Hypocritical Patriotism: A letter to the Black Stars haters

Dear Patriotic Ghanaian You,
The uproar of joy in Ghanaian streets as Moussa Sow's ball entered the net to give Senegal a 2-1 victory over the Black Stars of Ghana was no longer a sign of a hurt nation that had been betrayed by a bunch of unpatriotic lads who only played for thousands of dollars.

It was an act from hypocrites who deceived themselves by feigning high principles and service to Ghana but on the contrary do otherwise. And here is why.

Sir Kofi McCarthy Oduro entered the class on Friday with intense disgust. The class six teacher warned his students that if any spoke of the Black Stars game against Algeria, the repercussions will be a very unbearable one for that particular student. He could not bear the thought of supporting individuals who were only interested in filling their pockets with thousands of dollars and not show the smallest bit of love to the country they served.

Yet before the first break at 10:30am, Sir Oduro ordered his students to enjoy their P.E till school was over because he needed to catch some sleep at home having spent all night talking on phone to the new female teacher in town.

And after all, it was a Friday. Going home early was not a crime. Who teaches in government schools on a Friday?

The trotro driver and his mate were vehemently lambasting the Black Stars players for not having the slightest possible care for mother Ghana and the people in it. For them, putting on a replica jersey or a Ghana flag on their car during Black Stars games were now strictly prohibited in their books. Never again will they show love to players who had no love for their country.

As the mate took his money, a gentleman at the back seat reminded him of the 20 pesewas reduction in fare due to the new fuel prices. The fury that reminder ignited in the driver and his mate was twice what they had shown in their earlier conversation about the Black Stars.

Their final verdict was, they were not ready to reduce the fare. Pay or get down. Simple.

Dr. Nyamekye expresses his disgust to the behavior of Black Star players with respect to their bonuses to a colleague as he sits in a meeting he has called to discuss the next strike action for doctors for a better remuneration.

Honorable Honorable  Kojo Kpee is on Radio AllTalk making his point that no Ghanaian should support the Black Stars until the current crop of players who have shown the love for money than to their country are sacked.

Post his interview with Radio AllTalk, Honorable Honorable Kpee sits in his state funded car, fueled with state money and starts his journey from Accra to Kumasi to see his girlfriend. Thank God it's Friday!

The stories go on and on.
So therefore, what then covers patriotism in the ordinary Ghanaian mind? 

First and foremost, under no circumstance should that horrible behaviour the senior national team of Ghana showed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup be tolerated. And not just in football. That was an absolute no behaviour for any Ghanaian.

And the people of Ghana did show their intolerance after all the mishaps with the government even setting up a committee to tie up all lose ends. It might not yield 100% results but it's a step in the right direction to show the players where the lines are drawn.

That said, it also is an utter shame to cheer for the opposition in an international tournament and claim it is for the love of your country. It is in direct contrast with the patriotism that has now been established in Ghana as an antonym to a Black Star player.

Andre Ayew might have had a point or two, maybe a little misjudged timing when he said after the 2014 FIFA World Cup:

'Bonuses for any Ghanaian player is deserved. We love our country but we are also working.

'It is our job. Do you know what we have done for people in Ghana?

'We don't need to make these things public, we do it from our hearts.

'We do charity all the time and sometimes not even monies we get from the Black Stars.

'Money is not football and football is not money. Charity or giving out are things we do and we don't not need to come out and tell everyone what we do.'

The players in the senior national team do serve the nation as a form of work as the assistant Black Stars captain pointed out at the time.

Like the trotro driver not willing to give up that 20 pesewas, passengers tell their opinions and forget. Like the doctors who put human lives at stake with their strikes, Ghanaian show their disappointment in them and hope they get a change of heart.

And that's why we all need to let go of the past and look forward to a better future.

It's quite unfortunate that maybe we do not have the caliber of players willing to serve mother Ghana at a cheaper price. But until we do, the Black Stars need a better football standing on the international level to keep the heights of the football we are expecting in the country alive.

So before you decide to boo the Black Stars in their next game for the 2015 African Cup of Nations, just think about all the things you're forgiven for not being patriotic to Ghana.

And be patriotic for once; support Ghana Black Stars for the AFCON tournament.

Yours,
Football fan somewhere in Ghana.