Beast Of No Nation: A Fiction Becoming A Reality?

Popular culture as a soft political tool contains social knowledge, analogies, techniques, and symbols and as such, serves as a field in which representations can be made and meanings are drawn. As a form of popular culture, movies are not just produced. They portray the beliefs and values of the cultures that produced them, they reflect society and aid in understanding social constructions such as stereotypes, ethnocentrism among others. Stories of Africa mostly portrayed by mainstream Western Media cinema sentimentalizes European colonialism and shows the height of depravity of which Africa is known. Shot in Ghana, ‘Beast of No Nations’ shows the plight of a young boy in an unknown West African country who became a child soldier as a result of violent conflict which ravaged its peaceful community. However, the civil war was between government forces and rebels who claim they do not recognize the legitimacy of the government. The movie perpetuates the narrative of Africa as an overwhelmingly violent and inscrutable region, mired in tribalism, and inexorable despair.

Notwithstanding, violent conflict, as a matter of fact, is a beast of no nation. It is a freelance phenomenon that can occur and ravage any society. What matters is the need to recognize the devastation and havoc it can wreck and as such endeavour in any possible ways to avert its occurrence. Ghana has always been addressed as the beacon of hope for Africa, and if I will be right, it is as a result of the peace and the democratic prosperity the country continues to witness. Although situated in a tumultuous region characterized by political instability, violent conflicts, simmering political tensions etc., Ghana stands out as the epitome of democracy and good governance after years of political upheaval. Just like any other country, it has its gloomy side with hopes for a brighter and prosperous future. Recent happenings in the country make me wonder if Ghana can continue to be the beacon of hope for Africa.

Since 2018, secessionist agitations have been chanted on the Volta regional zone of the country by a group who claims the time of their territory as part of Ghana has elapsed and thus wants independence. Taken by surprise, 25^th September 2020 was marked with news of blockage of roads by the secessionist groups amidst burning of vehicle tyres, chanting of war songs, taking hostage of a police station coupled with the seizure of their rifles and vehicles. Be that as it may, the attack on the Ho STC bus terminal speaks volume into the fact that the group is not to be mistaken for jokes. Quoting one of the members of the group on joy Fm as captured by graphic.com, "we have blocked the roads to claim our land… since the authorities of Ghanaians have the audacity to lay embargo or injunction on all our declarations……so we wanted to prove to them for the whole world to hear us on what we have declared." It, therefore, suffices to make the case that what started as a mere agitation is gradually transitioning into something that portends catastrophe if checks and control are not exercised with immediate effect. The issue can be very lethal for Ghana for different reasons. First has to do with the fact that Ghana has a teeming youth who are unemployed and as such being susceptible to be recruited in the secessionist militia. Secondly, Western Togoland Members are operating from periphery and on a border, and because of this, they can be mobile and have strong cross-border dimensions from which they can draw funds from illicit trade, and terrorist network across the sub-region and beyond to pursue their objectives.

‘Beast of No Nation’ although does not explicitly suggests a possibility of war in Ghana even though it was shot in the country, it carries an implicit connotation of a possibility, and therefore, it makes me wonder whether the movie is becoming a reality. Is the country on the verge of war because of this territorial dispute? Are we likely to see children conscripted as child soldiers to fight for warlords instead of thriving in a peaceful environment? Are we likely to see rebels firing indiscriminately at people with several bodies lying selfless on the streets? Are we likely to see government forces in stand-off battle with rebels? This, I hope not. If Ghana is indeed the beacon of hope for Africa, then it cannot let Africa down. I believe this is the time for the leaders of the country to forgo political lenses and wrap themselves with the fabric of nationalism and together, strive to find appropriate measures to address this challenge. We love our country and do not wish to trade it for anything. It will be expedient for politicians not to trade on this for political gains but should instead embrace this challenge with a concerted effort to uphold and maintain the peace of the country. It is well with our Motherland!