What can a million dollar do towards relevant and sustainable job
creation. The issue of job creation is really important and whiles
governments all over seriously deliberate how to create jobs for their
citizenry same must be done for the Ghanaian or African.
Firstly,
the government has a problem of wealth distribution, poverty
alleviation and jobs for the numerous graduating students from the
tertiary institutes, vocational institutes,etc. The trip towards poverty
alleviation is not through freebies at all levels of the society. If
government can radically introduce sharp solutions which i hope to
propose a few in this article, it will be a leap towards poverty
alleviation.
Start-ups, Start-ups and Start-ups: What can a million dollar
achieve? Firstly , why can't government learn from the organizers of
events like Ghana Most Beautiful, Miss Ghana, Miss Universe, Miss
Malaika, etc? In almost all these events, which aim towards unearthing
the talents of the youth, the organizers travel across the length and
breadth of the nation. From one region to another , they organize
miniature events to select usually the best two or three people.
Similarly, government can create regional competition among the youth (i am not careful enough for this definition); with a million dollar,
each region can get an equivalent of 100,000dollars. Even if the best
three are selected and the amount shared amongst them (i.e. a minimum of
30,000dollars) , this will be 30 start-ups every year. Government can
provide an office space to help these start-ups for a period of five
years to ensure their sustainability and survival since it stands to
benefit immensely with each success. If the government decides to commit
to this for a decade, this will result in 300 start-ups. Of course, its
such start-ups which will create some employment for the teeming
graduates in the society.
Copy-Right: If there is any administrative assistance to help poverty alleviation then it certainly must be Copy-right. Most developments start off as competitions which finally creates competitors in a market. As can be clearly observed, in all thriving markets in Ghana where there are recognized and healthy competitors, there's a drive for quality and uniqueness in brand. Lets consider the movie industry, its clear some producers have tried enough to create a unique label for their work e.g. Sparrow production, etc. This does not only enhance their creative ideas but also distinguishes them from their competitors. Also consider the competition among musicians and acknowledge what these professional entertainers are doing; they are creating that niche for their endeavors. Some of which sometimes leads to bad rivalry like Shatta Wale and Samini. This is clearly the case for all aspects of life. Government must recognize the individual efforts of the youth who are earnestly trying to create a living from the ingenuity. Copy-right laws are the sure way to enable people earn a living by their creativity. This will encourage individuals to be creative whiles expecting rewards for their ideas backed by governments protection. This will similarly help to create more jobs. Imagine what will happen for every one creative idea that yields a company. Most of the people living in Ghana live by copying and a copy-right law will be ideal to help inventors receive the appropriate rewards for the effort.
Decentralization : The current system where every instruction must be taken in Accra and sent to the regions creates more systematic lapses and increases inefficiencies. A gradual systematic change towards a more decentralized system of governance is vrey appropriate. Election of District and Municipal Executives should be considered as a means towards decentralization and poverty alleviation. How will decentralization cure the canker poverty alleviation? Decentralization increases accountability to the citizenry, this removes several redtapeism, nepotism and yields a significant reduction to corruption. Election of MMDCEs will for example give an autonomy to the direction of development of the districts and dissolve the presidency from such debacles as occurs often regarding the selection of MMDCEs. An elected official will run on his policies towards improving the living conditions of the people in the district. It'll sensitize the citizenry on what is relevant for their various communities. An improved disctrict or municipality will finally yield an improved country at large.
Decentralization of the health system for instance will prevent unecessary health workers strike actions whiles improving the health conditions of many people. Collective contracts usually leads to strike. If hospitals are made to hire health professionals they need, it'll encourage professionals to work on themselves and aim for top positions are performance. When all medical doctors are lumped into promotion based on years of service, there is no incentive to acquiriing knowledge and setting new standards as it won't really pay much dividend. There's no incentive to trying to find something groundbreaking in the profession. For example, decentralization of the health system can be done region-wise or district-wise. I think this will improve significantly the health delivery and the living conditions of people. Good health is the most significant poverty reduction. It'll create new jobs as health professionals will recognize new needs in the system.
To be continued...
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Monday, December 17, 2012
Personal facts about Adam Lanza
 |
| The house of Adam Lanza and family. picture by examiner. |
"He carried a black briefcase to his 10th-grade honors English class, and sat near the door so he could readily slip in and out. When called upon, he was intelligent, but nervous and fidgety, spitting his words out, as if having to speak up were painful. Pale, tall and scrawny, Adam Lanza walked through high school in Newtown, Conn., with his hands glued to his sides, the pens in the pocket of his short-sleeve, button-down shirts among the few things that his classmates recalled about him." [NYTimes]
"If that boy would've burned himself, he would not have known it or felt it physically," Novia told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "It was my job to pay close attention to that." [HuffingtonPost]
"In the desperate scramble to name the perpetrator who forced his way into a Connecticut school on Friday and shot dead 20 children, the family and friends of the Lanza family were rooted out through their social media pages and old-fashioned door knocking, with even 20-year-old Lanza's father, Peter, hearing about the shootings from a local paper reporter as he drove home."[Guardian]
"He was a 20-year-old man who, by multiple accounts, was incredibly smart and quiet. He didn't appear to have any run-ins with the law.
