WHO WILL MONITOR THE MONITORS?

“Gbo tokpo mexloanu via o.” this is a local saying in Ewe literally meaning; a goat without ears does not advice its offspring. A stubborn goat only ends up getting the ears chopped off. This saying therefore means it is impossible for people to condemn or criticize what they themselves are guilty of.

A cursory look around and one will bear me out that people who are placed at high positions to monitor the people and affairs of our country are the very people who flout and brush the laws under the carpet.

Charity, they say, begins at home. I will therefore begin with parents. Parents are the fundamental teachers to their children. They are supposed to live exemplary lives in order for their children to follow their footsteps. Sadly enough, majority of the negative things children learn are from their parents. How can a mother who jumps from one man to the other reprimand her children when they do same? Can a man who is caught red-handed stealing punish his children when they steal? Does it mean that even parents need other people to monitor them to ensure they play their supervisory role well?

What about the Police? The police are supposed to ensure peace and order in our country. The question is, are we safe if the police accept bribe from people who have committed offences and let them off the hook? At times police officers are even incriminated in robbery and other criminal cases. Does it mean that even the police also need people to monitor their activities to ensure they do the right thing? Can't we just sleep with both eyes closed knowing that we are safe?

Pastors, Prophets, Imams etc are supposed to be like the mouthpiece of God on earth. They are supposed to preach and explain the Bible and Quran to their followers in order that they live on the path of righteousness. If these same men of God are those who are the no.1 liars, thieves, idolaters, womanizers, fornicators, cheats ……………., then the question that comes to mind is where we are heading. Do these men of God also need people to check them wherever they go and what ever they do?

When people fall sick, they go to hospital to seek medical attention. Unfortunately, several people lose their lives at the hospital due to lack of attention or negligence on the part of medical attendants (I was a witness to one such incidence at one of the General Hospitals in the metropolis). What is to come of us when medical personnel who are to save lives end up being the cause of loss of lives? Do we need people to stand by these medical practitioners to ensure they execute their work well?

It does not come as a surprise that people no longer have confidence in our Judiciary. These are the people who are supposed to sit on cases and give fair and just judgements. It is however a shame that criminals are sometimes allowed to go scot free and innocent people sometimes sentenced to serve years in prison. Does it mean even our Judges need other people to monitor their judgements?

Our Custom Officers are supposed to make sure that duties are paid on goods coming in and out of our country at the same time ensuring that illegal goods are not imported into our country. However, thanks to bribe, the right things are not being done. People who rather decide to go through the right channel are heckled especially when they refuse to pay bribes while those who pass through the back door have their way easily. Do these Custom officers who accept bribes also need other people to monitor their activities to ensure they also do the right thing?

People look up to our Ministers and Parliamentarians. It is therefore disheartening to know that the very people we look up to in our country are the ones who disappoint us most. Our Parliamentarians are the lawmakers of the country yet, we cannot boldly say they abide by the laws they make. How should ordinary citizens behave when the activities and utterances by our honorable politicians are nothing to go by?

Other institutions like the Immigration, the civil service and even the private sector among others are also part of the issue. There are many people in leadership positions that take undue advantage of their positions to exploit people instead of monitoring that the right things are done. If we cannot trust and rely on people who are supposed to monitor the affairs of our country, then only God knows where we are heading. Who then, will monitor the Monitors?

To every situation, there are exceptions. I cannot overlook the fact there are some individuals who execute their work diligently. To them, I say 'ayeekoo'! More grease to their elbows! It just happens that there is a saying in my dialect, Ewe, that 'Dekuvovo dekae gblea bubuawo' meaning it is one bad nut that spoils the rest.

I will like to appeal to all those in monitoring positions to put in more effort to ensure the right things are done. I believe that if all those in leadership positions do their work HONESTLY, Ghana will be a better place to live. MAY GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.

Benedicta Baka, Accra
Email:[email protected]