Legal Action in Ghana

In Ghana, we have a very frustrating attitude when things go wrong.For example, when a company promises a service (such as water) and you pay for it, it is only reasonable to expect that you have water consistently.If water is not readily available when you need it, the company has not fulfilled their part of the agreement and they need to face the consequences of breaking that promise.Unfortunately in Ghana, we simple accept the bad service from the company, complaining about it constantly.We complain because a lot of us are not aware of our rights as consumers, or we just can't be bothered to do anything about it.
Even when we know that we have the right to take legal action against such companies, we refrain from doing so with the excuse that the legal system is too corrupt to allow 'poor ol' us' go up against a big rich company.
This same mindset shows up when criminal offenses are committed against us.In November 2012, a big shopping complex collapsed killing 18 people in Achimota, Accra.This was a well publicized disaster, with all the name-calling,finger-pointing and vague promises that such events typically warrant from our leaders.Yet, one year on, nobody has been held accountable for those lost lives.To make matters worse, the families of the victims have not been compensated adequately.They received a paltry amount of money  from the company to cover funeral expenses.
The question that begs asking is since criminal charges have yet to be brought against anyone for this, what happened to civil charges?At the very least, the company running the shopping center, the building management and the city itself should be held liable in civil court and made to pay punitory damages to the victims' families.The cause of the building's collapse has been reported to be the use of poor building materials, and the lack of a building permit.Yet, a big company was able to lease this building for use as a shopping complex and nobody is being held accountable.Clearly, the city, the company and the owner/manager of the property are all liable here.I would hold the city officials  most liable, because they are the ones charged with protecting us from incidents like these, but they  are too busy collecting bribes and lining their own pockets to ensure the safety of such a building and 18 people end up dead. If any punitive damages were to be paid, they should pay at least 50% of it.A young man who had just graduated from the University and was highly admired by his colleagues was killed in this accident.At the prime of his life, when he was just beginning to live his life and support his family for the investments they made in his education, he died.And yet, his family and that of seventeen other victims have not been able to come forward and file a civil suit.

Sadly, such a case is yet to be filed and is unlikely to be filed in court, because the families will take the paltry sum of money they've been given, assume its impossible to fight in court, and say to themselves'Let it go.Its ok.They're dead and gone.Let's move on with our lives'.The problem with such thinking is that it perpetuates injustice in the society.If there are no consequences for negligent actions like these, why would they do the right thing in the future?They will build another mall with bad material, pay bribes to corrupt city officials to get out of a permit, and rent it out to an irresponsible company looking for ways to make more money and not caring about the safety of their space.So next time, it will be 25 people dead, and the cycle will continue.
When we go to the hospital and are treated unprofessionally, we have a choice to keep quiet or to sue.Healthcare professionals elsewhere in the world carry out their duties with some degree of decency, because they know the cost of a malpractice suit.However, we allow anesthologists to show up to work drunk and give us the wrong drugs during critical surgery, and yet we do not take action against the hospital and the person in question.Students die from treatable illnesses in Ghana because they are misdiagnosed consistently in the same healthcare facility, and we do not sue because we are told to 'leave everything to God'.When will enough be enough?Until we learn to make people accountable, injustice will continue, and increase in our society.So the next time you are wronged and consider sweeping the issue under the rug, ask yourself if this is the kind of treatment you want your children and grandchildren to receive.After you answer that question, the choice is yours.Enough said.

Ghana's nurses

Author's Statement:I am probably going to step on a few toes with this post, but the truth is the truth and needs to be said.I do not believe in sugar-coating, and so I apologise in advance for my bluntness and if I offend anyone.Also, this post does not imply that there are no good nurses or teachers.There are, and things are slowly changing to train better teachers and nurses.If you are one of the good ones,please keep it up and stay focused on helping others.

