Power In Africa’s West Coast - Africa is rising!

Happy New Year 2025!

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas with your nearest and dearests. Well! What a title to restart the newsletter right?! I’m buzzing about this one because it is so true to my heart. Not going to lie, this will be a very deep and patriotic edition.

A Continent with a History

Africa, the motherland, is one of the world’s largest continents, home to 54 African countries. Tragically, it is forever stained with the blood of Africans from the infamous Transatlantic Slave Trade, and to this day, we will never know the exact number of Africans murdered. Slave castles and slave masters' forts are still standing, used as museums and tourist attractions.

Personal Reflections

I visited two slave castles in Ghana twice in my life: first when I was 12 years old and again 2-3 years ago, and it doesn’t get any easier. As a 12-year-old, I cried with my Mum holding me because I couldn’t understand the evil that lives in humanity.

We were not spared the details; I remember feeling hurt and confused, scared that something similar could happen again (deep for a 12-year-old, I know but I wasn't far from reality). To be separated and sent to a faraway land in such an awful way, leaving the paradise you only knew as home—never knowing when the nightmare would end or if you would see your family members again. I didn’t even describe a quarter of the horrors.

Now, the second time I visited the slave castle, I was the Mum, and my children were crying on me as I locked eyes with my Mum, and we cried together. What a beautiful mess it was, as I felt closer to my ancestors. We entered the dungeon where the Ghanaians known as the rogue activists were starved to death for trying to start an uprising against the unauthorised visitors (that was the only respectful name I could find).

I found power in that dungeon; I touched the walls with both hands and spoke a silent prayer to my ancestors, thanking them for fighting for their land and their people, for me and my children. Fighting for racial and social justice is hard, and I burnt out in October last year from doing way too much fighting (not physical of course). Seriously, I did the most, hoping to take it a bit easy this year.

Ghana is home; it’s where the sun is, the spiritual strength that I tap into when my body is weak, kind of like Superman, if we are looking for a metaphor. Now you know why I don’t hear naysayers or trolls when they tell me to forget the Transatlantic Slave Trade as it was in the past. I say and will always say NEVER WILL STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, as many black communities are products of it; racism is the poison born from it.

Rising Together

There has been a saying that “When Nigeria wakes up, the whole of Africa will wake up.” And I am here for it. Why wouldn’t you think that when Nigerians have taken over the music and entertainment scene in the last decade? They have contributed millions to billions of dollars and pounds to Western economies, top social media influencers, and businesses.

Whether it's domestic jobs, self-employed or executive board positions, Nigerians have spread themselves out around the world, and a large majority bring success with every touch. You cannot navigate life without meeting or knowing a Nigerian! Facts! The only thing they need serious work on is their adaption of the famous Senegalese cuisine Jollof rice. Ghanaian Jollof rice is unmatched. (Nigerians don’t come for me, I’m Ghanaian, what did you expect?)

It is interesting that Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Transition of Burkina Faso, did what many couldn’t do or tried but didn’t succeed: he took the first step and rang the Freedom bell and told Mother Africa TO GET UP. Burkina Faso is one of the smaller African countries in West Africa, just sitting on top of my native homeland Ghana.

Ibrahim Traoré ordered French soldiers to leave the country and within a few months proved to Africans and the world that with the right strategy, Burkina Faso could be self-sufficient. Fearless to death, he survived several assassination attempts on his life and quickly tightened security.

Ibrahim Traoré may be a thorn in the side of many Western governments, but he is Africa’s hero and inspiration. Mali and Niger soon joined forces with Burkina Faso. You can imagine my excitement when newly elected Ghana President John Dramani Mahama invited President Ibrahim Traoré to his historic inauguration—something his predecessor former Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo would not allow due to their contrasting political views.

But here we are! Something I never thought I would see in my lifetime: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger—as they cut military ties with France—then Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast did the same.

Now it this may seem premature to say this... but hear me out. Do I think Ghana will join forces with President Ibrahim Traoré? Who knows, time will tell... but seeing Ibrahim Traoré in Ghana was everything. It is looking good, and when you have hoped for a STRONGER, NO NONSENSE AFRICA, this is honestly my wildest dream and I pledge my allegiance to the motherland (I did say I would be patriotic).

Our Commitment

Whatever my non-profit organisation can do to support Africa, we are there! We have already established a medical advisory team in Nigeria and hope to support Nigerian MS patients through our connection with a Ghanaian Neurologist with whom we connected; we are currently supporting Ghanaian MS patients and hope to set up a medical advisory in Ghana this year.

We are part of the African Committee for Research and Treatment in MS (AFRICTRIMS) membership! We jumped on the moment we heard of its existence lol. Through this membership, we have connected with Robai Muiruri, who was a fellow panellist at one of AFRICTRIMS’s webinar series last year. Robai Muiruri is the Founder of The Multiple Sclerosis Association of Kenya. Unfortunately, Robai informed me yesterday, that one of her MS members had passed away; they are planning the Kenyan MS warrior’s memorial this Thursday (tomorrow). May she rest in peace.

African Natural Resources

Africa supplies more than 30% of its natural resources to countries outside of the continent:

(These are NOT exhaustive lists)

These resources are crucial for various industries in Western countries, impacting sectors such as manufacturing, energy production, and agriculture.

Yet a large majority of Africans do not enjoy or benefit nearly enough from their land's resources. IT’S A DAMN DISGRACE AND IT MUST CHANGE!

?A Call for Change

Abubakar Usman said he was “unhappy about the treatment of African leaders at 'One-Plus-Africa' summits where major powers set the agenda, treating African nations as a collective rather than as equals.” He finds this condescending—particularly noting how African leaders are sometimes loaded onto buses like schoolchildren—which undermines their dignity and sovereignty.

Usman argues that African leaders must assert their equal status in international diplomacy to foster more respectful and equitable relationships with global powers.

Wouldn’t it be nice to look at the back of your smartphones at the tiny writing saying “Designed in San Francisco, made in CHINA, materials sourced in AFRICA”? Nope! Africa doesn’t even get that! There is no recognition or respect for the continent or its people who have the world’s youngest population: poor education system; poor healthcare; in this resource-rich continent; war; death; natural disasters; manipulation from outside influences; feasted upon by a large handful of corrupt leaders helping themselves to public funds.

Despite that, when you visit the continent (depending on where you go of course), you will fall in love with the continent.

Conclusion

Like a TWISTED NOT SO CLASSIC DISNEY FAIRYTALE, 400+ years later, it was clear no one was coming to wake the beautiful motherland from her long sleep. The Mother Continent—Mother Africa—had to recover herself; she had to wake herself up. Whether it was in the form of Nigeria or Burkina Faso. It would have to be MADE IN AFRICA.

That is exactly what has been happening. There is a new force—a new feeling—I can’t describe it but it feels different. Ladies and gentlemen…I do believe that Africa is rising with a stronger, more powerful force and it’s ABOUT TIME!

THANK YOU FOR READING! I APPRECIATE YOU!