INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS - PATRICK OTIEKU-BOADU

Books: Success is for Ab-Normal People and Walking into your Financial Freedom; Author: Patrick Otieku-Boadu; Pages: 80 and 109, respectively; Printed by Spearhead Consult, 2012; Reviewed by Caroline Boateng ........................................................................................................................ The twin books by Patrick Otieku-Boadu, continue to define him as an inspirational coach of modern times. While “Success is for Ab-normal People,” seeks to imbue readers with the verve to optimally express themselves in all their endeavours,“Walking into Your Financial Freedom,” complements, by refocusing readers on lessons of personal productivity. The author in the pages of “Success is for Ab-Normal People,” coaches, encourages and urges a life lived above average, that is,“abnormally.” Having well researched biblical characters who lived that ‘ab-normal' life, the author presents them as examples for readers. In bullet form, for easy assimilation, he lists the lessons and philosophies that have guided the lives and actions of great men and women. For instance, readers will get to learn about the ant philosophy, which teaches persistence in the face of obstacles; while in pages on the “Ten Laws of Differentiation,” the principle of the ‘cuboid melon,’ that is, maximising one’s diversity is discussed. “Walking in Your Financial Freedom,” ups the ante in an essential area of every individual’s life... money! Funding addictions, a culture of dissipation and not saving, borrowing, and indiscipline are some of the issues discussed as reasons for the financial constraints that some people face. The hands-on coach that he is, Patrick Otieku-Boadu recognises practical limitations that keep people in a poverty loop, that is, “a dead-end low paying job.” These include person’s mindset, ignorance and the inability to properly plan and budget on resources. He advances cogent reasons for wealth, some of which are, the opportunities to help societies, generations unborn and for causes of God’s Kingdom. Insights within “Walking in your Financial Freedom,” include the six ways in which people make money, and that, surprisingly, includes begging. However, that means of making money does not last, readers will learn. They will also learn the lasting methods of making money, the five wisdom baskets that teach how to apportion resources appropriately and how to be productive and create wealth. The completion of “Walking in Your Financial Freedom,” would undoubtedly leave a reader with the urge or an appetite for an income generating venture, instead of the income spending spree that most people with little money venture into. It provokes readers, be they salaried workers or self-employed, to be financially wise in order to appreciate any income or money that comes their way, turning the funds, however little, into wealth that can be used in the service of humanity. “Success is for Ab-Normal People,” and “Walking in your Financial Freedom,” is highly recommended, for all generational groups. For the impressionable youth, it will provide workable ideas for life. For adults and workers, some of whom are in ‘dead-end jobs,’ it would be the turning point to a fulfilled life. Even for the aged, the two books offer hope and principles that teach that no situation in life is unredeemable. Patrick Otieku-Boadu’s books are replete with biblical principles that offer hope for all. The books are available in all leading stores or can be directly obtained via the email address: potiekuboadu@gmail.com.

MOVES TO IMPROVE UPON PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY

The Centre for Democratic Development, (CDD-Ghana), has provided information on key social services to improve upon public policy advocacy in the country. The data, in user friendly excel files and maps, presents information on the delivery and state of public goods and services like education, health and water. It is freely available on the Internet, and the objective is to furnish advocates, the media, researchers, and anyone engaging at the level of public policy, with facts and figures in their advocacy with those responsible for ensuring the provision of these services and improvement in their delivery. The data was from the 'IAMAWARE' project, launched by the CDD-Ghana in August 2012. The project was captioned, 'IAMAWARE,' that is a contraction of the phrase, 'I am aware," to empower citizens with information they can use to hold those in authority accountable for the delivery of public goods and services. It also provides the information by which public agencies can be assessed on their performance in the provision of these public goods and services. Key findings from the project, publicised at a dissemination workshop, included the fact that ordinary Ghanaians do not have access to duty bearers. There were also findings about the high level of interest in public affairs and issues relating to the management of the economy, and radio being the main source of information for most respondents surveyed. However, in spite of the public awareness on public issues, most respondents did not discuss them among their social groupings. The research also showed the dearth of civic consciousness among most respondents as they said they would not use any form of protest to press home their demands for better service and goods delivery. Presenting the findings, a Senior Research Fellow, Mr Robert Pwazaga, said a pre-election survey was undertaken on August 2012, as well as a post election survey in February 2013. The pre- election survey, provided the basis for discussions in the media on policy pledges by Members of Parliament and aspiring politicians at the local level in some of the 40 districts studied. Mr Pwazaga asked the media to use the information provided for their work and to endeavour to simplify their reporting on public issues, as some respondents said their inability to discuss these within their social groupings was because the issues were complicated For the future, he said, the CDD-Ghana would be expanding the research to monitor the delivery of other public services and goods, such as infrastructure and security. A Senior Fellow of the CDD-Ghana, Mr Francis Tsegah said with the nominations of District Chief Executives currently, the information could provide the constituents with information to get candidates to commit to certain benchmarks. He said some media partners, also used the information for issues-based reporting in some districts. A Deputy Director and Head of Research and Programmes, Dr Franklin Oduro said with programmes such as the 'IAMAWERE,' the CDD-Ghana intended to scale up its stakeholder base and its monitoring on wider public goods and services delivery. Published Daily Graphic, Monday, August 5, 2013

RULE

Book: Rule or be Ruled Author: Patrick Otieku-Boadu Pages: 101 Publishers: Spearhead Consult Reviewed by: Caroline Boateng Rule or be ruled, is a call to leadership. Leadership that is God ordained, required of every individual and necessary for effective living. In this ninth book, the author, Patrick Otieku-Boadu, gives useful guidelines on how to live maximally in all areas of life, be it family, career or education. He begins by setting out the chilling fact that a failure to rule would result in a person being subjected under the rule of others in life. In fact, there is no middle way and either you take control of your live in way that will bring about the change only dreamt about and craved for or bend to the rule of a co-equal or someone younger or less experienced, but who has learned the principles of bearing rule in this life. Using God’s prescription in the Bible for man to rule and have dominion over the earth, the author calls on readers to activate the authority for ruling, programmed into their DNA by God. Leadership begins with the individual, and Rule or be Ruled teaches how one can take charge of his or her life adequately enough to extend rule to others and areas of endeavour. The author calls for a new vision and new thoughts that enables challenges to be seen as possibilities to be seized for success in life. Contrary to popular thinking that ruling is about holding sway and commanding in the public sphere, Rule or be Ruled teaches that ruling begins with ideas, having them, writing them down, mastering them by thinking and rethinking, developing them by fully expressing the ideas into tangible usable services or things. It requires self introspection. “Your ideas are capable of transforming your life. To rule your world, you will need to place value on the ideas that flow through your mind, but many do not value their own thoughts,” the author tells readers. Leadership requires information, and in a chapter on that, Patrick Otieku-Boadu shows how information is the currency to dreams, success and fortune. But information that is priceless is relevant, is needed and applicable for the desired changes in life. Rule or be Ruled shows how this can be achieved. Leadership also requires bearing rule over money, one’s sex life, seizing opportunities, mastering technology and new developments in society. The author’s manner of writing is easy. He communicates simply and directly. The reader would sometimes feel he is being coached by a real life tutor instead although reading the words of the author. He uses several examples of real life situations and experiences of people to emphasise his ideas. Patrick Otieku-Boadu has once again shown his passion for youth development in his work Rule of be Ruled that will inspire the youth to dream, achieve and progress. It is recommended for the youth of Ghana, and anyone who would want to dream again, as life still offers opportunities. Rule or be Ruled can be obtained in all leading bookshops or by contacting the author by the Email address, potiekuboadu@gmail.com .