Akosua was pregnant with her first child.It had been a difficult pregnancy to say the least, and she was just about ready to have the baby and be done with it.As she lay in the hospital bed catching her breath and waiting for the next wave of contractions, she prayed again that she would walk safely out of the hospital with her child healthy.She tried not to be afraid, but it was difficult especially since the woman in the bed next to hers had died during her delivery just a couple of hours before then.Considering how long she had been in labour,she was very afraid of what could happen to her and the child if she didn't deliver soon.Another wave of contractions hit her, and she fought to endure the pain.This time though, the pain would not stop and just kept increasing in magnitude.She gritted her teeth and tried not to scream or cry, since the nurses had told her to endure the pain when she arrived.She tried her best, but the pain was unbearable and she couldn't help but scream.She kept screaming and screaming, then called to the nurse on duty to please help her.
The nurse on duty was bored out of her mind.She was on the phone talking to her friend about the new doctor when the lady in  the ward began screaming and calling to her.That was so annoying!Did she not know she was making noise and disturbing her phone call?Besides, she had already warned this patient to keep from making noise.This was just labour, having a baby, no big deal.Why was she being such a wimp and making noise?Muttering under her breath and complaining to her colleague nurse (who was browsing Facebook), she stalked over to Akosua to give her a piece of her mind.

This is just a hypothetical scenario that happens everyday in hospitals throughout Ghana.The reality is far worse than this, and it makes my skin crawl to remember some of these stories told to me by friends who have had to be hospitalised or visit the hospital for routine procedures.Why do we hear such horror stories all the time?Why are nurses treating patients without any compassion or professionalism?
I have a simple theory, and its my personal opinion.You're allowed to agree or disagree, but this is my opinion.The educational system in Ghana is responsible.
There are 4 tiers of high school graduates: the top 20-40% will go to college/university,next 40-80% will go to polytechnics,the next 10% will go to a nursing or a teacher training school.If you're considered at the very bottom, then you don't get to continue with a formal education at all.
Consider this.You are unable to get good grades in your Science and Math classes, but your only options are to become a nurse, a teacher  or to consider a career in fashion or something informal.
How can a country commit their whole healthcare system into the hands of students who were unable to grasp even the basic concepts of Science?How can we trust them to take of us when they are forced into this profession because they have limited options?Why then do we complain that our nurses are unprofessional and lack compassion?
We need to decide as a nation that we want excellent students in the nursing profession.We need to set the standard so high, that nursing students will be selected as if they were medical doctors.We shouldn't be gambling with the lives of the helpless and weak in our society by simply training academically inept individuals to run our hospitals and clinics.We need to remember people like Akosua, and be intentional about the kind of people we allow near our loved ones when they're sick.People who actually WANT to be nurses, who have some compassion and sympathy for those in pain, who actually know what 10cc of a drug is, and who understand that they aren't just working for money,they are helping people!Until we fix this problem with our educational system, I do not foresee a better breed of nurses being produced than we already have..and complain about.

How to enjoy grad school

I am back after my long hiatus, and as you can probably guess from my title, I disappeared because I was too busy having fun!I know that's a weird thing to say, but its true.I have really began to enjoy this experience.Its busy, hectic, stressful  sometimes and overwhelming at others, but I live by a simple rule: enjoy whatever you find yourself doing!
That means no matter how 'bad' I think my present situation is, I am bound by this rule to enjoy it.And its actually quite possible.If you're in a similar place in your life, then this post should be quite helpful.My aim is to help you find realistic ways to enjoy whatever it is you do, no matter how much you complain about it or no matter how tiring or boring it may seem.Its quite simple really.You ready?Are you sitting at the edge of your seat yet?You're not?I'm sorry but I require you to be quite anxiously scanning this article for the answer, so please,sit at the edge of your seat!Now move closer to whatever screen you're reading this on,squint because I'm writing this in the same font I've been using before, and smile.Ready?Good.Here we go:DECIDE to enjoy whatever you're doing.Make up your mind to have fun.I'm done.
Its really not rocket science.Its not even Neuroscience.If YOU make up your mind to have fun doing something, you will have fun doing it because guess what?Fun depends more on you than on anyone else!If you're 'stuck' behind your computer all day at work, there is still something you can enjoy in that.You can enjoy the solitude,take a break to hang out with co-workers or read a fun blog post like this, or you can even look at the wedding pictures of your friend from high school.Don't pretend you don't do that,because you know Facebook is open right now while you read this.
For fellow grad students like myself who spend so much time in the lab and library,enjoying the whole school experience is really easy.You have your choice of writing weird stuff like I'm doing now..:D,go work out,go for a walk,talk on the phone, read weird comics about grad school in between those articles for school,enjoy playing with your mouse (whether its a computer mouse or a real one),go dancing with friends, or just hang out in the lab watching funny videos on YouTube.Either way, don't allow yourself to get into that whole typical grad school mode of 'I'm so tired and stressed out.There's too much to do.Where do I begin?Why am I even doing this?Grad school is so tiring.My boss...blah blah blah."
That doesn't change much, does it?So stop it and have some fun!Even if that means stabbing yourself in the legs with a pair of forceps (true story..that happened to me)!
The end.

