Former Ghanaian President, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, has said that culture of democracy is being undermined in Africa, saying that electoral processes are fast losing their integrity in the continent.

He added that democracy was being undermined by the unipolar situation, immorality in international politics and unethical business practices.

The ex-President further said that legislative checks, which were mearnt to strengthen the system of governance, were found wanting in Africa.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, I think the culture of democracy in Africa is being undermined by the unipolar situation, by the immorality in international politics and the unethical business practices that are going on.”

Rawlings also urged African leaders to imbibe what was obtainable in the Western world where the parliaments, congresses and civil societies had the power to correct any perceived abnormality in the system.

He said, “The Western powers and a lot of these European powers have what I call the “handbrake”.

Their parliaments, their congresses and their civil societies have the capacity to pull the hand brake, to prevent their vehicle from reversing.

“South America has demonstrated to an extent its electoral integrity, but not in Africa.

“So what do we have? We have a situation where we do not want military coups but at the same time electoral processes are seriously loosing their integrity.”

At one point or the other in your numerous encounters with people, you would have met at least one person who is said to possess it and knows how to use it. What is this phenomenon we are referring to? It’s called Executive Presence, some call it professional presence. Executive or professional, describe it as you wish it either you have it or you don’t.

Those who have this can easily be spotted even in a large crowd, because its impact can be felt. What is it? Do you have it? Are you putting it to use?

Without doubt, any leader or manager who possesses charisma and warmth but yet powerful presence stands at an advantaged position both in the business world and in life generally. It is important to note that the quality of this phenomenon called Presence is subjective and a-bit elusive to put into words, but the following are some key characteristics of people with presence. Use these to check if you have it or not.

1. Present: This simply means they are "fully here" spirit, soul and body, focused and aware.

2. Self-aware: They have a deep consciousness of there own feelings thoughts and responses.

3. Authentic: There is such a consistency in the expression of the individuality, and they do this without trying to prove themselves or be someone they are not.

4. Flexible: They know how to relate with different personality styles and cultures at different levels in a corporate organisation. They are at-ease with almost any group.

5. Charismatic: They transmit a radiant energy which other people feel and respond to positively.

Individuals with Presence consistently convey or transmit a strong energy; they have such strong aura around them. Their presence is felt by other even before they utter a word. They carry themselves with so much poise and self-assuredness that is open and neither weak nor arrogant .These individuals project a very strong image, an image that is congruent with their real self. They demonstrate graciousness and a deep compassion for others, they also possess an ability to blend well into a variety of circumstances environment .They also have a deep awareness of themselves, of people around them and what goes on around them.

There are various behavioural traits that demonstrate presence; the following are some you should look-out for;

•Instead of reacting, they respond: Even in the face of distasteful situations, conflicts, disturbances, and provocation, they choose to maintain a balanced attitude, they have the ability to think on their feet, judge a situation and respond in a cool, calm, and collected manner. They are in complete control of their emotions.

•They are deliberate: They don’t rush, and yet they are not slow. Their speech can be described as focused, articulate, and steady. By this they send a clear message to people around them that "powerful people never rush", their body language is purposeful and not distracting.

•They are appropriately assertive: Irrespective of the situation, they express themselves clearly without being either pushy or timid.

•Poised under pressure: Individuals with presence remain unruffled when pressure increases due to change, unexpected difficulties and conflict. This does not in anyway suggest that they don’t have feelings, but because of characteristic number (1.) above, they posses the ability to harness their feelings and control the expression of such feelings, this of- course with other people is the case.

•They are polished yet animated, they communicate in clear and concise manner, yet with an appropriate amount of gestures , voice inflections and facial animation’

•They maintain a balance in their talk time. When conversing with other, they maintain a relatively even exchange i.e. they listen as well as talk.

•Respectful: Even when they dislike someone, they maintain an openness that is to be admired and listened to, ensuring that the communication lines are open. They refrain from putting others down.

•They are open: Individuals with presence are willing to intimate, to reach-out, and to be flexible in their approach to mend fences when needed.

•They are of the power behind words and they use words carefully and effectively in their relationship with people around them and in the situations they find themselves.

"Eager to preserve the English language against a rising tide of nonsense," a British newspaper asked readers last week to compose a piece of prose "crammed with as many infuriating phrases as possible." The results make entertaining reading.

