Mr. President, retore our dignity
Zaya Yeebo
2014-09-28, Issue <
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/issue/695> 695
Ghana seems to have crossed the threshold of moral decency on a dangerous
slope towards self-destruction and moral turpitude. It is now a dog-eat-dog
society where those in power have abandoned the citizens to the wolves of
private aggrandisement. Does the president see this?
I want to believe that His Excellency President John Mahama is an honourable
man. I also like to believe that, in theory, when people are appointed to
public offices, they have a moral and legal duty to protect the nation's
assets for the next generation of Ghanaians. I also like to believe that
institutions are guided by rules and procedures, which are so watertight,
that it reduces malfeasance. Apart from the moral integrity of our current
President, I am not sure about some of the others that I have enumerated.
When stories of corruption and misbehaviour of unimaginable magnitude break
out, Ghanaians express moral outrage, and expect some recompense. What do
they get? More of the same.
Just imagine the picture of Ghanaian children sitting on blocks in the sun
or rain trying to gain some education, something which is their birth right
(I am one of those who still believe that Education is a right and not a
privilege). Imagine the plight of the citizens of Mensah Guinea [an Accra
suburb, whose illegal structures were demolished recently] and similar
areas. Imagine the numerous Ghanaians dying of cholera, of the women who are
likely to die this month because there are no hospitals with maternal
facilities in their areas or these being too far away from their homes.
Now sit back and listen to stories being told at the Presidential Commission
probing the Black Stars, of monies paid without receipts, of officials
taking so much money as per diems, airlifting cooks to Brazil, paying
commissions to anyone who asked for it, and so on. Stories of footballers,
the nations' pride, sitting in economy class while officials sit in first
class, the story goes on.
When you think you have heard it all, come the story that the Chief
Executive of Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),
the institution immortalised by Emile Short, living in a hotel at $450 per
day at the taxpayers' expense. This institution is supposed to help address
issues of injustice. For once, we are tempted to forget about the judgement
debt saga.
Another foray into the Daily Graphic brings you harrowing stories of how
kayayees live and work in the city. No one complains when they pick up our
bags full of goods and suffer under the weight of a sagging bag full of yams
or plantain. This affirms our acceptance of the practices where children are
victims of child labour, sexual enslavement and some worse abuses. We are
then confronted with harrowing tales of cholera traversing the slums and
towns of our country, taking along with it live of small vibrant children,
and yet, the solution to cholera deaths stares us in the face. As for the
EVD, I do not even know what to think of it. If we cannot stem the flow of
cholera, how are we supposed to face the worst of Ebola?
It seems we have crossed the threshold of moral decency on a dangerous slope
towards self-destruction and 'moral turpitude' (if I may borrow from the
late General Kutu Acheampong). Those in whom we put our trust as citizens
have abandoned us to the wolves of private aggrandisement and to abuse by
both Ghanaian and foreign compradors. Listen to Ghanaian workers at Golden
Tulip. As a nation, we seem to have succumbed to the basest of human
behaviour in which the dog eat dogs system thrives. There seems to be no
consequences for bad behaviour by public servants. By their behaviour, they
have also let the President down.
The evidence for this is overwhelming: in a society where journalists are
punched and beaten in broad daylight and where discussions on television and
FM radio stations are conducted in violent abusive tones. In Ghana, the
sight of young children selling along the road where our politicians pass
daily, where children who should be in school are begging by the road side,
and where street families abound at night. Do we need to look further for
any evidence of the failure of the system? Of a political system that has
failed to protect the weak and vulnerable? Do we need further evidence of a
country on the road to disaster and ruin?
I posed this question in an earlier article - how did a nation with so much
promise end up like this? Fidel Castro once described Cuba before the 1960
revolution as rich country with poor people. Sometimes, I have been accused
of romanticising about the past. Now I agree with my accusers. So I will
stop living in Ghana's past glory. I despair when the solutions to our
problems are seen through the advice of flight by night foreigners with IF
tags. I despair when the solutions to our problems come through the same
institutions and individuals who caused the problems in the first place. I
do not see how the International Monetary Fund, with all its one size fits
all approach to economic problems in Africa can help Ghana out of its
cyclical economic problems. Dalliance with the IMF is like dancing to the
rhythms of death. Ghanaian governments need to review their
accommodationists policy towards the IMF and anything foreign (including
coaches for our national team) and rely on this nation and its vast
resources.
In spite of this, I will continue to extol the pan African commitment and
achievements of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose 105th birthday we
celebrate this month. I need to maintain some faith in the ability of
Ghanaians to rise above our current problems. I want to live in a country
where children are treated like human beings, where no pregnant woman dies
during childbirth and when the rule of law prevails. I believe this world is
possible.
Writing about the current crisis in Nigeria, Professor Wole Soyinka said:
"as we twiddle our thumbs, wondering when and how this nightmare will end,
and time rapidly runs out, I have only one admonition for the man to whom so
much has been given . 'Bring Back our Dignity'".
I would say to my President: Restore our Dignity.
* Zaya Yeebo is a Ghanaian journalist and commentator on Pan African
affairs.
Received on Sun Sep 28 2014 - 18:56:17 EDT