GHANA’S MOMENT OF SHAME

When Ghana's President, H. E. John Evans Atta Mills passed on, many people including the International community lauded Ghana on the smooth transition that took place when the Vice President, John Mahama was sworn in as President.

Another commendable activity was the vetting and swearing in of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, as the Vice President. These are constitutional requirements that took place without any hitches. Many countries across the world as a whole and Africa in particular would have encountered some skirmishes.

When the news of the President's demise broke, there was tension in the atmosphere as many wondered if the news was true. This was because of earlier reports of his death which turned out to be hoax on two different occasions.

When the news turned out to be true this time, many people including politicians, religious leaders, prominent citizens as well as ordinary Ghanaians started calling for unity in this trying time. The entire nation was cautioned against words or statements that have the tendency to bring divisiveness and tension especially in the political arena.

The truth is that, I have never felt so proud to be a Ghanaian as I felt in these past few days. Tears even filled my eyes on some occasions just by watching how the death of the late President was handled. The level of comportment by all political parties was just admirable.

My moment of disappointment and shame however came on the eve of Thursday the 9th of August which happened to be the second day of the late President's funeral. During the vigil at the forecourts of the State House, various tributes were read. I listened in admiration as tributes of Heads of States, Political Parties, Associations and Organizations, among others, were read.

It finally got to the turn of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to read their tribute. I was enjoying and nodding my head while I listened to Dr. Kwabena Adjei, NDC national Chairman, until he read a portion that suggested that political opponents always wished the late President dead therefore said it was finally over as they got what they always wanted. He went on further to say that they (political opponents) should be feeling regret in their hearts now that the President was finally dead.

At that moment, I became numb and speechless. I even forgot my mouth was opened. A feeling of shame engulfed me as I thought about the number of people who might be watching the program across the world at that moment. I asked myself whether they actually read what they wrote before hand. Suddenly, people's faces changed. One could feel tension and uneasiness in the air.

I know if the late President were to be alive, he wouldn't have agreed to such a tribute by his party. He was a politician and all politicians at a point expect to be criticized by their opponents. I don't think there's a politician anywhere in the world that has never been criticized in his career.

I have heard other people who are pointing accusing fingers at people within the NDC who criticized his way of leadership saying they should be ashamed now that he's dead and gone.

What makes Ghana different from other African countries is the beauty of our democracy and the fact that we know when to come together as one. There is a local saying in Ewe that “ne koklowo le awa w)m ha la, wole nkua kp)m” meaning “even if fowls are fighting, they watch the eyes”. We must therefore know when and where to make certain utterances and statements that have the potential to spark odd feelings.

Fortunately, other tributes that followed calmed the environment. Whoever wrote that tribute shouldn't feel proud but bow the head in shame.

I realized I wasn't the only one who felt bad about those comments when some friends and relatives also lamented about it.

In all, however, I believe Ghana deserves a standing ovation for a job well done. To our late President, I say, “hede nyuie”.

Benedicta Baka, Accra
Email: [email protected]