Shared Blog post:Kobby Graham on Being bourgeois(&Other Ghanaian Illusions)

I read this article recently and I do have a few comments.However,I wanted to share it and see what you guys thought.I will be sharing my comments soon.In the meantime,please feel free to check it out.

http://kobigraham.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/being-bourgeois-other-ghanaian-delusions/

What's all the fuss about reading?

In my previous post on educated illiterates,I touched briefly on our role in our own education,especially when the educational system isn't designed to teach us the many things we need to actually be productive and successful.One of the most important ways we can do this is simply by reading.

It is recommended that we read at least everyday.However,if I were to do a brief survey I wonder what your answer will be?Why don't we find out? There's a short survey below.You can select multiple answers.It will only take 5 seconds and will help you to think about your reading habits carefully.

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Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.



Now that you're done,why do you think you don't read if you don't read?Why do you read if you do read?I know that a lot of people will say that reading is no longer fun because the schools made it compulsory,and by definition,just a school activity.Therefore once we finish school,we start to think there's no need to read.But that's where you're wrong!Reading is one of the single most important determinants of how much you know.I know you may think that knowing stuff isn't important,but if the stuff you know is related to your success in life,then you need to know.For example,nobody will teach you how to write a statement of purpose or motivation.If you don't read,you will always write a sub-standard statement.Besides,knowledge is never a bad thing.You never know when that tip you read for instantly banishing a back ache will come in handy.Besides,aren't you tired of hearing this snide remark about hiding information from an African in a book?Reading stimulates your brain far more than music or video does.When you read a book,especially fiction,you are forced to picture what you read in your mind along with the dialogue that goes on.When you watch a movie its all just there.There's no need for you to use your imagination and you use less of your brain capacity.Next time you're told to be more creative or imaginative,maybe you need to find a good book,get some juice or water and start reading it.Reading opens up your mind to a world of possibilities far beyond what you can see,touch or smell.You learn to use your most powerful resource,your mind,to create a world where everything is possible.Because of this in 'real life' you are likely to be more open to ideas and be more creative with your solutions.You will be more likely to be the one trying new things because you're more adventurous and see less limitations than those who do not read.If you want to be more analytical,reading a simple mystery book and trying to solve it on your own is a great way to improve your analytical thinking.Reading helps to improve your memory,because you have to retain what you read in a previous chapter,the characters or the main points of what you're reading,the background and all other stuff in order to keep going and for the book to make sense.That requires memory.And let's not forget the vocabulary!Your ability to express yourself will improve dramatically if you would just read some good material more often.So if you are having a problem with public speaking or with asking a girl out(lol) go read a good book!For those that want to be writers,no good writer exists that does not read a lot.Thats how you learn what style of writing to use,which one you're good at and enjoy and of course just the words to write.If you want to write but do not read,you aren't going anywhere my friend.Just read!Of course I saved the best for last.Reading is FUN!Its relaxing,relieves stress and helps to keep you at rest.I know some of you don't believe me,but try it.Get a really good book on a rainy night,curl up under some blankets, and just stay up reading with some hot cocoa or tea or juice or whatever.Its entirely up to you,but trust me,it is one of the most enjoyable things you'll ever do.I hope a non-reader is going to become a reader because of this post.If your education hasn't taught you everything,you can still learn a lot.Just get of Facebook for a while or stop that game or movie and read!Need I say more?

Educated Illiterates:Whose fault?

This post is going to be quite controversial,but I try to tell the truth no matter what.If you don't agree with me,comment and let me know.Better still,write a rebuttal and tag me.I'll read it,I promise!
Currently,Ghana is considered a lower middle income earning country,which means we are in that weird place where we aren't considered dirt poor and in need of serious aid,but are still really quite broke.When I saw this classification,I immediately thought of several things,some of which I shared in an earlier post on this blog.You can read that post here if you missed it.