"I hear what you’re saying but, with all due respect, it’s not exactly rocket science," begins one excellent example. "The bottom line is you wear your heart on your sleeve and, when all is said and done, this is all part and parcel of the ongoing bigger picture." Another declared, "let’s face facts here, this could be my conduit to a whole new ball game. Awesome, or what?"

Some of the entries mocked bureaucratese: "Our own cost-benefit analysis of the ongoing target shortfall is that this predicament needs to be addressed proactively." Others celebrated slang, either American ("chill to the max") or British ("I was gobsmacked") in origin. And all of them suggested an explanation for why it seems so difficult to follow the ludicrously early American presidential campaign: Too many of the candidates speak in prose crammed with as many infuriating phrases as possible.

The worst offender — and this week’s column is officially apolitical — is Hillary Clinton, who is "running for president because I believe if we set big goals and we work together to achieve them, we can restore the American dream today and for the next generation." Clinton also believes that"we can give people the education and opportunities they need to fulfill their God-given potential," and that "the foundation of a strong economy is the investments we make in each other." Who could possibly disagree?

But maybe that’s what it takes to lead the opinion polls, at least at this stage. "Folks, we’re a bit down politically right now, but I think we’re on the comeback trail, and it’s going to start right here," Fred Thompson said recently, speaking to an audience of apparently enthusiastic Virginia Republicans. And no wonder they liked him: This is a man who believes that "it’s time to take stock and be honest with ourselves. We’re going to have to do a lot of things better," and who tells audiences that "I know we’re here for the same reasons: Love of our country and concern for our future."

Well, I, too, feel love of our country and concern for our future, which is why I worry when Mitt Romney says that "it’s time for innovation and transformation in Washington" (was it ever not?) or that "America can also overcome the challenges and seize our abundant opportunities here at home" (does any candidate think otherwise?). Or when Rudy Giuliani promises a "mission of reform and change" (as opposed, presumably, to a mission of entropy and stasis).

Political campaigns only get interesting when the candidates stop speaking in ringing generalities and infuriating phrases — which doesn’t mean that they become successful, or even good for the country. John McCain’s campaign in 2000 appealed precisely because he eschewed prepared gobbledygook — though that wasn’t enough even to win the Republican nomination. I am also still convinced that voters initially liked George W. Bush’s inarticulacy: At least he didn’t sound quite as smooth, and ultimately meaningless, as everyone else. Only with time did his natural-born inability to speak English begin to produce infuriating phrases of unique pointlessness: "These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved" was a recent classic.

At the moment, the brightest new hope for the English language is Barack Obama, a fact I didn’t fully appreciate until I inattentively picked up what I thought was his best-selling new book, " Dreams From My Father." Expecting a dull political tract, I discovered an engaging story of his enigmatic father and his eccentric childhood, full of unexpected observations about race and identity in America and Africa, written with real elegance: ("Miscegenation," he writes at one point: "The word is humpbacked, ugly, portending a monstrous outcome: like antebellum or octoroon, it evokes images of another era.") Then I discovered that I’d read the wrong book: Obama wrote "Dreams From My Father" 15 years ago, before becoming a political candidate of any kind. Though his recent "elect-me-president" book, " The Audacity of Hope," has been praised for its prose, the jacket blurb describes it as "Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions" to create a "radically hopeful consensus."

I hear what they’re saying, but, with all due respect, I’m putting off reading it, afraid the deterioration might already have begun. Let’s face it, guys: No good writer, however eloquent, can possibly survive a two-year presidential campaign.

Applebaum writes for the Washington Post

African culture frowns at corruption basically. Unfortunately there are certain factors also in our culture that provide the breeding ground for corruption and we must decide now as a nation, as a generation, to confront this issue and to break free from every limitation. Slavery and colonisation have not helped matters like an elephant that is tamed through mental conditioning; slavery and colonisation have bred in us the poverty mindset, low self esteem, corruption and a sense of irresponsibility. I ask you to make up your mind today like I have that we will not make money anymore through illegitimate means. Stealing attracts a curse and today that curse must be lifted from us as individuals and from our nation.

NIGERIANS yesterday trooped out to honour the slain political martyr, Mrs. Kudirat Abiola calling for immortalisation of the activist and her husband, Chief M. K. O. Abiola.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections died in detention in 1998 in the struggle to claim the mandate to rule the country. His wife, Kudirat was murdered on June 4, 1996 while campagning for release of her husband from detention by the late Gen. Sani Abacha's military dictatorship.