O Ghana... my sweet Ghana

It was just over twelve years ago that I fell in love. It was such a deep love, it surprised many, including myself. It came from nowhere and many said it wouldn't last. Twelve years down the line and the love is still there, but I tell you, there have been moments of deep hatred as well. Love and hate….

O yes, twelve years ago when I landed at Kotoka International Airport, little did I know I was about to fall deeply in love with Mama Ghana. Having spent the majority of my life in the UK, I really had no expectations of Ghana other than what the BBC told me. O and of course my father, who used to use Ghana as a threat every time any of his children misbehaved. “if you do that again, I will send you to Ghana” was a constant mantra in my home. I tell you, if I had known I would have fallen in love, believe me, I would have been as naughty as naughty can be. But anyway, despite my father's threats, he never did send us to Ghana. It was in my mid 20's that I found my way home. And like I said, I fell in love. Deep, deep in love. With Ghana. Her people. Her way of life. Her sense of community and culture of being “my brother's keeper”. Having come from the sterile West, it felt great to be in a society where people still mattered. A society where material gains were not the number one factor in judging a person. A society where crimes such as rape and murder were, if not unheard of, certainly unacceptable.

But today, what is happening in Ghana? Why do I find myself hating Ghana, as much I love her? Something happened to me recently to remind me. Being the ordinary Ghanaian woman that I am, I too like many car owners, drive a used car from Europe. A car, which is so unpredictable, I constantly drive with baited breath. Only exhaling when I reach my destination. It's no joke. My car can decide to just stop, at any time, anywhere at all. One evening, she decided she wasn't going anywhere. Luckily for me, this happened in a residential area and luckier still, I saw two “watchmen” right across the road. After approaching them and explaining the situation, I asked for their help in pushing my car to the side of the road, to a safer place. One of them (let's call him Baba) not only agreed, but even went a step further and offered they push my car into the back of their house. Perfect. I thought. So off we went. Me at the steering wheel, the two 'watchmen” pushing. Finally, we managed to get the car into the house. “Okay, the bill will be 100 thousand cedis.” Baba said (this was in the days before we changed our currency). I just stared at him. “Huh?” I replied, in total confusion. “100 thousand cedis. If you don't have the money now you can pay tomorrow. What time will you come? I leave here very early in the mornings. If you don't meet me, just leave the money with the other watchman, Mustapha.” Baba rattled on and on, something about having to stay awake all night because of my car! This, coming from a night watchman! He rumbled on and on about the perils of being a night watchman. He went on and on about how he had saved my ---- and how if it wasn't for him, my car would be stolen. Blah blah blah….Oooo, he went on and on… talking plenty….

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. Yes, he had helped me out. That I would give him a tip, certainly. It's the right thing to do. But to drop a bill on me? Just like that? What was going on? Is this the Mama Ghana I fell in love with? The land where everybody is everybody's keeper? This is not the first time an incident like this has happened to me. Ghana is changing. Or should I say the people of Ghana are changing. I'm not saying we are no longer hospitable. We are. It's just these days, more often than not, when someone does a favour, he expects a monetary reward. It looks like “Thank You” is no longer good enough. These days, it seems some people only help others not so much because he is his “brother's keeper” but because of money.

Look, when I first arrived in Ghana, and one of the many reasons I choose to live here, is because of the people of Ghana. I've been fortunate to have traveled and “seen” and I tell you, I love my people. Globally, Ghanaians are known for our hospitality. And a few years ago, this was something I noticed was very natural to the Ghanaian character. Helping your neighbour was the norm. Strangers cared about each other. For example, a few years ago, if my car had broken down and I had been helped by two strangers, they wouldn't have demanded money. They would have done it because it was the right thing to do.

These days, it seems people are finding it difficult to do things out of their hearts. Everything is about money. And it's heartbreaking to see this. A society once driven by humane interests are now putting money first. The lust for money is leading to murder, robbery, fraud, deceit, drug-dealing, etc. It's all too much. It's shocking and “unGhanaian”.

I keep telling myself the incidents that happened to me were just unfortunate rare incident. I don't want to believe my sweet Mama Ghana is changing. I don't want to fall out of love with Ghana. Some of us don't know it, but we are fortunate living here. Despite the problems and challenges we face, both in our personal lives and on a national level, Ghana is one of the few countries in the world where there is a certain peace. A certain calm. And I strongly believe that is because of 1) The love our Creator has for us and 2) the people of Ghana. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something magical about the people of Ghana and it breaks my heart to see my people changing.

What is happening that the people of Ghana are changing so rapidly? Unemployment? Lack of opportunities? Poverty? Frustration? Globalization? Negative influence of violent movies? Corrupt practices of those in positions of power? What is it?

Whatever is going on, I hope we can curb it. Because once we have a disregard for human life, once we no longer feel the need to help a fellow human being out of duty and love for a stranger, believe me, we are on a very destructive path. I, for one, would hate to see a Ghana where we no longer care about our each other. A land where the phrase “my brother's keeper” is just that and nothing more.

But hey, these are just the reflections of an ordinary Ghanaian woman.

   Comments1