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Ghana: Congratulations, Internet Warrior!

Feature Article Ghana: Congratulations, Internet Warrior!
MAY 24, 2016 LISTEN

The BBC recently aired a documentary on the explosive situation at some of Ghana’s mining communities. According to the well-produced and balanced report, angry unemployed youth have invaded some of the concessions allocated to foreign firms.

The BBC crew spoke with many very angry youth who vociferated loudly and angrily about the appalling conditions they continue to live in the land of their birth. The youth groused loudly about high unemployment, the high cost of living and the difficulties they have in keeping bodies and souls together.

Asked why they took over the facilities, they said that the land belonged to their ancestors and that they are the obvious heirs. They bellyached noisily that foreign firms have done little for them, or for their communities, they cried. One asked if the government is waiting for them to turn into armed robbers or terrorists before their issues are addressed. You should still be able to get a podcast of the Assignment programme on the BBC website – I recommend it highly.

Few days later, the US Ambassador to Ghana also came out to warn against the high rate of youth unemployment. His was not the first from a foreign envoy The UK envoy also made it his business to comment loudly on what should be Ghana’s internal affairs. For reasons that are not clear, the government of President Mahama appear not to have the guts to call these foreign envoys to order. But then, didn’t our elders warned us that: Goods are priced the way they are displayed. The English says that who pays the piper, dictates the tune. A government that shamelessly turned itself the world’s whore and champion beggar cannot find voice when others step on it.

No representative of a foreign government would have dared to step out of bounds under Kwame Nkrumah or, even, JJ Rawlings. Please, let’s tell that story another day.

It baffles greatly that officials appear unconcerned that so many young people roam the streets without a job and, more worryingly, without any prospect of getting one anytime soon. Ministers come out now and then to loudly proclaim how many million jobs they have created, and how energetically they are working to solve the unemployment problem.

We don’t know whom these officials are trying to fool. It is quite easy to tool around town in expensive jeeps (purchased with borrowed money), sit down in well-furnished, air-conditioned offices and generate fanciful figures on Laptops. But, however much they pretend, the stark reality of unremitting poverty in the land cannot escape them, as they move around town, and see the army of young people selling bric-a-bracs on the streets. Not if they have a strand of human conscience left. It is quite sad that rather than sit down to properly plan how to solve problems, officials prefer to combatively bombast us with utterly useless statistics.

It was the inimitable Mark Twain who famously said there are lies, damned lies and statistics. Who eat statistics? Who pay rent with useless ministerial figures?

Who in Ghana inc. is blind to the reality of harsh economic reality in the land? What with the hyperinflation that makes everything so expensive. What about the lack of foresight, vision and policy that makes common Cassava beyond the reach of the average Abena!

If officials continue to live in Cocoon land, how do we explain those among us who join them to bury heads in sand?

Nothing is more galling than to read, watch or listen to supposedly-educated citizens rationalizing the utter rot in the land!

We have so-called expertise who, for a crumb or two, will come out to defend the indefensible. Shamelessly, these rented mouthpieces, who posed as experts, spew verbiage to rationalize things that are simply irrational.

I don’t know whether to cry or to laugh when I see supposedly-educated people on social media vociferating loudly about how well the government is doing.

Ok, ok, so you missed your history lessons, and arithmetic is not your forte. We don’t blame you, but please, consider this: Ghana gained her independence in 1957. We are in the year 2016, right? That makes the country fifty-nine (59 years) old, still right? By human standards, Ghana is an Elder, if not a Senior Citizen. Remember that the retirement age in the country is sixty-five (65) years. Were she to be human, Ghana will be eligible for retirement in six years.

Now, try to THINK about this: Two political parties, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have ruled the country for thirty-five (35) years.

Come to think of it, majority of Ghanaians have known no other government apart those provided by the two parties.

So, we have two parties managing the affairs of Ghana Inc. for most of her independent years. Apart from taxes raised from citizens, the two parties have sold incalculable number of timbers. They have mined and exhausted quite a number of gold and diamond mines. They have sold countless bags of cocoa. On top of all that, they have piled up a debt close to US$100 billion. Let’s not forget the about four hundred state enterprises sold. We also should not discount the billions of dollars foreign governments and agencies have dashed us over the years.