But Adam Lanza's
seemingly innocuous life was thrust into the spotlight when authorities
said he perpetrated the second deadliest school shooting in U.S.
history.
On Friday morning, Lanza
walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut,
dressed in black battle fatigues and a military vest" and began firing,
according to a law enforcement source. By the time he was done, 26 were dead -- 20 of them young students." [CNN]
"Friday's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, the second-deadliest
shooting event in United States history, has sent shock waves well
beyond the country's borders. During his shooting spree, 20-year-old
Adam Lanza killed 27 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School before
turning the gun on himself. Most of the victims of the mass shooting,
including 20 children, mostly kindergartners, and six school employees,
were found in two classrooms. The shooter also killed his mother." [Spiegel]
"Who was Adam Lanza,
why did he kill 20 innocent children, and how is it possible that one
20-year-old can inflict so much pain in the world? If Adam Lanza’s last
actions mirror who Adam Lanza was, then he was a young man who had a
troubled relationship with his mother, with children, and, most
importantly, with himself. According to a Dec. 15, 2012, AP News Brief,
Adam Lanza’s former school adviser remembers Adam Lanza as “awkward
loner who had trouble feeling pain.” [Examiner]
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
What Is Right with Akpeteshie?
No one ever swallowed Akpeteshie and smiled. At best the reaction is a grimace or a frown. Some drinkers acknowledge receipt by blowing out air or pounding the chest. Such is the potency of the local gin that all senses are put under instant attack. But it does not end there. Akpeteshie is so positively notorious that given the chance, its patrons would rather consume it in secret. To begin with, the local gin has a tall list of accusations which is almost incriminating.
The criticisms are solid enough to confine the drink to the bottom of the hard liquor range. Still, this position in no way affects its popularity. With an active grass root loyalty, Akpeteshie is easily the most recognisable alcoholic brand in Ghana. But without any advertisement how has the drink survived over the years? More importantly, can anything good come out of Akpeteshie?
Kill Me Quick, Ogoglo, Apio, VC10, Efie Nipa, Kele, Kumepreko, Anferewoase, Apiatiti, Home Boy, Nana Drobo, One Touch, Sodabi, Holy Water, Liquid Fire, Y2k, Agbaa, Yahoo.Com, Man Pass Man, African Ice. Quick Action, Yes We Can.
The above is just one paragraph of accolades Akpeteshie answers to. For the information of the general public, this list is by no means exhaustive. When one turns to the various Ghanaian languages there are more. If the drink has so many aliases it only shows that it means so many things to so many. Rather humbly, Akpeteshie then becomes a kind of ‘‘that I shall be all things to all people.’’
According to patrons, using these titles is a way of showing reverence to a very important product. For the souls that Akpeteshie has won, the drink is too valuable to be referred to on first name basis. In respect of this sentiment we shall, for the purpose of this discourse also refer to Akpeteshie as Apio.
In the days of yore when Britannia ruled the shore of the Gold Coast they found Apio abominable. The open secret was that Akpeteshie was too competitive for their imported beverages. They knew that leaving the drink all alone would be a marketing disaster for their Jack Daniels and Old Toms. They therefore banned it. Oh yes, they did. So, when in March 1957 Ghana, our beloved country gained independence, Akpeteshie also became free forever.
Indeed, the drink’s very name is derived from its contraband history. In Ga, the phrase, ‘‘akpe teshie’’ means to go into hiding. Because it was an outlawed drink, distillers, distributors and consumers all had to be secretive in dealing with the product. They had to operate in a ‘‘mau mau,’’ guerrilla fashion. This experience went a long way to account for the defiance character Akpeteshie and its drinkers are associated with.
The ‘bad boy’ image was thus handed down from one generation to another. Little wonder Akpeteshie has a freedom fighting spirit. Sons-in-law and oppressed tenants who have borrowed ‘Apio courage’ to face the powers-that-be will attest to this. Therefore, if the brand essence of champagne, for example, is ‘celebrating achievement,’ that of Akpeteshie would be ‘obiaa nnye obiaa.’
But to be honest, and for the records, Akpeteshie also has a very serious value proposition- that of faithfully serving Ghanaian traditional culture. From birth through marriage to death, the drink is required for a number of customary rites. It is used to pour libation and at the traditional level, it is part of the fine imposed at arbitrations. If one thinks of what Schnapps (in all it’s glory) is used for today, one should know that Akpeteshie ‘has been there and done that.’ Except for Islamic communities, this is true across the length and breadth of Ghana.
Like all forms of alcohol, akpeteshie denotes power relations. For example, in traditional communities, the true elder worth his salt is the one who always has a bottle of the stuff stashed under his bed. This gesture speaks volumes of the man’s readiness to serve custom at any given time. Also, when men gather for an occasion power or manliness tilts towards those who can swallow Akpeteshie with the solemn face of a priest at communion.
