Ghana's Political titanic and tsunami!!

Summary:

• 1. Corruption/Autocracy
• 2. Political gimmicks
• 3. Journalists/Parliamentarians
• 4: Inquiry into CMB/AMA
• 5: Role of the Media.

Ghana’s 1st President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a self-styled Marxist-Leninist, like the self-proclaimed right-wing nationalist, Dr. K.A.Busia, I believe might have had their dreams fully or partially fulfilled, having the chance to play their respective roles on Ghana’s political scene; Nkrumah, educated in USA, and seemingly frustrated over the Western world’s “hypocritical” attitude to Africa Independence struggle, downed his Italian cut continental suit, to sneak into a Stalin-type tunic, to the annoyance of his detractors; his new adorned tunic, depicting socialistic model and demeanor, also spelling a demonstration of force, by spitting volcanic fire, in thought and action, more than what we’ve known today, described as the strong thunderstorm from the southern parts of America, swinging from Chaves’ Venezuelan petroleum kingdom.

What about Busia? He was compelled to spend most of his adult life-line in exile, following Nkrumah’s authoritarian rule, till the period he had his dreams come true; tracing the courageous tracks of the famous Dr. Martin Luther King, the erstwhile Black American civil rights activist, and drawing inspirations from his famous cries of, “I have a dream” Today, they’re no more, for man wasn’t created to live eternally on this planet.. They were mere humans, non-flawless and weak to perfection, just like any other personalities: we all cherish the idea of honoring them, remembering the good things that they did, and also not forgetting the ‘worse case scenarios’ that clouded their respective reign. Why do we continue to talk about their supremacy in Ghana’s politics up till today? We have to highlight the two sides of the coin by telling the story as it is, to serve as a guide or guideline, which would help the whole nation and Africa, to take a cue out of their successes and failures, to enable us draw positive conclusions; pursue a right pathway, to forge ahead in our development efforts; in the struggle to achieve wholesome economic independence.

Corruption/Autocracy:

For example, 200 years after the abolition of trans-Atlantic slave trade, lasting nearly four centuries, which displaced over 50 million Africans, to quote historians, the world continue to talk about such shameful inhuman atrocities, reminding ourselves of the evil perpetrated by the greedy lot from countries of Europe; nearly 60 years after Auschwitz in-planted with gas chambers and surrounded by graveyards, the world continue to gnash its teeth over such acts of savagery. Therefore, if the period of Kwame Nkrumah was engulfed in corruption and autocracy and Busia short political era, was marred by mal-administration and nepotism, I personally see no evil to highlight such malpractices, in the hope of tuning those in the politics or the next generations of politicians to learn from history to escape the pitfalls to committing such grievous errors; which have contribute to reversing trends on Africa’s progress.

Of late, I have been questioning my inner self to ascertain the truth as to whether Ghanaian society or perhaps Africa in general always play shy to truth; allowing ourselves to slip into the trap of hypocrisy; and I’ve been questioning, why people allow themselves easily, to fall into the prey or cultivate habit of twisting facts to suit personal interests or please others? When we talk about grievous and unpardonable mistakes committed during the Rawlings era, we speak about them in the hope that, such cynical, outrageous and unpardonable errors, would never ever occur or happen again, in Ghana’s political life.

Political gimmicks?

I grew-up to respect the thought of eminent SKB Asante; He became a big role model to many; but was horrified to have read his comments calculated to throwing dust in the eyes of the world, on Nkrumah; Asante saw nothing wrong with Nkrumah during his stewardship and hailed him as a Messiah: Nkrumah wasn’t; I know it is not easy being a nihilist, a supporter of Nkrumah; but please stop polluting the nation with half backed truth; Nkrumah supporters would be doing the world a lot of justice, by dissipating right information which could help Ghana and other African countries built solid institutions, to promoting progress and prosperity , peace and stability. . Let us know the mistakes Nkrumah committed; for they might serve as a precious life-line in the development efforts.

The tone of these lectures on Nkrumah/Danquah for decades have remained the same,…praises, showering of praises, which turn to benefit no-one. The way forward for Africa is to be able to build solid infrastructures, reforming social and economic programs to gaining economic independence; Africa’s natural resources, like gold oil, diamond, and iron timber are all shipped often in whole for processing: Africa must be able to diversify to reduce its dependence on foreign industries.

For example, by-products of oil, and semi-finished products like cocoa, diamonds and gold could bring in big income, apart from providing employment and increase Africa’s earning power; boosting the efforts to provide basic necessities of life; provision for drinkable sources of water, quality health care, education, conducting research studies, among others to improving energy resources; reform the judiciary system, building a respectable police system and uprooting deep rooted corruption. Ghana is in crisis concerning its energy resources, due to the low lever of the dam, we have learnt. Valco is the process of closing down. Alternative sources of energy must be exploited. Portugal and Spain, under a continental European weather, at times masked by terrifying snow, have greatly invested in exploitation of solar energy resources as alternative sources of power, to cut their dependence on nuclear to help save the plant. Ghana, or Africa is blessed under the sun; the solar energy must be harnessed as an alternative.

