.

Long live Africa

Long live the African Youth

Long Live Rwanda

#FreeDianeNow

Value is not placed on people of no value in crises. Our very most respected man of God is in trouble, the man known to be the King solomon of our generation; he is indeed generational thinker whose sermons are sought after for Phd’s etc . It is under this man that I learnt that more is expected from me as a Christian than just to sit down and wait on God for some huge miracle, he taught me that I am a Christian and by principle everything on this earth is under me, they must heed to my command as a child of God. It is just not proper for uncircumcised philistines(pagans/atheist) to rule over this world, in politics, business etc.

Our good pastor with his values and in fulfilling his duties as a true child of God is faced with these major topics;

• Politics

• Business and

• Religion

These 3 topics are so delicate in our new created world that makes conflicts of interest inevitable when a stand is taken. Consequences comes after such stand, your personality is lost at such since every act is judged at your stand. Being Christians the best one can do is to trust in God and leave all others to him.

Now that does not mean that Christians do not make mistakes and must be exempted from persecution. One becomes a man or woman to be a Christian, when a stand is made; a stance must be defended. Persecution will come, if it was a stand taken under God’s directions, a stand will be exonerated; if a stance wasn’t taken under God’s directions, the Christian then learns and make better judgements in the future.

One must not be pampered or held in high esteem just because he is a Christian or man of God. A Christian must go through whatever the politician or the business man goes through when they take a stand. Value has to be built upon conviction not just because one is a man of God

Our Pastor must be commended for being a true Child of God , he must embrace the criticisms from the general public. He mustn’t loose hope, if he backs down; other pastors would leave everything for the uncircumcised philistines to rule us

By any means choose knowledge, knowledge over faith. Faith is good but having an upper hand on the inevitable is a toast worth serving. I am God, he lives in me so is you, him and her. Da Vinci, Karl Max, John Kufuor, Kwasi Pratt etc all had and has God living in them. Knowing thyself is knowing God, doing your will in the righteous way is being what he called you to be. There was he before thee and he script down his story(knowledge) so thee would learn from it. He used faith to believe to live. It is our time to write our story using his story as a guideline, faithing we would leave a Better knowledge to the generations yet unborn
July 2017,Lord Fiifi Quayle