From time immemorial the process of distilling has remained the same. Apio is made mainly from palm wine and sugar cane. Typically, the juice is allowed to ferment over a couple of days. Distilling involves applying intense heat to the fermented juice until it turns into vapour before finally trickling through copper pipe into sieved jars. The set up includes two barrels; one with the boiling fermented juice and the other is a barrel filled with cooling water. The copper pipe connects the two through the cooling system.
Akpeteshie is also distilled with juice from the cocoa fruit and also with sugar. Some distillers use nails to quicken fermentation. Scientists call this process oxidisation. Who says our ancestors knew no science?
Without a doubt, the defining feature of the drink is the rather high alcohol content. Because it is not well-documented, Apio’s alcoholic volume has become a myth of a sort. To some observers, it is as well because the alcohol content is so high that it is almost scandalous. To understand the kind of resource Akpeteshie is, let us note that Guinness Stout contains 7.5% alcohol while Star Beer has 5%. For proper comparison, Castle Bridge (another gin) is 40%. However, anybody who knows the game will tell you that Castle Bridge has no business rubbing shoulders with Akpeteshie. End of analysis.
Of course, our medical doctors are not at all amused by this concentration of alcohol. They warn that Akpeteshie could be harmful especially, to the liver. Medical doctors would tell you that any amount of alcohol taken causes some changes in the brain. When this persists it damages the brain leading to forgetfulness, lack of focus and depression.
Akpeteshie rocks the body. For the first timer, there is a kind of body-conquering je ne sais quoi which is hard to describe. If one hasn’t tried boxing before the effect helps you see what a knockout punch probably feels like.
Each time you take in Apio, there is a feeling of attack. The nervous system instantly gets alerted and within seconds messages are sent to all the senses.
Then there is an upliftment, a buoyancy to a certain level of consciousness, this is quickly followed by a sinking feeling. If one is standing this is the time to tell the ground to stop moving.
Connoisseurs tend to liken Akpeteshie to Russian Vodka. Whether this is a compliment or not is a matter of debate. In Tokyo, I remember ever giving a sample of the drink to a friend from Kryghstan, former Soviet Union. Soon after recovering from the initial effects. ‘Boris’ sucked in air and with eyes all reddened asked:
‘Thhis, your national trink?’ Conscious to defend my nation’s pride, I did not know whether to agree or deny.
Another powerful element of Apio is the scent. When unconsumed, the drink cannot be said to smell that badly. But as soon as Akpeteshie enters the mouth, an abominable chemical reaction occurs which smells almost devilish. The ‘‘fuse’’ is more provocative when one is boxed in an air-conditioned room. According to experts, the following can be chewed to offset the smell: groundnuts, ginger and corn on-the-cob. Trying to subdue the smell with chewing gum and peppermint is a waste of effort. As for brushing up the teeth after Akpeteshie, there is no worse remedy. It provokes the smell.
Perhaps, if there is one factor that restricts big men from the product it is the scent. Actually, the relationship between Akpeteshie and ‘‘big men’’ is a curious one. Though the drink is seen as mass-oriented, in practice, a good number of consumers happen to be prominent folks. They usually use it as ‘‘foundation’’ while enjoying their prestigious drinks.
There is this standing rumour of a past Ghanaian Head of State. Apparently, this First Gentleman had a little fondness for Akpeteshie. The only problem was that the exigencies of high office were depriving him of the local gin.
As the story goes, this Commander -in- Chief once bumped into an old friend who used to be a drinking pal. Contrary to such encounters, it was not the ordinary citizen but rather the ruler of the land who had an urgent request. He bemoaned how the high office has deprived him of the good old stuff. Would his trusted old friend be kind enough to undertake a small national assignment? Could he secure and discreetly deliver a gallon of Akpeteshie, for old time’s sake? And whilst at it, could he bear in mind that the affair remained a state secret?
Based on the intrigues of this antecdote an obvious question is: who drinks Akpeteshie? In demographic terms (gender, religion, age, occupation, etc), there is only one answer. Everybody. Yes every group in the above examples has a subset of Akpeteshie, drinkers; namely:
Doctors, housewives, lawyers, traditionalists, school boys, pastors, bankers, machomen, kayayes, fishermen, Christians, politicians, by-day labourers, civil servants, writers, the elderly, cocoa growers, designers, professors, hiplife rappers, journalists, election officers, khebab sellers, commercial drivers.
For many of those who consume it, Akpeteshie functions as the appetiser before meals. They claim that it enables them to eat well. Many female drinkers assign this as their reason. After cooking, the smell of the food sometimes overwhelms them and makes them lose appetite. But Apio becomes a good remedy. Interestingly, when you spell Akpeteshie on the computer without the last ‘e’ Bill Gates’ Microsoft Word will play it back as the synonym of appetite. This is no lie.