Most recently though,I have begun to question this so called status again in light of certain observations I have made about graduates in Ghana.I don't think anyone will quibble with me over the fact we have issues with our educational system,but when I look at the caliber of people produced from the various universities and tertiary institutions in the form of 'graduates',I begin to wonder if its just an issue with our educational system or there's also some personal responsibility involved.

Since I am from a science background,let me talk about that for a minute.How many graduates of the various science programs in universities in Ghana are actually equipped for real hands-on scientific work?The final year research we are made to do is unsatisfactory, and to top that off most of us are usually too busy cramming for exams to read anything in the form of scientific literature.Most Science grads do not even know what a publication is,have no idea how to read and digest the information or how to use that information for their own purposes in a legal manner.Maybe I'm being too critical,but when even Masters and PhD degree students are no better,there is cause for concern.

Let's move away from Science shall we?Let's talk about the Master's Craze in Ghana.Everyone graduating from the university decides to pursue a Masters degree either because they can't find a job or everyone else is doing it so they also want to do it.A classic example is the thousands of MBAs awarded each year,not to students who have actually learnt anything and will be better for it(with very few exceptions) but to students that have been rushed through some classes and exams,made to cram more than they did in high school or college and then probably paid to have someone write a thesis for them(sorry if I offend anyone here).Is the Masters degree a simple extension of college now with the cramming and memorization?How do we expect to produce any kind of equipped grads with this kind of educational attitude?All the schools seem to be interested in now is money,and most of our graduates are apparently not circumspect enough in their reasoning and rush to do all these programs.I understand that there is a shortage of jobs,but is a Masters degree really a fix?Do you need another degree attained with cramming and memorization  to get an entry level job?

This is such an appalling situation,much like the monopolisation of medical schools in Ghana by the rich and by certain families(I didn't even know that medicine was now a family inheritance..smh).Before even considering a Masters degree,you need to sit and decide what you want to do with your career.How is an MBA necessary if all you ever wanted to do was teach for example(unless you're going to teach business or run a company)?Why do a PhD if you want to just be a lawyer?I understand that because most of us think that our options are limited,we decide to just do whatever is available,but if there's anything education was supposed to have done,it was to open our eyes to all of the opportunities we do have.If our education failed to do that,then it is up to us to educate ourselves by reading more and being more open to other options apart from those everyone else sees.Most of us after graduation never even bother to read anything anymore.Not textbooks,not newspapers or personal development literature,not even novels.How do we expect to be educated when we will not  do the basics ourselves and read?Or has our educational system made reading so boring and not fun that we can't see it as a helpful and fun activity?

This is  what makes a graduate educated,in my opinion,the ability to see and utilise opportunities other people have not seen or utilised, the will and desire to solve problems and not just get jobs and make money.Let's stop blaming the system,because we all know its bad, and actually do something on ourselves.After all,the same educational system has produced exceptional graduates.What makes you unable to be an exception too?Until we begin to see education as more than a pathway to get a job on the part of students and as a business on the part of schools,we will keep producing graduates who are actually illiterate,unskilled and unprepared to face and solve actual real world problems and will compound the problems we already do have as a country.Enough said!

Progress and Development..the real story!

So I forgot to post this last week and decided to do that today.I have been thinking for some time what development or progress is as defined to us and if it truly is progress or development.I know this may seem confusing to some of you so let me try and give an example.
When the World bank gives a GDP for Ghana for example and says Ghana is now a lower middle income country,we usually rejoice and say we are now developing.But let's actually take a look at the situation on the ground and then make that decision for ourselves.This is what I mean.
There are two sides to this coin.The first is a predefined notion of what development in a country is supposed to be when cultural and situational differences determine this.A clear example of this is the setting of a global minimum wage when truthfully,that minimum wage is like 3 times what people in certain nations need for their basic needs to be met.Please note,I didn't say Ghana(lol).