Journalists/Parliamentarians:

Not far away from centre of Accra, is situated Ofankoo, before reaching Amasaman, some few kilometers off Accra, I was shocked to have found some of the inhabitants scratching the surface a dirty standing water, serving as their source of water supply. SKB Asante and other wide-mouthed Nkrumaist can serve the society in a useful way; to lead a team of parliamentarians and journalist to visit such areas, including Bukom at mid-night, to find out how they share the corners of streets to spread their mats to sleep; spend your week-end with them, to see their toilet facilities, including the bath tubs, built by the colonial British governments, which they continue to use. Remember, Kwame Nkrumah’s positive action was launched in the nearby Arena; spend a weekend there. This was the place that shot him into power and fame, but he forgot them, in his time of glory: his motorcade, his chauffeur driven Mercedes Benz car easily scaled over the potholes

SKB Asante, continue to lead the parliamentary team to visit, Nima. (congratulations to Paul Wolfowitz, President of World Bank for his visit to Nima; hope it give him a first hand information on the plight of the people; and to the BBC for its coverage from Tamale, exposing to the world, the true nature of living conditions in the North)and don’t forget to spend a weekend in Ashiaman, Kwasimintim. Skb Asante, choose any farming village, in the Eastern region, visit Tease, Hwee-hwee, Bome-sarf, Volta, western, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo or near Bolga: park your car at “nkwanta” I mean a nearby junction and walk a distance of about 10 kilometers through the jungle to trace farming villages: and stay just a night with them, to see their way of life: there you would be able to observe real naked violations of rights of man. Matches is quite a luxury likewise kerosene; God save them, if a viper in search of chicken eggs, managed to sneak to take cover under their palm-branch woven mats, popularly known as “brepaa” Spend a week-end with them to learn about their ways of live to be able to lead the struggle for their economic emancipation for improvement of their living standards. Visit the villages surrounding Asustuare factory, near Akuse: there, teachers are still running classes under huts, made of palm branches.

Inquiry into CMB/AMA

During my recent visit, I toured areas stretching from Akuase to Akim Oda an Akwatia in the Eastern region: Akwatia has the diamond mining centre. the farmers toiled day and night to produce cocoa; a back-breaking job, preparing the land, planting, nursing and waiting patiently for the pods; plugging off the ripe pods, cutting and burying them, using the sun energy to dry them up. While the farmers sweat and toil, sacrificing for the nation in their daily endeavors, the Cocoa Marketing Board is centered in the accessible area of Accra, cocoa clinic is in Accra, catering for the three-piece clad bureaucrats, wearing gold cuff-lings on their shirts, some riding in chauffeur driver air-conditioned cars, living in luxuries air-conditioned “villas” paid for by mister who.!! The sweat and toil of the farmer.

What about the Cocoa Marketing Board scholarship scheme? Was it instituted to cater for the well being and wards of top officials of the Board and their cronies? This is an area which must attract the attention of the BNI inquisition, or Parliamentary inquest. The activities of the CMB must not be shrouded in secrecy: the public have a right to know about its functions, its involvement with farmers, its disbursement of public funds and how officials are hired and fired ; helping to correct it lapses to enable its meet its obligatory functions: The world is watching how the CMB is going to tackle effectively the child labor problems in the coco areas; another institutions which must be examined is the Accra Municipal Authority; while it has failed to perform to squarely meeting its obligations; controlling and eliminating unauthorized structures in residential areas, in the forms of kiosks, some erected under high tension cables: and elimination of waste products it’s activities must be examined to help fix its problems; decentralization of its activities might be beneficial.

Role of the Media

Civic education must be reinforced to educate the people on good sanitation habits The Media must have to play a leading role in this, to inculcate in the public the need to maintain surroundings clean, while by-laws must be tightened to enforce sanitation laws. Other disturbing teething problem is the rise in armed gang attacks. Ghanaians in the Diaspora and other foreigners traveling to Ghana have become target of attacks by armed robber;

Ghana is gaining a bad name from such activities. Parliament must examine why the police could not cope with such dangerous canker destroying Ghana’s image. This problem must be fixed quickly to avoid scaring investors and tourists to the country. Fighting crime of course is not done by putting more police men in the r street; this must be married with improvements in living conditions of the people. The plague of gang crime hitting the streets must be controlled before it gets off hand. Ghana could no longer fold its arms for manner to fall from heaven: Accra is facing over-population, affecting utility services. Serious efforts must be made to solving the problem; what is needed is a political will and decision to move the capital to Yendi, in the North. What abut the using of Usher Fort and James Forts as prisons? These forts served as transmit points to ferry Ghanaians and other Africans to sugar and cotton plantations in America: The forts should be restored as tourist attraction or centers in memory of millions who suffered hardships in those outrageous acts.

The inhabitants of Akoko-benom-su are patiently waiting for the Minister concerned with roads and the Eastern Regional Minister to inspect the 5-mile road linking Akwasiho/Twenedurase of the Western side of the Kwahu Mountain range. This important road started by the British, should not be left lying idle for years. Another important point. Parliamentary Investigating committee which once hit the limelight under the Chairmanship of then Honorable Kwaku Baah, (MP for Nkwakaw), a known constitutional expert, must exert its muscles to ensure that institutions set up by the government, function effectively to cater for the interest of the people. Offciails on government payrolls must be held accountable and be made to justify positively the positions assigned to them. Parliament is endowed and invested with enormous powers, must also show its biting teeth; and at times move out of the house to examine issues vividly.

The Parliamentarians must be well equipped, in terms of mobility, office equipments, like modern computers robust vehicles and housing to enable them perform their duties: Democratic institutions and practices are quite expensive and serious issues, which serves as a line to progress and prosperity. To ensure the success of the institutions, Ghana should have to invest heavily in this sector, attracting high qualified personnel to handle all burring issues in the interest of the nation. I have been wondering how many times the Honorable MP from Bolga, manage to visit his constituency? Ghanaians should remember, price of democracy is not cheap Hopes and trust in Ghana democratic institutions must be harnessed and rekindle/regenerated: It’s our only hope for many years to come.