Akpeteshie is actually an international drink. Elsewhere, particularly in the Carribeans, its equivalent is rum. In Brazil the first cousin of Apio is a well known drink marketed as Cairpirinha.
In terms of the marketing mix, Akpeteshie has not done badly. As a product, it is the strongest in its category. Its price is right (about ten times less than its acclaimed competitor, Vodka). It is available in nearly every place. Anytime you hear of "blue kiosk", know that the reference is to a base where the drink is sold. These days the market penetration has been improved by hawkers who carry it around town.
There is only a problem when one considers how the drink is packaged. Packaging is part of promotion and here, Akpeteshie scores zero. The drink is not bottled, not sealed and not labelled. Akpeteshie is always poured in used and borrowed bottles. In considering the possible images that I could use for this feature story, it occurred to me that though Akpeteshie has been with us all these years, there is not a single symbol that identifies it.
Irrespective of the brand, one can always recognise a beer bottle, same for soft drinks. With our traditional drinks a calabash, depending on the setting could denote Pito or palm wine. What is the symbol for Akpeteshie? Can the absence of this be a national achievement or indictment?
Though it is doing well in sales the fact also remains that Akpeteshie has a huge image problem. Apio is not available in supermarkets or even in retail grocery outlets. This is in part due to its own failings.
As the l’enfant terrible of the hard liquor range, Akpeteshie does not have a good character. The drink has wrecked several homes. Many a young man has turned out to be worse off because they abused it. It has made accomplished men useless. Maybe, if Akpeteshie has not developed to a refined, well labelled brand it is due to its own ill reputation. Therefore, no tears for Akpeteshie.
These challenges notwithstanding, Apio is good business. Demand for it is round the clock and round the calendar. For retailers, starting up the trade is pretty easy. All one needs is a gallon, a beer bottle, a minerals bottle, a couple of glasses and a funnel. A bench for customers to sit on is good but not necessary. Many customers prefer to do the ‘standing ovation’, ie, stand, drink and move on.
If there is one alcoholic drink that has not needed advertising it is Apio. The drink has defied the theories of marketing. Everybody knows Akpeteshie. Even those who have never tasted know what it stands for. For any product, this is more than good. The drink has attained the stage in marketing communication known as ‘brand recognition’.
While the love of Akpteshie is enough to make some grown-ups weep, some people also hate it with self-righteous anger. There is this anecdote of a British parliamentarian on a campaign, who was asked ‘if elected, would you ban alcohol in your constituency?’
'What is alcohol?' begins the politician’s response. "If by alcohol you mean that drink that causes distress and tears families apart then I would condemn it in no uncertain term. But if by alcohol you mean that satisfying liquid that soothes in times of sorrow and delights in times of joy; that which lubricates societal relations then why, it must be preserved and promoted as a spirit of human civilisation."
In our own parliament not long ago, there was a nice little debate on the use of alcohol vis-a-vis health needs. I believe we can leave that incident for the national gazette. As for Apio, it offers more than a policy dilemma to state actors. But whether we wish it ‘‘long live’’ or ‘’go to hell’’ Akpeteshie is still out there, with a smile.
-Kofi Akpabli -
The criticisms are solid enough to confine the drink to the bottom of the hard liquor range. Still, this position in no way affects its popularity. With an active grass root loyalty, Akpeteshie is easily the most recognisable alcoholic brand in Ghana. But without any advertisement how has the drink survived over the years? More importantly, can anything good come out of Akpeteshie?
Kill Me Quick, Ogoglo, Apio, VC10, Efie Nipa, Kele, Kumepreko, Anferewoase, Apiatiti, Home Boy, Nana Drobo, One Touch, Sodabi, Holy Water, Liquid Fire, Y2k, Agbaa, Yahoo.Com, Man Pass Man, African Ice. Quick Action, Yes We Can.
The above is just one paragraph of accolades Akpeteshie answers to. For the information of the general public, this list is by no means exhaustive. When one turns to the various Ghanaian languages there are more. If the drink has so many aliases it only shows that it means so many things to so many. Rather humbly, Akpeteshie then becomes a kind of ‘‘that I shall be all things to all people.’’
According to patrons, using these titles is a way of showing reverence to a very important product. For the souls that Akpeteshie has won, the drink is too valuable to be referred to on first name basis. In respect of this sentiment we shall, for the purpose of this discourse also refer to Akpeteshie as Apio.
In the days of yore when Britannia ruled the shore of the Gold Coast they found Apio abominable. The open secret was that Akpeteshie was too competitive for their imported beverages. They knew that leaving the drink all alone would be a marketing disaster for their Jack Daniels and Old Toms. They therefore banned it. Oh yes, they did. So, when in March 1957 Ghana, our beloved country gained independence, Akpeteshie also became free forever.
Indeed, the drink’s very name is derived from its contraband history. In Ga, the phrase, ‘‘akpe teshie’’ means to go into hiding. Because it was an outlawed drink, distillers, distributors and consumers all had to be secretive in dealing with the product. They had to operate in a ‘‘mau mau,’’ guerrilla fashion. This experience went a long way to account for the defiance character Akpeteshie and its drinkers are associated with.
