Elorm Writes: Troubles in Our Homeland

In our search for peace and security, we found her, yes, we found a welcoming motherland, filled with care and kindness. We embraced its bounty like a land of milk and honey, but a sudden storm shattered our happiness. Now, the land we once loved is a place of hardship and fear. Ghana, are we safe?

From our leaders to everyday people, trust has eroded. Deception and betrayal are the new norm. It feels like we're all alone, unwilling to offer help or trust anyone. Hardship has made wickedness common..Those we once considered friends and family cannot be trusted, breaking our hearts and leaving us in pain. We live as if we are alone, offering no help or trust to anyone. Kindness has become scarce, and respect for human life is disregarded.

Every day, people lose their lives because of their possessions. Homes are invaded, valuables stolen, and lives taken. I've heard of cases where innocent children were harmed during these incidents.

The security agencies, sadly, often arrive too late, with their sirens alerting criminals to escape. Now, seeking directions in an unfamiliar place has become dangerous, as it marks you as an easy target.

My childhood friend, Jennifer Sambah, once told me, 'Love, I do not talk to strangers when I am in town.' To shed more light on this, she shared a story about helping a gentleman who needed directions to the SIC Life mall at Makola, a popular market square in Accra. ''As a responsible citizen, I decided to assist him. We engaged in conversation as we walked to the location. Though it was a short walk, we reached our destination, he appreciated my help, and we went our separate ways. I decided to check my bag for my phone and call my sister, only to realize that he had stolen my phone and purse." This incident left her wary of trusting strangers ever again.

Regrettably, I came to understand that such experiences were not unique to her. A fellow classmate at the University, Asare Stephen, also shared a story about unknowingly exchanging his phone and money for a bar of soap, seemingly charmed by a mysterious influence.

On 24th August, 2023, while I was in a car on my way to campus to take my final exam paper for my second year as a student PR officer at the University of Media Arts and Communication - Institute of Journalism, some passengers, whom I considered victims, recounted heart-wrenching stories of having their mobile phones and handbags snatched while walking along the road. Some chose to fight back, while others sacrificed their belongings for the sake of their safety. As I overheard their conversation, I couldn't help but ask myself, 'Is Ghana truly a safe place?' It's disheartening that one can toil for a year or more to earn money, only for it to be taken away in a matter of minutes by someone who lacks compassion for their victims.

Let us be aware that perilous times are catching up with us like flies hovering over a sumptuous meal.

By Ayavor Stephanie Agatha Elorm Student, UniMAC-GIJ [email protected]