The other side of the coin which concerns me more is the by effect of this so called development.I consider how lifestyles change and the environment is destroyed all in the quest for development and I question if it is true development.We cut down all of our trees to build skyscrapers,begin using fertilizers and pesticides because that's what development is supposed to be,drive cars that emit CFCs into the atmosphere leading to global warming and perhaps most importantly eat ourselves to death.Is this really a price we are willing to pay to say we are now a developed nation?Most developed countries have an epidemic of obesity,Type 2 diabetes and a host of other lifestyle related diseases that a change in lifestyle caused by so called development has brought.They fight  every day trying to fix this but its almost impossible.
We were purely organic farmers in Ghana.Now because of 'progress' and population explosion,we are now eating food grown with chemicals that are killing the farmers applying them to the crops.In a time when people in the 'developed' world are beginning to realise that organic food is best and are actually returning to it,is it true development to just follow in their footsteps?
This is something that we all have to think about.There are far reaching consequences of trying to model our country after the 'developed' world just because we accept blindly that they are developed.Our MPs now demand that we pay them exorbitant salaries simply because Kenya pays their MPs more.Really?When did Kenya become the standard of what we want Ghana to be?Isn't this just ridiculous?After all,don't you agree that people walking the streets of hot Accra in winter jackets is ridiculous?
We do this not just with our economic affairs but with our family and cultural habits.We are modeling our marriages after those in countries that we consider developed, modeling our families after theirs, even dressing more like them than us.Do we really want to go down the same path people have gone and failed?If we're really learning from them why can't we see that they have realised the way they do stuff needs to change?Do we need the divorce rates in our country to reach the level of that in the 'developed' world before we start to question if their methods really work for us?These are just a few examples.Maybe we need to stop copying blindly and start deciding what development and progress truly is in our own country.

Progress and development?Really?

First of all,I am super excited because with just 4 more views  this blog will hit 27,000 views!Whoo-hooo!That's awesome!I never thought this blog could come this far so I am really grateful especially to the members of the blog who subscribed but also to all of you for coming back to read this stuff.I hope I've been able to make a difference in someone's life somehow,whether with a smile or thought provoking stuff or anything really.Thanks for the support!

In celebration of an anticipated 30,000 views in the next month(I know its possible cos you're gonna share this right?..:D) I am going to do two things.
1.I want to help any upcoming blogger who needs traffic for their site.All you have to do is comment on this post with your name and blog address,subscribe to the blog if you haven't already and share this post on Facebook,twitter,Google plus and wherever else you want.Sharing already gets you traffic because people will be clicking on your link in the comment box,but also I will do a special feature series on the blogs that get submitted and that should get you some traffic too.
2.Secondly,you guys get to choose what you want me to write on in April.This will be a Reader's choice month so I will write on whatever subject will be the most popularly requested.To make a suggestion just put it in the comment box and I will read it.If you see someone's suggestion and you want me to do that one simply copy and paste it and comment.Pretty simple right?

Also,I started another blog specifically for hair stuff yesterday so I guess you're the first to know about it.Its called Ghana Hair Chick.Check it out if you like pictures of hairstyles,need help with your own hair or want to share your own hair story and advice with others.I also do have another blog dedicated solely to the wandering thoughts and most of my interests.Its more personal and I usually update it with stuff I'm doing in school,food and travelling stuff and just plain inspiration and truth.I like to keep my stuff short so you should enjoy that too.I guess that's enough talking about me.And it looks like I forgot to talk about the actual reason for the blog post title.Oh well!Another time.Till then,stay blessed!

A new Satire(sort of) to us on our 56th Birthday

And so they say we are 56 years old today as a country.We look at them incredulously and wonder in our minds if there is wrong maths at work.Ah!But the date is really 6th March 1957 oo.So the maths is right.Maybe the principles of maths need to be put aside in this case.After all,the principles of Biology and Psychology have not been considered here.In Biology,there can be stunted growth and so someone claiming to be 30 could look 10 years old.In Psychology,some adults never mature in their thinking past the age of a child due to whatever factor.So I am definitely thinking that Biology and Psychology makes more sense in this case.
Not to say of course that we are stunted or immature.Far be it from me to say so.I mean,we do still have issues with water,healthcare and electricity while a country like Malaysia born in the same year as we were is almost totally free of such issues but who's comparing?Its not like we have any kind of natural resources or human capital like they do..oh wait I think we do.Hmm..maybe our parents were just different from theirs..aahh..looks like we were both British colonised.
Oh well.Who's counting?If nothing else we are most definitely very mature.We did pay someone $1 million to get on stage,cuss and promote weed(and get arrested for it) on our independence day while millions of us didn't have clean water or health care but hey..its not every day you turn 56 and launch a big project.Its very important to relax too!That's not immature at all.We're good.The Math is right and the Biology and Psychology must be wrong.After all,who's looking?
So Happy birthday to us!We definitely look and behave 56!

