Ghanaian Celebrities Slam ‘One Direction’ For Negative Representation Of Ghana + My Thoughts!

I do not know how I feel about this…Though Ghana is not wholly bad and poor (which I know every intelligent individual including members of  One Direction ought to know), anytime someone highlights on the true picture of things (negative bits), Ghanaians get defensive and quickly point out the good things out here in Ghana.

I don’t really care about those living the posh life, living at the East legons and Cantoments, it is those who are struggling to afford 3 square meals a day, struggling to have access to clean driving water and a balance diet that need the attention.

When foreigners who want to offer a helping hand to the poor and needy come to any country, they ignore the very few privileged people who by certain means (including thievery) are able to afford expensive and golden lives.

So if the UK Band-One Direction gave more attention to the fact that Ghana has enormous poverty, slams and gutters during and after their charity tour, what is really wrong with that?

The reason why foreigners give attention to these things is the fact that they are not used to them…They have seen enough of the beautiful buildings, roads, hotels and expensive cars in their countries so these do not marvel or tickle them. If it was these things alone, they would never have come to Ghana because they have the best where they come from…

To me, these guys did nothing wrong for bringing to light and given those without voices the attention they deserve. Our Ghanaian celebrities should get the hell out of twitter and go out there to help these people, help put their voices and photos out there…

The truth is that, a greater number of Ghanaians are living under the water…

You guys are just missing the point…Who cares about the real intention of One-Direction? Either their intention was good or bad, I do not care. It is not their duty to help these children. If we have cared for these many Ghanaians struggling, would they have found anything to say when they visited? If you fail to clean your house, you open it for all manner of people to talk about it. Even if their houses are dirty, it does not stop them from talking about your dirty house. Go and talk about theirs too if you want and if that is what will help your dirty house get clean…

Why can’t we accept that majority of Ghanaians are struggling and need help.

What I am more upset about is the various celebrities throwing out sentences to One-Direction for tweeting the photos of the poor children they came in contact with in Ghana and talking about them or about the situation. They have at least given these children a voice, they have brought their situation to the public and have brought their plight to be known by many, that is why we are even talking about it today.

What do these Ghanaian celebrities do? They drive or walk pass these children every day. They see hungry children every, those selling PKs on the street and occasionally give them some coins.

These children have no voices and they have to be heard or seen. How many of the celebrities have taken photos of these children to even tweet them and say; gov’t help these poor children or the better in society, please help these children? Instead, they continue to take photos of their cheap and fake shoes, bags, phones and tweet every day. That is what is important to them every day. To One Direction, they saw that the children were important last night and gave them some publicity too.

If you won’t do it and someone does it, shut the hell up and stop trying to find a reason for person’s actions. Their intention may be bad but I don’t care, what I care about is, today their tweet about these children may bring the children some food. The children were on E! today and it means our President may be called by his friends or may be ashamed and decide to think about these children when he goes to sleep.

Anyway, read the below report via Myjoyonline

Some Ghanaian celebrities have slammed UK boy band, One Direction, who are also one of the world’s biggest groups for their negative remarks about the country during a recent trip.

The group made up of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne where in Ghana over the weekend on a charity tour as part of their involvement with the U.K. charity organization Comic Relief.

After their visit to Ghana, Niall Horan took to social networking site Twitter to say: “Just arrived back from Accra,Ghana! Best life experience ever! This @rednoseday please get involved!”

He again tweeted that: “I’ve seen the slums right in front of me! This is no joke! They really need your help! Poverty is real!,” and added that: “Massive thanks to @rednoseday for taking us to Ghana! It was incredible! Real eye opener! We take so much for granted over here!”

Another member of the group, Harry Styles, who recently came out of a relationship with singer Taylor Swift also tweeted: “Today was the most amazing day I’ve had so far..In my life ever.”

The award winning group, who are signed to Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Records, have recorded a cover of Blondie’s One Way or Another to help raise money for the Comic Relief fund.

This year’s ‘Red Nose Day’ which takes place on March 15 encourages people to do something funny for money.

Apparently their comments on twitter and pictures they posted about the trip did not go down well with Ghanaians who say they could have done better by also projecting the positive side of the country.

Eonline, a well known international entertainment news medium in their reportage of the trip also described Accra as an “impoverished village.”

Controversial musician Wanlov the Kubolor mocked the group by commenting on a photo of the group clapping with some kids on twitter that: “Ghana is getting worse so heaven sent 5 downcut jesuses to teach us clapping.”

Award winning actress, Ama K. Abebrese also sent several tweets on the issue.

She said: “@NiallOfficial n @onedirection Your tweets about the slums and poverty of Accra, Ghana was very touching…….however … Next time, also tweet about the luxury hotel and VIP treatment and beauty of the country you enjoyed.”

She added that, ““@NiallOfficial n @onedirection … I understand its for charity, but this highly negative image of sub Saharan African countries like Ghana….. that you choose to focus on without balance for the so many positive aspects to your millions of ff”.

“@NiallOfficial n @onedirection … serve mostly to reinforce negative stereotypes. I have donated to @rednoseday and it does good work…I live in the beautiful city of Accra, Ghana, and there is so much more to it than slums and poverty.”

@NiallOfficial n @onedirection …. so next time, please be #Balanced#ComeBetter There is more to Ghana, so much more,” she concluded.

Actress Lydia Forson said: “Dear @onedirection next you visit a country, remember like yours there are beautiful and ugly parts. Don’t base your views on one part”.

She further said: “Like every “normal” country we have the rich,poor,middle class. Don’t show one side of a country and project it as the whole @onedirection” the actress added that: “But don’t blame @onedirection too much, blame the people who constantly feel the need to show only deprived parts of Africa!”

Musician and former Big Brother Africa representative Mimi also tweeted: “@lydiaforson @onedirection Excuse me, who are they anyways? The cheek of it…. Omo firi y3so nko”.

One person, Kiana, with the name @snapstyles tweeted: “one direction are only money hungry” “fame has gone to their heads” “they only care about publicity”.