And yet, the two political parties have not been able to provide citizens with basic services. Most Ghanaians go through life without tasting potable water. Electricity provision remains a major production. Health centers continue to dispense anti-biotics like cheapo-cheapo freebies. It is still a common sight to see children studying under trees. The education system continue to produce functionally illiterates with degrees. Even with three ministers at the ministry of agriculture and fishery, the country continue to expend huge sums on food importation.

With all these stark realities facing the nation – god knows that we did not exaggerate, we have citizens who clamour for more of the same! With all the shortcomings we see in the land, which should make any intelligent person vibrate with ire, some among us keep cheering those that have so spectacularly messed our lives up.

Many among us went to universities and acquired every manner of degrees, yet they cannot ask simple questions. They cannot ask how those that misled us sold precious minerals like gold and diamond, and cannot get enough revenue to provide us with ordinary water.

So, we have many educated folks who, happily, receive stuffed envelopes, lost their souls and become Transformed Apostles for inept and inefficient governments. For a pittance, many will take to the airwaves and the social media to tell us how good a government under IMF ministration is doing.

We know that thinking, for some people, is a great encumbrance, but it takes only little intelligence to know that you do not go under IMF ministration unless you have woefully failed to manage your economic affairs. It is as simple as that.

Pray, what is there to cheer about a government that cannot think beyond the issuance of Eurobond to finance projects? The Egyptians, under General Assis, wholly financed a major overhaul of the Suez Canal through local means.

It is the lack of capacity to think beyond the NOW that so infuriate. What saddens so is that we have sold everything saleable in the land. We have exhausted most of the mines. We have polluted the environment and contaminated the rivers. We have depleted the forests. Our chiefs have connived with politicians and handguards to sell every piece of land. What are we leaving for our children? What are we bequeathing to posterity?

What do we tell our children when they ask us why we left them with a legacy of huge debt and abject under-development? What do we tell them when they ask us why they are tenants in their own lands?

So, Mr. Social-media warrior, congratulations. You have done well. Keep up the loud noises. Continue to deafen our ears with useless, totally meaningless sloganeering: Yenko yenim. E de be k3k3. Better Ghana Agenda. All die be die.

Verily, verily we say, the truth shall catch up with you soon.

Plug for Femi Akomolafe books
Femi Akomolafe is a Freelance writer, Author, Film & Video Documentary Producer, IT Consultant and Web-Designer.

His highly-acclaimed books (Africa: Destroyed by the gods,” and “Africa: It shall be well,” are now available for sales at the following bookshops/offices:

  1. Freedom Bookshop, near Apollo Theatre, Accra.
  2. The Daily Dispatch Office, Labone – Accra
  3. WEB Dubois Pan-African Centre, Accra
  4. Ghana Writers Association office, PAWA House, Roman Ridge, Accra.
  5. Nana Kwaku Nketsia, +233-27-8599250

They are also available on the internet. Here are useful links:

1. Africa: it shall be well: http://alaye.biz/africa-it-shall-be-well-introduction-in-pdf/

Africa: it shall be well is available for sale on Kindle books at this link: https://www.createspace.com/4820404

A FREE Chapter of ‘Africa: It shall be well’ could be downloaded here: http://alaye.biz/africa-it-shall-be-well-a-free-chapter/

2. Africa: Destroyed by the gods (How religiosity destroyed Africa) http://alaye.biz/africa-destroyed-by-the-gods-introduction/

Africa: Destroyed by the gods is available for sale on Kindle books at this link: https://www.createspace.com/4811974

A FREE Chapter of ‘Africa: Destroyed by the gods’ could be downloaded here: http://alaye.biz/africa-destroyed-by-the-gods-free-chapter/

Read a review here
Femi maintains a blog @: www.alaye.biz/category/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ekitiparapo
Gmail+: www.google.com/ +Femi Akomolafe; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/ Femi Akomolafe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Femi Alaye
Email: [email protected] ; Website: www.alaye.biz

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