The ‘bad boy’ image was thus handed down from one generation to another. Little wonder Akpeteshie has a freedom fighting spirit. Sons-in-law and oppressed tenants who have borrowed ‘Apio courage’ to face the powers-that-be will attest to this. Therefore, if the brand essence of champagne, for example, is ‘celebrating achievement,’ that of Akpeteshie would be ‘obiaa nnye obiaa.’
But to be honest, and for the records, Akpeteshie also has a very serious value proposition- that of faithfully serving Ghanaian traditional culture. From birth through marriage to death, the drink is required for a number of customary rites. It is used to pour libation and at the traditional level, it is part of the fine imposed at arbitrations. If one thinks of what Schnapps (in all it’s glory) is used for today, one should know that Akpeteshie ‘has been there and done that.’ Except for Islamic communities, this is true across the length and breadth of Ghana.
Like all forms of alcohol, akpeteshie denotes power relations. For example, in traditional communities, the true elder worth his salt is the one who always has a bottle of the stuff stashed under his bed. This gesture speaks volumes of the man’s readiness to serve custom at any given time. Also, when men gather for an occasion power or manliness tilts towards those who can swallow Akpeteshie with the solemn face of a priest at communion.
From time immemorial the process of distilling has remained the same. Apio is made mainly from palm wine and sugar cane. Typically, the juice is allowed to ferment over a couple of days. Distilling involves applying intense heat to the fermented juice until it turns into vapour before finally trickling through copper pipe into sieved jars. The set up includes two barrels; one with the boiling fermented juice and the other is a barrel filled with cooling water. The copper pipe connects the two through the cooling system.
Akpeteshie is also distilled with juice from the cocoa fruit and also with sugar. Some distillers use nails to quicken fermentation. Scientists call this process oxidisation. Who says our ancestors knew no science?
Without a doubt, the defining feature of the drink is the rather high alcohol content. Because it is not well-documented, Apio’s alcoholic volume has become a myth of a sort. To some observers, it is as well because the alcohol content is so high that it is almost scandalous. To understand the kind of resource Akpeteshie is, let us note that Guinness Stout contains 7.5% alcohol while Star Beer has 5%. For proper comparison, Castle Bridge (another gin) is 40%. However, anybody who knows the game will tell you that Castle Bridge has no business rubbing shoulders with Akpeteshie. End of analysis.
Of course, our medical doctors are not at all amused by this concentration of alcohol. They warn that Akpeteshie could be harmful especially, to the liver. Medical doctors would tell you that any amount of alcohol taken causes some changes in the brain. When this persists it damages the brain leading to forgetfulness, lack of focus and depression.
Akpeteshie rocks the body. For the first timer, there is a kind of body-conquering je ne sais quoi which is hard to describe. If one hasn’t tried boxing before the effect helps you see what a knockout punch probably feels like.
Each time you take in Apio, there is a feeling of attack. The nervous system instantly gets alerted and within seconds messages are sent to all the senses.
Then there is an upliftment, a buoyancy to a certain level of consciousness, this is quickly followed by a sinking feeling. If one is standing this is the time to tell the ground to stop moving.
Connoisseurs tend to liken Akpeteshie to Russian Vodka. Whether this is a compliment or not is a matter of debate. In Tokyo, I remember ever giving a sample of the drink to a friend from Kryghstan, former Soviet Union. Soon after recovering from the initial effects. ‘Boris’ sucked in air and with eyes all reddened asked:
‘Thhis, your national trink?’ Conscious to defend my nation’s pride, I did not know whether to agree or deny.
Another powerful element of Apio is the scent. When unconsumed, the drink cannot be said to smell that badly. But as soon as Akpeteshie enters the mouth, an abominable chemical reaction occurs which smells almost devilish. The ‘‘fuse’’ is more provocative when one is boxed in an air-conditioned room. According to experts, the following can be chewed to offset the smell: groundnuts, ginger and corn on-the-cob. Trying to subdue the smell with chewing gum and peppermint is a waste of effort. As for brushing up the teeth after Akpeteshie, there is no worse remedy. It provokes the smell.
Perhaps, if there is one factor that restricts big men from the product it is the scent. Actually, the relationship between Akpeteshie and ‘‘big men’’ is a curious one. Though the drink is seen as mass-oriented, in practice, a good number of consumers happen to be prominent folks. They usually use it as ‘‘foundation’’ while enjoying their prestigious drinks.
There is this standing rumour of a past Ghanaian Head of State. Apparently, this First Gentleman had a little fondness for Akpeteshie. The only problem was that the exigencies of high office were depriving him of the local gin.
As the story goes, this Commander -in- Chief once bumped into an old friend who used to be a drinking pal. Contrary to such encounters, it was not the ordinary citizen but rather the ruler of the land who had an urgent request. He bemoaned how the high office has deprived him of the good old stuff. Would his trusted old friend be kind enough to undertake a small national assignment? Could he secure and discreetly deliver a gallon of Akpeteshie, for old time’s sake? And whilst at it, could he bear in mind that the affair remained a state secret?