In Memoriam:Let's agree to disagree

Let's agree to disagree was our friend,a father,a brother,a sister,faithful companion and most of all,a keeper of the peace.There was once a time when most arguments would end with this name.No matter what the source of the debate was,it would end whenever this name was mentioned.

Over the course of the years,we slowly began to forget about the existence of this fine statement and have finally reached the all or nothing point.What happened to us?When did it become wrong for people to share opposing views?I thought we had finally agreed that diversity is the spice of life.Unfortunately,it appears that the current world view prefers only a certain kind of diversity.

I refer to the new perception emerging that having conservative opinions about anything makes you intolerant and evil.It is now a huge plus for you to you agree with everyone about their lifestyle choices,their religious choices and beliefs and whatever else they choose to come up with.If you don't agree with them you are intolerant and unaccepting of other people.I wonder if it has occurred to those carrying this mindset that they are also being intolerant and unaccepting in attempting to force their opinions on everyone else.

I personally try my best not to judge anyone for whatever or however they choose to live their lives,because its their lives.All I can do is be a friend and try to show the love that I myself have been shown by God,and I most definitely will not force my beliefs down your throat or expect you to agree with me.All I ask is that you show me the same kind of consideration and not try to force me to agree with your beliefs.And yes,that includes trying to force it down my throat and the throats of my children through seemingly harmless TV programs and cartoons.

I mourn the death Of Let's agree to disagree,because we wouldn't be in this stand-off if he were still here.Rest Not In Peace,because I am hoping that you will be resurrected soon,and we will all dwell together in harmony once again.

Sincerely,

Me

I read this story recently and it really got me thinking.A lot of the time we forget that perception is not only one way,but is influenced mainly by ourselves.I decided to share it with you.Enjoy!

NB:No copyright infringement intended.This is not my original material!

A young couple moved into a new neighbourhood. The next morning whilst eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

“That laundry is not clean” she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap”. Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time the neighbour would hang laundry to dry, the young woman would

make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learnt how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this”!

The husband said: “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows”!!!
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window 

through which we look! Easy to discuss other people, their lives and things that don’t really concern us. Yet we tend to forget- our window isn’t that clean afterall!!!
Take the big fat log out of your own eyes before you can remove the skinny little stick from someone else’s.

Enjoy your week!

The Grass is not always greener on the other side

Once upon a time there lived a farmer with his wife and children on his own land.He had a plow and an old ox that he would use to prepare his land for farming.He wasn’t rich but he was content because he had all he needed.Then one day an old priest passing through his farm told him the story of how beautiful diamonds were being found all over the world in India,South Africa,Spain and all kinds of other places.Men were picking up these diamonds and selling them to become wealthy.That night this farmer could not sleep just imagining all the diamonds he could sell and the money to be made.The next day he decided to go look for some of these diamonds in India.He sold all his land and property to another farmer,gave some money to his family and told them he would be back with lots of money.He set off,went to India,then to South Africa,then Spain,and all kinds of places,just searching for diamonds.He never did find them,and was poor,old,wretched and tired.One day he simply jumped into the sea and drowned.
Meanwhile the other farmer who bought his property was plowing one day with the same plow and ox the previous owner had used when he noticed this black shiny rock.He picked it up and noticed how a rainbow of colors seemed to be literally caught in it.He was so taken with it that he took it into his house and set it on his mantle.A few days later this old priest passing through again went to visit the new owner and saw the rock on his mantle.He asked the farmer where he got it and he said they were just lying around his farm.That old priest used to be a jeweller,and he saw that that rock was a diamond.He went out with the farmer and walked the land,and there were just acres and acres of these rocks.This is the story of the mines of Golconda,the richest diamond find in history.
The previous farmer had been walking all over the diamonds in his own backyard but lost his life chasing diamonds in exotic countries.If the grass looks greener on the other side,fertilise and water your side!No need to go chasing diamonds when they are right in your own home!-Culled from Russel Conway’s Acres of Diamonds by Yvonne Nyavor.

Image copyright http://pinoytransplant.com/2011/05/17/no-green-grass-of-home/