BackStory- A foray into the unknown-unknowns of contemporary Ghanaian politics

“Do you pray for the senators, Dr. Hale”?

“No, I look at the senators and I pray for the country”.

- Edward Everett Hale, American clergyman 1822-1909

When was the last time you stood up for something you believed in? Own up! Yes, it is you I am talking to!!! Stop looking around as if it’s the guy next to you that I am referring to. Eye wo ara na me ne wo kasa yi!!! When was the last time you stood up for your principles? And I don’t mean the times when it was very convenient to do so because everyone around shared the same opinion. When you know your position is right but wholly politically incorrect, when you are flowing against the tide, what do you do abrantie? When you know that what you say will cost you brothers, sisters, lovers, friends and increase your stock of enemies, do you still stand by your principles?

I am falling in love with a programme on CNN called BackStory. It’s hosted by Michael Holmes. It’s a programme that takes you behind the news and attempts to give us a glimpse of what the journalists go through to get the sanitized stories they give to us during news time. It’s a kind of reality show where the reporters shows how they manoeuvred into position, the people they access before they go on air, a bit of the matters which would otherwise never be broadcast on TV by the network. It’s innovative, it’s insightful, it’s raw, it’s engaging, and IT’S TRUE. It shows that before Christiane Amanpour appears “live” to broadcast on the news, she may have been in a shouting match literally minutes before a live feed to get her position on that stretch of road to broadcast. It’s the story behind the story. Back Story is a recent addition to the CNN stable of programmes. Until it aired, we (don’t fret wae. “We” in all my pieces mean myself, my manager, the two musketeers and Nii Aryee if he is home) always thought that the news was the crisp, sharp and focused on air live reporting etc that the journalists made look so beautiful. Until Michael Holmes and his crew showed us there was always another side to the story, who imagined that anything happened behind the scenes before we got the news.

To every story, there is a backstory! Me re ndada wo!!!

So what is the backstory to PC’s amazing semi mea-culpa on the five thousand Ghana cedis which he alleges was honourably discharged. PC blew my mind when he said that he was making the claim because they did not give him his share. Don’t ask me what the backstory to his claim is. Is it whistle blowing or trumpet blowing? To every story, there is a backstory!!! This morning before I left home, I saw on TV an American soldier captured by the Taliban eating breakfast or his last supper and crying for his mama. That’s the story. The backstory to that may be that a gun may be pointing at his head out of camera shot. A white board may be in the same room with his statement written thereon for him to read to us. The Taliban do not have a teleprompter because that would have done the job superbly. One word out of line and he may not see his mama again. But unless Yeshua Amashua is kind enough to let us know, we probably will never know the real story behind his 28 minute video.

To every story, there is a backstory wae!!! In plain language, backstory equals ‘there is no smoke without fire’, period!!! Yeshua has been gracious to us and kept most of the back stories of our politics out of sight. We have seen many beautiful pictures of officials over the years signing all sorts of agreements on our behalf with all sorts of investors for our benefit. The smiles are broad. We are working for the common good. Backstory? 10% cash down or no signature, no project, no contract!!! In Ogyakrom, backstories are invariably historical in nature. Unless an Uncle Fiifi decides to go looking for witches, we mortals never get the backstory. What’s the backstory to all the smiles on the faces of some fine citizens on Ghana’s 50th anniversary? What’s the backstory to Esseku’s resignation as NPP Chairman? Whats the backstory to Asaga missing out on a cabinet position? What’s the backstory to Spio missing out on a seat close to heaven? What’s the backstory to Uncle Fiifi’s sitting down with a sleeping Yahya J to secure a deal re Ghanaians dead in the Gambia? What’s the backstory to Sefa-Kayi’s issue with Shaaba and Agyepong the Ken?

So until Yeshua Amashua is gracious to us and we get some sneak review of the back-story, expect PC to be shunned by his pack of elephants. His Honourable Colleagues will refuse to acknowledge his greetings. He may even be sacked from the elephant herd. But we mortals will never know the backstory!

Let me end with a story told by KooRey in our bad old days in Legon: “ Once upon a time, the ‘mboadoma 31st “ convened a meeting. It was chaired by Mrs. Osibo who was the wife of the King of the Jungle. It was a very fruitful meeting where a lot of matters affecting the welfare of the association were discussed. Just before the meeting ended, at the ‘any other business’ stage, up goes the hand of Mrs. Apatakura. Please don’t ask me what her Christian name is. I have asked James, Rachel and Cee and they don’t know. Uncle Ebow is also not here at the moment for me to ask. I will not speculate because I am not sure whether its one of two animal-names that popped into my head. It’s your test for the week. Ask your wife what the Christian name of Apatakura is. You can go to my blog: www.osimidiaries.blogspot.com and let me have your views. Ok, back to the story. ‘Yes, madam, what’s on your mind’, Chairperson Mrs. Osibo asks? Mrs. Apatakura clears her throat and says she has a suggestion for all the fine ladies. ‘I, Mrs. Apatakura, wish to table a motion that we should appoint a ‘konomtea’ to inspect the genitalia of all our men to establish which one is the leader of the pack!!! Pandemonium broke out at the meeting! Mrs. Osono in a fit of rage was stumping and stamping all over the meeting grounds trying to snuff the life out of Mrs. Apatakura. ‘How dare you, Apatakura, to disgrace me like this in public’, she fumed. No names were mentioned by Mrs. Apatakura. What’s the backstory to the suggested inspection of the cadres of the animal kingdom?

To every story, there is a backstory. So next time you wake up in the morning and you hear/see someone who should know better, foaming at the mouth on radio/TV over something to do with JJ, JEA, JAK, Nana, Alan, NPP, NDC or some other project or issue, remember there’s a backstory to it. When a serial caller is ranting on air, there is a backstory. When Asabee goes ballistic at the airport and his wife is charged, there may be a backstory. When a ‘konomtea’ is set up to investigate Ghana@50, there is a backstory. When Muntaka, a.k.a. Notorious, says he has resigned, there is a backstory. When Breda Osimi writes this piece, there is a backstory.

Here is my prayer: “Oh, Yeshua Amashua that you will not let Ogyakrom back stories be historical but that you will reveal them live as they happen. Grant this our prayer through the name of your only begotten Son, whom many of your ambassadors are abusing for value in Ogyakrom each and every day, and all sinners shall say….AMEN!!!”

Breda Osimi