SUPERSTITIONS, THE EXCUSE FOR GHANAIAN DRIVERS' CARELESSNESS ANDRECKLESSNESS

Once again the annual most world wide celebrated yuletide is gradually creeping in. And all over the world the usual harbinger of christmas song, the multiplicity of christmas goods for all level of ages and conspicuous christmas trees have started flamboyantly being displayed in all the nook and cranny of all the vicinities in all parts of the world. Christmas celebration is so infectious and frangrance infected that those who are not christians and profess to belong to other religion find themselves unconsciously being hypnotized by the vivacious atmosphere to jump into the bandwagon of its celebrants. It is an unambigious and incontrovertible fact that Christmas is a world wide period of ecstasy, hilarity, jollity, serenity and above all a festival of joy in every home.

Nevertheless, it is during this world wide scintillating and titillating period that the Ghanaian drivers go berserk and amok with such a reprehensible and untenable overspeeding that turns our already death trap and nothing-to -write -home- about roads into another graveyards. And therefore, during this very important period, its this time that roads and traffic authorities who have the concomitant and inaudating responsibility have to be superfluous and come out to throw light of awareness and sensitizing the drivers to take precaution against repurcussion so that our dear country will enjoy the height of epiphany of the forthcoming Christmas in accident-free atmosphere. What I am, however, disappointingly hearing and witnessing from some of the numerous radio stations is the degree at which some of the so called men of God have started peddling in the radio stations about the issue of the devil on our road accidents.

As a matter of fact, I am a christian myself and believe in the totality of the Bible as well as what the Bible says about the activities of the devil. But why do we give glory to the devil so much at all times in the face of glaringly and conspicuously carelessness? Should we blame the devil for the vivildly recklessness?. It is pathetic that most drivers dont simply check their cars well if everything is functioning before they set on the road, some of them are using deporably old tyres and other skanky and shanggy car parts but let accident strikes and devil is blamed when a simple commonsense of checking the bascis and nitty grities have been thrown to the dogs if not the wind.

But the rhetoric question Iam tempted to ask these preachers who make too much spiritual razzmatazz about the fact that the christmas is coming and therefore the devil is at the tail of the drivers and seeking to destroy is that, does the devil. that accuser of our brethren, only seeking roaring after Ghanaians to destroy? What about the other countries where christianity is almost non-existence and therefore this high voltage and electrifying all-nights, revivals, crusades, prayers and fastings, christmas camp meetings etc are also virtuallly nonexistence, yet they enjoy the christmas period in almost accidents-free? Those countries leadership are people centered, and that their roads to very hamlets are first class, with the necessary road lights and equipments that make accidents a seldon occurence in those countries.

Like I said earlier, I dont rule out the activities of evil forces but let us not lose sight of the wanton carelessness, recklessness and greedy drivers who wants to be rich overnight with supersonic speed and overloadings on this our already dilapidated and ramshackled roads. It cannot be gainsaid, that the major problem and not that of the devil is african and for that matter ghanaian leaders put on mask wearing faces and what they trumpet above the roof-top during the election campaigns to hoodwink and cajole the masses is they are going to be the servants of the people, but immediately they grab the political throne the first debate at the parliament is bucket full of dollars to buy cars for the parliamentarians and using billions to renovate the already built houses for them. Indeed, africans depth and height of suffering is nothing else than our leaders who are the colossus of greediness, insensitivity, buccaneers, kleptomaniacs and even ineptitudes.

Hence the continent is suffering but we blame the devil for everything. studies reveals that the most religious subregion in the world is West Africa and the entire africa is the most religious continent, with Christianity having mammoth and whopping number of the population. Yet poverty, dirt, sickness, corruption, early deaths etc which are at variance with the bible and God's expectation on his children are what is swallowing ghana and African continent. And its very important to admit that its not all the problems that is the devil but frankly speaking Africa and for that matter ghana christianity is nothing than a sham, hoax and mere rhetorics.. Lies , corruption, insincerity. political manipulation, dirt, poverty deceiptive leaders etc are abundantly a common scenario in Africa where Bible and Koran are text books in everybody's hand. Why this shameless paradox?

Therefore, even as christians are praying for accident free period there is the urgent need that the road authorities to mount up their education, as well as the police being vigilant on the roads. Because one doesnt only pray when he is pretty aware of the fact that his break is not working. You change it and not just do prayer and fasting instead of attending to the fault. Let stop this unnecessary spirituality and empty superstitions that makes us more ignorants and laughing stock to the world.

Merry Xmass and God Bless Ghana and Africa
EKOW WILSON-BAIDOO
( A CRUSADER WITHOUT VIOLENCE)