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02.07.2014 Opinion

Casting Occupy Flagstaff House In The Image Of Occupy Wall Street: The Fault Lines Of Defects

By Daily Guide
Flagstaff HouseFlagstaff House
02.07.2014 LISTEN

Flagstaff House
I really wanted to be a part of the Occupy Flagstaff House this July 1 st , 2014 because I am constantly driven by a quest to see Ghana work again. However purpose to me is essential and the process to achieving such purpose is equally essential so I decided to think through it to find The Purpose for myself. I thus went digging on Occupy Wall Street from which, undoubtedly, the initiators of the upcoming Occupy Flagstaff House took inspiration from.

Occupy Wall Street was an anti-consumerist protest movement that rocked the New York City in the United States of America, targeting the Wall Street, the country's financial district. Kalle Lasn and Micah White of Adbusters, a Canadian anti-consumerist publication were the originators or initiators.

One may ask why not Americans but Canadians? It started on September 17 2011 when activists occupied the Zuccoti Park in New York City on 'a manifesto' against socio-economic inequality, greed, corruption and perceived undue corporate influence on government -particularly the financial sector.

The Movement's methods included occupation, civil disobedience, picketing, demonstrations and internet activism.

I deduce from Occupy Wall Street the clarity in the people's sense of purpose and direction. They knew the root of the problems -Financial Sector- and they knew where to send their message -Wall Street because that is where the master plans for the financial design come from and the master architects operate. So they went to the Wall Street and not White House! An ambiguous vision is beautiful -it makes your actions revolutionary and not reactionary! However, when the purpose is ambiguous and unclear, the process to it gets undefined and fails to gain momentum and legitimacy. Occupy Wall Street exhibited intelligence and creative thinking at the beginning with their on-the-point action -something Occupy Flagstaff House lacks!

The choice of venue even speaks of unclear sense of purpose. It makes it another ritual manifestation of street opinion -government is to blame for all our problems as a nation. Yes, I agree that leadership from a sitting president and a reigning government is key -but not The Key- in every nation-state on the globe and a president needs to be watched. However, let us be mindful that embracing multi-party democracy (a practice I personally have issues with) is embracing institutional system. So if you subscribe to Multi-party democracy then you need to be institution-conscious.

This is where I partially agree with President Obama.

He said, 'Africa needs strong institutions and not strong men' and I agree with the first part and disagree with the last part. Institutions are not automated working machines (AWM) but frameworks built and operated by men and are expected to make the bettering our men's life efficient. It thus takes strong men to build strong institutions. I am talking of men strong in good conscience, in character, in leadership, in discipline, in vision and sense of purpose, in patriotism and in fearless honesty. It is therefore unarguable that institutions are strong as long as the men are strong! Africa needs strong men!

This is why I am of the opinion that our conception of leadership be redefined to embrace originality and totality to encompass even the Primary school prefect entrusted with authority. Let us begin to hold institutions and institutional heads accountable and stop letting all governments (presidents) take the heat for their incompetence and corruption! We have constitutional power to change corrupt and inefficient government but do not have such power to change certain corrupt and incompetent individual leeching in our institutions. Some cannot even be changed by a government. This is where we must employ the use of popular protests like this!

Why Occupy Flagstaff House? Occupy Wall Street was to call for reform in the financial sector and/or the sacking of some greedy bosses. Is Occupy Flag Staff House to unseat the President? Then we think our redemption lies in the frequency of changing governments? Then why not wait since we have the right to the ballot? Who are originators of this occupation? I learnt they Ghanaians residing outside Ghana. This is not to say it's needless to protest. What would be the lasting impact of this occupation? Does it mean once government in a jerky reaction cuts taxes and makes fuel available the occupation will evacuate or continue?

Clearly, we may have problems with the leadership style of the President and his government but it is not that we are unaware of what the problems are. We have water, electricity, security, food problems which are compounded by conspicuous financial indiscipline! These are problems that for which we have changed governments but still pertain. Must we not change our strategy? A leadership that lacks the ability to realize the necessity in adapting its strategies to the moments is bankrupt in ideas and lives in self-deception that it can fulfil the hopes of those following.

This is what we must do -put pressure on the institutions and their heads. At times that even helps the government in seeing clearly the areas where there are problems. Why not with Institutional Occupations (IO): Occupy Bank of Ghana the cedi's fall; Occupy Electricity Company of Ghana for poor electricity supply; Occupy Ghana Water Company for unwholesome and unreliable supply; Occupy Ghana National Petroleum Corporation for wasting money on football instead of bettering fuel supply; Occupy Ministry of Youth and Sports for no-vision-for-the-youth situation; Occupy Ghana Revenue Authority for inefficiency; Occupy Ministry of Agriculture for failing in food security and selling out our food sovereignty;  and Occupy Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority for the rickety cars that pass for locomotive coffins on our roads. We can Occupy Ghana Police for the road accidents since every driver could buy the law at Ghc1.00 at the barrier!

I was even thinking we would Occupy GFA for the embarrassment they crowned us all with in Brazil but Lawyer Kwesi Nyantakyi seems still at ease because he is confident that in all our ranting against corruption we are misplaced!

Scofray Nana Yaw Yeboah  commented on facebook, 'It's so easy to point fingers at the authority but true meaning of governance which encompass the role, dedication, act of acting right as a citizen. Those going on this occupation, how cleans are their hands? How hardworking devoid of cutting corners have they been? It is corruption to steal state money but smartness to pay money for a child's admission when he or she does not qualify. It is smartness to use official line to make private calls it is normal to under pay tax yet demand so much from the system. The Ghanaian doesn't like to be pointed at but very quick to point at supposed leaders. We have never had leaders since 1966, they are citizens occupying positions. Our leaders' actions and inaction are the microcosm so the general attitude of the majority citizenry. If we are really a serious people to build a serious nation then Occupy yourself first!'

 
I am against GMO and EPA! I am for the Occupation Yourself First Movement!

 
By Abeku Adams
[email protected]
Cape Coast
 
 

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