Based on the intrigues of this antecdote an obvious question is: who drinks Akpeteshie? In demographic terms (gender, religion, age, occupation, etc), there is only one answer. Everybody. Yes every group in the above examples has a subset of Akpeteshie, drinkers; namely:
Doctors, housewives, lawyers, traditionalists, school boys, pastors, bankers, machomen, kayayes, fishermen, Christians, politicians, by-day labourers, civil servants, writers, the elderly, cocoa growers, designers, professors, hiplife rappers, journalists, election officers, khebab sellers, commercial drivers.
For many of those who consume it, Akpeteshie functions as the appetiser before meals. They claim that it enables them to eat well. Many female drinkers assign this as their reason. After cooking, the smell of the food sometimes overwhelms them and makes them lose appetite. But Apio becomes a good remedy. Interestingly, when you spell Akpeteshie on the computer without the last ‘e’ Bill Gates’ Microsoft Word will play it back as the synonym of appetite. This is no lie.
Akpeteshie is actually an international drink. Elsewhere, particularly in the Carribeans, its equivalent is rum. In Brazil the first cousin of Apio is a well known drink marketed as Cairpirinha.
In terms of the marketing mix, Akpeteshie has not done badly. As a product, it is the strongest in its category. Its price is right (about ten times less than its acclaimed competitor, Vodka). It is available in nearly every place. Anytime you hear of "blue kiosk", know that the reference is to a base where the drink is sold. These days the market penetration has been improved by hawkers who carry it around town.
There is only a problem when one considers how the drink is packaged. Packaging is part of promotion and here, Akpeteshie scores zero. The drink is not bottled, not sealed and not labelled. Akpeteshie is always poured in used and borrowed bottles. In considering the possible images that I could use for this feature story, it occurred to me that though Akpeteshie has been with us all these years, there is not a single symbol that identifies it.
Irrespective of the brand, one can always recognise a beer bottle, same for soft drinks. With our traditional drinks a calabash, depending on the setting could denote Pito or palm wine. What is the symbol for Akpeteshie? Can the absence of this be a national achievement or indictment?
Though it is doing well in sales the fact also remains that Akpeteshie has a huge image problem. Apio is not available in supermarkets or even in retail grocery outlets. This is in part due to its own failings.
As the l’enfant terrible of the hard liquor range, Akpeteshie does not have a good character. The drink has wrecked several homes. Many a young man has turned out to be worse off because they abused it. It has made accomplished men useless. Maybe, if Akpeteshie has not developed to a refined, well labelled brand it is due to its own ill reputation. Therefore, no tears for Akpeteshie.
These challenges notwithstanding, Apio is good business. Demand for it is round the clock and round the calendar. For retailers, starting up the trade is pretty easy. All one needs is a gallon, a beer bottle, a minerals bottle, a couple of glasses and a funnel. A bench for customers to sit on is good but not necessary. Many customers prefer to do the ‘standing ovation’, ie, stand, drink and move on.
If there is one alcoholic drink that has not needed advertising it is Apio. The drink has defied the theories of marketing. Everybody knows Akpeteshie. Even those who have never tasted know what it stands for. For any product, this is more than good. The drink has attained the stage in marketing communication known as ‘brand recognition’.
While the love of Akpteshie is enough to make some grown-ups weep, some people also hate it with self-righteous anger. There is this anecdote of a British parliamentarian on a campaign, who was asked ‘if elected, would you ban alcohol in your constituency?’
'What is alcohol?' begins the politician’s response. "If by alcohol you mean that drink that causes distress and tears families apart then I would condemn it in no uncertain term. But if by alcohol you mean that satisfying liquid that soothes in times of sorrow and delights in times of joy; that which lubricates societal relations then why, it must be preserved and promoted as a spirit of human civilisation."
In our own parliament not long ago, there was a nice little debate on the use of alcohol vis-a-vis health needs. I believe we can leave that incident for the national gazette. As for Apio, it offers more than a policy dilemma to state actors. But whether we wish it ‘‘long live’’ or ‘’go to hell’’ Akpeteshie is still out there, with a smile.
-Kofi Akpabli -
Monday, August 1, 2011
Anders Behring Breivik and the future of Europe.
Anders Breivik, currently a household name in Norway and many other parts of the world,might be well remembered for the atrocities caused to Norwegians at large.In as much as there's hatred for his act of terrorism the issues he raises should not be swept under the carpet.
Anders' is not an isolated case of extreme hatred and indignation towards minority in Europe albeit the most horrendous. The increase in right wing groups across Europe is disturbing if not worrisome. Some commentator argue that the media has propagated a liberal message to hide these real issues.
Several cases of mistreatment towards immigrants have been left untouched to rot in dockets. Several groups keep springing with hatred. This is not a solely Jewish hatred but also hatred for non-european looking people. This of course is problematic; as such definitions are gradually becoming a nuace due to globalization.
