The Hypocrisy Of 'Dzi Wo Fie Asem' Philosophy

Egya Atta has admitted that his name has no value today in Ghana. Indeed, the paper on which he writes is more valuable than his name.

He is saying it ooo and not me, that is why even lower primary school children do not know that he is the President of this country.

Even school children do not want to be associated with a devalued name, whether the name is that of a Professor or a J.S.S. graduate.

Egya Atta has the right to devalue his name and image but has no right to drag the country down with him. Adehyeman Ghana's image cannot be mortgaged on the altar of anyone's incompetence.

Ghana has been associated with many firsts and very good things that have happened on the African continent and beyond.

Our internal economic challenges notwithstanding, this country and its people are among one of the most respected among the black race.

On the basis of the respect accorded us, the leadership of this country has always been consulted on very important issues that border on diplomacy and even security. Our views have held sway in many international matters as well.

I believe that it is in this light that Ghana's position on matters of diplomatic nature causes a lot of wave within the international community.

When Liberia descended into the internecine fratricidal war, Ghana was the first country to show very serious concerns about the plight of our neighbours. Ghana lifted thousands of Liberians into this country for safety.

In addition, our gallant men and women in the armed forces went into that country to help end the war and paved the way for elections.

Even after the elections and a President had been elected to lead the nation, this country did not abandon Liberia.

We still went ahead to help in restoring some of their key infrastructure as a basis for the people to begin life afresh.

Indeed, from Nkrumah's regime up to that of Kufuor, this nation has never turned its back on it neighbours in need until Egya Atta the law Professor par excellence came on to the scene.

Why? Is it because lawyers do not do anything for free as far as their profession is concerned? That your neighbour is in need and all you can say is 'dzi wo fie asem?

The phrase 'dzi wo fie asem' has been given an unfortunate connotation by  Egya Atta, and I am not be surprised because he may not be traveling home very often.

'Dzi wo fie asem', as used by the Fantis, admonishes individuals who engage in needless gossip about others to concentrate on their own activities rather than meddle in matters of no or little concern to them.

'Dzi wo fie asem', in Fanti land, does not mean that when your neighbour is in trouble or in difficulty, you turn a blind eye just to 'dzi your fie asem'. I now understand why in the home of the Atta MILLS', only dogs are found there.

In the Ghanaian society, even couples who have children sacrifice a little of their comfort to help other needy or not too economically endowed relations as a means of raising them above poverty levels. Such relations could come from the wife's family line or the husband's family line or both, in some cases.

When Egya Atta was a lecturer at the University of Ghana, no relation of his ever lived with them except their dogs, not even his so-called child out of wedlock had the privilege of enjoying life on campus when his 'father' was a law lecturer.

When he became the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) then, only dogs lived with them because they did not 'want themselves any trouble'. They were 'dziing their fie asem'.

When he became the Vice President of the Republic, apart from his domestic staff, Egya Atta the father for all was no father to anyone in his home, biologically or sociologically. Still hanging on to the 'dzi wo fie asem' philosophy.

The philosophy of 'dzi wo fie asem' as espoused by Egya Atta is nothing but an attitude of selfishness and callous disregard for the plight of others.

The hypocrisy of Egya ATTA's philosophy of 'dzi wo fie asem' can be found from the alacrity with which his government allegedly donated US$3 million to the Haitians in the face of the most destructive earthquake that struck that small nation. Where was the 'dzi wo fie asem' concept?

If indeed Egya Atta believes in his philosophy, what did he do in the wake of the floods that hit Agona Swedru and its surburbs, Ashaiman, Enchi, Bia and many parts of this country last year?

How much money did the government of the apostle of dzi wo fie asem offer for the immediate relief of the affected victims right here in this country?

Last year also witnessed a number of fire outbreaks throughout the country, hundreds of market women lost their capital and all they had. Professor 'dzi wo fie asem', how did your government manage those affected by the fires since the events happened right in your 'fie'?

Another contradiction in the 'dzi wo fie asem' policy is that the followers of Egya Atta are supporting Gbagbo instead of them to 'dzi won fie asem'. So which of the efie asems are Egya Atta's people supposed to 'dzi' and which of them are they not supposed to 'dzi?'

Ahaa, asem yi dzi ka, how did Kwesi Pratt, shadow Minister for Ivorian Presidential Affairs get to La Cote d'Ivoire? Was it by road, sea or air? If by air, was it a commercial flight, because I understand there is a border closure, or better still the Ivorian airports are under tighter security control.

How did Kwesi Pratt meander his way through to the Palace de President de La Cote d'Ivoire? Messeur Kwesi Pratt, comment vous arrive d'aerodrome de l'Abidjan?

Je vois que to parlez avec ton camarade Gbagbo. Bien bien bien. Tu ne dzi wo fie asem pa? (You won't mind your own business?)

When District Assembly Elections have been conducted as if one was taking mahogany bitters in tots, you will not bring to bear the facts for us to know why that disgraceful type of elections occurred in democratic Ghana.

Instead you are trotting into the kingdom of Gbagbo to listen to him so you can justify the illegality he is perpetrating against the will of the majority of the people of La Cote d'Ivoire.

I saw you arguing, instead of asking questions, with Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas on the matter, and in your usual one-sided approach to what you believe is right, you churned out untruths to justify Gbagbos criminal hold on to power. Thank God Dr Chambas told you diplomatically that you were lying.

Kwesi, you have been in journalism for the past close to forty years, have you just forgotten about the principle of 'audi patem', that is hear the other side of the story?

You traveled from Ghana to La Cote d'Ivoire to have an interview with one side of the feuding personalities and transmitted that one-sided paid-for or 'solicious' interview to us as if we have no minds of our own, and that we should believe everything that transpired between you and Gbagbo as the truth.

On the basis of your prejudiced and perhaps influenced position, you want all of us Ghanaians to move along the same line with you.

Mon dieu, Kwesi, I heard you last Wednesday on Peace FM when you said it is good to have long life and that you are happy to be alive to see AFAG people and members of the NPP going on a demonstration against the fuel price increase. Kwesi, I am also happy to be alive to see Kwesi Pratt not embarking on a demonstration to condemn a 30% increase in petroleum products in this country.

If I had died, and someone had come to tell me in my grave that Kwesi Pratt was strutting and fretting his hour on the political stage, praising the increases in the prices of petroleum products by the Egya Atta's administration,  I would have woken up to come to observe it before going back into my grave.

If I had also not lived to see Kwesi Pratt defending a loser in an election who has stolen the mandate of the people in an election internationally acclaimed to be free and fair, I would not have believed that some times, old age has the added effect of changing the way people think in such a manner as to make a mockery of what they had stood for in their youthful and adult lives.

The only thing that does not change is change itself, we all know, but when change in thought and actions smacks of senility, it should be discarded and thrown into the dustbin of history.

Kwesi, dzi wo fie asem, na nsem pii wo Ghana ha a owode ye hwe na yeka. Bonjour, et bon arrive.

Eei by the way, what is Okudzeto Ablakwa's father saying? That the President should sack his son? Whaaaat?  Who born dog?

That he did not give you money, he should be sacked? How can GH¢2000.00 cater for you when he wants to honeymoon in Obamaland.

Efo Ablakwa, first things first, if you no gree, make you commot your Ablakwa name from him, after all, Ablakwa or no Ablakwa, ebi Deputy Minister. Go wey you.

By Kwesi Biney