Of course, the stereotype created by the media of immigrants and other minorities is the what is creating such hate. The numbers keep increasing of hate crimes, of abuse and or on-towards behaviour.
The future is looking like a racial war for supremacy and hate will be its fuel. The numerous far-right parties gaining power in the seat on EU and several european countries should be a fore-warning of what is to come. That many europeans are getting worried about their daily living and benefits.
---to be continued.
Anders' is not an isolated case of extreme hatred and indignation towards minority in Europe albeit the most horrendous. The increase in right wing groups across Europe is disturbing if not worrisome. Some commentator argue that the media has propagated a liberal message to hide these real issues.
Several cases of mistreatment towards immigrants have been left untouched to rot in dockets. Several groups keep springing with hatred. This is not a solely Jewish hatred but also hatred for non-european looking people. This of course is problematic; as such definitions are gradually becoming a nuace due to globalization.
Of course, the stereotype created by the media of immigrants and other minorities is the what is creating such hate. The numbers keep increasing of hate crimes, of abuse and or on-towards behaviour.
The future is looking like a racial war for supremacy and hate will be its fuel. The numerous far-right parties gaining power in the seat on EU and several european countries should be a fore-warning of what is to come. That many europeans are getting worried about their daily living and benefits.
---to be continued.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Personal facts about Andrew Berwick (Anders Behring Breivik)
Name: Anders Behring Breivik (Andrew Berwick)
Nationality: Norwegian
Born: February 1979
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Ethnicity: Nordic/Norwegian
Address: Oslo ,Norway
Personality: Optimistic, pragmatic, ambitious, creative, hard working.
Political view: Cultural conservative, Revolutionary conservative, Vienna School of Thought,economically liberal.
Religion: Christian, Protestant but I support a reformation of Protestantism leading to it being absorbed by Catholisism. The typical “Protestant Labour Church” has to be deconstructed as its creation was an attempt to abolish the Church
Religious: I went from moderately to agnostic to moderately religious.
Education: Non-formal equivalent to 7 years + at university level.
Professions: Investor, Director, Manager - founder of several companies, Small business management (including organisational development), political analyst, author, stock analyst/trader. I'm unsure whether resistance fighter (Justiciar Knight Commander) and martyr counts as a profession.
Nicotine: Yes
Alcohol: Occasionally
Drugs: No
Tattoos: No
Sports: Snowboarding, fitness (body building/spinning), running.
Watch sport: Only women’s sand volley ball:P Perhaps I would if Norway didn’t suck so hard in football.
Name of your primary weapon: Mjöllnir
Name of your side arm: Gungnir.
Hobbies: Political analysis, studying new topics, Free Mason, Heraldry, Genealogy, gaming (MMO or Modern Warfare 2), travelling – learning about new cultures, music, friends. I have had the privilege of experiencing the following countries:
Sweden, Denmark, UK, Germany, Poland, Belarus, France, Austria, Hungary, Croatia,Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, US, Turkey, Mexico,China,Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire,Liberia.
Key points – Curriculum Vitae
Key qualifications:
Organisational/business development – Experience with the establishment, development and management of smaller businesses related to the fields; organisational/business development, small business management, marketing and sales
Financial analysis – stock/currency analysis relating to the fields/indicators; candlesticks, RSI, stochastic, MACD, Bollinger bands, DMI, momentum
2005-2007: Managing director of E-Commerce Group AS (part investment company – 50%, part sales/outsourcing company – 50%). I converted ABB ENK to a corporation (AS). Total of 7 employees: 3 in Norway, 1 in Russia, 1 in Indonesia, 1 in Romania, 1 in the US. Distribution of outsourcing services to foreign companies, sold software/programming solutions. Worked part time with day trading (stocks/options/currency/commodities). This was a front (milking cow) with the purpose of financing resistance/liberation related military operations. The company was successful although most of the funds were channelled through a Caribbean subsidiary (with base in Antigua, a location where European countries do not have access): Brentwood Solutions Limited with bank accounts in other Caribbean nations and Eastern Europe. E-Commerce Group was terminated in 2007 while most of the funds were channelled in an “unorthodox manner” to Norway available to the coming intellectual and subsequent operations phase.
2002-2004: Director of Anders Behring Breivik ENK) (part time from May 02 (shortly after my inclusion in PCCTS) – des. 02, full time from March 03. Same emphasis as E-Commerce Group. This was a front (milking cow) I established and focused on shortly after my inclusion in PCCTS, Knights Templar with the purpose of financing resistance/liberation related military operations.
2002-2003: Supervisor/internal advisor for Bankia Bank ASA (Apr. 02 – March 03)
2001-2002: Customer service representative for Bankia Bank ASA (Nov. 01 – Apr. 02)
2000-2001: Managing director of Media Group AS. Development and sales of outdoor media solutions (primarily billboards). My company was partially acquired/bought by Mediamax Norway AS after I (and my employee, Kristoffer Andresen) had built a billboard portfolio from scratch in the Oslo area which was then sold to Mediamax Norge AS (which was later bought by JC Decaux Norway) and Clear Channel (July 00 – July 01)
1999-2000: Team leader for the customer service rep. dept. for Enitel Telephony/mobile/internet/support division (March 99 – July 00)
1998-1999: Director for Behring & Kerner Marketing DA. Implenetation and sales of telephonic services (part time from Aug. 98-Feb. 99)
1997-1999: Corporate customer care rep. for customer care/internet support for Telia Norway AS (Nov 97-Feb 99)
1996-1997: Part time as a sales rep. for ACTA Economical Counselling (Feb 96-97)
Education: Non-formal studies/degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration (major: small business management) part time studies using the curriculum/online study courses from AIU, American InterContinental University (98-02), Bachelor of Political Science (major: political science and history) part time studies (00-05), Master of Political Science, full/part time studies (05-10). See other chapter for specification.
Other professional activities:
2005: Was coached by my friend, former mentor and independent stock analyst; Xun Dai over a 6 month period on the areas: technical stock analysis: candlesticks, RSI, stochastic, MACD, Bollinger bands, DMI, momentum
2000-2001: Was coached by mo former mentor – and managing director of Hypertec AS; Richard Steenfeldt-Berg over a 12 month period on the areas; management, administration, corporate/business/organisation development (May 00-May 01)
1995-1998: Oslo Handelsgymnasium/Hartvig Nissen High School
Board positions, professional activities, responsibilities
2003: Candidate for the Oslo City Council election on behalf of the Oslo Progress Party. This was during the “crossroad” when I was in the process of deciding whether I would fully abandon conventional politics (and a career within conventional politics) as a solution/source to acquire funds for the future operation or if I would rather leave conventional politics altogether and rather focus on entrepreneurship/business as the source for financing my future and clandestine participation in the pan-European Conservative Revolutionary Movement/pan-European Resistance Movement. As you already know I became one of the founding members of the PCCTS, Knights Templar in 2002 and among the very first Justiciar Knight Commanders. However, regardless of this choice, I was not completely convinced I was done with conventional politics. I actually decided to do a last push (after my pledge to the PCCTS) as I was already nominated on behalf of the Oslo Progress Party for the City Council election in 2003/2004. I came relatively close to being elected but was not among the final contestants due to the fact that the Progress Party Youth (lead by my rival Jøran Kallmyr) refused, for strategical reasons, to support my candidature. At the time I was more popular than Jøran but needed the support of the youth organisation (an organisation I had been a part of for a few years). I don’t blame him for backstabbing me like that though. After all, he had invested so much more of his time to the organisation than I had. He deserved it while I didn’t and I would probably have done the same thing if I was him.
Also, during the “crossroad phase” I had lost all faith in the Progress Party as a solution to Norway’s rapid disintegration due to multiculturalism and Islamisation. A moderate cultural conservative political party like the Progress Party is un-capable of solving any of our primary problems as they are systematically ridiculed and isolated by all other political parties and a united media sector. This, even despite of the fact that they have taken measures and gotten rid of all true nationalists ending up with only opportunistic career cynisists unwilling to take any political risks.
The Progress Party is now a part of the problem as they continuously give the Norwegian people false hope and thus contributes to pacify them. They should rather be honest and admit that all hopes for the democratical change of the society is futile and rather encourage all patriotic Norwegians to resist the multiculturalist regime through armed resistance. Their unwillingness to do this makes them a central part of the problem and in fact an obstacle to the liberation of and the reconquista of Norway.
I anticipate that the Norwegian media will persecute and undermine the Progress Party for my earlier involvement in the organisation. This is not a negative thing as an increasing amount of Norwegians will then have their “illusions of democratic change” crushed (if the Progress Party is annihilated by the multiculturalist media) and rather resorts to armed resistance. From a tactical and pragmatical viewpoint; the PC Medias defeat of the Progress Party will benefit the armed National Resistance Movement in Norway. The more moderate alternatives are persecuted the more likely it is that the average nationalists illusions of peaceful reform will be crushed, which will lead to him seeking “other means”. Because at this point, armed resistance and the violent overthrow of our regime is the only thing that can save us.
2002: Founding member (national representative) of the PCCTS, Knights Templar, in London (April).
2002: Member of the board of directors of the control authority for Majorstuen Eldresenter (Majorstuen Retirement home), political position for the Norwegian Progress Party.
2002: Member of the board of directors for Uranienborg Elementary and Secondary School, political position for the Norwegian Progress Party.
2001: Development of the financial prospectus for Hypertec AS in cooperation with NB Partner AS and PriceWaterhouseCoopers DA (Jan 01-May 01)
2000-2003: Board member in Progress Party Frogner and Vice Chairman in the Progress Party Youth – Oslo West.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Love - A Happy Gaol.
You never notice that the prisoner is in chains. The ambivalence of a chain and its accompanying gay. The chains of Love.
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